Chapter 346: Eradicating the Withered

"How does this involve the Dolak people?"

Lei En was somewhat puzzled.

He was relatively familiar with the area around Astat, the Makurag Mountains and the plain at their foot, collectively called the Outramu region.

On this vast plateau the main powers were four: first, naturally, the Makurag people who held Astat City; then the Kagba Tribe in eastern Outramu; the Logosh Ogre Tribe in the north; and the Blood Spear Troll Tribe in the south.

The Makurag territory was the largest, with the best cities and hunting grounds, so the other three powers coveted it, and Astat was attacked almost every year.

Among them, the Kagba Tribe's ambition was the greatest.

The Kagba barbarians lived about three hundred li from Astat, beside a great lake; their innate power was weaker than the Makurag's, but they numbered over fifteen thousand, five times the Makurag population!

Historically, the Kagba barbarians had been Astat's chief enemy.

Lei En initially thought the threat this time also came from the Kagba Tribe, but after hearing Mariu, it seemed otherwise.

As for the Dolak people, they were also a barbarian tribe and one of the strongest on the Sane Plateau, numbering close to one hundred thousand, the outright ruler of the southern Sane Plateau.

However, the Dolak people did not border Astat; between them lay the Kagba Tribe's lands.

Though both the Dolak and Kagba worship the Black Emperor, whose title is the Tyrant King Ban Ke, ruler of "Conquest," "Tyranny," and "Fear," he has always urged his followers to battle each other; whoever conquers more land and people receives his blessing.

Several barbarian groups on the Sane Plateau professed devotion to him, but they were never allies; occasional cooperation occurred, but most of the time they regarded each other as mortal enemies.

Could it be that this time the Dolak persuaded the Kagba Tribe to cross their territory and strike Astat directly?

Adding the Blood Spear Tribe's trolls, the three forces would merge; without reinforcements, Astat would be in danger.

No wonder Mariu set aside his pride and asked for Lei En's aid.

"Aren't the Kagba and Dolak mortal enemies?" Lei En couldn't help asking, "Can they set aside years of grudges and cooperate?"

Mariu shook his head, "The Kagba Tribe no longer exists."

"What does that mean?" Lei En was greatly surprised.

"Three months ago, the Kagba Tribe sent envoys to Astat seeking aid; their tribe was attacked by the Dolak, a frequent occurrence. I wanted them to slaughter each other, which would weaken the Kagba, so I refused."

"I just didn't anticipate that the Dolak would truly conquer the Kagba Tribe; I only received the news a few days ago, but it was already too late."

Lei En also felt a wave of astonishment.

In his mind it clicked: the Makurag people clashed with the Kagba almost every year, constant friction, yet last year had been peaceful—there must have been a stronger enemy behind it.

That was certainly not good news for the Makurag.

Without the Kagba Tribe blocking the way, Astat would face the Dolak directly; if Astat fell again, the Dolak would fully dominate the southern Sane Plateau.

It was foreseeable that the Dolak, seeking to rise, would inevitably send troops against Astat.

More conquest!

More territory!

More tyranny!

That is the Black Emperor's demand of his followers.

Lei En looked at Mariu, the legendary barbarian with a worried face; the Makurag in the courtyard also bore a certain heaviness in their anger.

Clearly, the whole tribe sensed a great crisis.

They had fought the Kagba Tribe for centuries; both sides knew each other well, and this chief enemy was actually slightly stronger than the Makurag, but thanks to Astat's sturdy walls, the Makurag held the advantage.

Now that even the Kagba Tribe has been conquered, Astat will likely find it hard to survive.

Mariu hesitated briefly and said, "Lord Count…"

"Chief, rest assured, our pact remains valid; this is precisely when I fulfill my duty," Lei En said without any hesitation, giving a firm response.

He did not know the Dolak well, so he could not guarantee victory.

Nevertheless, Mariu felt relieved; his worries lessened greatly. Though he had never seen Lei En's army in battle, the Extreme Warriors' strength was undeniable—each at least a senior warrior, sixty in total, a truly powerful aid.

Lei En did not waste time and said directly, "Our first task is to scout the enemy's numbers and positions, prepare for battle; what do you think, chief?"

