I Breathe Euro

The fortress bustled with activity. Jack stood on the high ramparts, arms crossed, watching as the alliance forces moved like clockwork. The Elves and Katrina's troops were already blending into a formidable military machine, and now, with the unexpected involvement of the Goblin King, the possibilities had expanded.

Jack smirked. "Three times." That was all it would take. Three life-saving interventions, and the dragons would be bound to their ancient oath. But it was easier said than done.

Katrina approached him, her expression unreadable. "So, what's the next move?"

Jack didn't respond immediately. He was calculating, considering all the possible ways this could play out. The dragons weren't like humans or elves. Their pride was absolute. Even if they were saved, they might twist the circumstances to deny the obligation.

I have to make sure it's undeniable.

He turned to Katrina. "We wait. We watch. And when the perfect moment arrives, we strike."

Katrina gave him a wary glance. "You make it sound like we're hunting them."

Jack chuckled. "In a way, we are. But not with swords and arrows. We're hunting their pride, their sense of obligation. And once we've cornered it, they won't be able to escape."

Katrina sighed. "I'll never get used to the way you think."

Jack smirked. "That's why we make a great team."

---

Preparing the First Strike

The fortress became a hub of operations. Scouts were sent out, keeping track of every movement near the Iron Dome. Reports trickled in—dragon patrols, supply runs, defensive shifts. Jack analyzed everything, looking for weaknesses, patterns.

And then, the first opportunity presented itself.

A report came in—a small group of dragons had left the dome, possibly to investigate a disturbance near the eastern hills.

Jack's instincts flared. That's it. That's the moment.

He turned to Katrina. "We move now."

Katrina frowned. "You're sure?"

Jack nodded. "If we wait too long, they might return safely, and we lose a chance. We have to be the reason they make it back."

The Elven Queen agreed. "We'll send a rapid-response unit. No more than twenty. Too many, and the dragons might think we're attacking."

Katrina grimaced. "And I suppose you want to go, don't you?"

Jack smirked. "Of course."

Katrina shook her head. "Fine. But if you get yourself killed, I'll personally haunt you."

Jack grinned. "Noted."

---

The First Rescue

They moved swiftly. Jack, accompanied by a mix of elven rangers and Katrina's elite cavalry, rode through the forest toward the eastern hills. The air was tense, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the distant cries of creatures in the dark.

And then, they saw it.

A dragon, massive and blood-red, surrounded by shadowy figures. Dark forces. The creatures were relentless, clawing at the dragon's wings, aiming for its throat.

Jack's heart pounded. "Move!"

The elves unleashed a volley of arrows, striking down the closest enemies. Katrina's cavalry charged, swords flashing. The battle was fierce but swift. The dark creatures, taken by surprise, fell back into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

The dragon, wounded but still formidable, let out a low growl. It looked at them, its golden eyes filled with something between suspicion and reluctant gratitude.

Jack stepped forward, careful not to appear threatening. "You're safe now."

The dragon huffed, then spread its wings and took off into the night, disappearing toward the Iron Dome.

Jack smirked. One down.

---

The Second Rescue

The next opportunity came faster than expected. A week later, scouts reported that a dragon transport convoy—one carrying young dragons and eggs—was ambushed.

Jack didn't hesitate.

He, Katrina, and a mix of elven and goblin forces moved in. The battle was more intense than the last. The forces of darkness were prepared this time. They fought savagely, determined to destroy the convoy.

But Jack wasn't about to let that happen.

With precise coordination, his forces broke through the enemy lines, shielding the young dragons and their precious cargo. Katrina fought fiercely, cutting through enemy ranks, while the elven archers provided relentless support.

And Jack—Jack was everywhere.

He led charges, gave orders, and personally took down some of the strongest foes. By the time the battle ended, the enemy was in retreat, and the convoy was safe.

The dragons watched in stunned silence. Then, one of them—a massive silver-scaled elder—gave Jack a slow, acknowledging nod before leading the convoy back to the Iron Dome.

Jack smirked. Two down.

---

The Final Act

The third and final rescue had to be perfect.

Jack knew the dragons were watching now. They had seen his forces fight for them, had witnessed their dedication. The final act had to leave no room for doubt.

And fate delivered the perfect opportunity.

A massive invasion. The dark forces launched a full-scale attack on the Iron Dome. Thousands of shadowy creatures swarmed the area, overwhelming the dragons' defenses.

Jack knew this was it.

He rallied his entire force. "Today, we fight not for conquest, but for respect. We fight to show the dragons who we are. We fight to earn our place!"

The battle was like nothing before. Fire lit the sky as dragons roared, their flames clashing against the darkness. Jack led from the front, cutting down enemy after enemy, ensuring his forces held the line.

At one point, a dragon—one of the very ones he had saved before—was surrounded, wounded.

Jack didn't hesitate.

He and his elite warriors fought their way to the dragon's side, standing their ground against overwhelming odds. The battle raged for hours, but in the end, they won.

The enemy retreated. The Iron Dome still stood.

And the dragons…

The dragons finally saw him.

---

A Turning Point

As the dust settled, the dragons gathered before Jack's forces. Their leader, an ancient golden-scaled dragon, stepped forward.

"You have saved our kind thrice, human."

Jack remained silent, waiting.

The dragon lowered its massive head slightly. "By our laws, we cannot ignore this debt."

Jack smirked. Got you.

The dragon let out a deep rumble. "You and your people are no longer outsiders. You are now recognized as… allies."

Jack clenched his fist in victory.

