Iron Dragon's Advancement Journey

Page 202

　According to the plan, while they are falling but not completely incapacitated, they will try to conceal themselves. Gold, silver, bronze, and iron dragons can freely transform into any species no larger than themselves, while brass and copper dragons can quickly dig burrows underground. As long as they are still able to move upon landing, they must avoid being captured by the Ice Queen's ground forces as much as possible.

　A rescue team comprised of members of the Claws of Justice and bronze dragons is searching from the air. Elminster and his team are tasked with contacting the chief druid of Thorssar and forming an alliance with him, relying on the local resistance forces familiar with the taiga forests of the Icefield to provide timely and effective support to the fallen dragon.

　Eliot nodded: "Your plan is grand, but the immediate priority is saving lives."

　He raised his hand and gestured towards the air, and several magical ravens with feathers shimmering with a pale blue glow took flight from the coniferous forest, scattering in different directions.

　"Thirty kilometers to the southwest, there's a metallic scent." Elliott closed his eyes, sensing the information emanating from the forest. His consciousness extended underground like tree roots, gathering intelligence through the plant network. "The smell of blood is strong, along with the stench of frost giants."

　"How many enemies are there?" Kelburn asked.

　"Two frost giants, and about forty grunts." Elliot opened his eyes, a flicker of worry in his emerald green pupils. "They're closing in on the target. The target should still be alive, but in bad condition; the stench of blood is overwhelming."

　Shaving Teeth immediately responded, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go save them!"

　"Wait a moment." Elasdra stopped the impatient Archmage of the Fanged Dragon, gracefully raising her hand to indicate, "We need to divide the tasks. Some will go to the rescue, while others will continue searching for the other fallen dragons. Spreading out the search will be more efficient."

　Ilminster stroked his beard, pondering for a moment: "Makes sense. Kelburn, you take Lyra to the southwest. The two of you work well together; dealing with the Frost Giants shouldn't be a problem. Fangs, come with me and Elasdra to continue searching other areas. Master Elliott—"

　"My men are already on the move," Elliot interrupted, taking out a piece of wood with intricate carvings. "Several tribes still resisting have sent warriors; a total of twenty-eight squads are searching various areas. Sophia led a team east; there was just an explosion there."

　Toval approached, leaning on his bone staff, his aged face filled with worry: "I've also received the news. A bronze dragon has fallen into the northern canyon, and two white dragons are in pursuit. My warriors are on their way, but I'm afraid it will be too late."

　"The Bronze Dragons are in a troublesome situation," Elasdra frowned. "Their nature makes them unwilling to accept aid, which could lead to them refusing rescue."

　"This requires more professional help." Elminster quickly adjusted the deployment. "Elasdra, you go north. We've had contact with the Bronze Dragons in Damaradus, so trust is easier to establish. Razortooth comes with you; there are few nodes supporting teleportation here, and your portal spell is much faster than ours."

　Grand Master Fanglong nodded: "Understood."

　Elliott added, "The forests of Sossal will help you. If you encounter danger, try communicating with the trees. Although the power of nature has weakened, the will of the forest remains."

　Once the assignments were made, everyone immediately got to work.

　A golden dragon—judging from the crash marks, it should be an ancient golden dragon—hid in a tree hole in the form of a snow hare. Its camouflage was ingenious; its white fur blended perfectly with the snow, making it difficult to detect anything unusual unless one looked closely. However, it was covered in wounds, its golden fur stained with blood, standing out starkly against the pure white snow. One of its hind legs was broken, the bone protruding through the skin.

　And around it, the encirclement of the frost giants is shrinking.

　"Slay all living things!" roared a frost giant, his massive axe cleaving through ancient trees. Splinters flew everywhere, startling birds into flight. "That wretched golden worm must have turned into something tiny! I can smell its blood!"

　The other frost giant, even more insidious, gripped a staff covered in frost and suggested, "Let's burn this forest down! The golden dragon isn't afraid of fire; once it's burned clean, it'll be all that's left, then we can slaughter it!"

