The giants' charge came so swiftly, but it also ended quite quickly.
This is common in the frontier regions of the Golden Empire, which is built upon the wilderness. Not just Bay Stream City, but all major cities and towns, except for those stable ones in the central part of the empire's territory, are in a state of small-scale, daily skirmishes with surrounding races and monsters.
However, the residents of Bay Stream City have grown accustomed to this, even though these giants are somewhat stronger than some monster species.
After a small-scale war ended, while the city's garrison still held their posts, the city's residents had already spontaneously walked out of the city to begin clearing up the aftermath of the battlefield outside.
The headless corpses of giants, decapitated by Imperial Guard, were scattered across the battlefield. Piles of Ogre and troll corpses were stacked like mountains, causing the residents of Bay Stream City to curiously walk back and forth in front of the giants' massive bodies.
"What a pity, these giants are tall and very strong," a middle-aged farmer, with his sleeves rolled up, laboriously threaded a rope from his cart through the arms of a Hill Giant.
Looking at the Hill Giant's still bulging arm muscles even in death, he couldn't help but exclaim, "If we could capture all these giants, how much wasteland could they plow for us in a day!"
"What are you thinking? Although these giants look like good workers, they must eat a lot,"
Another farmer muttered, "These big guys, unless they're willing to eat grass, we can't afford to keep such slaves. After all, the empire's current policy has led to a short supply of slaves in our empire, and their prices are very high. Renting or buying them would cost a huge amount of grain."
This is the thought of most residents of the Golden Empire now. Influenced by the empire's policies and propaganda, the empire's residents maintain their enthusiasm for cultivating land.
Don't be fooled by these farmers' ordinary, simple linen clothes. After several years of policy tiltand their own hard work, any diligent farmer's family has accumulated enough grain to make nobles in other regions envious.
Even after the consumption for supporting the Orc War, most self-sufficient farming families could still afford a relatively prosperous life for these most ordinary commoners.
In the hands of an increasingly vast number of farmers, the Golden Empire's barren lands and lush forests were cleared into rough plots, planted with crops selected by the Ministry of Agriculture based on land suitability, making the entire empire flourish.
It is these vast foundations that can support the consumption required for the entire empire's operation.
"I wonder if those Ogres and trolls will be rented or sold at a cheap price. If the price is right, I plan to rent or buy two of the less smelly big guys to help me with some chores,"
"Next year, I also plan to respond to the order issued by Lady Carlit of Bay Stream City to go to the swamps beyond the Three Mountains and clear some land. It will also be some capital for my son."
The older farmer, while pushing the Hill Giant's corpse onto a wooden cart, looked eagerly at the giants and slaves who were being herded and forced to kneel with their heads bowed by the Storm Giant and Golem Legion.
The Golden Empire's current policy has stipulated that, except for a few special cases, most slaves have a ladder to climb up and change their social class, so the corresponding rules have already changed.
The ownership of slaves no longer belongs to an individual, but to the entire empire.
However, these slaves can be rented or sold by the empire at a low price to its residents, and at a high price to external merchants, etc. They only have the right to control and use the slaves, but cannot own lifelong ownership of them.
Therefore, those who buy slaves are not allowed to arbitrarily kill or harm these slaves rented or sold by the empire. Of course, these policies, at first glance, could not have been conceived by a Chromatic Dragon; only a benevolent Metal Dragon would think so meticulously.
"Alas, what a pity about these big guys. They really look like good material for working and plowing. Even if they eat a lot, I can feed them with pig feed. That should be fine. Those brave warriors were too careless,"
The older farmer was still reluctant, looking at the giants scattered across the field like good cattle and horses. The huge Mountain Giant, like a small hill, lay in the center of the battlefield. The giant's blood had already soaked the ground.
"Shh, quiet. Those warriors are said to be the Imperial Guard of the Emperor. They usually don't make a move, but when they do, they never leave anyone alive,"
The people nearby immediately cast reverent and adoring gazes at the tall warriors who were re-forming their ranks, carrying headless giant skulls, and awaiting the arrival of the guiding light.
