Chapter 30: The Northern Wind’s Eagle Guard (Part One)

  "Boom!"

  "Boom! Boom!"

  Huge boulders crashed dower another, hitting the ground with a thunderous noise.

  Cassius dodged in mid-air, shifting dires rapidly, dispying an unimaginable speed—few would believe this was a red dragon, known for its brute strength and bulk.

  "Crack!"

  A sharp breaking sound echoed from the cave ceiling.

  Mid-flight, Cassius gnced up and noticed the rocks above the entrance beginning to crumble.

  The red dragon’s expressioense as he swiftly tucked in his wings and limbs against his body.

  "Whoosh—"

  Like an arrow released from a bow, he shot straight downward.

  In the final moments of the colpse, Cassius dashed out of the cave, his tail narrowly grazing the falling rocks.

  "Boom—"

  A resounding crash followed as dust filled the air.

  Then, silence.

  This tomb was now buried beh the rocks, o be explored again. Though the process had reduced it to ruins, in a se had fulfilled the Stiant elder’s st wish to rest in peace, sealed away in history.

  "Rest well."

  Cassius took a final look at the buried entrance, murmuring softly.

  He gently tapped the a inscriptions oone pilr by the doorway and turo leave.

  The red dragon opened his cw, where the Storm King Eye glowed in eerie blue light, still led within.

  "This thing’s power is immense—I ’t just swallow it. I’ll need a tainer."

  He was still shaken by the terrifying storm he had just survived.

  Storm Highnds, the Embers .

  On the fortress walls of Rockhold, many goblins, kobolds, and even a few ogres y dead, most taken down by arrows from the sky.

  Overhead, not only were wyverns r, but forty rge eagles circled as well.

  These giant eagles, with glossy feathers and scale armor c vital parts, spanned over six meters across.

  On each eagle’s back sat a knight heavy pte armor, their faces hidden except for their eyes.

  The emblem of an eagle and crossed swords was embzoned on each of their chests.

  These were the Eagle Guard of the La family!

  The La family earhe title “Eagle of the North Wind” because their aor, Telgai Ra, had stolen giant eagle eggs from the highest cliffs of the Storm Highnds, raising them on his nds and trainie giant eagle riders as his personal guard.

  These eagle riders could fend off frost giants, wyverns, and other invaders and served as deadly forces in the wars between lords.

  Known as the “Eagle Guard,” these riders had tiheir lineage for hundreds of years.

  The aerial battle raged on.

  Forty-plus Eagle Guards, armed with bows or nces, maneuvered their giant eagles in a massive circle around the eight wyverns.

  They flew in a tight formation, creating a massive encirg ring.

  With extensive experien fighting wyverns, they knew not to ehese massive creatures head-on, leveraging the wyverns’ size and ck of agility against their own nimble tactics.

  Thus, they used a "circle formation."

  The Eagle Guards covered each other, flying in circles and disorienting the wyverns.

  Any wyvern that lu them would be met with arrows, and if it missed, it faced a spear attack from behind.

  On the ground, the goblin forces were helpless against these fast-moving aerial targets, firing only flimsy arrows that barely made an impact.

  The arrows, slowed by air resistance, bounced harmlessly off the Eagle Guards’ armor, like an itch at most.

  The ogres roared and bellowed, hurling stones wildly at the sky.

  One ogre didn’t even bother aiming, throwing a rock skyward on a whim.

  "Thud!"

  The storaced a perfect arc, miraculously striking an unlucky Eagle Guard, knog him out of the sky.

  "Oh, oh, oh! Got one!"

  "Nie, Big Head!"

  "Knock those little flies and tin s down!"

  The ogres cheered, rushing over to tear the fallen eagle and rider to pieces.

  At the highest point on the wall, Langpu was unwilling to be outdone, brandishing his club skyward.

  "Fireball!"

  A fiery ball shot toward the giant eagles in the sky.

  But one eagle, us rider’s expert trol, circled and dodged. The fireball scorched past its chest, leaving only a trail of charred feathers.

  Though the attack missed, it had a stroerrent effect, making the Eagle Guards instantly wary.

  "There’s a spellcaster!"

  "Stay away from that se of the wall! Damn it, why’s there an ogre mage?"

  "Watch out, there’s a spellcaster over there!"

  Langpu scowled. The eagles were so maneuverable that his fireballs were iive, often s out of reach before he could even plete the spell’s formation.

  And even if they got lucky and knocked one down with a rock, it was only by ce.

  Adjusting his small spectacles, Langpu muttered, "’t rely on these goblins, and these mindless wyverns are useless. It’ll have to be that beast, or... let Master ha wheurns."

  "No, it’s only a few dozen humans."

  "Master would be disappointed in me."

  With this thought, the ogre mage turoward the cave on the cliff wall and bellowed in draic, "Chimera! If you don’t get out here, Master will tear you apart wheurns!"

  "Roar—"

  A furious roar echoed from the cave.

  The enormous creature, bearing the heads of a goat, lion, and dragon, charged out of the dark cave, spreading dragon-like wings and taking to the sky.

  "It’s the Chimera!"

  An Eagle Guard shouted in arm.

  "Break formation!"

  A steady voice rang out from above.

  The voice beloo Alger Yeoman, captain of the Eagle Guard and a seasoned warrior.

  Beh his heavy standard-issue pte armor, his eyes remained calm and focused.

  Uhe others, he wielded not a nce or bow but a massive sword engraved with an eagle spreading its wings.

  The Chimera asded to the highest point, wings outstretched.

  "Howl—"

  It let out a pierg cry.

  Then, in its familiar manner, it swooped down, unleashing a torrent of fire from its mouth.

  The Eagle Guards abaheir formation, scattering to evade the fmes.

  But the Chimera’s rapid dest caught three Eagle Guards off guard, engulfing them in fire as they burned and plummeted to the ground, screaming.

  Seeing his rades fall, Alger shouted sharply:

  "I’ll hahe Chimera! tinue surrounding the wyverns!"

  He leaned fently stroking his eagle’s feathers, speaking softly, "Eagle, it’s time to go."

  Living and fighting together, the eagle and rider uood each other’s iions without words.

  "Screech—"

  A sharp eagle cry echoed through the air.