Chapter 50: Tieflings (Part 4)

  The Great Frost Yeti sehe danger of this attack, so it quickly prepared, icy shards f deep in its throat as an intense chill spread toward the tiefling padin.

  "Frost Breath!"

  But Medrosh pushed forward through the biting wind, gripping his sword and sshing down hard.

  The yeti tilted its head, and the bde strue of its coiled horns, slowly slig through. Yet, the yeti tered with tremendous strength, shaking its horns violently to prevent Medrosh from delivering a trated blow.

  Medrosh's protective aura flickered around him, barely holding back the creeping cold.

  Blood poured from the yeti’s severed arm, and Medrosh’s body began to freeze; this was a fight for survival to the very end.

  The two were locked in a deadly stalemate, eatent oroying the other.

  Then, uedly, the situation ged.

  "Boom!"

  Several fiery bsts struck the yeti's back, scorg its fur aabilizing it.

  The fmes burned deep, searing the frigid blood in its veins.

  Weak from the pain, the Great Frost Yeti let out an agonized howl, reflexively releasing the tiefling and flinging him aside.

  It whirled around, beating its chest to intimidate the sneaky attacker.

  What it saw, however, was a bzing inferno.

  "Extreme Fme Breath!"

  Instantly, the snoorated, and steam rose from the now-exposed ground.

  The once-mighty yeti stood there, its body charred aing the st of burnt flesh.

  A slight breeze passed, and its body crumbled, scattering as ash into the wind.

  "Tsk, weak against fire."

  Cassius folded his wings, nding squarely oi’s remnants, now ash on the ground.

  His status panel updated.

  [You killed the Great Frost Yeti (Challenge Level 9), gaining 5000 XP.]

  [Your level has increased to 6.]

  The thrill of snatg a kill felt satisfying—a powerful Level 9 beast, downed with one blow.

  As the Great Frost Yeti turo dust, the other yetis scattered, retreating into the snowy mountains.

  Although the yetis fled, the tieflings remained on edge.

  – For now, they faced an even more powerful, uable red dragon.

  Although it had killed the Great Frost Yeti for them, none knew if this dragon was friend or foe, especially giveorious cruelty of red dragons.

  The tiefling warriors, swords and shields at the ready, eyed the dragon cautiously, te unwilling to provoke it.

  Medrosh, supp himself with his longsword, struggled to rise from the snow.

  He tried to remain calm as he observed the red dragon before him—a massive creature, eight to ers long, muscur, its bright metallic scales glinting, and a sulfuric heat radiating from its mouth, like a volmering within.

  A powerful red dragon—impossible to defeat.

  This was his final assessment.

  Known for their brutality, red dragons were infamous for iing any who dared provoke them.

  Retly, the most infamous red dragon iorm Highnds was her than "Flying Fme," the one who had sughtered the Eagle Guards.

  And the enemy of one’s enemy could indeed be a friend.

  With this thought, he issued his and:

  "Lay down your ons."

  The tiefling warriors, though relut, obeyed, dropping their ons.

  Medrosh sheathed his sword and, with difficulty, bowed in respect.

  "Honorable 'Flying Fme,' thank you for aiding us iing our enemy. When we’re able, we will provide you with suffit pensation to show our siy."

  "But, if I may ask... what brings you here?"

  Cassius gazed down at the tiefling, replying with an amused tone:

  "Are you the leader of the tiefling rebels?"

  "The so-called Hellspawn who supposedly feasts on three humans every meal?"

  Medrosh’s expression remained unged as he replied coolly:

  "Those are merely snders from the La family. Surely, you know well the arrogance of those bloodsug parasites, who invade even your nds without restraint."

  Cassius looked down at the tiefling and said, "A fine response, but mere words and this pitiful army won’t help you survive Aa’s winter."

  Medrosh respectfully replied:

  "You anticipated this; that’s why you’re here, is it not?"

  Cassius shook his head lightly and said, "Holy, you’re insignifit to me. You, perhaps, have a little value, but the rest of the tieflings may be worth less than a crate of silver."

  Medrosh spoke resolutely: "But I will fight to the death for them, my life if needed."

  Cassius narrowed his eyes and said, "I assist you iing the La family’s forces."

  "But you’re already their enemy; this has nothing to do with the tieflings."

  Cassius scoffed, shaking his head as he replied:

  "But I decide your fate. If I chose to iate with the Las and disclose your location, granting them military access, you imagine what would happe?"

  "Frankly, you ck the leverage tain with me."

  He tinued:

  "sider this: the Embers could also be a sanctuary for the tieflings."

  "I could offer prote, help you survive the winter, and... fend off the Eagle Guards hunting you."

  fronted with this tempting offer, Medrosh’s breathing quied slightly.

  His idealism had long beeinguished; now, his only wish was to keep his people alive.

  And that ce was standing right before him.

  The tiefliated briefly before speaking slowly:

  "Then, my lord..."

  "What is the price?"

  This tiefling padihered despite his youth, uood well that everything came at a cost. There were no free meals in this world—only ued hatred.

  Cassius leaned closer, his words like the whispers of a devil:

  "Northwind Fortress."

  "I want you and your kin to bey followers and help me seize it."

  Medrosh lifted his head slightly, noting the inferno-like fmes reflected in the dragon’s golden eyes.

  Once, he had yearned fht and redemption, walking the path of kindness and justice. Even after breaking his oath, he still upheld his padin’s code as much as possible, trying to retain his nature.

  But now, for survival—for the most basic ce to live on—he had to make this choice.

  To bee a vassal to the dragon and help him capture the fortress.

  "Yes, Master."

  "The tiefling tribe is willing to follow your will."

  Medrosh, the ohbound padin who had sworn to kneel only to the divine, bent his knee in submission.