Inside a massive ice castle located on top of a mountain covered in snow, Dewi stood near Marvell, her curiosity evident as she asked,
"I always forget to ask about your tail names ever since we met. Can I know each one of them?"
Marvell, standing not far from the table, turned his gaze toward his tails, which were happily devouring the food served to them. "Hmph..." he muttered thoughtfully.
Nearby, a girl in a green robe, her golden hair shimmering and her blue eyes bright, brought another tray of food to the table. She smiled warmly as she placed the dishes near the dragon heads.
"Another one for you three," she said excitedly, her voice full of cheer.
The tails' eyes glowed brightly with delight, and they eagerly dug into the fresh food. Watching this scene, Marvell turned to face Dewi.
"Well, this is a problem," he remarked, his tone thoughtful.
Dewi tilted her head slightly in confusion. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Marvell remained silent for a moment, lost in thought, before an idea sparked in his mind. He raised his hand and pointed toward his own tails. In response, a subtle transformation began: one tail sprouted a single horn, the second grew two horns, and the third grew three.
A satisfied smile crossed Marvell’s face as he said, "Now this will make it easier for you to tell the difference."
Dewi's eyes widened in surprise as she processed what had just happened. Marvell continued, introducing his tails one by one.
"The one with one horn is named Dorn, the one with two horns is Del, and the last one with three horns is Drako," he explained calmly.
Dewi nodded in understanding, though the surprise still lingered on her face.
Just then, Andreas joined the scene, holding a glass in his hand and pretending to be drunk. His antics drew laughter from everyone present, filling the castle hall with joy and lightheartedness as they enjoyed the moment together.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering ice echoed through the massive hall as someone burst through a giant sheet of ice with a single powerful kick. The man extended his arm high into the air, his voice booming with excitement,
"GUYS, GOOD NEWS!"
Pointing confidently to himself, he loudly proclaimed,
"BORG HAS RETURNED!"
A wide grin stretched across his face, but the room fell silent, everyone frozen in place as they stared at him. Borg stood there, confused by the unexpected reaction.
Breaking the silence, Marvell stepped forward with a warm and welcoming tone, his voice cutting through the tension,
"That’s fantastic news!"
With a quick motion, Marvell raised one of his hands, and in an instant, a cup brimming with beer materialized.
"Let’s CELEBRATE!" he declared enthusiastically.
Borg’s confusion melted into excitement as he clapped his hands together and exclaimed,
"YES, YES! NOW THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE!"
The once-silent room erupted into cheers, the crowd welcoming Borg with warmth and joy. His face lit up as he soaked in the moment he had hoped for. Borg strode toward Marvell with speed, grabbing the beer from his outstretched hand. Marvell smiled, watching his friend relish the attention and atmosphere.
Borg tilted the cup back, savoring every drop of the beer. With a satisfied sigh, he exhaled loudly,
"HAH!"
Lowering the empty cup, he looked down at Marvell, who stood calmly in front of him. With a curious expression, Borg leaned in closer and asked in a quieter voice,
"So, my friend..." he paused, lowering his tone even further, "When I received that message... what were we actually doing again?"
Marvell smirked knowingly, replying casually,
"Oh, I didn’t write anything in the scroll, trust me. I’ll explain everything once everyone’s here to listen to my big mouth."
Borg groaned in mock disappointment, throwing his head back dramatically.
"Ugh, again with the wise words. They always make me fall asleep!"
Marvell chuckled, his voice calm but teasing,
"Don’t worry, my friend. This time, I’ll make sure it’s more enjoyable to hear."
Borg hesitated, rethinking his initial reaction before nodding in agreement.
"Ok then, you’re in charge," he said, bowing slightly to acknowledge Marvell’s lead.
"Nice, thank you," Marvell replied with a smile, his gratitude genuine as the room buzzed with energy and laughter around them.
Borg let out a hearty laugh, his joy evident as he appreciated Marvell's gratitude. The warm atmosphere, however, was abruptly interrupted when a sudden crash reverberated through the massive ice castle. The ground shook violently, sending ripples of concern through everyone present.
Marvell’s expression shifted, his usual calm replaced by immediate awareness. Turning quickly to Borg, he asked,
"Uh, Borg, who was outside?"
Borg paused mid-drink, lowering the cup with a casual smile.
"Oh, you mean Roger? Yeah, he was outside waiting for Isaac," he replied nonchalantly.
Hearing the name, Marvell’s face darkened with worry.
"Oh no," he muttered under his breath, a sense of urgency taking over. Without hesitation, he bolted toward the gate.
While running, he called back to everyone in the hall, his voice firm but reassuring,
"Everyone stay here! Let me take care of this problem."
With that, he pushed the door open, the sound of the hall’s commotion fading as he stepped outside. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving the rest of the group inside to wait in tense anticipation.
