Ashen Dragon

Chapter 284: Chapter 207 Olivia
 

At night, the Steel Dragonwing Palace was still so silent, not even a hint of life could be heard. Under the powerful Dragon’s Might, even the chirping of insects failed to break the silence.

Even though the Red Dragon had long since awakened, with no more unintentional scourges descending, the retainers still dared not approach this sacred place.

“It’s the same time again.”

“This should be the sixty-seventh night…”

Olivia slowly opened her eyes. Moonlight flowed into her blue-gray pupils and shone on her smooth scales, reflecting numerous light spots on the ground, like a scattering of sparkling silver coins.

Two months—that length of time was particularly short for any kind of giant dragon, but for the Silver Dragon trapped in the Dragon Binding Array, that short span seemed infinitely prolonged, with every minute and second being sheer torment.

Scorching chains greedily drained her vitality, constantly pricking her with pain, making it impossible for her to find rest.

The Silver Dragon slightly fluttered her wings, and with a subtle rustling sound, the glossy wing membranes reflected the moonlight. The heavy chains, sensing the movement, continued to sear her body.

But she merely gritted her silver teeth, emitting a barely audible groan.

“Mm…”

Olivia endured the excruciating pain, struggling to turn over.

Yet, all of this was not over. The Silver Dragon painfully lifted her head.

The heavy chains tightly wound around her slender neck, intermittently flashing with scorching spell radiance, even hissing with sizzling sounds, causing her flesh to emit white smoke and form bloodstains.

In the end, she clenched her teeth and raised her head, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, cherishing the rare moonlight.

And that could be considered finding comfort amidst suffering.

Such a despair-inducing life, she had long gotten used to.

She had gotten used to the occasional Bipedal Wyvern flying across the sky, gotten used to the apathetic vigilance of the Tiefling Guards, and gotten used to the unbearable heat inside the palace.

She had also tried to send out information to the outside world, messaging the Bipedal Wyverns, communicating with the Tiefling Guards, hoping to sway these retainers of the King of Ashen, but all her attempts ended in failure. The Red Dragon’s rule here was terrifyingly solid.

Despite being in this silent hell forged of steel, the blue-gray pupils of the Silver Dragon still flickered with a faint light of determination.

She was still quietly waiting for something.

“Anhel…”

“One day, he will come to rescue me, he made a promise to me.”

Olivia thought to herself silently.

In the story of the Scale of Oath told by her father, the Silver Dragon Dekstlethof had waited by the cave entrance for a thousand years, from a young dragon to an ancient dragon. Eventually, his unwavering love moved the Platinum Dragon God Bahamut.

This deity used immense divine power to revive the female dragon, allowing him to reunite with his mate.

And the King of Ashen was by no means an enemy who could be defeated in a day. Olivia had already prepared herself to be trapped here for hundreds, even thousands of years.

Though the Red Dragon was immensely powerful, almost invincible, she steadfastly believed— that mysterious, righteous Gold Dragon could save her from this demon’s lair.

Olivia also swore an oath, vowing never to submit to the King of Ashen, no matter the inhuman torment she might suffer, no matter the risk of facing death.

“This place is really boring…”

“If only he could visit me often.”

A silly smile involuntarily appeared on Olivia’s face, somehow lessening her pain.

She recalled that equally silent night when Gold Dragon Anhel risked his life to break into the palace, sincerely apologized to her, made a heartfelt promise, and held an intimate conversation with her during their brief time together.

Those sincere, earnest words still echoed in her mind, enduringly and endlessly.

“Olivia, right now, my strength is not enough to oppose this Red Dragon, he is simply too powerful. I… might need more resources.”

“Money, spell scrolls, and even the assistance of other Metal Dragons…”

“But no matter what, even if I exhaust everything, spend all my treasures, I will save you from this place. That is my promise to you.”

That sense of finding a glimmer of hope in despair, the feeling of grabbing the last straw, and the heart-stirring emotion evoked by a promise, she would never forget in her lifetime.

However, Olivia also knew well that her so-called “visits” were just unrealistic fantasies.

She was currently in the palace of the King of Ashen, not some freely accessible hostel. Every infiltration by the Gold Dragon was a tremendous risk, and if discovered, could mean certain death.

Olivia always prided herself on being a rational spell researcher, thinking herself born to study the essence of the world. She even set aside the pride of a dragon to find a legendary mage as a mentor.

She never thought she would experience an adventure story like a roller-coaster journey or receive a fairy-tale-like beautiful love, but everything had happened naturally, despite the ups and downs and even the pain.

“How long do I have to wait here?”

“Anhel, don’t let me down…”

Olivia even fantasized in her mind about the scene of being rescued in the future.

She believed it would be the most beautiful moment in the world, even surpassing any memory from her century-long life.

“We will study spells together, build a beautiful and cozy mage tower, have our own territory and city. By then, the Merlwood Family will be our solid support.”

“We will travel the multiverse, follow Lord Bahamut’s steps, and fly together with those kind heavenly creatures in the Heavenly Mountain…”

“We will roam freely in Elysium, befriend Roc Feather Angels and powerful Lion-headed Emissaries, let the waters of the Sea God River purify our souls…”

“We will adventure in Jose Garden, witness those eternal battlefields and the heroes of glory…”

“We will wander in the Mechanical Realm, studying the most perfect order…”

Countless beautiful imagined scenes flashed through Olivia’s mind like a series of continuous illustrations, like the images in a revolving lantern, manifesting the embodiments of her heart’s longings.

Even the constant excruciating pain couldn’t stop her from falling into a deep sleep, enjoying this momentary peace.

She had been waiting here, awake, for several months.

She was simply too tired.

The Silver Dragon slowly closed her eyes. Her slender, graceful dragon body was already covered in wounds, but her mouth still held a serene smile, perhaps she was immersed in a delightful dream.

But the deeply asleep Olivia didn’t notice—

The filthy, foul-smelling black energy floated above her head, greedily sucking in the light and dissipating thoughts.

…