Ashen Dragon

"This is the route for my escape!"

A flash of blood-red light shot up into the sky through the gap between the dragon beasts and disappeared, leaving behind only a single sentence.

"Damn blood-sucking bug!"

The Cultist Priest's face twisted with rage and he vented his anger on the Wolf of the Dark Night, who had been captured by the soldiers, lashing his back violently with a whip, tearing his flesh open.

But due to the vampiric traits, the bloody wounds healed and new skin grew back in an instant.

Seeing that he could not inflict harm, the Cultist Priest shouted angrily, "Take him back! Take him back! I'll feed this scum to the dragon beasts and tear him to shreds! I refuse to believe he can recover from that!"

The Wolf of the Dark Night, wearing heavy antimagic shackles, was taken back to the city by the soldiers, looking rather desolate — this was probably not the first time he had been betrayed by the Swashbuckler.

Mantou laughed gleefully and typed in the group chat, "Swashbuckler is truly an animal, leaving his little brother in there like that, totally fits my stereotype of him."

Summer Night Autumn Rain: We should first figure out how to get through this crisis, that Cultist Priest's scepter can dispel magic. If you slip up, our outcome won't be much better than the Wolf of the Dark Night's.

Singo: In that case, let's create more chaos here, and fish in troubled waters! Mantou, listen to my instructions later!

I'm Going to Eat Mantou: Alright, if we get exposed, let War Maniac Bro lead us in fighting our way out!

The cultists who had paid no heed and transported Swashbuckler and the Wolf of the Dark Night as if they were gold bars were implicated.

"Trying to sneak enemies into the city, they must be traitors too! Take them away, throw them into the dungeon!"

On the orders of the Cultist Priest, fully armed Dragonborn soldiers surrounded them and took them all away.

"My lord, my lord! We are innocent!"

"Please spare us! It's not our fault! We didn't expect someone to disguise as gold bars!"

"No, no, I don't want to be a sacrifice! My lord, I'm begging you, I'll do anything!"

"My loyalty to Her Majesty the Dragon Queen is clear!"

This group of cultists cried and pleaded frantically, tears streaming, twisting and struggling endlessly, fully aware of their impending fate — being thrown into the Dragon Breeding Pool and becoming dragon beast fodder.

Because they had brought numerous innocent commoners to Lin Ying City, ruthlessly tossing them into the blood pools, leaving these poor souls to die in pain and terror.

But now, they, themselves would face the same fate.

Listening to the cultists' pleadings, the Cultist Priest sneered, waving his hand, "Since you are so loyal, offer your flesh and soul to the great Mother of Evil Dragons! Burn out the last bit of your value!"

"No, no—"

The cultists' wails sent a chill down the spines of those waiting outside the city, drenching them in cold sweat.

And the commoners brought over as sacrifices realized their fate, turning pale with fear, drenched in sweat, some even fainting on the spot.

But it was all in vain; to the Dragon Worship Church, these humans were merely the cheapest expendables.

After this farce, the inspection at the city gate tightened further; every team had to undergo rigorous checks to pass through.

But just then, a conflict erupted.

On Mantou's order, Ryder and his men rushed to the front of the line, yelling angrily, "Get out of the way, let us through first!"

The cultist was shocked and angry, "You—"

Even the Cultist Priest and the Dragonborn soldiers' eyes were drawn, but Ryder pressed on, slapping the cultist on the face.

"Slap!"

The crisp sound echoed, followed by a furious shout, "Didn't you hear me? Get out of the way!"

The cultist stood there, momentarily bewildered, but then enraged, glaring at Ryder with a twisted face and charged at him, "You're courting death!"

Just then, a massive fireball flew over from a distance, engulfing the cultist's head, leaving only a charred corpse behind.

Far away, Summer Night Autumn Rain looked indifferent, gently blowing the black smoke on his palm.

Ryder stood there, his legs trembling, but his heart was exceptionally firm — this was do or die, whether he could become a Dragonborn depended on this moment.

The Dragonborn soldiers and the Cultist Priest in the distance were dumbfounded; they had not expected anyone to be so audacious as to commit murder at the gates of Lin Ying City.

The Cultist Priest reprimanded loudly, "What do you think you're doing! Rebelling?"

Just then, a slightly youthful voice came from a distance, "Killing one dimwitted scum, is it really worth making such a fuss?"

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice and their expressions changed drastically, as a young Red Dragon climbed down slowly from a distant carriage, its scales bright and red, its narrow vertical pupils flickering with flames.

— It was a Red Dragon, not large in size, but exuded immense Dragon's Might, with several powerful Dragonborn standing beside him.

The Cultist Priest immediately changed his demeanor, smiling apologetically, "Sorry, my lord, I didn't expect you to be a noble giant dragon..."

Mantou looked around and spoke in a chilling tone, a trace of anger flickering in his golden Dragon's Eye, "I came with Her Majesty the Dragon Queen's decree, yet you let me wait here at the city gate for so long! What is your crime!"