Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

The three ancient blood warriors of the lizardman stood like three statues, their very presence radiating an almost tangible pressure accumulated from countless battles.

The most striking of them all was an individual named Siinkla. He stood an astonishing 2.5 meters tall, far exceeding the common range of 1.83 to 2.44 meters for ordinary lizardmen.

Besides his height, he has other notable features: large, jagged bones protrude from his joints, like naturally formed heavy armor thorns; his skin is rough and thick, with a leather-like texture after countless blows and healings, and faintly flowing dark red lines that resemble lava cracks.

These characteristics are Quigley's mark and blessing. The mark endows him with a physique far superior to his kind and near-infinite stamina, while his indomitable talent for fighting allows him to operate like the most precise war machine even in the most brutal battles.

Rein knew Sinclair; he had met him when he first came to Zetland. According to the old-fashioned division of functions by Duruch, Sinclair's role was similar to that of Valahal—the highest-ranking officer and commander-in-chief of the city's defenses.

Renn almost laughed. He remembered all sorts of sarcastic jokes that Darkus had told him, some of which he didn't know where he'd heard them from. One joke in particular stuck with him—the mute man got so angry that he started talking.

Sinclair is practically the living embodiment of this joke.

The lizard people's physiological structure predisposes them to be poor communicators.

Their thick necks supported their large, heavy heads; below their broad, blunt snouts were powerful jaws capable of crushing bones, with rows of sharp teeth on the inside for tearing flesh. They typically swallowed whole pieces of meat or fish without chewing. This oral and vocal structure meant that even the most talkative lizardmen could only manage a few low, guttural words, like the grinding of rocks, in a rough, guttural voice.

In Renn's mind, Sinclair was the most talkative of all the lizardmen. Behind this talkativeness lay the bleak history and extreme scarcity of resources in the southern jungle.

The hatching of lizardmen is not the birth of an individual, but rather the simultaneous creation of an entire fighting legion with highly consistent temperaments, ready to fight side by side at any time. Theoretically, their lifespan is infinite; they can live as long as the need for combat exists.

Kuja and Gorok are the best examples; they fought from the Great Invasion to the very end.

However, the reality is that the treacherous environment and endless wars of Ruscia meant that death in battle was the inevitable fate for the vast majority of lizardmen within a few hundred years.

The situation in the South was even more dire than in Ruscia.

The extreme shortage of resources, especially combat-ready individuals, forced the rulers of Zetland to adopt a near-desperate strategy: using lizardmen as temple guards and spirit lizardmen as lizardmen.

This meant that the spirit lizards, originally engaged in management, construction, and knowledge, needed to take up spears and shields to fill the gaps on the front lines. The daunting, almost absurd task of training the spirit lizards into mere substitutes capable of performing combat duties for the lizardmen fell to Sinclair's shoulders, and over time…

Renn also recognized the other two Ancient Blood Warriors from their time in Azsor Loren. More than fifty years had passed, and fate had taken a turn, bringing them together again in Zetland in the South. (Chapter 458)
However, Ryan never knew their names.

In terms of positioning, the two ancient warriors bearing the mark of the ancient saint Zkadi stood on either side of Sinclair. They did not, as is common in elven or human etiquette, symbolically lag behind by half a step to show respect.

These complexities don't exist in the behavior logic of the lizard people.

Side by side means of the same rank;
Standing still is itself an array.

Standing opposite them were high-ranking members of the Sotigo battle group.

Six scarred veterans of the lizardmen were on standby, like six sharp blades sheathed but still exuding a bloody aura.

One of them, Renn recognized immediately. The moment he saw this person, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch upwards again; there were quite a few familiar faces that made him want to laugh today.

This scarred veteran, named Krotazir, was born at an auspicious time. As torrential rain washed over the square of Slanwpek, he burst from the hatching pool, his body dripping with pool fluid, and let out his first roar towards the lightning-streaked sky.

The observant lizard priests noticed a striking line of bright red scales naturally formed around his mouth and nose, arcing down to his back like a bloodstain. They immediately prophesied: this lizardman, favored by Sotigo, was destined to exact the cruelest revenge on all invaders who desecrated the ancient sacred land.

The prophecy was absolutely accurate.

Now standing 2.1 meters tall and with a physique as robust as a mobile fortress, he is covered in thick, blue-green skin, while his mouth, nose, head, back, and even tail are covered with dense and vibrant scarlet scales—the sacred mark of Sotigo.

