Chapter 31: Kulagramosh City (Seeking Continuation)

Naimi Xisi didn't know much about the situation in the Central‑North region, so they turned to look at Volensa, and after receiving Volensa's affirmation, they realized the black dragon had been telling the truth.

"So, you want to pull me into an alliance resisting the Drow?"

Sgena nodded. Her original purpose was indeed as she said; if it were a silver dragon that had mistakenly entered the Underdark, or a weak white one, she would not have chosen to cooperate.

But a mutated Juan Ce Long was different; even an unmutated Juan Ce Long is renowned among dragons for its powerful spellcasting ability.

Naimi Xisi ultimately still agreed.

He doesn't think his own strength can stand alone; even though he defeated Akdina, compared with a Drow city's noble family, that small army is nothing.

A qualified Matron Mother Family would have at least a army of five hundred elite Drow professionals, several spellcasters capable of casting mid‑circle spells (i. e., 4‑6 circle spells), and a Matron Mother with a senior priest rank.

Although, as a noble Matron Mother, the counterpart would probably need to be stationed in Menzoberranzan to prevent treacherous kin from raiding her, even so, that would still be an extremely powerful force.

"Very well, it seems you are a True Dragon who, like me, is adept at applying wisdom." Sgena was very pleased with Naimi Xisi's joining; most True Dragons are extremely proud, and she had indeed considered the possibility of refusal.

"The ants of Kulagramosh should feel honored; two great True Dragons have joined their ranks!" Sgena announced loudly.

"Now let's set out; you may choose to bring Dependents." After speaking, Sgena looked at the surrounding goblins and shook her head in disgust.

"These rations are unnecessary; Kulagramosh will have enough food."

Naimi Xisi nodded; he still needed combat power to hold the city, so he chose to leave Danoli, Ogel, Gelikete, and Tie Xiu.

He only took the individually strongest Volensa and those thirty‑five Shadow Sword Warriors.

When those thirty‑five Shadow Swords, clad in elite armor, emerged, Sgena opened her mouth in surprise; this dragon could actually make over thirty proud Drow submit.

But immediately, she sensed something off; the uniform motions and obedience gave her a hint of unnaturalness.

The black dragon keenly perceived that these Dark Elves were being controlled.

"How is this possible? A Mana‑oriented Xenodragon?" Sgena inhaled a cold breath, having never seen the ability to control so many professionals.

Only the path of Mana, adept at mental control, barely fits, yet even so, achieving control over such a number is truly astonishing.

Naimi Xisi's threat level rose several orders in her mind; the Juan Ce Long's mastery of Arcane Power was already profound, and with such potent Mana, "this dragon may be physically frail, but it is certainly a hard‑to‑deal spellcaster," Sgena concluded.

In the meantime, the cunning black dragon's demeanor became more proper. — Central‑North region, Kulagramosh.

Located about 90 km northwest of Omas on the Frelen Continent, 26 km beneath the Radiant Plains, there exists an enormous natural underground cavern.

The city of Kulagramosh sits here.

Below Kulagramosh lies the former site of Aolingduoer City; these Mind Flayers controlled many slaves and built this fortress city atop them.

The cavern housing Kulagramosh is the only surface passage from the western Underdark to the Central‑North region.

Otherwise, one must cross the vast Glimmersea (a primordial underground sea formed by seepage from the falling star sea above) to reach it.

But Glimmersea is not so easy to traverse.

This vast, night‑dark sea deep underground harbors countless Kou Tao Fishmen, a cruel, evil intelligent species that is hostile to all underground creatures except Dark Elves.

Besides the Kou Tao Fishmen, various marine Monsters also dwell there. These marine Monsters are equally troublesome, and even Dark Elves cannot fare well against them.

After the Mind Flayers established Kulagramosh, the upper Central‑North region became wholly their private territory. Atop this crucial fortress, a black and a silver dragon swooped from the sky and descended into the city.

The black giant dragon was somewhat larger, its 18‑meter body and 36‑meter wingspan blotting out the sky, its powerful muscles and sharp claws foretelling terrible strength.

The slightly smaller giant dragon, however, was different; its massive, fish‑fin‑like tail shimmered with multicolored light in the dark Underdark, each scale on its body sparkling like finely cut diamonds.

The massive Dragon Might, carried by the swift flight's gale, swept across the city's streets.

The streets quickly cleared. A Gray Dwarf, nervous and trying to flee, slipped and fell.

The street vendors hurriedly pulled down the windshields on their carts to block the gust trying to tear them away. Papers and trash flailed wildly in the air.

"Enough!"

A beastfolk clad in cumbersome, crude armor leapt instantly into the path of the two dragons; the hard, rocky ground beneath him shattered under the impact of his fall.

Sgena and Naimi Xisi halted upon seeing his appearance, and the black dragon chuckled:

"Don't get excited, Sarufar, I was just about to fly find you."

The green‑faced, fang‑toothed beastfolk snorted coldly: "Your 'flight' makes quite a stir; this isn't your dragon's nest, black dragon."

Sgena narrowed her eyes dangerously, and Naimi Xisi beside her was also surprised; few beastfolk dare speak to a True Dragon that way.

"Interesting, a level‑12 Berserk." Naimi Xisi was astonished by the mental feedback information.

The Berserk is a melee profession unique to beastfolk, focusing on simple brutality; compared to a Warrior, the Berserk possesses higher Physical Quality and can use Rage, a form of Berserk that is even more powerful.

Could such a powerful beastfolk have once been a slave of the Mind Flayers? One should know that the mortal world's cap is only level 17.

After this, the Legendary road begins.

A level‑12 professional, wherever they are, is capable of becoming a major power's guest of honor.

Sarufar's warning did not cause the black dragon to turn hostile; this powerful Berserk was still not one she could handle.

As one of Kulagramosh's two great leaders, Sarufar's strength is the strongest in the city.

An adolescent black dragon, at its peak, can spar with a level‑10 professional, thanks to the dragon race's innate massive Physical Strength.

The combat power of a True Dragon cannot be simply compared to a profession level; an adolescent black dragon, even without any profession, possesses immense Physical Strength, a powerful breath, and spell‑like abilities, all extremely formidable.

According to the renowned Frelen continent travel writer, the human Varo, in his Monster Guide book, it is mentioned that…

A normal adolescent black dragon requires four different level‑7 professionals working together to have a chance of defeat.

But this is only the minimum requirement.

Dragons are not static ordinary monsters; they can choose professions and devour vast amounts of magical ore to accelerate bodily growth.

An "ambitious" True Dragon and an unambitious True Dragon can have a huge disparity in combat power within the same age group.

The level‑10 estimate is my own calculation: four different level‑7 professionals combined should be comparable to a level‑10 melee profession.

(End of chapter)