Even in the best-case scenario, even if some metallic dragons were willing to fight to the death for Muria, he couldn't let them throw their lives away. Instead, he would have them retreat to a safe place. Each metallic dragon represented a powerful clan with intricate and deep-rooted ties, so Muria had to be extremely cautious when using them. A single misstep could lead to questions and accusations. In short, if he used metallic dragons, Muria foresaw many future complications.
However, the same concerns did not apply to chromatic dragons. Most chromatic dragons were orphans, even if they did have parents, they wouldn't acknowledge them. After taming and educating them, fulfilling their needs, Muria could send them to battlefields where they were required to fight to the death without having to worry about any repercussions or ancient dragons seeking retribution.
Therefore, when the Dragon Academy was established, Muria was definitely biased in resource allocation towards the chromatic dragons because they were his personal army.
The specific manifestation of this bias was that some of the resources used by chromatic dragons were free, whereas other dragons had to pay for most resources. For example, metallic dragons had to pay fees based on time to use facilities like the Gravity Room and Meditation Tower. Chromatic dragons, on the other hand, didn't have to pay and had a daily free quota because their lives already belonged to Muria.
…
Muria sat by the Dragon Pool, handling administrative affairs, occasionally looking up to watch the birth of young dragons. The number of dragon eggs in the pool never seemed to decrease because while young dragons were hatched and taken away, new eggs were continually brought in by the giants.
Time passed quietly as Muria waited. The amount of land conquered on the Evil Dragon Peninsula increased steadily, and the number of golden-level beasts captured and sent to Silapsus grew as well.
Periodically, Muria would process these beasts. Those with potential for taming, a naturally kind disposition, or an appearance that pleased Muria were kept. Beasts that were ferocious-looking, had malicious temperaments, or enjoyed destruction were released back into the wilderness of the Evil Dragon Peninsula.
"Your Highness, why release these evil beasts?" Storm Giant Commander Terrance asked, his face puzzled as he watched ship after ship of vicious giant beasts being released back into the vast forests by the giants. "Why not kill them all? Their meat could provide a feast for the children!"
"Terrance, do you know what I plan to do with the Evil Dragon Peninsula?" Muria responded with a question instead of answering directly.
"Your Highness is wise and powerful. I dare not speculate on your decisions," Terrance shook his head, knowing that as a giant who was close to Muria, he could not question any of his decisions.
"I intend to use this land as a place for the Dragon Academy students to spread their wings. Those beasts released will serve as targets for the young dragons to practice their hunting and killing skills," Muria said calmly. The purpose of establishing the Dragon Academy was to sharpen the claws and thicken the scales of the dragon offspring.
When he first left the Titan Islands, his sympathy extended to every person he encountered. He would be angered by the plight of impoverished human peasants and would slay evil nobles for them, even fighting against kingdoms on their behalf.
But after all he had experienced, Muria had changed. Now, with hundreds of thousands of giants following him and over a million vassals relying on him for guidance and direction, Muria no longer felt compelled to extend his compassion to ordinary, impoverished human peasants.
Internal compassion, external dominance—this was Muria's current approach. To those who submitted to him and followed him, he was a wise and benevolent ruler, tolerating their minor mistakes, even guiding and helping them correct their errors through reason.
But for those with no ties to him, like the ancient dragons from before, he employed a strategy of domination, using power to subdue them. Those who complied would thrive; those who resisted would perish.
For example, with the ancient metallic dragons, Muria had used force to coerce them into becoming teachers, benefiting Sinapsus and, by extension, himself. However, Muria could proudly say that while he enjoyed the lion's share, his millions of followers also benefited.
When dealing with the chromatic ancient dragons on the Evil Dragon Peninsula, Muria wasn't as lenient. Those who agreed to submit were spared, but those who stubbornly resisted were directly sealed into pillars, serving as batteries to power Sinapsus. Now, Sinapsus was eager to acquire as many of these powerful legendary creatures as possible.
Muria was now only concerned with those close to him, those who depended on him, and those who obeyed him. As for those unrelated or in conflict with him, he acted solely in his own interest, regardless of how ruthless or cruel his methods might be. He only felt responsible for his people because he was the ruler of Sinapsus.
