Iron Dragon's Advancement Journey

Page 194

　"Understood," the dragons responded in unison.

　Casalos spread his wings, summoned the four high elements, let out a long cry, and leaped down from the clouds.

68. A reckless man

　Deep within the Norfralon Mountains, eight magical ships moved silently among the icy peaks like ghosts. Invisibility arrays completely concealed the steel hulls, with only the occasional gust of cold wind stirring a faint ripple on the shields.

　"Descend three degrees to port. There are ice spikes ahead." Rain Snow Thief stood on the flagship's deck, his rough fingers pointing forward. The polar dwarf ranger's harpoon was slung across his back, and ice shards still clung to his thick white beard.

　Following instructions, Gaelos Dragonnight adjusted the course, the legendary paladin's hands firmly gripping the helm. Even clad in heavy winter attire, his upright posture was still evident. The insignia of the Damara royal family gleamed on his chest, but upon closer inspection, another mark could be faintly discerned beneath it—a platinum-gold dragon.

　"Is this route really safe?" asked the officer behind him with some concern.

　"Safe? There's no safe place on the Great Glacier." Raine spat, which instantly froze into an ice bead on the deck. "But at least we won't run into Iraqlai's patrol. Those controlled frost giants have excellent eyesight; they can spot you iron cans from way out."

　Eisen emerged from the cabin, the half-dragon sorcerer's scales slightly contracting in the cold wind. Her dragon eyes scanned the surroundings, not missing a single detail: "Scouts report that an outpost has been spotted to the southeast. It's small, guarded by three polar dwarves and two winter wolves."

　"An outpost of the Snow Thief tribe." Raine squinted, his beard trembling. "That's the area my niece Dasha is in charge of... Damn ice, they don't even spare such a young girl."

　Eisen turned her head to look at Gaelos. The Dragon Lord's command echoed in her mind—obey Gaelos Dragon Nightmare's orders. To her, Casalos's words were like divine pronouncements, beyond question. Even though this human paladin always seemed to be making dangerous decisions.

　"Pass down the order: all ships are to hover here," Gaelos said, turning to the messenger. "Establish a temporary camp and send out sentries. Have the third squad's half-dragon scouts continue monitoring that outpost, recording personnel coming and going and changing of the guard."

　"Yes, sir!" The messenger saluted and left.

　Gallos walked to the ship's railing, gazing at the snow-capped peaks in the distance: "Eisen, what do you think?"

　"The sentry post is cleverly positioned," Eisen said, walking up to him and swaying his tail gently on the deck. "Sheltered from the wind, with a wide field of vision, and able to monitor the three main passages. The person who set it up knows the terrain very well."

　"The polar dwarves have lived here for generations, of course they know," Ryan interjected. "Dasha learned forest ranger skills from me since she was a child; she knows how to choose the best observation points."

　"Then we need to be even more careful," Galos said thoughtfully. "Those who are controlled retain their original skills and knowledge, making them, in some ways, even more dangerous than before."

　Half an hour later, the reconnaissance report arrived. The outpost's daily routine was very regular: shifts changed every four hours, and a supply sled came once a day. Apart from the three fixed polar dwarves and two winter wolves, there were no other guards.

　"It's too quiet," Eisen frowned. "A normal sentry post shouldn't be like this."

　"What's the meaning?"

　"No idle chatter, no complaints, not even a yawn." Eisen pointed to the sketch drawn by the scouts. "Look here, their positioning is so perfect, like...like machines."

　"Typical signs of being controlled," said Martha Dawnblow, who had arrived from another ship. The legendary priestess of the Lord of Dawn was still wearing her signature golden robes, only now draped in a heavy white cloak. [The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.]

　Gallos turned and nodded slightly: "Mother Martha."

　"Lord Dragon Nightmare," Martha returned the greeting, her tone polite yet distant. "Lossandar directed me to assist you in your mission. It seems that even as a legend, you remain as courageous as you were in your youth..." She paused, "brave."

　The atmosphere between the two was somewhat delicate. Once comrades-in-arms, they were now estranged due to their respective stances. Gaelos represented the Kingdom of Damara, nominally still a paladin of the Weeping God—though in reality his faith had shifted to Bahamut; Martha, on the other hand, was a high-ranking member of the Church of Dawn in Philanthropy, and her every action represented the will of Losanda.

　"We need a plan," Gallos broke the silence. "We can't just barge in; that would alert them."

　"Let's make contact and see," Ryan suggested. "Dasha is my niece, perhaps..."

　"Perhaps she still remembers you and then reports to the Ice Queen," Eisen said coldly. "Being controlled doesn't mean amnesia."

　"What should we do then?"

　Gallos pondered for a moment: "We need more intelligence. Sister Martha, can you remotely sense the state of those being controlled?"

