Sword of Dawnbreaker

Chapter 1152: Chapter 1151: Aid from Loren

The deck of the Winter fell silent for several seconds. Lady Asharena stood there, staring into Byron’s eyes with a serene smile on her face—until Byron suddenly laughed, spreading his hands wide: ”I was teasing you—Asharena, why are you here?”

”Are you sure you were just joking?” The Dragonbranded Witch looked Byron up and down several times with suspicion, ”Wasn’t that something you just remembered intensely in those few seconds?”

”I haven’t had memory lapses to that extent,” Byron waved his hand, ”You haven’t told me, why are you here?”

”I led a Dragonborn team from Dragon Leap Cliff and arrived at Talronde a day earlier than you,” Asharena walked forward, speaking casually, ”We camped at Coastal Shire yesterday while you, claiming to ride the fastest warship in the world, were still drifting on the icy sea. I heard the sentinel towers at Coastal Shire mention that you encountered Chaotic Turbulence at sea, so I came over with Dragonkin to check things out...and it turns out you’re all fine.”

Byron folded his arms and said with a proud smile, ”It wasn’t an encounter; it was a near-miss, a big difference—and we have the best navigator and escort team in the world, and modern ships that can withstand storms at sea; even if we were to plunge into Chaotic Turbulence, we’d safely make it out. Your worry is unnecessary. Also, I must emphasize that the Winter is absolutely the fastest warship in this world, but if you want to compare its speed with your wings, it’s a bit unreasonable—not to mention the Winter has to travel with so many cargo ships. I couldn’t possibly push the power spine to full throttle and leave the fleet behind to rush to Talronde, right?”

At this, he couldn’t help but pause, his gaze lingering on Asharena for a few seconds, recalling the moment of the Red Dragon’s descent, and let out a sigh: ”That was the first time I saw your... other form.”

Asharena cast a puzzled look: ”So what?”

”Nothing, just feels quite incredible,” Byron scratched his head, ”I’ve dealt with other Dragonborn and even other dragons, their ’other forms’ just felt natural, but you... We were once in the same mercenary team, with many comrades back then... I never thought I’d see you fly in the sky like a dragon one day. Do you know that feeling? Those scales, talons... Of course, I mean they’re all impressive, just incredible...”

”If you haven’t read much, don’t strain your limited vocabulary,” Asharena looked at Byron and suddenly laughed, ”I understand that feeling. We are different from how we remember each other—believe me, finding out you became a general in the human empire surprised me far more than you seeing me spread my wings in the sky.”

After the Dragonbranded Witch spoke, Byron couldn’t help but touch his chin, pondering whether she was praising or mocking him, and it was then that Black Dragon Mokrul finally had the chance to speak beside him: ”General Byron, and this lady... Lady Asharena, you know each other?”

”Some old acquaintances from many years ago,” Byron turned his head and said casually, ”We adventured together but lost contact later, only meeting again by chance recently.”

Asharena also looked at the young black dragon, showing a courteous and calm smile: ”Hello, I’m the leader of the Sacred Dragon Kingdom’s aid team for Talronde, and we’re the first team—I hope we get along well in the coming time. As you know, Dragonborn and Pureblood Great Dragons both need some time to... enhance mutual understanding.”

She then withdrew her gaze and gave Byron a slight nod: ”I just came down to say hello. I’m heading back up. By the way, are you interested in experiencing flight? I can give you a ride.”

Byron considered for a moment, quickly waving his hands: ”I’ll pass... I’m not very interested in flying... Plus, I’m the fleet commander, so I definitely can’t leave my post.”

”Alright, that’s at least a plausible reason,” Asharena seemed unsurprised by the response, waving lightly as she walked towards the edge of the deck, her voice carried by the wind, ”Then we’ll meet again in Talronde—”

As her voice faded, the tall red-haired figure was enveloped in a shimmering veil of light. She leaped off the deck and plunged towards the gently undulating sea, transforming into a dragon in the next second. With a mighty posture, she ascended from beneath the Winter’s hull, covered in sturdy steel armor, the Red Dragon surged into the sky amidst the humming of mechanical wings and propulsion devices.

