No, the black dragon Armandla didn't unleash any lethal dragon magic. Instead, it offered a pact of servitude that all magical beasts would disdain. Once the pact was formed, Armandla would become Avril's slave, its life and death entirely at Avril's whim, with no possibility of resistance or unilateral dissolution. In essence, it was a bill of sale with no time limit and no redemption.
In truth, Armandla had better contractual options, such as a pact of equal partnership or a less binding summon pact. However, in its current predicament, choosing either of the latter would have undoubtedly resulted in its dismemberment.
"Do you want it or not?"
Li Xi stood beside Armandla, the cold glint of his beheading saber hovering over the dragon's thick neck, as if searching for the most efficient spot to strike.
This made Armandla's entire neck stiffen, daring not to move. It believed that if Avril showed even a hint of disdain, the man beside her would swiftly end its life, so thoroughly that even the Dragon God couldn't save it.
Avril approached Armandla, looking at the black dragon's fawning expression. "Why did you choose me instead of my little man?"
"Reporting to my mistress, this is a small calculation on my part. Your divine power is so magnificent that you are destined to ascend the path of godhood. I wish to clear the thorns and pave the way for you, my mistress, and serve wholeheartedly as your mount."
Li Xi was displeased. This was clearly looking down on him, implying he would be inferior to his woman in the future. "Even now, you dare to play such tricks. It seems my saber isn't sharp enough."
Avril, still adorned with the glowing covenant circle, stepped forward and hugged Li Xi's arm, acting coquettishly. "My little man, what's mine is yours. What's the distinction between us?"
These words pleased Li Xi, who considered himself the head of the household. A woman who always thought of him was a good wife. "So, you agree?"
Avril didn't reply. Instead, the red covenant circle that had been around her body was absorbed into her. This was the pact of servitude, completed, which only she could undo.
Like a sycophantic servant, Armandla immediately flew to Avril's feet, lifting its mistress. Its fawning expression was so pronounced it might as well have stuck out its tongue. "My mistress's gaze is my direction. Armandla, the Volcano Dragon, greets my mistress."
"Good girl. When we return to the surface and deal with the enemies, I'll buy you delicious food."
Armandla immediately raised its neck, its sharp eyes scanning its surroundings. "The mistress's enemies are my mortal foes. You don't need to lift a finger for this. Leave it to me, and I guarantee I'll annihilate them without a trace."
"That's good. It's for helping the mistress, much better than our Second Generation. Wife, since your pet is so loyal, give him a chance to show it." Li Xi seemed to be speaking up for Armandla, but the suppressed laughter on his face was about to erupt.
"Husband is right. I must give her a chance to showcase herself. After we return, you go and kill the enemies. Their treasures will surely be as high as a mountain. If you succeed, I won't take a single copper coin; it will all be yours."
"Mistress, your kindness is enough to make the sun dim." Armandla began to fantasize about how much treasure a mountain high would be, enough to fill its entire home. Sleeping amidst such a hoard would be incredibly satisfying.
After a while, it remembered to ask who the enemy was. "Mistress, who is the enemy? I'll curse him with magic first."
Avril said lightly, "Not strong. Just a vampire, named Dracula."
As soon as the name Dracula was uttered, Avril and Li Xi felt Armandla beneath them tremble violently, as if it had an epileptic fit, nearly diving headfirst into the ground.
Having finally stabilized itself, Armandla stammered, "Mistress, I just remembered. My body is too large to fly up. That's why I've been in the underground world for three hundred years. I think I'd better carve out a large territory for you in the underground."
"Hahaha." Li Xi burst into laughter. Such a dragon that knew how to gauge the situation was truly hard to find.
"Let's go see the dwarves first. They said if we rescue them from Armandla's clutches, they'll all pledge allegiance to me. We can't let such good blacksmiths go."
Neither Avril nor Li Xi mentioned whether Armandla should pursue Dracula. While Armandla was filled with trepidation, they arrived at the entrance of the dwarf cave at the foot of the mountain.
The dwarves, seeing Li Xi and Avril riding a black dragon, were all terrified and retreated into the mine entrance, their faces ashen, prepared to fight to the death.
Before this, they had envisioned only two possible outcomes: either the black dragon won, and they would continue their current lives, or the two surface dwellers won, and they might have a better life under new masters.
However, the final outcome of the great battle was the worst possible scenario that none of them had anticipated. The helpers they had sought had colluded with the black dragon and become partners. The Bronzebeard clan could only face even more brutal exploitation.
At this point, no one blamed Borikance anymore, as they knew he had acted with good intentions. The current outcome was ultimately due to their own weakness.
"Haven't I given you food? Hurry up and come out to pay homage to my mistress." Armandla's tone was furious. It wanted to vent all the grievances it had suffered from Li Xi onto the dwarves. If it couldn't beat these two, surely it could beat these dwarves, who could be eaten by the mouthful?