　"No." The first giant shook his head. "The Queen wants it alive. A dead dragon won't bring a reward. Do you want to be skinned alive? Besides, it's freezing cold here; how can we set a fire?"

　"Then search inch by inch!" The giant warlock waved his staff impatiently. "I can sense it's nearby; the magical fluctuations of dragon blood don't lie."

　Forty-odd frost trolls and the Ice Queen's human soldiers lined up in rows and began a thorough search. They were well-equipped, each wearing heavy fur armor and wielding various weapons. Their spears pierced every tree hollow, felled every bush, and crushed every possible hiding place.

　"There's blood here!" a frost troll suddenly shouted. "And it's fresh!"

　Everyone's attention instantly focused in that direction.

　The golden dragon, now transformed into a snow hare, watched in despair as the encirclement closed in. Its injuries were severe; its dragon magic was almost completely depleted, making even maintaining its shapeshifting difficult. Each breath brought excruciating pain; broken ribs pierced its lungs, causing it to cough up blood continuously. Worse still, the enemy's search methods left it with nowhere to escape.

　It tried to move, but its broken leg made it unable to move. Blood continued to drain, and its consciousness began to fade.

　Just as a spear was about to pierce the tree hole, the ground suddenly shook, as if the earth were breathing.

　The golden dragon was stunned for a moment, then felt the ground beneath its feet soften, as if it had come to life. Thick tree roots, each as thick as an arm, emerged from the ground, their surfaces covered in emerald light. They gently and swiftly enveloped the golden dragon, forming a protective cocoon, before pulling it into the ground.

　The whole process took less than three seconds.

　"What's that sound?" The frost giant looked around warily, raising his massive axe high. "An ambush?"

　"Don't be alarmed," the giant warlock chuckled. "It's probably some kind of underground insect. Keep searching!"

　The ground returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened. Even the tree hole was now covered with new moss and looked completely intact.

　Ten meters underground, Jinlong found himself in a space woven from tree roots. The space was about three meters square, surrounded by intertwined roots, with a pale green light filtering through the gaps. The air was filled with the scent of earth and resin, mingled with a rich natural aroma.

　"Don't worry." A voice sounded directly in its mind, gentle yet firm. "I am Elliot, the chief druid of Sossal. Ilminster has contacted us. You are safe."

　The golden dragon wanted to respond, but it was too weak to even communicate telepathically. It opened its mouth and only managed a weak groan.

　"Don't push yourself." Elliot's voice remained steady. "I can sense your injuries: three broken ribs, internal bleeding, and depleted magic. Maintaining your rabbit form will minimize your energy expenditure. I'll take you to a safe place."

　A pale green light seeped from the tree roots, slowly seeping into the golden dragon's body. This was the bare minimum to sustain life. Elliott's natural energy was already depleted and couldn't be wasted here.

　The tree roots began to move, carrying the golden dragon underground. This method was incredibly peculiar; there was no sound of digging, and it was as smooth as swimming in water. The roots automatically parted in front and then closed again behind, forming a continuously advancing passage.

　Jinlong felt the tremors around him—the sound of enemy footsteps on the ground. But ten meters underground, the sounds became distant and indistinct.

　On the ground, the frost giants continued their futile search.

　"Damn it! Where's the dragon?" The giant warlock roared, brandishing his staff and gathering frost around himself. "I clearly saw it fall around here!"

　"Have they already run away?" a frost troll cautiously suggested.

　"Run?" The giant warlock slapped him away. "Your wings are broken, where can you run to? Keep searching! Even if you dig three feet into the ground—"

　boom!

　A bolt of lightning, as thick as a bucket, struck the giant warlock precisely. The current instantly charred his body, preventing him from even letting out a scream. The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning flesh.

　Kelburn and Lyra appeared simultaneously, the two legendary mages hovering in mid-air, their robes fluttering without wind as magic surged.

　"Need any help?" Kelben sneered, a second spell already forming at the tip of his black staff. "You seem to be looking for something?"

