Tales Of The Mighty Dragonair

"I hardly doubt that," Arthur suddenly said, "he must be here."

"But… we already scanned the entire sect and found nothing," Jim couldn't help but say.

"I agree with Willy," Amera said, "the deal with him was based on giving the entire sect to the dark forces. He wouldn't leave here before fulfilling his task."

"But he already did his part," another cultivator argued.

"No, he only did the first part," Arthur firmly said, "I believe there is still more to do. He is here, that's given."

The cultivators all exchanged glances with each other before Jim said:

"If that's true, then he is dangerous."

"He had access to the shields and defensive and offensive arrays here," another cultivator said.

"Also he knew all the secret paths leading to the sect," a cultivator added.

"Plus the weaknesses we have in our defenses."

"This…" Arthur turned to Deem who hurriedly said:

"I can deal with the arrays, but these defenses need Gor to help."

"I'll send for him," Arthur nodded while hearing the swift response of Gege inside his mind the next moment.

'I'll let the tree tell him to come.'

"What about places he might hide at?" Doaf asked, "we can't enter the war with such risk."

"We've already searched everywhere," Jim said.

"Look again then," Arthur said, "and send many scouts outside and look through everywhere."

Jim nodded as he realized the danger everyone was facing from that traitor.

"Go now, I've to speak with my men," Arthur said and the cultivators all cubbed their hands before moving away.

"Did something happen?" Doaf asked and Amera suddenly asked:

"Has the info about the flying army finally?"

"It came," Arthur nodded, "and we gained no intel at all," his words changed everyone's faces to be darker.

They already realized what he meant by that.

"So?" the crow said, "we can't sit here and wait for them to arrive."

"That's why I gathered you," Arthur said, "we need to go out again and collect the info ourselves."

"I don't mind that," Doaf said and Amera nodded.

"I can't leave here unprotected, plus this is a special force task, not a big army war," Arthur said and his words were instantly understood by everyone.

"So we'll only select the elites?" Amera asked, "how much?"

"No more than fifty of each force," Arthur said, "and that includes my own forces as well."

"Give us ten minutes and we'll be ready," Doaf said without hesitation but Arthur hurriedly stopped them.

"I need one to remain behind."

They exchanged glances and he saw the challenge everyone had in their eyes. They all wanted to be part of this force and so no one spoke and volunteered to stay behind.

And that made him helplessly smile. "I believe the crow would be the best to lead the defenses here."

"Why me?" the crow instantly objected, "I believe those men can lead the defensive war against the invaders."

"They look capable and know every single inch of their sect."

"I also agree."

The three unified against Arthur who couldn't help but laugh.

"That won't do," Arthur shook his head, "they once failed to protect themselves, and letting them lead the defenses will be a major mistake."

"So?" the crow asked.

"You'll stay behind and hold the fort for us."

"Why me?" he asked again.

"You fought the forces and got your own share of blood and revenge already," Arthur tried to reason out with him.

"She also did the same," yet the crow wasn't satisfied with this.

"She… is mainly offensive and hot headed," Arthur couldn't hide his own thoughts about her.

And in a very rare moment, she accepted such words with a big smile and firm nod. "But you are more reasonable, also strong on your own terms."

"Kid, don't use flattery to persuade me to stay," the crow sneered, "this fight is one that I can't skip. However I'll leave behind one of my trusted subordinates. He is capable and can lead any army without problems."

Arthur glanced at him before dropping any further argument. "Alright, it's settled then," he helplessly said, "go and prepare, and take Deem with you."

"What should I do?" Deem asked.

"Try to change every single array here," Arthur seriously said, "and make sure to add as many arrays as you can of all kinds. This war… it's going to be a hard one."

"I know," Deem nodded before the crow took him on his back and left.

"Have you notified Nara?" Arthur asked while watching the four leaving far away.

'She is gathering up her elites now,' Gege said, 'and also your werewolf and the top fighters of your slaves and dragons are being selected and ready.'

"Select all the slaves," Arthur suddenly said, "and take all the dragons with us. I'll get inside now and turn some corpses into dragons."

'Alright.'

Arthur then closed his eyes and entered the garden world where he started using his dragomancer ability to turn one hundred corpses into dragons.

'They are ready,' suddenly Gege said, 'everyone has already entered here.'

"Good, I'm almost done," he touched the last corpse and used the ability to turn it into a dragon, "let's hope we can overcome that force."

'Ding! What if we can't retreat here?' the system suddenly said.

'What do you mean by that? I'm already part of his body!' Gege said in a defensive way.

"Explain," yet Arthur calmly said.

'Ding! From what I noticed, they have something to seal space and might also time. That only explains why we lost connection with that group of mechas from before.'

"You mean… like that strange technique used over my capital from before?" Arthur couldn't help but recall that brutal fight with Mera when he first arrived here and established his first city; his capital.

'Ding! I mean that exactly,' the system said, 'Ding! That way entering there means being secluded from this sect and the fight going here as well.'

"That's… really disturbing," Arthur couldn't help but sigh, "however we need intel. Let's judge when we are there."

'Ding! We should think of a way before going there to be honest.'

Arthur went into silence for a couple of moments as he knew his system's point of view wasn't that bad. "I really miss that old dragon now," he muttered, "he was the only one knowing many secrets of those dirty ones we are fighting now."

'I can try,' suddenly Gege said, 'I can try to awaken him for a few hours at most.'

"Really?" Arthur couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "great, if you managed to do that before reaching there then it would be good."

'Ding! What if she failed? What is plan B?'

"Hmm… let's wrack our heads then and try to find another solution by then," Arthur couldn't help but add, "I need to get moving now, it's now or never."

'Ding! Sigh, I hope we don't find that fate waiting for us out there.'

"Me too hope so," Arthur nodded before opening his eyes and a cold blue light flashed in his eyes, "but hopes don't save lives or win wars my dear friend.. Only brute force and cunning do."