[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-37":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1161853,1504,"Chapter 37: Gathering of Minions","ember-dragon-chapter-37",37,"\u003Cp>The lizardfolk spoke in Draconic, believing it to be a language imparted by the ancient dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lizardfolk tribes living within a dragon’s domain often offer tribute to gain its favor. Evil dragons, in turn, utilize lizardfolk for their own sinister purposes, turning them into raiders and pillagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the old shaman made what might have been a wise judgment, drawing on ancient traditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let us hope so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only wish to lead our tribe… to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the valley already filling up, Ack quietly led his tribe to a more secluded corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, they had lost over twenty members to the monsters lurking in the darkness of the caves—they could not afford further losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It will be as you wish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old shaman observed the various minions moving around and said this calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike inherently evil races, these lizardfolk were more like cold-blooded reptiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They held no traditional moral compass, considering good and evil to be foreign concepts. As true neutral beings, they would kill when necessary and do whatever it took to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, territorial disputes continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Raaaawr—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelve wyverns roared as they descended, claiming the largest rock in the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblins and kobolds quickly scattered, fearful of being crushed by an unwary wyvern, which would mean certain death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then an even louder roar echoed from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chimera, indisputably the hero of the recent battle, arrived to join the assembly, still scarred but brimming with a fierce aura, driving the wyverns away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking up a large area for itself, the chimera lay there, and no one dared approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brainless beast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu, standing at the forefront, glanced sidelong at the boasting chimera and deliberately adjusted his disproportionately small silver-rimmed glasses with a lofty air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as the official elder of the valley and the Ember Nest’s steward—and one of its few spellcasters—he had every right to feel superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone knows you’re the master’s true confidant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kobold Gold-Fang squeezed next to Langpu, grinning obsequiously, sycophantically praising him. Standing beside the three-meter-tall ogre mage, his own stature appeared even smaller and more hunched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After offending hobgoblin leader Dolo last time, Gold-Fang had resolved to cling to the ogre mage’s “mighty legs.” Only by doing so could he secure his position among the kobolds and barely compete with the goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu snorted, but his heart brimmed with smug satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boss, I’m so hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the master gonna give us meat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With so many goblins here, surely he’ll let us feast on goblin meat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogres discussed their hunger loudly, sending shivers down the spines of the nearby goblins, who instinctively moved further away. Some even considered reporting this to Dolo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu’s face darkened as he saw this, smacking the ogre “Big Head” on the head with his staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat, eat! All you think about is eating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Big Head rubbed his head, looking aggrieved, and tried to speak in his defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu sternly called the ogres over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a goblin figure on the ground with a stick, writing “ally” beside it in Common and pointed to it, saying as gently as he could:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, repeat after me: ally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Food!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogres shouted in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Langpu’s smile froze, and his face darkened, his grip tightening on the staff as veins popped on his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although they had been allies for some time, the goblins nearby felt even more terrified, wishing to slip away immediately lest they become some ogre’s snack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hobgoblin leader Dolo stood not far off, watching Langpu’s efforts with the ogres, and a flicker of resentment crossed his small yellow eyes—after all, it was this ogre mage who had recently embarrassed him before the master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at these ogres.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wonder if their brains can hold any thoughts beyond food.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could creatures like this ever manage the Ember Nest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his arms crossed, Dolo muttered to the nearby bugbears, his voice low but clear enough for everyone nearby to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogres couldn’t quite understand his words, but they picked up on the mocking tone, hefting their clubs and glaring in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar! Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keen to be goblin snacks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bugbears instantly formed a protective line in front of Dolo. Although not as tall as the ogres, they were just as brawny and far better trained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the regular goblins hesitantly stepped up, standing as a reluctant support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that supposed to mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugly giant, back off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogre mage eyed Dolo coldly from behind the bugbears before saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leader Dolo, the master already warned you last time. I hope you’ve learned your lesson and won’t cause trouble again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though phrased as advice, Dolo took it as a veiled insult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately flared with anger, his already red skin darkening further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Langpu, what do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ogre mage looked down at him and said, “The master personally called this gathering. If you cause trouble here—well, I don’t need to spell out the consequences, do I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, we’ll see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dolo snorted, then turned and led his followers to another spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face looked especially sour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t intended to clash with the ogres at such an important gathering; he’d only wanted to score some points verbally to undermine Langpu’s influence. But instead, he had lost face entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gold-Fang sidled up to Langpu with a few kobolds, smirking and continuing his flattery without restraint:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those rude goblins really don’t know their place. Your wisdom is beyond anything they could hope to match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kobolds found great amusement in seeing the goblins get put in their place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distant, imposing roar came from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the various monsters in the valley, regardless of whether they had been bickering, shouting, or scuffling, stopped what they were doing and looked skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the valley; the cacophony ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From above, the red dragon descended, spreading his wings as he landed atop the highest cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shadow stretched out, blanketing his gathered minions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The host of this assembly had finally arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>",996,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.671Z","2026-06-03T12:47:06.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","c18655624ac2f81ac0746943dc4c530e636c648f3e8c6460d24c9114c589d59a","ember-dragon-chapter-38","ember-dragon-chapter-36",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]