Relief!
The sensation was like finally coughing up an age-old phlegm, and Xia'er actually felt an unexpected lightness.
But very quickly, that comfort evaporated, replaced by a scorching pain.
Xia'er forced back a throat-gnawing agony as if swallowing a red-hot branding iron, the burning spreading through her windpipe, and she poured out her breath weapon with all her might!
This breath was not just about the immediate fight.
It was about securing her future rule in the Star Mist Archipelago.
Only by such means could she establish absolute authority.
She was still in the Young Dragon stage. Young Dragons were powerful, but if these thousands of Bullywugs united, even an adult dragon would have to pick its battles.
Xia'er’s plan was to conquer these Bullywugs, then consolidate her position in the archipelago through her Juvenile Dragon years, at minimum until she became a young adult dragon before fully emerging!
If she did not intimidate them with blood and fire, sooner or later some of the frogfolk might turn rebellious.
"Roar!"
A deeper roar squeezed out of Xia'er's throat, and she expanded her chest violently again, forcing that wild, dangerous energy out. The previously sluggish poison mist erupted anew, surging with ferocity!
Thick, almost tangible jade-green poison mist mixed with strongly corrosive acid, like a breached dam’s torrent, poured even more forcefully into the cave entrances where the Bullywugs hid!
The sight was like a venomous jade waterfall, crashing into the dark with annihilating momentum.
Minutes later, Xia'er slowly fell silent.
She felt the violent energy within her completely drained; the burning in her throat reached a critical point, as if her entire airway had been cauterized. Only then did she close her maw, forcibly ending that destructive breath.
From deep inside the caves, the terrified, desperate croaks of Bullywugs could at first still be heard, but gradually those sounds were replaced by violent coughing.
Countless Bullywug warriors rushed out from other passages, trying to flee the poison mist, but as soon as they stuck their heads out, they ran into Bullywugs who had already surrendered to Xia'er and were brutally stopped, forced to surrender with looks of panic.
"Huff, huff..."
Xia'er coughed twice, unable to care for the surrounding Bullywugs. Each cough pulled at her injured throat and sent a stab of pain through her.
Yet she maintained an indifferent bearing, looking over the gathered Bullywugs with full authority. Several Evolution Game notifications flickered across her vision, indicating rewards for killing Bullywug warriors.
All the gains were in Toxic Resistance.
At the cave mouth, the dense poison mist did not dissipate immediately; it still slowly wafted outward and settled, tinting the nearby pools with a bubbling, sinister green glow that exuded the smell of death.
Although Xia'er felt burn-like pain in her throat, the Limb Regeneration she had gained from completing the slaughter mission earlier seemed to be kicking in. She could sense the burning slowly healing, cool tendrils of relief brewing in her throat.
"Next time I use my breath, I must measure my strength... but ultimately, it was because my toxic resistance was too low. If my resistance were higher, perhaps I could have held on longer."
Xia'er thought. She had assumed the Toxic Resistance she earned through the Evolution Game was useless—trash experience at best.
After all, Green Dragons were naturally immune to most poisons.
But she hadn't expected this Toxic Resistance to be precisely what she needed.
How embarrassing.
Around them, Bullywug warriors began to stir, the sounds of skirmishing echoing from time to time, and the Black Dragon Saga occasionally beat his wings and soared.
Not long after, Benedict dragged a particularly hefty Bullywug leader to the reef in front of Xia'er. The Bullywug was soaking wet, its scales scorched and peeling black, blood leaking from its mouth and nose, and it crawled with difficulty to Xia'er's presence.
"Supreme Dragon Lord!"
Benedict's voice trembled faintly, colored by residual terror from Xia'er's terrible breath and by the excitement of supplanting the old master. "This is Kurubak, leader of the Bullywugs of Starlight Dew Island! He, he submits to your power!"
Kurubak's bulging yellow eyes were filled with absolute terror and a desperate will to survive.
It struggled to prostrate itself, its throat producing a hoarse croak as if forming a pitiful plea: "Great... True Dragon... please forgive..."
Kurubak felt only endless fear now.
Xia'er's power was overwhelming!
Kurubak had fought because the one who came to conquer them was merely a juvenile Black Dragon.
The Bullywugs of Starlight Dew Island numbered nearly a thousand and formed the most powerful Bullywug tribe in the archipelago.
If one were to follow a mighty dragon, it should at least be a young adult dragon, not a juvenile!
Thus Kurubak had dared to resist, hoping to kill the Black Dragon and trade its corpse for sufficient gains.
He had not expected the Black Dragon to not be the true Dragon Lord.
The true Dragon Lord was a Green Dragon.
However, even then Kurubak didn’t take Xia'er seriously at first.
Xia'er’s size was at most that of an underdeveloped juvenile dragon; Kurubak felt no fear.
But Kurubak had never imagined Xia'er would unleash such a terrifying breath!
In minutes, dozens of Bullywug warriors lay dead and hundreds poisoned.
Kurubak had no choice but to surrender.
He fancied himself powerful enough to serve the Dragon Lord.
But then...
Kurubak's plea failed to form a whole syllable.
Xia'er's jade vertical pupils passed over Kurubak's disgrace-stricken face with the same indifference as one would give to a trivial insect.
Without warning.
A massive dragon claw, armored in hard scales and carrying the force of a great dragon, descended like a mountain!
"Thud!"
A muffled explosion, a mixture of shell shattering and flesh rupturing, erupted!
Kurubak's hefty body was flattened under the claw in an instant, becoming a smear of muddy blood, torn flesh, and broken guts.
The plea was cut off mid-cry; even a final whimper did not come.
