A Dragon against the Whole World

The clash of weapons, the roar of dragons, and the wails of goblins... various sounds echoed across the sky of Crescent Bay.

This place has become a chaos scene.

"Damn Molten Iron Tribe! How dare they attack Crescent Bay."

A six-meter-tall humanoid alchemy golem was plowing deep grooves into the riverbank, with jets of high-temperature steam spurting from its gear joints. It had four long mechanical arms; instead of hands, they ended with a ring saw, a pointed drill bit, and two pincers.

[Flesh Ripper]

—This was the creation of the Golden Tooth Tribe’s alchemists.

The goblins’ workshops could, according to blueprints, create relatively simple old-style alchemy golems, while also purchasing various precise components at high prices to assemble more advanced and powerful golems.

The alchemy industry of the Golden Tooth Tribe was very developed.

Or rather, their tribe managed to gain a foothold in the border area mainly by relying on the alchemy industry.

The Flesh Ripper was an old-style alchemy golem; the blueprints were easy to come by. It operated through energy released by burning black oil, activated through gears, levers, steam, and other mechanisms.

In the territory of the Golden Tooth Tribe, the Flesh Ripper served as the main combat unit guarding various outposts.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the Flesh Ripper was a manned golem, requiring intelligent beings to pilot it.

This type of alchemy golem, resembling a mechanical armor, was also referred to as mecha.

Intelligent beings with special training, once clad in advanced mechanical golems, often became more powerful than alchemy golems powered purely by engines and runes.

The pointed ears of the goblin chief vibrated rapidly in the cockpit, and the copper buttons on the control stick gleamed as they were soaked with sweat.

At this moment, he was frightened yet furious, frightened by the sudden assault and furious over the loss of wealth.

"Damn centaurs!"

To protect their wealth, the naturally cowardly could explode with courage surpassing most other races. The goblin chief’s curse rang out through the loudspeakers as he pressed the dark red valve on the left.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The saw and drill began to spin at high speed, tearing through the air with a chilling screech.

A centaur warrior charged forward, thrusting a spear at the cockpit, but the Flesh Ripper’s pincers caught it accurately. The other two arms hummed as they intersected, skimming over the centaur warrior’s body, with saw and spike leaving hideous wounds, tearing apart flesh and bone.

Centaurs were brave and skilled in battle.

The fall of their comrade didn’t incite fear but rather spurred them into further bloodthirsty bravery. Several centaur elites altered course, their eyes locked onto the mechanical golem.

"Withdraw!"

Silver Mane’s commanding shout rang out.

Though the creatures of the border area had heard of alchemy golems, their dealings were scarce. Eyes fixed on the Flesh Ripper, Silver Mane, eyeing the mechanical and metal-formed beast, was eager for the hunt.

Hooves left crater-like pits on the ground.

The mane of the centaur warrior fluttered as he raced towards the Flesh Ripper. His nearly straight-line charge trampled the obstructive goblins to death en route.

In an instant, the two sides engaged in close combat.

Silver Mane clutched his heavy sword, gleaming with icy light, magic energy coursing through his body, burning like fiery flame, coalescing at the sword’s edge, slashing towards the Flesh Ripper.

The goblin chief piloting the mecha’s eyelids twitched.

He immediately maneuvered the Flesh Ripper according to its battle design, imitating with practice—first blocking the centaur leader’s attack with pincers, while the other two arms tore into its body.

Alloy pincers aimed for the fall path of the centaur’s heavy sword, predicting its trajectory.

Action like the tide!

The centaur warrior let out a low roar.

The speed of the heavy sword’s swing suddenly increased, slicing through the pincers and striking heavily at the Flesh Ripper’s chest, scattering blazing sparks, ripping open a massive gash in the steel.

This was only the beginning.

His slashes were swift as lightning and dense as tides, shifting deftly with his strides, attacking the Flesh Ripper from different directions yet almost simultaneously.

Clang clang clang!

The sharp sounds of metal clashing echoed constantly as the Flesh Ripper staggered back, wobbling in its defense.

Downward Spin Slash!

Crunch—with a cold arc light flashing, the mechanical golem’s leg joint was severed, fragments and gears scattering, and it crashed heavily to the ground.

"How can crudely made metallic creations compare to our warriors’ muscles, tempered a thousand times over?"

Silver Mane laughed heartily.

The muscles of the centaur warrior bulged and tensed like steel wires, front hooves raised high, smashing down on the battered cockpit located on the mecha’s chest.

Boom!

The metal panel dented, cracked, and collapsed.

Amidst the sound of bone snapping, a goblin’s scream from inside abruptly cut off, with blood slowly seeping out from the twisted metal.

Tear!

Almost simultaneously, another Flesh Ripper went down.

A dragon swooped down from the sky, toppling the Flesh Ripper, tearing open its steel chest with its two feet, and the poisoned tail sting drilled through inside.

The venom had not yet activated when the tail sting pierced directly through the goblin chief’s body within, killing instantly.

The Golden Tooth Tribe was highly ambitious, recently setting up dense defenses along the riverside, with numerous newly established outposts, but they had thus spread their forces too thinly.

At outposts like Crescent Bay, the strongest combat unit was the mecha golem Flesh Ripper.

There were many elite centaurs.

Furthermore, each two-legged flying dragon possessed the strong dragon bloodline of sub-dragons.

Go by golem, the battle unfolded with a one-sided tilt.

"Don’t kill me, please......"

Crack! The centaur’s iron hoof crushed the goblin’s skull, shattering the plea.

As the defensive line collapsed, and the battle utterly failed, with all mechanical golems destroyed, the goblins began to flee in all directions, but their speed was far inferior to centaurs and dragons, making running away the most foolish choice.

