Ashen Dragon

The sky was as dark as lead-gray, with thick clouds gathered, as if the whole world was swallowed by darkness, a thin mist of oppression hanging in the air.

It was about to rain.

Green Valley Town lay quietly under the night, wounded soldiers from the South lay on the cold wooden beds inside the church, occasionally emitting low moans.

Duke Franz stood firmly outside the church, gazing into the boundless darkness in the distance, gripping his sword with one hand, his face scarred and expression dark and grave.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, as if he could smell the danger in the air—the bloody stench, the pungent gunpowder smoke, and the foul acidic odor...

Duke Franz slowly opened his eyes, glancing at the bishop beside him: "Do you feel it?"

The bishop's brows were tightly knit, his thin, scarred hand gripping the Sun Wand slightly trembling: "Your Grace, you should rest first, those cultists should not be able to catch up so quickly..."

The bishop was not without reason. Since the great rout, they had been fleeing day and night for several days, many soldiers had not slept for more than two days, exhausted and on edge.

Duke Franz shook his head: "I can feel it... they are coming soon, those beasts lurking in the darkness can hardly wait to devour us entirely."

The bishop sighed softly, making a gesture of prayer: "My lord, I think you are overworked, your nerves have been tense for days, you're a bit too worried, rest assured, His Majesty Amanata will protect—."

"Boom!"

Just then, in the distance, the dark clouds suddenly lit up, followed by the rumble of thunder, interrupting the bishop's words.

The dark clouds surged, and the drizzle began to fall, there seemed to be some fierce shadows appearing among them, like a swarm of chaotic flies.

"We can't wait any longer—they are coming!"

Duke Franz turned, his cloak swirling, leaping forward, arriving within a few steps at the bronze bell engraved with Amanata's Holy Emblem at the town center, striking it with effort.

"Dong—"

"Dong dong—"

The soldiers in the watchtower awoke abruptly, instinctively raising their voices, shouting desperately: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"

"What? Those terrifying cultists are coming?"

"Hide quickly! It's said evil dragons love to devour young maidens and children! They won't spare you!"

The townspeople of Green Valley Town panicked, scrambling into their cellars, or huddling in corners of their homes, or rushing to the town center's Great Cathedral.

The soldiers resting in the church also awoke suddenly, almost immediately grabbing the longswords, spears, and bows placed by their sides.

After several days of fleeing and endless killing, these trusted aide soldiers slept lightly, waking at the slightest disturbance, instantly ready for battle.

"Go quickly!"

"The bell is ringing! Those damned cultists are coming!"

"Quickly, gather at the town square!"

The soldiers hurriedly rushed out of the church, braving the increasingly torrential rain to reach the town center, gathering in front of Duke Franz.

Meanwhile, the logistics troops also pulled out their mobile bed crossbows and catapults specially designed to deal with giant dragons and Bipedal Wyverns. Thanks for reading—brought to you by MVLEMPYR.

"Boom!"

The glaring lightning descended, splitting the night, as if tearing a long scar across the pitch-black night sky.

"My most loyal, brave warriors—the damned cultists have caught up again."

Under the illumination of the lightning, Duke Franz stood firm before the knight statue in the town center, raising the shining Silver Giant Sword.

"They want to destroy our will, kill our bodies, eradicate us rebels completely! To turn the land of Seleucis into a Purgatory for humans, a playground for evil dragons to wreak havoc!"

"Do you want your wives, your children to live in a world of constant peril? Do you want to watch them become fodder for evil dragons, while you are powerless to resist?!"

These soldiers, initially somewhat lethargic, felt slightly uplifted upon hearing Duke Franz's words, but remained extremely fatigued, standing silent in the rain.

The pouring rain drenched the linings of their armor, making the soldiers feel heavy, cumbersome.

Duke Franz pointed the exaggerated giant sword towards the South, towards the shadows lurking in the surging dark clouds, shouting angrily: "Survival or death, it's in our own hands, kill—"

"For Amanata!"

The bishop also raised the Sun Wand high, releasing a golden radiance, dispelling the soldiers' fatigue and weariness.

The soldiers who had followed Duke Franz in exile for a thousand miles finally let out low roars, temporarily clearing away fatigue, weariness, and despair, releasing long-suppressed fury.

"Kill—"

The soldiers advanced towards the South amidst the storm, the spear and shield soldiers at the front slamming shields into the ground, forming a tight formation, creating a stubborn steel wall.

The soldiers at the rear skillfully loaded hand crossbows, holding their breath aiming at the sky, raindrops mixed with sweat sliding down their cheeks, soaking the collars of their clothes beneath.

In the distance, several soldiers drove wagons, pulling Seleucis's standard bed crossbows over muddy roads.

The distant dark clouds surged forth, seemingly mixed with chaotic roars among the thunder, making one shiver, causing some soldiers to grip their weapons more tightly, hearts filled with anxiety.

But most soldiers stood motionless, feeling numb. In this thousand-mile escape, they had grown accustomed to slaughter and bloodshed, accustomed to their comrades dying before their very eyes.