When the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan invaded the Silver Dragon Clan, General Leon executed a round of indiscriminate layoffs. Not only did they physically "impeach" their boss, Constantine, but also their elite troops were few and far between.
So now, they are facing resistance from various dragon clans, making it difficult for them to retaliate. Their only advantage is home ground advantage, knowing the terrain and being able to fight and flee at the same time.
Constantine's remnants are unlikely to find a place to regroup and make a comeback in the near future.
The dragon clans that were invaded by the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan before will not let this opportunity slip by. They must take advantage of the weakened state of these guys and take a big bite out of them.
As for whether the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan will gradually revive and retaliate in the future, that's a matter for later. The dragon clan has always had a fanatical obsession with "revenge."
Just like when Leon's bloodlust possessed Rossweise, and Rossweise went all out to save him, then when he woke up, She repaid the suffering she had endured for two years; now the dragon clan plundered by Constantine is the same. They know there is a saying, "When will grudges be avenged," but they don't care.
Revenge is engraved in the bloodline of the dragon clan. It has not been erased for thousands of years.
Leon and Rossweise squatted on the treetops, watching the show for quite a while.
The dragon clans participating in the "topple the wall by overwhelming force" moved efficiently and soon forced out the remnants of Constantine hiding in the shadows.
Thus, a great cat and mouse drama began.
Although the group of dragons seeking revenge wasn't crazy enough to want to swallow up the entire Crimson Flame Dragon Clan in one go, it was still quite satisfying to disgust these remnants with low morale and no leader.
After watching for a while, Leon asked with confusion, "Why does it seem like, apart from Constantine, the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan doesn't have anyone capable of fighting, just being chased like this?"
"All the capable fighters were eliminated by you. Now, the ones still alive are like bureaucrats of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan; naturally, they lack combat power," Rossweise replied.
Pausing for a moment, Rossweise added, "Moreover, whether they can fight or not, it shouldn't make much difference in your eyes, right?"
Leon paused, pondering for a moment, "It does seem like that's the case…"
This is akin to students scoring ten points and twenty points in an exam. The one scoring twenty points objectively is indeed stronger than the one scoring ten points, but it's just a "pot calling the kettle black" kind of strength. In the eyes of true top students, they are all failures.
For General Leon, the Crimson Flame Dragons under Constantine, whether they score ten points, twenty points, or thirty points, are all "failures."
So, that's why Rossweise said "it doesn't matter to you."
Rarely does the mother dragon praise him, so Leon must make good use of this opportunity. "Now you know how great I am, right?"
Rossweise made a sound akin to coaxing a child, "Hmm, yes, you're great, you're great."
"Of course."
"Hmph… Silver Dragon captive," Rossweise muttered.
"What did you say?" Leon didn't catch it.
Rossweise smiled back, "Nothing, just praising you."
After a brief chat, the couple refocused their attention on the guerrilla warfare below.
"Shirley found someone who fits our requirements when she came to gather information before."
Rossweise said, "He became the interim Dragon King of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan recently, and his faction is also aligned with Constantine's.
Even if this guy isn't the one Maureen remembers, he definitely knows a lot of insider information."
Leon's eyes flickered, but he didn't focus on the person Rossweise mentioned. Instead, he asked, "Do dragon clans have different factions internally?"
Rossweise nodded, "Of course, especially for large and ancient clans like the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan. Although internal factional struggles may not be intense, whenever there's an opportunity, there will be some commotion. For example, when Constantine fell, his faction must have exerted a lot of effort to firmly grasp power and prevent it from being taken over by other factions."
"They're still squabbling even when things are dire," Leon exclaimed in surprise.
"Power is the most addictive poison in the world; no one can resist it," Rossweise remarked.
Leon thought for a moment and asked, "So, does your Silver Dragon Clan also—"
"Shh~ There's new development," Rossweise interrupted, putting a finger to her lips, gesturing for Leon to look down.
The new development conveniently prevented Leon from asking the question further.
