Ember Dragon Novel Chapter 578: The Gold Dragon and the Elves

Chapter 578: Chapter 578: The Gold Dragon and the Elves

Chapter 578: The Gold Dragon and the Elves

At Avenderdan, the dwarves finally pulled themselves from the joy of victory and began silently cleaning the battlefield, collecting the bodies of their kin.

Charred marks covered the walls, bloodstains were everywhere, and great patches of solidified tal lay below.

Over a thousand dwarven warriors had died in the battle. Even in death, they had fought to protect their ho.

An elder dwarf lifted a corpse still frozen in a battle stance, gently closing its wide, angry eyes.

"Rest easy, child. Avenderdan still stands. May you find eternity in Moradin’s realm."

His voice choked at the end. Even the most rugged dwarves couldn’t help but grieve.

Another dwarf approached and patted his shoulder: "They will. Karl. These fallen are heroes of our people. Moradin and the gods will welco them.

In Heaven Mountain, they will forge the finest arms for our Father."

Karl nodded firmly, his gaze resolute.

"I’ll stand with His Majesty and defend Avenderdan. Only then can their spirits rest."

"Aye. The orc threat isn’t over yet. This isn’t the ti for mourning."

After all, the shield dwarves had only held off the first assault.

The vast orc army of hundreds of thousands still lood like a dark cloud.

"A brutal fight indeed. But we held Avenderdan and preserved the Highland Kingdom’s honor."

King Edd stood atop the wall, looking over the scorched ruins below, sighing deeply.

Not even during the holy war with Fadlan had he felt so tense. The orcs had co with everything.

And the grudge between dwarves and orcs was too deep to resolve—only one side could survive.

Bjorn appeared beside Edd, still visibly relieved: "Your Majesty, we must thank our mysterious guest."

Edd spoke sincerely: "Indeed. Without that gold dragon, Avenderdan might’ve fallen. Bjorn, do you recognize him?"

Bjorn shook his head: "A dragon of that size must be an elder, perhaps even an ancient. Rare in Faenso. He could be an agent of Bahamut, sent from Heaven Mountain."

Edd looked skyward. The dragon still circled high above, as if watching the orcs.

The dwarf king raised a hand and shouted loudly:

"Mighty and noble dragon, you are a savior to our kingdom and people!

I am King Edd Kraine of the shield dwarves. Please descend so we may speak—"

"Roaaar!"

The dragon let out a loud cry.

He flapped his rippling wings and began to descend in elegant spirals above the wall.

Scholars agree gold dragons are the most graceful fliers, and they themselves embrace this truth.

The dragon’s shadow covered the wall, casting awe over all below.

"By Moradin..."

"Gods..."

Even knowing it was an ally, the dwarves instinctively gripped their crossbows.

"Boom!"

The thirty-ter-long dragon landed atop the battlents with a crash, though it moved with surprising grace.

It had stepped as gently as possible, yet still crushed stone.

Countless eyes looked up in awe at the golden giant.

Edd stared, taken aback.

The dragon folded its wings along its back like a golden moth.

Its molten gold eyes glead, with long whiskers floating about its jaws.

It looked wise and regal, the epito of gold dragon nobility.

This was certainly an ancient gold dragon.

Edd and Bjorn thought the sa.

They had both seen dragons before on Heaven Mountain.

Among tallic dragons, gold ones were the most revered.

The dragon scanned the area, then fixed its gaze on Edd.

In its proud eyes, only legendary dwarves were worthy of notice.

Edd quickly bowed deeply: "Kind dragon, forgive my rudeness. Your presence overwhelms .

We are forever grateful for your help. Shield dwarves shall never forget this debt."

He took a breath, then said solemnly: "I am Edd Kraine, King of Blackstone, heir of Dumathoin, follower of Moradin.

May I know your na, noble one?"

"Titus."

The dragon gazed down and spoke in a smooth, deep voice.

"You may call

Titus. I’m just a passing gold dragon. I rely couldn’t stand the orcs’ barbarism and chose to help."

Edd laughed heartily: "Lord Titus, you didn’t just help—you changed the battle entirely!

Without you, Avenderdan may not have survived.

As thanks, our kingdom shall gift you treasures. We dwarves take pride in our craftsmanship."

Edd had experience dealing with dragons. He once fought alongside a silver dragon of Clan lward.

