Chapter 194: Chapter 156: Sudden Change (I will dismantle the scattered soldiers 10 times a day!)_1
Not long after that, everyone saw two dilapidated carriages drive in from outside, carrying a few people who looked like prisoners. Obviously, they were likely the criminals meant to be executed, as the inn’s landlady had mentioned. At first glance, these people didn’t seem to have any particular distinguishing feature; they were dressed shabbily and looked far from respectable – quite fitting for their status as prisoners.
Watching this unfold, Duanmu Huai couldn’t help but start pondering. He had already heard about the goings-on in this so-called Sky Province from the inn’s landlady. In short, although the province had been conquered by the Imperial forces, its people were stout-hearted, so the rebellion didn’t cease completely. Particularly, the captured man was the leader of the rebellious forces in Sky Province, Ulfric Stormcloak, the Lord of Gray Helm City.
However, judging by the equipment of these soldiers, the power of this empire might not be that strong. Who knew? At least for now, they did not seem to possess the kind of potent magic powers Manaria had, nor the blessed protection similar to what the Holy City had.
As Duanmu Huai was deep in thought, a sudden scream interrupted his thoughts. He looked towards the source of the noise, and saw a prisoner screaming there.
“No, I am not a rebel! You can’t do this!!”
As he hollered, the prisoner turned and made a desperate dash towards the village gate. But he’d only taken a few steps when an arrow shot from behind pierced him, turning him into a lifeless corpse.
“Sir Knight, should we help them?”
Watching this, Greiya frowned and whispered her question. But Duanmu Huai just shook his head.
“Of course not, this is an internal affair of the empire, don’t forget our objective, and let’s not alert the snake in the grass.”
Following this, other prisoners were taken off the carriage one by one and lined up in a row. Soon, a man appearing to be a commander announced the charges against the prisoners in front of the public.
“Ulfric Stormcloak, Hailgen and a few others gloatingly call you a hero. But a true hero doesn’t use his dragon roar to usurp power. You instigated this civil war and plunged Sky Province into rebellion. Now, the empire will wholly wipe you out to restore peace in Sky Province!”
However, before his words had even fully echoed, a strange roar sounded from the distance. Hearing this roar, Greiya’s tail shot up in an instant, and at the same time, her eyes widened, and her body began to shake slightly.
“Greiya? What’s the matter?”
Sensing her friend’s unease, Ann quickly approached her and softly asked, to which Greiya responded by shaking her head.
“I… I don’t know. But this voice… It’s terrifying, highly dangerous… It feels as if something is coming….”
At this moment, Duanmu Huai too had noticed it. Although everything appeared normal on the surface, he could sense that the chirping of the birds and insects that had filled the surroundings had suddenly silenced. Simultaneously, the air had evidently started to become viscous. It was certainly a sign of impending danger. In fact, even the villagers who’d initially been watching the commotion from outside their houses had begun retreating inside. Surely, it wasn’t merely to avoid watching the execution.
Suddenly, another roar echoed, instantly causing everyone to jerk in alarm. Even the Imperial soldiers who were executing the prisoners seemed to have noticed something amiss and began looking around nervously.
Seeing the soldiers’ agitation, the captain appeared displeased. She yelled loudly, swinging her weapon around.
“Hurry! Continue the execution, we still have to……!”
However, her words were cut short when a massive black shadow flew out from the clouds and landed directly on the stone watchtower in front of the execution ground.
Seeing this huge shadow, everyone let out screams of terror.
Yes, it was a giant dragon, but unlike Regnes’ Dragon Race, this dragon wasn’t robust in stature. Instead, it appeared rather lean. Comparing it to animals on the basis of size, if Regnes’ Dragon Race were tigers, this dragon would be a leopard.
However, the dragon’s lack of size didn’t mean it wasn’t formidable.
The black dragon perched on the watchtower took a deep breath and then a thunderous dragon roar exploded the next moment, blasting like a thunderclap in the stillness.
Simultaneously, as if in response to the dragon’s roar, the clear sky abruptly turned black, with dense clouds swirling and gathering together. From the heavy layers of cloud, countless meteorites, ablaze with flames, fell from the sky, hurtling towards the village!
“Ann! Prepare to defend! Audrey, you stay here. Everyone else, follow me!!”