Rossweise knew he was about to ask if the Silver Dragon Clan also had factional struggles. The answer was, of course, yes. However, Rossweise had managed to suppress or reconcile them quite well.
Power struggles are quite dirty and dark, with various schemes and methods, and Rossweise didn't want Leon to get involved in that side of the world just yet.
She did want her pseudo-husband to understand more about the world's darker aspects to avoid being blindsided or stabbed in the back in the future, but it had to be a gradual process.
Otherwise… it might turn Leon, this cheerful and sunny boy, into someone withdrawn and paranoid.
She refocused her thoughts on the present situation.
Rossweise pointed to the dense firelight below the trees. "It seems they've found the leader and are surrounding him."
"Is it the person Shirley reported?" Leon asked.
Rossweise nodded. "Most likely."
Leon watched the panicked Crimson Flame Dragon Clan members below and snorted dismissively.
"When the sky falls, it falls on the tallest buildings first. Being the Dragon King isn't an easy seat to occupy."
"After all, he's just an interim acting Dragon King. It's already commendable for him to step up and take charge in such a chaotic situation. If he can survive this period, a comeback isn't impossible," Rossweise remarked.
Looking at Leon, Rossweise said, "Now, tell me your plan."
"It's nothing too clever, but it'll be effective. They're handling this guerrilla warfare too easily right now, indicating they're not under enough pressure. So, we need to apply more pressure," Leon replied.
"Whatever you say."
The couple slipped into the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Meanwhile, the external dragon clans below were pursuing the remnants of the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan.
"Chase! Catch them! It's time for revenge!"
"Hey, you Crimson Flame Dragons up front, I actually preferred your defiant attitude before. Can you bring that back?"
"..."
While the Crimson Flame Dragon Clan was brimming with anger, they still prioritized retreat.
"Damn it, these guys are like flies. They neither send a heavy attack force nor attempt to swallow us up, just buzzing around like flies, constantly harassing us."
"Hmph, a bunch of small fries. They want revenge but fear the lingering fire of our Crimson Flame Dragon Clan. They're not worthy of being called dragons!"
"Brother, stop boasting. Let's head to the safe house in the rear. We should be able to shake them off there."
Pyre was the interim Dragon King they had elected. As Rossweise had mentioned, he was a civilian official—no military officials were chosen because General Leon had eliminated them all.
While a few of his subordinates had some combat ability, they might be too preoccupied with the pursuers behind them to protect Pyre adequately. So, it was better for him to lay low and develop quietly during this weakened period.
"Darn it, they know the terrain here so well. It's hard for us to catch up!" one of the pursuers exclaimed.
"We need to harass them nonetheless. If we don't take a chunk out of them now, it'll be much harder when they recover," another replied.
"Wait a minute! It seems a Crimson Flame Dragon has been taken out? Who did it? There'll be a reward for whoever goes back and finds out!"
The dynamics of this chase suddenly shifted. The Crimson Flame Dragons, retreating while fighting, had been skillfully evading their pursuers with the advantage of the terrain. But inexplicably, their numbers were gradually decreasing.
"What… What's happening? Is there an ambush in the shadows?"
"They're just a bunch of incompetent rats! Sneaking attacks from hiding? That's no skill! If they were honorable dragons, they would face us in battle!"
"Brother, why are you getting so worked up? Let's run!"
Under the protection of his fellow Crimson Flame Dragons, Acting Dragon King Pyre was getting closer and closer to the safe house.
However, as his fellow clan members had noted, the number of individuals in their group was slowly dwindling. This indicated that among their pursuers, there were assassins who moved swiftly and were far stronger than their own group.
Who could silently take out so many of them? Was it the Silver Dragons? After all, only Rossweise's race possessed such ghostly speed. Pyre pondered this thoughtfully.
But the Silver Dragons sacrificed their frontal attack capability for their speed, so even if they were fast, it would be impossible for them to swiftly take out a Crimson Flame Dragon and then retreat without being noticed. Who could it be then…
Pyre didn't have time to dwell on it; he had to retreat to the safe house as quickly as possible.
