Chapter 379: "Don't hesitate, act now or never!"
The location of the Black Dragon's Lair was unmistakable, deep within a territory surrounded by tens of thousands of orcs and wolves.
It was situated in a grassy valley, serving as the dragon's nest. At the entrance to the valley, several guards and patrols could be seen, along with a dozen ogres acting as front-line defenses.
However, these hulking creatures were hardly effective guards; they had a tendency to doze off even while standing guard. Even the threat of a dragon only momentarily roused them from their slumber.
After all, William had once encountered a "hanging" ogre, a massive creature several meters tall, but with a brain no larger than a baby's fist…
With these guards present, William and his group boldly ventured into the valley, passing by unnoticed due to the Stealth Scrolls they employed. The Scroll of Breath also concealed their scent, preventing any potential orc sniffing.
Before long, they reached the heart of the valley, where they signaled each other to be cautious. William then took the lead and, upon entering the Dragon's Nest, the group encountered an unexpected sight.
Inside, they found a magnificent underground palace.
The entire palace was constructed from obsidian, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding area, which was devoid of vegetation due to the influence of dark elements. Without magical intervention to dispel these forces, it would take decades, if not centuries, for plants to flourish once more.
As for the gaping hole above their heads, it was likely the entrance and exit for the black dragon. However, ascending from above would inevitably lead to aerial confrontations, making it impossible for them to approach undetected.
The entrance to the Dragon's Nest was wide open, guarded by only four high-ranking
orc sentinels armed with large and heavy axes.
William gave a signal to the group, and they silently entered the Dragon's Nest one by one. The four sentinels were dispatched simultaneously, their mouths covered to prevent alarm, while daggers swiftly penetrated their temples, ending their lives. Such a fatal strike would prove effective against almost any creature, except for extraordinary beings with unique talents or exceptional vitality.
Extraordinary creatures were those with exceptional abilities or extreme resilience. For example, the epic dragons had a higher threshold for such attacks, with some capable of surviving head injuries. Even the energy within their Dragon Crystals could facilitate the healing of such wounds.
Nonetheless, the vast majority of creatures, especially NPCs and standard Beast, would succumb to such a fatal blow.
With the sentinels taken care of, the group donned their equipment and impersonated the orcs. This was necessary, as few dared to venture into the black dragon's lair without being summoned by the dragon itself.
As they delved deeper into the Dragon's Nest, they began placing enchantments using scrolls, safeguarding their surroundings against intruders.
Finally, they reached an extensive underground passage, illuminated by magical lights and marked by dragon footprints. This corridor appeared unguarded, but the group remained cautious.
Descending further into the depths, they eventually emerged into a grand underground palace. The entire chamber was adorned with obsidian, the result of eons spent submerged in dark magic.
The spectacle was reminiscent of the palace of Nibelungen, leaving the group astounded.
"Could the black dragon have inherited such riches, or has it stumbled upon ancient relics?" William pondered aloud. His knowledge about the black dragon's memories was limited; he only knew the general location of its lair. Killing the dragon hunting team had been his primary objective; those hunters were NPCs, not players.
As William began to explore the palace, Burned Cinder raised an eyebrow and asked, "Shall we continue further, even though we've spotted the dragon's reflection? Are we prepared to enter?"
Their experiences with the Nibelungen Root had left them wary of dragon lairs.
"Enter and get ready to slay the dragon," William ordered as he glanced at some of the palace windows. Addressing the 26 masterful individuals with him, he continued, "Climb up to those windows. When I give the signal, use the giant crossbows to fire at the black dragon. Otherwise, if we reveal ourselves and lose our stealth, the black dragon will likely spot us quickly."
"Yes, sir!"
"Let's move!" William gestured, as their invisibility was running out, and they needed to seize the opportunity to take their shot.
The invisible figures disappeared in all directions, swiftly ascending the palace's windows.
William and his companions, along with Burned Cinder, reached the palace's entrance. They noticed that there were no other guards, and it was evident that neither the Black Dragon nor the Makhu Redd would anticipate an attack all the way into the palace.
With a stealthy motion, William peered inside.
"Incredible…"
What they encountered was a grand spectacle with around a hundred dragons, and among them was the formidable Black Dragon.
William swallowed nervously, realizing that the situation was not exactly as he had envisioned.
The Black Dragon, over 20 meters in length, lounged upon its dragon throne, accompanied by six Pale Orcs of Grandmaster rank, this part was as expected.
However, the individuals gathered below were not only Makhu Redd and Adolf but also several master Vampires and high-level vampires.
Clearly, more than twenty masterful Professionals were present, and in addition to their old adversaries, there was a red-blooded fish among them.
They had all come together for vengeance.
As their conversation continued, William leaned in to listen attentively.
"Haha, you want me to lead the assault on Dawn City, and in return, you promise to grant me which city? That's quite appealing!
But when that happens, I will not only incur the wrath of the ruler of Dawn City but also face the onslaught of hundreds of thousands of Dawn City troops.
If you are insincere, you might as well leave." Black Dragon Sagreta cast a distrustful gaze upon those assembled below, despite his insatiable greed.
Although he was exceedingly covetous, he understood that Dawn City was currently formidable, at least for the time being.
