Chapter 445: Arrival at Bronze Fortress
"Boom!"
The Red Dragon slashed through the sky with its mighty wings, effortlessly shattering a meteor in its path.
Kai Xiusu narrowed his eyes, voice casual, almost indifferent. "How do you Fire Dwarves live?"
The question snapped the once-panicked Green Cardoso into sudden pride. He puffed out his chest.
"Each to their own duty, Your Majesty, Kai Xiusu."
"Our society in this plane is the most perfected of all. Unlike the brutal Fire Giants or the savage Fire Lizards, every Fire Dwarf inherits their parent’s profession at birth—and serves it for life."
"The Bronze Skirt Nobles lead, defend the realm. The Copper Skirt Merchants trade, sell goods. The Crimson Copper Skirt—servants, artisans, laborers."
"Our lives are always orderly, precise. Each fortress is like a finely tuned machine."
Pride shimmered in his words.
Fire Dwarves were dutiful by nature—and Green Cardoso, as guide, was no exception. He spoke without reservation, revealing everything.
"Caste System."
Kai Xiusu heard the flawless society described, but only one word came to mind from his past life—Caste System. He glanced at the dwarf with a faint, knowing smile.
"So you're actually a Noble among Fire Dwarves?"
Green Cardoso straightened even further, his yellow-brass skirt twitching proudly.
"Of course, Your Majesty. The Cardoso Clan has been Noble Fire Dwarves for four thousand years."
"Seven centuries ago, my father forged my body with his own hands and infused me with Soulfire. The memories of our ancestors—their labor in the City of Iron, the City of Brass—are now my own heritage."
For a fleeting instant, the pale golden eyes of the Red Dragon flickered with barely perceptible surprise.
Seven centuries.
That was no small span—even for a dragon, long-lived as they were.
A seven-hundred-year-old dragon was already considered extremely ancient, the final stage in a dragon’s life force where fertility still lingered.
Many Five-Colored Dragons didn’t live that long—falling to armies or adventurers before reaching such age.
And for Kai Xiusu—a mere twenty-something "teenage dragon" by dragon standards—seven centuries felt like an eternity.
"Good," the Red Dragon rumbled.
"Green Cardoso, you are fortunate."
"Perhaps... you will become the bridge between the Empire and the Fire Dwarf realm."
The Red Dragon lowered its gaze, studying the seemingly insignificant Fire Dwarf in its claw—now seven centuries old. For the first time, a hint of genuine value flickered in its gaze.
Once, the Elemental Plane of Fire had been nothing more than a hunting ground for Fire Elemental Energy.
But now… the Red Dragon realized: perhaps the Empire needed a colony here.
"Uh... thank you, Your Majesty," Green Cardoso scratched his head, bewildered but delighted.
He couldn’t quite explain it, but the king—though terrifying in appearance—was kind, even favorably disposed toward his people.
"Almost there."
"That’s it—the Bronze Fortress of the Fire Dwarves."
The Red Dragon angled its massive wings, spreading them slightly, preparing to dive.
Below, a colossal structure—its core buried deep beneath the earth—rose from the ground. Its exposed surface gleamed with polished brass and dark basalt.
"Wait!"
"What’s that?!"
A chorus of roars and screams erupted from the ground. Familiar explosions echoed, steam hissed like a serpent’s breath.
From Kai Xiusu’s vantage in the sky, the figures below writhed like grains of sand. The battlefield was a storm of fire and steam.
He saw Fire Lizards wielding long spears. Towering Fire Giants, massive and grim. And in the air, Flame Wyverns flapping their wings with fury.
Opposing them stood Fire Dwarves—armed with Copper Hammers—and the Empire’s Advance Force, equipped with Rifles and Cannons.
"King Kai Xiusu!" Green Cardoso cried out, excited. "It’s a Fire Giant raiding party! Those filthy Homefolk are attacking again!"
Kai Xiusu’s eyes narrowed. A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips. The crimson in his pupils shimmered.
"So this is the Fire Giant army?"
"Perfect timing," he murmured.
The vast body of the Red Dragon pulsed with flickering spell-light, its wings beating faster.
"Brrrrrrrrr—"
A sonic boom tore through the air.
Like a rip in fabric, the sky screamed as the Red Dragon sliced through the Elemental Plane of Fire, a streak of crimson fury.
Against the orange-hued heavens, a long, jagged explosion cloud split the sky in two.
"Boom!"
A shell plummeted from above, crushing a Fire Lizard’s head flat.
"Zzzzzzzip!"
A shrill, agonized wail—Fire tongue—rang out.
The lizard’s serpentine lower half twitched once, then went still. The burning fibers covering its body slowly dimmed, extinguished.
"Clang!"
Its spear clattered to the ground.
But nearby, a Fire Giant stood unmoved, arms crossed. He lifted his curved blade high, eyes blazing with molten fire.
"Filthy abomination from the Material Realm!"
"Hand over the human mongrel, Misha! We’ll let you live!"
"And you, Fire Dwarves! Keep hiding these traitors, and we’ll reduce your Bronze Fortress to rubble!"
"Boom!"
The reply was a searing metal cannonball.
A barrage of shells rained down, forcing the Fire Giant to leap aside, cursing.
"By the Fire God! Damn material filth!"
"Destroy them!"
With one hand raised high, the blade glinting, the Fire Giant swung his whip with the other, roaring. His eyes burned like twin furnaces.
"ROOOOAR!"
"Attack!"
The Flame Wyverns and Fire Lizards charged again.
But within the fortress’s defenses, the Empire’s advance force was equally frustrated. Their commander, a Half-Dragon named Selkan Wood, had earned his title in the Kingdom of Ashen, fought bravely in the Northern Regions, and now stood as a respected Imperial Viscount—leading the expedition into the most dangerous of all elemental frontlines.
He had volunteered for this mission—only to face disaster.
These were elite Half-Dragons, handpicked for their resilience in extreme conditions.
Yet they were being outmatched.
Selkan spat furiously. "I’ve had enough of these damned Fire Elementals!"
His Half-Dragon aide nodded in grim agreement.
"Great Kai Xiusu above, the Explosion Roots do nothing! Even shells have to hit them to work!"
Selkan kicked the fortification wall. "When I get back, I’m reporting to the Empire’s Magic Ministry. They’d better send us mages specialized in ice and water elemental energy—kill these beasts!"
Nearby, a Fire Dwarf repairing the brass walls flinched at the words.
After all, he was an elemental being, too.
"Zzzzzzzz—"
Suddenly, a piercing shriek tore through the sky.
The Half-Dragon aide spun around, eyes wide, staring upward.
An awe-inspiring sight unfolded in the heavens.
In an instant, a wild, impossible thought struck him—and it was about to be confirmed.
"Captain! Captain!"
"Look—look up!"
Selkan turned, puzzled.
But his aide was already on his knees, eyes wild with reverence.
Even more astonishing—every Fire Dwarf at the walls had frozen, staring upward, whispering in awe: "Molradin above!"
Selkan slowly raised his gaze.
"Thud."
He dropped to his knees, mouth moving silently.
"Kai Xiusu above..."
The Red Dragon, a streak of crimson fire, plunged from the sky like a falling star—straight into the heart of the Fire Giant army.
"Boom!"
The Elemental Plane of Fire trembled violently. Ashes rained across the land. Flames erupted into the sky, painting the heavens in fire.
(End of Chapter)
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