Chapter 29: Gray-Scale Kobold — Unknown Dragon Species

The color of a kobold's scales is tied to its ancestors — whatever color the scales are, that dragon's bloodline is the dominant one.

Of course, kobolds have interbred so much that all bloodlines are mixed together.

Two kobolds with the same scale color can still produce offspring with completely different scale colors.

But among the chromatic dragons and metallic dragons, there is no such thing as this slate-gray scale color.

No matter how much they crossbreed, they can't produce slate-gray scales.

These novel scales greatly astonished Fang Shi; he thought of one possibility — could this kobold's ancestor be some rare, unusual dragon species?

Many people believe true dragons only come in a few kinds: chromatic dragons, metallic dragons, gem dragons, and legendary dragons.

In reality, the varieties of dragons are countless — ever since the Primordial Dragon inscribed the concept of "dragon" into the multiverse.

Dragon kinds began to multiply — from the smallest living creatures and beasts, to the middling forces of nature, to the grandest laws and concepts; anything and everything can become a dragon.

Of course, all of the above are records Fang Shi saw in a certain hidden tome.

In many people's understanding — including learned archmages — the Nine-Faced Dragon God Io is regarded as the creator of all dragons.

But in that hidden tome's account, the Nine-Faced Dragon God Io is nothing more than a speck of insignificant dust before the Primordial Dragon.

Well, Fang Shi doesn't know whether these records are true or false either.

Whether the Primordial Dragon or the Nine-Faced Dragon God, both are great existences far beyond his reach.

Still, it is true that there are many kinds of dragons — this kobold has clearly inherited the bloodline of a rare dragon species.

Fang Shi tested the properties of the scales and found that these slate-gray scales had far higher defense than ordinary kobold scales.

On par with Natural Armor II.

Fang Shi showed a solemn expression: "I just don't know what special supernatural abilities this type of kobold has — must be careful not to capsize in a ditch."

His earlier confidence came from the fact that he already knew ordinary kobold abilities inside and out.

He had all kinds of ways to deal with them.

But against this Gray-Scale Kobold, Fang Shi knew nothing at all.

One must understand that a spell's greatest threat lies not in its destructive power, but in the unknown.

After all, no matter how powerful a spell, there's always a way to counter it — but unknown spells are hard to deal with.

Certain special effects can easily decide the outcome of a battle.

What worried Fang Shi was exactly this — the Gray-Scale clearly wielded the power of the earth element.

Generally, abilities tied to this element carry effects like slowing or petrification.

Slowing isn't a big deal — just stay alert — but petrification is the real fear; fail the Fortitude save and it's an instant kill.

Of course, no matter what, a kobold is still a kobold.

Even if it inherited supernatural power from dragons.

Its creature level is right there — it's very hard for it to actually use petrification.

Petrification is, after all, an advanced application of the earth element; without a certain creature level to back it up, it's hard to achieve.

The fear is that some kobold born with extraordinary talent might pull off a miracle.

Having gone through so many dangers, Fang Shi naturally wouldn't shrink back over just this.

He first carefully searched the kobold's corpse, hoping to find any clues about the underground palace.

The result was only an empty wine flask and some sundries.

The rapier and armor were crudely made pig iron — far too low in value; the thing was a complete pauper.

Looks like he could only proceed cautiously.

……

Deep within the underground palace, led by the kobold sorcerer, a group of Gray-Scale Kobolds gathered before a tall palace gate, holding a ritual.

The gate was overall a pale white, with exquisite murals carved upon it.

A discordant note: the gems that should have been set into the gate to adorn the murals had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a mess of pitted holes,

ruining the overall beauty of the murals.

The kobold sorcerer capered and gesticulated before the gate, seemingly performing a Nuo dance.

Immediately after, four burly kobold knights carried a giant scorpion over two and a half meters long out from a side hall.

Then they set it down on the altar before the kobold sorcerer.

The giant scorpion's pincers were still twitching slightly — it wasn't dead, still alive.

But the giant scorpion's entire body was tightly bound with ropes; even its long tail was folded and tied against its belly.

Bound like this, even at the height of its strength the giant scorpion couldn't have broken free, let alone now when it was on its last breath.

Seeing the giant scorpion placed on the altar, the kobold sorcerer stopped the Nuo dance and began muttering, praying in Dragonic.

The remaining kobolds began devoutly prostrating themselves on the ground, their lips moving in silent prayer.

They were so devout, their eyes shining with fervor and a glory of self-sacrifice.

Some kobolds even stole envious glances at the giant scorpion on the altar, wishing they could take its place.

Just like that, after the ritual had gone on for half an hour, the kobold sorcerer finally finished the lengthy prayer.

Then with a wave of the staff in his hand, a bolt of lightning sprang from the staff and shot straight at the giant scorpion.

Instantly, the smell of burning began to spread through this great hall.

The giant scorpion's smooth, glossy carapace had become a sheet of charcoal.

