The highest peak near the Xingxuan Mountains extends into the sea peninsula. It has been built day and night by dwarves and many monster workers, forming a huge and intricate underground network built inside the mountain.
You don’t need to ask to know that this is the nest that Wilmes built specifically for himself, an urban community that can accommodate tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people.
Near the deepest part of the mountain, there is an opening that leads directly to the skylight on the top of the mountain. Below is a lake filled with red-hot magma.
Above the lava lake is a solid black fortress made entirely of steel.
In addition to storing a large amount of gold and silver treasures and precious magic items, this fortress also houses the previous Dragon King, Balagas "Flying Flame".
The young brown dragon Ortagos and the black dragon Oroxes under Wilmes are currently responsible for the security of the steel fortress. Any fool who tries to break in or even get close may be bitten to death and devoured mercilessly.
Especially the black dragon, which will corrode the body with acid first, then leave it there until it starts to rot and deteriorate, and then swallow it with a look of enjoyment.
Recently, many goblins and orcs who are clumsy and even confused about their situation have become food for the dragon.
As one of the first dwarf clan leaders to seek refuge in Wilmes, Todak Haudekh is obviously much smarter than those monsters and barbarian chiefs who are ambitious to expand their power and gain greater power.
He knows very well that in serving a terrifying creature like the evil dragon, the most important thing is never to make great achievements, but to ensure that he never makes a mistake.
In this way, the dwarves can continue to grow and develop under the protection of the other party's powerful force.
Even if one day Wilmes is killed by God's chosen ones or adventurers or dragon-slaying warriors, his clan can take the opportunity to drive out other races and monopolize this huge underground city and the amazing property left by the Red Dragon Queen.
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Of course, as long as Wilmes is alive for one day, Todak Haudeheck will never commit even the slightest act of betrayal.
Because there is no difference between that and seeking death.
At the moment, he is taking his clan members and some other conquered dwarf tribes, and is working hard to throw a large amount of mined iron ore into the lava forge to melt it into molten iron, and then use it to make weapons and armor, and equip those who are...
The monsters and barbarian army that came to take refuge.
Obviously, looking at this posture, we know that Wilmes must be preparing to conquer the entire Star Swirl Mountains, and then invade the vast Wildas Forest in the north, which is ruled by elves.
Todak Haudehek is not too worried about the coming war.
After all, today's elves are no longer the powerful race that controlled the hegemony of the continent during the Crown War thousands of years ago, but a group of marginal races barely surviving in front of the sons of the new era - humans.
Perhaps the elves on Evermeet Island still possess powerful magic and military power.
But those elves who live scattered on the continent of Faerûn usually have only two choices when faced with the overwhelming numerical advantage and fierce attacks of humans.
One is to withdraw to Everjum Island and give up the homeland where he has lived for generations, and the other is to fight to the end and be exterminated, or even more miserable to be reduced to a plaything and a slave.
This kind of thing has happened more than once in the three countries on the south coast of the west coast, Amn, Tethyr and Kalimshan.
Among them, Kalingshan has done the most thorough job. There are no independent elf villages in the wild anymore, and only a small number of elf and half-elf families have been integrated into the city, or simply exist as slaves.
Amn is similar. There are basically no large elves gathering there. Only a few wild elven tribes still live a primitive life of fishing, hunting and semi-nomadic herding in the inaccessible forest.
Only due to the sudden outbreak of civil strife in Tethyr, the policy of encircling and suppressing the elves could not be carried out forever, resulting in the temporary prosperity of the elven kingdom in the Wildas Forest.
Of course, this "prosperity" is only relative.
Todak Haudekh believes that as long as the new Red Dragon Queen and her army of monsters are fully armed, crushing tens of thousands of elves will be as easy as eating and drinking.
As for the Star Swirl Mountains, even Balagas' "Flying Flame" can easily control it, let alone Wilmes who defeated him.
Just when the dwarf leader was imagining a bright future, a huge black shadow suddenly fell from the sky, flapping its wings and bringing up strong airflow. Many dwarves who were working were blown away and couldn't open their eyes.
After a while, the huge Purgatory Red Dragon fell from the sky and landed steadily on the specially built flying platform.
Todak Haudeheck didn't dare to be negligent for even a second, and quickly rushed forward with his short legs and knelt down on the ground.
"Supreme and great queen! Your servants are here to serve."
"Nothing happened while I was away, right?"
Wilmes looked around with two eyes that looked like dark jade.