However, despite possessing such a distinct mark of divine favor, he did not follow the prophet.

The Slan of the City of Mist had their own considerations: rather than letting this restless beast pace anxiously within the city walls and disturb the intricate work of the spirit lizards, it would be better to let it roam freely in the vast areas surrounding the City of Mist.

Thus, Krotazir submitted to the ruler, patrolling the jungles, ancient causeways, and hidden paths, actively seeking out any battles and conflicts he could intervene in.

Soon, such patrols could no longer satisfy his fighting spirit, and he found a perfect opponent—White-haired Haken.

The lizardmen firmly believed that it was Sotigo's will that guided Krotazel ​​to the place where his violent power was most needed. This lizardman was indeed blessed by the serpent god; no matter how fierce the battle, he always returned alive, though often covered in wounds and bloodstains, as if pulled from a pool of blood. Yet, the fighting spirit in his topaz eyes never died out.

When Harken was thrown into the vast ocean by Dakos, Crotazel ​​was already over 350 years old.

The reason he has lived so long is because of his calm determination and wisdom, which contrasts sharply with his ferocious appearance. He is extremely adept at waiting for the best opportunity to strike. He is obsessed with finding tactical advantages rather than charging recklessly, and he will use the terrain to his advantage to set up ambushes.

To put it bluntly, he was a master of guerrilla warfare.

Afterwards, Darkus ordered a small number of troops to be drawn from various temple cities on the continent of Lustria to reinforce the still dire situation in the southern jungles. Thus, this restless war behemoth naturally arrived in Zetland along with the reinforcements.

The reason why Renn wanted to laugh whenever he saw Crotazel ​​was because of an incredibly vivid memory that he found hilarious every time he thought about it.

He recalled the scene of Roxia and Dastan, that pair of lovable duo, being utterly and literally beaten by Krotazel. Krotazel ​​was a master of dual-wielding maces; the heavy weapons he wielded were devoid of any fancy moves, only the purest and most savage crushing power.

The Black Ark's voyage was slow, and life at sea was monotonous.

We always need to find something to do, right?

Out of provocation, a bet, and simply out of boredom and a desire for excitement, Roxia and Dastan even attempted to test the mettle of the top lizardmen warriors.

The result can be imagined.

Renn could almost see that scene again.

Krotazir was like a red thunderbolt, the sound of his wooden hammer swinging like the roar of a giant beast; Roxia's nimble parries were smashed like paper before that absolute power; Dastan tried to maneuver, but was forced to tumble and crawl by a seemingly clumsy but actually incredibly precise sweeping attack.

There were no lengthy duels, no brilliant counter-attacks, only brutally crushing opponents with outrageous efficiency.

The dull thud of the wooden hammers striking the shield, the pirates' furious yet helpless curses, and Krotazel's silent and focused demeanor throughout created a wonderful comedic scene.

Since that exchange, the two of them would subconsciously maintain a relatively safe distance when they saw Krotazel, and would pass the buck to the other to ask for a few more tips.

Fortunately, Renn had a backup plan. He knew all too well how his brother and Baine had been thrashed by Gorock. Before the match, he intervened and chose a closed location.

His intervention proved to be the right thing to do; the two did not become a long-standing source of amusement during the long voyage. Furthermore, as far as he knew, Krotazel ​​was also a nemesis of Kradian. (Chapter 153)
The high-ranking members of the Sotigo battle group were not all devout Sotigo believers. Rein's sharp eyes swept across them and he quickly recognized a true old friend among them—Inshi-Huz.

He knew quite a few lizardmen, but could only call them friends. At most, there were four: Chupakoko, Yakadan, Tiktato, and the one in front of him, Inshi-Huz.

The rest were mostly just nodding acquaintances.

After all, to communicate with Slan, he needs to present the words or images directly in his mind, and Slan will interpret them telepathically; while the lizard people are not good at speaking due to their physiological structure, and their communication often ends with a brief nod and nothing more; the throat and oral structure of the monitor lizard are also not suitable for vocalization, so if they need to communicate, they rely more on gestures and head movements to convey simple information.

Of course, there are exceptions like Kami. When Rein traveled to the continent of Lustia for the second time, he didn't accompany the main force but was instead dispatched ahead of time by Darkus. During the perilous journey to Hesiota, he met Inshi-Huz and they went through many trials together. Later, Inshi-Huz was also present during the thrilling raid on Quezar.