The first step was complete.

But deep down, he knew—this was only the beginning.

Jack stood atop the fortress walls, his arms folded as he gazed toward the distant Iron Dome of Dragons. Though the envoy he had sent had been rejected, he had expected nothing less. Dragons were proud creatures, bound by traditions older than kingdoms, and it would take more than mere words to earn their trust.

As the cold night wind brushed against his face, a smirk played on his lips. "Perfect," he muttered. "Everything is going just as planned."

Behind him, the fortress bustled with activity. Katrina stood nearby, observing his expression with a raised brow. "You knew they would refuse?"

Jack turned slightly, his confident grin unwavering. "Of course. If they had accepted so easily, I would have been disappointed. This just means they have some pride left. And pride can be negotiated with."

Before Katrina could respond, the sound of trumpets echoed from the fortress gates. The guards rushed to formation, and Jack's eyes gleamed with interest as he spotted the banners waving in the torchlight. The Elven Queen had arrived—but she wasn't alone. Marching beside her forces were the goblins, their armored warriors moving with surprising discipline under the banner of the Goblin King.

Katrina let out a small breath of surprise. "The Elven Queen and the Goblin King... together?"

Jack chuckled. "It seems our Queen has a few tricks up her sleeve. I like that."

As the gates opened, the Elven Queen rode forward on her silver steed, her regal presence commanding respect. Beside her, the Goblin King sat atop a massive black warg, his eyes filled with cunning amusement.

The moment they dismounted, the Elven Queen approached Jack, her piercing emerald eyes studying him. "Jack, the dragons rejected your envoy, as expected. But that does not mean we are without options."

Jack nodded, his mind already several steps ahead. "Indeed. We need to show them that an alliance benefits them more than isolation. The only question is—how?"

The Goblin King laughed, his voice deep and rough. "Hah! You humans are always too polite. If the dragons won't listen to words, then we must show them why ignoring us is a mistake."

Jack tilted his head, intrigued. "Go on."

The Goblin King grinned, revealing sharp teeth. "The dragons respect power. If they refuse our offer, we must make them see that they need us more than we need them."

The Elven Queen frowned slightly. "You suggest force?"

Jack shook his head. "No. We do not fight them. But we make them want us to be their allies. We find their weakness—and then we become their only solution."

Katrina's expression darkened. "You have something in mind, don't you?"

Jack's smirk widened. "Oh, I have more than just something. I have the perfect plan."

He turned to the assembled leaders, his voice firm. "The dragons live within their dome, believing themselves untouchable. But what if we prove that even their mighty fortress is not beyond danger? What if we show them that the world outside is shifting—and that standing alone means extinction?"

The Elven Queen's gaze sharpened. "And how do you propose we do that?"

Jack's eyes gleamed. "By orchestrating a problem that only we can solve."

The Goblin King let out a roaring laugh. "Now this is interesting!"

Katrina crossed her arms. "What exactly are you planning?"

Jack turned toward the Iron Dome, his expression unreadable. "The dragons are powerful, but they are not invincible. They've grown complacent in their strength, thinking no one would dare challenge them. We will prove otherwise—not by attacking them, but by creating a situation where they must come to us."

He glanced back at his allies. "We will make the dragons ask for our help."

A moment of silence followed before the Goblin King grinned widely. "You're a dangerous one, Jack."

Jack's smirk deepened. "Dangerous? No. Just prepared."

The following days were filled with nonstop work. Jack's mind was a whirlwind of strategy as he assigned roles, set traps, and ensured that every step of his plan fell into place perfectly.

The goblins, being natural diggers and experts in tunnel warfare, were tasked with scouting the underground passages beneath the Iron Dome. They were to locate any hidden weaknesses in the dragons' defenses—not to exploit, but to reveal.

The elves, with their unparalleled agility and stealth, worked to map the land surrounding the Dome, finding the best vantage points and observing the dragons' routines.

Meanwhile, Katrina and her forces strengthened their hold on the fortress, preparing for any potential retaliation.

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Through it all, Jack remained the mastermind, overseeing every detail with precision. He never second-guessed himself. He was always five steps ahead, ensuring that no matter what happened, victory would be inevitable.

It was a week later when the first sign of change appeared.

One of the elven scouts returned in a rush, his expression grave. "Jack, we've spotted something—movement near the Dome."

Jack's sharp eyes flickered with interest. "Explain."

The scout took a breath. "A large force of unknown creatures is approaching the dragons' territory. They do not appear to be allied with the forces of darkness, but they are armed, and their numbers are growing."

Jack exchanged glances with Katrina and the Elven Queen. "This is unexpected… but not unwelcome."

Katrina frowned. "You think this is the opportunity we need?"

Jack's smirk was filled with confidence. "Opportunities don't just appear, Katrina. We create them. And this... this is the perfect storm."

He turned to the Goblin King. "Ready your best warriors. We move at dawn."

The Goblin King grinned, slamming his fist against his chest. "Finally, some action!"

Jack then turned to the Elven Queen. "Send word to your best archers. We will be watching from the shadows. If anything goes wrong, we will be the ones controlling the battlefield."

The Elven Queen nodded, her expression unreadable. "You truly believe you can turn this into a victory?"

Jack's smirk widened. "Not just a victory. A masterpiece."

As the night stretched on, the fortress buzzed with preparations. Jack stood atop the walls once more, gazing at the distant Iron Dome.

The dragons thought themselves untouchable.

By the time he was finished, they would see the truth.

And they would have no choice but to acknowledge him.