Mohr Graymount, the Patriarch of the Graymount Tribe, the old goblin who had once withstood a dragon's breath, slowly turned his head, his expression solemn.
"Your Excellency is…"
From this enigmatic young figure, he sensed the unique aura of a superior being.
Noble. Dominant.
This was no ordinary man.
But before Mohr could finish his sentence, Yor stepped forward excitedly and bowed to the newcomer.
"Majestic Iro."
That one title said it all.
The room fell completely silent. All eyes turned to the figure, expressions subtly shifting.
Majestic Iro, so this was the one Yor had brought back from Green City? The ruler of the Dark Pact, the vampire of the dark race, the being above Transcendents, Majestic Iro?
The moment they saw Li De's figure, all the goblins in the room fell silent, even those who had vehemently opposed him earlier.
Alternate Identity - Iro, President of Dark Heart.
While using this identity, Legend Rating +10 in Green City's underground world. Gains the title: Dark Legend.
Dark Legend
Traits:
When facing dark races, intimidation power is increased. Against creatures with Legend Rating 5 points lower than yours, gain the Majesty effect (enemies experience fear, all attributes reduced by 30%).
Very high chance of subduing dark creatures below your level.
Viewed as an enemy by creatures of the Good and Nature alignments.
Iro, this alternate identity had been recognized by the Level 19 Mind Eater, Wales of Demon Heart.
Though goblins were not dark creatures, they also did not belong to the Good or Nature Alignments. In this specific environment, the Dark Legend title attached to Iro's identity was instantly triggered.
The goblins now faced one of the three major powers of Green City, the ruler of the Dark Pact, the Transcendent being, Majestic Iro.
A powerful entity who could decide their survival or destruction.
Arrogant and cowardly, these two extreme traits, both present in goblins, had at this moment activated only one: cowardice.
Who dared face a Transcendent head-on? No one. No goblin here dared.
Hun Yuan, Thunderhands, and Cheng Kun looked on with envy. The moment Li De appeared, he had stunned everyone into submission.
When they had first arrived, these goblins didn't even see them as people, didn't even give them a chance to speak. The disdain was blatant.
Now, seeing the goblins struck dumb with fear, they felt immense satisfaction.
They really had picked the right person to follow.
"Majestic Iro, Mohr Graymount pays you his respects."
The goblin Patriarch, his face covered in grotesque burn scars, respectfully stepped forward and bowed.
The strong must always be shown proper respect, whether they were friend or foe.
Li De looked at the old goblin with a subtle expression. He had heard everything just now.
Goblins really lived up to their reputation as the inventors of alchemical bombs. Their intelligence was quite impressive.
But he hadn't come to negotiate with goblins. He spoke directly.
"The beastmen have already breached the city. I will take the Graymount Tribe out of Risel City, intact."
He looked at Mohr, who seemed about to speak, and added with a slight curve to his lips, "Oh, and I happened to encounter a Level 19 Behemoth on the way. Its strength… wasn't bad."
Mohr immediately shut his mouth.
Encountered a Level 19 Behemoth? And it was merely 'not bad'?
The old goblin could clearly sense this mysterious vampire wasn't lying.
Staring into those pitch-black eyes, Mohr gave a bitter smile.
How could he not understand what Li De meant? While displaying his power, he was also making a naked threat.
Even a Level 19 Behemoth was only 'not bad.' What did a bunch of goblins amount to?
Mohr made his decision instantly. The weak never had the right to choose.
"As you wish, Majestic Iro. The goblins shall follow your command."
Resist? Mohr glanced behind him at the trembling goblin elders, too afraid to speak, and shook his head.
Goblins were never a race of firm will, nor were they a warrior race.
To ask goblins to resist a Transcendent, even he, if given a choice, couldn't summon the courage.
Let alone the others.
The goblins had survived from ancient times until now mostly by relying on the protection of stronger races.
So when it came to submitting to a stronger power, goblins had no real resistance in their hearts.
If it had been the dwarves instead, with a Dwarf King ruling their tribe, never mind a Transcendent, even a Legendary being would face resistance.
It was racial nature. Innate traits defined how goblins survived.
Li De was very satisfied with this old goblin's insight and gave a slight nod.
"Not bad, Patriarch Mohr. You've won a future for your people.
I swear upon my life, the goblins shall prosper under my protection. You will no longer suffer abuse from anyone."
Goblins. Weapons factory. Li De's eyes burned as he looked at the goblins. From now on, they would be his factory workers.
He'd have to be brain-dead to let anyone harm these treasures.
With this batch of goblins, he could already imagine the scene, Whispering Bats bombing from the skies, turning the land below into shredded, broken ruins.
Scorching heatwaves sweeping across all of Glory.
The fantasy version of a bomber was about to be born.
The enemies of Dawn City would soon face the righteous judgment of Dawn.
Hearing the heartfelt words from Li De, Mohr's expression finally relaxed.
Though he didn't know why this mysterious and powerful being held such affection for goblins, in the end, it was an incredible blessing.
The goblins needed a powerful protector, and now it seemed that Majestic Iro was the best choice. Of course, they had no choice at all, the initiative had never been in the goblins' hands.
"Yor, go relay Patriarch Mohr's orders. Gather all the goblins here to await instructions."
Li De took command without the slightest politeness.
After speaking, his piercing gaze swept toward the other goblin elders in the room, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc.
"The rest of you, stay here and await my orders."
Dominant. Overbearing. Leaving no room for negotiation.
And it was precisely this attitude that made the goblins fall completely silent. This was the posture a being above Transcendent ought to have.
Li De's earlier gentleness had actually made the goblins hesitate.
After all, true power never reasoned with the weak.
I command. You obey. It had always been that simple.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Li De turned his head and pointed to the open space outside the door, speaking calmly.
"Witherbone, suppress your aura and stay here to protect the goblins until Craig arrives."
Hmm?
Everyone froze. Who was he talking to?
But the next moment made all their eyes go wide in disbelief as they stared at the unfolding scene.
Zzzrak~
Through the semicircular archway, they saw the air above the front courtyard suddenly shatter.
A moment later, an indescribable, terrifying aura of majesty descended upon the world. Everyone felt as if their souls had frozen. Their bodies could not summon the slightest strength. Nearly half the goblins collapsed to the ground on the spot.
Patriarch Mohr straightened up abruptly, sensing that unforgettable presence. His voice trembled as he pointed at the fractured air.
"D-Dragon!!"
It was dragon might. Yes, he could feel it. That was the damned pressure of a dragon!!
He had once faced the breath of a dragon directly, no one knew the imprint of that aura on his soul better than he did.
But… how could there be a dragon here?
He snapped his gaze toward the robed figure clad in black, that mysterious and powerful Iro.
Could it be… was that dragon really his? But that was a dragon! A dragon!!