Chapter 309: Dragon Tooth Fortress
“Uncle Adolf, it’s been nearly ten years since we last saw each other. You still look in great health!”
“How is your mother? I heard your father’s condition has worsened again. I hope he can recover!”
When Celt XV and his mother were mentioned, Duri’s expression darkened slightly. “My mother is fine, but she’s constantly worried about you and my sister. My father’s illness stems from an inherent deficiency. Thanks to the alchemical medicines produced in Dalaran, he can still hold on, though his mental state is often poor. With no one to manage state affairs, we’ve decided to establish an heir. The reason we’ve come here is to test Andrew, my elder brother, and me in fighting against demonic threats. Whoever kills more powerful demons will gain the right to inherit the throne!”
“Oh? Ludwig is still so wise. This plan is indeed beneficial for you all!”
Although the Duke of Siren was from a knightly family, he had ruled a country for decades and immediately understood the purpose behind Celt XV’s decision.
At that moment, Duri introduced the people behind him to the Duke of Siren.
“This is the hereditary baron of the Celt Kingdom, the lord of Dalaran and Emerald Dream, as well as an honorary member of the Elven Council—Baron Donald Merlin!”
The Duke of Siren, with his seasoned eyes, immediately realized that this young mage was likely the real leader of Duri’s group. Didn’t all those seemingly powerful warriors follow him? Meanwhile, the “powerful” individuals behind his nephew lacked both presence and discipline. In comparison, the difference was stark and clear.
Thus, the Duke of Siren greeted him with great enthusiasm and respect.
Donald also held the Duke of Siren in high esteem and admiration. Not only was he the ruler of a country, but he was also a powerful Golden Holy Knight.
“This is his teacher, the Golden Mage and alchemy master, Master Mesel!”
“And this is Mage Chris…”
Apart from Carlisle, who was deliberately ignored by Donald, Duri introduced most of the others. The Duke of Siren and the high-ranking Sirens behind him couldn’t help but marvel. The Celt Kingdom was indeed powerful—such a lineup could only be found among the five great kingdoms of the continent.
And Selt, a kingdom that was regarded in the central and southern parts of the continent as a remote region in the north, could still field such a strong force—this was not even the entire strength of the support team. Additionally, Crown Prince Andrew had not yet arrived. This clearly showed Selt’s profound foundation.
With Selt’s support in this magical disaster, everyone now had confidence in overcoming it, and there was even a possibility of driving the demons back into the abyss!
After exchanging greetings, Duke Siren said, “Well, let’s enter the city first. I’ve prepared a lunch banquet to welcome you. Since you’ve come from afar to offer support, I, Siren, naturally must treat you with the finest food!”
The cavalry and infantry units were led by Siren’s military officers to the spacious camps that had been prepared in advance. Dury, Donald, and their group, accompanied only by a few attendants, entered the capital city of Daric along with Siren’s monarch and nobles.
As for the banquet and social interactions, there’s no need to go into detail. After the lunch, everyone was pleased. Donald then timely brought up the issue of joining the battle.
“Since, according to estimates, Andrew and the others will need at least another month to arrive, why wait for them? Let’s join the battle ahead of time. This way, we’ll naturally surpass them. Who knows—by the time they arrive, the magical disaster might already be over!”
Donald’s words greatly impressed Dury, and Duke Siren was overjoyed. If it weren’t for the concern that sending guests who had come to offer support straight to the battlefield would be highly impolite, he would have proposed it long ago.
The situation on the western battlefield was now urgent. Siren’s army was under constant pressure from the demons and forced to retreat step by step. Although the losses were not severe, they were all elite troops, which caused great pain to him as a ruler.
If it weren’t for those human warriors who came to offer support, most of Siren’s territory might have already fallen, rather than the demons being contained outside the largest fortress in the western principality.
Overall, the terrain of the continent was higher in the west and east, and higher in the north and lower in the south. Leaving the northern regions aside, the western coast of the central and southern parts was occupied by the Dragon’s Spine mountain range, a vast, serpentine range. This long but extensive area had almost no inhabitants. The Principality of Siren, located northwest of Gardrel, and the Kingdom of Kort, to the south of Siren, were the two countries bordering this massive mountainous region. If their own mountain ranges were also counted as part of their territory, these two countries could be said to jointly divide the entire western coast of the central and southern continents.
Of course, the Kingdom of Kurt has a larger coastline than Siren, accounting for two-thirds of it. Unfortunately, the technological and civilian development in this world remains at a medieval level, with no mechanical or human-made transportation systems such as mountain tunnels or winding roads. Otherwise, this vast coastal area could develop to be as prosperous as California’s coastal regions, led by international metropolises like San Francisco and Los Angeles!
Darek stayed in the Siren capital, Dragon Knight City, for only one day before reinforcements from Celt, led personally by the Siren Grand Duke, rushed to the front line—the largest military fortress in western Siren, Dragon Tooth Fortress. Built in the valley between two peaks of Dragon Tooth Mountain, this fortress has a history of over a thousand years and is said to have been constructed a thousand years ago to defend against invasions by sea creatures.
This fortress is a two-part structure: two sturdy fortresses on the east and west separate a valley plain in the center of Dragon Tooth Mountain Valley, covering an area equivalent to a baronial fief. Mountains on the north and south also serve as barriers, making it a uniquely defensible territory. It is also the last stronghold of the Kadochi family. If Siren is overwhelmed by external forces, they can retreat here with their elite forces. This formidable fortress, built by the Magic Empire a thousand years ago, was difficult to conquer even by Banai’s magic army, let alone ordinary troops. Its walls are made of stone bricks infused with anti-magic materials, and it features large-scale magical defense devices similar to those in mage towers. Thanks to the powerful magic of the Banai Empire, these devices have remained fully functional for a thousand years.
When Donald and his group arrived at the eastern gate of Dragon Tooth Fortress, they were amazed by the grandeur of this ancient human military structure.