"Nowadays, young people are proud to join the empire's various legions and become warriors who protect their homes and expand their territory. But the warriors of our empire's various legions are proud to join the Imperial Guard,"
The older farmer couldn't help but lament, "When I was young, I wandered through many places, but the armies of nobles in other places were nothing more than villains gathered together, no different from those Ogres. Wherever they passed, even the topsoil was scraped three feet deep."
"Ordinary people were afraid to come into contact with these people, but no one expected that one day, people would consider joining the military as an honor!"
"Although we have no power, we know who gave us a better life," a short farmer chuckled, "They are the trustworthy forces in the empire, and they are the shield and sword given to us by the benevolent Emperor, the Dragon Lords who rule the empire."
"Yes, thank the wise True Dragons, thank the virtuous Emperor!"
The surrounding crowd clapped their hands together, praising loudly.
The Ancestral Red Dragon, though not gaining the faith of the populace and dependents directly through his own power, gained the overwhelming admiration of his supporters through his actions!
Gabriel, the Imperial Guard Commander, who had returned to the top of the tower, suddenly showed a faint smile, but then his beautiful face subtly furrowed his brows.
Gabriel, the Punishing Angel, whose power source was faith, whose existence was built on psychic energy, and whose foundation was spiritual power, was born from this and also affected by it.
The more faith power that was born, the more delighted Gabriel became, but the more complex and heavy the things he bore on behalf of the Ancestral Red Dragon became.
"What a pity, that Single-Eyed Giant. If you hadn't cut off his head and just killed him directly, there would have been much research value. Even a dead giant can be used to make flesh golems. The Scholars in the Magic Research Department have always wanted to create golems as powerful as the ancient Titans. This would have been a very good experiment!"
"It's a pity you cut off his head, making the follow-up work troublesome, at least losing a small half of its power."
A blonde middle-aged Archmage strolled over, standing shoulder to shoulder with Gabriel, the Punishing Angel, watching the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam's retreating back in the low sky.
And the severely wounded adult multi-headed True Dragon was firmly restrained by warriors commanded by several young Dragon Lords, becoming another war trophy for the Golden Empire.
"The empire's peace exists only under our blades,"
Seeing the blonde Archmage arrive, Gabriel's usually gentle expression hardened. He said coldly, "Only by placing swords at the doorsteps of those heretics will the empire have true peace. So you don't have to worry about not having enough experimental subjects in the future; I will bring you more heretics."
"And this," Gabriel raised the heavy Single-Eyed Giant's head in his hand, "is the trophy from my first battle. The first time in one's life always needs some commemorative meaning."
The blonde Archmage had high cheekbones, but he wasn't rigid in his demeanor. On his simple magic robe, there was only a badge simply fastened, inlaid with a True Dragon's Eye made of red gems, representing his identity.
"Proposing to the Emperor to place a spiritual imprint on you is just our standard procedure and precautionary measure, not something we specifically target you with. You don't have to always be like this!"
The blonde Archmage sighed.
Morvan Red, a Saint Realm Great Mage. He was once the Vice President of the Royal Magic Association of the Faris Kingdom in Ekania's Central Continent, proficient in various schools of magic, especially skilled in alchemy and conjuration magic, and had many outstanding achievements.
But merely because of some ridiculous power struggles, Morvan Red, this powerful Archmage, was exiled from the Faris Kingdom.
The Golden Empire's Planning Department had once offered the fruits of the Tree of Life and various knowledge as conditions to recruit this excellent Archmage, but they were all refused.
Finally, under a letter from the Planning Department's Undersecretary, the former Saint Realm Assassin Bill, this Saint Realm Great Mage was recruited.
The letter contained only a short sentence, roughly meaning that the empire promised never to let political power struggles affect research plans and related achievements, as well as the mages themselves. This was what touched this excellent Archmage.
And this Archmage, within the empire, was also the person in charge of the 'Punishing Angel' project, the head of the Magic Research Department, the third-ranked high-level Archmage in the sequence of the Scholar Kings, holding a high status within the empire.
But Gabriel, as the leader of the Imperial Guard, could not maintain his composure towards this high-ranking Archmage; his genuine aversion and aloofness were clearly evident on Gabriel's face.
