Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 695 - 639 Ocangas

Evolution is an ability vital for the survival of all normal life, with the world in its constant flux, the creator granted minuscule beings the talent to glimpse greatness. It’s survival of the fittest, survival of the most adaptable to change and new circumstances, not merely the strongest in the narrow sense of brute force.

At the top of the food chain, powerful consumers are typically fewer in number than the producers at the bottom, an inevitable result of energy transfer and nutrient storage—the rules of the world’s normal functioning. A realm can have but one ruler, for this world can only provide the strength to support a single monarch. This rule applies equally in the mystical realm; dragons of the past were strong and robust, and it’s difficult for the humans of the current age to replicate the splendor of that primitive savagery. Indeed, if not for the holy light descending from the heavens, the power structure of this era would still be like that of the dragon era, with a small part at the top of the pyramid holding the reins of power.

Great power requires material support.

The wise saw the truth in sustaining power and grasped a new way to live. The magic network connects every fragile individual into a whole, this is the collective power that Spellcasters solemnly believe in.

Some foolish old relics remain stuck in the past, adhering to outdated creeds, and he succeeded in doing so.

The Earth Node, Sahazaan. A monstrous birthing chamber, a land where life is nurtured, the bosom of Mother Earth. Ohmhead, the Black Dragon Priest, shaped this mysterious place into a proud and willful black dragon, greedily scouring all surrounding energy and nutrients. This land of mystery siphons vitality from the nearby regions, creating vast deserts, with the concentrated energy manifesting in every blade of grass, every dew drop in Sahazaan.

Without considering energy loss, all life in Sahazaan evolved towards the pinnacle of power. Giants and demons indulged in the wild primitive forces on this land of life, with the bloody hunt unfolding on every inch of Sahazaan’s soil. In this primordial jungle shrouded in blood, the sun’s rays bore witness to every power-feast.

At the height of this bountiful land, at the top of the complex food web, stood real monsters once.

The Black Dragon Kin, the ancient humans, a powerful race that unleashed ultimate power, stood atop the food chain. But even the long development of the Kin came to an end; at that time, the Ancient Tribe Ohmhead led had reached the zenith of Sahazaan, with no path ahead. The once insurmountable Black Dragon Kin entered a period of stagnated power.

Ohmhead had long planned for this, but his scheme was thwarted by the other Dragon Priests. During the assembly of Dragon Priests, each Kin had its developmental plans, and in their dragon-like pride, obviously, the thoughts of others weren’t considered.

Ohmhead once proposed a plan for an ultimate land, where the Earth Node would directly extract the vital energy of the planet, turning all regions outside Sahazaan into deadlands, concentrating the essence of life in one place, using the power of the world to sustain his mighty Kin.

It sounds quite barbaric, but at the time, all Dragon Priests had similar plans. Atlantis, which Princess often mentioned, was no joke; Fleisheimer once had a proposal for the Elemental Plane to erode the world, and even Irason had a plan for the dormancy of the planet... at least before he went mad.

The one-time leaders of the age, the Dragon Priests were no pushovers. As a result, Mr. Scholar became the leader of the Dragon Priests, and the magic network project became the only grand scheme recognized and successfully advanced. Even today’s plans are a castrated version; the original plan of the Blue Dragon Priest was to strip all Kin of their corporeal remnants, turning the force of life into pure magical power that composed an eternal magic network, transforming the entire planet into a ball of magical force. Then the holy light appeared, breaking their proud backbones. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"My people bathed in Dragon Blood, and the Black Dragon Ohmhead was the only great dragon we have slain. The title of Dragon Slayer is somewhat inaccurate. The true Dragon Slayer was the one who almost prevented your birth," corrected Ohmhead to Alcalon, clinging to his own glory but never considering the act of killing his mentor for the continuity of his Kin as an honor. After the fall of the father of dragons, the ancient humans engaged in battle with the Black Dragons, granting their dragon a warrior’s death.

Alcalon smirked, baring sharp teeth in his vicious smile. "I crave a worthy opponent. If my Kin becomes strong enough to kill me, that would be most welcome."

Ohmhead was quite pleased with Alcalon’s fearless battle-addicted personality.

"I killed my teacher, but I certainly don’t plan to exterminate my students. They won’t disappoint you, as long as you cooperate with me. Those softies abandoned by time and me need some provocative passion."

...

The buffalo hide curtain stirred by the wind beat against the tent, overshadowing breathing sounds inside the solemn tent like drumbeats. The tribal leader crouched on the fur carpet, the stench rising from the heated fur was like uneasy emotions pervading inside the tent. Maan sat cradling a pottery jar in the corner of the leader’s tent, watching the tribe’s elders and the leader hold council.

The meeting of the adult hunters wasn’t an opportunity that Maan would normally have had, but now he was the tribe’s War Pattern Master, and moreover, the topic under discussion was directly related to him.

"We are being sent to our deaths, Ocangas, three warriors have already been grievously wounded on the hunt."

"Did you see the fangs on that beast, they are sharper than the best spear in our hands!"

"And that’s without even setting foot in that green expanse of death! If we go deeper, our casualties will be enormous!"

This barbarian tribe had heeded the instructions of the mysterious Shaman Omuro, and they were advancing towards Sahazaan, with increasingly terrifying beasts and enemies straining the nerves of every warrior, despite most of them being adorned with war patterns. They indeed were reaping more booty, but were also facing greater dangers. After the collective hunt of the saber-toothed wolves left three warriors seriously injured, the accumulated resentment and fear drove them to approach their leader.

The tribal leader wore a headdress made from the skull of a giant elk, concealing his face, and his muscular body, as robust as granite under his hides, towered above the others; he was the most robust and most composed of them all. As the chief of the tribe, and its mightiest hunter, it was his bone spear that had dealt the fatal blow to the beast. Ocangas held immense prestige within the tribe, and he also possessed a rare wisdom among the barbarians.

"But we have also grown stronger; two months ago, we couldn’t have hunted such formidable game. The Shaman gave us the strength to survive, and you all have received his blessing."

"Then let him guide us on a better path, not lead us into death. Sahazaan, that is the land of death passed down from our ancestors, what in the world is that mad Shaman thinking!"

The heated argument was almost entirely one-sided, with several of the key hunters opposing the continued approach towards Sahazaan, a few remained silent, sharing the thoughts of the tribal leader and Maan.

The two of them had hope for the mysterious Omuro.

"Enough!" Ocangas’s fist slammed into the ground, creating a pit, and the bickering ceased at the chief’s outburst. Everyone calmed down and awaited what was to come.

"Maan, where did we put the meat from the wolves we hunted earlier?"

"With Tomo Granny, they are processing the wolf carcasses."

Ocangas scanned all those present.

"I delivered the fatal blow to that beast, and according to our rules, I have the right to decide what to do with my prey." He stood up, signaling everyone to follow, "You are the mightiest warriors of this tribe, the fundamental reason our tribe keeps surviving, I need your strength and even more, I need you to support my decision."

"Cowards may opt out of the hunting party. Warriors, come with me."

"That Shaman is the tribe’s hope, no matter how slim that hope is, even if it could lead to our ruin."

"The blood of our ancestors that flows within me tells me that nothing can stop me from stepping onto the path of power."

"Not cowards, nor death."