Chapter 86 The Reason
Rosha was a seasoned warrior who had risked his life countless times for the Principality of Mocha.
Born in the slums of a small vassal city of the Principality, he was the product of his mother being taken by highland barbarians. As a result, he suffered bullying from an early age, witnessing the darkness and malevolence of human nature.
One day, a young Grand Duke of Thorn happened upon him and brought him back to the main city of Mocha Principality, where he underwent rigorous training to become a warrior.
In gratitude for the Grand Duke of Thorn's kindness, Rosha always charged at the forefront of each battle for his country. He feared neither death nor pain, and through the trials of war, he gradually grew into the strongest warrior of the Principality of Mocha.
Iron Helm, General of Thorns, Wolf of Moshan... these were names others called him, filled with both praise and slander. Rosha's favorite title was the Wolf of Moshan, which he earned in a battle against an army of ten thousand.
His overall prowess was surpassed only by the high mages of Mocha Principality, but now he was the strongest one in Mocha because there were no more high mages left in the Principality.
Originally, Mocha Principality had three high mages. One perished in the war against the Walker Principality, a battle that secured victory for Mocha. The other two met their end in the very northern Ice Field beneath his feet. Morton managed to kill two high mages; he either perished alongside them or was near death. Rosha knew this, yet his heart was not at ease.
Rumor had it that Morton had a powerful close friend in his youth, possibly an adult silver dragon disguised as a human, who later departed human society for the northern Ice Field. Given Morton's decisive escape to the northern Ice Field, and the presence of a dragon confirmed through divination spells, the rumor seemed highly credible.
This two-thousand-strong army was the elite force of Mocha Principality, sent to kill a dragon. Even knowing their foe was likely an adult silver dragon and the odds of success were slim, with a high chance of perishing, Rosha obeyed the Grand Duke of Thorn's order, leading the army on this perilous mission to the northern Ice Field.
To launch an attack on an adult silver dragon, even if they were miraculously successful, would undoubtedly provoke brutal retaliation from the metallic dragons once exposed. But Mocha Principality had no other choice.
Mocha was currently in a state of dire crisis, with no time to contemplate the future. War was a double-edged sword. The protracted battles in the south had caused extensive collateral damage. The conflict involved not just the Walker Principality and Mocha Principality, but also other predatory forces, each eyeing them with greed.
With the loss of its high mages and the recent toll of war, Mocha Principality, which had once been a formidable adversary, had now become an appealing target for many, teetering on the brink of catastrophe. Worst of all, despite paying such a heavy price, the most valuable spoils from the Walker Principality remained out of reach, an unattainable treasure.
Without the items taken by Morton, Mocha Principality would lose its only chance to turn the tide. At best, it would become significantly weakened; at worst, like the Walker Principality, it would face complete annihilation, leaving its citizens homeless and destitute.
To avoid this disastrous outcome, Mocha Principality gathered an elite unit, taking the massive risk of journeying to the northern Ice Field, ready to gamble everything.
"An adult silver dragon..." Rosha looked up at the ever-thickening snowfall, feeling uneasy.
Though he had never seen an adult silver dragon, Mocha Principality had once hired a seventy-year-old young red dragon at great expense, securing a decisive victory. Rosha had seen that red dragon with its menacing, scorching aura.
The biting cold wind, laden with snowflakes as large as goose feathers, assailed Rosha's heavy armor but was kept at bay by the flickering runes etched into it. In the severe cold and raging blizzard, the human army's pace did not falter, advancing resolutely thanks to their magical equipment and the support of spellcasters.
The war in the south continued. Should anyone discover Mocha Principality's current vulnerability and depletion before their mission was complete, the consequences would be dire.
As time passed, the human army gradually penetrated deeper into the northern Ice Field. The distant Dragontail Mountains turned into a faintly visible silhouette, while the vast snowy expanse dominated their view.
Rosha's eyes, visible through the slits of his helmet, were filled with a heavy, silent resignation. For reasons unknown, his sense of unease grew stronger.
Seasoned by countless battles, Rosha had always trusted his instincts. In the brutal war, there was often no time to think, only to react on instinct, as that split-second of contemplation could mean the enemy's blade reaching your heart.
"Could it be that the adult silver dragon has already discovered us?" Rosha furrowed his brow. "No, with silver dragons' nature, even if it knew why we were here, it wouldn't care much unless we initiated the attack."
As the leader of this force and the hope of Mocha Principality, Rosha felt immense pressure, as though a heavy mountain lay upon his shoulders. After some thought, Rosha approached the highest-ranking spellcaster in the army, a seasoned mid-level mage of the Fifth Circle.
This mid-level mage specialized in protection spells and had fought alongside Rosha many times, with both having saved each other's lives, forming a deep bond.
"Copperfield, I feel uneasy. You're a spellcaster with greater mental acuity than I. Have you noticed anything unusual?" Rosha asked.
Copperfield, donned in a broad, deep yellow robe and sporting some white whiskers, appeared to be around sixty years old but was full of vigor. His face was healthy and radiant, while the cold wind was blocked by his magical barrier, failing to touch him. Hearing this, his eyes flashed with magical lights as he scanned the surroundings, then shook his head. "Nothing."
After a moment's pause, Copperfield's face darkened slightly. "But I also feel a sense of unease."
"It seems there's an invisible crisis approaching, one we're unaware of."
Reflecting on this, Copperfield cast a spell, releasing a ring of magical energy that enveloped the knights one by one. A faint magical glow covered them—a protection spell enhancing their magic resistance, offering some defense against sudden magical attacks. It was not particularly strong, but it covered a large area and lasted for a considerable duration.
After casting the spell, Copperfield took out a magic crystal from his spatial ring to quickly replenish his expended magical energy, maintaining peak condition.
However, their unease didn't abate with the protection spells.
They exchanged glances, each seeing the heavy burden in the other's eyes.
