The Deathclaw moved with lightning speed. The moment Smaug crashed through the city gate, its predatory instincts kicked in, and it wrapped itself around Smaug's neck like a top predator, biting down relentlessly.
However, Smaug's momentum was so great that even with Robin's ten-ton frame latched onto him, the dragon still managed to take flight. For several dozen meters, Smaug flew before crashing to the ground, smashing rocks and gouging a deep ravine into the hard earth.
Yet, despite the fall, the Deathclaw remained unharmed. Its body, capable of withstanding miniature nuclear blasts, endured the impact with ease. Robin continued biting into Smaug's neck, consuming the dragon's flesh and blood, his snake-like eyes gleaming with a strange hunger.
When Wayne finally arrived at the scene where the two creatures had fallen, this was the sight that greeted him.
Smaug, once considered the most fearsome evil in the North, now lay limp on the ground like a broken doll. His once-bright, piercing eyes had dimmed. The immense Deathclaw was still perched on Smaug's neck, feasting contentedly. Upon noticing Wayne's approach, Robin let out a pleased grunt and wagged his thick tail like a large, overgrown hound.
Wayne, fluent in the language of beasts, chuckled at the sound.
Robin was simply enjoying his meal, finding Smaug's flesh particularly satisfying. It seemed as though the Deathclaw was even inviting his master to join in.
Smiling at the offer, Wayne glanced at Smaug's enormous body. He stepped closer and peered into the dragon's lifeless eyes. Smaug's body, which had once radiated heat, was now growing cold as the last of his blood drained away.
With a thoughtful expression, Wayne retrieved a meteorite blade from his belt and approached Smaug's soft underbelly, preparing to skin and harvest the dragon's valuable remains while they were still fresh. Smaug's body, with its immense strength and unique properties, would provide materials for some truly powerful equipment.
The Witchers' order had been in desperate need of upgraded gear, and Smaug's remains would supply enough for many.
While Wayne and Robin busied themselves with their tasks, Thorin and the other dwarves rushed out of Erebor. The sight of Smaug's lifeless form left them stunned for a moment, but soon they erupted into cheers of victory.
The dwarven warriors, who had once been prepared to fight to the death, were awestruck by the sight of the slain dragon. They couldn't contain their admiration for Wayne and his Deathclaw companion.
They had never expected things to go so smoothly. Without even needing to enter the battle, the dreaded dragon Smaug, who had haunted their nightmares for years, was slain, reduced to nothing but a lifeless carcass.
As Thorin and his companions gathered, Wayne put down his meteorite blade. He nodded respectfully to the dwarf prince, a victorious smile crossing his face, and said calmly:
"Prince Thorin, congratulations. The dragon Smaug has been defeated. The Lonely Mountain has been reclaimed. The goal of this expedition has been fulfilled."
"Very soon, you will retrieve the Arkenstone and be crowned the new King under the Mountain."
"And the contract between us has been fulfilled."
"I wonder, Lord Thorin, how would you assess my completion of the mission?"
Thorin's previously excited expression grew more serious. He nodded approvingly at Wayne and said:
"You have done an exceptional job, Wayne."
"You are the most powerful adventurer I have ever encountered, and you are now an eternal friend of the Durin line."
"This expedition would never have gone as smoothly as it did without your involvement. We could hardly have imagined how we might defeat Smaug and reclaim the Lonely Mountain without your help."
"You are the greatest contributor to this expedition, and on behalf of all the dwarves of the Kingdom under the Mountain, I extend my deepest respect. Your deeds will be remembered forever among us. Every dwarf of the Durin line will always honor your assistance to our cause."
After hearing Thorin's solemn words, Wayne was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the stubborn and gold-obsessed prince from the original tale to show such grace and humility.
'Was it because Bilbo never found the One Ring, leaving Thorin untainted by its corrupting power, and thus avoiding the madness of dragon-sickness?'
With Thorin's acknowledgment, two high-level missions linked to the dwarf prince triggered system notifications in Wayne's mind.
Ding! The master-level mission [Retrieve the Arkenstone] has been completed.
Reward: 450 experience points, Master-level treasure chest.
Ding! The epic mission [Slay the Dragon Smaug] has been completed.
Reward: 4200 experience points, Epic treasure chest.
In an instant, Wayne felt subtle changes within his body. It had been nearly four months since he departed from the Shire and joined the Lonely Mountain expedition. Over that time, he had completed two master-level missions and one epic mission, as well as numerous expert-level and regular quests along the way.
Additionally, there was still a reward waiting for him from King Elrond for the master-level task of clearing out the Orc clans in the Misty Mountains.
In just a few months, Wayne had accumulated over 6,000 experience points and had collected an impressive array of high-level treasure chests.
His level had jumped from thirteen to seventeen—a full four levels. With it came over 20 points in physical improvement and four new ability points. This was an impressive gain, indeed. Wayne couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, knowing that the epic mission for the Battle of Five Armies might soon be his to take on.
High-level missions really made all the difference. One epic mission alone was worth half a year, or even more, of hard work.
After expressing his gratitude, Wayne was about to ask about the rewards when Thorin, looking somewhat conflicted, glanced at his companions, then back at Wayne. His gaze drifted to Deathclaw Robin, who was still feasting on Smaug's corpse without a care. Thorin exhaled deeply and said:
"Come, my brothers, my friends. Now that our expedition to reclaim the Lonely Mountain is complete, it's time to divide the spoils."
He paused, raising his head toward the sky, before continuing with a heavy sigh:
"To tell you the truth, ever since I first laid eyes on the gold in the treasure vault, a dark thought has been gnawing at me, tempting my reason. It's like an unshakeable nightmare, urging me to hoard all the gold for myself."
"But I do not want to betray all of your efforts. I do not want to lose your trust, nor do I want to tarnish the honor of the King Under the Mountain."
"So, let's divide the gold quickly. Otherwise, I fear I may not be able to hold out against these temptations."
This moment of vulnerability from Thorin was surprising. His internal struggle, driven by the allure of the vast treasure and his royal lineage, showed the danger of dragon-sickness creeping in. Yet, in this case, he had the wisdom and courage to acknowledge it and seek to prevent it from consuming him.
It was a testament to his growth and character, vastly different from the Thorin who, in other tales, succumbed to greed.