I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 333

Chapter 333: Chapter 335: The Arrival of the Sand Sculpture Players, I, the Five-Time Champion, am about to Conquer Glory Chapter 333: Chapter 335: The Arrival of the Sand Sculpture Players, I, the Five-Time Champion, am about to Conquer Glory “Come, come, freshly baked honey bread, the favorite of the Kachar City Lord…”

“Fresh cake pies~ Would you, esteemed elder, like to have a taste?”

“Good day, lord of the Holy Light Bloodline. Would you like some deep-fried dough sticks? These are personally taught to us by the Kachar City Lord…”

“Idiot, lords of the Holy Light Bloodline don't need ordinary food!!

The blood we offer is their food…”

“Ah, really?”

“Of course! We offer our blood to nourish the Holy Light Bloodline, and in turn, they protect us with their lives. That's what the City Hall says; we are one family, and every resident has contributed to the development of Dawn City…”

“I'm sorry, lord, although I just went to the bathroom and didn't wash my hands, my hands are still very clean. How about, take a bite?”

“Damn it, scram! Don't bother the lord's eyes. Lord, I swear to the goddess, this brother of mine has been brainless since we were kids…”

“Little Kosso, it's time for you to go to class. You skipped school again yesterday!!”

“Aunt Mary, good day. Oh–by the goddess above, your hair color today is so lovely…”

Morton Mist, a Level 17 Shaman from the Lion Tribe, walked on the main street of Dawn City with a baffled look as he listened to the surrounding hustle and bustle.

This had been a common scene he encountered over the past three months.

As a Beastman Shaman, he had lived in the barren wasteland for over a hundred years.

He'd experienced death, hunger, war, plagues, and all the sins of the world.

But he'd never imagined that one day he would witness such a bizarre and eerie sight in a city.

Legendary brutal and evil Vampires were playing happily with naive human children.

Hairy Beastman Warriors were walking out of tailor shops run by humans, wearing clothes the tailors had made for them–two races that had always seen each other as mortal enemies were now turning the tide of their relationship completely.

Short, ugly green-skinned goblins swaggered down the streets without any hint of disgust from human bystanders. Instead, shopkeepers were enthusiastic about these wealthy green-skinned Alien Races, each vying for their patronage.

Dwarves wielding their signature hammers walked proudly down the streets, and people around them, whether Beastman, human, goblin or Vampire, showed great respect for these short-statured individuals.

Because they were the workers at the weapon factories who had forged a vast array of weapons for the front-line warriors with their forging skills, they had made significant contributions to Dawn City and had been recognized by the City Hall on more than one occasion.

Anyone who contributed to Dawn City was respected by its residents.

Moreover, Morton had also seen human Spellcasters dressed in Mage robes occasionally using Magic to tidy up the streets and clean up trash…

High and mighty Spellcasters cleaning up streets… wasn't that an astonishing sight?

Yet these so-called Life Mages seemed to be cultivated specially by the city's rulers to engage in such life-related Occupations.

Morton's eyes nearly popped out when he first heard this.

When had rare and revered Spellcasters become so commonplace that they were cultivated en masse to perform low-level tasks like sweeping the streets, tasks meant for farmers?

Spellcasters, they are Spellcasters!

Such prestigious figures were being used for sweeping and cleaning sewers?

Had the ruler of this city been kicked in the head by a wild buffalo from the barren wasteland??

But when he saw groups of Spellcasters emerging from the building complex known to residents as the Rainbow Mage Tower, his ability to think nearly stopped.

Rare Spellcasters could indeed be mass-produced and even indulgently cultivated to sweep streets and clean sewers…

This had a profound impact on Morton and even made him suspect he was hallucinating under a Magic spell.

This city was too strange. Why does a city like Dawn City even exist in this world??

And it didn't end there. There were many more shocking and unimaginable things that this self-proclaimed worldly Shaman found astonishing.

Such as the magical alchemy creation–Eternal Water, though the residents seemed to prefer calling it tap water.

But Morton stubbornly believed that only the name Eternal Water could match the magic of this alchemy creation, a sweet spring that never ran dry.

Then there was that point system.

Once a contribution was made, points were awarded, and then those with fewer points had to give precedence to those with more points when queuing for caravans and various welfare events.

What's the use of that? Just for cutting in line or getting priority when buying things and participating in work??

Another thing was the blood donation, which Morton found the most challenging to understand.

Why was blood donation, an extremely evil and terrifying practice vilified as heresy elsewhere, considered so… glorious in this city?

Yes, glorious was the only word Morton could find to describe it.

And the most unbelievable thing was that blood donation for the Vampires took place in a place called a hospital, and the entire process was publically displayed for all to see.

No one was forcing these humans, but everyone was eager to participate, as if this evil ritual were something bright and holy to be proud of.

