Chapter 316: Chapter 214: Let’s Give It a Try First (Part 3)
"I’m sorry, Your Excellency David Uthos. Though it is difficult to say, with the current state of our Eight Peaks Mountain Fortress, if our elite forces are all deployed, this fortress may be in danger of falling."
David feigned deep thought and sighed, "In that case, at this stage, can only I lead a group of young dragons to struggle alone against the Moon Elves? For the continuation of the Chromatic Dragons, I’m afraid I’ll have to ’lay low’ for a while."
Another Black Rock Fortress Lord couldn’t help but propose another argument, "Your Highness David Uthos, you could also choose to lead the dragons to help us repel the Drow and the Beastmen from the underground. Afterwards, we can converge and strike together to recover Katjana, assisting Your Highness in reclaiming your ancestral home?"
This time, David didn’t pretend and unapologetically dismissed the lord, who was likely also instructed by the Supreme King, "I’m sorry, please forgive my refusal. I cannot permit myself to lead my followers and kin onto a battlefield where the circumstances are completely unclear."
He had already provoked Rose once and only by the grace of Tiamat did he escape her wrath. Now that Rose had resolved to carve a breach through The Dark Mountains for a fervent, destined duel with the High Elves, he did not wish to court further trouble, knowing the situation full well.
Hearing this, the dragons behind him also breathed a collective sigh of relief.
They also didn’t want to tangle with those crafty Drow; they’d rather face the High Elves head-on. At least then their wings wouldn’t be rendered virtually useless most of the time.
Just when the atmosphere turned solemn due to David’s blunt refusal, David spoke again before Temur could, "King Temur, since we both have reasons we cannot ignore that prevent us from fully supporting each other, I have a compromise. Would you consider it?"
"Please," the Supreme King gestured, indicating for David to speak freely.
"In ten years, I will create an opportunity for the High Elf legends to withdraw from Skanis. Then, you can seize the chance to launch a full assault and counterattack the Katjana Mountains.
"As far as I know, the underground of the Katjana Mountains is full of magma rivers, making it unfit for Drow habitation.
"And we dragons don’t mind having some extra Dwarves in our territory."
But these words from David inflamed the Dwarves. Despite not uttering a single complaint when their requests were wholly refused before, they now suddenly burst into rage. Particularly, the explosive Rune Lord slammed his goblet down and roared at David, "You’re asking us to completely abandon the Eight Peaks Mountain Fortress?!"
It was as if he was asking for the very lives of many Dwarves. And indeed, that was the case.
The Eight Peaks Mountain Fortress, built thousands of years ago, had never fallen. It had become a sacred and inviolable homeland and ancestral ground for the Dwarves.
David’s words were akin to asking the people of Blue Star to idly watch groundhogs dig up their ancestors’ graves.
Yet, faced with the Dwarves’ passionate uproar, David raised his neck, looked at them, and said, "That’s right."
"Utterly unreasonable! I would rather die in battle here than abandon this fortress."
"Exactly!"
"Give it up. The Chromatic Dragons will never understand what this land means to us."
As the Dwarves solemnly protested David’s ’absurd proposition,’ Temur, the Supreme King, remained silent.
David was also unfazed. However, the fiery statements of the Dwarves seemed to have intimidated the Dwarf children. These children, emboldened by David’s earlier feeding, had fearlessly approached the dragons to play hide-and-seek. David extended his tail, gently patted the trembling children hiding behind the pillars, and then addressed the Tisay lords, "Oh? So you intend for them to die in battle with you old folks in this tomb that’s already reeking of decay?
"Or... would you rather they be captured by the Drow, bred endlessly like livestock on the plains, birthing generation after generation of little ’livestock’ to be exploited by the Drow?"
This was no scaremongering. The fate of Toriel’s Gray Dwarves under the rule of the Spirit Suckers would only be worse.
After a brief silence, the Dwarves became even more ’impotently furious,’ roaring incessantly.
David, however, just grinned and taunted mercilessly, "Look at yourselves. You already know it, don’t you...?
"You can no longer hold this fortress.
"This is the will of the gods,
"And the inevitable course of history.
"Or perhaps, you could try praying to your gods...
"Pray, why don’t you?!"
"Shut your mouth! We don’t need any of the Chromatic Dragons’ hypocritical ’pity’ here!" a Dwarf, finally unable to bear the piercing pain and mental torture, exclaimed.
"Enough!!!" Dwarf King Temur roared, putting an end to the Dwarves’ quarreling.
Then, under the incredulous gazes of the other Dwarves, he looked at David with a pained expression and asked, "Can you guarantee the complete withdrawal of the High Elf legends from Skanis?"
"I can only guarantee that at least half will leave, but I cannot ensure their complete withdrawal from Skanis. After all, I cannot control the will of the High Elves." David spread his claws.
"So, we need to continue to hold out here for ten more years?"
"To be precise, within twelve years. During this period, however, I can offer you some small assistance with trade. For example, exchanging your goods for food, medical-grade spirits, Magical Items, and some battle-assist potions."
A group of Dwarves suddenly showed a flicker of interest again—assuming David hadn’t made that damnable suggestion about abandoning the Eight Peaks Mountain Fortress.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot to introduce myself. Besides being the Lord of Katjana, I am also a humble maritime trader and alchemist. My primary product is the Anger Potion. You should have heard of its renown."
As he said this, David took out an Anger Potion from his Portable Cave and tossed it to Supreme King Temur on the throne, "King Temur, feel free to try its effects."
Temur, unafraid of being poisoned by the Red Dragon, pulled out the stopper. Then, under David’s hesitant gaze, he downed it in one gulp, just as Drow Alianna had done years ago.
Then, the Supreme King’s eyes visibly began to ’rage.’
First, he almost belched fire, but for the sake of decorum, he suppressed it with great effort.
David immediately tapped his forehead with a claw, anticipating trouble.
Then, as the dragons watched with expectant schadenfreude, the Dwarf King—under the incredulous and astonished gazes of the Tisay lords—shot a brilliant flame from his rear and spiraled into the air.
THUD.
His helmeted head became embedded in the ceiling.