Chapter 783 - 531: The Hill Giants’ New Settlement
Chapter 783: Chapter 531: The Hill Giants’ New Settlement
"The valley and the surrounding forests are home to herds of Magical Beasts, and resources of all kinds are abundant."
"Oh?"
Raylo’s interest was piqued. He had been to the Giant’s Sleep valley two or three times, and it was indeed a good place.
"It sounds like there’s no better place."
"Yes, my Lord..."
"But... a Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant once slumbered there. Although it was driven away before, we can’t rule out the possibility that it might return to the valley in the future."
Raylo nodded.
He thought for a moment and decided to personally visit these locations to scout them out himself.
...
Raylo didn’t delay.
The next morning, he set out with the three little ones.
Raylo leaped up, landing steadily on Lightning’s broad back.
"Go."
He gave the order.
Lightning let out a deafening draconic roar. With a powerful beat of its wings, a fierce wind howled to life!
Its massive body shot up from the ground, transforming into a streak of blue lightning as it soared toward the clouds.
The first destination: Wind Language Valley.
Looking down from high above, the valley was just as the Scout had described: open terrain with lush water and grass.
A wide river snaked through the valley, nourishing vast stretches of forest and grassland.
One could even see herds of Magical Beasts running and resting within it.
Everything looked wonderful.
But to Raylo, this place seemed more like a "hunting ground."
’Perhaps in the future, this can serve as a hunting ground for the Hill Giants.’
"On to the next location."
Raylo gently patted Lightning’s neck.
Lightning understood immediately. It banked its Dragon Wings and flew him toward the next target.
Anvil Highlands soon appeared in their sights.
It was a massive, flat-topped highland jutting out from the mountain range, surrounded by steep cliffs with only a few narrow passages leading up and down.
’Easy to defend, hard to attack. An excellent Fortress.’
Raylo immediately recognized its military value.
The plateau on top was extremely vast, enough to accommodate all the Hill Giants with plenty of room to spare.
Raylo had Lightning lower its altitude for a closer look.
The surface rock was a deep, iron-black color, which confirmed the Scout’s report about it being "rich in iron ore."
However, the drawbacks were just as obvious.
The entire highland was barren, with only sparse shrubs and moss. There was almost no large vegetation to be seen.
The most fatal flaw was the water source.
Raylo could only spot a few small puddles on the edge of the highland, formed by collected rainwater. They were completely insufficient to meet the daily needs of over a hundred Hill Giants.
No water, no life.
Without forests and grasslands, the food source for the Giant race would become a major problem.
’I can’t have them gnawing on rocks every day.’
This place was more like a military fortress.
It was unsuitable as a home.
"Let’s go. To Giant’s Sleep."
Although Raylo had been to the Giant’s Sleep valley more than once, he decided to observe it again.
As they gradually approached the Giant’s Sleep valley, an invisible pressure, ancient in origin, filled the air.
It was the residual aura of a Catastrophe Level creature. Even though its master was gone, the aura still lingered, declaring its former dominion over this land.
They flew over the last mountain ridge.
In the next second, a magnificent panorama unfolded before Raylo’s eyes.
It was an enormous valley.
It was as if the Creator Deity had swung a Giant Axe, carving a "scar" clean through the continuous Black Stone Mountain Range.
Inside the valley, it was a completely different world.
A massive primeval forest, lush and verdant, resembled a green ocean.
A wide, great river rushed out from the depths of the valley, forming a vast alluvial plain.
On the rock walls on both sides of the valley, layers of ore in various colors were clearly visible, glinting tantalizingly in the sunlight.
This place formed a complete ecosystem of its own.
It had forests, rivers, plains, and mineral deposits.
It was a natural habitat, sufficient for thousands of Giants to live and multiply!
"It’s too perfect..."
Raylo couldn’t help but murmur to himself.
He could even picture the scene of the Hill Giants settling down here.