"Of course I know, but my aversion to you is self-generated from within me. I cannot suppress it, nor do I want to suppress this feeling,"
Gabriel said indifferently, "Just as I revere my father so much, the more I appreciate his actions, the more I dislike you."
"Even now, I still cannot understand why my father gave me freedom instead of completely controlling my mind and thoughts, but I cannot feel even a shred of approval for you."
Morvan Red finally smiled. This Archmage, who had lived for over a hundred years and accumulated rich life experience, not only possessed the wisdom honed by time after regaining his youth, but also the vitality of youth.
He chuckled and said, "In the Emperor's eyes, there are many things in the world that even he cannot comprehend, but he never believes that what doesn't conform to his ideas is wrong."
"This is also something I greatly admire about him, because the reality that mages explore is based on objective foundations. To be honest, even I find it very difficult to achieve this."
"The more real and objective, the more profound, and thus the more powerful," Morvan Red said, "So when he moves forward according to his own ideas, he does not reject people with various intentions, as long as their ultimate goals align with his."
"He would rather have people around him who spontaneously agree with him, rather than forcibly twisting others' views, although he certainly has such ability."
"On the path alongside him, he will give others great freedom, only requiring you to adhere to the general framework he has established."
"This is also why those seemingly lowly farmers and hardworking warriors, even though they live in constant turmoil, still closely follow the Emperor's footsteps."
Morvan Red turned his head, gazing at the Punishing Angel's perfect profile, and smiled, "Perhaps this is also why you were willing to actively accept the Emperor's ideological influence and heritage. Otherwise, with your initial design having only the mental capacity of a child, you wouldn't have grown so quickly."
"Although when we first created you, we left you with almost all basic knowledge inheritances, the evolution of mental capacity still requires a long period of growth."
Gabriel, the Punishing Angel, turned his head back and said coldly, "No, you are wrong. Father did not instill any of his thoughts in me. He merely let me observe on my own. During those years in the True Dragon Temple's elemental pool, I have perused the dream traces of countless residents, and thus I grew."
"But my father, as the Emperor of the empire, needs to show his tolerance, while I feel his approach is a bit too gentle,"
The Punishing Angel turned to look into the distance, to the unreached and undeveloped parts of the Golden Empire. He said indifferently, "The thoughts of some races and beings cannot be spontaneously changed by gentle means."
"They need to be completely annihilated physically, and their souls completely eradicated!"
…
The Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam soared through the high skies, but his mind was lost in a daze. He relied only on habit, harnessing magic and wind, traveling day and night, rushing towards the prison he desperately wanted to escape but had no choice but to return to.
Even at the flying speed of an adult True Dragon, the Eternal Punishment Dragon still flew for several days and nights before reaching the majestic mountain range.
The Hundred Thousand Mountains was only a visible part of this mountain range; its internal area, even the Eternal Punishment Dragon had not fully explored.
The mountain peaks on the edge of the range, once covered with lush ancient trees, had been transformed into barren rock peaks by an unknown force, revealing divine sculptures carved from entire mountains.
But the eyes of these divine sculptures had been gouged out, leaving only dark, empty sockets, looking as terrifying as the lairs of fierce monsters.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam flew along the identified safe route into the interior of the mountain range. His body, over twenty meters long, seemed insignificant among the towering peaks.
Each towering peak might be the habitat of a strange race.
Groups of enormous Peng Bird with steel feathers, fierce in nature, stood on the thick ancient trees of the peaks, staring at the flying Eternal Punishment Dragon.
Giant steel wings, tens of meters long, spread out in the huge nests on the mountaintops, revealing a pair of sharp eyes, also watching this True Dragon.
Peng Bird, with ancient bloodlines, were fierce in nature. Even a True Dragon would not easily provoke these creatures. The Peng Bird tamed by the Storm Giants were only scattered fledglings and special encounters. The Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam accelerated his flight.
The creatures in the mountains appeared extraordinarily large in the True Dragon's eyes. The most numerous among them were various huge elephants, roaming through the mountain valleys and plains.
Mastodons, Mammoths, Gray Rock Elephants, and many other creatures that are extinct in the outside world still live in this enclosed world. These omnivorous creatures are the favorite prey of many races.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon began to become more cautious, because as he entered deeper into the mountain range, the creatures of various races became more densely populated.