　"Mage!" the remaining frost giants roared, raising their giant axes. "Kill them!"

　"How foolish." Lyra shook her head, her slender fingers tracing intricate runes in the air.

　The battle erupted swiftly and ended in an instant. The two legendary mages coordinated perfectly, their flames and lightning intertwining, their illusions and spells intertwined. The enemy, utterly powerless, turned to ashes.

　The entire battle lasted less than two minutes.

　Immediately, the ground trembled again. A cluster of tree roots broke through the soil, slowly opening to reveal a golden dragon inside.

　Elliott's voice came from the tree roots: "Please take care of this one; it needs treatment."

　Meanwhile, fighting was also taking place in the east.

　Sofia's guerrilla team encountered a special situation.

　"Captain, there are people over there!" a soldier pointed into the distance.

　Sofia raised her hand, signaling the group to stop. She squinted, scrutinizing the young man leaning against a tree, covered in blood, seemingly about to collapse. (The last two lines appear to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.)

　"Approach carefully," she ordered. "It might be a trap."

　The guerrillas slowly approached. When they saw the other side's face, everyone was stunned. It was a young man who looked to be under twenty years old, with rare bronze hair and amber eyes, dressed in thin linen clothes, completely out of place in the snowy plains.

　"You are..." Sophia asked tentatively.

　"Don't come any closer!" the young man's voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear. "I'm not hurt, please, go away!"

　He tried to stand up but fell back down. His left arm was clearly dislocated, hanging limply at his side, and his clothes were soaked with blood, indicating a serious injury.

　Sophia frowned. "You're clearly a bronze dragon that just fell from the sky. We're here to help you."

　"No!" the young man reacted violently, even trying to move back. "I don't know you! Get away, please leave!"

　The guerrillas looked at each other in bewilderment. This was the first time they had encountered a dragon so resistant to rescue.

　"What's wrong with him?" a young soldier asked, puzzled.

　"It's in the nature of bronze dragons," Sophia sighed. She remembered Elliot saying that bronze dragons were extremely afraid of contact with strangers. "Listen, I know you don't want to interact with them, but now—"

　"Roar!"

　Two deafening dragon roars interrupted her.

　Two white dragons appeared from the north and south, their enormous forms blocking out the sunlight. Their scales reflected a cold light in the sunlight, and their eyes were filled with savagery and excitement.

　"Found you!" the white dragon from the north roared excitedly, its saliva freezing the ground as it dripped from its mouth. "Little insect, let's see where you can run now."

　"No one can save you this time," the white dragon from the south grinned maliciously. "Just obediently accept your death!"

　The bronze dragon was deathly pale. It tried to struggle to its feet and transform back into its dragon form to fight, but its injuries were too severe, and it even struggled to stay conscious.

　"Damn it." Sofia cursed, quickly assessing the situation. Twenty guerrillas still had no chance against the two juvenile white dragons.

　She gestured to her subordinates, and the team members quickly dispersed to take up advantageous positions. They were seasoned veterans who showed no fear despite the dragon's threat.

　"Cover him!" Sofia shouted, taking her heavy crossbow from her back. "Hold on until reinforcements arrive!"

　"You think you can take me?" the white dragon from the north sneered. "A bunch of ants!"

　A volley of heavy crossbow bolts unleashed dozens of armor-piercing arrows. These arrows had undergone special treatment: the arrowheads were poisoned, and the shafts were engraved with anti-magic runes.

　Most of the arrows were deflected by the dragon scales, but some still found their way into the gaps between the scales and pierced the flesh.

　"Ouch!" The white dragon cried out in pain, its anger intensifying. "You damned insects!"

　"Burn this forest!" The white dragon in the south took a deep breath, its chest bulging, preparing to exhale its icy breath.

　"Scatter!" Sofia's command came at just the right time.

　The members were well-trained and quickly took cover. They were experienced in forest warfare and knew the terrain like the back of their hand.

