Just as the kobold chieftain Bolikri was presenting his suggestion, Grey Wolf's already muscular body expanded once again, growing from just over two meters tall to a towering two and a half meters.
His muscles became even more terrifying, and more black scales began to grow on his body.
This was the immediate effect of absorbing true dragon heart blood. Although Grey Wolf's level didn't increase, the attributes he gained per level did.
His status panel reflected the changes:
[Name: Grey Wolf (Robust)]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Gnoll Chieftain (Black Dragon's Thrall)]
[Level: 15 (Tier Two) (Level Range: 11–20)]
[Health: 3300]
[Strength: 30 (+3.7) | Attack: 674]
[Constitution: 30 (+3) | Armor: 330]
[Spirit: 5 | Magic Resistance: 50]
[Skills: Pounce, Berserk, Rabies Spread, Ambush, Pack Command, Dung Feeding, Soul-Siphoning Strike (A new ability granted by the Dragon Ancestry. For every human killed, the gnoll chieftain's strength permanently increases.)]
Before absorbing the dragon blood, Grey Wolf's Strength and Constitution were both at 15 points. Now, under the influence of dragon blood, his attribute gain per level had increased to two points.
For the gnoll race, this was an extraordinary improvement.
Su Nian shifted his gaze away from Grey Wolf and back to the kobold chieftain Bolikri.
"A yellowish plant that looks like a lump of flesh, edible, and very filling?"
He raised his head, exhaling a smoke ring in excitement.
Could it be that this world also had something like potatoes?
If that were true, it would be a game-changer.
Potatoes had countless advantages: high yield, low planting difficulty, suitability as a staple food, and, most importantly, they were delicious no matter how they were prepared!
As someone born in a land renowned for its culinary delights, Su Nian, a transmigrator, couldn't possibly compromise his appetite.
If he couldn't even achieve food freedom, wouldn't he be a laughingstock among his fellow transmigrators?
Seeing the excited expression on his black dragon master's face, Bolikri couldn't help but wag his tail even more enthusiastically, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Well done, Bolikri. If you've truly found what I'm looking for, I'll reward you handsomely. Now tell me, where did you discover this plant?"
Faced with his black dragon master's question, Bolikri didn't dare delay. He prostrated himself on the ground, lowering his head as he barked out his response:
"Reporting to you, Master! I discovered this plant by chance near the Silvermoon Swamp. At the time, I was starving and thought it looked edible, so I dug one up and took a bite."
"It tasted crisp and fragrant at first, with a slight sweetness afterward. Unfortunately, I didn't dare stay there long. I dug up a few and ran while eating because that area is the territory of the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles."
"These beasts are extremely ferocious, far beyond what a small kobold like me could handle."
It really did sound like potatoes.
Su Nian lowered his head in thought.
The Silvermoon Swamp was quite far from here. Even flying there and back would take half a day. For now, he decided to put this matter aside.
It wasn't that he feared the Rock-Helmed Crocodiles.
They were merely Tier Two magical beasts, comparable in strength to gnolls. The only tricky part was that these creatures were difficult to deal with if they stayed in the swamp.
Su Nian could only hope that these "potatoes" of another world didn't grow directly in the swamp. Otherwise, he'd have no choice but to confront those slimy crocodiles.
With this thought in mind, and not wanting to dampen Bolikri's enthusiasm, Su Nian reassured him:
"We'll search for this plant tomorrow. Today, there's something else that requires your attention."
With that, Su Nian turned and returned to his Dragon's Nest, retrieving the Flame Arrow Tower Blueprint.
[Ding! The host is in an open area. The Flame Arrow Tower Blueprint has been detected. The blueprint's quality is purple and can be used up to five times. Please confirm the construction site for the Flame Arrow Tower.]
A green construction frame, reminiscent of those in Warcraft, appeared before Su Nian. In his vision, he could faintly make out a roughly eight-meter-tall stone structure with a red-tiled dome.
"So, it can only be used outdoors."
Looking at the Flame Arrow Tower Blueprint in his claw, a glimmer of surprise flashed in Su Nian's golden dragon eyes.
Yesterday, when he tried to use the blueprint inside the Dragon's Nest, the system had indicated insufficient conditions.
At first, he thought it was due to a lack of materials.
But there had been no indication of required resources.
It wasn't until he was dozing off with Anna in his arms that inspiration struck him: perhaps the terrain didn't meet the requirements.
With a sense of anticipation, Su Nian flapped his wings and flew to a tall cliff not far away.
The cliff resembled a wolf's fang and formed an arch-like structure with another nearby cliff.
This was the only path leading to the core area of the Dragon's Nest.
Su Nian maneuvered the construction frame onto the cliff, adjusting its position and angle until it turned green. Only then did he confirm the construction site.
A miraculous scene unfolded. A simple foundation immediately appeared on the cliff, but the system's voice sounded again:
[Building the Flame Arrow Tower requires: 10 tons of stone, 3 tons of wood, 20 workers, and 5 kilograms of food. Construction time: 12 hours.]
[Available worker races: Humans (construction efficiency +20%), Kobolds (building durability +20%), Goblins (building mutation rate +20%), Dwarves (all building attributes +10%).]
[Note: Workers must be provided by the host. Once workers enter the foundation, construction will begin automatically. Upon completion, workers will have their memories of the project erased and be sent back.]
Gnoll Lore in This World
[Note: The following description pertains to the general traits of gnolls in this world. The gnolls under the protagonist's command will gradually evolve and change as they undergo dragonification.]
Adult gnolls typically stand at 5.5 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weigh around 300 pounds (135 kilograms), with heads resembling those of hyenas.
Their skin is usually gray-green or black-green, with darker tones around the snout area.
Most gnolls have dirty yellow or grayish-red manes, and their natural lifespan is approximately 35 years.
When standing upright, these humanoid creatures are about the same height as dark elves. Their bodies are covered in shaggy gray-green fur, and their heads closely resemble those of hyenas, complete with yellowed teeth and blood-red eyes.
Gnolls are humanoid creatures with hyena-like features, standing as tall as 7 feet in some cases.
Gnolls from the same clan often share similar appearances, with fur that ranges in color from reddish-brown to black, gray-green, or yellow. Their eyes can be anything from pale white to blood-red, and their small, closely set eyes give them a predatory look. In damp environments, they emit a distinctive body odor.
Society and Leadership
In gnoll tribes, the strongest members rise to leadership through intimidation, threats, and brute strength.
When a leader dies, the remaining members often fight each other to claim the position. If the fighting drags on too long or causes excessive casualties, the tribe may splinter into smaller, scattered groups.
Strength is the ultimate theme of this savage society.
The strongest and most lethal gnoll becomes the tribe's leader, while the weakest are often relegated to being emergency food supplies.
Living in gnoll society requires constant vigilance, as any sign of weakness could lead to one's downfall.
This makes societal progress a challenging endeavor for gnolls.
Special Roles within the Tribe
Brutes:
These are the largest and most ferocious gnolls, often considered the tribe's elite warriors.
Their strength earns them access to more food, which in turn makes them even stronger.
Assassins:
While not as physically strong, assassins are valued for their cunning and proficiency with ranged weapons.
Their expertise with poisons also secures them a significant role within the tribe.
Poachers:
These gnolls hold a relatively lower status and generally serve as scouts or trackers.
Wardens:
Though they neither follow shamanistic teachings nor belong to druidic circles, some gnolls establish a connection with the forces of nature.
Known as Wardens, these gnolls use their natural magic to support other combat units and often act as commanders during group hunts.
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