He passed by the Grey Elf tribes, whose silver-haired, amber-eyed or pale-gold-haired, violet-eyed inhabitants were quiet by nature, so they didn't mind the True Dragon flying overhead.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon continued to fly, but did not rise above the mountain peaks. He passed the habitat of the Windwing Birds, the Spider-Humans, the Elephant Mastiffs, and the Five-Headed Horrorgasts.
He passed the True Dragon Eels, the Mountain Trolls, the Corpse Hounds, the Rakshasa Stone Beasts, and the Giant-Winged Serpent True Dragon s, and other powerful and ancient races.
Only then did he finally enter the domain of the giants. In these mountains, aside from powerful individual giants like Morgues the Hekaton Giant and a few of the fiercest giants, the giants as a race could not roam freely.
These giants, who excelled in physical strength, also needed to live in groups in these mountains, surviving in tribal forms, otherwise they would become prey for other races.
The misty, black swamp area was covered by thick ancient trees, and an evil power emitted a dangerous warning, which even the Eternal Punishment Dragon had to avoid.
This was within the domain of the Death Giants' habitat.
In these mountains, there were no deserts or Dunes. Through long changes, the Death Giantssettled in the swamps and occupied this area as their exclusive territory.
Although Morgues's power had already reached Legendary, there were still many giants in the mountains that Morgues had not yet subjugated.
These Death Giants were among those not conquered by Morgues.
This race was extremely evil. The ancestors of the Death Giants once sold the immortal souls of their clan members for blasphemous power, causing the descendants of the race to inherit perpetual torment and error.
To possess the power to destroy all enemies, the Death Giants' souls were bound by contract to the negative energy plane. The connection to the Blasphemous Realm granted them spell-like abilities that other giants found hard to possess, and a power greater than other souls.
When the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam flew over this area, a huge head emerged from the swamp.
This was the ruler of the Death Giants, but his head was different from other giants.
It looked emaciated, with bone plates growing from the skin, forming bone armor that wrapped around both sides of the giant's cheeks, long pointed ears, and dark skin.
A thin mist formed by smoke enveloped the Death Giant's body, and within the mist were countless screaming human faces in fear and pain.
"Eternal Punishment Dragon? The keeper from countless years ago, now a slave and a stray dog..." The Death Giant's orange-yellow eyes watched the Eternal Punishment Dragon's figure until it flew into the distance and was no longer visible, then finally sank into the swamp.
Besides the Death Giants, there were also some exceptionally powerful giants who dared to directly confront the Hekaton Giant Morgues. This was also the reason why Morgues wanted to conquer the giants first.
Only by gathering the strength of all giants could Morgues gain the power to rule these mountains.
And only a war against giants would prevent Morgues's conquest from being easily hindered by other races.
Although these ancient races were powerful, over the long years, they had formed habitual rules for their respective territories and could not imagine that Morgues actually wanted to conquer all races within them. They were steeped in complacency, completely unconcerned.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam, following the knowledge passed down through his bloodline's True Dragon heritage, avoided those fierce giants. But before a high peak, he was still struck by sudden arcane magic and divine-like power.
Bang!
A sky full of flames burst forth on the left side of the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam's body. This was Flame Strike, a divine-like spell that the Evil Art Giants loved to use for clearing areas and warning.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam quickly raised his flight altitude and saw two tall, brown-haired Evil Art Giants emerge from a cave in the mountain to his front left, a mountain overflowing with abundant arcane magic elemental power.
These two Evil Art Giants were like completely gigantic human replicas. The only difference was their pale purple skin and the strange, mysterious runes tattooed on almost every inch of their bodies.
"Get out, leave here, True Dragon! This isn't like before, this is the Evil Art Giants' territory, not a place where you can freely patrol."
The two Evil Art Giants laughed heartily, full of mockery.
These Evil Art Giants were among the longest-lived of the giants, with an average natural lifespan that could even exceed three thousand years, possessing a longevity that even True Dragon s would find hard to believe.
Because True Dragon s, in their extremely old age, still had to face the test of time, but these Evil Art Giants did not need to.
Corresponding to such a long lifespan was the impressive wisdom of these giants.
