Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence

Chapter 548: Chapter 418: The Scorching Black Stone Territory

The source was the Dragon’s Nest at the top of the castle.

「The third day of the Sun’s slumber.」

From that day on, the entirety of Black Stone Castle transformed into a gigantic, slowly heating oven.

At first, it was only the Dragon’s Nest at the peak of Black Stone Castle.

Then, the heat spread to the entire castle.

The Knights discovered that the stone bricks of Black Stone Castle had grown warm. When they rested their hands on the battlements, they could feel a distinct heat.

By the fourth day, this warmth had become scalding hot.

The commoners responsible for cooling the castle had to wear soaked, thick-soled boots just to walk on the upper levels.

They carried bucket after bucket of well water, vigorously splashing it onto the stone bricks that were beginning to glow faintly red. With a SIZZLE, great clouds of white steam billowed up, but in an instant, the water evaporated completely. The scorching bricks only darkened in color; their temperature hadn’t decreased in the slightest.

Using water to cool it down was no longer effective.

A scorching, dry heat began to permeate the air.

The walls felt like a recently extinguished stove, and the wooden furniture in the study gave off a smell of being baked dry.

Everything inside the castle was moved out to prevent damage from the high temperatures.

Raylo had no choice but to order his temporary command post moved to an open area outside the castle.

Several large tents were erected, forming a crude command center.

By the fifth day, Black Stone Castle, built from solid megaliths, was shrouded in a visible, shimmering haze of heat.

The Dragon’s Nest at the top of the castle glowed with a faint red light, as if it were not the lair of a Giant Dragon, but a volcano on the verge of erupting.

"My Lord, your black tea."

Ed approached with a glass of iced black tea.

Raylo took the glass.

"How are things in the border villages?"

Raylo took a sip of the iced tea, the scorching heat abating slightly.

"Not good at all."

Ed’s expression was grim.

"Just half an hour ago, a Pegasus Knight from Patrol Team Three sent word. Yangshu Village, on the easternmost edge of the territory, has been burned."

"It again?"

"Yes."

Ed nodded, his voice filled with suppressed fury.

"According to the surviving villagers, the Phoenix appeared suddenly. It didn’t attack anyone, just flew over the village, spat a few mouthfuls of Flame, and set fire to the thatched huts and the haystacks piled at the village entrance before leaving as arrogantly as it came."

Raylo’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the glass.

This was the fourth village to be burned in the past week.

A few days ago, it was Xikou Village. The same method.

No killing, only arson.

Burning the thatched huts the commoners depend on for survival, burning the wheat fields they toiled over for a whole year and were about to harvest.

’Its goal isn’t slaughter, but to create panic and chaos.’

’Perhaps it’s using this method to try and lure me and my men away from Black Stone Castle to hunt it in the wild. Then it could take the opportunity to sneak back and snatch the Sun Crown Stone that the Sun swallowed.’

"What about villager casualties and resettlement?"

Raylo’s voice was cold.

"No one was killed, though a few people suffered minor injuries while fighting the fire. I’ve already sent men to bring them to Black Stone Town. Food and lodging have been arranged."

Ed replied.

Raylo fell silent.

He stared at the reports of burned houses and wheat fields, his heart filled with rage, yet he also felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

’I can’t just dispatch Domain Level powerhouses like Kado to hunt down this cunning Phoenix in response to mere harassment.’

’The Sun’s safety is the top priority.’

’As long as the Sun successfully absorbs the power of the Sun Crown Stone, these losses can be repaid twofold in the future.’

’But even knowing that, watching my people’s homes be destroyed... it’s still an awful feeling.’

"Send out the order."

Raylo’s voice was hoarse.

"Have the residents of the border villages temporarily relocate inland. The Lord’s Mansion will bear the full cost of all losses. Tell them to settle in and not to worry; they won’t go hungry or cold this winter."

"Yes, My Lord."

Ed responded.

Just then, a Pegasus Knight descended from the sky.

"My Lord! Urgent military intelligence!"

The Knight leaped from his Pegasus and stepped forward to salute.

"Speak."

"Our patrol Knights have sent back the latest news!"