The key rule: even if a tallic dragon says they don’t care, always pay them well—or face their wrath.

Grudges and greed—traits even good dragons shared.

"Lord Edd."

The dragon turned, golden eyes narrowing slightly.

"Paynt can wait. Know this—your war isn’t over.

That assault was just a probe. The orcs number over 200,000, and so rival even our power."

"Two hundred thousand?"

"Yes. And more are on the move from Ugo Plains."

Edd shuddered.

The orcs vastly outnumbered his people. Avenderdan’s fall seed inevitable.

The dragon raised a brow: "Are you afraid?"

Edd sighed and gave a bitter smile: "Of course. Who wouldn’t be?

But I fear not the orc army—I fear my people’s enslavent, and the fall of Avenderdan."

He lifted his head, serious: "Lord Titus, thank you again for your help. The Highland Kingdom is our legacy. Even against tenfold odds, we will never yield."

"Good."

The dragon folded its wings and paced the wall.

"I see your resolve. The orcs are strong, but not invincible. I shall remain in Avenderdan until... we win."

Edd crossed his hamr over his chest: "On behalf of our kingdom, I thank you. Lord Titus. From now on, you are our friend. Wherever you go, we shall aid you."

Unlike elves, dwarves were forthright. Even their king.

In Edd’s heart, this dragon was now a true ally.

He knew nothing of "Lord Titus’s" origins—but he was a gold dragon!

Gold dragons were righteous, the champions of Bahamut. Who would doubt such a being?

But in truth, the dragon felt quite pleased. He was no ordinary Titus—he was Cassius Claudious Norrixius.

Yes, the dragon was the Ember Emperor, or more precisely, a draconic avatar bearing his will.

His real body remained in the Dragonblood Mountains, refining the blood of Karrikex.

After leaving the Anzeta Wasteland, Cassius used his ability [Avatar of the Ancient Dragon] to beco a gold dragon.

With knowledge of the plot, he intervened at the climax of the famous Blackstone War, ensuring dwarven victory.

Even without him, Edd would’ve eventually repelled the orcs using divine relics.

But Cassius turned aid into salvation, making Titus the key to victory.

"Heh... dwarves, since I saved your kingdom, repay

with all of Blackstone Mountain.

My empire shall claim its due soon."

Watching the dwarves’ gratitude, Titus—Cassius—chuckled inwardly.

But Edd said, worried: "Lord Titus, can you reach Bahamut of Heaven Mountain..."

"Tch. I no longer deserve an audience with Lord Bahamut, nor my kin. Only by walking Bahamut’s righteous path can I redeem myself."

Titus shook his head, eyes on the blue sky.

Edd, sensing the weight of those words, bowed quickly: "Forgive , Lord Titus. I ant no offense."

"I know."

"But our strength is too weak. Avenderdan alone cannot stop the orc horde."

The dragon turned, his whiskers drifting in the breeze.

"It’s fine, Lord Edd. If I recall correctly, it’s almost ti."

"Ti?" Edd asked, confused.

The dragon smiled knowingly: "Ti for your allies to arrive."

According to the plot, the Elf Queen defied her council and sent her royal guards to aid the dwarves.

Among them was the legendary paladin "Twilight Blade"—Rhea Nylar.

"Heh... An old friend—or rather, an enemy."

Cassius recalled their first encounter, where Rhea forced him to flee in disgrace.

Though he rembered little of the Dragon Queen, he’d never forgotten that humiliation.

A decade passed. Now he t her again, as a revered ancient gold dragon.

"Whoosh—"

White light shimred. The space below the wall distorted.

A starlit portal opened under dwarf guards’ wary gazes.

A half-elf in silver armor stepped out.

She looked up, revealing a beautiful, cold face. Her silver hair was neatly tied back.

The half-elf eyed the dwarves, then the gold dragon, and nodded.

"Honored Lord of the Highlands, I co bearing the will of Queen Iselyne of Serenia, ruler of the moon elves.

We honor the ancient alliance and join the shield dwarves to repel the orcs."

Behind her, hundreds of pale-skinned, long-eared elves followed.

They wore silver light armor, wielded bows and wooden staves, and rode pegasi and unicorns.

These were the Queen’s Silvermoon Guard—her last remaining elite force.

To uphold the alliance and resist the orcs, the puppet queen had wagered everything.

Edd was stunned—then overjoyed: "Lord Titus, your prophecy skills are astounding!"