At this sight, cheers rose among the kobolds, spreading outward, and finally rolling like a tide through the underground palace.

……

"Piercing attack activated."

"Target took lethal damage."

"You dealt 25.5 damage to the target."

"Target dead."

"Draining the target's soul energy, you gained 10 experience points and 1 survival point."

Fang Shi flung the kobold warrior aside casually, smoothly drawing his fine steel sword.

He looked at the data on his status panel and nodded in satisfaction.

Why say the Mystical Realm experience is rich? One very important point is that Mystical Realm experience has none of the usual experience penalties.

It's not that killing monsters of the same level gives more experience.

This kobold warrior, a level 1 creature, couldn't have provided Fang Shi any experience at all out in the world.

But inside a Mystical Realm it's completely different—you get exactly what you're owed, not a single point less.

Walking along the way, Fang Shi had it almost embarrassingly easy.

He killed another 4 kobold warriors and 1 kobold swordsman without any trouble.

Nothing like before the rebirth at all.

The kobolds he'd killed before the rebirth were shrewd, weren't they—dirty tricks and traps, every dirty trick in the book.

Even if morale quickly collapsed under casualties and they broke at the first touch, they still had to weather the first wave of attack.

Truly, born in sorrow, dying in ease—the ancients did not deceive me.

Even kobolds, with their many natural enemies, have caution carved into their very bloodlines.

Living too long in a comfortable environment, they too lost their vigilance.

"Huh? What sound is that?"

Fang Shi, walking through the passageways of the underground palace, faintly heard cheers drifting from within the walls.

He looked questioningly toward the depths of the underground palace.

The kobolds he'd killed before were all guards stationed at various checkpoints; beyond that, Fang Shi hadn't found any other kobolds.

But along the way, Fang Shi hadn't failed to pass through the kobolds' residential areas—he'd even passed by their mining sites.

Too bad, those ores were just some ordinary iron ore, no rare minerals at all.

Where did all these kobolds go?

In a kobold tribe, most kobolds are miners, the exploited bottom rung.

The kobold rulers wished these kobolds would work every single moment—how could they let these kobolds skip work?

But the faintly drifting cheers seemed to give Fang Shi some answers.

Kobolds only gather in large numbers in two situations.

The first is facing a powerful external enemy, needing lots of cannon fodder to lure the enemy.

The second is a sacrificial rite—a sacrificial rite is a form of reverence toward the gods; without important matters it cannot be held, and one cannot fail to attend.

But Fang Shi was still a bit puzzled.

The kobolds' ancestors long lived on the edge of starvation, and greed was carved into their bloodlines long ago.

They wouldn't hold a sacrificial rite unless it was necessary.

They'd rather use the food to bear more offspring than waste it on anything else.

They'd even resort to cannibalism in times of famine, all for the sake of breeding the next generation.

Therefore, a sacrificial rite involving nearly the whole tribe is exceedingly rare.

Even the kobolds' chief god, Kultumak, rarely received such treatment.

But there's one exception—dragons. Dragons are their true deities.

The bloodline of dragons naturally exerts pressure over kobolds; whichever kind of dragon, they are all their masters.

Even a dragon whelp of meager strength is no exception.

Kobolds would starve to death before failing to sacrifice to their masters, even offering themselves up willingly, believing that being eaten by a dragon is the greatest honor.

A dragon whelp?

Thinking of this, Fang Shi's eyes grew fiery.

Could there be a dragon whelp here!

The dragon race is one of the most powerful races in the multiverse.

Their strength needs no further elaboration—every civilization in the multiverse has records of them.

Related literature and materials are as numerous as mountains and seas.

Correspondingly, their entire bodies are treasures.

Dragon scales make armor, dragon hide makes clothing, dragon blood goes into medicine, dragon meat goes into food, dragon sinew makes bows, dragon claws make swords, dragon horns make spears, dragon crystals lay arrays.

The benefits go on and on, countless—and every item made from them is a Supernatural Item.

Even a dragon whelp is still a dragon.

It would still have the benefits it should have; though a weakened version, for a level 3 Fang Shi it's just right.

Wait, don't get too excited too early.

As mentioned before, a dragon whelp is still a dragon, so the strength it should have won't be lacking either.

Of course, dragon whelps of different breeds have wildly different strength—weak ones only level 2, strong ones level 5, and some dragon types are born with legendary strength.

However, this Mystical Realm was opened by an iron key, so the cap is only level 5—it can't be a legendary dragon breed.

A small level 5 dragon whelp, as long as he finds the right method, Fang Shi still has a way to slay it.

Besides, it might not even be level 5.

Before, Fang Shi had even mocked that running into a dragon whelp was impossible.

He never expected that now he himself had stumbled upon this fortunate encounter.

"I just don't know what kind of dragon this is; perhaps it is related to the bloodline of these gray-scaled dog-headed kobolds."

But in any case, all the dog-headed kobolds must be eliminated first before facing the young dragon; otherwise, confronting a dragon with servants would be a suicidal act.