They could hunt in the forests, fish in the river, farm on the plains, and mine ore from the cliff faces.
The surrounding mountains were a natural barrier, isolating this place from the outside world.
This place was a paradise tailor-made for the Giant race!
However...
At the gates of this paradise stood a Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant.
Although it had been driven off by Grand Elder Gu, no one could guarantee it wouldn’t return.
A species’ attachment to its lair is a frightening thing.
’Should I give up on this place?’
’Find a second-rate, but safer, location?’
Images of Wind Language Valley and Anvil Highlands surfaced in Raylo’s mind.
’No.’
’Those places would only allow the Giants to "survive."’
’But here, the Giants could "live," and they could prosper!’
As their Lord, he had a responsibility to fight for the best for his people.
As for the danger...
’A Catastrophe Level Mountain Giant?’
’Is it that strong?’
’Perhaps.’
But he was no longer the Pioneer Knight he once was, who had to rely on schemes and luck just to survive.
’Just one Mountain Giant. Even if it really does come back, it’s not like I don’t stand a fighting chance!’
’Fortune favors the bold!’
’In this world, the best things are never just sitting on a shelf for you to pick.’
’They must be fought for with Power and courage!’
’Besides, the most important point is legacy. The Mountain Giant’s attachment to this valley, making it its lair, was surely for a reason.’
’It might still hide the secret to its power.’
’And that secret is something Kado and his people will have to unearth for themselves.’
"This is it!"
Raylo made his choice!
After making his decision, Raylo didn’t linger in the Black Stone Mountain Range and chose to turn back toward Black Stone City.
The wind howled past his ears.
The mountains and forests below retreated at high speed.
Before long, the silhouette of Black Stone City, standing tall on the plain, appeared at the edge of his vision.
At this moment, a bustling scene was unfolding outside Black Stone City.
Raylo spotted Ed at a glance.
He had his hands on his hips, standing on the sidelines and shouting at the field, his voice booming like a bell.
And on the huge field before him, over a hundred Knights clad in Leather Armor were trying to tame their "new partners."
The hundreds of newly captured Pegasi.
Once tamed by the Knights, they would become the new aerial force for Black Stone Territory.
WHOOSH!
Lightning landed smoothly at the edge of the open area. The strong gust from its folding Dragon Wings caused a small commotion among the nearby Knights and Pegasi.
"Quiet! Everyone, quiet down!"
After bellowing to get the situation under control, Ed ran over quickly.
"My Lord!"
He performed a standard Knight’s salute, striking his chest, his voice filled with excitement.
"Ed, the lads are in high spirits."
Raylo vaulted off the dragon’s back.
Raylo’s gaze shifted to the sky, where dozens of Knights had already completed the taming process and were now practicing flight maneuvers in the air on their Pegasi.
"How are things going?"
"Reporting to my Lord, progress is going quite smoothly."
He pointed toward the field.
"I estimate that in about three days, all of the eight hundred-plus captured Pegasi can be tamed. In another ten or so days, they should basically complete their training in aerial flight and combat techniques."
Raylo nodded, looking at the scene on the field.
It was just as Ed said.
In addition to the Pegasus Knights soaring in the sky, another group of Knights had already successfully gained the recognition of their Pegasi. They were gently stroking their necks, and the Pegasi affectionately nuzzled their heads against the Knights’ Armor. Man and beast were getting acquainted and building trust.
There were still other Knights locked in a "battle of wits and will" with their Pegasi.
One Pegasus reared up on its hind legs, letting out a dissatisfied neigh and forcing back a Knight who tried to approach.
In another corner, a young Knight was holding a handful of fresh alfalfa, carefully offering it while muttering sweet nothings, as if trying to coax a young maiden.
But the Pegasus merely glanced at him before haughtily turning its head away.
Although the scene was a bit chaotic, it was filled with hope.
Raylo could see that a new, powerful Pegasus Knight Order was slowly taking shape here.