Ashen Dragon

"That's a Retainer of 'Deep Red Embers' Kazuul! We must not underestimate them!"

Adrian instantly gripped his longsword, sweat beading on his forehead. He wasn't sure if it was due to the high temperature emitted by this Red Dragon Descendant or because of his own nervousness and anxiety.

"Kill her!"

"Do not be afraid, she is alone, and we are more than ten. As long as we wait for the Dwarf reinforcements to arrive, she will surely die!" the female Dwarf warrior shouted, raising her battle axe towards the crowd.

The accompanying mage, Rolf Fitzgerald, however, was full of panic. He approached Adrian and whispered, "Sir, do not engage her lightly."

"For this Dragonborn to appear here, she probably defeated—or even killed—that adult Law Dragon. Even if we all rush in, we might not be able to win against her."

Hearing Rolf's words, Adrian nodded heavily and gestured for his subordinates to retreat.

The female Dwarf warrior, seeing this, angrily exclaimed, "Cowards! She's an Evil Dragon Minion; do you think she'll spare you just because of this?"

With that, she swung her battle axe and led the Dwarf warriors in a roaring charge.

However, the Dragonborn woman merely waved her hand, and flames surged out like giant pythons, transforming into scorching magic chains that bound the Dwarves tightly to the ground, rendering them immobile.

"Evil Dragon Minion! Even if you kill me, you can't kill our will to resist! Seleucis will never belong to the vile adherents of the Dragon Queen!" the female Dwarf warrior cursed, struggling fiercely despite her burns.

But the Dragonborn woman coldly retorted, "Who told you—I am a follower of the Dragon Queen?"

Fire blazed brilliantly in her eyes, with a terrifying oppression spreading outwards, causing everyone present to feel a rush of fear, finding it hard to breathe.

The Dragonborn woman chuckled lightly, her voice exceptionally cool: "Ha, if I truly belonged to the Dragon Worship Church, you would probably have turned to ashes by now, just like those Servant Monks earlier."

The female Dwarf warrior replied indignantly, "Then who are you? Why hide your head and reveal your tail, yet possess the power of an Evil Dragon!" My V^ir%tu!a*l% L-i$b@rar$y E&mpir-e ([email protected]%)+ t!han*k*s you for re!adin-g at the so*u@rce..

Adrian, however, was more rational. He stepped forward and performed a standard Fadlan noble salute, saying solemnly, "Esteemed one, thank you for your intervention just now, saving us from death."

"But I do not know your name. Perhaps... are you also part of our Second Fadlan Alliance?"

The Dragonborn woman replied, "I am not part of your so-called alliance, but like you, I see the Dragon Worship Church as an enemy."

Adrian and Rolf exchanged a puzzled glance: "Which faction could it be that possesses the power of the Red Dragon bloodline, yet views the Dragon Worship Church as an adversary?"

The Dragonborn woman seemed to see through their thoughts, pulling a token from her luxurious robes, on which a vertical eye and flame emblem were engraved, and displayed it to everyone.

"I am a Retainer of the Highest and Most Supreme Ashen Emperor Cassius, the Lord of the North, the ruler of Anzeta and Thrace, and a first-rank Duke of the Empire, Misha."

"I am here on my master's order, upholding justice and principle, specifically to help you overthrow the Dragon Worship Church and end their brutal rule."

"Ashen Empire? That's... impossible!"

Upon hearing this, the humans and Dwarves present all showed expressions of shock, their hearts sinking.

The mysterious and powerful empire from the Far North, ruled by Red Dragons among the five-colored dragons, was such a country.

In everyone's impression, the Ashen Empire launched invasions everywhere, cruel and violent, enslaving its people, even annihilating the Thrace Kingdom, one of the Three Great Kingdoms, in one fell swoop.

Moreover, according to the propaganda of the Dragon Worship Church, the Emperor of the Ashen Empire is Tiamat's most cherished offspring, lauded as the "Dragon Prince" by the five-colored dragons, and the Ashen Empire is destined to become part of the grand Giant Dragon Empire.

The female Dwarf further expressed her anger, roaring, "I see you're in league with those Dragon Worship Cult followers! You're all Evil Dragon Minions; there's no difference!"

Misha's eyes turned cold, and with a flick of her finger, the female Dwarf was suddenly suppressed by an overwhelming force, her body pressing into the ground, her bones almost shattering.

She spoke in an icy tone: "This is the final warning, Dwarf, do not be ungrateful. Insulting the Ashen Emperor is a high crime punishable by death."

"If it weren't for my master's mercy, instructing me to treat you rebels kindly, to open your eyes to the truth and join the Empire in destroying the Dragon Worship Church, you would have long become ashes."

Adrian hurriedly stepped forward, urging anxiously, "Lady Misha, please be merciful, these Dwarves are just rash, with straightforward words, and meant no offense."

"I hope so."

Only then did Misha dissipate the oppression, and the heavily injured female Dwarf warrior knelt on the ground, panting, looking at her with suspicion and hostility.

"Human... Red Dragon Descendant... cannot be trusted..."

After all, these Dwarves were enslaved by the Dragon Worship Church for years, constantly on the run, suffering humiliation, sometimes even becoming dragon feed.

They harbored a deep hatred towards any creature possessing the Dragon Bloodline, wishing for nothing more than to kill them.

"With my master's power and reputation, what need is there to deceive you nameless riffraff?" Misha coldly laughed again.

Adrian pondered for a moment, then asked with neither inferiority nor arrogance, "Duke Misha, may I ask what kind of assistance the Empire is willing to offer us?"

Misha replied, "Military equipment, monetary resources, even powerful warriors, the Empire has it all and can provide it to you."