Not long after this, everyone saw two battered wagons drive in from outside. A few men sat on them, looking very much like prisoners. Obviously, these should be the criminals the innkeeper had mentioned who were to be executed.
At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about them. Their clothes were shabby, their appearances unkempt… very much fitting the identity of convicts.
"Hmm…"
Looking at this scene before him, Duanmu Huai couldn't help but think. From the innkeeper, he had already heard a little about this place called Skyrim Province. To put it simply, although it had been conquered by the Empire, the people of Skyrim were fierce and stubborn, so the rebels had never been fully crushed. Especially the man captured this time—the leader of the Skyrim rebels, Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm.
That said, judging from the equipment of these soldiers, this Empire didn't seem all that powerful… who knew? At the very least, so far they didn't appear to possess the kind of advanced magical power of Manaria, nor anything like the divine protection of the Holy City.
"No!!"
As Duanmu Huai was lost in thought, a sudden scream broke his concentration. Looking toward the sound, he saw one of the prisoners shouting.
"No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!!"
Still screaming, the man turned and bolted toward the village gate. But he only managed a few steps before arrows whistled through the air from behind, piercing him through. He collapsed to the ground, dead.
"Sir Knight, should we help?"
Watching this, Guleya frowned and asked softly. Duanmu Huai shook his head.
"Of course not. This is the Empire's internal affair. Don't forget our purpose—don't startle the snake."
After that, the remaining prisoners were dragged one by one from the wagons and lined up. Then a man who appeared to be the commander stepped forward, reading aloud the crimes of the captives in front of the crowd.
"Ulfric Stormcloak. In Helgen, some call you a hero. But a hero would not use his Shout to seize power and usurp the throne. You started this civil war, plunging Skyrim Province into rebellion. Now the Empire will wipe you out and restore peace to Skyrim!"
——————!!
But just as his words fell, a strange roar echoed from the distance.
The moment she heard it, Guleya's tail shot straight up, her eyes went wide, and her body began to tremble.
"Guleya? What's wrong?"
Noticing her friend's unusual reaction, Anne hurried to her side and whispered. Guleya shook her head.
"I… I don't know. But that sound… it's terrifying. Very dangerous… it feels like something is coming…"
"Stay sharp."
By now Duanmu Huai had also sensed something. Though nothing unusual was visible, he could feel it—the chirping of birds and insects had vanished, and the air itself seemed to grow heavy and sticky. All clear signs that danger was approaching. Even the villagers, who had been standing outside to watch the execution, suddenly went back into their houses—not out of compassion, clearly, but because they too sensed something.
——————!!!!
Another roar shook the sky, startling everyone. Even the Imperial soldiers, who had been conducting the execution, now glanced around uneasily, sensing something wrong.
"Next!!"
Seeing her soldiers panic, the captain at the front snapped angrily, waving her weapon.
"Faster! Continue the execution, we still—"
But before she could finish, a massive black shadow burst out from the clouds and landed heavily on the stone watchtower by the execution grounds.
The moment the crowd saw what it was, they screamed.
"A dragon!!"
Yes, a dragon. But unlike the dragonkin of Regnis, this one did not look robust—in fact, it was somewhat thin. If one were to compare it to animals, the difference between this black dragon and the Regnis dragons was like that between a leopard and a tiger.
Yet that did not mean it was weak.
Perched atop the watchtower, the black dragon inhaled deeply, and in the next instant—
A thunderous roar erupted from its maw, shaking the skies like a sudden clap of thunder.
As if in response to that roar, the once-clear sky instantly darkened, heavy storm clouds swirling together. From within them, countless blazing meteors rained down upon the village.
"Anne! Prepare defenses! Odelle, stay here! Everyone else, with me!!"
Though he didn't know why the dragon had come, it was clearly not friendly. This was no time to sit idly by. Duanmu Huai barked his orders, then smashed through the window, leaping from the inn's second-floor balcony to charge at the dragon.
Meanwhile, Anne raised her hand. A glowing blue circular barrier instantly formed over the inn, blocking the falling meteors.
Her reaction was quick, but most of the village was still engulfed in flames in moments. Villagers screamed and scattered, while soldiers raised their bows, shooting at the black dragon wheeling in the sky. But their arrows had no effect.
Boom!!!
As Duanmu Huai burst from the inn, the dragon descended heavily to the ground. With a roar, it unleashed a torrent of fire, instantly reducing dozens of soldiers to ash.
"Die!!"
At the same time, Duanmu Huai leapt with his Thunder Warhammer raised high, bringing it down with full force at the black dragon. The beast roared, flapping its wings to soar up just in time, dodging the blow.
"Tch, this is why I hate those mid-sized pests!"
Duanmu Huai clicked his tongue. He hated enemies like this—neither massive enough to be easy targets, nor small enough to swat easily. Too big to crush quickly, yet agile enough to evade—infuriating.
Still, he was not fighting alone!
As the black dragon tried to take flight again, Olgis raised her hands. Invisible threads wrapped around the beast, cutting off its ascent. With a sharp tug, she dragged it back down to the ground.
At the same moment, Guleya shifted back into her dragon form, her claws wreathed in flame as she slashed at the black dragon. From the other side, Lorena lifted her holy scripture and brought it crashing down toward the beast's head.
Naturally, Duanmu Huai would not miss such an opportunity. He swung his Thunder Warhammer again, charging straight for the dragon.
No way he wasn't taking down this overgrown lizard!
But then, something completely unexpected happened.
As Duanmu Huai and the others closed in, the black dragon lifted its head and opened its jaws—
——————!!!
A blast of powerful air erupted from its mouth, rushing straight at them. This was no mere wind. It carried a strange, mysterious force.
In the instant the dragon roared, the flames around Guleya's claws were snuffed out. Lorena's scripture was torn from her hands. The threads binding the dragon snapped apart. Even Duanmu Huai himself felt an overwhelming force slam into him, ripping the Thunder Warhammer from his grip.
But Duanmu Huai wasn't so easily shaken. As the hammer slipped from his hands, he twisted his body, deliberately hurling it forward. The Thunder Warhammer roared through the sky and smashed into the black dragon's chest, striking it hard enough to make the beast cough up a mouthful of blood.
Though wounded, the black dragon flapped its wings fiercely, launching itself skyward. Its crimson eyes glared coldly at Duanmu Huai for a brief moment before it turned, vanishing into the thick storm clouds above.
"Is everyone all right?"
Lowering his gaze, Duanmu Huai looked around at his companions.
"I'm fine, Master."
"I'm fine too, Sir Knight."
But unlike Olgis and Lorena, Guleya seemed strangely dazed. She stood frozen, staring at the direction the black dragon had flown. Duanmu Huai came over and waved a hand before her eyes.
"Guleya? Are you okay?"
"Ah, Sir Knight!"
At last, she blinked and turned toward him, nodding a little awkwardly.
"I'm fine, just…"
"Do you know what kind of magic that dragon used just now?"
"Yes!"
She hesitated a moment, then nodded firmly.
"If I'm not mistaken, that was… the Dragon Shout!"
(End of Chapter)