The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 257 - 1: Unexpected Joy_2

Chapter 257: Chapter 1: Unexpected Joy_2

Only Volen had a slight understanding of the subtleties at play, aware of the display of advanced magic the Lord had performed before him and his men. Although he was uncertain why the two young dragons had suddenly become so docile and tame, the aura of dominance that had momentarily suffused the Lord’s entire being had not been aimed at him, and yet Volen had instinctively veered away; it was an apparent manifestation of a magical incantation. To think that even creatures regarded as divine beasts within his own tribe would bow down to this man was enough to instill a sense of dejection in Volen’s heart and, at the same time, fill him with greater hope for the mission he had undertaken.

Volen’s guess was correct; Komer had indeed exercised his refined psychic magic, "Pressure," in front of the two young dragons. It was a form of psychic magic that relied solely on spiritual power and not only demanded a high level of mental magic but also strict control over the practitioner’s own mental fluctuations and awareness. It represented an advancement Komer had achieved by combining the Magical knowledge system bestowed on him by Kennifer III with some psychic magic books he had acquired in Damarlinsk Castle. This level of psychic magic "Pressure" was much more formidable and complex than the basic ones Komer had mastered before, and he had intended to test its effectiveness on non-human creatures. According to Komer’s theory, any creature with a modicum of intelligence and cognition should be influenced by this kind of psychic magic. As expected, the formidable spiritual presence compelled the two young dragons to submit completely. Seeing even the proud dragons submit before him ignited in Komer, if only for a fleeting moment, an urge to dominate the whole Continent at his will. Of course, this was but a passing thought, especially since these were merely Earthwalking Dragon cubs.

Komer finally retracted his hand from petting the young dragon and gradually withdrew his psychic magic. The use of such high-level psychic magic was extremely draining on spiritual power and was not suitable for prolonged use. Moreover, imposing "Pressure" for an extended period could suppress their naturally violent temperaments—beneficial for taming them, surely, but it might also diminish the young dragons’ inherent attack power. Komer hoped to train them more in the way the Barbarians did with their Earth Dragon Warriors so that he too might possess a formidable Earthwalking Dragon force that could traverse the Homer region and the Kingdom of Nicosia, even if it was just a small contingent.

Volen observed Komer closely, noting his clear affection for the young dragons but also a hint of dissatisfaction, presumably due to their number being too few, which made Volen slightly apprehensive. He knew his neighbor from the North had a voracious appetite; last time, he had requested an alliance to fund the creation of a small squad of Earth Dragon Warriors, which would require at least five to seven adult Earthwalking Dragons. This request had sparked controversy within the Garong Tribe and caused an uproar within the Alliance. Several tribes eager for access to the northern food resources and lifting arms embargoes showed limited support, yet the majority of tribe Chiefs firmly opposed the move, fearing Mountain people would lose their martial advantage over Mortals and ultimately become slaves to them.

The tribes that showed conditional support believed the Mountain people were currently blockaded and encircled by an alliance of Mortals and other races, making their situation increasingly desperate; continuing down this path would lead to isolation and weakness.

The Cordillera Wilderness, rich in resources, had two fatal flaws like a noose tightening around the neck of the Mountain people. The first was the severe shortage of food; harvests on Cordillera Wilderness only met seventy percent of the need in good years, with the shortfall covered by smuggling and hunting, and even larger gaps in average years.

While smuggling alleviated some difficulties for the Mountain people, they gradually discovered these smuggling groups had secret agreements with the very countries and regional powers enforcing the blockade—never to allow the Mountain people sufficient quantities to store and hoard food. Every transaction for smuggled food cost a huge sum of money and barely covered basic needs. Any attempt to smuggle in larger quantities of food would be met with refusals from these groups, no matter how high the price, and a variety of excuses would be provided.

And whenever a year of famine struck, the Mountain people had to find ways to establish various connections, mobilize all their forces, and obtain food through various channels. During such times, the surrounding Mortals and other national and racial powers would turn a blind eye, allowing smuggling groups to bring in food, earning huge profits. Even so, the repeated famines that came every few years still brought immense losses to the Mountain people. Not only did they consume a large amount of funds exchanged through various mineral products and special goods, but also a vast number of the elderly, women, and children would starve to death. The disaster that repeated itself every few years made the total population of the Mountain people not only fail to increase but even gradually decrease, which was the biggest problem all tribes within the Alliance faced. It seemed there was only one way to break this vicious cycle: external war, seizing lands capable of growing food. For hundreds of years, the wars between the Mountain people and other races have almost always revolved around this reason. Whenever this happened, the Mortal kingdoms of the Whole Continent and other racial powers nearby would, without exception, join forces to oppose the Mountain people. These wars, with their vast disparities in strength, would invariably end in the crushing defeat of the Mountain people, bringing only endless humiliation and pain.

With these experiences, aside from quietly licking their own wounds, the Mountain People Alliance seemed to have no other options. They could only watch the reality of their dwindling numbers helplessly, until a new Lord emerged in the remote lands of the North, bringing some changes.

Apart from the fatal weakness of food, the technological backwardness of the Mountain people in production, and the blockade of strategic resources also seriously constrained their survival and development. All kingdoms and regions of various races strictly prohibited the transfer of important production technologies to the Mountain people, such as mining, iron smelting, and manufacturing. It was precisely because these technologies could not reach the Mountain people’s land that they remained in a primitive and backward state, unable to compare with the races of the outside world in any aspect. This was also the main reason for their repeated failures in war. Although their Army boasted powerful soldier types and exceptional individual Martial Power, defeat ultimately remained their fate.

A torrent of complex thoughts rolled in Volen’s Brain like a tide at this moment. His mission to the Caucasus this time was not merely about presenting two Earth Dragon Cubs on the surface; it was just that he could not casually reveal his intentions in the current situation, only waiting for the right opportunity.

"Lord, it seems these two young dragons share some fate with you, Sir. If it were someone else, I’m afraid the young dragons would have already been raging thunderously, but upon seeing you, Lord, they are so docile and tame, which really is a pleasure to see," Volen spoke, his words insincere. But in such circumstances, he could only use these slightly hypocritical words to smooth things over.

Komer could detect a complicated undertone in the other party’s words, and he understood Volen’s conflicting feelings at this moment. This Volen could also be considered a man of some insight among the Barbarian tribes. His visit this time surely was not that simple; what secret matters it involved would probably have to wait until the other party revealed his intentions.