"Chief, are we really going to be Morgues's dogs?"
The young Storm Giant Garcia was one of the leaders among the equally young Storm Giants, not only because of his talent, but also because his grandfather, Garcia, was the chief of the entire Storm Giant tribe.
"Morgues, wasn't he once lurking beneath the Supreme Titan? Now that the Supreme Titan has fallen, his ambition can no longer be restrained."
Old Meidek sighed. His tall body, though his back was now slightly bent, was still as tall as the Single-Eyed Giant Asis, only a bit leaner.
His formerly purple hair was now tinged with gray. While Storm Giants are considered long-lived, their lifespan is not prominent among many long-lived races, only six hundred years, not even living longer than the powerful Dragonkin created by Dragons.
But Old Meidek had lived in the mortal world for years that already exceeded this ordinary life limit.
"If our Storm Giant tribe submits to him, he will surely drive us to conquer everywhere. If we don't obey his commands, our tribe's fate will be no different from the dead Hill Giants."
Meidek took huge strides, leading many young Storm Giants to the seashore. Several giant Peng Bird and Griffins descended from the sky, pacing beside the Storm Giants.
"But if we obey Morgues's commands, we will inevitably be dispatched to conquer everywhere, yet he is not a qualified leader—cruel, narrow-minded, tyrannical, and self-righteous."
"It's a pity. If I were young, perhaps I would have directly killed that idiot Asis and led the entire tribe to challenge Morgues."
Misty storms flickered in the eyes of Meidek, the Storm Giant Priest, but the heavy shackles on his shoulders prevented his power from being unleashed.
Even among all giants, Storm Giants are uniquely peaceful in nature, which contradicts their racial name.
Although in the eyes of many creatures, just hearing the words "Storm Giant" makes them think these giants must be difficult to get along with, quite the opposite, almost all Storm Giants prefer to live peaceful, reclusive lives.
Compared to other easily irritable giants, Storm Giants are more inclined to spend most of their time contemplating the world, composing and playing music, and farming land to gather food, much like a secluded clan.
Only when faced with something that truly enrages these quiet giants do they become thunderously angry, which is not only literally thunderously angry but also truly thunderously angry.
That's why Kalon Kogmora, the Red Dragon who was just a youth back then, could easily become close friends with this elderly Storm Giant chief.
It was also for this reason that even as the chief of the Storm Giant tribe, Meidek was unwilling to lead his tribe down the path of confronting Morgues for his own desires.
"We are not afraid, Chief," the young Storm Giants, like Garcia, possessed the ambition and courage of youth. Even in a peace-loving race, youthful passion still surged within their bodies.
"Under your leadership, even if we die at Morgues's hands, we will not regret it. Storm Giants love peace, but they do not fear challenges."
The other Storm Giants also stirred. The young Storm Giants were always more active than their elders, while only the adult Storm Giants in the tribe remained silent, each contemplating quietly.
"No, I am old, no longer young. Even if I have the will, I do not have the strength to fight Morgues. Perhaps when I was young, I could have slightly resisted him with my bravery, but Morgues is, after all, a Legendary being."
Meidek's words were calm, but the storm power within his body surged even more fiercely.
Storm Giant Priests are unique existences among Storm Giants.
Although Storm Giants' innate abilities are much stronger than ordinary races, only one-fifth of adult Storm Giants in the entire Storm Giant population can become sorcerers or spellcasters.
And the Storm Giant Priest is a powerful giant who can only be held by the best of that one-fifth.
In the use of power, Storm Giant Priests are more like shamans. They treat all living beings equally, regardless of their power or spellcasting level, or their level of life. It is this peaceful mindset that allows them to wield powerful lightning and storms.
Relying on his powerful strength and talent, Meidek was confident in challenging Morgues when he was young, but an old giant can more clearly perceive the gap between himself and his opponent.
"But we are still young, we are not afraid of him. Even if he is a Legendary giant, he cannot break our spines."
Garcia's purple face flushed, seemingly ashamed that his grandfather, the chief and priest of the Storm Giants, would utter such words.
Finally, Old Meidek sighed again. He looked at his bloodline with some seriousness and said in a deep voice, "Don't let a moment's impulse in your mind make you choose important decisions too early, Garcia."
"Your parents, misled by the names of justice and goodness, insisted on following those people to the raging sea to duel and fight the Hundred-Eyed Demonic Whale, and ultimately perished in the raging sea. I do not wish for you to be such a reckless person."
