The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

Chapter 708: Chapter 0705: Grand Duke’s Entrance (Third Update, Celebrating 10,000 Coins Reward 1/2)
 

This chapter is the special reward chapter of “Dreamlike Battle Song”.

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The Marquis Nuta, still dizzy and with traces of blood on the corner of his mouth, had just a moment ago been full of spirited pride, eager to redeem his previous disgrace. The next moment, he found himself bound in iron chains, hands and feet alike, reduced to a prisoner at the foot of his captor’s throne.

“How can your strength possibly be this formidable!” Having regained his composure, he saw the handsome smiling face before him and couldn’t help but express his panicked disbelief.

Liszt glanced at the ongoing sea battle and said with ease, “My strength improves every day. With the formidable power of the Ice Soul Dragon-Slaying Sword, and you merely treading water, it’s only natural that I would capture you.” The chaos of the boarding battle continued unabated despite Marquis Nuta’s slip-up.

Actually, aside from Marquis Nuta,

several other outstanding Sky Knights from the Eagle Kingdom had begun to take control of the battle.

If it were not for the Sapphire’s knights’ familiarity with naval combat, the situation would have likely been completely one-sided by now. The Eagle Kingdom had been planning this surprise attack for a long time, amassing a large number of elite knights. The Sky Knights alone outnumbered the rows of elite Knight Orders, all of them chaotically flitting through the sky.@@novelbin@@

The advantages of the swift sailboats and expertise in aquatic warfare were fading, and signs of a rout began to appear within the Sapphire fleet.

“I don’t know how you’ve been training, whether the Ice Soul Dragon-Slaying Sword comes with its formidable power, or if some Ancient Warrior inheritance has erupted within you.” Marquis Nuta steadied himself again, “But even if you capture me, you cannot change the fate of the Sapphire Family.”

“Is that so?”

“Just wait, the Sapphire will be completely overtaken by the Eagle Kingdom. The Sapphire Family and all you followers will become prisoners of the Eagle Kingdom!”

“I don’t think so. The Grand Duke hasn’t made his move yet. Once the Sapphire Dragon arrives, you all will be sent scurrying.” Liszt feigned youthful arrogance, attempting to draw out more information, “Besides, the sea is the Sapphire’s racecourse. Once the Sapphire’s Knight Order is fully assembled, we won’t even need the Sapphire Dragon to annihilate the likes of you.”

“Ignorant and arrogant!”

Marquis Nuta wanted to look down on Liszt, but suddenly remembering his current status as a prisoner, he choked on his words and could only turn his head and close his eyes, refusing to speak further.

Liszt continued to bluff: “Get ready for your ransom. As a Domain Knight, your ransom won’t be a small sum.”

Marquis Nuta smiled calmly: “Heh.”

“Do you really think you’ll be rescued soon? Dimaria, with my strength, I can race across these seas unimpeded; no one can stop me, meaning no one can rescue you. Only a ransom can secure your freedom.”

“Don’t waste your breath, soon you will understand how this sea war will end. I am just a small fish in this conflict, and regardless of your strength, you are no different.”

“Are you trying to scare me?”

“No.” After calming his anger, Marquis Nuta became impenetrable, unwilling to reveal anything, merely repeating platitudes about the Sapphire Family’s doom — as a Domain Knight, Marquis Nuta was not hot-headed to fall for simple provocations.

At that moment, Marquis of Bull Tail, who had just been fished out of the sea and changed into clean clothes, walked over. Looking at Marquis Nuta securely bound, he was filled with various emotions.

He thought he was close to perfection, capable of withstanding a few blows from a Domain Knight.

He had not expected to be blasted into the sea upon their first meeting, truly losing face. Luckily, Liszt had retrieved his dignity for him: “Dimaria, I didn’t expect us to meet so soon again. On a different battlefield, you would undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with, but unfortunately, you’re out of your element here.”

“Li Weiliam, you’ve just fathered a good son. You can’t even catch a single blow of my sword.”

“I’ve said before, if it were under different circumstances, your words would make me feel ashamed, but now, as you’re bound on my ship, such words hold no power.”

