https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-9-The-Battle-of-the-Giant-s-Mouth/13676032/
Chapter 10: The Sorrow of Northwind Keep
Gold coins spilled like a river from the Red Dragon’s jaws, cascading down his snout. Outside the cavern, the Chimera watched with baleful eyes—its hunger for lost treasure was palpable, but beneath it burned a deeper, darker resentment. Yet that emotion vanished in an instant, too dangerous to show before the Red Dragon.
Kai Xiusu noticed it all—but he didn’t care. If anything, he felt a strange sense of pride, a twisted Armor Class achievement in becoming a creature so utterly feared and revered by such vile beasts.
To creatures of chaos and malice, mercy was meaningless. The Chimera would never serve without strings attached. As soon as the chance arose, it would betray, devour, and claw its way to power.
As a saying from his past life went: “They fear my might, but know no gratitude.” That was the truth of such monsters.
The only way to command them was through dominance—unyielding power, constant threat. Keep them bound as vassals, never allowed to rise.
> [Metallic Scales upgraded to maximum level (5230/5000)]
> [New Trait acquired: Gilded Scales]
>
> Gilded Scales – Armor Class +3, Constitution +1
>
> You have consumed an excess of Gold Elemental Energy. Flowing gold now clings to your outer skin and pulses deep within your heart. You may voluntarily activate Golden Shell: your body will be coated in a radiant layer of molten gold, dramatically boosting your Armor Class, and transforming your scales into gleaming gold.
“Turn my scales gold?” Kai Xiusu’s mind sparked with sudden, curious thoughts.
In his memories, Anzeta had never known a true golden dragon. Was it possible…?
Regardless, another layer of survival had been added. The Red Dragon was thrilled.
He ignored the Chimera’s mournful, resentful gaze and continued to push forward, forcing the beast to lead him deeper into the Giant’s Maw Cavern.
“Not even near the end?” Kai Xiusu mused.
This place was far more complex than he’d imagined—twisting tunnels, caverns that plunged into abyssal depths. It felt less like a natural formation and more like the work of ancient dwarven artisans.
Nearby, a narrow fissure belched scalding white smoke, with molten magma spitting out in fiery droplets. The Red Dragon felt a flicker of warmth—familiar, comforting.
“Keep going,” Kai Xiusu ordered.
But the beast only whimpered, trembling in fear. It refused to step further.
“Too hot… too dangerous,” it pleaded. “I’ll die.”
It had submitted to the Red Dragon only to save its own life—not to sacrifice it in a magma pit. It lacked the Red Dragon’s innate fire resistance.
“Strange place,” Kai Xiusu muttered.
“But with such intense Elemental Reactivity… best wait until we’re ready before venturing in.”
He paused, considering a name.
“Bottomless Grotto,” he decided.
For now, he’d leave it untouched. After all, he was still just a young Red Dragon. Even ruling this desolate wasteland was a stretch. To face the unknown horrors beneath? He wasn’t ready—especially if something like an Eye of the Void appeared. He couldn’t guarantee victory.
“You may go,” Kai Xiusu said.
“Thank you, Master,” the Chimera sighed, relief flooding its eyes.
It didn’t even pause to tend to its wounds. It bolted straight to its hidden hoard, dragging itself through the tunnels with aching wings. With effort that nearly broke its bones, it dragged its remaining gold coins across the cavern floor, burying them deep in a secluded crevice.
“True dragon blood,” Kai Xiusu muttered, shaking his head in disdain. “So greedy.”
And so it was.
Kai Xiusu sealed off the inner passages with rock, designating the outer caverns as his first Nest.
The Chimera was banished to a small cave on the opposite side of the rock wall—now a servant, a vassal, assigned to guard the Red Dragon’s territory.
To Kai Xiusu, this was generous. He’d even left it some gold. Most modern corporations wouldn’t offer that kind of benefit…
“Magical Trickery!”
With a wave of his claw, a one-cubic-foot area of the cave instantly cleared. The stench of blood vanished. The once-savage, reeking floor was now spotless.
The Red Dragon moved like a master cleaner, methodically scouring the cavern with magic, one inch at a time.
“What a mindless beast,” he grumbled. “This place could’ve been a Sacred Grotto in any cultivation novel. Instead, it’s been turned into a slaughterhouse.”
Ahead, a pile of skeletons lay scattered. The Red Dragon prepared to clear them out—when he noticed something.
Among the bones, a skull with goat-like horns.
The skull was fresh—only a few weeks old. Flesh still clung to it in tattered fragments, flies buzzing around in a thick cloud.
The body’s size matched that of a human. The tailbone was broken, indicating a long, thick tail.
This was a Tiefling.
Tieflings were descendants of human bloodlines, physically similar to humans—but marked by their infernal heritage. Horns on their heads, tails of four to five feet in length, single-colored eyes, and skin in every shade imaginable.
Though not inherently evil, their demonic lineage made them pariahs. They lived in human towns, constantly facing suspicion, fear, and prejudice.
Kai Xiusu paused, recalling a memory from his former life.
That’s a Tiefling. Could this be the group from the quest… “The Sorrow of Northwind Keep”?
> The Sorrow of Northwind Keep
>
> Northwind Keep, also known as Kovanas Keep, is a frontier city in the Northern Union Kingdom, nestled beneath the Storm Ridge. With a population of over thirty thousand, it hosts more than a thousand Tieflings—subject to the rule of noble Earl Lakanman.
>
> A century ago, the aging Duke Brad Lakanman, desperate to cheat death, made a pact with a necromancer. He transformed himself into an immortal vampire. Now, he has awakened once more, bound by oath to deliver one thousand souls to his dark master within ten years—so he may ascend to godhood.
>
> In the following months, people vanished without a trace. Duke Lakanman seized the moment, calling a public assembly and delivering a notorious speech—The Bloody Speech. He blamed the Tieflings, accusing them of secretly sacrificing humans to demons.
>
> A purge followed. Enraged mobs stormed the city, dragging defenseless Tieflings to pyres. Men, women, children—all burned alive for the crime of being born with a demon’s blood.
>
> Meizhuolashi, a Tiefling Holy Knight serving the city’s guard, fought back. She broke free, leading three hundred survivors northward to the Storm Ridge, where they established a refugee settlement—The Ruined Home.
>
> One of the player’s primary quests in the early game is to uncover Lakanman’s deception, ally with the Tieflings, and slay the brutal vampire.
>
> Northwind Keep is one of the most vital cities in the world—the main hub for players.
Could the refugee camp be nearby?
If so… perhaps he could use this questline to his advantage.
After all, this was a player’s main city. To seize it was to gain near-total control over the game’s core.
And Kai Xiusu—having lived through multiple versions of this world, having witnessed firsthand how vital players were—knew the rewards of such power were beyond measure.
He turned to the Chimera.
“Where did you find these remains?”
The beast leaned in, sniffing the skull.
“Horned human… not tasty.”
Kai Xiusu glanced at the Chimera’s mangled wings. It clearly couldn’t fly far anymore.
No need to rush. His strength was still growing. He could afford to gather allies, expand his influence.
“Return to the nest. Heal.”
“Yes, Master.”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
