We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
The clouds are ominous.
The northern part of the Yorttenitos Kingdom is a rugged mountainous region where a small number of Earth Dragons inhabit. Deep forests continue endlessly, making it difficult for humans to penetrate.
In the northern mountainous region, there are scattered villages where people make a living from forestry, and adventurers seeking treasures and exploration who venture beyond what has been seen.
What awaits beyond the northern mountainous region is a mystery to everyone.
It seems Prince Friel and his Wyvern Knight Order were investigating an incident that occurred in the northern mountainous region.
The first abnormality was confirmed shortly after Prince Friel and Lord Grave’s Wyvern Knight Order moved west to subdue the Demon King.
“An unnatural fog appeared in a part of the mountainous region. It persisted for days, and we received a report that villages swallowed by the fog lost contact.”
So said a Dragon Knight from the Wyvern Knight Order belonging to the northern army.
It seems they had been investigating the unnatural fog with Friel and others, who had successfully subdued the Demon King until recently.
The Dragon Knight explained the detailed circumstances to us.
“Initially, we were investigating the range and density of the fog.”
By the time Friel’s investigation team began their work, the fog had already spread over a wide area. It stretched from the outer reaches of the mountainous region to unexplored depths where even the Wyvern Knight Order had never flown. The width was such that a Wyvern Knight couldn’t reach from one end to the other in a day, and its height extended above the clouds.
Even at that point, it was considered an abnormal situation, but the Dragon Knight’s story continued.
“The density is abnormal.”
One of the Earth Dragon Knights cautiously entered the fog. With just a single step, their vision turned completely white, and they could see nothing.
While normal dense fog can obscure the end of an outstretched hand, to have one’s vision completely disappear, especially immediately upon entering, was even more abnormal.
“Furthermore, the person reported that immediately after their vision was obscured by the fog, they lost their sense of direction.”
It was a strange story. The Dragon Knight who stepped into the fog to investigate should have been riding their Earth Dragon. Of course, they were moving forward, not sideways or backward. Yet, upon entering the fog, they lost their sense of direction? Normally, one would think it clear which way was behind them, indicating the exit of the fog?
The Dragon Knight wasn’t the only one who lost their sense of direction. The Earth Dragon also lost its bearings. Startled, the Earth Dragon instinctively retreated, fortunately escaping the fog.
“According to the Dragon Knight’s story and the Earth Dragon’s translation, without that, they would have undoubtedly been lost…”
With just one step into the fog, not only the Dragon Knight but also the Earth Dragon were on the verge of getting lost. We looked at each other in wonder after hearing the story.
“We have no choice but to go and see for ourselves, right?”
Guided by the Wyvern Knight, we quickly flew north to the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
And then, we were stunned.
“This is…”
The abnormal phenomenon that appeared before our eyes. The Dragon Knight, who had told us the details of the incident, had described it as an unnaturally dense and widespread fog…
Thunder roared. Lightning intermittently flashed, illuminating the surroundings.
When we arrived in the northern mountainous region, the deep and rugged terrain was engulfed by a terrifyingly gigantic thunderous cloud. Moreover, this super-giant thundercloud wasn’t floating in the sky but had extended its tips to the ground, eerily blanketing the mountainous region.
“It’s just like the cumulonimbus clouds we see in summer.”
“No, it’s more than that. This is no longer something you could call a cloud.”
Laira, trembling, clung to Mistral.
The abnormal, super-giant thundercloud, which covered the mountains from the ground up and stretched high into the sky, pulsed eerily as if to repel intruders.
“Uh, this isn’t a normal cloud, and it’s not the dense fog we heard about, is it?”
I looked at the Dragon Knight, seeking confirmation. The Dragon Knight’s eyes widened in astonishment as they gazed at the super-giant thundercloud spreading before them.
“Dragon Knight. Hey? Dragon Knight?”
“…Yes!”
After calling out a few times, the Dragon Knight finally responded.