As a chief for countless years, Meidek's authority was immense. His words, tinged with guidance and warning, silenced the young Storm Giants around him.
These Storm Giants wore simple short-sleeved tunics belted at the waist, some with headbands. Occasionally, a few Storm Giants would wear simple jewelry and rings, but the giants who preferred to go barefoot almost always wore their favorite adornment—anklets.
And in the silent space, the anklets jingled incessantly, clearly indicating that these young Storm Giants were not convinced, especially regarding their resentment towards that giant, Morgues.
"After discussing with my kin, I have decided that the entire Storm Giant tribe should move away from this place and travel afar to find a new dwelling," Meidek announced, his gaze sweeping over the silent young Storm Giants.
The surrounding adult Storm Giants remained silent, clearly having already reached a consensus.
But the young Storm Giants stirred again, as this act of abandoning their homeland and fleeing was very difficult for these young Storm Giants to understand.
Except for overly weak races, almost all powerful races in this world have a deep attachment to their homeland, no matter the reason.
Even in the traditions of Dragons, there are examples where, even when the world faces destruction, Dragons with the ability to escape the world and travel to the Astral Sea and other worlds still refuse to leave their homes, as if it were an obsession etched into their very bones.
"Even if we can't deal with Morgues and his wild dogs, we can retreat into the sea, temporarily avoid their sharp edge, and look for an opportunity to counterattack," Garcia said, unable to remain calm this time, his neck stiff as he voiced his doubts.
The Storm Giant race can breathe freely underwater and use their innate spell-like abilities freely in the water.
Even in the great sea, they can run and jump. Although living in the sea for a long time can cause some problems, they mostly prefer to live on land, so Storm Giants are barely considered amphibious giants, which is why Garcia's idea received support from many young giants.
"Don't disappoint me anymore, Garcia," Meidek, whose tone was usually calm, spoke with unusual severity. His powerful presence made the young Storm Giants recall the fear of being dominated by elders in their childhood.
"Morgues's ambition is greater than his power. He wants to unite all giant races, to be the King of giants, to establish a giant kingdom. Ruling this land is just the beginning."
"He will not let go of the Storm Giant tribe if we don't leave here, unless you can become a Soaring Thunder Venerable, only then will you be qualified to face Morgues's power."
Meidek straightened his slightly bent back and said loudly, "Go, pack your things, and head north along the sea until you see a place where Dragons ascend and descend in the sky. That will be our temporary dwelling."
"I hope my young Red Dragon friend still retains his enthusiasm and friendship for us Storm Giants. In the name of the Chief, you must obey!"
Many young Storm Giants dispersed, leaving only Old Meidek and ten adult giants standing in place, not moving.
"Go, you too, prepare. Morgues will not give us much time to delay. To allow these young ones to travel further, perhaps we still need to experience a dangerous battle!"
The ten tall adult giants also returned to their caves.
Meidek looked towards the peaks of the Godforsaken Mountains, seemingly able to see through the jungle to the towering palace that rose day and night within those mountains.
That was the Giant Royal Court, which was built by Morgues, who called himself the King of Divine giants, by enslaving many giant races and monster species in the Godforsaken Mountains.
It was a massive stone hall constructed purely from rough mountain rocks, its unpolished edges giving the palace an exceptionally wild and untamed appearance.
Large stone basins burned with vigorous flames, dispelling the heavy dampness of the deep mountains.
And in the central aisle of this rugged stone hall, a thick layer of animal hides was laid out, all made from the fur of powerful beasts and ferocious species in the mountains, simply sewn into long carpets, extending all the way to the depths of the stone hall, to the steel-stone throne also covered with the fur of extraordinary creatures.
A colossal giant, with one pair of brawny arms resting on the steel-stone throne, supporting his cheeks, while another pair of arms caressed two huge bone skulls, as if stroking his favorite toys.
At this moment, both of the giant's heads were bowed, as if resting or napping.
And beneath the giant's feet, there was also a huge Dragon, a Dragon whose face was hidden behind the massive throne, only revealing the latter half of its body, used as a footrest, with scales that shimmered with a purple luster, and a thick, long tail that dangled down the steps below the throne.
Tap, tap, tap.
From the silent stone hall entrance, faint footsteps could be heard.
The giant, who was napping on the steel-stone throne,'s ears twitched slightly, but he did not open his eyes.