Only a few of the stubborn ones were killed directly, the rest were captured.

Ten minutes later.

Crescent Bay rarely fell silent, the goblins’ shrill screams disappeared, leaving only the muffled sound of centaur Ironhoof treading across the planks.

Silver Mane swung the heavy sword, a few drops of dark green blood drew an arc in the air, finally sinking into the soil.

"Hammer, we meet again."

The centaur leader grinned, revealing a smile with a smell of blood.

The merchant stiffly squeezed out a smile: "Lord Zakli, we are just passing merchants... not intending to interfere in the conflict between you and the Golden Tooth Tribe."

In the sky, the circling dragons let out a low growl, their shadows shrouding the merchant ships.

The Centaur Elite looked coldly, wiping their spears and stomping their feet, glaring fiercely.

With the armed power of these merchant ships, they were nowhere a match, and could only pray for the other’s forgiveness.

"All our goods from this trip, the wealth we carry, can be used to buy our lives."

The merchant added to the stakes.

"Oh? Hammer, you’re confused, you know that once we kill you, these things belong to us anyway."

Looking at the merchant drenched in sweat, Silver Mane suddenly laughed loudly, leaned forward and patted the merchant’s shoulder with his strong arm: "Don’t be nervous, it was just a little joke."

He said: "This battle is merely a private feud between us and the Golden Tooth Tribe, it won’t extend to you, otherwise you’d already be a speechless corpse."

The merchant looked around incredulously: "But these ores..."

"You can take the ores you bought as usual." Silver Mane waved his hand: "The goblins’ gold coins and spices are our spoils. Remember, the Molten Iron Tribe only kills enemies, not merchants, it even provides you convenience and protection."

This was Iron Dragon’s instruction.

He actually wanted to plunder fiercely, but reason and his trade knowledge from legacy told him that creating a reliable trade environment is more beneficial to future development.

Until the ships set sail, gradually leaving Crescent Bay.

The merchant leader was still slightly dazed.

They were really let go like that?

No personnel were slaughtered, nor were they extorted?

They got caught up in the tribal struggle and escaped unscathed, still fully loaded?

In this place of survival of the fittest at the Border Area, is there truly a force that abides by trade rules?

"Leader, those centaurs and dragons were too terrifying, we should change our route next time, and bypass here."

The Estonian River’s waterway branches are spread all over, the river bay governed by the Molten Iron Tribe is not a must-pass area, the merchant apprentice thought of the terrible scene before, said tremblingly and couldn’t help but tell the leader.

"You fool!"

Hammer slapped the apprentice’s head, saying: "Terrifying? You’ve seen too little, they didn’t extort us, didn’t slaughter crew members, in a place like the Border Area they’re practically saints!"

Not to mention.

Even the Golden Tooth Tribe, with fixed trade with the Iron Shield Merchant Group, during trading, those insatiable goblin leaders would try every means to extort, skimming gold coins from their hands.

"The Molten Iron Tribe is a better trading partner."

The leader thought silently in his heart.

Watching the gradually faraway riverbank, he pondered in his heart, with the Molten Iron Tribe’s way of doing things, next time he could bring more Iron Shield Merchant Group ships to trade with the Molten Iron Tribe.

Meanwhile.

The dragons hung with iron chains on their legs, the other end wrapped around the Mechanical Golem, beat their wings, gradually taking off, flying towards the Sulfur Hills first, to be delivered to the Molten Iron Tribe’s alchemy base.

The centaur warriors quickly looted Crescent Bay.

The goblins just obtained gold coins from the merchants, all were collected, along with many intact spices and ore and other goods.

The merchants obtained the wanted ores, returned fully loaded, the Molten Iron Tribe got gold coins and some bonus gains, a bountiful harvest.

Only the goblins caught in the middle were hurt.

At this time, a dragon circling in the high sky let out a sharp crying screech, alerting the warriors cleaning up the aftermath that support from the Golden Tooth Tribe had arrived.

"Retreat! Burn it all with the remaining fire!"

Silver Mane immediately ordered.

The centaurs came quickly, and retreated quickly, four hooves pounding the ground, rushing like the wind, leaving behind a devastated and desolate Crescent Bay.

Not long after.

With the sound of a ground quake, one after another Alchemy Golem arrived at Crescent Bay, besides old models like Flesh Ripper, there were many advanced models not produced by the Golden Tooth Tribe, all without exception were manned mechas.

Perhaps because they’re too short and thin, while the mechas make goblins tall.

They really like Mechanical Golems.

The centaurs had set fire before leaving, the place had turned into a sea of flames, reflecting the burning structures and facilities on the mecha cockpit.

"Molten Iron Tribe..... do they want to go to war with us?!"

A goblin leader trembled in anger, saying: "Our losses are severe, at least tens of thousands of gold coins evaporated."

They didn’t care much about the dying fellow goblins.

But the destroyed Crescent Bay, the plundered goods and gold coins..... the loss of these wealth, in the goblins’ eyes, is unforgivable.

Afterwards, the news of Crescent Bay being destroyed and ruined quickly spread back to Golden Tooth Tribe’s base.

After deliberation among the Goblin Elders, they finally decided to make the Molten Iron Tribe pay.

Due to the Golden Tooth Tribe being held back by other affairs, they wouldn’t gamble all to go to war with the Molten Iron Tribe, but since the other party launched a surprise attack on Crescent Bay, their base on the riverbank shouldn’t remain safe either.

An eye-for-an-eye revenge approach reached consensus.

The price trade war ends here.

The next was a real ’trade war’, a conflict caused by trade was about to begin.

Under the cloak of night, the waves of the Estonian River still shimmered, scales of light gleaming, but the murderous intent on the shore was already boiling.