This was a lightning-fast assault, as the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan shattered the defenses of the Silver Dragon territory at blinding speed, heading straight for the sanctuary.
The charred corpse hurled into the Silver Dragon sanctuary served as the first alarm bell, signaling the beginning of the war.
Outside the sanctuary at this moment, hundreds of giant dragons hovered in the air.
Their dragon flames ignited the entire night sky, with the constant roar of dragons echoing, and massive dragon corpses falling from above.
The ground battle was even more brutal. In less than half an hour, the soldiers of the Silver Dragon and the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan had entered a bloody, white-hot phase.
Magic clashed, swords crossed, and all means were pushed to their limits.
The earth was stained red with dragon blood, limbs flew, flesh blurred, and as far as the eye could see, there were countless corpses.
At this moment, the sky seemed to collapse, as if it were the end of the world.
The war between the dragon clans had surpassed all words in its brutality.
Ten kilometers outside the sanctuary, Head Maid Anna led the elite members of the maid squad in a desperate struggle.
Shirley coordinated with her, repelling several attacks from the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan.
They had not yet transformed into their dragon forms for battle.
Their humanoid forms allowed for more precise magic release and facilitated command and battlefield observation; whereas the dragon form moved slightly slower and was prone to friendly fire in such intense combat.
Therefore, in ground battles, the humanoid form held a somewhat greater advantage.
Another part of the Silver Dragon guards seized control of the skies. The Silver Dragon clan possessed a natural speed advantage; even if their overall strength was inferior to the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan, they could still maintain competitiveness in aerial combat by relying on their speed.
The fifth assault by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan was repelled. Anna and Shirley leaned back-to-back, catching their breath.
"Has the encirclement at the rear mountain been broken?" Shirley asked.
"No, they came prepared, having laid ambushes for some time. Even the emergency escape tunnels have been destroyed," Anna replied, wiping the blood from her face.
"What about reinforcements? Haven't any nearby dragon clans sent troops?"
Anna bit her lip and shook her head. "They all fear provoking Constantine. No one dares to send troops to support us."
"Fools! If the Silver Dragon Clan truly falls, do they think Constantine will spare them?" Shirley cursed.
As they spoke, a soldier came to report, "Head Maid, Queen Isabella of the Red Dragon Clan has replied. They are aware of the situation here but are being held back by a portion of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's forces. It will take at least three hours for them to arrive."
"Held back by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's forces..." Anna's pupils trembled, her thoughts racing.
She remembered Her Majesty mentioning some time ago that the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan intended to attack the Wind Dragon Clan, and the Wind Dragon King had sought help from Her Majesty's sister, Isabella.
However, for the past few months, war had not broken out, with only small-scale conflicts and harassment. But now, with the attack on the Silver Dragon Sanctuary and the Red Dragon Clan's reinforcements delayed by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's pre-positioned forces...
All of this was Constantine's plan from the beginning!
From the very start, he had never intended to target the Wind Dragon Clan or the Red Dragon Clan. He only feigned attacks and harassment on the Wind Dragon Clan to divert the attention of several dragon kings in that direction.
Then, he launched his assault on the day of Rossweise's childbirth, leaving the Silver Dragon Sanctuary isolated and without leadership!
While this series of plans was indeed meticulous, Anna couldn't help but wonder one thing: How did Constantine pinpoint this specific day?
"Head Maid, they're coming again."
Before Anna could ponder further, the sixth assault by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan began.
She gritted her teeth and raised her sword, pointing it directly at the approaching Crimson Flame Dragon Clan. "Defend Her Majesty the Queen to the death!"
The Silver Dragon soldiers shouted and roared as they once again engaged the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan.
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Meanwhile, inside the sanctuary, Rossweise was still in the throes of childbirth.
Though she had experienced such pain before, the tearing sensation remained unbearable.
Several times, the sound of magical explosions came from the rear mountain, indicating that the squads dispatched by Anna were doing their utmost to break through the encirclement, striving to secure a safe retreat for Her Majesty, the Crown Prince, and the two princesses.
Moments later, the door opened, and a maid hurried in. She looked around and realized Anna wasn't there.
With Rossweise unable to issue commands at the moment, the maid approached Leon.
"My Lord, we... we've opened a path. All the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan forces on that route have withdrawn. Her Majesty the Queen can leave from there."
Upon hearing this news, the maids and doctors in the bedroom all breathed a sigh of relief.
Breaking the encirclement meant they could safely evacuate Her Majesty.
However, Leon did not immediately instruct them to take Rossweise away.
Frowning in thought, he murmured, "Something's not right..."
"What's wrong, My Lord?" a doctor asked.
Leon walked to the balcony, turning back to look at the maid who had delivered the message.
