Ashen Dragon

In the "House of Ruin," Mezulash gathered all the Tiefling refugees.

Regardless of age, gender, or rank, as long as they were conscious, all Tiefling refugees were summoned to the camp square. This place was not only for their daily meetings but also for announcing significant news.

Mezulash first looked around, gazing at his kin's thin, scarred, and tormented faces.

"I... did nothing wrong."

Mezulash murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.

He finally made up his mind and slowly raised his longsword.

"Fellow kin, I have had enough of a life of wandering and endless pursuit."

"Our Tiefling blood has flowed enough."

"What we need is not to run away—"

"But to exact revenge. An eye for an eye, blood for blood."

This Tiefling Holy Warrior, usually so composed, now spoke with fervor, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with a light never seen before.

This left many Tieflings who knew him well in disbelief.

"From now on, we will join the Ashen Nest."

"The great Red Dragon, destroyer of the Eagle Guards, "Flying Flame" Lord Cassius will be our master, providing us shelter and leading us to avenge those vampires and humans who persecuted us."

"We will reclaim Northwind Castle, reclaim our former homeland."

"Lord Cassius will lead us in establishing new and truly fair rules."

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted, voices of discussion and argument filling the air.

Many Tieflings, whose relatives were massacred in that tragic event, had long made revenge their only reason to live. Now, the flames in their hearts were ignited by Mezulash's words.

They raised their weapons and cheered.

"Revenge!"

"Revenge! Revenge!"

"Storm Northwind Castle!"

"Cut off Duke Rackman's head!"

However, there were also many different voices. Though they were to some extent affected by the tragedy, they still believed in goodness and humanity, hoping to secure their place through peaceful means.

For example, Lerisa.

This young female Tiefling, full of shock and resentment, couldn't help but step forward to persuade:

"No, Mezulash, we must not become retainers of an evil dragon."

"If we do that, what difference is there between us and that blood-sucking duke!"

Many Tieflings agreed with her, expressing verbal support or nodding in agreement.

However, Mezulash merely stared at her.

"Lerisa, you did not listen to what I said before."

The look in his eyes puzzled her, as if it contained a certain pity, or perhaps reluctance.

But she didn't care about that at the moment; she was more concerned about making her point.

Lerisa shook her head vigorously, arguing:

"No, Mezulash, you're wrong..."

"Those humans are under the duke's manipulation. We can tell them the truth and rally them to peacefully resist the duke's bloody rule. That's the right path."

"I have already contacted a group of righteous men from various places. But if we become subordinates to the evil dragon, everything will be ruined, I..."

Her voice suddenly halted.

The sound of a sword piercing flesh echoed.

"Swish—"

Lerisa's face was covered in blood.

Those beautiful, blue, lake-like eyes stared in disbelief at the man who had plunged the sword into her chest.

"For...?"

It seemed she had never anticipated such an occurrence.

Mezulash's familiar pitch-black eyes were cold and distant now, making her feel somewhat alien, even horrified.

Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Mezulash's lips move slightly, recognizing the words he wanted to say as she was versed in lip-reading.

——It was the Hellish phrase for "I'm sorry."

Her delicate body slowly fell.

Warm blood gushed out, staining the pristine snow red.

Mezulash swiftly pulled out his sword.

He knew that cunning Red Dragon was observing everything from the shadows. This was a "credential," a gesture showing that he had no way back, only submission.

It was also to declare to all the camp's clansmen that the so-called "Peace Faction" had no place to stand anymore.

Lerisa was not wrong; she was just too naive.

Naive enough to believe that as long as there was mutual trust, there would be no conflict in the world, just like he once believed. But now, this former Redemption Knight was covered in blood.

"I'm sorry, Lerisa."

"This was just for our kin... to survive."

The blood splattered on his face slowly flowed down, Mezulash thought to himself.

All around, the Tieflings seemed stunned by the bloody scene, the air frozen, everyone silent.

No one dared to speak again, even those Tieflings who had called for "revenge" fell silent.

"Lerisa colluded with external enemies, leaking information..."

"Dealt with according to military law."

Ignoring the bloodstains on his face, Mezulash coldly raised his blood-stained longsword.

"Revenge!"

He repeated.

"Revenge! Revenge!"

"Reclaim Northwind Castle! Blood for blood!"

More Tieflings responded to his call this time, cheering in rhythm. Though some of them perhaps did not look as natural.

A sudden dragon's roar echoed in the sky.

"Roar—"

The Red Dragon descended slowly from the sky, standing on the highest boulder, looking down from above at the Tieflings.

Mezulash turned around timely, blending into the crowd, saying no more.

Cassius spread his wings slowly, casting a massive shadow over the crowd, making the Tieflings feel a strong sense of oppression.

"I, Cassius, lord of the Ashen Nest, welcome you to join us."

"I will provide you with ample protection and support, bestow upon you honor and strength, and help you build a town here."

"And in return, you will need to be my eternal retainers, fight for me, help me defeat that greedy Northwind Eagle, and seize the entire Northwind Castle."

Mezulash stepped forward, respectfully saying:

"This town will be born under your shadow, please grant it a name."

The Red Dragon's golden eyes showed a hint of playfulness:

"Since you are called Devil's Offspring, how about naming it 'Barto City'?"

Mezulash's expression didn't change, showing no signs of anger at the insult, and he calmly said:

"Thank you for your grace."

Cassius half-closed his eyes, looking at the composed Mezulash below, thinking to himself that this indeed was the man who had troubled the entire Rackman Family for over a decade.

The nearly emotionless rationality, truly a terrifying fellow.