Outside the Ice Castle...
A fierce battle raged between Roger and the unknown knight, tearing apart everything around them. Snowstorms swirled violently, and the icy ground cracked under the weight of their devastating powers. Roger, wielding his dark magic staff and long sword, clashed head-on with the knight, who gripped a red spear glowing ominously in his hands.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
The two charged, their weapons colliding with explosive force. Sparks and shards of ice flew as their strength pushed against one another. The unknown knight glared at Roger, his voice cutting through the storm with anger and disappointment.
"Tell me, puppy, do you really think your wife will be happy once she discovers what you’ve done?"
Roger remained calm, his voice steady and emotionless.
"I don’t know. But I did what had to be done."
The knight's frustration boiled over.
"BULLSHIT!" he roared, swinging his spear with overwhelming strength. The blow sent Roger hurtling into the sky like a comet.
As he soared through the freezing winds, Roger kept his composure. Without uttering a word, he raised his staff. A hundred dark magical missiles erupted from its tip, streaking toward the knight below.
The knight stood tall, unfazed. In an instant, dozens of crimson spears materialized around him, shooting up to meet Roger’s missiles mid-air. The spears pierced the projectiles, shattering them in a flurry of explosions. Roger, anticipating this, unsheathed his sword and blocked several spears aimed directly at him.
Hovering in the blizzard, Roger muttered a silent spell. His body glowed briefly with dark energy before he launched himself downward, cutting through the icy storm like a meteor. The knight leaped back as Roger crashed into the ground, shattering the frozen earth with a thunderous impact.
Snow blanketed the battlefield as silence briefly fell. The knight scanned the stormy haze, gripping his spear tightly. Then, with deliberate force, he drove his weapon into the ground. The earth trembled as a fiery rift tore open beneath him, spewing molten lava. The knight quickly leaped aside, avoiding the eruption.
From within the inferno, Roger emerged, levitating calmly with four dark orbs swirling around him in a perfect formation—one above, one below, and two to his sides. His cold gaze pierced through the storm.
"I know this is wrong," Roger said quietly, his tone devoid of emotion. "But what choice do I have?"
The knight’s anger ignited further.
"You always have a choice!" he bellowed, charging at Roger with his spear poised to strike.
Roger reacted instantly, darting forward with his staff and sword, both glowing with dark energy. The staff's design inverted into a sharp point, forming an “X” with his sword. The dark orbs followed his movements, crackling with unstable magic.
The knight's spear multiplied, appearing beside him and in his hands, ready to strike Roger from every angle. Just as their weapons were about to clash in a catastrophic explosion of power—
Marvell appeared.
Calm and composed, Marvell casually walked into the chaos, seemingly unbothered by the impending collision. He raised one hand, and a freezing wave of magic radiated outward.
Both Roger and the knight froze mid-attack, encased in solid ice, their weapons mere inches from each other. The battlefield fell silent once again, save for the crackling ice.
Marvell sighed, brushing snow from his coat.
"Jeez, you two... Do you have any idea how much trouble I’d be in if you destroyed this place?" He smiled playfully, his tone light.
He glanced at their frozen forms, scratching the back of his head.
"Right... Isaac. You really are a troublemaker." closing his eyes and then sigh
Back in the Ice Castle...
A meeting was held in a large hall. On the left sat the new heroes, their expressions a mix of nervousness and anticipation. On the right sat the old heroes, their demeanor calm and steady, a testament to their experience. Quiet murmurs filled the room as the two groups exchanged conversations, but Isaac remained silent in his chair, his face void of emotion.
Suddenly, Marvell appeared behind Isaac’s chair, startling the new heroes once again with his seamless magical entrance. His dragon tail emerged moments later, the head of the tail resting beside Dewi. Her face lit up with excitement as she reached out to pat it, the tail responding by leaning into her touch. Marvell, carrying a weary expression, spoke with a heavy tone, “Hah... sorry for taking too long. I had to repair the damage caused by their battle, or else this whole place would already be destroyed.” He pulled out his chair and sat down, his exhaustion evident as he glanced around the room.
Marvell turned his gaze toward the old heroes, addressing them directly. “Now, like I said in the message, there’s something we need to discuss, which all of you already know, and I don’t need to explain any further.” As he spoke, Borg, one of the old heroes, took a sip of his drink and suddenly choked, drawing the room’s attention.
Everyone stared at Borg in confusion, while Marvell sighed in disappointment, clearly knowing what was coming. “I don’t think I need to explain that,” he muttered, looking down at the table. Borg, now panicking, waved his hands defensively and blurted out, “WELL, hold on, let me remember! Ayhhhh... if I remember right... now HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.” He pressed his fingers to his temples, visibly straining to recall something. After a tense pause, his face brightened. “NOW I REMEMBER! WE’RE HERE TO DISCUSS ABOUT KICKING THE KING’S ASS, RIGHT?”