Byron kept his head up, following Asharena’s figure as it joined the circling dragon herd in the sky, gently murmuring after a long while: ”...Indeed, it still feels quite incredible...”

Black Dragon Mokrul’s gaze involuntarily swept over the human Marshal of the Navy several times and then looked up at the sky where the Red Dragon was circling. After a few rounds of this, he couldn’t help but ask: ”I’m suddenly a bit curious... Is your relationship really just former adventure buddies?”

”What else could it be?” Byron looked at the black dragon in confusion, ”Did you think I owed her money?”

Mokrul: ”...”

After being stumped for a moment, the young black dragon managed to reorganize his thoughts and laugh awkwardly: ”General Byron, as far as I know... your daughter is adopted; you haven’t been married, correct?”

”Correct,” Byron nodded indifferently, ”It’s no secret—although I wouldn’t mind starting a family with a lady of similar interests someday it’s a pity I haven’t encountered the right feelings over many years, and in my view, lack of ’fated connection’ will make a casual partner only hinder my sword speed...”

Mokrul listened to Byron’s serious speech in disbelief, instinctively thinking, ”Your single man’s knowledge is quite rich,” but despite having spent all his days on Talronde relying on enhancers and immersive entertainment without ever leaving ”Lower Dragonkin,” he now knew some basic rules of interaction. After swallowing his words, he forced a stiff smile: ”What you say... does have some truth.”

”That’s right, I’m always one to understand many truths. If you ever face troubles in relationships, feel free to ask me for advice.” Byron laughed unaware as he patted the young black dragon’s arm. Before the young dragon could respond, Byron’s gaze returned to the distant land that was gradually approaching. The formerly distant coastline now drew near enough for ordinary people to see clearly, and amidst bright daylight and today’s relatively clear sky, the detailed scenery of the Broken Shore finally caught the eyes of the many sailors on the Winter.

In the distance, fragmented cliffs, close by, a beach resembling crystals, near the sea, visible energy rifts and unstable magic power vortices float mid-air, and hovering islands with obvious gravitational anomalies and stones drifting everywhere—such a sight would never appear in a normal natural environment. Even the tavern bards, and Mr. Philem who gained fame in the imperial capital in recent years, wouldn’t dare use this setting lightly.

”My Gosh...” Byron Kirk stared dumbfoundedly at the approaching anomalous coast and, after a long pause, turned to Mokrul beside him, ”Though I don’t want to judge the happenings in other people’s homelands, the place you live now is just too eerie... Are you really sure those magic power vortices and spatial rifts visible to the naked eye won’t be deadly?”

”To be honest... not long ago, they were indeed lethal,” Mokrul hesitated then sighed, ”But now we have successfully closed or smoothed out most of the dangerously volatile magic power vortices and rifts, marking dangerous areas for those that can’t be closed at the moment. The coast is clearly marked, normally patrolled and guarded by dragons. Yet, our manpower is limited, and we can’t guarantee that unexpected rifts or energy surges won’t suddenly appear in the wild, which is why we need to establish an adventurer management center and use a strict ’graded access’ system to limit adventurers’ activity areas... It’s all to reduce accidental deaths.

”Is it? I thought the system was just a way to collect an extra set of fees and management costs,” Byron casually said, glancing toward the direction of the Iceborne Mary, ”But we don’t need to worry too much, although many believe adventurers and mercenaries only care about money and not life, this motley troop actually cherishes their lives most in conditions permitting. After all, living long means earning Gold Pounds and Fernell for a long time... As long as they know the consequences of running around recklessly, I believe most adventurers would strictly adhere to the regulations set by the management center.”

He paused, stroked his stubbly chin, and continued, ”Unless you encounter adventurers who care neither about money nor life, those would risk everything... But how could that possibly happen?”

Mokrul looked at Byron and suddenly laughed too, ”Yeah, how could that possibly happen?”

