Chapter 94: The Man-Eating Magic Dragon Is Coming!
Tyrosh, Purple Palace, Banquet Hall
Inside the exclusive banquet hall of the Purple Palace, a grand feast had just concluded. Slaves carefully moved about, clearing away the leftovers from the long dining tables.
Although their hearts were filled with joy and hope, none of them dared to show it openly. Just that morning, a slave had been beaten to death by a Magister simply for laughing.
As they silently cursed the Tyroshi nobility, wishing for their early deaths, their attention was drawn to a somewhat lonely figure seated at one end of the long table.
He stood there, gazing down at the enemy encampments in the distance. From the height of the tower, the deployment of the besieging army could be seen clearly.
When a few bold slaves edged closer, they were shocked to discover that the old man was none other than the newly appointed Archon—
The man known as the "Silver Stag," Saeraes Moss.
However, this elder, who had appeared so high-spirited during the day, now seemed exceptionally solitary under the dim candlelight.
His iron-gray hair and beard were slightly disheveled. Deep lines carved by time marked his face, yet his eyes remained as sharp as a hawk's, still revealing the decisiveness and courage he once displayed on the battlefield.
Saeraes Moss wore a dark leather tunic adorned with golden sigils. A finely crafted longsword hung at his waist, its hilt inlaid with gemstones, giving him the bearing of a seasoned war hero.
A trace of exhaustion lingered on his face.
The grand banquet just now had been held to celebrate his ascension as Archon.
But Saeraes Moss understood clearly—
This was nothing more than a ploy by those cowardly Magisters to win his favor.
Though the banquet had been filled with laughter and cheer, his heart was weighed down with unease.
He knew that the enemy forces were already gathering outside the city—and they were fully prepared.
The only thing he could do now was hold the line.
But the rumors of terrifying monsters and that colossal dragon had already become a thorn in his mind.
During the War of Conquest led by , the King of the Rivers and the Hills had perished with his entire house beneath dragonfire for choosing to remain within his castle.
As a commander, Saeraes Moss had to consider every possibility.
Any overlooked detail—
Could become the key to turning the tide of war.
"M… My Lord! Do… do we still need to continue cleaning? We didn't… didn't disturb you, did we?"
At that moment, a trembling voice interrupted his thoughts.
When Saeraes Moss turned his head, he was met with several pairs of fearful eyes.
"I'm leaving now, sorry! You all carry on!"
"N… No!"
Saeraes Moss was not like the other cruel and capricious Magisters.
Although he knew these slaves despised them, he had no interest in making things difficult for such people.
He understood this world well—
A world where the strong devoured the weak.
The Valyrians of old had once dominated the entire continent of Essos through overwhelming power, enslaving countless peoples.
Tyrosh's current prosperity had also been built upon strength.
But now—
That balance seemed to have reversed.
They had become the weaker side.
Even so, Saeraes Moss did not intend to give up.
He still had faith in his city-state and its people.
As long as the Purple Fleet and the armies stationed in the Disputed Lands could return in time—
Victory would still be his.
"I hope the Three-Faced God, while swallowing my defeat, will also grant me final victory…"
Muttering softly, Saeraes Moss turned and walked out of the banquet hall, preparing to head toward the bedslave quarters.
His wife had died many years ago.
His only daughter had long since married a Magister in .
Thus, whenever he needed to deal with certain… urges, he would usually turn to the bedslaves.
Although age had dulled his interest in such matters, something mentioned earlier by Magister Tansen Domirang had stirred something within him again.
At the banquet, he had seen a particular beautiful figure—
And now, combined with the lingering effects of alcohol, heat stirred within his chest.
At this moment, he only wished to find a green-haired bedslave to "enjoy."
"M… My Lord! Lord Saeraes!"
Suddenly, hurried and chaotic footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.
An armored officer stumbled in, nearly falling as he rushed forward.
"My Lord…"
"My Lord, please come quickly and see!"
"The man-eating monster has arrived!"
Before Saeraes Moss could question him, more officers came rushing in.
They spoke over one another, recounting what they had witnessed, their voices overlapping in panic.
The noise instantly cleared Saeraes Moss's previously wine-clouded mind.
"Silence!"
His sharp roar cut through the chaos.
All the officers froze.
"Naru—you speak. What exactly happened?"
He pointed at a middle-aged officer with a cropped haircut.
"My Lord… our Outer Fort has been attacked by… that… thing…"
Through Naru's explanation, Saeraes Moss quickly pieced together the situation.
Over an hour ago, the Outer Fort of the Purple Palace had been assaulted by a group of terrifying creatures.
After breaking through a guarded chamber, they had fought their way toward the gate control room.
Despite desperate resistance, the defenders had been completely overwhelmed.
The attackers showed no fear—
Charging recklessly, like an anteater rampaging through an anthill.
What unsettled Saeraes Moss the most—
Was the description of the "monster."
According to the officers, it seemed to shift forms—
At times human.
At times dragon.
One officer even swore he had seen the creature devour three soldiers with his own eyes.
Gulp…
Saeraes Moss swallowed hard, then forced himself to calm down.
He was the last pillar of Tyrosh.
He could not afford to succumb to fear like these men.
Most likely—
The enemy had simply found a way to infiltrate the Outer Fort.
Right now, the priority was clear:
Eliminate them.
"Pass my orders!"
"Sound the assembly horn!"
"All troops are to mobilize immediately and exterminate the intruders within the Outer Fort!"
"No matter what they are—"
"Even if a dragon has truly entered—"
"We will kill it!"
After issuing his commands, Saeraes Moss swept his gaze across the gathered officers.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Saeraes!"
Though fear still lingered on their faces, his raised voice forced them back into composure.
"I will go personally."
"I want to see what kind of creature has frightened you all into this state."
The restless heat in his body now transformed into fury.
At this moment, Saeraes Moss wanted nothing more than to destroy anyone who dared invade the Purple Palace.
Huff… huff…
In a corridor of the Outer Fort, several soldiers fled in panic.
They ran desperately, scrambling back to their feet even after tripping.
As they fled, they constantly looked back—
As if something horrifying pursued them.
This corridor led directly to the gate control room.
Inside was a massive winch mechanism.
Once turned—
The iron gates of the Purple Palace would open.
Their mission—
Was to destroy it.
Even if it meant trapping themselves inside.
If the enemy opened those gates—
Death would follow.
"Aaaah… Crack… Boom…!"
From behind them came shrill screams and the sickening sound of bones shattering.
They knew those sounds all too well.
Moments ago—
Their comrades had died in exactly the same way.
They would never forget—
That flaming longsword.
Cutting through flesh and bone.
Turning bodies into shattered remains.
The control room lay at the heart of the Outer Fort.
Two corridors connected to it, both serving as defensive passages overlooking the main gate below.
The walls there were the strongest in the entire Purple Palace.
Normally, entry required passing through the Inspection Chamber.
But tonight—
That chamber had been breached.
The thick oak door—
Reduced to splinters.
As fragile as paper.
"Move! Move!"
As the soldiers fled, an officer shouted orders while running.
"As long as we destroy it, their efforts tonight will be wasted! Hurry—urgh—cough…!"
Before he could finish—
A feathered arrow struck his throat.
Blood surged instantly, choking off his words.
One soldier instinctively turned back.
And what he saw—
Froze his soul.
The terrifying humanoid monster—
Was holding a longbow nearly as tall as itself.
"Run! Run!"
"The man-eating magic dragon is here!"
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