This bond, forged in blood and fire, is extraordinary.

After Raine obtained the Blade of Reality, he gave his original Ancient Sacred Scimitar, which he possessed, to Inshi-Huz at Darkus's suggestion, as a testament to trust and friendship.

At that moment, Ryan walked straight up to him, a genuine smile on his face, and opened his arms naturally and comfortably, making an elfin, unguarded embrace.

Inshi-Huz also broke away from the crowd to receive the hug.

Their embrace was not the light, polite touch between elven kin, but a solid contact that transcended racial boundaries. Raine's arm circled the side of Inshi-Huz's shoulder armor, covered in cold scales, and he could feel the steady power beneath, like compressed volcanic rock.

Inshi-Huz's thick forearm gently touched Renn's back, a restrained movement carrying the weight of a lizard's expression of approval. Without a word, this brief but solid embrace conveyed the greeting of reunion and unspoken trust.

After the hug, Ryan looked up and nodded solemnly to Tehenhoin, who was looking in their direction from a short distance away. This was both a greeting and a way of indicating that he had no intention of causing any disturbance.

Then he turned to Insh-Huz and began to speak in a low, familiar voice. Their communication style was unique: Ryan spoke at a moderate pace, accompanied by clear gestures; Insh-Huz responded mostly with short guttural sounds, subtle head movements, and changes in eye contact, occasionally uttering a few low keywords.

Delamar, Imralion, and Eldrasil, who were following closely behind Renn, had a completely different feeling. The three of them unconsciously huddled together, forming a miniature defensive triangle, not because they were afraid, but because the oppressive feeling from the surrounding environment was simply too great.

These high-ranking members of the Sotigo battle group, fresh from the depths of the southern jungles and a bloody hunt, still reeked of their former bloodlust. Their scales and armor were stained with dark grime, their weapon blades gleamed with a worn-out sheen, and their eyes, sharp as knives, swept across the battlefield with the scrutiny of predators. Simply standing there silently, the concentrated, collective killing intent born of brutal combat acted as an invisible barrier, making the air thick and heavy.

Delamariel felt a slight sweat bead on his palms as he gripped the sword hilt, while Imralion and Eldrasil's backs were ramrod straight. Watching Renn converse so casually with the spirit lizard as if they were old friends, they became even more acutely aware of the chasm between themselves and this place, and between themselves and these creatures.

Here, they were not the high and mighty Commander Asur, but rather visitors who had stumbled into the lair of a behemoth and needed to be extra cautious. They stood silently, striving to maintain their composure, concealing all their vigilance and assessment beneath calm expressions; only their close proximity betrayed a hint of their inner tension.

During the conversation, Renn's expression gradually became playful. He learned from Inshi-Huz that his old friend had been sent to the South thirty years ago. Inshi-Huz and his elite Velociraptor squadron were assigned to the Sotigo squadron, becoming its claws for high-speed, deadly guerrilla warfare in the shadows of the jungle.

Today, the Velociraptor rider teams are clearly divided into two groups: one is an elite team, and the other is an ordinary team.

The elite teams consist of lizard riders blessed by the Radiant and Tepok, riding Velociraptors and equipped with custom-made, specialized weapons; while the ordinary teams consist of lizard riders who have not received special blessings, riding Velociraptors and using standard equipment.

In the jungle guerrilla environment, the difference between elites and ordinary ones is not significant, because the Velociraptor's data and mechanics remain unchanged (as introduced in Chapter 545).

However, once a direct confrontation or a moment requiring a decisive attack is reached, the gap between customized weapons and conventional weapons becomes glaringly obvious.

These specially designed javelins possessed almost supernatural flight performance, with a range far exceeding that of ordinary javelins, enough to hit distant targets that seemed impossible to hit. But range was not the key; the real terror lay in their terrifying penetrating power—they could cut through most heavy armor like a hot knife through butter.

In comparison, the lances seem less outlandish, merely capable of firing deadly laser beams from their tips. When activated, these lances gather dazzling energy at their tips, then release scorching, blinding rays.

Unfortunately, these abilities have strict limitations: only spirit lizards blessed by the Radiant Spirit can activate certain intrinsic properties of the spear, while the energy launch of the lance must be driven by spirit lizards blessed by the Tepok.

otherwise……

The reason why Renn's expression became increasingly amused was that he knew that Inshi-Huz's transfer to the southern jungle was directly and subtly related to the changes in the situation in Duruci.

