The torrential rain in the night washed over the sentry post like melting black oil, scouring the tower reinforced with metal plates and gathering into turbid streams in the grooves.
The Gnoll Knight was soaking wet, a half-eaten pickled lizard tail hanging from its mouth, its yellowish-brown pupils constricted into thin lines.
Its hyena mount, [Iron Fang], was scratching its ear with a hind leg, the chain-link harness clattering with the movement.
"Something seems to be approaching."
The Kobold sentry on the watchtower peered into the distance, speaking with uncertainty.
"I'll bet a White Crystal Coin that your broken telescope has spotted a Ground Lizard again and mistaken it for an enemy attack."
The Gnoll Knight kicked the Ogre guard beside it.
As for the White Crystal Coin it mentioned...
This was a currency cast from Diamond powder mixed with white Ores, circulating within the Molten Iron Clan. Iron Dragon Sorog spent a year teaching the monsters of the Molten Iron Clan the importance of currency, moving them away from the primitive method of bartering.
The task of casting the currency was handled by the Red Dragon Alchemist, Samantha.
The Diamonds produced from the Symbiotic Pool were not the decorative items of conventional concepts; they were harder than steel and difficult to process. Only the Red Dragon Alchemist, with her violence and intense flames, could easily mass-produce White Crystal Coins and weapons and equipment infused with Diamonds.
Among the several dragons of the Molten Iron Clan...
Not counting Garros, the lord.
Aside from him, the wealthiest person now was Samantha.
Having become wealthy, Samantha was extremely satisfied with the path of an Alchemist. She felt that Garros had not deceived her and felt proud of the choice she had made back then, grateful for her trust in Garros.
Returning to the topic at hand.
The Ogre guard was leaning by the watchtower's brazier, using its massive palms to roast a skewer of meat from an unknown creature. Grease dripped into the charcoal fire, making a sizzling sound that, mixed with the sound of rain, created a strange sense of tranquility.
The robust grey hyena suddenly pricked up its ears, stopped scratching, and a low whimper rolled out of its throat.
The Gnoll Knight instinctively gripped its scimitar, rain dripping through the gaps in its claws.
The Ogre guard didn't react; the charred aroma of the meat left it with no mind for anything else, drool constantly leaking from the corners of its mouth.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
The Kobold sentry seemed to have seen some terrifying monster in the curtain of rain; as if its tail had been stepped on, it let out a piercing scream and blew the horn of alarm.
In the next second, a slight tremor traveled through the entire foundation of the watchtower, and the charcoal fires in the brazier were all extinguished at once.
On the distant horizon, a shadow deeper than the night tore through the curtain of rain.
At first, it was just a blurry outline, but as the distance closed, the figure gradually became clear—it was a terrifying giant beast taller than the watchtower. Its white fur was covered in ice-blue cold air, and the rain on its body steamed into white mist before condensing into ice crystals.
Every step it took made the earth tremble, and branch-like cracks split and extended.
Its speed was very fast. When the distance closed further, its full appearance was revealed to the Gnoll Knight.
This was a humanoid giant beast with thick limbs. Its forelimbs were as robust as a Great Ape, mammoth-like tusks protruded from its mouth, it was covered in white fur, its eyes were blood-red, and its body length approached twenty meters.
"Ancestral spirits above."
The Gnoll Knight's pupils shrank to the size of needlepoints.
The giant beast's crimson eyes were like two blood moons in the storm. It tilted its head back and let out a deafening roar, the sound wave overturning the nearest arrow tower.
"Crush skulls and drink blood, shatter bones into song!"
The Ogre guards all stood up, roaring the warband slogan as they met the giant beast. The warriors of Iron Will were trembling slightly, charging along with the Ogres, but before the giant beast, the Ogres were swatted away like toys. The other Gnolls and Kobolds were directly crushed, battered, and turned into meat paste.
Giant Wolf Knights, Hyena Knights, and other iron cavalry galloped, relying on speed and agility to harass it.
Whoosh!
The giant beast exhaled a frigid chill, turning the rain filling the sky into ice crystal particles. The water on the ground froze into a layer of ice. The knights' bodies were nearly frozen stiff, and their mounts' limbs were frozen in place.
