Chapter 295: Dongduoluma.
The Electric Dragon’s flight style is unlike any other flying dragon. Unlike the Fire Dragon, which uses thick wing membranes to powerfully push through the air with a solid feel, the Electric Dragon’s flight more closely resembles a hybrid of insect-like fluttering and the Glide technique used by Burst Scale Dragons. The former relies on rapid vibrations from its thin wings for bursts of speed, while the latter utilizes its long wingspan for sustained gliding. Combined, these two methods grant the Electric Dragon unmatched aerial agility but also make it more fragile defensively compared to the Fire Dragon.
In three-dimensional airspace, high mobility and offensive prowess far outweigh defensive capabilities. For instance, choosing between dodging 50% of attacks or reducing damage taken by 50%, evolution has led the Electric Dragon to prioritize the former. It acts as a pure fighter jet—focused solely on biting onto an enemy’s tail and relentlessly chasing them down. As long as the pursuit continues, retaliation becomes irrelevant.
Moreover, neither type of flight generates significant wind pressure, allowing the Electric Dragon to move silently through the skies in stealth mode.
Its body tumbles mid-air, performing barrel rolls, its semi-transparent wings shimmering under sunlight and electric sparks, casting kaleidoscopic hues across the heavens.
Jié Jié clutches the Strike Dragon Gun tightly with his legs, peering through the clouds below at the faint outline of a flying airship’s balloon. From beneath the balloon, humans cannot see what lies directly above it, giving him a thrilling sense of intimacy while remaining concealed. However, as Dongduoluma draws closer, he knows it’s time to withdraw.
Ascending higher into the blind spot of the airship, Jie Jie watches it sail toward the city on the horizon before descending back to earth. He hides both the Strike Dragon Gun and records of the Radiant Black Dragon within a secluded mountain hollow. Bidding farewell to green hills and clear waters, he transforms into a hawk and soars over Dongduoluma, gazing down upon this world’s center—the birthplace of the Hunter Guild.
Human settlements here are typically small villages or towns; even prosperous places like Loke Clark can only be classified as towns. But witnessing this complete city reveals the true value behind the word “city.” Free from the violent crustal upheavals of the Infernal World, Dongduoluma’s geographical location can finally be described accurately—it sits near the Inner Sea, surrounded by towering mountains that prevent most monsters from invading.
Yet this does not mean Dongduoluma is safe. Nestled among these mountains lies the roaming path of the Old Mountain Dragon, one of the supreme ancient dragons.
Through cracks in the city walls, the gleam of Strike Dragon Guns can still be seen, along with various interception weapons mounted on platforms. Jie Jie even spots massive anti-dragon cannons pointing skyward, ready to unleash destruction at a moment’s notice. Numerous windmills dot the cityscape, their blades turning gracefully to provide endless energy.
After circling the city once, the hawk transforms into a Smoky Snow Weasel, crossing the wooden bridge over the moat. Cobblestones replace lush grasslands as the foundation here. Long stone staircases zigzag upward, flanked by houses built unevenly yet harmoniously along their sides. Most structures inside are constructed from stone, except for those near the main gate, which remain wooden.
Despite its cramped appearance, everything remains orderly. Alongside the streets, vendors of all kinds hawk their wares—toolsmiths, fishmongers, vegetable sellers, weapon shops—all catering instantly to the needs of returning adventurers.
“Hmm?”
An elderly Dragon Person scholar steps out of a wooden building, approaching the bipedal Smoky Snow Weasel curiously. Realizing how conspicuous he appears amidst the crowd, Jie Jie darts away, hiding himself within the gap between two wooden buildings. This tall tower-like structure turns out to be the headquarters of the Ancient Dragon Observation Institute, filled with countless documents and materials. Yet storing such valuable resources in wood seems dangerously prone to fire.
From his hiding place, Jie Jie raises his head, locking eyes with two glowing black gems hidden in the shadows. A white blur lunges forward, knocking him flat.
Soon enough, Jie Jie re-emerges, having changed skins, strutting confidently down the street—
Only to get kicked squarely in the rear.
An enraged rodent-like creature scurries up the kicker’s leg, unleashing its wrathful incisors without mercy.
“Ouch! Ow! Ah!”
The man collapses, clutching his injured leg and grimacing in pain. That single kick makes Jie Jie realize just how much hostility he’d attract walking around as a rat. Perhaps transforming into a bird would be better after all.
Perched atop the tower, he surveys the bustling crowds below. In Dongduoluma, hunters form a significant portion of the population—even common folk often wear trinkets related to monsters. Armed with spears and shields, guild knights patrol the alleys, easily recognizable.
Most hunters wear iron or bone armor, dispersing throughout the city’s winding roads. Only those whose equipment clearly incorporates monster materials—the stronger hunters—can ascend the main staircase leading to the Great Elder Hall at the summit. This administrative hub serves as the seat of the Great Elder.
Seated majestically within is a venerable Dragon Person elder, his long eyebrows and beard flowing together like twin rivers. His serene face contrasts sharply with his prominent forehead, carved like a rugged mountain peak. Clad in heavy armor, he carries a colossal katana proportionate to his immense size. Even seated, he towers six meters tall.
Compared to the Great Elder of the Infernal World, this one appears larger, more spirited, and more familiar to Jie Jie. Within the hall, ministers bustle about carrying scrolls, occasionally gesturing for the Great Elder to lower his head and listen to minor matters. Meanwhile, two female Dragon Person receptionists sit calmly at their desks, handling requests for high-level missions. Hunters who enter here represent the elite, capable of interacting directly with administrators or reporting mission results personally to the Great Elder, offering human perspectives distinct from those of Dragon Person bureaucrats.
Both the presence of hunters within the Great Elder Hall and the Great Elder himself wielding a legendary blade create an aura of martial valor throughout the space.
“Welcome back! How was your hunt?”
“It wasn’t easy. There were too many Thousand Blade Dragons in that area—they seem to have formed some kind of society. We couldn’t penetrate deep inside and had to settle for studying weaker individuals expelled during territorial disputes.”
A weary hunting party arrives at the reception desk, fully armed and precisely divided by roles, clearly returning from a long-term assignment.
“Society? Territorial disputes?”
The Dragon Person receptionist pauses, carefully documenting this new information.
“Yes, they definitely exhibit social behavior, though competition seems central to their society. It likely serves to weed out the weak and preserve superior genetic traits within the group.”
296
