Ashen Dragon

Three days ago, Solo hung the heads of the clan leaders high, labeling them as traitors to the Orc race.

At the moment those heads were revealed, the Red Blood Tribe erupted into chaos. The pure-blood Orcs were struck with panic, while loyal warriors from clans like the Cold Crow and Frost Wolf were consumed with rage, cursing Solo loudly and rising in furious rebellion.

But Solo's green-skin Orc army had already surrounded the area. These bloodthirsty green-skins showed no mercy as they swung their brutal blades, slaughtering every single rebel.

That day, the blood of Orcs dyed the valley red, and the massacre was forever remembered with terror by the surviving pure-blood Orcs as the "Bloody Day."

From that moment, Solo had fully seized control of the Red Blood Tribe. Any Orc who dared to think of independence or rebellion against Solo had to reckon with the fates of their kin who perished in that slaughter.

"Heave-ho!"

"Toss them all in!"

"Hahaha, these old fools!"

The green-skin Orcs bustled about, enthusiastically dumping the mangled remains into their sacred river—the Binder River.

Having slain what they once called their so-called "kin," these savage creatures felt no remorse. Instead, they reveled in the act, ecstatic and satisfied.

They had long been resentful of these haughty "old relics."

As for Solo, he stood with arms crossed, his gaze burning as he stared at the dark, greenish-black waters of the river. "With these supernatural-level Orc corpses nourishing it, stronger New Beastmen should emerge..."

"Five years—no, I don't even need five years. Only three years. Under the Father God's blessing, I'll be able to raise an unstoppable legendary Beastman army."

"When that day comes, I'll first conquer Aivendel, kill every Imperial within, and then march my forces to invade the Ashen Empire..."

At that thought, Solo couldn't help but lick his lips. His eyes brimmed with bloodlust, and his hands shook uncontrollably.

What a beautiful future it would be.

All his humiliation and anger would be swept away in an unending tide of slaughter. The Orcs would become a roaming scourge across the continent, bringing eternal fear to those hypocritical and frail races.

Beside him, the black-robed Mo Ke grinned darkly. "Great Chief, the quality of the materials this time is exceptional, especially the corpse of the Frost Wolf Clan leader. It should be capable of birthing a legendary-level Orc."

"Legendary-level?"

At first, Solo was delighted, but then his brow furrowed with concern. "Mo Ke, if it really becomes such a level of Orc, will it obey me?"

As the interim Great Chief who had stepped in after Batu's downfall, Solo's greatest fear was losing his current power and facing betrayal from his subordinates.

This was precisely why he had ruthlessly killed the clan leaders and their followers, eliminating any future threats.

Mo Ke chuckled hoarsely, responding, "Of course, Great Chief. You are blessed by the Father God. Your status far surpasses these newly born Orcs. They will be born to serve you."

Hearing this, Solo beamed with joy, crossing his arms as he declared, "Of course. I am the one destined to lead the Orc race to reclaim our ancient glory."

Suddenly, Mo Ke turned his head, pointing toward the shadowy depths of the valley. "Do you see that? That's an Orc birthed from the spore of the Rock Lizard Tribe leader."

"Squelch!"

The damp soil suddenly swelled into a mound, and a slimy hand reached out from within, followed by a powerful green body.

Before long, a green-skin Orc, nearly three meters tall and with a muscular frame, broke out of the ground. Newly born, it glanced around, its murky eyes filled with greed, as if it wanted to devour everything in sight.

"Waaagh!"

It let out a deafening roar that echoed across the area. Instantly, countless nearby green-skin Orcs began howling in response, their voices overlapping and sending chills through anyone who heard them.

Mo Ke pointed at the newborn Orc, smiling. "My Lord, just look. Once, newly born Orcs were weak and frail.

But now, from the bodies of those former clan leaders, the Orcs being birthed are far taller and stronger than ordinary pure-blood Orcs. They are natural warriors who will continue to evolve through war and conquest, and all this power... will be at your disposal.