Not until the footsteps gradually approached, did one head slowly rise from behind him and turn around. That was the giant's third head, the Ever-Waking Head.
...
Roya, as an official dispatched by the Golden Empire's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had been held at the diplomatic residence after arriving in the Orc Kingdom, until two months later, when the high-ranking officials of the Orc Kingdom, who had been avoiding Roya under the pretext of hunting, finally gave Roya a direct response regarding the matter.
Roya now stood imposingly in the Orc Kingdom's royal palace.
Even though this mission was very likely to lead to life-threatening danger, it was still a task Roya had fought hard to secure. In the early days of the Golden Empire, merit meant promotion, and missions with greater risks meant greater merit.
His hand rested on his belt. This belt was the "Beast Power" belt, made from the unique sinews and hides of giant beasts within the Orc Kingdom.
The enchantment on this magical equipment could enhance the wearer's strength, varying according to individual physique, increasing strength by approximately that of one to nine wild oxen, making it quite powerful equipment for warriors.
And the ring he wore on his hand was also a magical amplification ring, and even the brooch pinned to his clothes was an instant-triggering magic shield equipment.
These were the bribes he received during his stay in the Orc Kingdom. However, according to the Empire's regulations, this situation was considered an additional legitimate source of income and profit, and he could rest easy as long as he reported it to the relevant imperial supervisory departments upon his return.
This made Roya feel a slight fondness for the Orc Kingdom, even though he secretly despised these Orcs for imitating the decorations of human kings, making the Orc Kingdom's palace overly elaborate.
Having grown accustomed to the architectural style within the Dragon Empire, Roya now condescendingly critiqued these crude Orcs.
"When you see the King of Orcs, why do you not come forward to pay your respects?" the Foxkin attendant in the palace loudly rebuked Roya, the human Scholar sent by the Golden Empire to the Orc Kingdom, who stood imposingly, calmly facing the high-ranking officials, nobles, and elders of the Orc Kingdom.
"Is the Dragon Kingdom so uncivilized, a barbarian and reckless nation? Even if you are an envoy, you must show reverence to the King of Orcs!"
Roya chuckled softly, his expression unchanged, his black hair fluttering as he spoke loudly,
"A subject of a superior nation does not bow to the monarch of an inferior nation."
"How audacious!" an Orc noble roared, infuriated. This hateful human was overly arrogant, his expression identical to those Dragons.
"Are you not afraid that we will kill you and send your head back to those Dragons?" the Orc noble threatened.
"Hahaha, I'll just use your hands to leave a mark in the Empire's historical records," the human Scholar laughed loudly, showing no fear.
"For one head of mine, millions of Orc heads will fall. The Golden Empire has a hundred thousand armored warriors, loyal soldiers who are eager for opportunities to achieve great deeds. Perhaps they will even thank you for your help."
"You!" the Orc noble raged again. "Our Orc Kingdom still has hundreds of thousands of strong warriors! If it weren't for…"
Before the Orc could finish speaking, Roya shook his head and chuckled, "You lost."
"Nonsense!" the Orc noble raged again. "Our Orc Kingdom is prosperous and has ten times more subjects than your Empire!"
"You lost!" Roya merely chuckled softly.
The Orc noble rose in a fit of rage from his seat, roaring, "If our nation's strongest protectors could easily leave and set foot on the main continent, how could we…"
"Heh heh, you lost," Roya just kept shaking his head.
The Orc King, seated high, watched the Orc noble's furious display, shook his head slightly, and loudly interjected, "Enough!"
Then he turned to Roya and chuckled softly, "These stubborn fools, Envoy, there's no need to argue with them. As for the compensation your country demands, we can…"
Before the Orc King finished speaking, the usually composed Roya immediately bowed and saluted, "King of Orcs, truly wise and an intelligent leader."
The Orc King gazed deeply at the human Scholar, took a deep breath, and then said, "However, the amount of compensation proposed by your country is too great. Not only do we need two hundred thousand gold coins, but also various compensations, and even as many as fifty thousand slaves. Therefore, some things, the Orc Kingdom temporarily cannot pay on time."
The human Scholar Roya immediately jumped up, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to unleash a torrent of curses, intending to let these crude tribal chiefs witness the prepared insults he had written beforehand.
But the Orc King's next words made the Scholar swallow his words.
"Therefore, we plan to compensate with other things: a young Behemoth's bloodline cub to make up for the shortfall in gold coins. How about that?"
Roya bowed again, "Orc King, wise and intelligent!"