Inghi-Huz is affiliated with Hesiota.

After Duruci entered the new era, many old trades and balances were disrupted, and the traditional mercenary industry simply disappeared.

"The Destroyer" Vashner, who caused some trouble for Hesiota when the end was approaching, has now become a low-level Fear Lord and is doing very well in the Duruqi military.

Of course, Raine is not Darkus, and he has no way of knowing the story that Vaschna might have in another timeline.

Meanwhile, Duruch's fleet began regular patrols and training in the waters surrounding Lustia, which indirectly relieved some of the external defense pressure on Hesiota. And Hesiota's hatchery continued to operate efficiently, with new forces constantly emerging.

With this shift in balance, Hesiota's military strength became somewhat excessive; the pool was already full, and there was even a risk of it overflowing.

Therefore, as part of resource allocation and strategic balancing, experienced commanders like Inhi-Huz and their elite battle groups were naturally dispatched to the southern front, where manpower was more needed, and incorporated into the Sotigo battle group to deal with the threats there.

Just as Inshi-Huz was getting into the swing of things and preparing to elaborate on the details of a particular battle, Renn raised his hand to stop him.

Raine wasn't particularly interested in the actual fighting process or tactical micromanagement. He was neither a tactical researcher nor responsible for specific resource allocation.

What he needed for this trip was objective, specific, and quantifiable data—information that could be clearly written into a report and presented to Dakos for higher-level decision-making and evaluation.

His gaze passed over Inshi-Huz and landed on a unique presence within the battle group.

Is the crested snake a legend? A myth? Or something else entirely...?

But Renn actually saw it.

His gaze was precisely fixed on two snake-men who were quietly coiled at the edge of the shadows. They were not the snake-men warriors he had ever seen; their forms carried a breathtaking, mind-blowing sense of the supernatural.

Most striking are the tops of their heads—not decorations, but a structure of bone and flesh that grows naturally from the back of the skull, resembling a rooster's comb, yet even more rugged and ferocious, displaying a bright red color like burning flames.

The red crown seemed to possess its own life force, trembling slightly with their slight breathing and head movements.

Their scales, covering their entire bodies, were not the grayish-green or dark brown of ordinary snake people, but a pure, deep crimson, like congealed blood or scorching lava. This crimson was not evenly applied, but spread down from the red crown on their heads, gradually transitioning in color, presenting a natural gradation like flame patterns on their torsos and winding tails. Under the not-so-strong sunlight of Zetland, it even faintly shimmered with a restrained, metallic sheen.

This is undoubtedly Sotigo's mark!

Moreover, it was a far more profound and essential manifestation than ordinary scarlet markings or a few red scales. This mark seemed to have penetrated from the skin into the marrow, rewriting their form of existence and transforming them, from the inside out, into living relics and embodiments of war of the crimson serpent god.

Rein could even sense an extremely faint yet undeniable 'field' permeating the air, centered on the two crimson serpent-men. It wasn't a magical wind, but a more primal, aggressive, scorching aura and bloody pressure, causing the other lizardman warriors nearby to unconsciously maintain a small, respectful distance from them.

His breathing involuntarily slowed for a moment; in his eyes, this was a momentous discovery. The divine evolution directly manifested in the form of the snake-people was far more impactful than any written description or ritual of slaying rat-people.

This is no longer faith; it is a new species born from faith directly shaping them and from the flesh and blood permeated by divine power. The very act of them standing there is a declaration: the power of Sotigo is not only spiritual guidance, but also a tremendous force capable of substantially interfering with and reshaping the mortal bodies of its believers.

After Tehenhoin set an example, another example emerged.

Raine's playful expression vanished completely, replaced by an intensely focused scrutiny and assessment. This went beyond the ordinary, touching upon a grander and more dangerous realm concerning racial evolution and divine intervention.

The two crimson serpent-men seemed to sense his prolonged gaze and slowly turned their heads. Their vertical pupils were not the topaz color common among lizardmen, but a fiery hue like molten gold flowing in the darkness. In the instant their eyes met, there was neither hostility nor intimacy, only an inhuman, purely observant calm, as if they themselves were some kind of natural phenomenon, allowing the outside world to observe them.

Raine forced himself to look away, but the crimson hue and the eerie red crown were already deeply imprinted in his mind. What he needed to understand was probably far more than just data.

The report submitted to Darkus must include observations regarding the manifestation of higher forms of the Sotigo mark! (End of Chapter)