Unlike other crude giants, Evil Art Giants liked to spend a lot of time researching spells, collecting lost magical items, or crafting their own magical items, and creating various strange devices using permanent magic spells.
Moreover, Evil Art Giants also delved into arcane magic and divine spells, making them the most excellent spellcasters among giants, and this was their confidence in never fearing Morgues, the Legendary Hekaton Giant.
This was also one of the few giants who could live alone, because their caves were always protected by various powerful and strange magical means. But because they were fighting against Morgues's subordinates, these Evil Art Giants had gathered together from their solitary state.
Not only that, these Evil Art Giants, who liked to manipulate and bully other giant kin, had gathered a considerable number of lower-level giants, such as the weaker Hill Giant, around their lairs.
But these Evil Art Giants were not the most dangerous fellows, at least for True Dragon s. Even more lethal were some giants in the outside world who served and submitted to Gold Dragons—the Cloud Giants.
The Cloud Giants in these mountains were as evil and wicked as the giant god they worshipped.
The giant god Mannon, whom the Evil giants worshipped and honored, was the fundamental reason why the Cloud Giants were so evil.
This giant god even wanted to usurp the power and position of Annan, the primordial chief god of the giant pantheon, and rule all matters of the giant race, while Annan was immersed in reclusiveness.
Mannon, this giant god, chose the priests of the Cloud Giants to be his tentacles for ruling the giants, corrupting them by having the Cloud Giant priests emphasize their superiority and their status as firstborns for many centuries, and belittling other giants.
And the Cloud Giants, in turn, received secret arts taught by Mannon, this deity, allowing them to control and drive Wyverns from their souls and wills, making these evil Dragon beasts natural accomplices of the Cloud Giants.
Therefore, even though the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam possessed the majesty of a Greater True Dragon, he could hardly scare away the massive Wyverns Legion gathered by the Cloud Giants.
When the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam saw the Wyverns flying all over the mountains, he instinctively avoided them.
The path into the mountains and the path to chase the Storm Giants were not the same. Although this path was quite safe in the Eternal Punishment Dragon's ancestral heritage, it had now changed.
Just like the current changes in the Eternal Punishment Dragon's bloodline, it was no longer the same as in the past.
"Hahaha, look, that True Dragon, just like a stray dog, knew to avoid us from afar."
The Cloud Giants, with an arrogance unmatched by other giants, stood in their mountain palace, sneering at the somewhat disheveled adult True Dragon.
These giants looked like nobles among giants, wearing the finest clothes and adorned with handcrafted jewelry. In the Cloud Giants' hierarchy, appearance symbolized status: the more splendid the attire, the more beautiful the jewelry, the higher the wearer's status.
This was also one reason why some Cloud Giants were willing to submit to and serve the Gold Dragons, who valued both beauty and wealth.
Their arrogance came from continuous cultivation. In the brainwashing propaganda of their priests, they equally despised all giants, and the Storm Giants were regarded as targets for hunting by these Cloud Giants.
Even the Hekaton Giant Morgues, with his Legendary power, was merely a low-grade, ugly giant in the arrogant eyes of these Cloud Giants.
But Morgues's reach had not yet arrived here, and Morgues's power had not yet been displayed, so these Cloud Giants naturally showed disdain for Morgues's subordinates.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon had long been accustomed to these scenes. He crossed high mountains and flowing waters, passed over peaks and lakes, and finally arrived at the central area of the mountains where the Supreme Sky Titan once settled.
This area was where the most giants were found. Various low-level giants and small giant tribes were conquered by Morgues's subjugated followers and gathered here.
There were not only true giants like Hill Giant and Stone Giant, but also variants of giants such as Wood Giant, Derelict Giant, and Sand Giant.
But more numerous were the giant sub-races and various races oppressed by giants, such as Ogres, Cave Trolls, and Hobgoblins, who were among the lowest, subject to the arbitrary command and enslavement of many giants.
In these gathering places of giants, winged True Dragon s, serpent True Dragon s, Peng Bird, and Griffins all became food roasted over bonfires by these giants.
Prey that flew in the sky always seemed to be favored by giants, perhaps related to their heavy weight which prevented them from being carried by these monsters, so they turned their anger into appetite.