While they did not know the intent of the giant dragon, it was clear that it meant harm. It certainly wasn’t a time for Duanmu Huai and the others to stand idly by. Quickly, Duanmu Huai issued orders and then, bursting through a window, leaped from the second floor balcony of the inn, hurtling towards the giant dragon.
Simultaneously, Ann raised her hands and swiftly, a deep-blue circular barrier materialized in the air above the inn, blocking the falling meteors.
Although Ann’s reaction was swift, most of the village was engulfed in a sea of fire in a matter of moments. The villagers screamed, scattering in all directions, while the soldiers raised their longbows, launching attacks towards the inky black dragon — But to their disappointment, their attacks made no impact on the black dragon that hovered in the sky.
Just as Duanmu Huai rushed out of the inn, the gargantuan dragon landed heavily on the ground. It then fired a stream of flame-filled breath at the soldiers in front of it, reducing dozens of them to ashes in an instant.
As the dragon spewed its flames, Duanmu Huai also leaped into the air, hefting the War Hammer above his head and smashing it downward onto the black dragon. Sensing Duanmu Huai’s attack, the dragon roared in fury and, flapping its wings, soared up again, avoiding Duanmu Huai’s strike.
“Tsk, this is why I hate these smaller creatures!”
Duanmu Huai, missing his hit, clicked his tongue. What he detested most were these not-so-large, unusually agile creatures. If the foe were as huge as Fafner, resembling a small hill, it might have been easier to hit. But the creatures that seemed big, yet not quite so, were extremely vexing!
Even though Duanmu Huai hadn’t hit his target, he wasn’t battling alone!
Just as the black dragon attempted to ascend once again, Ogis raised both her hands. Soon, invisible strings wrapped themselves around the dragon’s body, completely interrupting its flight. Then, with a forceful tug, Ogis pulled the dragon right back onto the ground.
Meanwhile, Greiya had regained use of her dragon limbs and held aloft her right claw, aflame, crashing it down on the black dragon. On the other side, Lorena lofted the Holy Canon, crashing it down onto the dragon’s head.
And as for Duanmu Huai, he would not pass up this opportunity. He swung the Thunder Warhammer in his hand, charging once again towards the black dragon.
He refused to believe that he couldn’t defeat this giant lizard!
But to Duanmu Huai’s surprise, in that moment, an unexpected scenario unfolded.”
In the face of Duanmu Huai and the others’ onslaught, the black dragon once again lifted its head, opened its mouth and then……
A powerful gust of air jetted out from its mouth, heading straight for everyone. Had it been just a simple gust, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But this gust seemed to carry a mysterious power and in that instant, the flame in Greiya’s claws extinguished, the Holy Canon in Lorena’s hand flew out. The strings wrapped around the black dragon broke apart. Even Duanmu Huai felt an almost irresistible force coming right at him, striking his hands and causing him to loose his grip on the Thunder Warhammer he’d been holding!
But Duanmu Huai was no pushover. Seeing the War Hammer slipping from his grasp, he swung it with a swift turn of his body, hurling it into the sky. The Thunder Warhammer, with a loud whistle, cleaved the air before pounding into the dragon’s chest. This caused the black dragon to open its mouth and spit out a gush of fresh blood.
Although it was hit by Duanmu Huai, it took advantage of the ensuing chaos and, by a powerful flapping of its wings, the black dragon rose up into the sky. Looking down at Duanmu Huai with its crimson eyes, it turned and disappeared into the dense cloud cover above.
Duanmu Huai retracted his gaze, looking around at his companions to ask. And hearing Duanmu Huai’s inquiry, everyone quickly got up.
“I’m also fine, Sir Knight.”
In contrast to Ogis and Lorena, Greiya’s reaction seemed somewhat abnormal. She just stood there, vacant, looking in the direction of the departing black dragon, lost in her thoughts. Duanmu Huai went over to her, his hand waving in front of her eyes.
“Greiya? Are you okay?”
Only at this point did Greiya snap out of it. She looked at Duanmu Huai and nodded sheepishly.
“I’m okay, it’s just that…”
“Do you know something about the spell that dragon used just now?”
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s question, Greiya hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly.
“If I’m not mistaken, that should be…a Dragon Roar!”