Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 856 - 80: The Demon Dragon’s Ferocious Might

Blood seeped into the ground, and the Blood Pool Domain swiftly and silently expanded beneath the feet of every member of the King’s Shield.

Ordinary armored infantry didn’t even have the privilege of being covered by the Blood Pool Domain. Scarlet flowers bloomed under their feet, absorbing all their blood.

The Magic Array that governed the entire Basilicata—now Furinjira felt terrifyingly powerful, confident enough to match her strength even against those ancient relics slumbering in the Blood Royal Court.

"Stay Alert!"

Before everyone could be warned, Captain Geoffrey suddenly lost ground under his feet and fell into the boundless Sea of Blood.

The change on the mountain instantly prompted half of the Royal Mages to intervene, attempting to break the dreadful Demon Array silently enveloping Battery No. 2 and rescue the King’s Shield Guards trapped inside.

The Three-headed Demon Dragon struggled desperately, with each of its heads displaying different expressions.

The raging Fire Dragon Head showed a hint of madness: "Stop hesitating, you two cowardly fools, these lowly humans are trampling on our Giant Dragon dignity, give me all your power!"

The Highly Poisonous Dragon Head and Cursed Dragon Head exchanged a glance and closed their eyes, falling into slumber.

When they reopened their eyes, all that was revealed was a scarlet madness, identical to the central Fire Dragon Head.

...

The changes on the mountain did not affect the foot of the mountain.

Beside the advisory group, Marshal Julian was explaining with great enthusiasm: "Gentlemen, as you can see, this is the same Demon Dragon that wreaked havoc yesterday, powerless before the Royal Mage Corps."

Manstein looked at the Demon Dragon with some regret: "It’s still very young, taming it would be more valuable than killing it."

Marshal Julian scoffed disdainfully: "Heh, gentlemen, waiting for this Demon Dragon to mature would take decades to rear, while our Big Ben Royal Science Academy created Floating Airships from scratch in just ten years."

He said, pausing his tone: "By the time that Demon Dragon matures, the Empire would have already developed even more powerful War Machines, which are the true foundation of a country’s strength, rather than relying on a beast like those ignorant Ottomans."

If the Ottomans are ignorant and backward, then what is the Habsburg Dynasty, an enemy of the Ottomans for centuries?

A sense of humiliation sprouted among the young officers in the advisory group, wishing to take off their gloves and slap this arrogant British marshal in the face.

Yet Conrad, the head of the advisory group, applauded with admiration: "Your country’s level of industrialization is indeed unmatched. In comparison, the gap between our war machines and yours is as large as the gap between our navy and yours."

"After this battle, I can take the liberty of offering one head of the Three-headed Demon Dragon to Your Majesty the Emperor of your country."

Julian’s lips curved slightly, clearly pleased with the compliment.

But Conrad followed up with a bittersweet expression: "Europe is on the brink of war, and our nation is still so lagging in the field of war machines. As the closest allies of the Habsburg Family and the Germanic nation, will your country just watch us use outdated, primitive weapons and fight alongside you?"

Julian’s smile froze on his face, somewhat awkwardly saying: "This... Mr. Conrad must be joking, your country is only slightly behind in the field of war machines."

"Not just slightly, but by a lot... Our war machines, not only fall behind your country, but are also far inferior to those knife-sharpening French who are always ready to march on Vienna."

Conrad sighed deeply: "Given the friendship and close alliance between our two countries, shouldn’t your country provide us with some support? I think this would be a better gift than any Dragon head."

Among the advisory group officers, some felt embarrassed while others stifled laughter.

Those who felt embarrassed were mostly the younger generation, while the senior generals thought that gaining the technology for British Floating Airships or Land Cruisers was worth losing a little face.

Julian could only smile wryly: "I’m sorry, Mr. Conrad, such a big decision is beyond my authority, but if your country intends to purchase some war machines from the Empire, I can help select a few ships for your country after the war."

Conrad looked helpless: "You should also know, what’s missing in our country is not a few Land Cruisers or Floating Airships, what we really lack is the life source needed to operate those machines. I’ve heard that beneath the land in Texas, there are many precious mineral veins, including the much-needed White Crystal and Magic Stone in our country..."

Julian quickly denied: "I am not sure about that; Texas has been occupied by these Demons for many years, and it hasn’t been developed at all. No one is certain what precious mineral veins lie there."

"Is your country interested in bidding for Texas’s mineral veins in the future, or allowing joint development with us?"

To be honest, Conrad did not think the people in Texas could win this war. He was originally from Moravia, under the Bohemian Crown Lands, and before Germany was unified, he frequently dealt with the southern Wolf Race.

A nation founded by gang members, how could it pass the tests of modern war?

Marshal Julian just evaded: "I am but a soldier, I have no authority over such matters."

During the conversation, a shadow in the sky fell like a bullet from the mountain.

In the next moment, that shadow expanded into a gigantic Demon Dragon, stretching its behemoth body nearly a hundred meters across the British Army camp, reflecting menacing cold light within its black Scale Armor, as if molten crimson magma flowed through it.

The Demon Dragon that had once destroyed half a Floating Fleet returned again!

Its massive mouth, capable of swallowing an elephant whole, was filled with teeth like swords. As it roared, terrifying Dragon Flame erupted violently, like a pillar of fire from God’s wrath upon humanity, plowing through the ground.

Countless soldiers were consumed by the terrifying Dragon Flame before they could scream.

Not being directly struck was unnecessary, even splashing sparks and the frightening high temperature were enough to ignite a blazing inferno in the camp.

A dozen Holy Knights emitting Golden Radiance stood together like moths to the flame, singing holy hymns with faces fixed with resolute determination to face death heroically, expanding their Shields to dozens of meters wide to block the Dragon Flame.

But as the terrifying Demon Dragon swept past from the sky, only ridicule was apparent in its vertical pupils, and the spewed Dragon Flame curved upon the ground, bypassing the Shields erected by the Holy Knights, and spat toward the rear.

"George, where is Admiral George!"

Marshal Julian shouted in panic.

Manstein looked at the terrified Britons and silently sneered in his heart. No matter how proud they were before, facing this ferocious, terrifying colossal beast, they still followed their biological instincts and fled headlong.

Yet he and several officers and commanders from the Knight Order Country, having been accustomed to seeing their Grand Master’s wingless Demon Dragon, remained relatively calm.