Published: March 12, 2025
CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THREE: TAKING TWO CITIES IN ONE NIGHT
Aya is a member of the Sub-Dragon Clan, a descendant of the ambush clan and an eighth-level magical beast, the Shadow Leopard. He can transform into human form, but his strongest fighting state is when he becomes a Shadow Leopard.
The Shadow Leopard is the best assassin in the jungle, with a stealth technique that is nearly impossible for anyone to detect. Even the Dragon Clan is in awe of their combat strength.
When Aya transforms into a Shadow Leopard, his combat power is not inferior to that of a true Shadow Leopard, and may even be stronger, as he possesses both Shadow Leopard and Dragon Clan genes within him.
However, despite this, Aya does not hold a high status among the Sub-Dragon Clan; he is merely a squad leader stationed at the Cavalry Outpost, located at the border between the Leon Empire and the Pagoda Empire.
The Cavalry Outpost is the most important stronghold between the Leon Empire and the Pagoda Empire. Here, the Pagoda Empire has stationed a cavalry force of fifty thousand iron riders, while the Leon Empire previously had a magical beast cavalry of the same size stationed here.
Currently, Aya is guarding this area, but he is not here to prevent an attack from the Pagoda Empire; he believes they would not dare to attack them. Instead, they are guarding against the original forces of the Leon Empire and the many civilians trying to flee to the Pagoda Empire.
These days, life has been quite good for them. Although the original magical beast cavalry from the Leon Empire possess strong combat power, their mounts were all captured from Aklaya Mountain, where those magical beasts are actually under the dominion of the Dragon Clan. Now that they have arrived here, those mounts naturally heed their commands. The magical beast cavalry, lacking mounts, have become like toothless tigers, posing no threat at all.
Additionally, the Dragon Clan members have the final say here, and as a descendant of the Dragon Clan, Aya's status is significantly higher than that of those magical beast cavalry. Whenever the cavalry see them, they all put on flattering smiles and offer any food or entertainment first to them. It could be said that their lives here are better than when they were in Aklaya Mountain.
Today, it is Aya's turn to keep watch at night. In his view, this is completely unnecessary; he doesn't believe the Pagoda Empire would dare to attack them, nor does he think the magical beast cavalry from the Leon Empire would rebel. However, there is no choice; they must obey orders from above.
Aside from the first night, Aya has been brewing a pot of wine and preparing some snacks for himself every night while keeping watch, enjoying a pleasant solitary drink.
Now he is truly happy. The Dragon Clan has endured in Aklaya Mountain for so many years, and now they finally have made their move, swiftly taking control of a human empire. Having people waiting on them like lords every day here is naturally incredibly comfortable.
In Aya's opinion, the Dragon Clan should have come out of Aklaya Mountain long ago. With their powerful strength, they should have ruled the Ark Continent and not had to endure for so many years.
Just as he took a sip of wine, Aya suddenly stopped and perked up his ears. He seemed to have heard some strange sounds. The hearing of a Shadow Leopard is exceptionally sharp, and with the genes of the Shadow Leopard in him, Aya's hearing is certainly not inferior.
Aya put down his wine cup and listened carefully. Yes, there is indeed a very peculiar sound. It is neither the sound of the wind nor the rustling of leaves; it resembles the sound made by someone on a journey.
Aya was taken aback for a moment, slowly standing up and looking towards the city, as the sound was coming from there. At the Cavalry Outpost, there is a curfew at night, so any civilians or off-duty soldiers caught outside would be executed for treason.
Because of this, Aya was puzzled about who would be out at this late hour. He believes it cannot be the guarding soldiers rebelling, as they lack the guts to do so. After all, there is a Dragon Clan member personally stationed here, equivalent to a ninth-level expert. How could those soldiers dare to rebel?