Chapter 106: art 1)

  "Master, this is what I’ve observed."

  Alger k down, speaking in a low voice.

  "Very well, I uand."

  Cassius y coiled at the highest point, slowly grooming his scales, showing no hint ency about the impending war.

  Within the Dragon Valley, all the major leaders of Ember had assembled.

  Presehe ogre mage Langpu, hobgoblin ander Dolon leader Smaug, the chimera, lizardfolk chief Ack, shaman Koda, kobold Sold-Fang,

  and representatives from the various newly incorporated fas—orc, satyr, pure-blooded serpent folk. Virtually every promi figure in Ember had gathered here, poised for a.

  "Aa hasn’t seen a war of this scale in decades, not sihe Lio Alliance War thirty years ago," Delena added.

  She was temporarily serving as an advisor, g deaking power but dedicated heless.

  "Acc to Lord Alger’s intelligehe allied forces are now advang toward the edge of Storm Highnds, he Telpha Hills, the only suitable area fe-scale maneuvers."

  "And here—"

  She spread open a part map, her slender finger pointing to a specific spot—a broad valley surrounded by mountainous terrain to the north, with a single pass leading to Storm Highnds, and enclosed by rolling hills to the south.

  "The Trier Valley, the only route they must take to reach Dragon Valley."

  "If we hold this defensible pass—Trier’s Throat—we securely block Storm Highnds, preventing the allied forces from advang."

  Cassius offered no response, casting a calm gaze over his gathered followers.

  Langpu adjusted his gold-rimmed gsses, suggesting, "I think this is an excellent idea. We could set up magical traps there in advance, sowing chaos and demoralizing their ranks before the battle even begins."

  Cassius remained silent, still surveying his followers from above.

  A heavy silence fell, as most of his followers were undecided.

  Dolo rolled his eyes, then snorted a plume of white smoke, berating Langpu, "Langpu, you’ve spent so much time with those human spells you’ve gone soft, like a feeble human mage, overthinking everything!"

  "Are we, the Ember , supposed to cower defensively against mere humans?"

  The hobgoblin brandished his spear, r, "We’re the servants of the mighty red dragon, with the blood of destru and quest in our veins!"

  "We should attack, raining fire and might upon them! Crush their pitiful ce and bring them blood ah!"

  His words found support among many of the followers, who, being less intellectually ined and highly reverent of strength, found Dolo’s rhetoric appealing.

  Langpu sneered, ret, "Ign natural defeo throw ourselves into a head-on fight—has your head been stuffed with goblin dung?"

  "Pitiful creature."

  "Yes, Lord Langpu, those goblins really are greedy, cowardly, and foolish," added Gold-Fang, the kobold Sorcerer.

  Though speaking of goblins, eaade the hobgoblin leader shake with anger, his already red face growing even redder.

  Dolo stepped forward to loom over him, bellowing angrily,

  "Gold-Fang! Stay out of this!"

  "You’re in no position to speak here!"

  But Gold-Fang was emboldened by the imposing presence of Langpu by his side. With the animosity already established, he seized the ce to taunt further.

  The kobold Sorcerer fred his wings fidently, taunting, "Look who carries the truest bloodline of our master."

  "Who’s the true dragon-blooded?"

  Dolo ughed bitterly, "You—"

  "Enough."

  The dragon’s voice resonated, an invisible aura of draic might filling the valley, pressing heavily on each of his followers.

  The se fell silent, even the oblins, and kobolds standing obediently without a word.

  "Indeed, we will take the initiative."

  At these words, Dolo’s face lit up with triumph as he cast a taunting g Langpu.

  Cassius paused.

  "However…"

  "I io send them a grand gift."

  Supp his massive body with his forelimbs, the red dragon slowly rose, stretg his broad wings.

  "Awooo—"

  The horn sounded across Dragon Valley.

  The horn, crafted from a giant dragon-serpent’s hor out a thunderous rumble.

  Hobgoblins drove their massive earthbous forward, shaking the ground with their footsteps. Tieflings and lizardfolk warriors marched in full armor, lined up i rows. Meanwhile, from tless caves and dens in Storm Highnds, kobolds and goblins surged like a tide.

  The terrifying behemoth that had in dormant for years in Ember was finally baring its fangs and cws.

  ………

  In the allied forces’ camp, a gloved hand spped down on a map scroll.

  "This is it—Trier Valley."

  "Our optimal campsite. From here, we advance directly on Storm Highnds, and if necessary, retreat to hold Trier’s Throat, preventing Ember ’s forces from pursuing us. It’s perfect."

  The speaker, a man in his forties an ornate suit of knightly armor, wore a carefully groomed mustache and carried an air of authority.

  His name was Robert Dudley, the you t in the La Duchy, a trusted son-in-w of Duke Brad La, and the ander of the allied forces—a seasoned noble knight.

  Ient, a young blond man in his twenties voiced , "What if they attack from behind and trap us in the valley?"

  "Hahahaha!"

  The noble lords ient burst into ughter.

  The speaker was Andre Bosk, the third son of the "Northern Lion" Bosk family, a young and promising padin sworn to the Oath of Glory.

  While strong personally, his na?ve recklessness often amused the others, earning him the niame "Little Lion" in private.

  Stroking his mustache, Robert chuckled, "Andre, war is no simple game. In a battle involving tens of thousands, maneuvering an army isn’t as easy as moving pieces on a board."

  He poi the map.

  "See here, the Rect Mountains at the edge of Storm Highnds block the way. They won’t appear behind us without warning."

  Andre pondered for a moment before replying quietly,

  "I uand, Lord Robert."

  FAL