Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 944 519: Devour and Evolve (Part 2)

The black snake, having only devoured the carcass of the Frenzy Demon, was far from satisfied. Its life form was still incomplete, so it quickly set its sights on another carcass.
However, as it lunged forward and just began to tear with its jaws, another black snake emerged from the demon carcass, whose blood and flesh were already stirring beneath its skin, confronting the first black snake with a hiss.
The winged black snake, having a clear advantage, did not engage in battle with its kind. Instead, it soared into the air again and descended upon those demon carcasses yet to be eroded by the Devouring Demon Fog. Here was a feast of endless demon food, rendering any need to compete with its kin unnecessary.
The demon carcasses shrouded by the Devouring Demon Fog all underwent similar transformations after varying lengths of time. Black snakes emerged from them one after another, voraciously tearing and consuming demon flesh, capitalizing on every moment to grow and evolve.
The black snakes born first obviously had the initial advantage. By the time the later black snakes were emerging, they had, through a time gap, devoured enough flesh to complete their life form.
Not only had they grown powerful dragon wings, but they also developed claws under their bellies sharp enough to rend the skin of lesser demons. On their foreheads, singular or paired horns had begun to grow.
By reaching this stage, the black snakes were no longer merely black snakes; they had transformed into the Abyss Dragon Clan known by their creator as Black Devouring Dragons.
But this was only the first step, merely the most basic achievement. Becoming Black Devouring Dragons meant embarking on a long and arduous path, as their growth and evolution required devouring vast quantities of demons. They could enjoy only the first meal.
In the areas where the Devouring Demon Fog lingered, the once barren and dead land, with demon carcasses piled like small hills, had completely vanished. In their place were young Black Devouring Dragons and black snakes whose life forms were not yet complete.
"Truly the creation of the Holy Dragon Emperor. I wonder, though, how effective the Devouring Demon Fog is on living demons?"
A six-winged Great Angel Leader landed beside the Golden Forbidden Army. The divine radiance emanating from him pushed away the purple-black fog, creating a pure and flawless Holy Sanctuary.
"Testing has already been done. Demons enveloped by the Devouring Demon Fog enter a frenzy, attacking indiscriminately, until they ultimately die from exhaustion of magic power and stamina.
Then, as we see now, the young Black Devouring Dragons tear through the demon's flesh, emerging from their carcasses and consuming everything."
"However, Black Devouring Dragons born this way have a very low survival rate. It's almost impossible for them to survive on the battlefield and have the chance to devour demon flesh."
The Forbidden Army replied.
Ever since the Holy Dragon Emperor created the Black Devouring Dragons by utilizing the Abyss Blood Pool, angels frequently appeared on battlefields where Black Devouring Dragons emerged.
These angels, who arrived in the Abyss through Lord Iliad's channels to provide assistance, were extremely attentive to the Black Devouring Dragons.
After all, who would want to miss out on a species specifically designed to counter demons? Especially since the Black Devouring Dragons had the ability to eliminate and absorb abyssal pollution, making them a dream-come-true salvation race for worlds plagued by abyssal invasions and vast land contamination.
"With such a method of reproduction, it doesn't matter if the survival rate of Black Devouring Dragons is low."
The Great Angel Leader, who had come to inquire or rather to probe, remained indifferent to the evaluation of the Forbidden Army or perhaps simply did not care.
Like fungi, spreading their population through spore-like reproductive cells; with such a method of reproduction, what of a low survival rate? As long as one survives, it would spell disaster for the demons.
"You seem quite interested."
The Forbidden Army glanced at the eager angel beside him, a golden dragon-eye radiating with power no less than that of the Pure-blood Dragon Clan.
"Everyone in Heaven, Their Majesties, are interested in the Black Devouring Dragons, so of course, a humble Angel Commander like myself pays attention."
The Great Angel Leader spoke almost bluntly, although not explicitly stated, it was as good as openly acknowledging his origins, suggesting that one of the divine figures from Heaven was backing him.
"Hmm."
"May I take a young Black Devouring Dragon with me? I am willing to pay a sufficient price."
Though he hadn't yet seen the Black Devouring Dragons' combat abilities on the battlefield, just their ability to cleanse pollution and purify made them worth a hefty price.
"These are but incomplete experimental subjects; His Majesty has yet to make final adjustments."
The Forbidden Army replied.
"Adjustments still needed? What more could your Majesty be dissatisfied with having already created such dragons?"
Surprise tinged the angel's words.
"We have yet to determine their growth limits."
"So you continually feed them with war?"
The Angel Commander's gaze turned to the core of the battlefield, where five Black Devouring Dragons, their size already comparable to adult Dragon Species, were emitting a particularly terrifying dragon power.
After dividing the Balrog Flame Demon's flesh, the glow of molten light flowed through the gaps in their scales, with a fluctuating purple-gold brilliance, as they continued to grow and evolve.
The flesh of a Legendary Great Demon proved nourishing for them, making their presence even more formidable.
Such rapid evolution and strengthening was a feature exclusive to abyssal creatures. If creatures from the Material Realm were to evolve at such a pace, their bodies would almost certainly collapse, unable to sustain themselves.
"Yes."
"Do you intend to cultivate these five Black Devouring Dragons into legends?"
"That is my current task."
"That's frightening."
Upon hearing this, the Great Angel Leader's eyes, originally filled with appreciation and admiration as they looked at the Black Devouring Dragons, suddenly turned fearful and wary.
"A monster like this, if…"
"This is the creation of the Holy Dragon Emperor. They are the Emperor's favored, with no chance of betrayal. They will obey every command from His Majesty."
The Forbidden Army coldly interrupted the Angel Commander's unfinished words, and realizing their own verbal misstep, the angel immediately showed a look of apology and apologized on the spot.
"I apologize, I spoke out of turn."
Though these were merely words, the worry in the angel's eyes did not diminish in the slightest. The current Black Devouring Dragons could only erode and infect demons, but what if a mutation occurred, one that could erode races beyond the Demon Clan?
Who could accurately predict such an outcome? Every expert knows that the Dragon Species have a propensity to produce abnormal dragons, and no Dragon God or Dragon King can ensure the absolute stability of the dragon bloodline they create.
The most typical example would be Tiamat, the Dragon God, whose bloodline occasionally births monstrosities that dare challenge divine authority.
Even veteran Dragon Gods have these issues. Can this Dragon King guarantee the absolute loyalty of this demon dragon species created in the Abyss?
Such a creature, if it goes out of control and appears in the Material Realm, would be disastrous. How many species in the Material Realm could withstand an infection that even abyssal demons cannot resist?
"I know why you're here, but now is not the time. Once His Majesty makes the final adjustments, your deity can attempt to request from His Majesty Noah!"
"I fight for His Majesty Iliad."
The angel answered immediately.
"Heh!"
The Forbidden Army chuckled coldly, no longer heeding further attention. Instead, he continued to carry out the tasks assigned by the Holy Dragon Emperor, leading a fully organized Dragon-man Army, expanding territory in the Abyss while also finding sufficient food for the Black Devouring Dragons to raise them to their current form's limits.
In the demon-infested Abyss, where food sources for the Black Devouring Dragons were abundant, an integrated Dragon-man Army, with additional support from a few high-street angels, reached the current limits of their life forms quickly.
The largest Black Devouring Dragon grew to fifty-two meters in length, and the smallest exceeded fifty meters. At this point, all Black Devouring Dragons displayed symptoms of anorexia and ceased their feeding.