“Just to be sure, is this not the fog we heard about?”
To investigate the situation, we rode Revalia and flew around the super-giant thundercloud. However, no matter how far we flew, there was no break in the thundercloud, and no matter how we observed, we couldn’t find anything that could be called “fog.”
Indeed, the northern mountainous region was swallowed by a “thundercloud,” not “fog.” This meant the Dragon Knight’s story didn’t add up, did it?
In response to our doubts, the Dragon Knight shook their head vigorously. It was as if they couldn’t believe the abnormal situation unfolding before them, rather than denying our suspicions.
“N-no, it really was fog that we saw…”
The Dragon Knight spoke with an almost desperate intensity. It didn’t seem like an act, nor a lie. Then, did the fog transform into a thundercloud after the Dragon Knight returned to the capital to report? The Dragon Knight had returned only a short while before we arrived at the Yorttenitos Kingdom’s capital. It hadn’t even been a full day since they told us the situation and we hurried to the northern mountainous region. Could it be that the fog transformed into a thundercloud in such a short time?
As if to confirm our suspicions, another person from the Wyvern Knight Order, who had stayed behind to observe, rushed over and spoke.
“After Prince Friel and the others went missing and we flew to report to the capital, the thunder began to roar…”
That’s right. The reason the Wyvern Knight returned to the capital to report the abnormal situation was that multiple Wyvern Knights, including Friel, had entered the fog and disappeared. We had also heard the details before arriving in the northern mountainous region.
A strange, dense fog that caused even Earth Dragons to lose their sense of direction. It was clear this was no ordinary fog. However, we couldn’t simply ignore it. The fog had been spreading for days before Friel and his group began their investigation, and contact had been lost with the villagers swallowed by it. If this situation continued, we didn’t know what would happen next. Furthermore, this was not just a problem for the people living in the north, but could become a problem for the entire Yorttenitos Kingdom. That’s why Friel and his party bravely entered the fog without regard for their own safety to investigate. However, the result only led to an unforeseen situation. Friel and his group did not return from deep within the fog, and the dense fog showed no signs of dissipating. Thus, someone observing from the outside rushed to the capital to report.
“Just to confirm, Prince Friel and his group didn’t just charge blindly into the fog, did they?”
The winged dragon ridden by Friel was Yugra, a legendary dragon that challenged the Rotten Dragon King about three hundred years ago. Moreover, Yugra had three Dragon Race warriors assigned as caretakers. Under these circumstances, it’s hard to believe Friel rashly charged into the fog. They must have carefully planned and prepared for it. In response to my question, the Dragon Knight replied.
“Yes. They used Dragon Arts to connect with dragons waiting outside the fog. By connect, you mean… According to the Count, they connected each other by forming a string of Dragon Energy.”
The Dragon Knight, who still had limited knowledge of the unique powers of the Dragon Race, such as “Dragon Energy” and “Dragon Power,” explained what they heard without fully understanding it themselves. We understood correctly upon hearing this. In other words, they created a string of Dragon Energy using Dragon Arts to connect Yugra with the waiting Dragon Race. This way, even if they lost their sense of direction deep in the fog, they could follow the string of Dragon Energy to get out. Furthermore, a string made by Yugra’s Dragon Arts could be extended freely and wouldn’t break easily. It was quite a good plan.
By the way, “Count” is the appellation for Yugra, who holds the unique title of Count in the Yorttenitos Kingdom. Both dragons and people affectionately and respectfully called Yugra “Count.”
“But, Prince Friel and his group went missing…?”
Even with such precautions taken, Friel and Yugra disappeared. The Dragon Knight said.
“Immediately after the Count, His Highness, and the others entered the fog. The string made by Dragon Arts snapped…”
The string, which shouldn’t have broken easily, snapped effortlessly. We were also stunned by this fact.
“That means Yugra’s Dragon Arts were interfered with or broken, doesn’t it?”
