Chapter 145: Corrupted Bipedal Flying Dragons in the Basin

Naimi Xisi flapped his wings at Twin Cape and rose high, the massive dragon shadow sweeping across the entire coastline.

Along the way, he passed Heim Port, a colonial town that had begun to take shape; the coastal area had become a bustling dock, the jungle leading to Old Cast City had been cleared entirely, and towering stone walls were erected around the perimeter, turning it into a massive city.

Tropical rainforest‑style palm trees stood haphazardly beside the city's bluestone streets, and wood served as the primary building material for most houses in Heim Port.

Some wealthy people moved to the coastal district right next to the harbor, where standalone villas were built along the shore.

In the center of the Old Cast City ruins, a massive Mage Tower rose; although not as tall as the Black Staff Tower, it still met the basic standards of a Mage Tower.

Naimi Xisi couldn't help but envy the Legendary Mage's holdings; building a Mage Tower from scratch in two years, he believed this was not Boris's only Mage Tower—perhaps in Am, the other party even possessed a more luxurious counterpart.

Naimi Xisi flew beyond Heim Port, soaring over the endless plain; he saw on the Great Plain dozens of Paiite cities spaced hundreds of kilometers apart, the largest of which featured a dazzling golden pyramid soaring a hundred meters high at its center.

"This place isn't suitable."

Naimi Xisi shook his head, crossing this spot off the list of possible settlements; the Golden Legion's forces would inevitably advance further, and settling here would likely bring conflict with them.

The giant dragon in the sky changed direction, its massive body pivoting sharply and, in an astonishing manner, completing a turn in midair, then continued flying north.

The rain dragon he had transformed into a small snake and strapped to his side nearly got tossed away; terrified, it thought, "I don't want to fly! Dropping from this height, even reverting to its original form could turn it into mush."

After an afternoon of flight, Naimi Xisi reached the northern edge of the Great Plain, where towering mountain ranges stretched for thousands of miles, and rugged mountain paths separated the plain from the lands beyond the peaks.

"Master." the rain dragon trembled, saying, having spent a day perched on the giant dragon made it feel extremely uncomfortable, after all its Physical Quality was now that of a small snake.

"Where would you like to go? I can guide you; it's better than this aimless flying." the rain dragon said, trying to please.

Naimi Xisi shook his head and said, "I don't know where to go; everything on this land is too unfamiliar to me. If I must name a place, I'd like to go to a region rich in mineral resources."

The rain dragon fell silent, muttering inwardly, "Who would know!"

The flying giant dragon suddenly halted; the abrupt stop nearly sent the rain dragon crashing to the ground again. Before it could discern what happened, the irksome master asked, "What is that place?"

The rain dragon looked in the direction Naimi Xisi indicated and saw a massive basin, its exit squeezed between two towering peaks; faintly, many tiny black specks could be seen moving across the ground.

"Those seem to be Niksaran people?" the rain dragon hesitated.

The giant dragon's eyesight gave him a clear view; Naimi Xisi saw that the Niksaran on the ground looked almost identical to Frelen humans—tall, slender, with sallow skin.

The hundreds of Niksaran appeared to be refugees, carrying heavy bundles, some bearing crude long spears, marching toward the valley within the mountains.

"The central Maztek continent is almost ruled by the Niksaran," the rain dragon explained nearby.

"However, competition there is fierce, with several factions vying for power, and the Niksaran's natural love of war has caused frequent conflicts over the past hundred years."

"These must be Niksaran fleeing the war; occasionally Niksaran cross the Death Mountains to seek refuge on the Great Plain and are taken in by the Paiite people." "Death Mountains?" Naimi Xisi glanced back at the mountains he had crossed, sensing several strong auras and even a multitude of Monster activity.

For frail humans, this truly qualifies as a "Death Mountains."

"But these Niksaran probably can't get in," the rain dragon said with a sigh, regretfully.

"This basin does have an owner," a hint of disgust flashed in the rain dragon's eyes.

Naimi Xisi nodded; he sensed a repulsive aura emanating from the basin, an unnatural scent that dragons find abhorrent.

Soon, the source of that smell appeared.

Accompanied by terrifying roars, a dozen fifteen‑meter‑long draconic silhouettes burst from the valley; the refugees on the ground instantly dropped their bundles in fright, trembling as they raised weapons to defend.

"What a disgusting toy," Naimi Xisi said, eyes blazing with anger, shouting sharply.

The rain dragon's demeanor was also full of disgust: "That basin houses a madman, a shaman who follows Zarthek, wielding dark magic and loves capturing pseudo‑dragons to corrupt them."

The dozen creatures circling in the air were a type of pseudo‑dragon—a bipedal flying dragon.

!

The bipedal flying dragon is a pseudo‑dragon with an extremely weak draconic bloodline, its strength comparable only to a seventh‑level adventurer; it possesses two scaled legs, a pair of sturdy wings, and a strong tail ending in its deadliest weapon: a venomous tail spike.

The toxin in the dragon's tail spike can kill a creature within seconds. Its potent venom can, via recirculating blood, scorch the victim's heart and arteries. Because of this lethality, hunters and adventurers covet its venom, using it for alchemical concoctions and weapon coating.

Normally, bipedal flying dragons rely solely on their sharp claws, fangs, and that venomous tail spike to strike prey.

However, the dozen monsters before them were different.

Their claws, fangs, and double jaws were grotesquely larger than normal, skin mottled and wrinkled, eyes burning with blood‑red fury—appearing as if twisted by an unimaginable evil force.

These are corrupted bipedal flying dragons; spells have wholly altered their bodies, necrotic energy corroded them, turning these already non‑speaking, low‑intelligence Monsters into half‑undead beings that obey only the Spellcaster.

Their terrifying dark claws harbor vile necrotic energy; any creature struck will gradually have its life force devoured by that necrotic energy.

The refugees on the ground clearly had never seen these snarling creatures hovering above their heads; one Niksaran even boldly hurled the long spear he held into the sky.

The spear failed to wound the corrupted bipedal flying dragons, but clearly angered them; the dozen monsters surged down, intending to tear the Niksaran apart.

The old, weak, women and children in the group knelt in despair as the approaching dragon swarm opened its massive jaws, snatching up the dozen humans and lifting them back into the sky; just as they were about to devour the feast, a terrifying pressure suddenly surged from above.

(End of Chapter)