Chapter 277: Encounter in the Canyon
Gana Continent, Central Desert, Double-tailed Rift Valley.
The blazing sun hangs high, the world scorches like a furnace!
Whistling wind and sand sweep through the rift, lifting layers of rolling yellow sand, like the prelude to a battle drum.
The army of the Holy Armor Dragon Kingdom marches slowly across the sandy plains, advancing towards the Double-tailed Rift Valley like a black torrent.
A hundred thousand Armored Dragon Warriors stand in neat formation, resembling a long serpent moving across the land.
They wear vine armor, embedded with obsidian fragments, reflecting glaring cold light under the sun. Obsidian spears and giant swords are held in their hands, their jagged edges like the gaping jaws of a behemoth, swaying back and forth with their steps like beasts grinding their teeth!
Leading the formation are the noble officers of the Holy Armor Dragon Kingdom. Some wear gilded feather crowns, others have jade holy talismans hanging from their waists. Their armor, adorned with obsidian armor pieces, is decorated with shimmering golden threads and ornaments, dazzling like an open treasury.
They stride with heads held high, eyes filled with arrogance and disdain, as if victory were within easy reach.
At the forefront, a heavily armored Earth Dragon moves forward slowly, and the knight atop it is none other than the foremost warlord of the Holy Armor Dragon Kingdom - Bakar.
Clad in heavy armor, interwoven with obsidian and gold resembling dragon scales, he is as imposing as a mountain, face like a stone carving, with a war seal faintly visible between the scales, as if divine blood flows within.
"...Haha, General Bakar, I dare to wager with you, the crawling insects of the Sand Ridge Clan must be scared out of their wits upon hearing your name! Otherwise, they would not still be hiding behind the dunes, not daring to show themselves."
Riding alongside the Earth Dragon, a noble warlord riding a Short-legged Dragon speaks animatedly, his tone filled with flattery.
"The Holy King was too cautious, to trouble you for these few insects. I say, there's no need for you to personally go into battle, just give the command and we will venture deep into the desert to present their transformed heads to you!"
"It's not about caution, this is a punishment from the Holy King, or rather a divine retribution from the Dragon God… Blood debts must be paid with blood. The Holy King personally instructed me to erase them from this land in the most cruel manner possible."
Bakar let out a cold laugh, his eyes flashing with predatory golden light, speaking in a chilling tone.
"Those lower insects crawling in the sand dared to slaughter my envoy, it seems they think their lives are too long."
He glanced down at the sandy ground beneath, not hiding the murderous intent in his words, as if he already saw the enemies' heads covering the rift.
"I shall clean that 'Clan Mother's' skull, inlay it with gold, fill it with lead, and place it at the highest point of the Dragon God Temple, so she can watch as we ravage her people… All because of her foolishness."
The noble let out a hearty laugh, his lips curling upward, his teasing voice carrying a hint of clear flattery.
"To have one's head placed at the highest point of the Dragon God Temple… For that insect, it is an honor indeed."
Bakar chuckled, raising his chin proudly with immense grandeur, then pulled the reins, standing on high to overlook the vanguard, his voice clanging like rolling thunder.
"Warriors!"
"These traitors from the dunes not only broke their ancient oath, colluded with foreigners from the seas, but also cruelly killed our envoy!"
"Today, we will wash the rift with their blood, build a wall of bones with their remains, and bring their Clan Mother back to the Holy City—before the Dragon God, to cut open her guilty heart!"
"Fight for the Holy King!"
"Fight for the Dragon God!"
The roar of a hundred thousand Armored Dragon Clan warriors shook the heavens, their weapons shaking like surging waves, as though this unstoppable obsidian torrent was all that remained between heaven and earth.
Just then, movement suddenly came from the scouting unit ahead.
A scout on a Short-legged Dragon galloped over, reining in close to Bakar to report: "General, there are four unidentified figures appearing in the sandstorm ahead of the rift… They don't seem to be demons from this land."
"Figures?"
Bakar furrowed his brow, but his frown quickly turned into a light laugh, his eyes filled with evident ridicule.
"Most likely outsiders from beyond the sea," sneered the noble riding alongside Bakar on a Short-legged Dragon, arrogantly raising his head, his tone full of contempt, "It seems the Sand Ridge Clan has already colluded with those people, bringing them over early!"
His words resonated with many noble warriors of the Holy Armor Dragon Kingdom, spreading waves of laughter around.
"Haha… It seems they're eager already, wanting to pay pilgrimage to the Dragon God Temple sooner."
"Should we grant them their wish quickly?"
"Or perhaps give them a swift end, their blood would only dirty the waters of the Holy Lake."
Listening to the soldiers' banter, a chilly smile also formed on Bakar's lips.
He shook the dust off his cloak, speaking in a cold and arrogant tone.
"Whoever dares obstruct our path, only the path of death awaits!"
With that, he looked at the noble warrior beside him, issuing an order.
"Yuge, take a squad of light cavalry up front and bring me the heads of those four insects!"
"As you command!" The noble warrior named Yuge's eyes gleamed brightly, drawing the obsidian giant sword from his back, gripping the reins around the Short-legged Dragon's neck, he loudly accepted the order.