I Breathe Euro-Chapter 236: Iron Dome.

Jack sat in the council chamber, his fingers drumming against the polished wooden table. Around him, the echoes of the vote still lingered in the air.

The decision had been made.

The alliance had rejected his plan.

Despite the strong arguments, the risks of attacking the Iron Dome of Dragons had been deemed too great. The Dwarves were hesitant, the Beastkin wary, and the human warlords unwilling to commit. Even Katrina, despite her confidence, had been unable to sway them.

The moment the final vote was cast, Jack saw the disappointment flicker across her face. But in her eyes, he also saw something else—determination.

As the council members dispersed, murmuring about alternative strategies, Jack and Katrina remained seated.

"This was a mistake," Katrina muttered, her arms crossed tightly. "They’re all too afraid to take a real risk. They don’t understand what’s at stake."

Jack leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "We knew this wouldn’t be easy. They want security, not war."

She scoffed. "Security won’t matter when another kingdom takes the Iron Dome before we do."

Jack didn’t respond. He was still processing everything. His mind was already shifting gears, searching for a new approach. If the alliance wouldn’t back them, they needed another way.

"Jack."

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

He turned—and found himself looking at the Elven Queen.

The council chamber was empty now, save for the three of them. The Queen’s emerald-green robes shimmered under the torchlight as she stepped forward, her expression unreadable.

Katrina immediately straightened. "Your Majesty."

The Queen raised a hand, silencing any formalities. She glanced toward the large doors of the chamber, ensuring they were alone before speaking.

"You were right."

Jack’s eyes narrowed slightly. "About what?"

"The Iron Dome." The Queen’s voice was calm, but there was an intensity behind her words. "The council voted against it because they are afraid, but I see the truth in your plan. That fortress is too valuable to ignore."

Katrina frowned. "Then why vote against us?"

The Queen sighed. "Because I must maintain unity among the factions. If I openly sided with you, it would divide the alliance further. But that does not mean I will let this opportunity slip away."

Jack studied her carefully. "What are you saying?"

The Queen stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I will support you. In secret."

Katrina’s eyes widened slightly. "You mean...?"

"Resources, intelligence, and elven support," the Queen confirmed. "But only in the shadows. If anyone asks, I was never involved."

Jack’s mind raced. This changed everything.

With the Elven Queen’s backing, they wouldn’t need the full support of the alliance. They could move independently, striking from the shadows just as they had originally planned.

Jack exchanged a glance with Katrina. She gave a small nod.

"We’ll make it happen," Jack said firmly.

The Queen smiled faintly. "Good. Then we have much to discuss."

Jack sat back in his chair, fingers laced together as he listened to the Elven Queen’s proposal.

"We are the protectors of the forest," she said, her tone calm yet firm. "No force in this world can move through the woods without our knowledge. If you wish to scout the Iron Dome, my people are your best option."

Katrina nodded in agreement, arms crossed. "Elves are unmatched in stealth and survival. If we’re going to gather intelligence on the Iron Dome, we need your best."

The Queen allowed a small smile to cross her lips. "That is exactly what I intend to give you."

She gestured toward the guards standing by the entrance, and at her silent command, they stepped aside. A group of elves entered the chamber—six in total, each clad in dark green cloaks that blended seamlessly with the shadows. Their movements were precise, almost unnatural in their grace.

Jack’s eyes swept over them. "They look solid," he admitted. "But I want to be there myself."

The room fell silent for a moment. Then, both the Elven Queen and Katrina spoke at the exact same time.

"No."

Jack blinked. "Excuse me?"

Katrina turned to him, her expression serious. "Jack, I know you want to see everything firsthand, but this isn’t the time. You’re too important."

The Queen nodded. "The risk is unnecessary. My best scouts will handle this. They will move like shadows, unseen and unheard."

Jack clenched his jaw. He didn’t like the idea of sitting back while others did the dangerous work. But as much as he wanted to argue, he knew both of them had a point.

Katrina continued. "I’ll send my best men as well. Together, our warriors and the elves will form the strongest scouting party possible."

Jack exhaled sharply. "Fine. But the second we get intel, I want to move fast."

The Queen gestured, and one of the elves stepped forward. He was taller than the others, his silver hair partially covered by his hood. A pair of daggers rested at his sides, and his piercing green eyes studied Jack carefully.

"This is Vaelion," the Queen introduced. "He is my finest scout, my Shadow among Shadows. He and his team will lead the operation."

Vaelion inclined his head slightly. "It will be done."

Jack could sense the confidence radiating from him. These weren’t ordinary warriors—they were the elite, trained to move unseen even in enemy territory.

