Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 467 - 21: Devotion (Part 2)

Even a legion of this size, following a normal configuration, would qualify to hunt a solitary, average adult Dragon.

When the size of a legion reaches fifty thousand, one hundred thousand, or even hundreds of thousands, even the most ordinary legion will possess unparalleled courage, with iron hooves and blades that trample everything in their way.

A single drop of water may be no more than a breeze across the face, but an overwhelming tide formed from countless drops will force even a Giant Dragon to retreat.

A Legend may wield power beyond the reach of many creatures, but Legendary Power is ultimately not limitless. Relying on a single Legend can only spill blood within a mere few hundred paces, disturbing a local area.

However, the King of the Dragon Clan does not need to act personally; with just one order, he can have the legion’s warriors open up mountains and rivers, cross vast distances, and set the land ablaze with war.

As Karon grows, the things he encounters and the matters he learns increase, and his legion has long ceased to be established solely for his rule.

These legions are prepared to handle many potential troubles and dangers he might face in the future, and stand as one of his pillars to face the changing world ahead.

Thus, Karon prioritizes the armed forces more than anything else currently within the Imperial.

Dagonia, this city, in the common language of the continent, means the volcanic city ruled by the Dragon’s progeny.

This city is also the first major city established by the western-migrating residents within the Empire’s territory, boasting a permanent population of 150,000, making it a medium-to-large city.

The city is built into the mountains, with a clear view of the heights where the Emperor of the Imperial resides.

In the southern suburbs of Dagonia, in the military oversight area of the ’Burning Hooves’ legion, Fog Dragon Deniro, along with the recruitment officer of the Dagonia area, accompanies the visiting Karon to inspect the soldiers, watching from a distance outside the training field.

The elite soldiers newly recruited and selected here are undergoing the final round of selection tests. The Golden Empire now has a diverse immigrant population, in addition to the steadily increasing Dragon-man, Jackal-Wolf Man, Barbarian, and Beastman, all originally excellent in combat.

There are also many elite human warriors and numerous Giant Demon, Ogre, Earth Goblins, and even traces of the recent sea-faring Naga race have begun appearing within the Golden Empire.

However, aside from a few of the first independent legions established within the Empire, which are relatively pure, most other legions are configured as Mixed Corps, judging solely by ability, regardless of background or race.

But many warriors of different races and statuses have varied natures and habits, so in addition to assessment tests for their abilities, there is a need for training to change their nature and ensure obedience.

If they fail to undergo and pass the nature integration and obedience training within a test cycle, they will be sent back to their place of origin and will not be eligible to apply to join the highly specialized ’Burning Hooves’ corps for three years.

Because within the Golden Empire, aside from the highly specialized and uniquely positioned Imperial Guard, only the ’Burning Hooves’ legion is the Personal Guard Corps under the Dragon Emperor Karon Gogomola.

Thus, the ’Burning Hooves’ legion sets extremely strict standards and requirements for selection, and every warrior who stands here to undergo testing is at least a powerful warrior, whether by bloodline, talent, strength, or their unique wisdom.

Regardless of whether these individuals were once prominent or obscure in their regions, whether they were farmers, adventurers, or elite Legion Warriors, they now stand quietly and honestly in full Armor, holding weapons, undergoing obedience training in formation and command training in the exercise field.

Building the armed forces of a legion involves far more than simply expanding the structure of the corps and increasing the number of warriors.

Even though Karon has established a fairly clear hierarchical system within the legion, divided into soldiers, Decurion Captain, Centurion Company Commander, Thousand-man Commander, and Ten Thousand-man Commander.

Even so, according to the actual regulations, it is difficult to forge the legion into something more powerful and perfect, because such mundane knowledge is absent in the heritage of the Giant Dragon.

Many talents within the empire have many ideas, but most differ somewhat from Karon’s, so Karon must devote a significant part of his effort to military reform and construction, personally.

And as for Fog Dragon Deniro, who was able to smoothly take over as the leader of the Imperial Ministry of Defense, it was because this Fog Dragon, upon seeing the relevant plans, clarified each level of warrior and officer pay, and supervised the warriors, tracked military exploits, and proposed rewarding and punishing accordingly.

This Fog Dragon, Deniro, proposed to Karon the establishment of an ideological instructor role within the legion, responsible for supervising the legion, organizing and leading the political work of the legion, and implementing the Royal Court’s policies and directives.

Including the Empire’s laws, higher-ups’ resolutions, orders, and directives, playing a role in ideological construction and ensuring discipline within the legion.

And Karon named this role Political Thought Guidance Commissioner of the legion — in short, the political commissar.

Currently, only the veterans from the Imperial Guard and some soldiers with extreme loyalty to the Empire and the Red Dragon, who are also sufficiently adaptable, can serve as political commissars.