Xia'er slowly lifted her filthy claw, as if she had merely stepped on an insignificant bug.
[Killed Bullywug Leader: Kurubak (Challenge Level 8). Reward: Toxic Resistance EXP +2.]
[Your Toxic Resistance has increased to Level 2.]
A virtual panel flashed past, and Xia'er looked over the vast battlefield. Her voice was not loud, but it rang clear: "Rebels, die. As for all remaining Bullywugs on the island who surrender, reduce them all to slavery."
"They will atone with blood and sweat, digging iron ore and collecting pearls for Jade Wing until death!"
After speaking, she turned her gaze to the awed, terrified Benedict and said aloud: "Benedict, my servant."
"Supreme Dragon Lord! Your most loyal servant awaits your commands, croak!"
Benedict immediately prostrated himself, utterly respectful.
Xia'er's Green Dragon breath had completely crushed any thought of betrayal in Benedict. In his mind, Xia'er was now comparable to Hephaestus when he had been a young adult Red Dragon.
"From this day, all Bullywugs of the Star Mist Archipelago shall be unified under the order I decree."
Xia'er's voice carried unquestionable authority. "This order will be determined by loyalty and merit, divided into four ranks!"
Though a few Bullywug tribes on other isles had not yet been subjugated, their combined numbers were only four or five hundred; Saga and Benedict could handle them.
"First Rank: Pearl Lineage! You were the first to follow me and witness the descent of Jade Wing! Your loyalty was proven earliest, thus I grant you the surname 'Pearl' and place you above other tribes! Only those of this rank may study crafts and ascend to the extraordinary!"
She glanced specifically at Benedict. "Among the Pearl Lineage, those who achieve outstanding merit I shall use dragon blood as a catalyst to grant... the Dragonblood Baptism! Let their bloodline transform, bringing them closer to true dragons!"
"Second Rank: Bright-Scale Folk!"
Xia'er's tone softened slightly but remained commanding. "You are the tribes who, upon my first arrival at Bright Scale Bay, were cowed by the dragon's majesty and wisely submitted. I grant you the surname 'Bright-Scale', placing you below the Pearls. You may learn basic combat skills and form the core of the legions. Only through diligent service and merit can you hope to ascend."
The Bullywugs of Bright Scale Bay were numerous. Except for that reckless leader, most had shown little resistance and were quite docile. Granting them the second rank was both recognition of their choice and a method of divide-and-reward to motivate them upward.
"Third Rank: Common Frogfolk."
Xia'er's voice turned cold. "All tribes that surrendered after defeat, without forcing me to personally slaughter them, fall into this category. You have no surname. You must atone for your past with blood and sweat, bearing the heaviest labor: mining, pearl collection, fortress construction, and supporting the legions. Only by achieving notable merit may you apply for promotion to Bright-Scale."
This would be the position for most later surrenderers; they had to work themselves up through hardship and battlefield performance to earn advancement.
Finally, Xia'er’s gaze fell on those Bullywugs of Starlight Dew Island who survived the breath. She continued: "Fourth Rank: Stubborn Slave!"
"Those who resisted stubbornly, forcing me to personally slaughter them before yielding, shall be the lowest slaves! They shall possess no property, shall not learn crafts! They are fit only for the dirtiest and most dangerous tasks: digging the deepest mines, exploring the deadliest seas, charging at the frontlines! Use your flesh to pave Jade Wing's path to glory! However... if one can achieve a world-turning, heroic deed that rescues the legion from disaster, promotion to Bright-Scale or Pearl remains possible."
This tier was pure punishment and expendable labor, used to warn others of rebellion’s fate and to provide cheap workforce and cannon fodder.
The chance of promotion was almost non-existent in reality, surviving only as a theoretical hope.
These four ranks were rules Xia'er created by referencing a system from her past memories called the "caste system."
It would be implemented among all her subjects in the future.
Still, Xia'er was relatively merciful, offering these tribes some room to rise; compared to a true caste system, it was humane.
Sigh, what a benevolent dragon I am.
If a genius emerged from the third or fourth ranks, or a subject performed great feats, they could still be promoted, step by step, toward the First Rank.
Benedict naturally did not grasp the deeper implications; only overwhelming joy knocked him senseless!
Pearl Lineage!
Croak!
I now have my own surname. I am Benedict Pearl!
And Pearl will become the royal surname among Bullywugs!
Croak, croak!
Benedict rejoiced wildly, still prostrating himself, offering the highest salutations: "Supreme Dragon Lord, thank you for your gift. Your most loyal servant will serve you for all eternity. Your command will be the spearhead of all Bullywugs. Your name will be remembered alongside the Frog God!"
The Frog God, Ramanos, was the deity worshiped by the Bullywugs.
A chaotic evil god from a bottomless abyss.
Once strong and active, now Ramanos slept most of the time and barely maintained interest in his own fate.
A god on the verge of falling from divinity.
However...
"Under the Frog God above and witnessed by the Dragon Mother, I have no intention of stripping the Bullywugs of their faith."
Though unsure whether Ramanos could hear, Xia'er was cautious.
That was still a deity; drawing divine attention—especially from a chaotic evil god—might trigger major events.
But Xia'er figured Ramanos probably wouldn’t care about a tribe of only a thousand or so.
She felt the slight burn in her throat again, then looked around with haughty composure. "Saga, continue the campaign. After conquering the other islands, return to White Pearl Island to report to me."
"Yes, my lord."
Saga acknowledged the order.
Seeing this, Xia'er spread her wings and flew north over the sea.
Now she needed to find a safe place to recover her wounds.