"Over an hour ago, the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan had the rear mountain completely sealed off. Not even a fly could get through. Now, they suddenly withdraw from that route. Clearly, something's amiss. Where did they withdraw from?"
The maid hesitated, then pursed her lips, walking over to Leon and pointing to a small path on the rear mountain.
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you sure it's there? All the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan forces have withdrawn from that route?"
After a moment's hesitation, the maid nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."
Leon's brow furrowed tightly. Then, he slowly raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
In the next moment, brilliant lightning flashed above the path the maid had just indicated. Beneath the lightning, several crimson dragons emerged from the forest, spewing dragon flames toward the source of the lightning, as if they believed it was a trap.
Unfortunately, it was merely a diversion.
If the maids had taken Rossweise to retreat via that path just now, they would have fallen into an ambush by these crimson dragons.
Leon turned his head slowly, his gaze cold as he looked at the maid. "In battle, you must use your brains."
The maid panicked, quickly half-kneeling. "My Lord, it's... it's this subordinate's negligence... this subordinate deserves death..."
Leon ignored her, turning to walk toward his two daughters.
The other maids and doctors fell silent, looking at each other, unsure of what to say. If not for the prince's cautious reminder earlier, they might have made a grave mistake.
After calming their emotions, they resumed caring for Rossweise in labor, while Leon said nothing more.
Leon did not understand the Silver Dragon Clan's tactical deployments, nor was it appropriate for him to issue strategic commands. However, he could still discern the deceptive tactics employed in battle.
The Empire had once hailed him as the greatest dragon slayer, not only for the number of dragons he had killed but also for his command ability, strategic planning, and troop deployment. Leon excelled in all these aspects.
But since Anna had already arranged everything for the battle plan, he could not usurp her command at this moment. Doing so might disrupt the rhythm of the entire Silver Dragon army. Moreover, Anna had her own skills.
In such a critical situation of sudden attack and leadership vacuum, there were few better options than Anna's. With his arms crossed, Leon gazed at the brutal battlefield ahead. The Silver Dragon Clan seemed to be gradually gaining the upper hand.
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On the battlefield, Shirley pierced a Crimson Flame Dragon's chest with her sword, then flung the body aside. She glanced back at the sanctuary gates, realizing they had pushed forward about seven kilometers more than two hours ago.
Excellent. The Crimson Flame Dragon Clan's encirclement was slowly collapsing. Perhaps they could truly hold out.
However, just as everything seemed to be progressing smoothly, an unexpected turn was about to occur. Shirley's face hadn't even had time to display a temporary smile of victory when she noticed the shadows on the ground growing darker and thicker.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, and fear exploded in her heart. Trembling all over like a rusty machine, she slowly turned around.
At some point, the entire sky had been obscured by a pair of colossal dragon wings.
The next moment, a powerful gust of wind struck, forcing Shirley to bend down.
A deep dragon roar swept across the battlefield, and the crimson wings and long tail proclaimed the identity of this enormous dragon.
The oppressive sensation, penetrating to the marrow and soul, left all the dragons present gasping for air.
Clang...
Shirley's longsword fell to the ground, and she lifted her head dazedly. Her vertical pupils gazed at the majestic and stern Dragon King, her pupils gradually losing focus.
"Constantine."
Crimson Flame Dragon King Constantine had personally arrived on the battlefield.
Fear instantly permeated Shirley, and she didn't even react until the cluster of fierce dragon flames was about to engulf her.
Fortunately, Anna reacted swiftly, grabbing her collar from behind and pulling her back from the brink of death.
Shirley collapsed to the ground, pain helping her regain her senses.
"Report back, Constantine has appeared. Full force to accelerate breaking through the encirclement at the rear mountain," Anna ordered.
This command meant that the battle here would soon end with Constantine's arrival. The gap in strength between a Dragon King-level opponent and elite dragons like Anna was like an unbridgeable chasm.
So, since defeat on the front lines was only a matter of time, they had to break through the rear mountain with all their might.
They might not be able to save the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, but at least they had to save Her Majesty's life.
Anna watched Shirley's retreating figure, feeling somewhat relieved.
"You're right, Your Majesty. A dragon's life is too long. I now, like you, prefer transient beauty," she said, then turned to face Constantine, spreading her wings behind her and transforming into her dragon form.
However, even in dragon form, she was only one-quarter the size of Dragon King Constantine.
Before him, Anna was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. But she would not retreat. Every member of the maid corps had sworn to protect Her Majesty the Queen at all costs.
Anna vibrated her wings and charged toward the mountainous enemy. Like a moth to a flame, knowing it was a perilous journey, yet pressing forward regardless.
Dragon flames gathered in her mouth and erupted. Constantine's crimson dragon eyes sneered, merely flapping his wings to shatter Anna's full-force dragon flames.