Was it because Dawn City was plastered with banners proclaiming it honorable to volunteer to donate blood and shameful to resist it?

Morton didn't believe it, he even asked in detail about this matter, but the answers he got still baffled him.

For the sake of Dawn.

For the sake of Dawn?? What kind of reason is that?

Why not say it's for the goddess??

There might be another reason in the end–the offering of blood could earn points.

But could such inexplicable points make the human residents participate so fanatically in such a nefarious activity?

For a long time, Morton even thought that the minds of these residents had been corroded by magic…

He felt both alien and incredulous towards everything about this city.

This city was like a city-state in another world, incongruous with the rest of Glory, after all, no other city could possibly achieve harmonious coexistence among vampires, goblins, humans, dwarves, beastmen, and even one-eyed giants.

The Inconceivable City, this was the definition Morton first gave to Dawn City upon his arrival.

But as time passed, after this level 17 shaman had lived in the city for quite a while, he slowly began to understand why the residents acted so.

Because the city had a fascinating charm, one that made it irresistible to fall in love with it.

A sense of identity, respect, and safety.

These were the reasons he had identified.

In this city, Morton didn't have to fear being from the Beast Clan; no one despised or disrespected him for being a beastman, nor did anyone discriminate against him because nobody cared about that. What race you were was completely irrelevant, all that mattered was how many points you had…

He could feel in this city that he was a living being, a respected being, no longer a barbaric beastman viewed with disdain.

And also, because of the day and night patrols, combined with unimaginably strict laws, the security of the city far exceeded his wildest imagination.

Here there was no need to worry about any danger; his only concern was whether his points were few enough to be overtaken by others…

Therefore, from the initial inexplicable resistance and odd feeling to becoming familiar with the city, Morton shockingly found that he was unable to resist living in this city.

As an old beastman who had lived on the barren wastelands for over a hundred years, he had suffered too much hardship. Here, he reacquainted with the true meaning of survival.

Watching the residents bustling with smiles and hope on the streets, Morton thought of the Lion Tribe, which frenziedly hunted for food at this time of the year, where many tribespeople would starve to death during such winters.

He hadn't felt it before, already accustomed to the cruelty of the barren wastelands, but now, compared with Dawn City, the gap was so enormous.

The most critical thing was, if the city had been a human city, he would only feel disgust, since it was humans who were to blame for driving beastmen to the barren wastelands.

But what was different was that this was a city ruled by vampires.

The humans and beastmen here were equals; even the beastmen were, to some extent, equal to the city's rulers, the Holy Light Bloodline.

This made Morton entertain different thoughts.

At this moment, he finally understood why Lord Cap embraced the city so eagerly.

Because the Lion Tribe could rely on Dawn City to live better.

But would the Lion Tribe still be the Lion Tribe of old if they joined Dawn City?

Morton fell into a state of confusion at this thought.

Something inside told him, choosing Dawn City might be the right thing for the Lion Tribe, but he was torn by the fixation that the Lion Tribe, without its grasslands and freedom to run wild, wouldn't be the Lion Tribe anymore.

That would just be a lion locked in a cage… at the mercy of others.

“Morton, sir, the City Lord has returned; he summons you to meet at the City Hall…”

Just as Morton was deep in thought, a guard made his way through the crowd and respectfully reported from behind.

This old man of the Beast Clan had been personally directed by Lord Cap to be treated with respect, and despite being shackled with Magic Prohibition Chains, his power being sealed, no one dared to disrespect him.

Hearing this, Morton took a deep breath, a touch of emotion surfacing in his weathered eyes.

What was coming would always come… It was time to meet the owner of the city.

If it had been three months earlier, when he first came to the city following Lord Cap, he would have firmly held to his beliefs.

But now, after a few months of living here, he found the city's charm was already somewhat overwhelming.

Where to go from here?

Following the guards who had watched over him day and night, amidst the curious gazes of the crowd, he made his way to the City Hall.

The third floor, the office.

Thump, thump, thump~
As Morton watched the guard knock on the door, his weathered heart felt unusually tense, for he was about to face the Sovereign who could decide the fate of the beastmen.

“Come in…”

A deep and steady voice came through, as the guard respectfully pushed open the door.

Creeak~ As the door slowly opened, Morton saw the interior of the office.

A carpet stitched from the furs of unknown demon beasts covered the floor, the room was decorated elegantly and tastefully, not as opulent as he had imagined. Colorful oil paintings hung on the walls, exuding an artistic atmosphere.

A figure clad in a black mage's robe, with a slender build, was standing with his back to Morton, gazing into the distance from in front of a window.

Even just from the back, Morton could sense an extraordinary temperament about the man.

Clearly, this figure was the master of the city.

Kachar City Lord.