"After leaving our territory this morning, the Phoenix flew straight north into the heart of the Black Stone Mountain Range! It engaged in a fierce conflict with the Black Dragon of the Black Stone Mountain Range."

Raylo took the parchment and quickly unfurled it.

"It fought with a Black Dragon?"

Raylo raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, My Lord!"

the Knight replied.

"According to the Scouts, the battle was extremely fierce."

"In the end, the Blazing Phoenix didn’t seem to gain any advantage. It retreated from the Black Stone Mountain Range and headed east."

Raylo was a little surprised.

"East?"

’It left the Black Stone Mountain Range and went to the Jade Swamp?’

’The Black Dragon itself is Domain Level, and it has a Domain Level Kobold Wizard and a Magical Beast Legion tens of thousands strong under its command. It’s not surprising the Blazing Phoenix failed to gain an advantage.’

"Yes, My Lord. After circling the outskirts of the Jade Swamp for a short time, it plunged into the swamp’s deepest part."

The Jade Swamp!

’What is that Phoenix doing there?’

Countless thoughts flashed through Raylo’s mind in an instant.

"How long has it been in the swamp?"

Raylo asked.

"Including the time it took for the intelligence to get back, it’s been in there for several hours."

Several hours...

Just then, Raylo saw the distant skyline suddenly light up.

Colossal streaks of violet-blue Lightning, like writhing dragons and snakes, tore through the sky above the Jade Swamp without warning!

Immediately after, a boundless sea of crimson fire erupted from the depths of the swamp, soaring into the sky and crashing violently against the celestial Thunderbolt!

RUMBLE!

Even from hundreds of kilometers away, the dull, terrifying peals of thunder were still clearly audible.

Everyone in Black Stone Territory was jolted awake by this display of nature’s might, staring in horror at the distant sky now completely consumed by lightning and fire.

The crimson Blazing Flame and the white-violet Thunderbolt clashed, collided, and annihilated one another frantically in the sky.

Every second, an infinite amount of energy exploded violently in the sky above.

However, before the Thunderbolt, the once-unbeatable Blazing Flame seemed to be losing its momentum.

It lasted less than ten minutes.

The sky-spanning Thunderbolt, like a bursting dam, suddenly surged downward and completely engulfed the Blazing Flame that had painted the heavens red!

The lightning faded.

As the sky darkened, a flickering Flame Star River could be faintly seen fleeing in a sorry state from the depths of the Jade Swamp, disappearing into the night.

「A night passed.」

No further news about the Blazing Phoenix came back; its whereabouts after being injured were unknown.

In the morning, Raylo was woken by the heat.

He pushed aside the tent flap. The nearby Black Stone Castle was now too scorching to approach.

The residents of Black Stone Town, unable to bear the castle’s high temperatures, had all moved out.

Raylo took a drink of water, and a new piece of intelligence caught his attention.

The Blazing Phoenix has occupied Silver Moon Castle and is using it as a temporary nest. It has used its Blazing Flame to burn away the lingering aura of the Vampires in Silver Moon Castle and is currently recuperating and recovering its Power there!

Silver Moon Castle!

’After being severely wounded, the Phoenix hadn’t chosen to flee back to its old lair in the volcanic region, nor had it chosen to hide deep in the mountains and forests.’

’It had actually gone and occupied Silver Moon Castle, which was right next to Black Stone Territory!’

’Silver Moon Castle had been massacred by the Crimson Bloodline not long ago and was completely deserted. To think it would become the Blazing Phoenix’s temporary nest.’

Raylo sighed.

With the Blazing Phoenix as a neighbor, Black Stone Territory would know no peace in the short term.

However...

A sharp glint flashed in Raylo’s eyes.

’As a powerful Domain Level Peak Magical Beast, the Blazing Phoenix’s greatest strength isn’t just its combat Power at the Domain Level Peak, but its unpredictable movements and hit-and-run tactics.’

’Silver Moon Castle isn’t far from Black Stone Territory. With the forces I have on hand, if I plan this well, there’s a good chance I can corner and kill it on that human land it’s now occupying.’