　Martha closed her eyes, golden divine power flowing around her: "Charm magic is powerful, but..." She opened her eyes, "...it's crude. The caster only demands obedience, lacking finesse. This gives us an opportunity."

　What opportunity?

　"If I can get close enough, I can temporarily release the control. But I must act quickly; once the magic is broken, the caster will immediately notice."

　Gallos nodded: "That's settled then. Ryan will lead the way, the four of us will go. The rest of you will stand by and provide support immediately if anything goes wrong."

　"Four people?" Eisen looked at him. "You mean..."

　"Me, you, Sister Martha, and Ryan." Garros had already begun checking the equipment. "Too many people would only make us more easily spotted."

　Fifteen minutes later, the four-man team left the camp without a sound. Ryan led the way, his familiarity with the terrain astounding. He knew every protruding rock and every wind gap like the back of his hand.

　"I used to bring Dasha here often when she was little," the old dwarf said softly, his voice trembling slightly, "to teach her to recognize different types of snow and distinguish animal tracks..."

　"Concentrate," Eisen reminded him, her mental energy spreading outwards to sense the surrounding magical fluctuations.

　They stopped two hundred meters from the outpost. There was a natural rock shelter there, perfect for observing the situation from the outpost.

　Through the swirling snowflakes, they could see the entire outpost. Three polar dwarves stood in different positions, their gazes fixed blankly ahead. Two winter wolves lay on the snow, but their postures were stiff and unnatural.

　"Dasha's on the east side," Raine said in a low voice, his fingers trembling slightly.

　Indeed, the polar dwarf to the east was a young girl, her round face devoid of its usual liveliness. She mechanically turned her head, scanning the area she was responsible for.

　"The magical link is obvious," Martha frowned. "There's an invisible thread connecting them to the caster. The distance... shouldn't be short."

　"Can it be cut off?"

　"Yes, but it would be discovered immediately. Unless..." Martha looked at Eisen, "Can you create a false impression?"

　Eisen nodded: "Okay. The moment you release the control, I'll use illusion magic to maintain the illusion. But this requires precise coordination."

　"I believe in you." Galos had already drawn his longsword. "Raine, you'll be in charge of calming Dasha down. Martha, dispel the spell, Eisen, maintain the illusion, and I'll handle any potential combat."

　"Understood." The three nodded in unison.

　They began to approach slowly. Every step was taken with caution, avoiding any ice that might make a sound. The wind and snow provided natural cover, but also made their movement more difficult.

　150 meters......100 meters......50 meters......

　Suddenly, the dwarf sentry on the west side turned around. Although his gaze remained blank, it was clearly a routine patrol maneuver.

　The four men immediately ducked down. Snowflakes fell on them, quickly turning them into part of the snowdrift.

　The sentry's gaze slowly swept over their hiding place before turning away in other directions.

　"That was close." Ryan breathed a sigh of relief.

　"Those under her control also retain their instinct for vigilance," Eisen analyzed. "It seems the Ice Queen's magic is indeed highly effective."

　After waiting a few more minutes and confirming that it was safe, they continued on their way.

　Thirty meters... twenty meters...

　"Now!" Galos hissed.

　Martha abruptly stood up, and golden divine light surged forth like a tide. Three beams of purifying light struck the three dwarf sentinels simultaneously, and black magical runes emerged from their bodies.

　At the same time, Eisen's ninth-circle illusion was instantly activated. To outsiders, the three sentinels only trembled slightly before remaining in their original positions.

　Two winter wolves howled and pounced, but Gaelos was prepared. His holy sword drew two golden streaks, striking their vital points with pinpoint accuracy. The legendary paladin's power rendered the wolves unable to even utter a cry before they collapsed.

　"Dasha!" Ryan rushed toward his niece.

　The girl's eyes regained their light, but it was quickly replaced by deep fear: "Uncle? No... what are you doing here? Run!"

　"Calm down, child." Ryan hugged his trembling niece. "We're here to save you."

　The other two dwarves also regained consciousness, their faces equally filled with terror.

　"Oh no, oh no..." one of the middle-aged dwarves kept shaking his head, "The Ice Queen will find out, she will punish our families..."

　"Don't panic." Gallos walked over, his voice steady and strong. "Tell us the details."

　"Who are you?"

　"Damara's reinforcements," Garros explained simply. "Where is the Ice Queen imprisoning your families?"

　Dasha wiped away her tears: "In her castle. All the elders and children of the tribe are imprisoned there. She said she wouldn't harm them as long as we behaved."

　How many people are there?

　"Many...at least three thousand," another dwarf added. "Not just polar dwarves, but also humans, and even women and children from two frost giant clans."

　"What's the situation with the guards?"

　"Very well-protected," Dasha's voice trembled. "Besides the Ice Queen's ice elemental guards, there are those dragons. White dragons, and some that look like skeletons. They often circle above the castle."