Feeling no movement at the doorway, Lide's eyes narrowed slightly as he gently turned around.

Their eyes met.

Is this the level 17 Beastman Shaman Cap mentioned?

What impressed Lide most were Morton's deep and weathered eyes, which held a gaze only attainable from experiencing the grind of the world over countless times.

He nodded slightly.

“Morton Mist, I am the master of Dawn City–Kachar. You may call me Kachar City Lord,” he said as he took two steps forward, approaching Morton who had just walked into the office as well.

His gaze was intense as he looked at the Beastman Shaman whom Cap had recommended several times.

“I hear you are Cap's teacher?”

“Perhaps, you would be quite willing to have a chat with me,” Lide's tone bore a hint of depth.

“About the fate of the Beastmen, about your fate…”

The moment this level 17 Beastman Shaman stepped into Dawn City, his fate was already sealed.

However, out of respect for Cap, Lide had decided to have a chat with this old Shaman.

“Kachar City Lord…” Morton began softly, his tone filled with complexity.

“It's an honor to be received by you… I never imagined that one day I would be discussing the future of the Lion Tribe with a significant figure of the Bloodline,”
Lide shrugged his shoulders, extending his hand to gesture Morton to sit.

The latter nodded and took a seat on a sofa inside the room, facing Lide across a round table.

Looking at the elegant Vampire before him, Morton's thoughts fluctuated wildly.

His emotions mirrored his words; he had never thought that one day he'd be discussing the future of the Beastmen with a Vampire.

Yet here was the surreal reality where a Beastman would sit down with a member of the Bloodline, and this individual from the Bloodline could decide their future.

“Perhaps, this is fate,” Lide said with a slight smile, not taking it too seriously.

From the moment he decided to support the Lion Tribe, this Beastman tribe had become firmly bound to Dawn City.

Something a level 17 Beastman Shaman could not shake.

The Lion Tribe would now send their young and talented to Dawn City for training, nurturing both their cultural and military attributes.

One of the requirements for these young Beastmen here was to swear loyalty to Dawn City and sign a Soul Contract with Lide in the Dawn Church.

Yes, in the Dawn Church, almost all of the military would go to that sacred and solemn holy land to swear their allegiance.

Because Lide discovered something very miraculous: the statue that was originally carved to spread the faith, standing twelve blades high and now a symbol of the Dawn Sect, had, after endless prayers and worships from believers, become filled with divine power, with a vast Power of Faith condensed upon it.

Even he could connect directly with the Power of Faith to possess the statue, achieving the effect of Divine Descent.

Because of this, the statue had acquired an extraordinary characteristic–anyone who pledges before the statue and signs a Soul Contract as if they were signing one with him.

A practical way to avoid the side effect of the Soul Contract–the necessity of sufficient spiritual power for the main contract holder.

Soul Contracts, Divine Arts once researched by the Death God, had evolved into rules of Glory over countless years and not even the Death God could now alter them.

Soul Contracts could ensure the loyalty of those who swear towards the main contractor, but it wasn't unconditional; to successfully sign a Soul Contract, the main contractor needed to have certain spiritual power.

This meant that one could sign numerous Soul Contracts with subordinates, but the more contracts signed, the higher the required spiritual power.

Therefore, an individual couldn't sign Soul Contracts with too many people due to insufficient spiritual power.

Lide, like any other, was no exception. Even though his spiritual power was high, he couldn't possibly accept the loyalty of the several thousand strong forces of Dawn City.

Imbued with the Power of Faith, the scrubbed statue now held an incredible power, perfectly replacing him.

All who swore their oaths to the statue in the Dawn Church were binding, and Lide could monitor those contracts through the Spirit Imprint connected to the statue.

Should anyone betray them, he could annihilate their soul.

Moreover, pledging through this statue had a bonus: if someone considered treachery, the keen Power of Faith would automatically alert him to changes in that person's spiritual power.

Lide himself was shocked when he discovered the functionality of the statue; he never expected a creation made simply to better assimilate the Power of Faith to possess such transcendent capabilities.

“Kachar City Lord, may I ask, what are your views on the Lion Tribe and on the Beastmen?”

Morton's words snapped Lide back to reality from his deep thoughts as he looked into the old Beastman Shaman's profound eyes and revealed a smile.

“Morton, the things you've seen in this city, I believe, have been enough to explain my thoughts,” Lide said.

“You may even have a clearer understanding than I do of how I've treated the Lion Tribe, don't you?”

Over the past three months, Lide had been in the Underworld, and even when he returned to Dawn City, he had not met with Morton.

But all of Morton's information was in his control; he had simply not had the time to deal with it.

Now that the Spider Cave had been taken and the Magic Crystal Vein had fallen into his hands, after he dealt with most of the trivia about the Magic Crystal Vein, he immediately returned to Dawn City and was finally able to squeeze out a brief time to handle these matters.