"The Lord of the Great Capricorn Forest, Sagreta, have you not heard that the ruler of Dawn City holds the title of Dragon Slayer?" Makhu Redd inquired, and before the Black Dragon could respond, he added, "Regarding his temperament and behavior, no one knows him better than I do. He is a tyrant who does not allow potential threats near his territory. In the past, on the Eastern Sea Snow Mountain, my former master was utterly beheaded by Dawn City's main army. To this day, I still grieve for it."
Upon hearing this, many individuals who knew the truth, such as Capricorn Adolf, couldn't help but smirk. It seemed that Makhu Redd had a penchant for weaving tales, even in circumstances where they were slaughtering dragons and orchestrating revenge.
However, the Black Dragon, after a moment's contemplation, recognized the veracity of Makhu Redd's claims. While it was true that the Iron Principality's Legion had initiated the attack, the one who had slain the Dragon was still the ruler of Dawn City.
Regardless of whether the Black Dragon and the Fire Dragon sought revenge, Dragon Slayers were a common irritant to dragons.
Makhu Redd continued, "And he not only killed my former master but also a White Dragon in the Far North. Moreover, he is housing a dragon of unknown lineage within his domain."
"But these are not the most crucial matters; I have discovered an intriguing anomaly!"
"What might that be?" The Black Dragon inquired, intrigued, as he too wished to know more about these revelations.
"The dragon he is raising seems to have ingested something mysterious, causing it to undergo a breakthrough, transforming into a magic dome that is several meters in size. It appears to be entering a state of ascension."
"Are you suggesting that the ruler of Dawn City is employing an unorthodox method to kill and raise dragons?" Makhu Redd queried, his tone revealing genuine concern.
Sincerely concerned.
Hearing this, the Black Dragon, Sagreta, slowly rose, his massive form looming over Makhu Redd and the others. His eyes, already impressive in size, glowed with an intense flame.
Makhu Redd remained unfazed, maintaining his composure as he spoke, "But what do you make of this?"
"It is indeed true that if you deceive me, may the gods strike you down."
"Ah, since the Fourth Age began, oaths have become the most worthless nonsense in the world," the Black Dragon commented. Nevertheless, he chose to believe Makhu Redd's words. Still, he was not entirely convinced.
"However," the Black Dragon continued, "I have decided to trust your words. But do you believe it is the right time to strike against Dawn City?"
"Naturally, not now," Makhu Redd replied with a smile. "I have gathered from some minor sources that the Elves are preparing to wage war against the Orcs in the Far North. Without a doubt, the ruler of Dawn City, as the Prince of the Black Leaf Elves, will lead his forces into battle. At that moment, Dawn City's military strength will be at its weakest, and it will be our opportunity to assault the Dark City
. As for commencing our offensive, I can dispatch someone through the tunnel in advance to infiltrate the Dark City and destroy the portal. I wonder if the great Lord Sagreta has the confidence to conquer the city alongside us? Once we succeed, our vampire allies will claim the city. Half of the inhabitants will be your sustenance, and the other half shall be mine. What do you think?"
Just as the Black Dragon was about to give his approval, a sudden roar echoed through the chamber.
"Makhu Redd, now is not the time; we should wait."
The assembled individuals were startled.
Shortly thereafter, several massive crossbows fired simultaneously, their brilliant projectiles striking the Black Dragon's wings and back.
The Black Dragon let out an enraged roar, his golden eyes blazing like flames. However, he did not hesitate, immediately unleashing a powerful breath attack towards Makhu Redd and the others.
In an instant, chaos ensued.
Countless individuals were caught off guard, including many surviving vampires. Adolf clenched his fists, his mind racing, while Makhu Redd even contemplated slaying the Black Dragon once more. His previous statements appeared to be nothing more than a ruse.
After all, for those present, if negotiations failed, killing the Black Dragon was also a profitable outcome.
But Makhu Redd was taken by surprise.
William's Thunder Eye had already locked onto him. These Thunder Eyes possessed the unique ability to see through illusions, enchantments, and phantoms. In his judgment, there was more than one layer of illusion concealing Makhu Redd.
In an instant, a bolt of lightning streaked through the chamber.
William crossed half of the Dragon Palace, knocking over many innocent bystanders. When he reached one of the dark shadows, Makhu Redd looked back and found his neck in William's vice-like grip.
But William's speed did not wane; he extended his hand, grasped Makhu Redd's throat, and forcefully sent him crashing through the palace wall.
Crash!
Both of them smashed through the wall.
Next, another punch.
Crash!
Makhu Redd hadn't had a chance to speak.
Half of his face had caved in.
Another punch.
Crash!
The dark wizard's head had turned into a pulpy mess, his Health Point reduced to zero.
A powerful psychic shockwave radiated outwards!
The mental assault struck another lifeless body.
Finally, William dismembered Makhu Redd's body into more than a dozen pieces and stowed them away in a storage ring.
"I doubt you'll be able to resurrect now. Even if you do, it doesn't matter since I won't give you the chance…" William muttered. He glanced back into the Dragon Palace, where the commotion was still ongoing, and a faint smile graced his lips.
Outsmart me?
In your dreams.