Very quickly, the monsters began to scatter.
As intelligent beings, when they realized they were completely outmatched and were being slaughtered in large numbers, their morale naturally dissolved, leading to a rout.
The Kobold sentry looked panicked as a pair of wings unfolded from its back.
A small number of Kobolds are born with wings and can fly; this sentry was one of them.
It flapped its wings desperately in the rain. Looking back, it only saw the giant beast wandering aimlessly toward the Stony Beach after destroying the watchtower that blocked its path, without intentionally pursuing the remnants.
Coniferous Valley.
Sorog shook the rain from between his scales. The damp, cold feeling made the Iron Dragon uncomfortable, but what made him even more uneasy was what had happened earlier.
The outpost stationed further north of the Stony Beach had been attacked by a giant beast.
The stationed monsters were routed, but not all died. Those who were lucky enough to survive immediately reported the matter.
Upon receiving the information, the Iron Dragon went to investigate personally and saw that the target had already crossed the Stony Beach and was heading toward the Quenchfire Highlands.
Because he recognized the target's identity, Iron Dragon Sorog did not overreach by trying to test it. He knew he was no match, so he immediately came to inform his brother, the true king of the Molten Iron Clan.
"You're saying a Frost Behemoth is approaching the Quenchfire Highlands?"
Garros wrinkled the skin on his forehead, stopping his daily neck-circling exercise, and said.
"Yes! I suspect it came from the Permafrost Tundra."
Crossing the Estonia Great River and heading north, one would eventually leave the wilderness regions and gradually approach the Permafrost Tundra.
This place is also known as the Eternal Frost Plain or the Cold Desert. It is the territory of creatures like Frost Giants, White Dragons, and Winter Ghost Undead, and Silver Dragons also reside there.
The environment of the Permafrost Tundra is harsh and barren.
From time to time, some powerful Vicious Beasts and magical creatures migrate toward the Serel Wilderness.
The outpost that was attacked earlier was located north of the Stony Beach, already close to the Estonia Great River, specifically to guard against attacks from further north.
Although it was destroyed, it had fulfilled its initial mission and would be rebuilt later.
"I initially thought it was the vanguard of some Frost Giant tribe wanting to expand their territory into the Serel Wilderness, but after careful investigation, I found no Frost Giants following behind."
The Iron Dragon said solemnly.
Garros narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought.
Behemoths are not creatures in the traditional sense, but biological weapons created by the Giant Race in ancient times to combat the Dragon Clan. They possess terrifying power but have no wisdom, being like wild beasts, and are often driven and controlled by Giant Warlocks.
Frost Behemoths mainly exist in super-sized Frost Giant tribes.
"It is wandering aimlessly, but its overall direction is toward the Quenchfire Highlands."
"If it gets near the Symbiotic Pool at the Gravel Camp and causes destruction, our losses will be severe."
The Iron Dragon said in a low voice.
Gravel Camp refers to the original Stone Giant camp. The Symbiotic Pool within it is currently the most precious resource of the Molten Iron Clan. The high-quality Ore produced can not only be used to make equipment but also for trade; it is a strategic resource that cannot be lost.
The combat units of the Star-Shattering Hammer Warband, including Karu, are mainly stationed at Gravel Camp.
However, given the strength of a Frost Behemoth, if they were to encounter it, they would likely find it difficult to resist.
Iron Dragon Sorog would not disturb Garros if there were no issues.
He knew Garros was more focused on his own strength. Coming here deliberately now, his meaning was already clear: he wanted Garros to step in and resolve this matter.
Aside from Garros...
No one else could solve it.
If he were to lead the warband to surround and suppress it, using lives to wear down the Frost Behemoth's vitality, there might be a chance to take it down, but the Molten Iron Clan would inevitably pay an extremely painful price.
Garros flapped his wings, the strong wind whipping up the curtain of rain like surging waves.
"Lead the way."
He spoke succinctly, letting the Iron Dragon guide him.
The Frost Behemoth, of unknown origin, made him feel a slight threat; it could not be left alone.
PS: Asking for some power stones.