After all, the players were about to arrive, and Lide thought of this and glanced at the open beta countdown on his attribute panel — 05:25.

Five hours and twenty-five minutes…

After hearing Lide's words, Morton immediately fell silent. It was a long while later that he looked at Lide with a hoarse voice and said,
“Kachar City Lord, when the plains where we once galloped were abandoned, when our claws were adorned with weapons forged by Dwarves, when our fur was covered with solid armor.

When we have lost all that we once took pride in.

Are we, Beastmen, still the Beastmen of old?”

After speaking, Morton's gaze was fixed on Lide, a question that had always troubled him.

When all of this had changed, did the Lion Tribe still exist?

Were they still entitled to be called Beastmen?

Lide's pitch-black eyes narrowed slightly, his voice carrying a hint of sternness.

“Morton, do you think that Beastmen should always live on the barren plains, hungry and cold, without weapons in their hands or armor on their bodies, to be considered true Beastmen?”

He leaned back slightly, resting lightly on the sofa, his sharp gaze piercing Morton's eyes like a dagger.

His voice deepened.

“You are wrong, Morton.

Beastmen should never have to live this impoverished life.

Your ancestors once lived in the heart of the glorious Main Plane, possessing vast lands and rich veins of ore.

You wore the sturdiest armors, and the longswords in your hands were sharper than those forged by Dwarves.

You were powerful, you were wealthy, you never had to worry about food, and you would never have to seek survival in the wilderness wearing beast skins as you do now, or even starve in the cold of winter.

You were a prosperous and powerful tribe, and the primitive and savage state you are in now is not the true form of Beastmen.”

He paused, his gaze deepening, giving Morton a moment to react, his tone growing even more resolute and emphatic.

“Beastmen clad in solid armor, wielding sharp blades–that is what it means to be a Beastman–not those living in poverty, a consequence of being oppressed by humans.

Now, you are returning to the glory of your ancestors.

Now, you are embracing the future.”

The high-spirited words from Lide made Morton's heart tremble.

The glory of the Beastman ancestors…

Indeed, the Beastman Empire once ruled the glorious Main Plane, possessing the mightiest forces. If not for the rising of humans later on, the Beastmen would still occupy the most bountiful lands.

The current Beastmen seemed to have lost their ancestors' glory; he had deemed all that their ancestors possessed as rebellion and thought the very things their ancestors took pride in were a betrayal to the Beastmen.

After this realization arose, he could not suppress his emotions.

Slowly standing up, Morton took a deep breath, his aged visage showing more wrinkles, a profound look in his eyes as he gazed deeply at Lide.

“Truthfully, from the moment the Lion Tribe was conquered by you,
we had no choice.

The victor wins everything.

Kachar City Lord, you were the sole victor of that war.

And I hope that in the future, you will be the eternal victor.

It's just that I am unwilling to settle, seeking an answer for the Lion Tribe or even all the Beastmen of the barren plains.

Had your answer not moved me, I would have chosen eternal slumber.

But you have enlightened me, showing us the path we should seek.

Kachar City Lord, Lion Tribe Shaman, Morton Mist…” as he said this, the old Shaman slowly knelt, his unbowed head bowing down in submission to Lide.

“I plead to join Dawn City, to become a sword in your hand, to kill all the enemies that stand in your way, for Dawn City, for the Beast Clan, with my life and soul.”

Hearing this, the corner of Lide's mouth twitched slightly.

“Now I've really become a life coach, schooling and spouting motivational speeches to whomever I catch.

The key is, they all seem to love listening; where does one even begin to reason with that.”

Lide did not stand on ceremony, he stood upright and extended his right hand, placing it on Morton's head.

“Receive my blessing, Morton.”

Morton's figure did not show the slightest movement.

“Yes, Kachar City Lord.”

When he came, he had been prepared for death, and if he could not find the answer, he would choose death, but Lide had given him new hope, showing him a future.

So, he would fight for the future of the Beastmen.

The surging Power of Faith engulfed Morton directly.

Divine Arts–Soul Assimilation.

If the opponent's will to resist was strong, then the consumption of the Power of Faith would skyrocket.

This was also why Lide was reluctant to forcibly use the Power of Faith to convert High-level combat power; moreover, if the opponent's resistance was too strong, it could even lead to failure.

However, after a bit of… education, Morton had now accepted Lide, so the consumption of the Power of Faith conversion was only a cost of less than 10,000 before he heard the system prompt.

“Ding~ You have reformed Morton Mist's soul with the Power of Faith. You have acquired the ownership of Morton Mist's soul, and everything about him will belong to you.”

