Lord of Caldera - Chapter 211

Chapter 211: Chapter 211

He grabbed one of the soldiers and shouted, “Run to the other units and ask for help! Hurry!”

“But… the other units…”

“Anyone who can spare men—just go to them all!”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldier, trembling, dashed off to relay Bjorn’s orders to the other units. Bjorn, gripping his axe again, looked up at the dragon.

Come on, attack here.

He thought, I’ve been the one provoking you all this time. Come after me. But the dragon seemed calmer than expected. It knew that flames wouldn’t work on Bjorn, and it wasn’t going to come back down and risk getting grounded again.

The dragon’s gaze shifted across the landscape, finally settling in one direction.

“No…”

Bjorn muttered in horror. The dragon was looking at the Leininggen territory.

“You beast! Look at me!”

Bjorn shouted at the top of his lungs to get its attention, but the dragon had already lost interest in him. With powerful wingbeats, it headed toward the castle.

Just as everyone foresaw the worst possible outcome, a command rang out.

“Fire!”

Thunk!

The castle’s ballistae shot three bolts at the dragon. Startled, it twisted in the air, narrowly dodging but receiving a wound near its tail from one bolt.

“How dare you defile my domain!? This is my castle!”

Cheers erupted from the townsfolk as Marquis Serje shouted from the castle walls, fully prepared and glaring defiantly at the dragon.

“Help! We need reinforcements!”

Bjorn had ordered his soldier to seek help, and the soldier carried out his duty with dedication, running to each unit in search of support.

But the other units had their hands full as well.

“Not now! If I leave, this one will fly away too!”

“Apologies to Lord Bjorn, but we cannot spare anyone!”

Both Toby and Rey responded similarly. Though they had the upper hand against their dragons, the balance could shift if either of them got injured. Losing either of them would worsen the situation drastically.

“What about Sir Sylas…?”

The soldier glanced briefly at Sylas’s position, then ran off to try someone else. It was clear Sylas was in no position to help. Only one option remained.

“Request for support?”

“Yes! If you have any reinforcements to spare…” The soldier fell to his knees, his voice faltering. Ragnar’s brow furrowed as he considered.

Do I have any leeway? he wondered. The answer was immediate—yes, he had some leeway. Enough to assist another unit.

We’ve nearly won here. Even if I step out, it shouldn’t turn the tide.

Ragnar’s unit was the most formidable among them, composed of elite warriors handpicked from his tribe and trained together over many years. Plus, his right hand man, Rogain, was there. Although not quite as powerful as Ragnar, Rogain was a warrior capable of hunting even drakes alone.

With Rogain and the rest of his elite unit, they had complete dominance over the dragon, which was already covered in wounds.

“Chieftain, what shall we do?” Rogain asked, evidently aware of the situation. If they chose to, they could provide the requested support.

Ragnar paused for a moment, then spoke.

“We’re not free to leave. Relay that.”

“What?!”

The soldier was stunned. While he didn’t know the intricacies of tactics and strategy, he wasn’t foolish enough to miss the obvious. Ragnar had the capacity to help. Unlike Toby and Rey, who were struggling mid battle, Ragnar could even hold a conversation while his unit handled the dragon.

“What do you mean? If this isn’t leeway, then what is!?”

“It may look like we have leeway now, but who knows what will happen if I leave.”

A lie. Ragnar could step away and still hold their advantage; only if both he and Rogain left would there be a risk. The soldier, his face blank, muttered.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be our king?”

“…”

“Is abandoning the people the king’s duty?”

“How dare you!”

“Enough.” Ragnar stopped Rogain from lashing out. He met the soldier’s gaze, speaking calmly.

“A king does not abandon his people.”

“Then…”

“But you are not yet my people.”

The soldier’s eyes filled with disbelief. He said nothing, but Ragnar could see the emotions in his gaze.

Betrayal. Disappointment from someone he once believed in as his king.

“…Understood,” the soldier replied, turning away. He looked more defeated than angry or despondent. As the soldier walked off, Ragnar bit his lip.

I have no choice. The dragon must die by my hand.

Ragnar’s gaze drifted to Sylas, who was still fighting the largest dragon. His brows twitched slightly as he watched the two titans clash.

Even if he led his entire unit, it was uncertain whether they could stand a chance against that dragon. Yet Sylas was overpowering it single handedly.

That giant’s shadow is overwhelming, Ragnar thought.

Sylas had declared he had no intention of becoming the king of the North, but Ragnar saw the monumental legacy that Sylas had built over time. That legacy alone could overshadow Ragnar and other contenders, making him no different from Bjorn, whom Sylas was supporting.

That cannot happen.

At the very least, he needed to secure the perception that he was the most suitable successor once Sylas stepped aside. Killing this dragon was part of that plan. Though it might pale in comparison to Sylas’s feats, it would still mark Ragnar’s own achievements. He had built his reputation significantly, but he felt it was not yet enough.

“Keep attacking!” he commanded.

“Yes, Chieftain!”

This was necessary. If he couldn’t become king and lead the North to freedom from the empire, what meaning would there be in uniting the North?

“Ch-Chief!”

“What is it?”

Lost in thought, Ragnar was interrupted by a warrior pointing anxiously into the sky.

“The dragon… it’s coming this way!”

“What!?”

Ragnar quickly looked where the warrior indicated. Sure enough, the dragon was flying straight toward Ragnar’s unit.

Bring the catapults, ballistae—anything that might work against a dragon! Even if it won’t kill it, anything with stopping power, bring it all!