Beneath the Red Dragon

"Beastmen, never slaves!" These elite and strong beastmen echoed in unison, galloping with their chieftain towards unstoppable glory, ready to break through any obstruction, even if it were their kin.

Thousands of cavalry charged forth in mighty tides.

"Follow me, stay close to me until my flesh and blood are no more." Centaur Chiron took a deep breath, halting his panting, as the spare long saber in his hand also showed wear and tear.

"Until flesh and blood are no more!"

Behind him, the former leader of the centaurs, Kali, and her mate, Centaur Zhuge, the two warriors second only to Chiron, also paused for breath and joined in the call.

Their sturdy armor was dented, their undergarments soaked with dark red blood, both enemy and their own.

All the surviving warriors resoundingly cheered and regrouped.

Chiron’s steel-like teeth clenched, and his powerful hooves resumed running. Behind him were the valiant Dragon’s Beloved.

The torrent of steel resumed, like an avalanche facing a tsunami, unstoppable!

...

The booming artillery fire immediately breached the walls of the Golden City, revealing large gaps. Fortunately, Blue Dragon Akzhi had anticipated this outcome, and all the soldiers had withdrawn into the Luocheng while two Metal Dragons safely returned.

Young Red Dragon Kedelos, bearing two giant crossbows on its back, finally crawled within the city walls at the last moment.

Luckily, Luocheng was initially constructed to guard against beastman artillery fire, sacrificing nearly half the city, and built alongside the central streets of the Golden City.

To attack Luocheng, the beastman artillery would need to relocate, moving near the outer walls of the Golden City to target Luocheng’s defenses, giving Dragon Group’s army time to regroup and breathe.

However, recently, the beastman warriors seldom joined the assaults, and their artillery positions remained unmoved, with Shahua Fishmen conducting most of the attacks on the city.

Moreover, the Shahua Fishmen seemed more intent on plundering the city than attacking, as countless fishmen flooded through the breached walls.

Like bandits, they raided buildings, seizing gold, silver, gems, or immovable exquisite statues and artworks left behind.

Only a few fishmen attempted to assault Luocheng. Failing that, they turned to scavengers, dismantling and hauling away precisely carved decorative pillars, much to the Dragon Group soldiers’ disdain.

Daily skirmishes accompanied life within the city, and with the absence of artillery threats, Dragon Group warriors scoured the city for seemingly endless Shahua Fishmen.

Large forces rotated for rest and replenishment of lost arms and materials, with logistics carried out by those volunteering for conscription as the Dragon Group’s Beloved were reorganized into military units.

Faen and other soldiers who volunteered for the reserve corps were dispatched to transport ammunition, arrows, and provisions to the Golden City.

During low-intensity warfare, reserve soldiers were allowed to participate in defense, practicing with bows, firearms, and swords, rapidly gaining experience.

Faen’s exceptional martial prowess and outstanding qualities and strength earned him the position of Decurion in the reserve corps, leading nine soldiers to patrol and fortify the city walls.

This was the highest rank a new soldier could attain; a Centurion required seasoned veterans who had earned medals of valor through combat.

"Boss, with your incredible martial skills and immense strength, why choose to be a regular soldier? With your abilities, you could do much more,"

A young soldier, just losing his youthful down, now hardened, joked with his commander, gradually easing from initial tension with daily drills.

Looking upon the breached walls, blood-stained streets, and dilapidated buildings, Faen lamented the past splendor of the Golden City.

Hearing his subordinate’s words, a smile curled beneath Faen’s thick beard, "Our homeland is threatened, and someone must stand up. Though my power is limited, I am still willing to contribute to my homeland."

"Moreover, if the Dragon’s Beloved can sacrifice their lives to protect the Land of Golden and its people, aren’t we also part of the Golden People? I can’t comfortably enjoy their shelter, indulging in the safety forged by their bloodshed."

"Hehe," the young soldier scratched his head, shyly admitting, "I don’t think as much as you, Captain. I just want to drive these beastmen away quickly so I can go home and farm. My family’s newly opened five acres mustn’t be wrecked by these brutes."

Faen patted the young soldier’s shoulder, chuckling softly, "We’re all the same!"

Several dragons, carrying the nearly eternally slumbering Young Red Dragon Kedelos, landed before the Dragon’s Treasure Vault. Several White Dragons had been unchained, yet their place of residence remained here.

Without a summons from Blue Dragon Akzhi, these White Dragons could only remain here, watching over the vault for the Dragon Group.