“Ding, you have subdued a Level 17 Beastman Shaman, Morton Mist, with Divine Arts, turning him into a warrior for the Dawn Sect, and you've gained 2,000 experience points.”

As the system notification sounded, Dawn City gained another top combatant at Level 17.

This old Shaman before him, after being baptized in the Power of Faith, visibly lost wrinkles on his face, and his somewhat ragged silhouette became upright and firm, the man looking over a decade younger.

A moment later, when all the Holy Light Power was absorbed, Morton opened his eyes.

When he looked at Lide again, there was no longer any doubt or wariness in his eyes, just worship.

“Your Majesty, Morton Mist, your humble servant offers you the most reverent greetings.”

Thump, he went down on one knee, hand supporting his chest, humble and devout.

Lide nodded in satisfaction and reached out to help the old Shaman to his feet.

With a bit of curiosity, he opened the other's attribute panel.

Morton Mist
Title: Soul Walker (proficient in the Beastman language, can communicate with wild beasts and Demon Beasts using the soul, can control any Demon Beast not higher than his own level, the stronger the soul, the higher the level of Demon Beast that can be controlled)
Devout (The most devout believer of the God of Dawn, with resolute will, unaffected by any sort of soul or mind magic, strength +30%)
Age: 153
Level: 17
Profession: High Priest Shaman
Divine Gifted Talent: Prayer, immune to a negative effect once, currently bound talent–Berserk, (Berserk: activates the power of the Beastmen ancestors within the bloodline, all attributes increased by 200%, body healing speed increased by 500%, duration: 30 minutes, afterward falls into a state of extreme weakness, all attributes reduced by -70%, duration 12 Sunshine Hours)
Bloodline: Shaman Blood (with each level increase, automatically acquires a Beast Clan Shaman Spell, currently obtained spells: 17)
Introduction: A devout believer of the God of Dawn, a Beastman Spellcaster with a Shaman bloodline inheritance.

Beastmen Shamans and human Mages are entirely different species; Mages rely on learning spells themselves, while Shamans depend on spells inherited through bloodlines. The more powerful the ancestors, the more spells passed down in the blood, and the stronger the Shaman becomes.

This is very similar to giant dragons, whose Dragon Language Magic is also inherited through bloodlines, resulting in many dragon breath beings being able to use Dragon Language Magic.

Morton's attribute panel was within the normal range and did not have the exaggerated attributes of the Divine Monster Asreaga.

Lide was not surprised at this; if this old Shaman also had the same attributes as Asreaga, he would have to wonder if something was wrong.

Divine Monsters, after all, were not something that ordinary life forms could compare to.

The most important aspect to Lide was the old Shaman's wisdom.

Whether it was the intelligence provided by the command center or Lord Cap's sincere words, the first appraisal of this old Beastman was–wisdom. The long years combined with talent gave Morton a wisdom unreachable by common Beastmen.

And Lide was in need of such a person at this time.

Especially since he had dispatched Cap to exploit the vast and rich land of the Underworld; the Dwarf Valley, an increasingly important location, required a strong leader with sufficient wisdom and skill to govern.

The Dwarf Valley belonged to the territory of the Lion Tribe, and although it was now under the rule of Dawn City, it was not directly governed, so a leader acceptable to the Beastmen had to be found.

Morton, the former Shaman of the Lion Tribe, was undoubtedly the best choice.

“Morton, next, you will take charge of the Dwarf Valley.

I only ask you to do two things.

First, build the Dwarf Valley; in the future, it will serve as the window to the outside world for Dawn City. Its importance is immense, so a safe, reliable city will be our stronghold.

Second, continue to develop the Lion Tribe; currently, in the battles of the Underworld, Beastman warriors have replaced Holy Light Bloodline and King's Blade human soldiers to become the main force.

We need more powerful soldiers.”

Now that Morton had become his believer, Lide had much less to say, directly beginning to issue orders.

As Dawn City grew stronger, the responsibilities of the Dwarf Valley also became more significant. Morton's arrival was undoubtedly timely.

“In addition,” three days from now, adventurers from the Lost World will arrive. It's unlikely that Dwarf Valley will encounter them in the short term, but there's a great possibility that you'll meet these adventurers in the future.

These undying beings must be handled with caution. If you discover them, you must immediately relay the message back to Dawn City. The Intelligence Center will inform you how to deal with them.”

Lide gave them one last piece of advice, not completely at ease.

Dwarf Valley's terrain is concealed, and it is nested deep within the barren wasteland of the Far Mountain Range. There's almost no chance of encountering players in the short term, but you can never be too careful. It is far better to give a preemptive warning than to be caught off guard later.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Morton stood up respectfully.

After a moment, as if he had remembered something, he spoke.

“Your Highness, the Beastman Tribes deep in the barren wasteland also have a huge demand for resources.

