Juvenile Mutant Rock Lizards

Randolph took a deep breath and began gathering strength for his second attack.

One juvenile Rock Lizard let out a pained howl, baring its fangs at Randolph in the distance. Seeing this, the other Rock Lizard stepped in front of its companion and began gathering magic for an attack.

"Everyone, throw your Spears."

A Squad Leader standing nearby immediately gave the order. The surrounding soldiers hurled their weapons with all their strength, disrupting the two Rock Lizards' magical attack.

More than a dozen Spears shot through the air, directly interrupting the beasts' magic.

"Hiss—"

The hard scales were struck, and the force traveled into their flesh, making the two juvenile Rock Lizards howl in pain.

The next moment, Randolph suddenly accelerated and launched an attack at one juvenile Rock Lizard's head.

As the attack came, the Rock Lizard struggled to shift its body and used its back to block the blow.

"Bang—"

The tremendous force sent both Rock Lizards flying backward, smashing them hard into the rock wall.

The slight tremor in the ground renewed the soldiers' understanding of the knight's strength.

A few minutes later, seeing that the Rock Lizards were no longer of any use, Randolph ordered a soldier to step forward and check on them.

After receiving the order, the soldier swallowed, picked up a Spear from the ground, and approached tremblingly. He poked a Rock Lizard's rear with the spearhead. When it did not react, he gathered his courage and moved closer.

"My lord, these two beasts have fainted."

The soldier then reported excitedly, grateful that he had survived.

Seeing this, Randolph also breathed a sigh of relief and calmly gave his orders. "You few, carry these two beasts out. Bind their limbs and mouths with iron chains. In a few days, send them back to Lake of Star Prayer together with the ore and leave them for my lord to handle."

"Yes, my lord."

More than a dozen soldiers stepped forward and clumsily carried the two Rock Lizards away, allowing the serfs mining Mithril Ore to resume work.

Early the next morning, Velin arrived at the center of the village square under Belder's guidance. Seeing the juvenile Rock Lizards with their limbs bound in iron chains, he was somewhat delighted.

"My lord, these are the two beasts Randolph sent back. They were found in the mine, and apparently they ate quite a bit of ore. Their scales have astonishing defensive power." Belder drew his Knight Longsword and tapped the juvenile Rock Lizard's scales as he explained.

Listening to the impacts, Velin initially judged that these two Rock Lizards could take a beating. He turned to Belder and said, "If we train these juvenile Rock Lizards into war beasts, they may prove unexpectedly useful in the future."

"My lord, we don't have a beast tamer. How... how are we supposed to train them?" Belder looked troubled upon hearing this. Without a professional to train them, he feared they would slaughter their own side before reaching the battlefield.

Velin stroked his chin. This was indeed a problem.

Then he remembered that Half-elf girl from a few days ago. Didn't she know something about beast taming?

"Belder, go bring Eunice here."

"Yes, my lord." Belder instinctively turned to leave after hearing this, but suddenly came back and asked in confusion, "My lord, who is Eunice?"

"The Half-elf girl." Velin covered his face and stared speechlessly at his steward.

Belder suddenly understood. He quickly left the square and headed toward the castle construction site, looking embarrassed to remain another moment.

Afterward, Velin approached the struggling Rock Lizards and curiously observed these monsters that could normally only be seen in illustrated guides.

Unlike ordinary Rock Lizards, these two had black bodies covered in silver web-like patterns. Faint dark-white stripes ran from their chests to their bellies, while most of the front half of their tails was silver.

Given the circumstances, they had likely consumed a great deal of Mithril Ore and mutated as a result—or perhaps evolved.

Such things were not unusual in this world. Many monsters accidentally consumed magical plants or strange ores, causing mutations and granting them different abilities.

Fear filled the two Rock Lizards' eyes as they looked in terror at the frightening human before them. He was even more terrifying than the humans who had attacked them last time.

"Whimper, whimper."

One Rock Lizard made a sound with a pleading tone.

This greatly surprised Velin. These brainless monsters could actually beg for mercy and act cute? How strange. Could Mithril Ore have evolved their brains too?

If so, taming these two mutant Rock Lizards might become quite easy.

Half an hour later, Belder brought the Half-elf girl to the square.

"My lord."

Velin did not waste words. He said to Eunice, "You said before that you knew how to tame beasts."

Eunice stared at the three-meter-long Rock Lizards, somewhat frightened. But thinking of the future, she gathered her courage and said, "Yes, my lord. I know a little about beast taming. My older sister is a beast tamer, and I am willing to try taming these two Rock Lizards."

"I hope you succeed." Velin turned to Belder and ordered, "Have someone remove the chains."

Upon hearing this, Belder personally stepped forward and removed the chains, allowing one of the Rock Lizards a brief moment of freedom.

Eunice then stepped forward, gathering a gentle healing glow of magic in her palm. Filled with anxiety, she slowly approached.

The Rock Lizard looked at the pointy-eared four-legged beast before it. She posed no threat at all; it felt that one swing of its tail could kill her.

Its walnut-sized head thought rapidly. The confusion in its eyes cleared as it glanced at its older sister nearby and made a bold decision.

"My lord, watch out."

Seeing the Rock Lizard charging straight at him, Velin placed his right hand on the hilt of his Knight's Shortsword, ready to gather strength and fight.

The next moment, the Rock Lizard stopped in front of Velin, lay on the ground, and exposed its belly, looking exactly like a dog.

Not only Velin and Belder were dumbfounded by this scene—Eunice was equally stunned. The Rock Lizards, known for their ferocity and stupidity, had actually displayed such behavior. The sight left all three of them gaping.

The dozens of soldiers nearby did not see it that way. In their eyes, even such savage and terrifying monsters had submitted beneath their lord's feet. Lake of Star Prayer must truly be a place blessed by the Goddess of Life.

"My lord, this... it..."

Belder stepped forward, momentarily at a loss for words.

Velin said nothing. He walked over to the Rock Lizard and tentatively stroked its chin.

"Hiss, hiss."

The "wise" Rock Lizard behaved meekly, its eyes filled with ingratiation. Its tiny head understood very clearly: if it acknowledged a master now, it would enjoy good food and drink in the future. Otherwise, it might end up like its other brothers, dead without even a whole corpse left behind.