The Mighty Dragons Are Dead-Chapter 871: Darkness Before Dawn (Fifth Update, Alliance Hierarch Added Update 4/147)
Assassinating a Dragon Knight isn't difficult, the challenge is assassinating a Dragon.
Because there is an indistinct connection among Dragons, especially when Dragon Magic Power is fully operational, the sensing between Dragons is particularly strong.
Only when an Elemental Dragon becomes possessed can one evade this sort of sensing.
And to assassinate a Dragon Knight, one only needs the Dragon Knight to temporarily leave the Dragon, unable to receive the Dragon's warning and timely support. After all, it's impossible for a Dragon Knight to always be with the Dragon, never leaving its side even to sleep or eat.
"If I infiltrate Hot Spring Island, the Formless Dragon might likely be sensed. By the time the Dragon Knights react, I might have to face two of them... Facing two Dragon Knights head-on isn't very stable. Although I'm not afraid, I might not be able to intercept them."
Li Si Te (Liszt) was now riding Formless Dragon Bard, with Little Fire Dragon Leo possessing his body, while Archmage Archy kept living with him.
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Only the Light Green Gemstone Dragon could not hide nor pursue for thousands of miles, so he left it at Jade Mountain continuing to guard the Jade Mine and sleep.
With his current combat configuration, he could barely manage to assassinate a Dragon Knight through a stealth attack; for a frontal assault on two Dragon Knights, the difficulty was indeed a struggle. Especially since he temporarily didn't know who these two Dragon Knights were, whether they were dragons with strong combat capabilities like the White Maw Iron Dragon.
Moreover, if a battle were in full swing and another Dragon Knight rushed over, it would be a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up startling the snake.
After careful deliberation, he dismissed the idea of an early stealth attack, "Forget it. I will stick to the original plan, wait for their retreat and then find a way to stealthily intercept and assassinate them. For now, I just need to stay patient." It all boiled down to the fact that his own strength was still developing. If the Fire Dragon and the Formless Dragon were adults...
Why bother keeping a low profile!
Bring a few, kill a few, charge up and slaughter away, regardless of how many Dragon Knights there are, they are all just delivering themselves to my doorstep. Unlike now, under the advance warning of the Smoke Mission, I still have to cautiously play my schemes.
Calculating the food supply for Hot Spring Island.
By the time April 2 arrived, the food requirement for the sealed-off area was equivalent to that of five Dragons, with no increase in the following days.
Li Si Te waited on Dodo Island, knowing full well: "Five Dragons, three Knights, such a scale is truly luxurious. They're really giving me face!"
Prince Alex White Maw Iron, a White Maw Iron Dragon Knight of the Eagle Kingdom.
Summit Marquis Alonso Xiankelai, a Bronze Dragon Knight of the Eagle Kingdom.
Duke Loyle Purple Copper, a Purple Copper Dragon Knight of the Purple Copper Duchy.
The Silver Dragon raised by the Royal Family of the Eagle Kingdom.
Duke Pierrot Grey Iron of the Grey Iron Duchy, and his unmounted Grey Iron Dragon.
"And accounting for the Grand Duke Andrew Sapphire, the Sapphire Dragon Knight of the Duchy of Sapphire... That makes six Dragons, four Knights. I must be careful and prudent."
...
Hot Spring Island.
Alex sat in the central position of the tent, with Alonso, Loyle, and Piero to the left and right. There was also a middle-aged man, the confidant Butler of the Eagle Kingdom's King and the keeper of the Silver Dragon, temporarily in charge of communicating with the Silver Dragon. The area around the tent was empty, with only these five men discussing.
"Is the investigation clear?"
"Yes, Li Si Te frequently travels between Black Horse Island and Dodo Island. According to the schedule, he will be on Dodo Island tomorrow to cultivate the entire day."
"Shall we wait a bit longer to gain a clearer picture?"
"The night has many dreams. Waiting further will only be a waste of time. Moreover, considering Andrew's cunning, he'll likely have a hard time continuing to ignore our movements. Perhaps he'll find an opportunity to send a message to Li Si Te, letting him create even more trouble for us."
