Chapter 81: The Swamp

Walking in the coastal area of the Salt Swamp, underfoot was gray-white cracked land, covered with fluffy salt frost, shining with fine micro-light in the thin sunlight. The dried mud chunks tilted up sharp edges, and between the gaps, one could see the net-like veins woven by white salt crystals. Every step taken, a crisp "clatter" sound would come from underfoot, which was exceptionally clear in the silent air.

"Morakesi, why didn't you tell me in advance that the demon invasion time was advanced? The migration of fish-men and lizardmen in the entire Salt Swamp, as well as the construction of coastal defense works, such a big thing, you actually did it alone, as if I didn't exist?"

"Duke, don't blame me for speaking harshly. Among the fifty members of the Duke's territory who are Master Rank or above, thirty are dragons and dragon-beasts. They all want to have their own territory, and even generals like Sha Lu Te and others want to earn benefits in this war."

"You were hesitant, so we had to make the decision for you. Everyone knows you don't want to take this risk. You have fiefs and vassals, and countless wealth, but what do we have? All we have is ambition."

"That's right, Duke, Morakesi is not the only one involved in this matter. Even Gelapu didn't want to miss the opportunity. Leaving you, we can only go our separate ways. If we want to participate in this dangerous feast, we must drag you into the water."

"Do you have a share in this too? Su Lai De, have I trusted you too much?"

"Duke, if you have seen the Mechanus, perhaps you will understand me. In that forgotten corner, there still exist a large number of powerhouses, so powerful that we don't even dare to look directly at them. I don't care about territory and wealth, but I also don't want to stop here. I can only say I am very sorry about this matter."

In the distance, turbid water puddles were scattered in the swamp like broken mirrors, reflecting the lead-gray sky. Alkali-loving plants grew in clusters by the water, and the dark red plants connected into a piece, like blood scabs oozing from the earth. Occasionally, a few clusters of reeds protruded tenaciously from the salt crust, and the withered yellow leaves were covered with white dust, emitting a hoarse friction sound in the sea breeze.

Looking at the scenery in the distance, Sakavi fell into silence for a while. It was no wonder that chromatic dragons had to suppress the development of their subordinates. Even with the vassal contract in existence, it couldn't stop the little tricks of generals like Sha Lu Te. As for Weilna, from the moment she took the initiative to become a vassal, she had been calculating him. Sakavi was unwilling to wade into this muddy water.

"All my assets have been invested here. Now I can't leave even if I want to. Morakesi, do you think we can stop the demon army here?"

"Duke, rest assured. After I returned, we reopened the Abyss channel. After three years of tempering, our six legions are all battle-hardened elites, and there are sufficient troop sources for subsequent replenishment. We can completely repel the demon invasion here."

"No, don't stop them here. Let them go to Agreke, and we will have a decisive battle with them there. Only two legions will participate in the battle here, and the others will be taken over by garrison troops. Two legions will retreat to the Iron Hoof Wilderness, and two will be stationed in the Bohe Plain area."

"Why? In that case, the Duke's territory will be completely destroyed. You must know that many people are natives here. Is the loss of doing this a bit too big?"

"A normal Abyssal plane has a demon lord sitting in charge. We don't need to take this risk. If everyone is put here, if they are damaged once, what will you use to fight for benefits later? Relying on personnel damage? Only what you get in your hands is your own."

"Also, you hand over the work, take half of the dragon-beasts to the Soluo Archipelago. Once there, watch them well, don't let that group of guys who don't save trouble cause trouble everywhere."

"Am I not participating in the subsequent combat?"

"Those guys who claim to be righteous should contribute properly. When you return after attacking the Abyss, that is when you should contribute."

"Understood, Duke. Your wisdom is still so admirable."

"Let's go, walk with me. You guys have made me very angry. Today, I just happen to take time to look at this swamp again. I won't be able to see it in the future."

Three humanoid figures walked on the winding path. In the distance, twisted withered trees stood in the depths of the swamp, their branches pointing to the sky like white bones. Their bark had long since peeled off, eroded by salt into gray-white skeletons, and some branches were hung with tattered moss, like dying flags.

The briny sea breeze blew from the left, carrying the distinct, astringent smell of seawater, humus, and salt marshes. As the wind swept across the water's surface, it stirred up fine ripples, shattering the reflections into thousands of silver scales. Foam and broken grass accumulated near the tide line, forming a blurry boundary.

Passing through the air with a slightly pungent salty fishy smell, the three stopped on a slightly higher slope and looked forward. As the first barrier to resist demons, the scene before them was mixed with haste, toughness, and a trace of tragedy.