　Galos and Eisen exchanged a glance. The white dragon and the dragon lich—this confirmed their intelligence.

　"Are you familiar with the layout of the castle?" Martha asked.

　"I only know part of it," Dasha said, trying to recall. "The outer walls are very high, built entirely of magical ice. There's only one gate, but teleportation arrays connect all the different parts. We can't get into the inner city, but I heard the hostages are being held underground."

　"What will happen to outsiders?" Gallos suddenly asked.

　"They'll be sent to the castle." Dasha blinked. "The Ice Queen has ordered that all intruders who trespass into her territory be sent to her. She said she'll 'receive' them personally."

　"Personally receive them?" Eisen frowned, a thoughtful glint in his dragon eyes. "A demigod-level being, yet he personally receives each prisoner?"

　"Not every one," the middle-aged dwarf corrected, "only those who look...special. Ordinary adventurers are thrown straight into the dungeon, or..." He swallowed, "feeding them to the dragons."

　What constitutes "special"?

　"Mages, priests, and well-equipped warriors," Dasha said. "Last month, we captured a group of adventurers, including a mage. The Ice Queen personally interrogated him for three days."

　"Then what?"

　"I don't know. I've never seen that monk again."

　Gallos stroked his chin, that unsettling look on Martha's face returning: "So, if we act 'special' enough, we can meet the Ice Queen?"

　"That's true in theory," Eisen said, already guessing what he was thinking, "but it's too risky."

　"Life is an adventure." Gallos shrugged, then looked at Dasha. "Could you pretend you're still under control and send us into the castle as prisoners?"

　Dasha's eyes widened. "This...how is this possible? They'll check!"

　"Magic check?"

　"Yes, the guards at the city gates use magic to detect them. It's not very sophisticated, but..."

　"Leave this to me." Eisen stepped forward. "I can cast an illusion on you. Ninth-level spell—Perfect Disguise. You'll look exactly like someone under control, even your thought processes will be simulated."

　"Really?" Dasha asked, somewhat incredulous.

　Eisen didn't answer, but instead began casting a spell. As a legendary warlock, and a half-dragon with Iron Dragon blood, her spellcasting abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people. Complex runes formed in the air, then slowly merged into Dasha's body.

　A moment later, Dasha's eyes returned to their blank expression. But this time it was feigned.

　"That's amazing!" Ryan exclaimed. "Even I couldn't tell the difference."

　"Unless the Ice Queen personally checks with a True Sight spell of the same level, it won't be detected," Eisen said. "But she shouldn't waste her power checking a mere sentry."

　"Then it's settled." Galos began making arrangements. "Dasha will pretend to give a routine report, saying that four intruders have been caught. Me, Eisen, Sister Martha, and Ryan."

　"Wait a minute." Martha frowned. "This plan..."

　"It's risky, I know," Gallos interrupted her, "but it's the fastest way to get to our target. And we're not unprepared."

　He patted the holy sword at his waist: "This sword is blessed by Bahamut. It can break most control magic in crucial moments."

　Martha noticed the detail. Bahamut? She glanced at Garros, who nodded slightly. Ah, I see. No wonder the Church of the Weeping God hadn't sent him on missions lately. This hero of Damara had switched allegiance to the Dragon God.

　"I understand." Martha no longer objected. "Then let's do as you say."

　"Eisen?" Galos looked at the half-dragon sorcerer.

　"The Dragon Lord told me to listen to you," Eisen replied simply and directly, flicking his tail. "Although I think this plan is stupid."

　Preparations proceeded quickly. The other two dwarves were sent back to camp to be protected by the half-dragon legion. Dasha then began preparing for her "performance."

　"Remember, your expression should be blank, and your movements should be stiff," Eisen instructed. "The person being controlled shouldn't make any unnecessary movements."

　"I'll try." Dasha took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

　The four "prisoners" were bound hand and foot. To make it more realistic, Garros even had Ryan leave several scars on his face. Martha didn't understand why, but she didn't say anything.

　"Take the weapons," Dasha reminded them, "but you can hide some small items. The guards won't search too thoroughly."

　So everyone hid some essential items. Galos hid a dagger, Martha hid the holy emblem, and Eisen hid several magic scrolls under the scales.

　"Where's the medicine?" Ryan asked.

　Gallos pulled out a small bottle: "Dwarven spirits mixed with sleeping powder. Guaranteed to keep us asleep like logs. I'll control when we wake up."

　"You really are well-prepared." Eisen rolled his eyes.

　"Professional," Gallos corrected.

　After completing the final preparations, Dasha took a deep breath, a blank expression on her face. She walked to the communication crystal—a standard feature at every outpost.

　"W-7 outpost reporting." Her voice was flat and even. "Four intruders spotted, subdued."

　A similarly mechanical voice came from the other end of the crystal: "Received. Process according to procedure."