“They will soon.”

“I understand your thoughts; you believe the Eagle Kingdom is destined to win this war, so you don’t care that you’ve been captured. But, sadly, captured is captured. The Tulip Family has a multitude of options, but for you, there’s only one,” Li Weiliam said with his hands behind his back, absolutely certain of his approach towards Dimaria.

His implication was straightforward.

The Sapphire Duke may be annihilated, but as long as the Tulip Family pledges their allegiance in time, I believe they could quickly become nobles of the Eagle Kingdom. By then, even if Marquis Nuta holds a high position, he would still need to pay a ransom to the Tulip Family to obtain his freedom, because that is what the Tulip Family is entitled to.

Unless the Tulip Family perishes with the Sapphire Family, or becomes captives, Marquis Nuta would be able to regain his freedom.

No matter what, the disgrace of defeat and captivity had already clung to Marquis Nuta and could only be washed away with time; there was no other way.

Seeing Marquis Nuta’s face change from pale to flushed with anger.

Li Weiliam finally let out a breath of spite. Regardless of whether it looked glorious or not, he was standing in the winner’s position—thanks to having a son who was a Dragon Knight.

They locked the panting Marquis Nuta in the bottom of the ship’s cabin.

Li Weiliam and Liszt began to slow down their offensive momentum, preparing to idle and be insignificant bystanders.

No matter if it was Li Weiliam’s previous high-flying acts or Liszt’s capture of Marquis Nuta, both had sufficiently demonstrated their valor on the battlefield, repaying the Grand Duke’s trust. Now, Liszt could use the excuse of being exhausted after a great battle, while Li Weiliam could claim he was seriously injured by Marquis Nuta, no longer needing to fight.

“It’s time to retreat. The Blueblood Knight Order’s fleet can’t withstand the bombardment from the Eagle Kingdom’s Sky Knights, and the First Prince’s flagship has been hit several times,”

Li Weiliam observed through his telescope and said.

Liszt was just about to agree with the Marquis’s opinion when suddenly he felt a sensation in his chest. Little Fire Dragon Leo had sent him a message through their mental link.

This made his eyebrows twitch, and he couldn’t help but exclaim with excitement, “Father, the fleet probably won’t be retreating after all. The Grand Duke is coming!”

“The Grand Duke?”

“I sense the presence of the Sapphire Dragon; it’s not far from us.”

“Is that so? It looks like I still have to keep giving orders for this charade to leave a good impression on the Grand Duke.” Li Weiliam immediately started directing the fleet to find new opponents to engage with.

Liszt and Ach stood shoulder to shoulder at the bow of the ship.

He hadn’t expected the Sapphire Duke to join the battle so soon, as in most knightly wars, the Boss typically appears in the final act.

Regardless, he still held enthusiastic anticipation for the appearance of the Sapphire Dragon. Every dragon was a synonym for power and beauty. Amid such expectant emotions, the originally chaotic battlefield suddenly quieted down, all knights ceasing their present battles.

They turned their heads one after another, looking towards the northern horizon.

The dragon’s roar rolled like thunder, and from within a cluster of clouds, a blue dragon suddenly burst forth, its crystalline blue glinting in the sunlight.

Descending from the clouds like this, its very presence sent shockwaves through the entire scene.

“Roar!”

The Sapphire Dragon continued to roar mournfully as it descended over the battlefield. One could faintly make out a figure in blue armor standing on the Dragon Tooth Platform at its neck and shoulders. As for the Sapphire Dragon itself, it was still as tattered as the last time it was seen, missing a forelimb and with half its scales decayed.

Its magic power was still dense and vigorous, yet its body showed no signs of healing.

“Is it unwilling to heal, or unable to heal?” Liszt used his Eye of Magic to closely observe this powerful adult dragon.

At the same time, he clutched his chest.

He tried hard to suppress the burning heat at that spot.

There, Little Fire Dragon Leo was acting very excited, without any emotion of fear, only thoughts of eagerness to try his strength and tear the opponent to shreds.