Maybe we could start trade with the Beastman Tribes…”

During this period, after observing Dawn City, he naturally understood the terrifying productivity of the city.

The barren wasteland might be barren, but it's vast, with many Beastmen, and the wealth contained within is certainly not trivial. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many smugglers and adventurers risking death each year to smuggle goods and seek adventure in the wasteland.

Lide's eyebrow raised upon hearing this.

“If we trade on a large scale, it will inevitably expose the location of Dwarf Valley…”

Dwarf Valley was positioned as an external outlet for Dawn City, which was more important than conducting business to make profits. This was the reason why Lide was reluctant to start trade with the Beastmen from Dwarf Valley.

Morton's deep eyes twinkled with a hint of mirth.

“Your Highness, we could imitate the way we dealt with the Centaurs of the Dwarf Hill Hills…”

“You're suggesting?”

“Support a few small tribes, and then conduct trade through them.

We could even bolster a few small tribes, control them covertly, and carry out trades in secret. You wield significant influence in human society, and can establish a public trade route on the surface, while actually conducting trades through Dwarf Valley in secret.

Even if the Beastmen uncover some clues, they will only think that we're trading with the Human Empire.”

Hearing this plan, Lide looked at Morton with an odd expression – it was quite intricate indeed.

Dawn City secretly controls the Lion Tribe, the Lion Tribe covertly governs other Beastman Tribes, and then those controlled by the Lion Tribe pretend to trade with human merchants…

Although the plan seemed rough, Lide had to admit that the direction was feasible.

“Alright, this task is yours to manage, but my only requirement is that you must ensure the secrecy of Dwarf Valley.”

He had supported the Centaurs in the Dwarf Hill Hills because they were too far from the Far Mountain Range for anyone to bother them.

After all, it was impossible for Centaurs to travel nearly two thousand kilometers to the Far Mountain Range to track them down.

For the Beastmen, however, it was different as they roamed the barren wasteland adjacent to the Far Mountain Range.

Still, this was a possible direction for development. If the plan succeeded, then his reach into the barren wasteland would extend even deeper.

It was only beneficial and not at all disadvantageous to Dawn City, especially since the barren wasteland was closer than ever to Dawn City.

“As you wish, Your Highness…”

Afterwards, Lide spoke with Morton, the Shaman who had pledged allegiance, about spells and the future development of Dwarf Valley then dismissed him.

Lide had to admit that, in just a Sunshine Hour's time, Morton indeed hadn't disappointed him. The old Shaman's wisdom and insights weren't common among ordinary people.

It gave him a feeling of stumbling upon a hidden gem.

As for magic, he hadn't gained much; Shaman spells came from bloodline inheritance and lacked reference for his different system.

After Morton left his office, as Frey knocked and entered, Lide, with an odd expression, seemed to remember something and asked,
“Frey, didn't we capture a Level 17 Centaur in the Dwarf Hill Hills before?

I remember that at a critical moment, it activated the Gale Bloodline…”

Hearing Lide's inquiry, Frey, who had just walked in, had a subtle expression.

“Yes, Your Highness, that Centaur has been imprisoned for over a year…”

He'd always thought Lide remembered that and hadn't dealt with it only because possibly there was another plan.

But now, judging by his tone, it seemed… forgotten…

This made Frey feel sorry for the Centaur that had been imprisoned for more than a year.

Poor fellow – to be a Level 17 Centaur and to be outright ignored.

Lide nodded; indeed, he'd put that matter on the back-burner as there had been too much going on over the year.

Initially, when he had captured the Centaur, his Power of Faith wasn't sufficient to subjugate the creature, so he decided to imprison it temporarily and address the matter when his Power of Faith grew adequate.

He hadn't expected to become so preoccupied with other matters and practically forgot about it.

If it weren't for Morton's visit today, and converting the old Shaman through the Power of Faith, he might not have remembered it at all.

Quite frankly, with Dawn City's current strength, including a Divine Monster, his need for high-end combat capability was not as desperate as in the beginning.

If it had been at the very beginning, he would have fixated on this matter.

“Bring that Centaur over here, and also, notify the Withered Bone who came back with me to head to the back garden.”

Now that he had remembered, it was time to resolve all of these issues.

The soul of the Withered Bone had not yet been converted by him. At first, this chatty skeleton was threatened by Lide and had no choice but to follow him.

Later on, after spending time in Dawn City, he had naturally become one of its residents, and gradually came to accept Lide as his master. Now, it seemed neither of them gave much thought to the matter anymore.

However, to prevent any potential problems, the conversion still needed to happen; otherwise, the chatterbox with its bizarre train of thought might suddenly have a whim to experience what rebellion tasted like, and that would be a real headache.

Frey immediately turned and left, and after half a Sunshine Hour later.