In a few short years, our Orc race will not only dominate the Fianso Continent but will also become a great power that instills fear across the Multiverse. By then, whether Dwarves, Elves, Humans, or Dragons, they will all grovel before your feet."

"Excellent, excellent..." Solo murmured to himself, his grotesque, twisted face alight with fervor, obsession, and anticipation.

Just then, Mo Ke's expression shifted, as if he had sensed something. His face turned grave, his brows furrowing.

"What is it...?"

He closed his eyes slowly, his demeanor growing apprehensive.

Solo hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

At this moment, the Beastman Shaman was considered Solo's most reliable ally.

Solo relied on Mo Ke to control the Red Blood Tribe and to create stronger, more loyal green-skin Orcs. Thus, he was deeply concerned about Mo Ke's reaction.

Mo Ke opened his eyes, his tone heavy and his voice rasping: "Great Chief, it seems that outsiders have entered Yinav Valley."

"What?!"

Instantly, a ferocious light erupted in Solo's eyes. Clenching his teeth, he growled, "Damn it... Could it be the Imperial people?

We must find these outsiders! They must be wiped out completely!!" His voice grew more agitated, eventually erupting into a roar.

No wonder Solo was so enraged. Yinav Valley was the birthplace of the green-skin Orcs, a place Solo regarded as the hope for the rise of his kind!

If even Yinav Valley was lost, the Orc race would descend into permanent decline, doomed to live forever on this barren wasteland—and Solo's dream of becoming an Orc hero would be shattered in an instant.

At this thought, Solo's face twisted in fury as he bellowed, "Even if you have to flatten Yinav Mountain, find those outsiders for me! Wipe them out completely!!"

"Yes, Great Chief."

Mo Ke nodded in agreement, raising the vine scepter in his hand.

In an instant, through the spores and mycelium spread in the air, tens of thousands of Orcs nearby heard Solo's command and learned that an audacious "outsider" had intruded into Yinav Valley.

"Did you hear that? The Great Chief's orders!"

"Heh heh, outsiders, I wonder how they'll taste?"

"Haven't killed anything alive in days—I'm going to lose my mind. This time, I'm definitely going to find those outsiders!"

Upon hearing the news, the green-skin Orcs immediately descended into a frenzy. They searched every corner of the valley, furiously turning it upside down in their desperate hunt to capture and devour the outsiders.

To the green-skin Orcs, outsiders weren't threats. Instead, they were perfect outlets for their bloodlust.

Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't imagine that the so-called "outsiders," though situated within the bounds of Yinav Mountain, weren't hiding within the valley. Rather, they were circling above them.

...

"Still no sign of the outsiders?"

"Not yet..."

"How is that possible?" Sitting on the Bone Throne, Solo's face grew increasingly grim, barely suppressing the fury burning in his eyes.

His tens of thousands of Orc subordinates had searched all day, scouring every inch of Yinav Mountain, but they had yet to find any trace of the outsiders—not even the faintest hint of their presence.

"Mo Ke, could you be mistaken?"

Mo Ke shook his head firmly. "Great Chief, I am absolutely certain in my perception. Some outsider has entered, or else the Spore Net wouldn't tremble without reason."

Solo slammed a palm against the table in frustration, demanding, "There are tens of thousands of Orcs in Yinav Valley—how could none of them find anything? Unless the outsiders sprouted wings and flew off—"

Stopping mid-sentence, Solo's expression suddenly shifted dramatically. "The sky... The sky! They're in the sky! Those Imperial people control wyverns!"

Mo Ke's face darkened, shifting between disbelief and grim realization. "Impossible—but then why hasn't anyone noticed them...?"

"Vwoosh—"

A piercing whistle echoed across the sky.

"No, no—"

Solo nearly went mad as he stormed out of his tent, only to witness a torrent of metal balls descending from the sky, heading straight for Binder River's source—Yinav Valley.