Chapter 39: Unrest

After some time, in the harsh weather of a blizzard sweeping across the northern ice plains, Garon returned to the Ogre Basin.

Due to the unique structure of the Ogre Basin, which effectively blocks the wind and snow, there usually isn't much snow accumulation on the ground or the rooftops. However, the current severe blizzard was clearly beyond what the basin's barriers could intercept. The indifferent white had taken over the land here.

The ogres, who typically liked to lie directly on the ground outside, were now mostly out of sight, honestly staying inside their homes.

The ogres of the northern ice plains had evolved decent resistance to cold due to the local climate, but this ability was limited. If lost in a blizzard, they were very likely to freeze to death.

However, while most of the ogres were hiding from the blizzard inside their homes, there were a few exceptions. These few, very conspicuous ones, lay in the snow, scratching their heads in boredom.

There were five of these ogres in total, each one considerably taller than typical ogres, with heights even breaking the usual limits for their species.

The most robust among them reached a height of three and a half meters, the others also surpassing three meters. Each was muscular like a demon muscle man, showing no fear of the blizzard.

Apart from their unusual size, there were also scattered patches of silvery-white scales on their bodies, emitting bursts of cold air. The texture was somewhat similar to dragon scales—not as formidable, but far more powerful than the scales of typical scaly creatures.

Meanwhile, as Garon approached the Ogre Basin, the few ogres startled slightly and looked up in unison.

In the vast whiteness of the blizzard, a nimble figure with shaking wings broke through the snow-filled sky, becoming clearer as it descended towards the Ogre Basin.

Garon looked down at the few unusually shaped ogres, and upon first sight, he detected his own bloodline within them.

"Is this what Dragonblood Ogres look like?"

There were no records of Dragonblood Ogres in the legacy of the dragons, and Garon knew little about them.

But just from their size, it was clear that these ogres had significantly increased in strength after the dragonblood transformation.

Within them, elemental light flowed along their bloodstreams.

This indicated that the Dragonblood Ogres had become magical creatures, capable of casting spells.

The largest ogre's face still bore some resemblance to Ugga Bonebreaker.

At the same time, Ugga Bonebreaker bowed his head respectfully and said, "Congratulations, master, on awakening from your slumber. You have become even stronger."

Without needing Garon to ask, he cleverly continued, "The dragon's nest is already built. Would you like me to take you there now?"

Garon shook his head, released his dragon claw, and set down the young northern ice bears.

The two cubs, shivering from the cold as soon as they touched the ground, began to whimper indistinctly.

"Get something for these little ones to eat; don't let them freeze to death."

Following Garon's orders, a Dragonblood Ogre stepped forward, took the young northern ice bears inside to a warmer building, and then found a lactating female ogre to nurse them.

During this time, Garon ate an entire adult northern ice bear.

The bear meat, chewy and richly flavorful, layered with crispy ice crystals as it entered his dragon mouth, delighted Garon with its delicious taste. He gorged himself, quickly devouring the flesh, skin, and bones.

The meat, rich in elemental energy, greatly pleased Garon, and the hunger he had felt since awakening finally dissipated.

After eating the northern ice bear, Garon had Ugga Bonebreaker lead him to the location of the dragon's nest.

On the way, Garon asked, "After the dragonblood transformation, have you awakened any new abilities?"

Ugga Bonebreaker immediately answered, "The power of your bloodline is incredibly strong, allowing me and the other four ogres to develop some ice-control spells."

Garon observed the Dragonblood Ogres and thought for a moment, then asked, "Anything else?"

Ugga Bonebreaker hesitated slightly and honestly replied, "That's all."

Garon withdrew his gaze and asked no further.

It seemed that the dragonblood transformation indeed only bestowed the bloodline of the white dragon.

However, Garon felt that his white dragon bloodline, stimulated by the time dragon physique, seemed much stronger than that of ordinary white dragons.

A few minutes later, Garon arrived at the dragon's nest built for him by the ogres.

He fixed his gaze and saw a cave-type dragon's nest located about fifty meters off the ground on a circle of stone walls at the edge of the Ogre Basin—not very high due to the limited height of the basin walls.

"Master, this is your dragon's nest,"

 Ugga Bonebreaker said a bit nervously to Garon.

Garon nodded, fluttered his dragon wings, and flew up into the dragon's nest.

The winding cave, brightened by a layer of ice crystals covering the surrounding walls, was spacious enough to accommodate the activities of an adult white dragon, and at the deepest part, there was a large bed made of ice crystals.

Similar in selection and style to the White Dragon Mother's nest, as Ugga Bonebreaker had built it according to Garon's specifications.

The riverbed dragon's nest was only meant for temporary concealment and was not to Garon's liking.

Perhaps because he had spent his weakest period in the White Dragon Mother's nest, he had grown fond of the cave-type nests built on steep cliffs.

"The imitation dragon's nest ordered to be built by the ogres will probably not be used," Garon thought to himself.

"The height is a bit low, not allowing for the enjoyment of overlooking the scenery of the northern ice plains."

Before his slumber, Garon had not anticipated such a significant increase in his strength.

Had he known that the White Dragon Mother would no longer be a match for him, he would not have had the ogres build a dragon's nest.

The reason was simple.

He would have chosen to directly seize the White Dragon Mother's nest and drive her out.

"You must never have imagined what would happen next after you ruthlessly drove me from the nest," Garon thought secretly.

Inside the ice cliff dragon's nest, the White Dragon Mother, impatiently watching over three small dragon chicks, suddenly turned her head in suspicion, an ominous feeling rising within her.

Because a dragon's intuition is always accurate, this made her somewhat irritable, and she became restless within the nest.

Garon did not know what the White Dragon Mother was doing. He walked over to the ice crystal dragon bed and then lay down.

His long dragon tail curled in front of him, used as a pillow, and with his wings spread out in front, he coiled himself up, forming a small enclosed space.

The white noise-like sound of the blizzard howling allowed Garon to plan a short nap, a sleeping posture similar to that of feline animals, which he favored.

When he woke up, it would be time to find trouble with the White Dragon Mother.

His eyes closed, and when they opened again, it was three days later.

After waking up, Garon stretched his spine, made a big lazy stretch, and then thought about checking on the two young northern ice bears.

Although he had instructed the ogres to take care of them, since they were away from their native parents, it was possible they might not adapt to the change in environment and could eventually perish.

As Garon walked to the edge of the dragon's nest, preparing to fly out, he suddenly felt a disturbance in the force of time.

Garon paused in shock, looking around, gazing at the illusory River of Time.

Normally calm like an undisturbed well, the River of Time near Garon was clearly rippling and wrinkled, as if some force was stirring the waters of time.

"What has happened?" Garon immediately became alert, his gaze fixed on the temporal ripples, ready to react.