The dwarf clan leader quickly shook his head: "No! Everything is normal.
Except for those stupid orcs and goblins who still like to run around as always, the other tribes have been placed in designated locations to work according to your instructions.
Moreover, the production of armor and weapons has also begun, and you should soon be able to arm an invincible army.
In addition, when mining the ore veins, we also dug out some gemstones and smelted a small amount of gold and silver nuggets, all of which have been sent to your treasury."
After hearing these words, Wilmes nodded with satisfaction: "You have done a very good job. Now, I authorize you to manage all the dwarf tribes and be responsible for the daily operation of this underground city. Remember, don't let me down.
Don’t let me down if you trust me.”
"Understood! Please rest assured that I will do my best to meet all your requirements."
Todak Haudeheck was instantly ecstatic and immediately made another bowing ceremony.
He was busy making his people work hard to produce and build, just for this moment.
With this authorization, dwarves can achieve a status far superior to other races and receive more resources.
But what Todak Haudekh didn't know was that all his thoughts were read by the strange object this time and informed to Wilmes.
After the latter noticed the inner calculation of this seemingly loyal guy, he immediately raised the corners of his mouth with a meaningful smile, and then turned around and entered the steel fortress exuding scalding heat.
As soon as he stepped through the eerie door, a roar containing anger and unwillingness echoed in the corridor, accompanied by violent impacts and tremors.
You don't need to ask to know that this sound must have been made by Balagas "Flying Flame" who was imprisoned in the dungeon.
Ever since he was seriously injured and imprisoned, he has been in a state of extreme mental instability, and banging his head on the door is a normal operation.
But fortunately, this situation only lasted for a few seconds before it became quiet again.
Wilmes ignored these insignificant noises and walked straight to the deepest dungeon of the Steel Fortress while maintaining his dragon form.
Her appearance immediately aroused the idea of ​​Ashmi, the female moon elf mage.
The latter was obviously relieved and quickly put down what he was doing. He put his hand on his chest and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, you are finally back."
"What, is this guy still as irritable as before?"
Wilmes asked, while looking inside through the iron window of the heavy metal door, and saw that Balagas "Flying Flame" was tightly bound by a huge magic circle and a chain exuding magic runes, constantly slipping from between his teeth.
And spitting out deadly red flames from its mouth.
There is no doubt that the former overlord did not give in, but whenever he got the chance, he wanted to try to melt the steel gate and rush out to regain his freedom.
But unfortunately, due to the constant bleeding, he was too weak, so weak that he didn't even have the strength to break free from the magic chain.
As for the flame breath, which is the best, it can't exert the same power as before.
Ashmi sighed slightly and explained: "You should know that Balagas is not a normal dragon, but has serious mental and psychological diseases.
He sleeps very little, or to be precise, he barely rests at all, as if he has endless energy.
This means that we must always be careful, otherwise once an opportunity or loophole is seized, he may escape from this huge prison.
I suggest you find a way to solve the problem once and for all.
If it doesn’t work, just kill him.”
Wilmes responded with a smile: "You don't have to worry about this. I have already obtained something from Soth, which can completely turn this guy into an obedient slave."
"Oh? What is it?"
Ashmi's eyes shone slightly, revealing surprise and curiosity.
She wanted to know what kind of method Zuo Si would use to force a proud, arrogant, ancient red dragon like Balagas, who would never bow his head, to surrender.
"Hehe! You will know it soon. Now, help me strengthen the binding force of the magic circle and the chain to ensure that this guy no longer has the slightest ability to resist."
After that, Wilmes signaled to the jailer to open the cage, then he pushed open the heavy iron door and walked in.
Seeing her huge figure, who was struggling wildly just a second ago, the roaring Balagas immediately became quiet, with strong resentment in his pupils, and asked through gritted teeth: "What do you want to do? Come and kill me?"
”
"Kill you? No, no, no, that would be such a waste. I will turn you into a servant who is loyal to me." Wilmes raised his chin slightly and announced in a condescending tone.
"Hahahaha! Are you daydreaming? Who do you think I am? I am Feiyan! The greatest red dragon in the world! I will never bow to anyone! Let alone become your servant!"p>
Balagas burst out laughing maniacally.
There is no doubt that although he does not want to die, he is never afraid of death, which can be seen from his wild fighting style.
In other words, almost every red dragon that can live to the age of the ancients has experienced hundreds of battles.
To be continued...