Chapter 62 : Chapter 62
Chapter 62. Massacre of the City
The leading Dragon Rider showed a troubled expression. They belonged to the Dragon Kingdom. Although they had an alliance with the Kroll Kingdom, they were not under its direct command.
Slaughtering an entire city was no trivial matter—especially when the place in question was territory of the Kroll Kingdom. If word of it spread, it could easily plant hidden dangers in the diplomatic relations between the two nations.
He was about to refuse when William spoke first.
“I am the fiancé of the Sixth Princess of the Dragon Kingdom. As Royal Dragon Riders, you cannot possibly be unaware of this.”
William’s voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable determination.
“Now, in the capacity of the princess’s fiancé, I ask you for a favor. Slaughter Kokoro Fortress for me. Do not spare a single chicken or dog.”
“Everything inside makes me sick.”
The Dragon Rider froze for a moment. The engagement between the Sixth Princess and the Fourth Prince of the Kroll Kingdom was indeed public knowledge.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded. Since William was the future husband of the princess, refusing such a request might make it difficult to explain things to the Dragon royal family when he returned.
He leaped onto the dragon’s back. Amid a thunderous dragon roar, the giant dragon was about to spread its wings and take flight.
“Wait! Is that the Fourth Prince?”
A flustered voice suddenly came from the walls of Kokoro Fortress. A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious noble attire leaned out over the battlements, his face plastered with a flattering smile.
“Your Highness, please forgive us. Kokoro Fortress was just attacked by Kadiya’s hallucinogenic potion. The soldiers guarding the city were all knocked unconscious. We only just woke up and are about to open the gate for you.”
Afraid that William might not believe him, he hurriedly added, “Your Highness, my father is Marquis Potter of the Central Region. I would never dare deceive you.”
William let out a cold laugh and turned to Tos.
“Do I look like an idiot to you?”
Tos quickly shook his head. “Your Highness is wise. How could you possibly be an idiot?”
“Since I’m not, why does he think he can treat me like one?”
William’s voice suddenly rose, his eyes blazing with fury.
“Just because his father is Marquis Potter? My father is Kroll II!”
He abruptly turned toward the Dragon Rider, his tone decisive.
“Stop talking to them. Kill them all. Kill them all quickly. Just seeing them now makes me furious.”
The noble on the wall instantly turned pale. He tried to say something more, but the Dragon Rider had already urged the dragon into the air.
Blazing dragon breath cascaded downward like a waterfall. The cries and pleas for mercy on the walls were instantly swallowed by flames.
The heavy city gate crackled violently in the dragon fire, and within moments it turned into charred remains.
William stood where he was, watching the fortress that had refused to save them being consumed by flames. There was no expression on his face.
Tos stood behind him. As he looked at the sea of fire, a chill crept down his spine.
His Highness had truly developed the intent to kill.
The roars of the Dragon Riders echoed across the sky as the silhouette of Kokoro Fortress gradually blurred within the flames.
The fire was like a greedy beast, devouring the fortress from the depths of night until the light of dawn.
The stone walls of Kokoro Fortress cracked in the inferno. All wooden structures had long since turned to ash, leaving behind only blackened skeletal frames swaying in the thick smoke.
William stood on a dirt slope within bowshot of the fortress, motionless as he watched the burning ruins.
The stench of charred flesh mixed with smoke drifted into his nose with the morning wind, carrying a nauseating sweetness.
His stomach churned violently and his throat tightened, but he clenched his lips shut and forcibly suppressed the urge to retch.
His gaze swept to the side.
Only thirty-eight slaves remained alive, every one of them wounded. Some were missing arms or legs, their eyes filled with the lingering terror of surviving disaster.
They had once been elite soldiers he had personally trained—his accumulated strength.
Now, they were almost completely wiped out.
All the effort he had invested over this period had vanished in the flames of war.
“Heh…”
William let out a quiet laugh, but the sound was as cold as shards of ice.
He had already guessed who was responsible.
Only that person had the ability to do this.
In the sky, the Dragon Riders still circled on their dragons.
From time to time, the dragons released deep roars. Their enormous bodies swept through the smoke while their golden vertical pupils vigilantly scanned every corner of the fortress, using their innate senses to search for the heartbeat of any living creature.
The moment the slightest sign of life appeared, dragon breath would descend instantly, leaving no chance for any survivors.
The sun gradually rose, dispersing the morning mist but failing to drive away the smell of burning in the air.
The fire in the fortress finally weakened, revealing a chaotic field of ruins still emitting thin trails of smoke.
William slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the turbulence within them had completely faded, leaving only a cold, lifeless calm.
He turned and looked at the thirty-eight slaves. His voice was terrifyingly calm.
“Count the survivors. Those who can walk will follow me. Those who cannot will be executed on the spot.”
No one dared respond. They silently drank High-Grade Healing Potions.
William cast one final glance at the ruins, as though carving the sight into his bones.
The Dragon Riders circled above the fortress several more times. Only after confirming there were no signs of life within the ruins did they descend slowly, the dragons’ massive claws striking the charred ground and stirring clouds of ash.
The leading Dragon Rider dismounted and approached William, bowing slightly.
“Your Highness, the matter of Kokoro Fortress is finished. We must return to the Ice and Snow Plains immediately to report back. We cannot remain here long.”
William nodded. He took out ten potions from his Spatial Ring and handed them over.
“You have all worked hard. This small gift is merely a token of my appreciation—ten High-Grade Healing Potions. Perhaps they may help treat some wounds.”
The Dragon Rider froze for a moment and instinctively tried to refuse. Although their kingdoms were allied, accepting such a valuable gift so easily seemed inappropriate.
However, when he met William’s calm gaze, the words of refusal stuck in his throat.
He accepted the potions and solemnly bowed to William.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
With that, he leaped back onto his dragon. The other Dragon Riders followed suit.
The dragons released deafening roars, spread their enormous wings, and rose into the sky, stirring up a violent gust of wind. Soon they became several dark silhouettes disappearing into the clouds.
William remained standing where he was. Only after they had completely vanished did he slowly withdraw his gaze.
The morning wind swept past, lifting his disheveled hair and revealing his pale but tense profile.
Tos spoke softly beside him.
“Your Highness, where shall we go now?”
William looked at the still-smoking ruins of Kokoro Fortress, then glanced at the thirty-eight wounded slaves behind him. His Adam’s apple moved slightly.
“Let’s go.”
He finally spoke, his voice carrying a faint hoarseness.
“We’re heading to Qila City. Those who escaped from Ningshuang City should have gone there. We will learn what happened once we arrive.”