Chapter 48: The Assault on Silvermoon Marsh

"Demons?"

Wotru was momentarily stunned.

If his Inherited Memories were not faulty, demons had been completely eradicated 1,500 years ago. How could such creatures still exist now?

"Yes, demons..."

Anna's petite body shivered slightly, as if recalling something dreadful. Her arms tightened around Wotru's neck, seeking comfort.

"These demons looked very strange. Most were the size of ordinary humans, but a few resembled grotesque amalgamations, howling as they destroyed our village."

"They mostly had red eyes and bluish faces, their skin marred by pulsating black veins. Their necks were covered in dark red scales, and a pair of gray, backward-curving horns jutted from their foreheads."

Listening to Anna's account, Wotru began searching through his dragon lineage's memories but found no record of such demons.

During the era when demons had existed, they were a brutal race reeking of sulfur, obsessed with muscle and combat. Only a minority delved into schemes, curses, and soul manipulation.

But Anna wouldn't lie to him. Perhaps some unique demons had indeed survived, unbeknownst to the dragons.

"Don't worry, Anna. I'll always be here for you. From now on, the dragon's lair will be your home."

Wotru was at a loss for words. He wrapped Anna in his dragon wings, attempting to comfort her with some platitudes from his previous life.

"But... Dragon Brother, I might not have much time left..."

Anna lifted her tear-streaked face, her lips trembling, her eyes filled with sorrow and reluctance.

She had an extraordinary sensitivity to certain things, and she was certain of this.

Wotru, too, was aware. No matter what medicine he used, the heart failure afflicting Anna remained untreatable. Her remaining lifespan was fixed at 63 days, and it wouldn't extend any further.

The medicine he gave her only improved her complexion and eased her pain slightly. As for the heart failure, there was no solution.

Based on Anna's earlier description, Wotru speculated that her condition was likely caused by a demon's curse.

To cure such a curse, he might need to seek out a high-ranking priest in a human kingdom to perform a Greater Purification Spell.

However, a black dragon and an elf together wouldn't be welcomed in the southern continent's human kingdoms. The northern continent's Winter Empire might be a better option, as it had less racial discrimination.

But traveling to the Winter Empire with Anna?

Taking the sea route would mean crossing the perilous Northern Cold Sea, then scaling the Thunder Mountains and traversing the Northern Wastelands to reach the empire.

Even if he could manage it, Anna's frail body would likely succumb to the freezing winds of the northern regions.

The land route was even more treacherous, requiring passage through three or four southern empires and the Death Desert.

The only viable option was to hunt more players, accumulate system points, and unlock magical inheritances or evolve other abilities ahead of time.

"I won't let you die, Anna. Trust me, I've already found a way to save you."

Wotru gently nuzzled Anna's delicate face with his dragon snout, his tongue softly licking away her tears.

The somber atmosphere was instantly disrupted by Wotru's draconic gesture, turning the moment unexpectedly tender.

Even Anna couldn't help but giggle, her bright eyes blinking as she playfully pushed Wotru's massive head away.

"Dragon Brother..."

Anna's mood lightened considerably. She clung tightly to the black dragon's head, her rosy cheeks pressed against his scaled, armored face.

Her gaze was filled with longing and sincerity as she trembled slightly, pleading:

"Can you... can you always keep Anna by your side? Anna... Anna doesn't want to leave you."

"Don't worry, I promise."

Wotru nodded firmly, his eyes resolute.

"Dragon Sir, liars have to swallow a thousand needles, you know..."

"But Anna is generous and won't make you swallow a thousand needles."

"You just have to always remember Anna."

...

After chatting with Anna for a while and soothing her emotions, the frail girl began to nod off. Of course, the herbs contributed to her drowsiness.

Wotru draped a bear pelt over Anna, instructed a few elite gnolls to guard the lair, and then took off.

He would only be gone for a short while, barely enough to count as leaving. Anna would probably still be asleep when he returned.

The scorching sun blazed overhead.

Although it was already autumn, the elevated terrain of the Silvermoon Forest made it one of the first places to suffer under the oppressive heat.

In such sweltering weather, all creatures sought refuge in the shade, unwilling to move.

This included the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles.

Wotru was ready to act.

He intended to have a "friendly" negotiation with the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles, hoping they would hand over the potatoes peacefully.

Outside the dragon's lair, Wotru first flew to the construction site of the Flame Arrow Tower, where he found Bolikri, the kobold chieftain.

"Bolikri, prepare to head to Silvermoon Marsh to search for the plant you mentioned."

"Notify Grey Wolf to bring twenty gnolls."

"Have each of the other magical beast leaders bring fifty elite beasts as well."

Bolikri, who had been marveling at the rapidly progressing Flame Arrow Tower, snapped to attention upon receiving Wotru's orders.

He couldn't fathom how his kobold subordinates had learned to construct such a tower, but he dared not delay.

Standing at attention, he saluted, then leapt off the cliff with a howl to carry out his orders.

...

By the time Wotru and his monstrous army arrived at Silvermoon Marsh, it was already past two in the afternoon.

Silvermoon Marsh lay directly south of the Silvermoon Forest, very close to the Silvermoon Mountains.

From the sky, Wotru observed a sunbaked basin emanating a peculiar stench—a mix of rotting vegetation and animal musk.

Oddly enough, Wotru found the smell somewhat comforting, even feeling an urge to roll around in the marsh. He recognized this as an instinctive trait of black dragons.

However, he suppressed these minor impulses and maintained his composure.

The dryness of the marsh was superficial. Any creature stepping into it would be immediately swallowed by the swamp.

Hovering above, Wotru noted nine Rock-Helmed Crocodiles in the marsh. All were adults, led by a dominant crocodile.

The creatures measured around two meters in length, with the leader nearing three meters, appearing more robust and imposing.

Their bodies were encased in grayish-green, rock-like armor.

Though their levels were modest, comparable to gnolls, they had the advantages of home terrain and decent defense.

Gnolls and kobolds would struggle to breach their defenses without tools.

As Wotru observed the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles, he began to strategize.

These creatures, while unimpressive, could serve as mounts for his gnolls if tamed.

Kobolds already had Spearboars as mounts, so Wotru didn't consider them.

Meanwhile, the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles had noticed the black dragon's sudden appearance. Instinctively, they gathered, forming a fan-shaped defensive formation facing the dragon.

They paid no heed to the surrounding kobolds, viewing them as mere prey unworthy of concern.

As for the gnolls, the crocodiles' dim minds regarded them as slightly larger prey.

Their true threat was the black dragon in the sky.

The crocodiles raised their heads, their gaping jaws revealing rows of sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. Their amber eyes betrayed no emotion, only the cold-blooded lethality of predators.

Yet Wotru could sense their unease and fear through the subtle twitching of their tails and the tension in their muscles.

The dragon's bloodline exerted an undeniable dominance over them. """

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