Standing together on the high bow deck of the Winter, both man and dragon laughed at each other, filling this cutting-edge warship with a cheerful air, just like the glorious sunlight bathing Talronde at this moment.

Meanwhile, a sizable crowd had gathered on the deck of the Iceborne Mary. Adventurers, long suffocated from being cooped up in the cabin, were stirred by the elements of the new continent and the dragon herd, gathering on the deck to gaze at the distant continent while discussing the floating islands and mid-air chaotic energy surges. These ”warriors” who liked to boast about saving the world usually showed commendable rationality and composure upon seeing anti-gravity stones bigger than castles and unstable electrical arches. Their consensus:

As long as there’s a peanut in their drink, they’ll never rashly approach those stones and arcs—this unknown land’s treasure won’t be exhausted, but one’s life post-drinking high might not suffice.

Having recovered completely from his previous illusions, Modir also mixed within the crowd, doing his best (mostly with the agility of an elderly physique exceeding that of thieves) to squeeze into the frontmost position, his eyes aglow as he gazed at the strange scenes on the coast. These supernatural phenomena, rare on the Loren Continent, filled the old mage with joy—

”Miss Lora, have you seen those energy surges and spatial rifts?” he excitedly spoke to the young hunter who squeezed forward with him, ”I plan to research them whenever I get the chance to see how they form...”

The female hunter’s eyes immediately widened as she turned to look at this ”adventurous old gentleman” with another shocking remark, her face filled with horror.

...

The fleet from the Loren Continent finally completed their momentous maiden voyage. As the brilliant sun began to slantingly illuminate the shores, these steel-crafted mechanical behemoths also completed their final deceleration post-port entry. Under the joint effort of Naga technicians submerged, sea demon pilots manipulating waves, and ship mechanics, a total of nine giant ships safely docked at the temporary pier outside Coastal Shire.

This port is one of the largest construction achievements by the Dragonkin of Coastal Shire recently—a massive port completed by nearly one-third of Calador’s town’s building forces, amidst severe labor shortages. Lacking experience, technical guidance, and engineering equipment, the Dragonkin managed with brute strength and sharp claws to provide docking-ready facilities for warships and cargo ships. Facts proved their overtime labor was worthwhile.

When the first large cargo ship ”Grey Mountain Knight” docked steadily, opening its number-one watertight storage compartment amid cheers from crew and dragons ashore, a mountain piled with dehydrated grains appeared before Calador.

It was a quantity of food considered ’massive’ even for dragons.

On a high ground near the harbor, Melita Ponia and Nuoletta stood side by side, watching the lively scene at the pier. After a while, Melita started to mutter softly, ”Cecil Clan’s rice is really something special...”

”Though I don’t know why you favor Cecil Clan’s rice so much, I must say,” Nuoletta shook her head beside her, ”While the ship brings quite a lot, it’s actually not enough to relieve the current food shortages in Agondale... It might only provide temporary relief, but surely won’t sustain us until yield from greenhouse farms on nearby islands. After all... The Dragonkin’s main body’s food consumption is no small number, and most dragons are now performing intense physical labor in their main body form.

”Furthermore... Even Speaker Andar wouldn’t guarantee if the farms on those nearby islands will yield enough, since the life dome based on Dragon Language Runes is a technology from too many years ago, and most young dragons lack the experience to tend to crops extensively.”

”Of course, but these ships are just the first batch, and materials prepared by various nations will continue to gather at Northport, far more than the first batch,” Melita said, ”The main significance of this fleet is to verify the feasibility of this route, confirm if existing Magic Machinery Ships can shoulder the task of transporting substantial supplies to Talronde... This mission counts as a success if they safely reach Coastal Shire’s port.”

”Indeed so...” Nuoletta nodded thoughtfully and sighed, ”Help from dozens of countries... returning such a favor won’t be easy.”

”Survival is the primary task, other matters can be considered after ensuring survival,” Melita smiled lightly, speaking softly, ”Well, we’ve seen the Dragonborn and human fleets arrive at the Talronde Continent, next... we should set off to the human kingdom.”

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