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"In my opinion, we should have wiped out Andrew first, and then turned our attention to finishing off Liszt and purging the Sea of Azure Waves!"
"Last time, we missed our chance, and if we move against Andrew now, Steel Ridge will definitely not sit idly by. This time it's just against Liszt, so Steel Ridge and our kingdom have an understanding, allowing me to withdraw from the frontline. If we were to touch Andrew, I'm afraid a new dragon-slaying war would erupt," Alonso said calmly.
Of course, he wanted to annihilate the Duchy of Sapphire; his worst defeat had been at the hands of the Sapphire, after all. But there were some rules that even a Dragon Knight would not dare break lightly.
If the balance among the three nations–Steel Ridge, Blast Furnace Fortress, and Eagle Kingdom–were to be disrupted, the situation would become very difficult.
Ultimately, Alex made the decision: "Don't think about attacking Andrew, at least not for the time being. Killing Liszt, capturing the Fire Dragon, and retaking the Light Green Gemstone Dragon are our top priorities! And that Archmage, we must capture him to make up for the losses of the Eagle Kingdom!"
"Prince Alex, the worth of an Archmage cannot be measured, I trust the Eagle Kingdom will not break its word, correct?" Loyle said softly.
"Of course, Duke Loyle, rest assured, the knowledge of magic will be shared with you all by the Royal Family."
"So when do we make our move?"
"Tomorrow!"
The next day dawned before break of day.
Alonso had already woken up and was affectionately feeding the Bronze Dragon; he hadn't slept well the night before but had now adjusted his attitude. Gone was any excitement or nervousness, as well as the humiliation of the past, leaving only his determination for this dragon-slaying war: "Old buddy, it's time for us to use Lightning Strike and prove that we are deservedly Dragon Knights!"
Hmph!
The Bronze Dragon didn't roar but merely snorted twice through its nostrils, signaling its eager thirst for battle—it, too, remembered the disgrace of the previous dragon-slaying war.
Being a noble and invincible creature, to have run away with its tail between its legs!
Such a disgrace must be avenged by dragon law!
Shortly afterward, Duke Piero arrived with his Grey Iron Dragon: "Prince Alonso, I'm placing the Grey Iron Dragon under your command temporarily, hoping it returns cloaked in glory."
"Please be at ease, Prince Duke, this dragon-slaying battle will surely end with universal rejoicing!"
On another front, Loyle was also feeding his Purple Copper Dragon.
Prince Alex, meanwhile, was taking care of the White Maw Iron Dragon and the Silver Dragon. Since the Silver Dragon caregiver was only responsible for feeding and couldn't command the dragon in combat, it was left to him, a Dragon Knight, to give the orders. As a member of the Royal Family, Alex was no stranger to the Silver Dragon; they were old friends.
Thus, the three Dragon Knights, along with their five dragons, having confirmed the attack plan and timing, swiftly disappeared into the darkness before dawn. Wings spread wide, clouds churned, and a grand dragon-slaying operation commenced in the early hours of April 7, Sapphire Year 155.
However, these Dragon Knights were unaware.
A rat was watching this place.
When the carriage convoy transported food ahead of time in the middle of the night, the rats had already reported back to an inn in a nearby small town; hiding in the inn, the Magician immediately used the Magic Platform to send information to Dodo Island: "Food delivered at dawn, exactly the amount for a full meal... The rat didn't dare get close, no other movements noticed."
Archmage Archy, who slept lightly, quickly received the message from the Magic Platform and woke Liszt: "Brother, there's a message, it might be today that Eagle Kingdom launches their surprise attack."
"So, it's coming. Sooner than I expected, but the sooner it comes, the sooner it's over!" Liszt rubbed his face, not a hint of nervousness, but rather a sense of relief–the tension had been relentless with the attack date uncertain, but once the time was set, it was as if a burden had been lifted.
Pushing open the cabin window, there was pitch black outside. Yet the air was exceptionally fresh due to the new sprouts of Human Skull Trees struggling to germinate from the volcanic ash.
Breathing in the fresh air, Liszt stretched lazily without a care about appearances.
What's to come will come, let it come!
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