This was no trivial matter. If this fog wasn’t a natural phenomenon but was intentionally created by someone, then that “someone who created the fog” surpassed the legendary winged dragon Yugra the moment they entered the fog.
“This is…”
I stared at the eerie thundercloud roaring with lightning and swallowed hard. Everyone else also looked at the thundercloud meaningfully, as if realizing something.
“I’ve been wondering from the beginning. Why did Argilthal suddenly bring up Cloud Dragons…”
Just as Shadow Dragons freely manipulate shadows, Cloud Dragons can freely manipulate clouds. If what appeared as dense fog was actually clouds covering heaven and earth. White, thick clouds transformed into thunderclouds in a short time, as if the entire cloud mass was being manipulated. The conclusion that could be drawn from this was only one.
“This is the work of an Ancient Dragon Species, a Cloud Dragon!”
At my declaration, everyone nodded in agreement, and the Wyvern Knight Order stared in astonishment at the super-giant cumulonimbus cloud.
“Shadow Dragon Argilthal knew from the beginning that Cloud Dragons had flown to this land. That’s why, under the guise of advice, he told us about the existence of Cloud Dragons!”
However, a question remained. Why did Argilthal know that a Cloud Dragon had appeared in the northern mountainous region of the Yorttenitos Kingdom? Nimia brought the Ancient Dragon Species and Miko from the former capital. The former capital is said to be far to the east. Therefore, it’s highly likely that the Ancient Dragon Species flying from the east passed over the Yorttenitos Kingdom. But if that were the case, not only Argilthal, but also Asher and Lady Rayarin should have noticed the existence of Cloud Dragons. Yet, Asher and the others never mentioned Cloud Dragons.
Nimia meowed “Nyaan” in response to my question.
“Lady Raya decided the flight path, nyan. When she heard Brother Elnea’s story, she wanted to see where the related Giants and Mimicho Race lived, so they flew south. But Argilthal-sama, even while going to the Wyvern Hunting Ground, kept going here and there.”
“So, Argilthal happened to spot a Cloud Dragon when he was acting alone?”
That possibility was extremely high. But why did Argilthal tell us about the Cloud Dragon? Simply because a Cloud Dragon appeared doesn’t seem to be a strong enough reason for him to hint at its existence to us. So, is there some other reason?
“Argilthal… He said Cloud Dragons that leave the Dragon God Mountain Range possess a treasure that heals all, didn’t he? But we’re not looking for any such treasure now. Does that mean…?”
Argilthal’s intentions remain unclear. What exactly is he plotting? What is he trying to set up for us and the Cloud Dragon? The only thing we can say for sure now is,
“Regardless of Argilthal’s intentions, it’s certain that Friel and his group have entered the Cloud Dragon’s territory. And the Cloud Dragon shows no mercy to those who enter their territory.”
Perhaps the Cloud Dragon mistook Friel and his group for plunderers trying to steal the treasure. That’s why it rapidly summoned the thundercloud and created the raging storm.
“P-Prince Elnea! Prince Friel… Prince Friel!”
Laira clung to me, her face pale. She’s very worried about Friel. But if we charge into the cumulonimbus cloud without a plan, we’ll be in danger too. After all, the opponent is an Ancient Dragon Species. They are not beings against whom half-hearted power or a simple plan would work. I hugged Laira, trying to reassure her as much as possible, while formulating a plan. How can we safely enter this terrifying cumulonimbus cloud? And how can we find and rescue Friel and his group?
However, I couldn’t come up with a good idea. Should I ask Nimia to return to the former capital and call for support from Asher or someone else? No, that would take too long. Friel and the others might still be safe now. After all, Yugra is with them. They should be able to respond flexibly to unexpected situations. But the longer time passes, the worse the situation will become. By the time Nimia makes the round trip to the former capital, the worst-case scenario could occur.
“We have no choice but to go. But how?”
As these thoughts escaped my lips, Ruiseine firmly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes and said with determined eyes.
“Let’s go, Elnea-kun. I will clear the way.”