"I think the same," Mariu nodded.

He had led his people through countless battles and naturally knew what to do. Before each major war, they sent scouts out of the city to ascertain enemy information.

It was a dangerous task, only the most experienced hunters could undertake.

Lei En immediately replied, "The reconnaissance is ours."

This time he brought five Flame Dragons, riding one himself while the other four each carried three Extreme Warriors; they assigned tasks, took off again, and flew in different directions.

Lei En also joined them.

The snow in the sky gradually ceased, the dark clouds dispersed, and the crisp sunlight bathed the plateau, finally clearing the view.

Lei En had the Flame Dragon soar high, its Soul Eye fully activated, scanning the ground.

Moments later, he arrived at the spot where the Makurag hunting party had been ambushed.

The battle traces were all covered by ice and snow; after a few hours the scent faded, and only by clearing the snow could they, based on a huge footprint on the ground, determine the direction the enemy had taken.

Lei En tracked from the sky, and as dusk deepened, finally made a discovery.

About ten or so li ahead on the ground, a band of barbarian cavalry was sprinting across the snow; on closer view, the group comprised thirty riders.

Their mounts were Cold-toed Gray Lizards.

These large lizards were low‑rank demonic beasts, nearly five meters from head to tail, robust and slender, their heads crowned with a dazzling, multicolored feathered crest; their skin was bluish‑gray, a thick tail trailed behind, bodies low to the ground, each limb ending in five flat toes; they ran swiftly, leaving a series of huge footprints in the snow.

Cold-toed Gray Lizards were extremely cold‑resistant and a prized mount on the Sane Plateau.

The Dolak's rise on the plateau stemmed from their complete method of taming Cold-toed Gray Lizards, handing them to the tribe from hatching to become lizard cavalry.

Among the thirty gray‑lizard riders were several trolls.

They sat on the backs of the lizard riders, their faces and bodies painted with totem symbols, clad in ritual robes, wooden staffs in hand—shaman priests.

Lei En followed the gray‑lizard riders from a distance.

He thought he had kept enough distance as dusk fell, when suddenly a troll shaman in the group seemed to sense something, gestured, and a black speck flew from the air ahead.

The black speck grew larger, and Lei En saw it was a pterosaur.

The Pterosaur's eyesight was unexpectedly sharp, managing to spot the Flame Dragon from over ten li away.

A commotion broke out in the Gray Lizard Cavalry's ranks; evidently, the Troll Priest had informed them of the Flame Dragon's presence, and they all turned to look at the sky, their running slowing.

Lei En promptly activated his invisibility ring, then let the Flame Dragon continue flying forward.

Under his control, the Flame Dragon also saw the Pterosaur, let out a roar, accelerated and swooped toward it, pretending to hunt.

The Pterosaur is also a high‑tier flying dragon, but lacking innate abilities, its strength is far inferior to the Flame Dragon's.

Under normal circumstances, the Flame Dragon would not prey on other flying dragons, but when extremely hungry, its ferocious nature makes it capable of anything.

The Pterosaur shrieked in fright, spiraling down.

The Gray Lizard Cavalry below raised their weapons; the Troll Shaman Priest bestowed spells upon them, each becoming alert, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes.

The Flame Dragon let out a loud roar, diving toward the Pterosaur, faint flames flickering in its mouth.

"Scatter!"

A Barbarian shouted, and the Gray Lizard Cavalry spread out in all directions; the Troll Shamans waved their staffs and began casting, preparing to block the Flame Dragon's blaze and then bring it down.

Hoo……

The Flame Dragon activated "Raging Flame Dive", its wings ignited, speed surging, and it spewed a scorching flame over twenty meters long from its mouth, searing the Pterosaur; the snow on the ground melted instantly, like a terrestrial inferno.

A layer of light shimmered on the Pterosaur's body, shielding it from the fire, then it suddenly turned and lunged at the Flame Dragon, its sharp wing claws cutting the air with a whistling sound.

This was a command from its master, using itself as bait to lure the Flame Dragon into the trap.

The Gray Lizard Cavalry that had scattered also turned back.