Even the adult Eternal Punishment Dragon felt the covetous gazes of those giants.
But the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam silently flew towards the massive stone palace in the center of the mountains.
The rough palace seemed to span the entire mountain plateau. Its immense size meant that even the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam's body, when it landed, was only as thick and long as a rock pillar.
This was the massive palace that Morgues had built for him by conquering and enslaving all scattered giants and small giant tribes in the vicinity.
This palace had no guards, because the Hekaton Giant Morgues never allowed any creature near him when he rested.
But when the Eternal Punishment Dragon approached, even though he heard painful roars from within the palace, he stepped in without hesitation.
Because his soul belonged to this Hekaton Giant, what he saw, the Hekaton Giant Morguescould also see. He could not resist Morgues's command.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon entered the palace, and the scene inside was completely visible.
Two adult True Dragon s with purplish scales were pressed down by the Hekaton Giant Morgueswith one hand, like two small bitches, tormented at will, yet not daring to resist in the slightest.
This was the Hekaton Giant's pleasure, finding the torment and humiliation of True Dragon s a rare enjoyment.
It was only after a long time that the Hekaton Giant Morgues stopped his actions.
This giant stood up, like a sudden mountain. His thirty-five-meter height appeared immense even in this huge palace. Just like the giant's aura, it dominated all the space he saw.
"Liam, you failed to complete my task of obtaining the Crown of Inheritance from the Storm Giantrace for me. I am very displeased," the Hekaton Giant, looming like a mountain, leaned down, bringing an intense sense of oppression that made even the adult True Dragon's pupils involuntarily widen.
"Puff, puff, puff,"
The Hekaton Giant Morgues extended his finger, easily piercing the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam's membrane wings, which were tougher than a ship's sail, poking holes in the already tattered wings.
"What a pity, that idiot Asis didn't come back, otherwise I could have twisted his head off," Morgues's face showed a cruel expression. He suddenly squeezed the Eternal Punishment Dragon's wing, crushing the bones and wings of the adult True Dragon inch by inch.
The Eternal Punishment Dragon only lowered his head, clenched his fangs, and made no sound.
He only stopped when both of the True Dragon's wings were crushed into broken, drooping flesh by the Hekaton Giant.
"Get out, get out. Your lack of reaction truly disgusts me."
Morgues's huge pupils drew closer, and he whispered, "If it weren't for your abilities being useful to me, I would kill you just like I killed your parents, and then make you my dinner."
"Remember, Liam, if you fail again, even if it causes me a little pain, I will twist your head off!"
"...Yes!"
The Eternal Punishment Dragon was silent, then squeezed out a single word from between his fangs, and slowly crawled out of the palace, his body prostrate.
Many giants mocked the Eternal Punishment Dragon's appearance, but Liam had long since stopped caring about these things.
He couldn't fly temporarily, so he could only use his powerful body and claws to climb over two mountain peaks to reach his lair.
This was a huge, deep valley, located at the foot of the mountains formed by the Supreme Sky Titan's slumber. This was also the traditional gathering place of the Eternal Punishment Dragonbloodline.
But now, the valley no longer had any trace of True Dragon, only the bones of True Dragons lay strewn about. There were True Dragons who died of old age, True Dragons who died in battle, and True Dragons who were eaten. All these signs were clearly visible on the complete and broken True Dragon bones.
One of the largest skeletons, fifty meters long, snaked through the valley. The bones were stark white, having long lost their former strength and luster, but still exuded an aura unique to the Eternal Punishment Dragon.
Liam dragged his heavy body towards the chest of this skull, resting his head on the sternum.
And his gaze, at this moment, revealed a rare tranquility as he looked at two huge True Dragon eggs.
These were not his children, but his blood kin, whose growth time had been fixed by the elders of the Eternal Punishment Dragon race using True Dragon Sleep and magic.
Only when the Eternal Punishment Dragon Liam died would his blood kin hatch from their shells and inherit the duties passed down from ancient times.
Night had fallen, and black clouds enveloped the valley.
It is rumored that True Dragons do not weep and rarely possess emotions.
But in the evening wind, the True Dragon's roars were full of whimpers.