However, before he could take more than a few steps, a faint blue light streaked past behind him, a killing intent brushing against the back of his head at an extreme speed. One of the Crimson Flame Dragons behind him fell to the ground in response.
Pyre immediately turned around and released a burst of dragon flames. But there was no one behind him anymore. The remaining Crimson Flame Dragons quickly surrounded Pyre to protect him.
"So fast… Could it be the Silver Dragons?" someone guessed, trying to join in on the speculation.
"No, that attack was clearly using lightning magic… Silver Dragons don't use lightning magic, do they?"
"Are you daft? Have you forgotten how King Constantine fell? Wasn't it because of that guy in lightning armor—wait a moment… could it be… that guy?!"
It turned out he was the one who had been nearly scared silly.
The guards became anxious, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
Pyre stared into the darkness. In truth, he had never personally seen the "person in armor using lightning magic" that his fellow clan members spoke of. On the day King Constantine went to battle, he left Pyre behind to guard the home.
A civilian official was not suited for frontline combat. And it was this very decision that had saved Pyre's life; otherwise, according to the descriptions from the surviving clan members, that person in armor would probably have eliminated Pyre along with the rest.
But while one might escape on the first day, they wouldn't escape forever. The person who killed King Constantine… had finally come, it seemed.
Pyre's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a sharp bird cry. But when he snapped back to reality, two more guards beside him fell.
"It's… it's him! It's definitely him!! Lightning Thrust… such a fast Lightning Thrust!"
"Do you think a little lightning trickery can scare me?! Show yourself, and I'll tear you apart, you cunning and deceitful person!"
"Brother! You… oh, forget it, I'm tired, just destroy everything."
Cold sweat dripped down Pyre's forehead.
The pressure.
This was the pressure those surviving clan members spoke of…
Even though he hadn't yet seen the person in lightning armor using magic, he could keenly feel it. The overwhelming power… it was no wonder King Constantine fell to him.
And he… was just a human.
"There's movement over there! Quickly, follow!"
The pursuing troops, hearing the sound of Lightning Thrust, swiftly approached. The remaining guards stood in front of Pyre.
"Run! Go to the safe house, as fast as you can! We'll distract them!" Pyre dared not linger and turned, sprinting towards the safe house at full speed.
Before long, the sound of magical clashes erupted behind him. After running for a distance, the person using lightning magic had not attacked again, indicating that the guards had successfully diverted him.
Pyre stopped and looked back. In the distance, the battle continued.
"King… what should I do…" Pyre murmured to himself.
"If you're so eager to know what your king would say, I don't mind sending you over to him," a voice replied.
A strange voice came from behind. It felt as though a surge of electricity ran down Pyre's spine, freezing him in place. Every pore on his body seemed to exude the emotion called fear.
Footsteps slowly approached. Pyre's heartbeat quickened in response. He gritted his teeth and exerted all his strength to turn around, unleashing a blazing dragon flame. But the opponent's lightning was clearly superior, effortlessly dissipating Pyre's dragon flame.
Pyre also realized the identity of the person before him.
"Leon Cosmodeous…?"
"Oh, looks like I'm quite famous," the person controlling the lightning replied. With a blue arc flickering in his right hand, he indicated that he could launch another assault on Pyre at any moment.
Pyre forced himself to calm down, quietly taking a half step back. After confirming that Leon hadn't noticed his slight movement, he suddenly spread his dragon wings, intending to escape into the sky.
While the human before him was undoubtedly powerful, he couldn't fly. And the pursuing dragon clan troops had been led away for a distance. Pyre could completely evacuate to the safe house from the air.
But good intentions often meet with harsh realities. Just as Pyre lifted his head, he saw a flash of silver falling from the sky.
Boom—thick smoke billowed up from the ground. When the smoke cleared, Rossweise stood on Pyre's arm, with a pair of silver dragon wings spread open behind her.
"Well, well, knowing he can't fly, you tried to run to the sky," Rossweise remarked, her tone amused.