Li Xi kicked the arrogant black dragon Armandla's jaw, shattering two of its scales. "Be polite. Although you are my wife's slave, I can easily beat you. These dwarves are my retainers, their status higher than yours."
Ignoring the resentful Armandla, Li Xi spoke gently and warmly towards the mine. "Borikance, all of you come out. Armandla has been subdued by us. You should honor your promise and pledge allegiance to me."
After a moment of silence, a dwarf head poked out from the mine entrance. The aura of one dragon and two humans was overwhelmingly powerful. They had no choice now; no matter the outcome, they could only bear it silently.
Hiding was not an option. One by one, dejected dwarves emerged from the mine. Borikance led a sturdy young dwarf to Li Xi. "Sir, this is the chief of our Bronzebeard clan, Bronzebeard Ironhammer."
Li Xi sized up the chief. His aura was only at level three, but the braids woven into his beard numbered three, indicating considerable skill. "Hello, I am Li Xi, a Dragon-blooded. Your tribe's Borikance previously agreed with me that if we rescued you from the black dragon Armandla, you would pledge allegiance to me for a hundred years."
"Now that Armandla has been subdued by my wife, I am here to have you fulfill your promise."
Li Xi pointed at Armandla, which was groveling at Avril's feet, for the dwarves to see. The dwarves' eyes flickered, but they all confirmed that Armandla, who had oppressed them for three hundred years, had indeed been subdued. The subservient look in the eyes of a house dog could never appear in a dragon's eyes. Now that it had appeared, it could only mean the dragon had surrendered. Sudan Novel Network
The dwarves exchanged glances. They should have been overjoyed, but now, looking at the even more powerful Li Xi standing before them, they hesitated. Finally, Bronzebeard Ironhammer stepped forward to Li Xi. "Sir, our Bronzebeard clan has been exploited by her for three hundred years. Having been rescued by you, we will naturally not go back on our word. We only hope that you will treat us dwarves kindly. I believe you would not wish for your subordinates to harbor hatred towards you."
Li Xi burst into laughter. The dwarves' straightforward nature was truly endearing. Moreover, the conditions they proposed were not about an eight-hour workday, five days a week, no basic salary, or social insurance. They only asked to be treated kindly. Where else could such subordinates be found?
"Don't worry, I guarantee you will find life prosperous under my command. I dare not say you will be the happiest dwarves on the continent, but I will definitely not let you be proud or uncomfortable."
Li Xi spread his arms and made a promise to all the dwarves. "I swear to all the gods in the world that under my command, you can do what you love. You can drink, you can forge, you can mine. I will strive to improve your living standards. Elderly dwarves will not have to work and can fully enjoy the warmth of the sun; young dwarves will have ample time to play, and I will even hire teachers if they wish to learn; young dwarves who want to cultivate, I will not stop them. You will receive all that you deserve."
"Sir, are you serious?" Bronzebeard Ironhammer's armor almost burst due to the intense emotional fluctuations. Such a life was surely not the life of slaves. It was a life that even landlords would envy and become jealous enough to want to be a slave.
Li Xi said nothing. With a wave of his hand, large barrels of wheat wine and enough roasted meat for a feast appeared on the ground. These were leftovers from when they captured the blue dragon Stark alive for Demanga. "I have always disdained to deceive my subordinates with empty promises. Eat and drink to your heart's content. I guarantee that such days will be the minimum standard from now on."
The dwarves looked at the oak barrels in disbelief. This was something their ancestors hadn't tasted for generations. The black dragon Armandla had no intention of providing them with wine. As long as the dwarves didn't starve, who cared about their spiritual enjoyment? Furthermore, with the scarcity of raw materials in the underground world, the dwarves had only passed down stories for three hundred years. Hammer in hand and wine barrel in the other was the true life of a dwarf.
Although they had never seen what wine was, the racial memory etched in their genes made them unable to resist secreting large amounts of saliva upon seeing the familiar wine barrels for the first time. They could even imagine the taste of the wine in their mouths.
Li Xi simply opened the oak barrels, letting the aroma of wine spread through the air. He then picked up a barrel and drank heartily. After drinking his fill, Li Xi slammed the barrel down. "Drink up! Anyone who doesn't drink today is not showing me respect."
As the wine aroma permeated the air, the dwarves could no longer resist. Now, with Li Xi's repeated invitation, they exchanged glances. With a nod from Bronzebeard Ironhammer, they swarmed forward, grabbing wine barrels and drinking. One of the younger ones was nearly drowned in a wine barrel.
The food Li Xi had thought would be enough for the dwarves to eat for a meal was gone in less than two hourglasses. He truly wondered how these short dwarves had such large appetites. Looking at their expressions, they were clearly still not half full.
Li Xi kicked the black dragon, which was busy flattering Avril. "Go hunt some prey. My dwarves must eat their fill today."
Armandla turned its head disdainfully towards Avril. Its mistress was not this Dragon-blooded who abused his own kind, but the divine descendant goddess Avril. She wouldn't even spare him a glance for betraying his kin, let alone order him around. Who did he think he was?