With Filine leading the way, the group's speed increased significantly. According to the prisoners' report, the evil dragon Fafnir had taken Doomsday Gorge as its lair, which also served as the base camp of the Evil Dragon Legion. So Duanmu Huai and the others followed the captives' information and arrived at Doomsday Gorge.
And then… they saw mountains filled with dragons.
"So many dragons..."
Looking at the dragons lying or resting within the gorge, Lorena couldn't help but sigh. Even the others' expressions grew tense. After all, no matter who it was, seeing so many dragons gathered in one place would stir a shock that came from the depths of the soul.
"According to that dragon's words, Fafnir's lair is inside the crater across the gorge... Tch, don't tell me this guy has an iron jaw too."
Duanmu Huai glanced at the map and clicked his tongue. Hearing his complaint, Gureya looked uneasily at him.
"Sir Knight, what should we do next?"
"We should sneak past them, infiltrate the lair, and cut off Fafnir's head."
Anne immediately raised her hand and suggested her idea.
"After all, isn't that how it always goes in adventure stories?"
"Well, usually it's like that."
Duanmu Huai nodded.
"But not this time."
"Eh? Not this time?"
Anne froze at his response. Duanmu Huai looked at her and asked.
"Think carefully—what is our real goal?"
"Uhhh..."
The others fell into thought. Then Anne looked at him with uncertainty.
"It's to eliminate Fafnir... right?"
"Fafnir is only the cause, not the result."
Duanmu Huai shook his head.
"Yes, the evil dragon is a major threat, but honestly, one dragon alone can only do so much. No matter how strong it is, it is only one. And think about it—were all those destroyed villages and towns along our way burned down by Fafnir itself? Of course not. Weren't they destroyed by the Evil Dragon Legion under its command?"
"..."
The girls fell silent. They all remembered the ruins and wreckage they had passed on their journey here.
Lorena tilted her head, still confused.
"But Sir Knight, I still don't understand. If our target isn't Fafnir, then what is it?"
"Fafnir is a primary target, but not the real reason. The most important thing... isn't it the dragons' disdain for humanity? If dragons didn't believe humans were weak and powerless, incapable of threatening them, how could they have been seduced by Fafnir into serving it?"
"Wait, Sir Knight, don't tell me you mean..."
Anne's eyes widened as if she suddenly realized something. Her face went pale as she looked at Duanmu Huai. He nodded firmly.
"That's right. We must shatter the dragons' arrogance completely. We must show them that humans are not to be trifled with. If they dare attack humanity, then they must face the threat of extinction! Humans are not prey for dragons to toy with—they are a force equal in power!"
"..."
Everyone was stunned by his words. Duanmu Huai shrugged and pointed toward the gorge.
"Fortunately, the ones here are all Fafnir's lapdogs. That means they're the very dragons who despise humanity and treat them like toys. If we wipe them all out, then at least half the dragons who dare look down on us will be gone. And I believe their deaths will make the rest of dragonkind understand that humans are not to be provoked."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait a second!!! That's impossible!!"
Anne jumped up, waving her hands frantically.
"Sir Knight, if it were just a few dragons, maybe—but there are hundreds down there! And with them are the drakes! That's a number we can't possibly handle!!"
She wasn't wrong. At this moment, Doomsday Gorge held several hundred dragons. And besides the dragons, there were their drake servants—creatures with the lower body of a lizard and the upper body of a humanoid reptile. These drakes had always served as the dragons' soldiers. They wielded spears, breathed fire, and each one's combat power was equal to a heavily armored knight.
And here, there were at least a thousand of them.
For Anne and Gureya, a few dragons were manageable, and dozens of drakes weren't too threatening. But hundreds of dragons and countless drakes? That was another story entirely.
"I have a way to make it possible. So—are you ready?"
"This..."
The others hesitated, unsure what to say. Gureya, after some hesitation, raised her hand timidly.
"Um... Sir Knight, I don't mean to defend those dragons, but... isn't wiping them all out a little too cruel?"
"Only strength and deterrence can bring respect and awe."
Duanmu Huai shook his head. He had rejected Anne's plan of sneaking in and assassinating because he wanted to solve the problem once and for all. Killing Fafnir would change nothing—its legion of dragons would remain, and they wouldn't just fall into line. And once Duanmu Huai completed the mission, this world fragment would belong to him. He wasn't about to waste time dealing with dragon trouble every day.
So he chose the cleanest solution.
"Why do you think Regnis allied with Manaria? Isn't it because Manaria is the most powerful magic nation in the region?"
"Uh..."
"And this will also show those wavering dragons within Regnis itself that humanity is not so easily bullied!"
With him putting it that way, even Gureya couldn't argue. She knew the political issues within Regnis, so she couldn't say he was wrong.
"But... how do we even fight them?"
Since Duanmu Huai had decided, the others didn't object. The only question left was how to carry it out.
"There's no need for fancy plans. We just charge straight in."
"....??? Wait, that's suicide!!"
"I have a plan. Just follow me."
"Uh..."
To be honest, his words didn't reassure anyone. Other than Olgis and Filine, who always had expressionless faces, the rest looked worried. It didn't sound like a strategy at all! If he had said there was some hidden trick, maybe. But just charging down there sounded like pure death.
To this, Duanmu Huai replied—
"The more complicated a strategy, the easier it is to fail. Don't overthink it. Just fight straight through."
What do you mean "just fight straight through"?!
Everyone wanted to complain, but they had no other choice. So they braced themselves, mounted the Metal Draconic Construct, and came to the ridge. Honestly, just standing here, staring at the gorge filled with countless dragons, was enough to make one's scalp go numb.
Now then...
Duanmu Huai slowly raised his hand.
As usual, time to deploy puppets. But this time, let's go big.
Summon [Puppets] to the field!
With just a thought, hundreds of puppets appeared out of thin air, forming neat ranks at his side. Their attack power wasn't worth much, but they cost zero to summon, which was a great advantage. And sheer numbers alone—their orderly formations stretching far and wide—truly looked like an army.
"Wow, Sir Knight can summon this many puppets..."
Sitting on the Metal Draconic Construct, Anne and Gureya were both stunned. They knew he could summon puppets, but hadn't imagined he could call forth so many at once. Even if the puppets' combat power was uncertain, having such a host surrounding them did ease their fear.
At least it was better than just a handful of them charging down to their deaths.
"Well then..."
Standing at the front of the Metal Draconic Construct, Duanmu Huai raised his [Warhammer] high.
"Charge!!"
With that command, he drove the Metal Draconic Construct forward, leading the puppet army as they thundered down the slope, hurling themselves straight at the dragons!!
(End of Chapter)