Bullywugs are an amphibious, humanoid race that lives in swamps, wetlands, and coastal caves. They are of low intelligence, bullying the weak and fearing the strong, often attaching themselves to more powerful entities.
They mostly live in tribal groups with a strict hierarchy, worshiping the 'Lord of the Mire' as their leader. Internal strife is common, and they often rely on superior numbers to hunt and raid surrounding settlements.
The Lizardfolk, who share similar living habits, are the Bullywugs' mortal enemies.
Although it's true that Bullywugs can live in coastal caves, they are, after all, amphibious creatures capable of entering the sea to catch food. For the vast majority of Bullywugs, the primary gathering areas are still swamps and wetlands.
Therefore, the 'Lord of the Mire' that Bullywugs serve often refers to the Black Dragons among the Chromatic Dragons, who prefer to establish their lairs in swamps.
If there is no powerful patron, then the leader within the tribe will proclaim themselves the 'Lord of the Mire', seen by outsiders as the Frog King.
"Gugua, gugua."
The Bullywug made low croaking sounds, seemingly representing some form of submission. It knelt fearfully before Xia'er and Saga, not daring to move.
After all, for Bullywugs, Chromatic Dragons are powerful magical creatures passed down through tribal lore. From birth to death, they have never seen such formidable beings. According to their nature of bullying the weak and fearing the strong, upon seeing Xia'er and Saga, they naturally chose to submit immediately.
"My lord."
Saga looked at this Bullywug and immediately addressed Xia'er, "If it's only us guarding this island, it's still a bit too hasty. Although these Bullywugs are a lowly race, if we can make use of them, have them offer prey and blood sacrifices, it could save us time. If any conflict arises, we would also have some slaves and minions to command."
Xia'er gave a slight nod.
Saga's suggestion was exactly what she had in mind.
Thinking this, Xia'er immediately said, "You want to subjugate them?"
"It is for you, my lord."
Saga said, "Although Bullywugs often submit to Black Dragons, here, you are the leader of the dragon flight. This first group of vassals, regardless of race, should rightfully be ruled by you personally. Once our power grows, or if you acquire more powerful vassals under your command and no longer need this Bullywug tribe, then I can take over."
Hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Xia'er's gaze. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes falling upon the Black Dragon Saga beside her.
This proposal... was very mature, even carrying a maturity that transcended the inherent nature of a Black Dragon.
According to the Dragon Inheritance's records, Black Dragons are solitary, gloomy, and self-centered. In Xia'er's impression, Saga was also a cautious, silent, even somewhat timid Black Dragon.
Usually, Saga just passively accepted orders or fate, rarely taking the initiative to offer advice, let alone considering things so thoroughly, clearly defining power ownership, and emphasizing the hierarchy within their tiny dragon flight of only three dragons.
'Could it be that leaving Valentina's dragon lair and escaping that oppressive environment actually awakened some hidden traits in Saga?'
Thoughts spun rapidly in Xia'er's mind: 'Or perhaps, within Saga's inherited Dragon Inheritance memories, there is experience related to management? Could his blood relative have been a high-ranking Black Dragon within the 'Underwood Dragon Flight'?'
However, regardless, a Black Dragon who knows how to think, understands propriety, and knows how to uphold the leader's authority is far more useful than a mere brute who only knows violence.
Previously, Xia'er hadn't paid much attention to Saga, focusing all her efforts on the Red Dragon Tyrone.
After all, Red Dragons are innately powerful, the strongest race among the Chromatic Dragons.
Now it seems, she might have been somewhat mistaken back then.
This Black Dragon Saga is actually the most outstanding Chromatic Dragon within the Underwood Dragon Flight, aside from herself!
Even without her, if this Black Dragon Saga were exiled from the lair to wander, he would still accomplish something significant.
"Very good, Saga."
Xia'er nodded gently, her voice carrying a hint of approval. "That you can think of this is proof enough of your wisdom. We shall proceed as you suggest."
With that, Xia'er turned her gaze to the Bullywug trembling like a leaf on the sand. She opened her maw and declared, "Lowly frog-men! Summon your Frog King to pay homage immediately! Inform him that the new master of this island, 'Jade Wing', has descended! Should there be even a moment's delay..."
Then, Xia'er flapped her wings. A draconic roar filled with lethal threat tore through the air, and her breath weapon, mixed with a poisonous green mist, shimmered faintly: "My wrath shall burn your filthy nests to ashes, severing your bloodline from these seas forever!"
The Bullywug let out a terrified "Gugua!" and trembled violently, not daring to move.
After a moment of silence, Xia'er felt a bit helpless.
The Bullywug before her was just an ordinary one and didn't understand Common.
It couldn't understand her words.
She had even made up the title 'Jade Wing', which now seemed rather pointless.
Sigh.
The compulsory education of the Bullywug tribe has a long and arduous road ahead.
Xia'er glanced at Saga, who immediately moved into action. His massive dragon claw plunged once more into the widened cave entrance and began digging with even greater violence.
Soil and rubble were flung up by immense force. Under the powerful swings of the Black Dragon's robust forelimbs, mud mixed with slime and the smell of the sea splattered in all directions. Each drag pulled out large amounts of muck and stone fragments. Immediately, a dense, rustling chorus of "gugua" sounds erupted, as if countless frightened toads were hiding deep within the cave.
Soon, a second, a third...
More and more gray-green figures were brutally hauled out of the dark cave by Saga. They were flung onto the cold sand or into the shallow water, shivering, curling up, not daring to look at the nightmarish black dragon, nor the even more terrifying, larger jade-green dragon standing behind the black one.
Saga seemed to derive a certain sense of control from this and dug with even more gusto.
The cave entrance was widened and deepened further by him. The commotion and fear emanating from within reached a peak.
Tiny Bullywug warriors scrambled out from other hidden openings in panic, trying to flee into the sea. But seeing the massive emerald shadow circling in the sky and the terrifying Hydra corpse on the beach, they froze in terror on the spot.
Clearly, the entire Bullywug tribe had been thoroughly shaken by this sudden, unstoppable violent invasion.
They realized that hiding and sacrificing a few individuals was futile; their nest was being completely dismantled by this fearsome Black Dragon!
Finally, after Saga made another forceful dig, dragging out five or six more disheveled Bullywugs, the calm waters of the cove began to churn violently.
"Splash! Splash! Splash!"
The shallow waters of the cove, not far from Saga's digging point, seemed to boil.
One after another, wet, gray-green heads broke the surface, followed by their slender, webbed hands and feet, and those distinctive frog-like heads.
These Bullywugs swam out from underwater openings, clutching crude stone axes and stone spears, crawling ashore using both hands and feet.
One, five, ten...
Their numbers increased rapidly.
They gathered together, forming a chaotic formation. Although their weapons were crude and their formation was crooked, the oppressive sense of being cornered, backed by sheer numbers, instantly filled the air.
Counting carefully, the Bullywugs crawling out of the water and those scrambling out from other caves in terror totaled nearly forty or fifty!
And among these Bullywugs, there stood one different figure.
A Bullywug warrior, far stronger and more robust than the others, standing a full one and a half meters tall, stood there.
And before Xia'er's eyes, a panel provided by the Evolution Game appeared.
[Frog King · Maturas]
[Challenge Rating: Level 5.]