The room went silent, all eyes turning to Marvell. He rested his chin on his hand, his tone half-resigned. “Well...” There was a brief pause. “It’s like half the point of the discussion... but at least he’s right, since in the end, we’re going to kick his ass.” His faint smile betrayed a flicker of amusement at Borg’s enthusiasm. Borg, now triumphant, quietly muttered a victorious “YES” to himself, though no one else seemed to hear it.
Marvell let out another sigh and refocused on the meeting. “So, we’re here to capture... no... we’re here to save all 52 heroes. Since I already saved five, they can lead each of us to hero groups scattered across the Silver Kingdom. Now, before we get into this any deeper, any thoughts or questions you guys want to ask?”
The room fell into an awkward silence. Borg glanced at his companions, who remained equally quiet. On the new heroes’ side, Dewi, Angel, Nana, Andreas, and Aldir sat in their chairs, none offering questions or comments. Marvell surveyed the silent room, disappointment briefly flashing in his eyes. He adjusted his posture, keeping a faint smile as he tried to maintain composure. “Well, I suppose we can get into what I wanted to say.” He exhaled softly, as if gathering his thoughts. “We’ll split the group into five. Each team will handle two groups of heroes and send them here. Each group will have two people—one new hero and one old hero. How does that sound?”
Again, there was silence, the members looking at one another uncertainly. Marvell’s eyes betrayed his growing frustration, though he kept his tone light. “Well, I guess we can just make the groups already,” he murmured under his breath, his gaze drifting to the table. “I should’ve kept it less detailed,” he whispered to himself before looking back up with a warm smile.
Breaking the quiet, Borg raised his hand, setting his drink on the table. “So, like... me facing two groups and then taking them here? How about my companion?” he asked, his tone casual.
Angel shot Borg a sharp look, leaning forward. “You can’t be serious thinking we’re just going to stand there and watch. We might find a way to help, okay?” Her voice was firm.
Marvell turned his gaze to Angel, his expression serious but tinged with concern. “Angel, I’m sorry to tell you this, but what I want is for you guys to show your friends, not get into the fight. If the king sees you, sooner or later, he’ll figure out our plan with his big brain, you know?” he gaze turn into the old hero " Still, the reason it has to be split up its because we need proceed faster, the longer we take. something bad might happen to either your friend.....or something related to the king himself...." With worrying face closing his eyes and sigh for a moment " Like it or not, you have to accept it "
An elf among Marvell’s old allies stood up, her face serious as she asked, “Are you saying you’re preparing a disguise for all of us?” Marvell blinked, clearly not hearing her at first. “Come again?”
The elf repeated her question, mimicking his earlier phrasing, “‘If the king sees you.’ That means the king knows us, so you’ve prepared disguises for all of us but want to remain cautious in case something happens, right?” Her voice carried a sharp edge as she pressed him.
Marvell nodded, his tone calm. “Yep, you got that one right. Thank goodness I didn’t go into detail about that earlier. Yes, we’ll all have disguises. I’ve prepared them—disguises as demon generals.”
The elf tilted her head, confused. “Demon generals?”
Marvell smiled faintly. “Yep, you didn’t hear that wrong. Demon generals tasked with killing heroes to gain the upper hand on the battlefield against the kingdom.” His tone lightened with a touch of joy. The elf nodded in understanding and returned to her seat without further comment.
Aldir stood up, his expression determined. “Is there any possible thing we can do other than pointing out our friends?” he asked, clearly wanting a larger role.
Marvell’s expression hardened slightly as he replied, “I’m afraid that’s up to them. You guys are just going to support my friends. We don’t want to risk revealing that you’re still alive, not to mention the collars’ capabilities.” His tone carried a note of warning. Aldir sat back down, quiet but visibly deep in thought.
The room grew still again, the weight of the discussion settling over everyone. Marvell broke the silence. “Is there any question you guys want to ask? I’ll welcome it with open arms,” he said, standing as if to encourage engagement.
The silence persisted. Some members appeared lost in thought, while others seemed distracted. Marvell sighed, clearly disappointed. “This is disappointing,” he muttered to himself before loudly announcing, “Well, I suppose we can proceed to split the teams.” He reached under the table, pulling out a folded paper. “I’ve already made the groups, so please, like it or not, this is better for all of us.” His tone was firm but composed as he unfolded the paper.
Drake leaned back in his chair, his calm voice breaking the tension. “I have no problem with it. When it comes to strategy, we always rely on you. You’re always calculating things before executing your plans.”
Marvell chuckled lightly, his smile softening. “Heh, that’s nice,” he replied before opening the paper fully and beginning to explain the team arrangements to the group.
he then put his hand down and pulled out a paper, putting it on the table and then looking at the new heroes with smile face " So, lets proceed everyone "