"Your Highness intends to allocate this peninsula to the dragons in the future?" After hearing Muria's plan, Storm Giant Terrance pressed his lips together, saying nothing more.
He could already foresee that when this news spread, there would likely be discontent among the giant legion, as this peninsula was hard-won by the giants, who had shed blood and sweat to conquer it. Yet now, Muria planned to allocate it to the dragons.
"Do you think this division is appropriate?" Muria asked his loyal giant again.
"Your Highness's decisions are always correct," Terrance replied firmly, his tone resolute.
"Is it really correct?" Muria turned around, looking at the giant commander with a faint smile. "You might think it's right, but those giants below might not feel the same."
"They will have complaints, that much I know," Muria said as he turned back, overlooking the scenery below, where endless airships traveled between the floating islands and the ground, transporting various resources, captured beasts, and injured giants.
"This vast land was conquered with their sweat and blood," Muria mused as he looked over the mountains and rivers. If it were unrelated individuals, like the chromatic dragons on the peninsula, who dared to challenge him, Muria would naturally silence them with his fists. But these were giants who served him, obeyed him, and had dedicated their lives to him. If they had complaints, Muria would naturally pacify them.
However, pacification aside, the land still needed to be given to the dragons. Just because the giants had conquered it didn't mean they could decide the peninsula's fate. In Sinapsus, Muria's word was final—he was the ruler.
"Merit must be rewarded, and faults must be punished," Muria smiled, knowing how to appease the giants' discontent. "Tell the giants that I will establish a Giant War Academy. Any giant offspring who have distinguished themselves in battle can enter without an entrance exam."
"A Giant War Academy?" Terrance's face showed confusion and anticipation. He knew of the Dragon Academy and had seen its scale, the enormous resources spent on it, which had made him both envious and wary.
"Of course, an academy not inferior to the Dragon Academy, dedicated solely to giants," Muria said with a smile. "I will arrange for legendary giants to teach there, and I will personally give lectures once a month."
"However," Muria continued, looking at his loyal giant commander, who was already at the peak of Soul Intent but couldn't break through due to his bloodline constraints, "I believe that the instructors should include more than just legendary frost giants. A storm giant who has advanced to legendary status is also necessary."
"Your Highness!" Terrance trembled as he knelt before Muria, seeing him extend his hand with a drop of radiant, crystalline blood that made his very bloodline boil.
Muria smiled as he personally merged the drop of radiant, jewel-like blood into Terrance's forehead. This was one of the measures to appease the giants, showing them that the ruler of Sinapsus was indeed fair and just.
Boom!
A torrent of blood energy surged from Terrance, his veins bulging, muscles swelling, and bones growing. In the blink of an eye, his body expanded in size, his physique growing rapidly before Muria's eyes.
Wind elements gathered around Terrance from all directions, forming a massive hurricane. Within the hurricane, countless bolts of lightning crackled and roared, creating a huge commotion that startled everyone in Sinapsus, causing the giants and residents to look back in awe.
"How do you feel?" Muria asked, standing still as he watched Terrance integrate with his blood. In just two hours, Terrance's body had grown from 48 meters to 60 meters. Golden dragon scales appeared on his skin, but because his foundation was much stronger than a human's, he did not develop a dragon tail or wings. Only his eyes turned into brilliant golden pupils, and during the draconification process, his body remained intact. Now, Terrance looked as if he was wearing a close-fitting golden armor, appearing majestic and formidable.
"Thank you for your gift, Your Highness," Terrance, who was still unable to control his newfound strength, knelt before Muria, surrounded by a tempest of wind and lightning, his face full of gratitude.
Recently, he had heard of a human who was taken in as one of Muria's vassals. At that time, this news had bothered Terrance, but now, he only felt immense gratitude toward Muria and a fierce loyalty that made him willing to fight to the death. All previous grievances were gone.
"This is what you deserve," Muria smiled as he patted Terrance's shoulder. It wouldn't be long before the news of Terrance's
breakthrough, aided by Muria's blood, would spread throughout Sinapsus. The giants fighting on the front lines would then understand that as long as they fought for him, Muria would not hesitate to reward them generously.
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