Garon flew high in the sky, gripping an ogre. Even with his strength, carrying the heavy creature for a prolonged period eventually began to tire him.
The high-altitude cold winds had little effect on Uga Skullbreaker, who, accustomed to the frigid conditions of the northern ice plains and clad only in rudimentary animal hides, had evolved a considerable resistance to the cold. Nonetheless, his body shivered uncontrollably, fearful of looking down.
Like any non-flying creature brought to a height of thousands of meters, where the survival depends solely on the whim of another, fear was inevitable.
A simple slip from Garon would send the ogre plummeting to a gruesome death, shattered beyond recognition upon impact.
Dropping troublesome prey from great heights to their death was a common draconic tactic. A true dragon could easily carry creatures as heavy as or even heavier than itself.
If Garon had not intended to subjugate the ogre tribe, he wouldn't have needed to engage in direct combat. Merely dropping objects from high above would have sufficed to cause significant distress.
After a while, Garon brought Uga Skullbreaker to the icy surface of the frozen lake.
The ogre's legs wobbled as he walked unsteadily, his mind still dizzy and confused as if he hadn't yet come down from the high altitudes.
It took a few minutes for him to regain his composure.
Garon, satisfied that the ice was thick enough to support the ogre's weight, deemed this spot an ideal ambush location. It could successfully lure the target here.
Once Uga seemed mentally recovered, Garon pointed to the ice beneath them and said, "Bring the two-headed ogre here, and your task will be complete."
He left the specifics of how to deal with the two-headed ogre unspoken.
Uga nodded, looking across the vast expanse of ice, and said, "I know this place. It will take me four hours to travel to and from the Skullbreaker tribe."
He paused, looking to Garon before adding, "True Dragon Lord, are you planning to confront Chief Cela immediately? Should I leave now?"
His voice carried an eagerness, as Uga Skullbreaker was nearly frantic to replace the two-headed ogre as chief.
Garon's gaze remained calm, betraying no emotion. He merely nodded and said, "Stop talking and get going."
After speaking, Garon remembered the weapons the two-headed ogre had carried from its house and added, "Try to make sure it doesn't bring its weapons."
Determined to eliminate the threat posed by the two-headed ogre, Garon wanted to act swiftly to prevent any unforeseen complications that time might introduce.
Uga Skullbreaker nodded vigorously, "As you command, great True Dragon! I will not disappoint you!"
With a wave of his dragon claw, Garon signaled that Uga could start his mission. Uga turned and quickly departed, his figure disappearing into the vast night.
Thump!
Garon's hefty dragon foot stomped on the ice, instantly spreading a web of cracks across the surface before the ice shattered along these fissures, revealing the quiet waters below.
Taking a deep breath, Garon then slipped beneath the ice-covered lake. The bone-chilling cold that could freeze a man in seconds did not affect him adversely; instead, it felt refreshingly cool, invigorating his spirit.
Whoosh!
He exhaled frost dragon breath, resealing the ice surface as he disappeared into the water below.
The surface above returned to its lonely stillness.
The scales of a white dragon, similar in color to the ice and snow, allowed him to swim without creating any noticeable disturbance in the light or water flow. In the northern ice plains, the white dragon was a formidable and powerful hunter.
Few prey targeted by a white dragon could survive, especially not one like Garon, who also possessed the power of a time dragon.
Somewhere beneath the ice, Garon patiently waited.
Should any creature step onto the ice, even if unseen, he could instantly determine their position, number, and approximate weight through the subtle vibrations.
Protected by the maternal white dragon, Garon had honed his skills during his years of hunting; as a competent white dragon hunter, he had mastered these abilities long ago.
Uga Skullbreaker left the ice lake, making his way quickly towards the recessed basin where the Skullbreaker tribe resided.
On the way, he killed a robust white tiger, considering it a trophy of his adulthood rites. The white tiger, a mere large beast compared to the two-headed ogre's initial prey, was nothing in comparison, but Uga was too excited to care.
Carrying his trophy, he strode confidently back to the Skullbreaker tribe.
Alert ogres spotted Uga and greeted him; many ogres rose from the ground or emerged from their homes to surround Uga Skullbreaker and admire his catch.
The nearly four-meter-long
white-browed tiger, muscular and sharp-clawed, received many praises.
"Uga, you are now a qualified adult ogre."
"The Sun God would be proud and will always watch over you."
After the praises, the ogres unceremoniously dragged away Uga's catch, skinned it, chopped it up, and threw it into a large iron pot. Uga showed no reaction to this.
The prey caught in an ogre's coming-of-age hunt was meant to be shared among the adult ogres of the tribe, signifying that one had become a full member of the adult community, no longer a weak ogre in need of protection.
Just as the white tiger was being taken away, Uga Skullbreaker hurried toward the luxurious stone house covered in animal hides that served as the dwelling of the two-headed ogre chief.
He rushed, appearing urgent, and didn't even knock, bursting directly into the stone house.
"Chief! I've found traces of a human mage!"
Just as the two-headed ogre was about to scold Uga for his impertinence, Uga blurted out the news, instantly brightening the ogre chief's demeanor.
The two-headed ogre stepped forward, its two heads and four eyes staring intently at Uga, its taller stature imposing.
"Uga Skullbreaker, are you sure?"
The larger head was especially excited, while the smaller seemed indifferent, salivating as if it recalled some delicious prey.
Uga vigorously nodded, "I'm certain."
The two-headed ogre calmed for a moment before the larger head asked, "How strong is this human mage?"
Uga thought quickly and responded, "Stronger than Uga, but definitely no match for you, chief."
"I found the human mage to the east, battling a swift panther. He didn't see me."
"And, although the human mage defeated the panther, he was injured and couldn't have gone far."
Hearing Uga's words, the two-headed ogre's larger head glared, scolding, "Then what are you waiting for, you fool? Lead the way immediately!"