The spells of several Troll Shamans were about to finish, offering a chance to slay a Flame Dragon.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a terrifying dragon roar rang out.

The roar carried a terrifying power that pierced straight into the soul; all the Cold-toed Gray Lizards felt their limbs go limp, and halfway through their charge they suddenly collapsed, flinging the Barbarians and Trolls perched on their backs.

The Pterosaur also trembled all over and fell.

The Flame Dragon was unaffected; it accelerated, seized the Pterosaur, opened its massive jaws and bit its neck, snapping it cleanly in two with a crack.

Lei En's figure emerged.

He wielded a Thunder Hammer, leapt down from the Flame Dragon's back.

Almost all the Barbarians and Trolls were shaken by the dragon's roar, their eyes full of fear; when they were flung again they crashed to pieces, already half‑destroyed without needing to be struck, and most lost combat effectiveness. Only one Shaman Priest—a Troll wearing a spirit amulet—reacted swiftly, leapt off a Cold-toed Gray Lizard, and landed steadily.

When he saw Lei En's appearance, his expression turned puzzled, and he immediately turned and fled, showing no Willpower to fight at all.

Lei En did not pursue; instead, he drew a submachine gun.

He stood still in place and pulled the trigger.

Clack clack clack clack……

The rapid gunfire sounded like rain, the muzzles turning with his arms; the bullets precisely struck each Barbarian still stunned by the dragon's awe, blasting their heads and greedily reaping lives.

A fleeing Troll looked back at the scene and was instantly terrified to the core.

Ten seconds later, a magazine was empty.

Lei En swapped in a fresh magazine and kept firing, finally killing all the Barbarians, Trolls, and Cold-toed Gray Lizards lying on the ground.

Dozens of souls burst from the corpses, were absorbed by Lei En, and his electric charge began to rise.

By then, that Troll Shaman had run far away, leaving a long trail of footprints in the snow.

Lei En calmly changed to a new magazine, then opened a portal, instantly catching up to the Troll and appearing behind him.

An Electric Blast Orb formed in his hand, which he tossed away.

The Troll sensed the magical ripple behind him, but he was only a Mid-stage Shaman Priest, equivalent to a fifth‑level caster, unable to dodge or resist a four‑ring spell; he frantically fortified himself, activating his amulet, yet was still hit by the Electric Blast Orb.

Boom!

A terrifying silver light flared, lightning ravaging an area of several dozen meters.

Lei En wanted to leave a survivor, so he slightly deflected the spell, reducing its power.

Nevertheless, the Troll Shaman was blown to the brink of death, his clothes turned to ash by the current, skin charred black, looking utterly grim.

Lei En walked over to inspect; given the Troll's strong regeneration, such wounds would certainly not be fatal.

He kicked the Troll unconscious with one foot, then lifted it and retreated.

In the melted snowfield, the Flame Dragon was already tearing into the Pterosaur's corpse, devouring it greedily. Lei En hauled the scattered corpses of Barbarians, Trolls, and Cold-toed Gray Lizards together, gathered them, and had the Flame Dragon spew flame to burn everything.

"Returning."

The Flame Dragon wasn't yet full, but under Lei En's command it reluctantly took off.

Two hours later, Lei En returned to Astat, handing the unconscious Troll to Marius, confident that with his methods he could soon extract useful information.

The other Flame Dragons also returned one after another.

After questioning, they also discovered two squads of Gray Lizard Cavalry spread across the plains outside Astat, apparently preparing to block them so the Makulag people couldn't go hunting. However, the Extreme Warriors were very cautious, not acting on impulse; they merely tracked their temporary camp from afar and reported back.

Lei En scoffed at himself, admitting he was the reckless one.

But it mattered not; even if a squad of Gray Lizard Cavalry were slain, it wouldn't affect the overall situation— the battles that must come will still come.

Wars on the plateau involve little intrigue; in most cases, it's direct confrontation— whoever is stronger wins.

After more than an hour of interrogation, Marius emerged from the cell.

After hearing his interrogation results, Lei En immediately ordered, "Taryen, you and the third squad stay in Astat to assist the clan chief; I'm heading back to Jin Gang Fort to rally troops."

(End of Chapter)