Leon applauded symbolically and approached Pyre slowly. "But my wife can fly. Didn't expect that, did you?"
Still maintaining her serious demeanor, Rossweise nearly broke character at the mention of "my wife." She glared at Leon, her face turning red. If it weren't for their pre-discussed "plan," Rossweise would have mentally criticized Leon a thousand times over.
Rossweise shifted her gaze away, then kicked Pyre towards Leon's feet before folding her dragon wings and walking to Leon's side.
Pyre, in a disheveled state, sat up and looked at Leon before turning to Rossweise.
"I never thought that as the Dragon King, you would actually mate with a human… it's a disgrace to our kind."
"We—" Rossweise's voice turned cold. "So what? I married a good husband, and my daughters have a good father. I fail to see where the disgrace lies."
Regardless of Pyre's mental state, Leon was somewhat surprised. Since Pyre knew Leon's human identity, there was no need to continue acting in front of him. Leon's earlier remark about "my wife" was mostly a triumphant boast.
When Pyre mentioned the disgrace of mating with humans, Leon intended to retort with words like "victor and vanquished." However, Rossweise unexpectedly unleashed a display of affection…
Does this mother dragon still possess her "protective husband" attribute?
Sigh… women, they're truly complex.
But for Pyre, Rossweise's display of affection was just a harmless retaliation.
He snorted, "I have no interest in your romantic affairs. If you want to kill or torture, do as you please."
Oh, are we fast-tracking to "kill or torture" already? Didn't expect you, old man, to be such a loyal subject.
Leon slowly crouched down, looking at Pyre. "Whether to kill or torture is a matter for later. Before that, I have a few questions for you."
"Do I look like a captive who answers questions willingly?"
"Hey, that's—" Before Leon could finish, Rossweise flew up and kicked Pyre in the chest, sending the old man crashing to the ground.
Leon was stunned, looking up at Rossweise in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"He doesn't deserve to be called a captive."
"Huh?"
"What 'huh'? Keep questioning him."
"Oh…"
Leon stepped forward, dragging Pyre under a giant tree. Nearby, the sounds of magical clashes could still be heard.
"I know you won't easily talk, but now that you've fallen into our hands, after all," Leon said in a relaxed tone.
"You and your men were running towards this direction just now, indicating there should be a new stronghold or safe haven ahead. But obviously, you can't reach there now."
"So, if we can't get anything out of you, we'll hand you over to those dragon clans that your Crimson Flame Dragon Clan once invaded."
"While wiping out enemies isn't my style, listen up. Your men are about to be defeated by those vengeful dragon clans. Once they're gone, guess who's next? I won't kill you, but that doesn't mean they won't," Leon warned.
Who would have thought a Cosmodeous would appear out of nowhere? Capturing Pyre was as easy as catching piglets, not something those outside dragon clans could compare to. And if Leon handed Pyre over to them, Pyre's fate would be sealed.
"Heh… Do you think by presenting these unfavorable conditions to me, I'll tell you what you want to know? You're underestimating our Crimson Flame Dragon Clan too much," Pyre said, his tone stubborn.
Leon scratched his temple, pretending to be hesitant. "Well, if that's the case, then we'll have to use force. You know about that magic for probing memories, right?"
Pyre raised an eyebrow, sneering. "You want to use that magic on me? Fine. I'll resist the moment your magic enters my brain, and the clash of energies will burn my head in the blink of an eye. That would be a relief for me."
The old man was truly seeking death.
"No, no, no. Everyone knows the limitations of probing magic. As you said, the clash of energies would be lethal for the interrogated," Leon said.
"But… we can use the probing magic after you've exhausted your strength and can't use magic anymore."
"Torture? Ridiculous. I'm not afraid of death, let alone your torture."
"Don't speak too soon, old man," Leon leaned in next to Pyre, then gestured towards Rossweise beside him. "You know her, right? The Silver Dragon Queen."
Pyre glared at him.