"Then it’s settled," Katrina said. "The scouts will move out immediately. Meanwhile, Jack and I will head to the nearest fortress."

Jack frowned slightly. "Why are we heading there instead of preparing the next step here?"

The Queen answered, her voice calm. "Because war isn’t just about scouting and fighting—it’s about positioning. You need to be somewhere strategic when the time comes."

Katrina added, "That fortress will put us closer to the front. It’s a stronghold, a staging ground. We can begin preparations while we wait for the scouts to return."

Jack sighed but nodded. He knew there was no point in arguing. If he couldn’t be on the scouting mission, then he needed to focus on what came next.

"Fine. Let’s move."

As Jack and Katrina prepared to depart, the Queen spoke again.

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"I will join you soon."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You’re coming as well?"

The Queen smiled faintly. "Yes. But I will not come alone. There is someone I must bring with me."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Who?"

The Queen’s smile deepened, but she did not answer. "You’ll see soon enough."

With that, the meeting ended, and the path toward the Iron Dome’s conquest truly began.

Jack and Katrina rode swiftly across the rugged terrain, their mounts galloping through the moonlit path toward the fortress. The air was thick with anticipation. The decision had already been made—their forces would wait, but the elves had already set out on their scouting mission.

Jack had pushed the system’s silence to the back of his mind, focusing entirely on their next steps. He had been preparing to strategize, to plan an approach for the Iron Dome of Dragons when the scouts returned. But fate had its own plans.

The emergency message had arrived like a bolt of lightning.

The Iron Dome is under attack.

The revelation had sent a chill down Jack’s spine. Who could be attacking such a heavily fortified stronghold? And why now?

Now, as the fortress walls loomed ahead, his mind raced through the possibilities.

The fortress was massive—a towering structure of stone and reinforced steel, standing resilient against time and war. Its spiked battlements were manned by watchful soldiers, and banners of Katrina’s kingdom fluttered in the cold wind.

The moment Jack and Katrina arrived, a flood of activity erupted around them. Soldiers straightened, commanders rushed to greet them, and messengers ran to relay orders. The fortress was on high alert.

A burly commander with a scarred face approached, bowing slightly before Katrina. "My Lady, we have received your orders and begun fortifying our defenses."

Katrina dismounted swiftly. "Good. But that won’t be enough. Bring me the scout’s report."

The commander nodded and signaled to a waiting elf. The elf stepped forward—one of Vaelion’s scouts, his cloak torn and dirtied from hard travel. His breathing was ragged, his expression grim.

Jack stepped closer. "Report."

The elf wasted no time. "The Iron Dome is under siege. Unknown forces are attacking in waves. It is not a simple skirmish—this is a full-scale assault."

Katrina’s eyes darkened. "Do we know who’s behind it?"

The scout shook his head. "Not yet. The attack came swiftly, with terrifying precision. The defenders are barely holding."

Jack exchanged a glance with Katrina. This was bad. The Iron Dome was meant to be one of the strongest defensive positions in the region. If it fell, the balance of power would shift drastically.

"How long do they have?" Jack asked.

The scout hesitated. "A few days at most. If no reinforcements arrive, they will fall."

Jack exhaled slowly. This wasn’t just a problem—it was a crisis.

Inside the war room, maps were spread across a large wooden table. Commanders, generals, and high-ranking officers gathered, tension filling the air.

Jack’s eyes scanned the maps, marking key locations. "We need to know exactly what we’re dealing with."

The Elven Queen had promised to arrive with another ally soon, but they couldn’t afford to wait.

Katrina folded her arms. "We don’t have the numbers for a direct assault. If we march recklessly, we’ll be throwing away lives."

Jack nodded. "We need to know the enemy before we move. We have elite scouts—we use them. If we can find a weak point in the siege, we can strike there."

One of Katrina’s commanders spoke up. "We also need to prepare the fortress here. If the enemy wins at the Iron Dome, they might come for us next."

Jack clenched his jaw. "Then we prepare for both. We fortify this position and get real intelligence on the enemy."

Katrina tapped her fingers on the table. "The Elven Queen said she’d bring an ally. If it’s someone powerful, it could change everything."

Jack didn’t reply immediately. His mind was working through all the scenarios. The Iron Dome was falling—but if they played their cards right, this could be an opportunity.

He turned to the scout. "Tell Vaelion to stay hidden, observe everything, and find us a way in."

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The elf nodded before disappearing into the shadows.

Jack looked around the room. The fate of the war was shifting. One thing was certain—whatever was attacking the Iron Dome, it was just the beginning.