The back garden of the City Hall.

Withered Bone lay bored on the grass, its whip-like white bony tail wagging back and forth like a dog's tail.

Beside Frey was the Centaur Chief, Guido Blackwind, who had been bound in Magic Prohibition Chains and had not seen the light of day for a whole year.

In the past, because the Iron Hoof Tribe bordered the Black Wind Tribe and, in exchange for weapons from Dawn City, the Iron Hoof Tribe started searching for veins, they just so happened to discover a vein of precious Fine Gold right on the border with the Black Wind Tribe.

To seize the Fine Gold vein, the two tribes waged war against each other.

This war was also Lide's first conflict after reaching Level 15 as the leader of the Bloodline.

Alchemy Bombs razed the ground; Blood Mages of the Bloodline manipulated Killing Bats to whip up Bloody Storms, and the two thousand Centaurs of the Black Wind Tribe were swiftly reduced to ash without much resistance.

During the war, Guido Blackwind, stimulated by the conflict, leveled up from Level 16 to 17, and also activated the Gale Bloodline which the Centaurs called a Divine Bloodline.

However, because he had just broken through and lacked control over his newfound power, he was quickly defeated by Lide who had undergone a transformation at Level 15.

After nearly two years of captivity, Guido Blackwind had long lost the bearing he once had as the great Chief of the Black Wind Tribe, commanding tens of thousands of Centaurs.

Now, Guido Blackwind's complexion was abnormally pale due to the long absence of sunlight and the constraints of the Magic Prohibition Chains, making his once-strong physique seem ragged.

The pure white body of the being once a grand three-Ji tall and five-Ji long Centaur Chief, could now only faintly recall its past splendor.

Guido's emotions had never been as complex: As a Centaur Chief who had reached Level 17 and activated a Divine Bloodline, he believed he should receive significant attention wherever he was, whether through honor or severe punishment.

Yet after being captured by the Vampire, nothing at all had happened. Indeed, absolutely nothing.

Nobody sought him out, persuaded him to defect, threatened him, or even spared him a second glance.

In these two years, aside from the soldiers responsible for providing his daily sustenance, no one else paid him any mind.

He seemed forgotten by the world.

At first, he thought it was a Vampire conspiracy, but as time passed, he sorrowfully realized he indeed had been forgotten, and without a trace.

Now, he had lost all ability to resist, and because of the Magic Prohibition Chains, he couldn't even muster the strength to end his own life.

As time went by, Guido's heart became increasingly shrouded in despair. No one knew just how exhilarated he felt when he heard he was being summoned by the master of this city.

“Guido Blackwind, the Chief of the Black Wind Tribe,” Lide looked at Guido before him and keenly sensed some change in the other's state of mind. After a brief thought, he could somewhat understand–if he had been forgotten in a dank, sunlight-devoid cell, he would probably have had an even greater transformation.

“It's been almost two years. I think I've given you plenty of time to think.

Do you choose to submit, or would you prefer to return to your gloomy, silent cell?”

Guido opened his mouth, gazed at Lide's calm expression, and wanted to say something but found himself unable to speak.

If it had been the first few months, submit? He would rather die than submit, for a Centaur never bends the knee.

But with two years gone, his will had already shattered countless times in the endless silence.

Finally sighing deeply, the Centaur Chief bent his forelegs and knelt before Lide, bowing his chest in submission.

“I am willing to submit…”

Lide cracked a smile, somewhat pleased, though not surprised. The clean and decisive submission still lifted his spirits.

His home had grasslands where keeping a few wild horses wouldn't be a problem.

Stepping forward, he placed his hand on the head of the wild horse, branding it with a mark meant for domesticated pets.

Moments later, the Holy Light faded, and Lide turned his gaze towards Withered Bone, who seemed to understand what Lide had in mind. The once lolling body sprang up, leaping to its feet.

It lowered its head slightly and quick-stepped towards Lide, nuzzling his trouser leg with its massive skull and wagging its tail rapidly, so fast it whooshed through the air.

Lide's mouth twitched slightly.

This oddball.

Too lazy to say more.

“Don't resist.”

The Power of Faith in his hands spread out once again.

A few moments later, the system chimed twice, and Lide gained another 4000 Experience Points.

These two were now thoroughly his subordinates, and there were no longer concerns about them rebelling.

