As Saron was meticulously arranging his ingredients, his attention was abruptly drawn to Shadar, who entered the cave with two diminutive figures in tow. The sight of the shining ores on their backs was instantly captivating.
"Shadar, I didn't expect you to have mined the ores so quickly!" Saron nodded in approval.
"My lord, we enlisted the help of goblins and gnolls to expedite the mining!" Shadar bowed deeply in respect.
The goblin leader, Vex, and the gnoll, Doug, stood by, utterly dumbfounded. They had never imagined they would stand in the presence of a dragon alongside the forest trolls.
Doug was especially overwhelmed; he prostrated himself on the ground in a show of fealty to Saron.
"Mighty True Dragon, Doug pledges his loyalty to you!" he exclaimed.
"Hmm? He speaks in Draconic?" Saron noted, surprised that the gnoll had spoken the language of dragons.
"Majestic Sovereign of True Dragons, your form is more imposing than any being, your authority unmatched. Please accept this humble one's unwavering loyalty," Doug said humbly.
"Good, I accept your allegiance," Saron responded, clearly pleased. It was rumoured that gnolls carried a trace of true dragon blood, which sometimes gave them the ability to speak a few words of Draconic. Saron, however, wasn't convinced that these creatures carried any true dragon lineage.
Gnolls, when encountering a true dragon, would offer their loyalty without a moment's hesitation, such was their fervent nature. They were born followers of the great drakes.
Unlike trolls, whose reputation was built on brute force and plundering, gnolls were natural miners.
"Majestic Sovereign of True Dragons, Vex also pledges allegiance to you. And I come bearing important news!" the goblin Vex interjected hastily. Seeing the gnoll pledge himself to the dragon, Vex too felt compelled to offer his loyalty.
"What news?" Saron's crimson eyes fixed themselves on Vex, who felt dwarfed in the shadow of the dragon's massive claw.
"We discovered a vein of Fel Iron Ore next to the Sunset Forest, but it's adjacent to a half-orc tribe, so we've yet to mine it!" Vex hastily informed Saron.
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"Fel Iron, you say? Are you certain?" Saron perked up, feeling as if lady luck might truly be on his side.
"Mighty Dragon Sovereign, I was once enslaved by humans and helped them to mine various ores. I've learned how to identify and extract them, so I am confident it's a rich vein of Fel Iron Ore!" Vex said, managing to calm his nerves.
Shadar's expression darkened slightly—he couldn't believe Vex had dared to keep this from him. Fel Iron was among the most coveted resources on the continent. Unlike common iron, Fel Iron could be directly enchanted, its innate hardness alone being several times stronger than regular iron. Weapons, armor, and all manner of tools required Fel Iron.
"Well done, goblin! Tell me your name," Saron said, more pleased to find a knowledgeable goblin—it was like finding a rare talent.
"Mighty Dragon Sovereign, my name is Vex," the goblin replied, bowing his head respectfully, yet inside he was overjoyed, feeling as if his fate had finally turned a corner.
"We shall depart in two days to inspect this iron vein!" Saron announced with excitement. He planned to go after the feast, disregarding the mention of the half-orc tribe. If the tribe interfered with his mining, they would interfere with his ingredients. Without ingredients, there could be no feast. If there was no feast, he would wither with age!
"Why bother with minor concerns when action is the solution?" he thought to himself.
"Yes, Fel Iron..." Vex mentally corrected, but kept it to himself.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of the goblins and gnolls, more than five thousand pounds of ore had been mined. At Saron's behest, Shadar led the troll warriors on a hunt for three magical beasts—a dangerous task that required mobilizing nearly half of their fighters and female spellcasters to achieve success.
Deep within the cavern, Saron sealed the entrance with his earthen magic and commanded Shadar and the others not to disturb him. The feast then began.
The main course was Siren's Tears, which, true to expectations, wafted a delectable fragrance once the feast commenced. They tasted salty with a flavor that evoked the vast sea.
For Saron, the aroma of the feast was the ultimate judge of quality—the more alluring the scent, the higher the grade of the feast.
Next on the menu were Topaz stones. Saron devoured over three thousand pounds of them along with the carcasses of three magical beasts, gnawing flesh, bone, and all. A sprinkle of gold coins served as the garnish, and under Saron's expectant gaze, the feast reached perfection.
This time, Saron felt the feast's enhancements focused mainly on his throat area, possibly transforming into a breath weapon, though it seemed not quite that simple.
Shaking his head, Saron silently observed the changes within his body. Finally, with the opening of his eyes, the feast’s transformation concluded.
【Saron: Health Points 235】
【Feast Stacks: 7】
【Feast Cooldown Time: 5 Days】
【Talent 1: Carnivore – You can regain health and energy by slaying enemies, with the amount restored depending on their life energy.】
【Talent 2: Earth Magic Affinity – You possess a powerful affinity for earth magic.】
【Talent 3: Fire Magic Affinity – You possess a powerful affinity for fire magic.】
【Talent 4: Armor Penetration – Your claws and teeth will inflict increased damage on enemies.】
【Talent 5: Savage Roar – Your roar will cause more damage to enemies and disrupt their spellcasting.】
"Your voice is the world's bane" — Cho'gath
Indeed, new talents had emerged, including one of a great beast's primary abilities.
This was a divine ability in this world, capable of interrupting spellcasting. For example, the forest trolls' anti-flying magic circle required constant casting by the spellcasters, meaning a single roar from Saron could disrupt their spells and break the circle.
Truly a nemesis for mages, and perhaps even for warriors gathering their fighting spirit, it could be disrupted as well.
With these thoughts, Saron was tempted to let out a roar or two but restrained himself.
Breaking free from the earthen seal he'd placed on the cave, Saron emerged into the open air. His size had not increased much, now nearing ten meters.
Rapping his claws against the scales on his chest, sparks flew, indicating an increased thickness of his armor. Now his entire body was jet-black, with the exception of two crimson eyes and slight red patterns at the base of his horns.
Unlike typical black dragons, whose scales tend to gray as they age, aiding their survival in swamps, or white dragons whose scales turn from reflective like mirrors to a dull gray-white over time, Saron's scales remained a deep, impenetrable black.