Ashen Dragon

"Screeeech—"

The giant eagles let out a series of sharp cries, forming a formation and diving straight after the chimera.

But just as they were about to catch up from behind, a red figure appeared in the cave.

The chimera, escaping headlong, saw the figure and immediately cried out in the little Draconic it knew:

"Master, help!"

Cassius looked at the line of giant eagles behind the chimera, his eyes full of confusion.

Seeing knights wearing heavy plate armor adorned with eagle emblems, his puzzlement deepened.

"Are these the Eagle Guards?"

He had only been in the underground for a few days.

How had the Eagle Guards come all the way to his home?

Could it be that Ramp had been blinded by the "Grand Plan" and sent troops to attack Northwind Castle?

But seeing the giant eagles diving in formations, he couldn't bother to think much and could only prepare for battle.

"Such a dense formation…"

"Are you waiting for me to barbecue you?"

Not having killed in a while, Cassius couldn't help but lick his lips and exhale a breath of sulfurous heat.

The violence deep within his Red Dragon bloodline was awakened.

Alger was originally commanding from high in the sky, sword waving as he directed the Eagle Guards' charge.

But upon seeing the red figure from afar, his face changed dramatically, his tone betraying panic and tension for the first time.

"Dragon!"

"It's a Red Dragon!"

Alger shouted desperately.

A dragon, any kind of giant dragon, was the last opponent he wanted to face in battle.

Whether it was the scales harder than armor, the endless wide-area breath, or the numerous spell-like abilities, they were absolute nightmares for the Giant Eagle Knights.

"Scatter! Scatter!"

But not everyone had his keen senses and excellent riding skills to detect danger and stop the charge at high speed.

The Eagle Guards were already charging at the cave entrance.

It was already too late.

Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, the unique dragon basal vessels channeling flame energy from his entire body into his lungs, those hot elements accumulating in his lungs and throat, making his chest glow faintly like lava—this was the precursor to the Red Dragon's breath.

"Flame Breath!"

In an instant, a torrent of scorching flame spewed from the Red Dragon's mouth, the ravaging tongues of fire mercilessly consuming all the charging Eagle Guards in the front line, turning the cave entrance into a purgatory.

The flames swept through everything, the few in the forefront didn't even have a chance to resist, their pupils reflecting the red glow of the flames before they were reduced to ashes.

But compared to many of their companions, they were even considered lucky, at least they died swiftly.

And behind them, over a dozen Eagle Guards were also engulfed in intense flames, turning into one fireball after another.

"Ah!"

"I'm on fire!"

"It's so hot!"

"Help! Help!"

They could only wail, scream, and struggle, eventually either being burned alive or falling off their giant eagles to their deaths, unable to escape the deadly clutches of the Red Dragon.

The Red Dragon, unhurried, flapped its wings and ascended, overlooking the Eagle Guards being scorched by the flames.

The chimera cowered behind the Red Dragon, its neck retracted, watching the massacre unfold and letting out cries of vengeance, having no more will to resist the Red Dragon.

Because the scene before it made it deeply understand that such power was beyond anything it could contend with.

The bipedal wyverns in midair raised their heads and roared in unison, celebrating the return of their nest's master.

The ogres waved their clubs and hammers, cheering loudly. Goblins raised their short spears, exhilarated.

Kobolds knelt down as if witnessing a deity, attesting to the overwhelming strength of their master.

In just a moment, the tide had completely turned.

Seeing dozens of comrades fall in an instant, Alger's eyes turned slightly red, but he still controlled his giant eagle to fly up, raising his great sword high.

The wind whistled through the hollow patterns on the sword, making an ear-piercing sound like an eagle's cry.

He commanded loudly, "Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"

"Scatter and retreat!"

The remaining twenty-odd Eagle Guards, having witnessed the horrific situation earlier, knew they couldn't match the enemy before them and unhesitatingly flew away on their giant eagles, heading in different directions.

The Eagle Guards required a large amount of resources to train; thus, they were taught from a young age to maximize the preservation of their force.

Cassius hovered in midair, flapping his wings slowly.

He watched the scattering Eagle Guards, a barely noticeable cruel smile forming on his face.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"You've come to my nest—

and still think you can escape?"

"A bit too much disdain for a dragon, isn't it?"

The Red Dragon ascended to the highest point unhurriedly, the basal vessels channeling flame elements into his lungs again, high-temperature energy accumulating deep in his throat—only this time, the energy wasn't as concentrated as before.

As he retreated, Alger didn't forget to look back, watching the Red Dragon hovering high above, his expression changing dramatically again.

"Dragon breath!"

"Another dragon breath! Dodge it!"

He screamed hoarsely in warning.

Cassius only slightly opened his jaw, and scalding flames poured out.

"Targeted breath weapon!"

This time, the Red Dragon's breath wasn't the wide-ranging flame breath but several short, flameball breaths.

Each fireball aimed precisely at the fleeing Eagle Guards, carrying scorching energy to the targets.

"Boom!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sounds of several flaming explosions rang out, and several hit knights fell, trailing fire.

Alger, also targeted, performed a risky series of spins and sudden turns in midair, barely dodging the fireball's impact.

"What is this…"

This wasn't just breath; it was as precise as a mage's flame spell.

Watching one companion after another fall from the sky, Alger took a deep breath and spoke firmly:

"You all retreat first!"

"I'll distract the dragon."

Alger patted his giant eagle's slightly singed feathers and said softly, "Eagle, this may be our last charge."

The giant eagle understood his words, letting out a low, mournful cry.

They were not just knight and mount; they were companions who grew up together, sharing every moment.

"It's just a pity we never had the chance to repay His Grace's kindness nor to kill off those… damned devils."

Alger muttered to himself.

Years of battle training had taught him every detail of flight, understanding every current of air, merging almost as one with his giant eagle.

He skillfully maneuvered his giant eagle, continuously rising until he was higher than the Red Dragon, becoming a small black dot in everyone's eyes.

Alger dove from the highest point.

–He plunged straight towards the powerful, dreaded Red Dragon, like Don Quixote charging at the windmills in the story.

"Screeeech—"

A fierce eagle cry echoed through the sky.

Cassius slightly raised his head, noticing the rapidly diving Eagle Guard above, his golden eyes widening a bit:

"Interesting."

"So, you're a high-level warrior?"