Chapter 51: The Taste of the Dragon

Naimi Xisi was startled; the Difa Family had been annihilated? Who could wipe out a family guarded by a high‑ranking priest?

"It was the Du Kuai Deng Family that did it, the original eighth family of Menzoberranzan; they launched an assassination while the Difa Family's elite troops were invading Kulagramosh."

"The Difa Family's Matron Mother was slain by the Du Kuai Deng Family's Ma Lie Si Matron Mother, and the rest of the clan perished. Now, under the witness of First Family Baenre Matron Mother, the Du Kuai Deng Family has replaced Difa as the new Third Family."

Naimi Xisi inhaled sharply; indeed a race that treats intrigue as a traditional virtue—this back‑stab move was truly masterful.

He suddenly got a bad feeling, and asked, "Now that the Difa Family is gone, what are Menzoberranzan's plans for the Central‑Northern region?"

Ke Lan Jia Ting said with a worried frown, "The First Family and the Third Family have formed an alliance, uniting their armies to campaign into the Central‑Northern region."

"Kulagramosh has already fallen."

Everyone in the den fell silent; the Dark Elf's iron hooves seemed like a sharp blade, warning the survivors not to make a sound.

"Dark Elves are unbeatable; the fall of the Central‑Northern region is a foregone fact. Goblin City, temporarily abandon it, and relocate all Dependents back to the Cold Iron Vein."

Naimi Xisi analyzed the situation and issued orders.

The Cold Iron Vein is extremely hidden; in the Underdark's labyrinthine terrain, as long as the two passages leading to the outside remain undiscovered, the place cannot be found.

The Underdark is now at its most turbulent, no longer suitable for the growth of juvenile dragons.

"It's time to return to the surface"—the ground, the sky overcast like rain, the leafless skeletons of old elm and oak rattling in the gale.

The forest's mammals retreated to their burrows; they dislike having their fur soaked.

Yet even the animals sensed the dreadful weather, some people still pressed on.

In the forest, four figures trudged forward through the torrential rain and gale.

"Ma Luo! You fool, this is the rain you said wouldn't happen? You're the worst Mage I've ever seen!"

A tall male tabaxi, his body covered in yellow‑black mottled fur, shouted angrily.

The target of his insult, a gaunt man in a black robe with pallid skin, did not back down.

"Please! I'm a prophecy Mage, not a weather‑forecast Mage! You let me predict the weather, I did, so what! Who says a prophecy must be correct?"

The tabaxi tugged uncomfortably at his cloak, hating how his beautiful fur was drenched by the rain.

"My meticulously groomed fur is now a mess! This is terrible!"

"It's all your fault, Ke Li Te! I told you not to rush departure today; coming tomorrow would be the same!"

The tabaxi complained to another member of the party, a blonde girl in padded armor whose graceful figure was hidden beneath the armor, a sharp magical longsword sheathed at her waist.

The girl's pure, aloof face frowned slightly, ignoring him; it was indeed her suggestion, and she had her own unspoken reasons.

"Enough noise, Mao Zizi! I warned you that if you keep complaining, I'll throw away your cat‑toy when I get back!"

The tabaxi let out a cat‑like threatening hiss and said angrily, "Don't call me Mao Zizi! I now have a human name; I am Oliver! Damn Bu Lie Ta Ni, you're as rude as your coarse Tiefling kin!"

The last member, a towering female Tiefling whose body was astonishingly muscular and fat, skin crimson, twin horns on her head, rolled an eye impatiently, ignoring the tabaxi's accusation.

Blonde girl Ke Li Te suddenly halted, finger to her lips, emitting a "shh" sound.

Everyone fell quiet, even the most irritable tabaxi Mao Zizi—oh no, Oliver—became silent; his two paws extended ten razor‑sharp claws, his fur standing on end.

The sky grew dark, a deluge poured down, the scattered stars hanging high were obscured by clouds, only the moon stubbornly cast faint light. In this darkness, ghostly green flames flickered deep in the forest, drifting in the gloom, inching closer until the hidden outlines emerged hazily.

"It's a ferocious wolf," Ke Li Te said solemnly.

Prophecy Mage Ma Luo muttered the incantation clumsily; the moment the spell formed, it granted him the ability to see through darkness.

"Twelve or thirteen ferocious wolves!" Ma Luo said, voice trembling.

Bu Lie Ta Ni whispered in a breathy voice, "I count three‑two‑one, we run."

"3,"

"2,"

"Run!"

With a whoosh, the three of them bolted toward the distance; only Ma Luo paused briefly, then grabbed the edge of his black robe and sprinted.

"Weren't we supposed to count to one!!!!"

The specks of green light in the darkness saw the prey flee, erupted instantly, and over twenty massive ferocious wolves surged from the shadows, launching a life‑or‑death chase.

"No, I can't… I can't run!"

Ma Luo gasped for breath, the scent of blood flooding his nostrils; his steps grew slower until a stone tripped him, sending him crashing heavily to the ground.

"I told you to train already!"

Bu Lie Ta Ni, who had been ahead of him, sighed, turned back, lifted him onto her back, and kept sprinting.

The ferocious wolves were extremely fast, closing the distance rapidly; it was foreseeable that soon they'd be devoured by wolf jaws.

"Look, there's a tower! It's the Mage Tower!" Ma Luo, leaning on Bu Lie Ta Ni's back, pointed excitedly at the nearby structure.

Beyond the thicket, a dilapidated Mage Tower stood silently amid the dark storm.

"Hold on, run into that tower, use a defensive formation to hold the gate and fight them!" Ke Li Te's eyes lit up, and she immediately gave the command.

Although there may be twenty‑three ferocious wolves, the narrow tower gate allows them to face only one or two at a time.

The pack is very loss‑averse; once a few of their kin fall and they realize they're not to be trifled with, they are likely to retreat.

The four pressed forward with all their might toward the High Tower; their speed immediately outpaced the wolves, and they finally fled into the High Tower.

Bu Lie Ta Ni slammed the dilapidated wooden door shut, sealing out the raging wind and rain, leaving only darkness.

But they did not know that…

The wolves, watching where they fled, halted at the edge of the thicket, lingering in the darkness, silently observing their departing silhouettes.

They did not chase, only quietly gazed at the departing prey, their faint green eyes filled with resentment.

The ferocious wolves have the keenest noses; they smelled that faint scent, not as strong as usual, yet they detected it.

The king among Monsters, the taste of a dragon.

(End of Chapter)