Guido Blackwind
Title: Gale Runner (A centaur blessed by the Centaur God and possessing the Gale Bloodline runs 50% faster, gains 300% more strength, is immune to control skills when charging, and receives an additional 500% increase in rushing power)
Centaur King (A centaur with the Gale Bloodline has the innate talent to become the Centaur King, gaining an additional 500% in rallying power, 200% in strength, activates the trait King's Light, which provides an aura, leading the centaurs in battle, all subordinates receive 12 positive status enhancements such as steadfast morale, high spirits, fervent devotion, and Undying defense)
Devout (The most devout believer of the Dawn God, unwavering will, immune to all soul and mind magic, strength +30%)
Age: 57
Level: 17
Profession: Centaur Warrior
Divine Gifted Talent: Prayer, immune to one negative effect, currently bound Talent – Berserk, (Berserk: activates the power of the orcish ancestors in the bloodline, all attributes increased by 200%, body recovery rate increased by 500%, duration: 30 minutes, after use falls into an extremely weakened state, -70% all attributes for 12 Sunshine Hour)
Bloodline: Gale Bloodline (a bloodline granted by the Centaur God to centaurs, only a few with exceptional talent can activate it, increasing all body attributes by 300%, and automatically mastering 12 wind spells)
Introduction: A devout believer of the Dawn God, a centaur prince with a divine bloodline.

Upon opening Guido Blackwind's attribute panel, Lide felt a bit of surprise.

This fellow isn't half bad, it seems from his attribute panel that he ranks above average among my subordinates.

Especially with that Gale Bloodline and the Centaur King trait, one giving him some spellcasting ability, the other greatly enhancing his leadership of the centaur army.

This stirred Lide's thoughts.

“Now that Dawn City is developing deeper into the Far Mountain Range, its value is rising. Although the Iron Hoof Tribe is still strong, it no longer satisfies the needs of Dawn City.

Guido Blackwind's timing is impeccable. Although Dawn City doesn't have the strength to take over the entire Far Mountain Range just yet, this fellow with the divine bloodline can rally the troops far better than the Iron Hoof Tribe.

If handled well, we might be able to make some interesting moves.”

Lide's mind began to wander.

“Like, supporting a Centaur King to power.

'Is it not better to have nobles and generals than to be born low?' Presenting the idea of fulfilling destiny, saving the centaurs, rebuilding the Centaur Empire… thereby controlling the entire Far Mountain Range.

It would be best to compose a few legendary tales, making Guido Blackwind look grand and majestic, letting all centaurs know their king is born…

Perhaps add a slew of slaying a white serpent…

Or uncovering a stone man by the river whose eyes can move…

The slogan should be, heavens, no, 'The Divine are dead'…”

After pondering with delight, Lide temporarily set aside his scattered thoughts and focused on the next point.

Withered Bones Destructive Dragon
Title: Eternal (Undead Life, soul is undying, Immortal and unceasing, spiritual power +500%, immune to death-related spells)
Dragon of Destruction (The Bone Dragon, celebrated and praised by many for its power, has been titled as the Dragon of Destruction and made it its surname, Legend Level +10, and acquired the trait Destruction: Dragon Breath attack power increased by 200%, with additional negative effects including burn, corrosion, aging, decay, vulnerability among 12 others)
Devout (The most devout believer of the Dawn God, unwavering will, immune to all soul and mind magic, strength +30%)
Special Skills:
Undead Power (Even without life, a dragon maintains an immense deterrent presence, strength increased by 500%, deterrence effect against undead life increased by 300%, against non-undead life increased by 100%)
Hard Body (After consuming countless precious materials, the body's hardness has greatly increased, Magic Resistance increased by 1000%, Physical Defense increased by 2000%)
Dragon Power (Exerts an unavoidable oppressive force on non-dragon life forms, only high-level bloodlines are immune, those affected receive negative statuses such as fear, panic, hesitation, disturbed mind, and a chance to submit to the emitted Dragon Power)
Age: 33,478
Level: 19
Profession: Death Spreader
Divine Gifted Talent: Prayer, immune to one negative effect, currently no bound talent.

Bloodline: Giant Dragon Bloodline – Undead (inherits the tradition of Dragon Language Magic, currently masters 113 Dragon Language Magic spells)
Introduction: A devout believer of the Dawn God, a dragon turned undead, who inherits Dragon Language Magic and possesses a powerful frame.

Withered Bones's attributes looked even more powerful.

Much more luxurious than Guido Blackwind, the centaur chieftain.

But the two are different creatures, and cannot be directly compared.

Even with the activation of the Gale Bloodline, Guido could only be considered to have risen from a Strong Battle Race to an Upper Race, still far below the level of dragons, a Golden Race; therefore, even though Withered Bones is merely an Undead Bone Dragon, weaker than a true giant dragon in strength, he can still easily crush Guido.

This world has always been unfair; a being from the Golden Race might be born with a starting point unachievable by many common races in their entire lifetimes.

Yet, the world is fair in that it does not cut off any race's path to progress.

Every race has its own way of survival; not every race has to become a predator that eats flesh to survive.

However, the fact that Withered Bones's age was over thirty thousand years old was beyond Lide's expectation.

Chapter end