Chapter 34: Northwind Eagle Guard (5)
"Target: Fire Breath!"
A flurry of short, explosive bursts erupted from the creature’s maw—five more Eagle Guards were instantly engulfed in roaring flames, collapsing to the ground as blazing torches.
The remaining few, just as Alje had hoped, fled in utter disarray under the relentless pursuit of the Two-Headed Dragon, their retreat a grim testament to the Red Dragon’s terrifying reputation. They carried word of the beast’s might across the entire Anzeta Great Wasteland, scattering fear in their wake.
Letting them go was not just a matter of convenience—spare the life of Alje meant wasting time hunting him down. It was also deliberate. The Northwind Eagle Guard, a legendary force under the Lakanman family, numbered only three hundred souls. And now, in one single engagement, a full tenth of them had been wiped out. This elite unit was one of the most formidable in the entire Northern Union Kingdom.
Days later, the tale of a terrifying Red Dragon terrorizing Storm Ridge spread like wildfire. A wanted poster appeared at Northwind Keep, bearing a grim illustration: a monstrous Red Dragon with fangs bared, flames spewing from its jaws.
Location: Storm Ridge, Ashen Hollow
Target: Suspected young Red Dragon, codename Flyflame
Reward: 5,000 gold coins
In taverns across the land, adventurers would boast over ale and roast meat, dreaming of glory. Drunk on wine and fantasy, they’d slap the table and shout: "If that Red Dragon ever crossed my path, I’d chop off its head and claim the bounty before sunrise!"
Of course, that was all future talk.
...
Alje awoke with a pounding head, his mind a tangled mess of fragmented memories.
At first, he dreamed of childhood—carefree days beneath a warm sun. His mother’s gentle hands brushed his hair as she softly read from an old book. He ran through narrow alleys, laughing with new friends, joy echoing through every shadowed corner.
Then—suddenly—the dream twisted.
He was screaming in the streets, searching desperately for his parents. All he found were two lifeless bodies, gutted open, their skin etched with strange, cursed symbols.
A man in opulent robes, face obscured, stood in the gloom. He placed a heavy hand on Alje’s shoulder, voice grave.
"Demons. You are the spawn of demons."
Then came fire—blazing, devouring. Screams. Rivers of blood. A woman clutching a crying child, begging for mercy. And in Alje’s hand, the Silver Sword screamed—like a hawk in flight.
"No!"
"Ha—ha—"
Alje jolted upright, gasping. His hand flew instinctively to his side—only when he felt the familiar, soft texture of feathers did he finally exhale.
His Giant Eagle.
He patted himself down. No fresh wounds. But his Standard Plate Armor was gone. His Eagle Cry Silver Sword—vanished. His hands and feet were shackled in heavy Iron Manacles.
Where am I?
He swept his gaze around the room.
Dark. Damp. Only a flickering Torch on the Rock Wall cast weak, trembling light. Hard stone walls surrounded him. Thick wooden barriers sealed the space. At the entrance, a fat Bear Goliath slumped against the door, snoring loudly. Its club lay forgotten on the ground. Patrols of Goblin warriors marched back and forth in the corridor.
This is a Monster Nest Dungeon.
Alje deduced instantly.
He’d been hypnotized—likely by the Red Dragon—and thrown into this prison. His only goal now: escape, gather intelligence, and report everything to the Duke.
But no weapons. The cell was locked with iron chains and a thick, unyielding door. Escape seemed impossible.
"Hey, Bear Goliath," Alje called out, waving. "Wake up."
He hoped to draw attention, learn something, find a chance to flee.
The Goliath snapped awake. Seeing Alje conscious, it bellowed like a storm.
"Rise, Lord Dolo! The human’s awake!"
Alje lowered his voice, trying to bargain. "You want gold?"
"Hand over the key. I’ve got—"
"Spit!" The Goliath spat in his face. It grabbed its club, turned sharply, and stomped away, muttering under its breath: "Humans. Always think they can outsmart us. Like we’re fools."
"You’re clean. Nothing left. A beggar. A skeleton with skin."
"Help! This human’s awake!"
With a roar that shook the dungeon, the Goliath’s voice echoed through the tunnels. The news spread fast. Goblins scrambled, shouting to one another, relaying the message beyond the walls.
"Damn it!"
"Let me out!"
Alje seized the bars, shaking them violently. The iron chains clanked, rattling like a dying beast. But the door—thick as an Ogre’s skull—remained unshaken. No human, weak or not, could break it. His efforts were futile, draining his strength with no result.
After minutes of fruitless struggle, the wooden bars stood firm. Alje finally gave up.
He slumped against the wall, mind clearing. Calm returned.
The Red Dragon spared my life. There must be a reason.
It plans to interrogate me.
This cunning evil dragon is plotting something—perhaps to assassinate the Duke, to steal treasure, seize a city, or overthrow the kingdom.
But no matter what it asks, I will not answer.
If only I still had my gear… If I had Dragon Venom on me, I could end it all at any moment.
He clenched his jaw, steeling himself for the pain to come.
Sure enough, three massive Bear Goliaths marched from the far end of the corridor.
They heaved with effort, dragging heavy, rough keys. With grunts and creaks, they unlocked the iron locks, unfastened the chains, and slowly pushed open the heavy door.
The entrance was blocked—completely—by the thick, hulking bodies of the Goliaths. No gap. No chance.
"Come with me, human. The master wishes to see you."
One of the Goliaths bent low, entering the cell. It stepped toward Alje.
"Touch me, and I’ll kill you."
But the beast ignored him. It seized Alje’s shackles, wrapped the chain tightly around its massive forearm, then hauled him to his feet.
Two more Goliaths surged forward, lifting Alje bodily—his legs limp, his body helpless—ensuring no escape.
"He tried to bribe me!" one roared, laughing. "Said he had gold!"
"I didn’t fall for it! Ha!"
"Look at him now—once so proud. What a mess."
"Those Two-Headed Dragons were useless. Couldn’t even catch one human. All that meat, wasted."
"Yeah. Maybe we should eat him instead."
They chattered among themselves, dragging Alje through the corridor like a sack of grain.
The Giant Eagle Knight, once a lord of the skies, was now powerless. If he’d been mounted on his eagle, soaring above the clouds, he could have wiped out these foul creatures with a single strike.
But here—trapped in the dungeon, weak, bound, and shackled—there was nothing he could do. The proud knight was reduced to a puppet in the hands of brute, mindless beasts.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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