Hey human boy, are you here with me to educate about the Dragon King's Handbook?
"It seems you know," Leon asked mysteriously, "Do you know what her nickname is?"
"What…"
"The Midnight Ripper, Melkvey!"
Rossweise:…
Pyre's eye twitched: "Ripper?"
"Yes. My wife has a peculiar habit. She feels uneasy all over if she doesn't kill a dragon every month."
"Why didn't I know the Silver Dragon King had such a hobby?" Pyre questioned.
"Nonsense, you outsiders wouldn't know. I'm her husband, we've been living together for three years. I definitely know her little secrets that no one else knows," Leon said, as if it were true, "It's quite a coincidence, isn't it? It's been just a month since my wife last killed someone."
Pyre, hearing this, nervously swallowed, but still protested, "You don't need to scare me. I've said it, whether you want to kill or maim, it's up to you."
"Hey, why are you so stubborn, old man? I'm helping you here," Leon said, "If you don't cooperate with me now, when my wife's cravings come later, I'll first chop off your arms and legs, then take a small knife and slowly cut from your waist to your stomach."
As he spoke, Leon used his fingers to measure on Pyre's belly,
"Then, she'll tear open your stomach, note the verb 'tear', so things like intestines, liver, and such might pop out."
"But don't worry, I'll blindfold you and give you an adrenaline shot to make you endure a little longer."
"Rest assured, I've done this process for my wife several times, I'm very experienced."
"Based on my estimation, you can probably hold on for a minute or two. By then, you'll surely have no strength left to use magic, and we can use probing magic on you," Leon shrugged, "So, this isn't what you call torture, it's just some playful games between my wife and me, you know, we'll enjoy the game very much."
Cold sweat trickled down Pyre's nose as he shrank back and glanced at the Silver Dragon King beside him.
She stood there, having pulled out a small knife at some point, the blade shimmering with a chilling light as she casually filed her nails with it, looking very relaxed and comfortable.
Pyre closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
Leon thought he had cooperated, but who would have thought.
"I won't be scared by you! It's just a gutting punishment, right? Nothing serious!" Pyre showed a somewhat loyal attitude.
"Old man, you—"
"Leon, step aside, I'll handle this. Let's start by cutting off this old man's arms," Rossweise said, striding forward with the small knife in hand.
Pyre was so scared his tail curled up, and he shrank under the tree, trembling.
"Wait a minute!" Leon hurriedly stood in front of Rossweise, "Let me try again. We can definitely extract information peacefully."
"But it's been a month since I killed someone, Leon, I feel so uncomfortable," Rossweise pleaded bitterly.
"Don't rush, dear, just hold on a little longer."
"I can't, I can't hold back anymore. Today I must operate on this guy! Anyway, he won't say any information, so keeping him is useless."
With that, Rossweise was about to bypass Leon.
"Hey, hey, hey, darling, really, just hold on a little longer, he's about to speak, trust me."
"He himself said he wouldn't speak. Step aside quickly, I still need to pull out his intestines to make a clothesline."
"No, no, no, wife, listen to me, he really is about to speak! And your clothesline can still be used, it's made from the ligaments of the previous person!"
"I don't care, I don't care! He won't speak! I—"
"I'll talk!"
Finally, Pyre's psychological defense collapsed.
Damn, this couple was too scary, any loyalty in front of them seemed like a joke.
They didn't care how tough Pyre pretended to be. Instead, they seemed to care more about the rules of their "game".
Stuff like tearing open his stomach, making a clothesline from intestines, using ligaments… just listening to it was painful!
Even though these two hadn't done anything yet, Pyre's stress level was already maxed out.
While the old man was indeed fiercely loyal to the Crimson Flame Dragon clan and prepared himself for interrogation, as Leon said, their intention wasn't interrogation at all, but rather a game prepared for the Ripper, the Silver Dragon King.
It's like preaching common sense to a lunatic. You wouldn't, right?
So…
There was no need to be stubborn in front of these two lunatics. It wouldn't get him anywhere.