Anna even felt the shockwave, but after adjusting her posture in the air, she launched another attack toward Constantine. Several fireballs struck Constantine's dragon body but seemed unable to leave a mark on his scales.
The massive body slowly advanced toward the sanctuary, completely ignoring Anna and the other Silver Dragon soldiers' attacks.
Seeing that magic attacks were completely ineffective, Anna roared and positioned herself in front of the Crimson Flame Dragon King.
She vigorously flapped her wings, using her own body as a weapon, regardless of consequences, crashing into Constantine. But to Constantine, such an attack was like a flea challenging a tree.
He raised his sharp and massive dragon claw, effortlessly pinning Anna to the ground. His claw pierced Anna's wings, blood flowing uncontrollably.
Despite being firmly held down, Anna still attempted to counterattack, struggling and continuously spewing dragon flames at Constantine.
But it was all in vain.
Realizing the absolute gap in strength between herself and Constantine, Anna was stunned.
She could hardly believe that a dragon could be so powerful.
But only a Dragon King with such terrifying power would dare to recklessly attack other dragon clans, right? Despair gradually enveloped Anna and the entire Silver Dragon army. From the moment Constantine appeared on the battlefield, everything seemed predetermined.
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Inside the sanctuary, silence reigned, the atmosphere sinking to its lowest point. Muen held back her tears, burying her little face in her sister's embrace, gripping her clothes tightly.
Noah's hands trembled; the apocalyptic scene before her was far beyond what a child could bear. But she still held onto her sister, comforting her.
Milan and the other maids looked at Anna, ravaged and trampled, and at the unmatched Crimson Flame Dragon King, all falling silent. It seemed... there was no longer any need to struggle.
Rossweise opened her eyes amidst the pain, feeling a powerful presence on the battlefield. A presence unique to a Dragon King. She knew Constantine had arrived. The dragon hero who had expanded the territory for the dragon race thousands of years ago, his strength stood out among all Dragon Kings.
"Your Majesty..." Milan lowered her head, unable to look at Rossweise, "I'm sorry, but we probably... have already lost. No one can kill a Dragon King of Constantine's caliber, no one..."
No one contradicted her statement, because it was an accepted fact, only Milan dared to speak it aloud.
"Kill... the Dragon King..."
Rossweise murmured these four words, clutching the sheet beneath her as she endured the intense pain in her abdomen. "Kill the Dragon King... isn't that someone's specialty..."
"What did you say, Your Majesty?" The doctor nearby didn't catch it clearly.
Rossweise closed her eyes, a weary and resigned smile appearing on her pale face. At this point, there was no other way.
She softly called out the man's name, "Leon..."
He responded, walking to Rossweise's bedside, his expression still serious as he looked at her.
"I have no choice... Leon, I have no choice..." She looked at the man who was once her adversary, her silver eyes filled with helplessness.
Leon remained silent, but Rossweise could see his answer in his eyes.
She closed her eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek, dampening the pillow. "You know where I've put your things, the key is in the second drawer..."
Leon nodded, opening the drawer and retrieving the key.
Then, he bypassed the crowd and walked to Noah and Muen, crouching down halfway.
He first squeezed Muen's cold little hand, then looked at Noah.
Father and daughter locked eyes, as if there were thousands of words they wanted to say to each other.
But in the end, Leon simply said, "Take care of your sister and mother, you can do it."
"Daddy... you, you'll come back, right?" Noah asked, trembling.
"Yeah, I'll come back. We promised to go to the beach together, didn't we?" He patted Noah's head, saying no more, standing up and walking toward the door.
"Leon!... Leon..." Rossweise's weak voice came.
Leon paused at the door, half-turning back, responding in a deep voice, "I know, leave it to me."
With that said, he didn't linger, opening the door and swiftly leaving the sanctuary.
He arrived at Rossweise's secret vault, using the key to unlock the door. Stepping down the stairs, he walked toward the innermost part.
There, he found a wooden chest and opened it, revealing a set of black armor inside. As if reuniting with an old friend, Leon reached out, his fingertips gently tracing over the chest plate of the black and gold armor.
The armor seemed to respond to his touch, the dark metal shimmering with a faint, familiar energy. It was the armor he had worn during his days as the Empire's greatest Dragon Slayer, each scar and dent a testament to battles past. The same armor that had been taken from him upon his capture, now returned to him in this moment of dire need.
"Old friend," he whispered, his voice steady despite the chaos outside, "accompany me in madness once more."
He donned the armor with practiced efficiency, the weight settling on his shoulders like a long-lost part of himself. As the final piece clicked into place, a surge of power coursed through him—not just the stored magic from the dragon mark, but the unwavering resolve of a warrior returning to his purpose.
Leon Cosmodeous, the Dragon Slayer, was ready for war.