　Whoosh—a chilling breath poured down like an icy river, sweeping across the spot where they had just stood. Several large trees instantly froze into ice sculptures, then shattered and collapsed under the weight. Had they been even a fraction slower, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

　"Run deeper into the forest!" Sophia grabbed the bronze dragon. His body was surprisingly light—dragons in human form usually possess considerable density, but he was extremely weak. "Quick!"

　"I..." The bronze dragon wanted to say something.

　"Shut up!" Sofia interrupted him. "Come with me if you want to live!"

　She half-dragged, half-carried the bronze dragon as they rushed into the dense forest. He staggered after them, each step difficult. He wasn't skilled in human form, and his injuries had further worsened his coordination.

　However, the Sosar guerrillas lived up to their reputation as elite forces honed in harsh conditions.

　"Old Hans, take three men and set up an ambush in the eastern canyon!" Sofia commanded as she ran. "Little Karl, you guys lure away the one to the north! Remember, don't fight it head-on!"

　"clear!"

　The members quickly split up and used the terrain to their advantage to harass the white dragon, making it difficult for the two giant beasts to move an inch in the dense forest.

　Their physical form was the biggest disadvantage of the two white dragons. The dense tree trunks restricted their movement, and the branches and leaves obstructed their view. But the guerrillas, like forest spirits, always managed to find the most suitable routes.

　"Go around that rock!"

　"Retreat through the valley on the left!"

　Watch out for what's above you!

　The team members continuously used sound to confuse the white dragons and interfere with their judgment of the location of their prey.

　This is standard guerrilla tactic: never engage in direct combat with a strong enemy, but instead utilize the terrain and all available advantages.

　"Damn it!" A white dragon crashed through over a dozen trees during the chase, but hadn't even caught a glimpse of its crew. "These cunning rats!"

　"Burn this forest!" another white dragon suggested. "Burn them all to death!"

　"Are you insane?" the first one stopped it. "Lord Qislindo wants a live bronze dragon! How will we explain if it's burned?"

　Just as the white dragons were arguing, a sound of something breaking through the air came from the sky.

　Three silver figures swooped down like meteors—the Claws of Justice rescue team had arrived.

　"Finally here!" Sophia breathed a sigh of relief. She had led the bronze dragon through the forest several times, and her strength was greatly depleted.

　The three silver dragons worked in perfect harmony and quickly suppressed the two white dragons.

　"Dragon Claw Storm!" the leading silver dragon roared, attacking with all four claws simultaneously, each strike landing precisely on the white dragon's vital points.

　The other two silver dragons attacked from the sides, unleashing a barrage of attacks including dragon breath, claw strikes, and tail sweeps, like a storm.

　The difference in strength was immediately apparent. Although the White Dragon was ferocious, it quickly fell into a disadvantageous position against the well-trained members of the Claws of Justice.

　"Evacuate with the wounded!" the lead silver dragon shouted in Common Tongue. "Leave this to us!"

　Sofia didn't hesitate any longer. She mounted the bronze dragon and ran, with the other members covering her retreat.

　The sounds of fierce fighting came from behind her—dragon roars, explosions, and the rumble of trees falling. But she didn't turn around.

　"Thank you," the bronze dragon said weakly. "I'm sorry, I just now..."

　"Don't talk, save your energy," Sofia interrupted him. "We'll take you to a safe place."

　However, not all rescues are successful.

　The situation is much worse in the northern canyon.

　When Elasdra and Toothshatter arrived through the Anywhere Door, it was already too late.

　The canyon was filled with the stench of death. The bodies of more than a dozen Sosar guerrillas lay frozen on the ground, like statues, frozen in battle poses. Some were still firing, some were charging, and some were trying to cover their comrades. A resolute expression was frozen on every face.

　Amidst the corpses, a bronze dragon remained in its dragon form, its massive body lying horizontally on the snow. A penetrating wound, over a meter in diameter, pierced its chest, the edges still bearing traces of frost magic. Its eyes, though dulled, remained open, gazing at the sky.