Larzak walked across the enormous villages made by the lizardmen of his tribe, so big that they resembled modern cities in size alone, but that were all made up of primitive materials such as mud, branches, hay, and wood, there were many special buildings created for different purposes, and there was a clear showcase of how coordinate these tribes were, and perhaps, they were even more advanced than the Pastoralists themselves.
Larzak reached the Ancient Dragon Ruins, as he saw the open gates, two large dragon statues laid there, glaring down at him furiously, his yellow-gold eyes seemed nervous, the strongest of his tribe, a Rank 4 Middle Stage Lizardman such as him with enough power to even defeat the strong beasts of this jungle and go toe-to-toe with the fearful Beast Kings, powerful Rank 4 and 5 Monsters that dominated certain areas of this gigantic jungle, was nervous.
He was nervous because he knew that the power of the Scaled God was more than just being a giant scaled creature, it was way more than just being a fancier winged lizard, and it was certainly way more than just that, there was something completely unfathomable about this entity, the divine power it possessed, the darkness dwelling within his very heart, the monstrous aura of overwhelming authority… What could even match such an entity? Before it, he could only kneel and obey it, the prideful warrior that unified many tribes could only kneel.
Larzak swallowed saliva and entered the ruins, walking downstairs and enter through the darkness, he conjured one of his two magic elements, fire, as a red flame emerged on his hand and illuminated the darkness of this place for him, despite there being such a being as a Scaled God, he disliked light and enjoyed being in a place with darkness, and he also didn't allowed other lizardmen to enter this place, so he lived alone and commanded the lizardmen sometimes, walking outside for small periods to show his grandiose existence to the feeble mortal lizards that devoted their lives to him as their god.
He reached the floor down below, walking towards an enormous figure resting within this darkness, there was the scent of blood as it seemed to have finished its meal, an enormous beast, a Rank 4 Beast King in the shape of a large white tiger was devoured to the bones with nothing left but its drying carcass, not even the guts were spared… The Scaled God would sometimes go hunt by himself and bring an enormous Beast King as his meal, surprising everyone. Larzak couldn't believe that such a being was so strong back then, but after he saw him bringing beast kings for a quick meal like nothing, he gave up in even thinking about some sort of revolution against him… there was just no chance.
"You're here, Larzak…" Said the Scaled God. "You seem to be in good form."
"Oh Great Scaled God, I have come here as you commanded me to." Said Larzak. "Is there you require?"
"I require something, yes… I need it." Said the Scaled God. "I require the life, souls, and blood of many… I need all of it…"
"…"
"If you don't want your people to become the resource I need, you better send strong men. This fight will not be the first and last one, but an attempt." Said the Scaled God. "I want to see how strong the mortals of the outside have grown, I am quite curious, you see…"
"Understood…" Said Larzak, he tried to keep himself expressionless, but the enormous pressure of the Scaled God made him grit his sharp jaws in utter fear of this entity's tremendous power.
"You're a good servant, Larzak… Don't send your best men, but those average, or those you don't mind dying…" Said the Scaled God. "Don't worry, I will also test my own new powers… Waking up as a completely new being has its many advantages…"
The dragon hiding in the shadows suddenly extended his enormous claws, as he a large mass of black… slime. Some sort of slimy and viscous mass that began to slowly crawl out… and then, many more began to emerge from within his hands, like monstrous parasitic creatures. They had a single red eye and emanated an awful smell of death and corrosion.
"Cough… Cough…" Larzak couldn't help but cough as he felt like his nostrils were melting as he smelled the scent of these monsters, and if he got closer to them, he felt as if his skin was beginning to peel off.
What kind of monstrous things were these beings? They were certainly not… really entities that one could find anywhere. These were monsters that lurked in the darkness and devoured others, they were the darkness and dreadfulness of order, the great distortion of everything, Chaos… they were Chaos and all but Chaos, nothing else but Chaos… Endless distortion, endless… darkness.
The void itself could be seen through these red eyes, frightening the soul of Larzak itself, as he slowly walked away from these beings, the more he saw them, the more his sense of reality warped itself, they had such an effect on those that were good-hearted and had a mind that was seemingly in order, setting everything in shambles.
"They shall follow you… Distribute them amongst the men you've chosen, they'll do the rest…" Said the Scaled King. "Don't you worry, Larzak, as long as they met their purpose, they'll go to Valhalla… dying as warriors is something very honorable for you mortals, yes? Gehehehaha… Hahahaha!"
"Tch…"
Larzak walked away, gritting his sharp teeth in utter anger, he had many men, and they were all willing to fight for the Scaled God, the moment they looked at him they were brainwashed, but he was the only one that wasn't brainwashed, perhaps due to his own strength compared to his men, or perhaps due to his stronger will to resist the temptation of this dragon's darkness.
However, for the safety of his family, of his people, and of everyone he was trying to protect, he and his men had to obey this abomination, and do as he said… or else, they would become the sacrifice he needs for his malefic purposes.
