"Boss, what should we do now?"
"Hmph."
Gus frowned and let out a cold snort, his face turning ashen as he gritted his teeth.
What could they do?
Could he fly up to the sky and force that black dragon down?
These subordinates were becoming increasingly clueless, always asking questions he couldn't easily answer.
He had no idea how a black dragon had appeared here.
It had been years since dragons were last seen.
Especially near these impoverished small kingdoms, as adult dragons wouldn't be interested in the meager wealth of such nations, while juvenile dragons with insufficient resistances might not be able to defeat a national army.
Gus cast his cold gaze upon the area below the Sacred Wall of Felinir.
The entire camp ground had been burned to crystallization, showing just how ferocious the dragon's breath was.
Sickly green molten flames flowed freely.
Black smoke billowed, creating a scene of utter devastation.
No signs of life remained.
The dragon had slaughtered hundreds of his men upon arrival.
But he had no way to detain this black dragon. He could only wait for it to return, then set up an elaborate trap to kill it.
"Send some grunts down there to search around," Gus sighed, no longer holding much hope. Finding any usable supplies would be a blessing.
"Collect whatever equipment can still be used."
"Those with all limbs intact who are still alive should be saved. For those who are maimed, give them a quick end."
His voice was cold, his tone flat.
The humanoids around him exchanged glances and shuddered, though they dared not say anything.
The Black Beast Mercenary Group maintained its powerful fighting force precisely because Gus was ruthless enough.
He followed the jungle law of survival of the fittest, always ensuring the mercenary group was filled with fresh blood.
"Notify all elite forces to prepare for the attack on the Holy Aulist capital. Leave just some fodder at the Sacred Wall of Felinir, mainly to guard against possible reinforcements."
"Yes, boss."
The humanoids dispersed to carry out their orders.
Only Gus remained, staring in the direction the black dragon had disappeared, his expression grim.
His hand gripping the black greatsword tightened until it made cracking sounds.
"Damned black dragon, no creature has ever provoked me like this without paying the price. You'd better not come back asking for death, or else, hehehe..."
...
The Black Beast Mercenary Group eventually left.
Carrying their displeasure and hatred.
Their main objective was still to attack the Holy Aulist capital. Encountering a black dragon was just bad luck they had to swallow.
But Su Nian hadn't left.
He had indeed flown far away, but quickly hid in a forest he passed.
He stayed there for an hour.
"Anna, do you think those mercenaries have left? Should we go devour the people on the Sacred Wall of Felinir?"
Su Nian lay on his back on the grass, surrounded by trees crushed by his enormous body.
Anna was held in his arms, tightly wrapped in his dragon wings with only her small head exposed.
"Actually, brother, you should already know the answer, right~?"
Anna lay on Su Nian's chest, her pretty face slightly flushed, her bright almond eyes blinking, wearing a charming smile. Her snow-white fox tail swept back and forth across Su Nian's belly.
Her body was still too petite, and lying like this, she couldn't even cover the entire Molten Heart.
Seeing Anna's obedient appearance, Su Nian couldn't resist the stirring in his heart and made a slurping sound.
He sat up, still holding Anna.
His pale golden dragon eyes gazed toward the Sacred Wall of Felinir.
"Let's go give those guys on the Sacred Wall a surprise. I might need your Illumination spell later."
"Don't worry, brother. Anna's aim is perfect."
Anna's voice was sweet, her delight evident in her tone.
For her, perhaps the happiest thing was being able to accompany her brother and serve her own purpose.
Rather than just being a burden who always needed her brother's protection.
The feeling of being needed made her feel secure and happy.
Su Nian understood this deeply, so he never hesitated to let Anna use her abilities.
He would even go to great lengths to make Anna understand that he needed her.
Whether it was true or not.
"Good, my precious is so obedient~ When we get back to the dragon's nest, I'll definitely give you a big reward~ Kekeke..."
Su Nian grinned, carried Anna on his back, and soared into the sky, flying toward the Sacred Wall of Felinir.
...
As the strongest defensive line of the Holy Aulist Kingdom, the Sacred Wall of Felinir was impregnable not just because of its grandeur and height.
It was also due to the defensive tools that Celestine had spent enormous resources installing on the wall.
When the black dragon howled as it flew over the Sacred Wall of Felinir,
The players from China were still fighting a group of dirty, ugly goblins in the ruins below the wall.
Li Chen had barely survived the rampaging dragon's breath by hiding in a water vat at the edge of the area. Had he been in the center where most mercenaries gathered, he would have been melted along with the vat.
By the time he climbed out of the water vat,
The elite forces of the Black Beast Mercenary Group had completely withdrawn, leaving only a group of goblins and half-beasts as cannon fodder to clean up the battlefield.
The troll leader had already been burned to ashes.
This left Li Chen with mixed feelings.
He felt satisfied that the troll leader was dead, but also regretted losing the opportunity to kill the troll leader with his own hands.
So he picked up his longsword and continued fighting the goblins and half-beasts.
"Roar—!"
A resonant, melodious dragon's roar sounded.
The black dragon appeared again.
Li Chen slashed the last goblin attacking him and looked up, his gaze fixed on the black dragon.
Its ferocious appearance, its enormous size.
The appearance of such a legendary creature.
He couldn't help but turn on his recording function.
He hid in the corner of a broken building, secretly recording the black dragon's battle with the system's built-in camera.
"Anna, Illumination spell, nine on the left wall!"
"Yes, brother~ Watch me!"
Anna sweetly acknowledged, her pretty face turning serious as arcane incantations flowed from her lips.
The Illumination spell rapidly condensed and, guided by her soft little hand, flew out. Several bright flashes accompanied by "bang" sounds exploded on the left side of the Sacred Wall.
The black dragon followed closely.
Taking advantage of the goblins and half-beasts' temporary blindness, he spewed a breath of dragon fire along the line.
The scorching, corrosive flames turned the entire left side of the Sacred Wall of Felinir into a sea of greenish fire, and the defensive machinery was reduced to ashes in these flames.
This coordinated attack was perfectly executed.
Su Nian had already carried Anna back up to a safe position in mid-air.
The humanoids on the far right hadn't even reacted yet, and could only jump up and down on the right side of the Sacred Wall, howling in anger.
If the elite forces under Gus's command had been operating the defensive machinery,
Su Nian would never have won so easily.
The main reason was that these goblins were simply not very bright and couldn't aim properly.
The remaining half-beasts, though somewhat smarter, were far too slow.
Soon, Su Nian had completely cleared the entire Sacred Wall of Felinir using the same method.
Perched on a spire atop the Sacred Wall of Felinir, Su Nian's pale golden eyes were filled with cunning and craftiness.
This move had directly cut off the Black Beast Mercenary Group's retreat.
All he needed to do was notify Celestine to send a small number of soldiers to take control of the wall.
Wasn't that knight princess coming?
Then, entrusting the Sacred Wall of Felinir to her would guarantee absolute safety.
And Gus, who would soon reach the capital, had no idea.
The escape route he had carefully arranged for himself had been brutally severed by the black dragon.
And when he reached the Holy Aulist capital, an even bigger surprise would be waiting for him.
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