First to enter the eyes was the main wall that wound like a long snake. It was taken from the local area, using the tough peat soil of the swamp mixed with the twisted trees that had been felled, and rammed into a wall nearly five meters high.

The outside of the wall was covered with sharp wooden stakes, pointing obliquely toward the sky and the sea. The tips of the wooden stakes were roasted and hardened by fire, and one could even vaguely see some broken shells and salt crystals embedded in them, shining with cold and hard luster under the gray-white sky.

The silver dragon-man Morakesi's silver scales reflected slightly in the dim light, and he calmly evaluated: "The wall is not neat enough, but it is thick enough. Using local materials, the construction speed is fast. The disadvantage is that it is afraid of continuous rain and powerful magical impact."

"I didn't expect it to resist for long, just delay the demon's footsteps a little." Sakavi didn't seem to care much about this, just saying it casually.

"Let's go to the watchtowers over there to see! See Morakesi's achievements over these years!" Su Lai De pointed to several watchtowers standing at the key nodes of the earth wall in the distance.

They were higher than the wall, and the structure looked a bit simple, fixed by thick logs and ropes. Fish-man sentries holding bows and crossbows were on alert on the tower platform, and their figures were like silhouettes against the background of low-hanging clouds.

Su Lai De looked up, his white hair fluttering slightly in the humid sea breeze. "The watchtowers have a good view and can cover the entire beach and near-sea. But the structure doesn't seem very stable. If it encounters the impact of flying demons, I'm afraid..." He didn't finish, but his furrowed brows revealed his worry.

"These were originally used to consume the demon's manpower, it's just a pity for the fish-men on this defense line. Morakesi, after staying with that group of chromatic dragons for a long time, you seem to be not so kind anymore!"

"Duke, you can really joke. Have you forgotten? I am a dragon-beast that didn't withstand the dragon inheritance. Back then, you cleaned up all the memories of my soul, and I was reborn. The natural Lawful Good consciousness of metal dragons couldn't affect me at all."

Standing on the watchtower, one could see that the open space in front of the wall had been carefully transformed into a death zone. The saline-alkali swamp that was already muddy was further excavated and diverted, forming wider and deeper trenches, inside which was turbid mud slurry bubbling with suspicious bubbles. Besides natural toxic humus, other things were mixed into the mud slurry.

The dark vertical pupils of the black dragon-man Sakavi swept across that area, and the corners of his mouth hooked into a cruel smile, "The mudflats have been added with ingredients, I can smell the rot and toxins. It's enough to make those low-level monsters sink in and never climb out again." This area was also inserted with some warning skeleton marks, as well as some camouflaged traps.

On the walls and watchtowers, one could see defensive equipment and personnel. Besides conventional bows and crossbows, some large, somewhat clumsy-looking ballistae were fixed on the wall, and the crossbow bolts were as thick as an adult's arm.

Some fish-man soldiers were checking weapons. Most of their armor and weapons were condensed with white salt frost, and their faces carried the unique fatigue of long-term garrisoning by the sea, but their eyes were exceptionally sharp, staring tightly at the sea level filled with fog. Su Lai De said worriedly: "They have been garrisoned here for a long time, and the climate and waiting are consuming them."

"Can these fish-men really hold the position? I feel they will throw down their weapons and turn to flee the moment they see demons. You must know that fish-men have never been good at fighting, even those who have received simple education."

"The Duke can rest assured about this. Gelapu has already anticipated this situation. After the demons land on the coast, the entire trench will be filled with a kind of flower that emits a scent that makes people fall into fanaticism, and the fish-men will temporarily lose their fear."

"Hahahaha! Morakesi, you are really becoming more and more like that kind of slave owner of blue dragons. You can even think of this way of exploiting people. It really surprised me."

"I just think Weilna said it very well. Putting down the burden of ethnic identity and doing what you think is right makes a lot of sense. In the past, I was deliberately trying to understand what a normal silver dragon is like and what counts as qualified."

"Later Weilna told me that you are a pure black dragon, but you have many characteristics that only humans have, and no one said you are not an evil chromatic dragon. There is no need to be like anything, just think it's not wrong."

"Not bad, this is the student taught by my Sakavi. Why learn from other dragons? Just do what you want to do. There is no shortage of strange dragons in this world. By the way, do you know that green dragon Iluoge mentioned?"

"I know. I have known since I was very young, because he always speaks with a sense of superiority. I remember he ran into the academy himself. I don't know what method he used, but he actually deceived that group of registration personnel."

"Let's stop here today! Let's go to Agreke to see that green dragon, and also learn from his greatness. There are really many talents under your command!"