Chapter 16: The Dawn of Conflict

Early in the morning, after the carnival last night, the dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield set off with the expedition under the cheers of the people in Long Lake Town. Kili, due to injuries, stayed behind, with Fili and two others remaining to care for him. Bofur missed the boat because of his drunkenness. The dwarves' expedition to the Lonely Mountain was about to reach its final destination.

...

"My Lord, Esgaroth is in front of us. What should we do?" Reynold asked, unsure.

"Let's see how things unfold," Roland replied. "If they resist, we'll deal with the resistance accordingly."

Reynold hesitated, then nodded. "As you wish, my lord." Reynold's acceptance signaled his recognition of Roland's authority. Roland's decisiveness earned the support of his people.

As the morning mist cloaked their approach, the group quietly rowed their boats toward the outskirts of the town.

"Move swiftly," Carlos instructed, his eyes sharp.

The board fell, and agile archers leapt down, abandoning their longbows for long swords. They quickly occupied nearby wooden buildings. The residents, still waking up, were bewildered and stunned as swords were pressed to their necks.

"You... you... who are you?" an old man asked, trembling.

"We are warriors from hell," Reynold responded with a grim smile.

"For the king," he muttered to himself.

"Everyone, off the boats, quickly!" Reynold ordered.

...

They disembarked before the town guards could react. Roland waved his hand, and the boats disappeared back into his storage space.

"Find someone to lead us to the town hall," Roland commanded. Knowing the plot well, he was aware that the mayor and his crony, Aifud, were obstacles that needed to be removed.

"Ha!" Several infantrymen formed a shield wall, surrounding the guards who arrived in response. Other infantrymen placed their spears over the shields, aiming at the panicked guards.

"Are you going to move?" Roland taunted. The guards, overwhelmed by fear, could only hold their weapons awkwardly, forced back by the advancing spears.

Drawing his sword, Roland let the golden light play along the blade. "So, gentlemen, where is your mayor?" he asked with a devilish smile.

...

"Boom!" The shield wall crashed onto the square in front of the mayor's hall, causing the wooden planks to creak under the weight.

The guards, clustered before the mayor's gate, trembled as they pointed their weapons at Roland and his men. Their panic was evident, with shaking hands and unsteady legs.

"No one can stay calm with 200 bows and arrows aimed at them," Roland thought, observing the scene. "So, do you want war or peace?" he asked nonchalantly, raising his sword.

"What are you doing?" the mayor demanded, emerging from the hall with Aifud.

"How do you think your rule is going?" Roland asked, genuinely curious about the mayor's audacity.

"I'm the legal ruler of Esgaroth. You have no right to interfere!" the mayor insisted.

"Do these soldiers give you confidence?" Roland gestured toward the guards.

"Are you all willing to die for him?" Roland asked, tapping the guards with his sword.

"This is your last chance. Drop your weapons and go home, or else..." Roland smiled as the knights and archers behind him radiated fighting spirit. Reynold's aura extended four feet, a terrifying sight.

"Ding, ding, bang!" Weapons fell to the ground.

"Knight... Sergeant..." someone whispered, hands and feet cold.

"Boom!" The crowd scattered. Roland, watching them flee, focused back on the mayor.

"You were a ruler, but now...?" Roland taunted.

"No... no..." the mayor stammered.

"Isn't this Aifud? Why are you shaking?" Roland mocked.

"Forget it, just kill them," Roland said, waving his hand. A shot from Reynold's Sword Judgment skill turned several people into piles of ash.

...

"You are Bard?" Roland asked the tough-faced man before him.

"Yes. Why are you here?" Bard replied warily, looking at Reynold.

"My name is Roland," he introduced himself. "Bard the marksman, descendant of King Girion? How did you become a fisherman and hunter?" Roland joked, glancing at Bard's two frightened daughters.

"We live happily now," Bard said, looking at his family.

"I just killed the mayor and his men. Do you have any suggestions?" Roland asked.

"What about the ordinary guards?" Bard asked.

"You are indeed a qualified lord," Roland praised.

"No, I'm just an ordinary man now," Bard replied.

"But you will eventually be crowned king," Roland said meaningfully.

Roland, realizing the true situation in the town, decided to leave Bard in charge. Smaug was coming, and Roland knew he couldn't stop the dragon alone. It was better to leave the town in Bard's capable hands.

...

"Half-orc!" A Batenian archer exclaimed, sending an arrow through the orc's eye socket.

"Alert!" officers in the town called out.

"Elf?" Carlos was surprised to see Legolas fighting the orcs.

...

"Oh no!" Roland remembered the impending orc attack and rushed to Bard's house. With Bard not imprisoned, the half-orc warriors were a significant threat.

"Uh, are you all right? The dwarves will be happy to see you again!" Roland greeted everyone.

"Bard, we need to evacuate the town. Smaug is coming. You must lead the people to the valley beneath the Lonely Mountain," Roland urged.

"What about you?" Bard asked.

"I'm going to secure my army. My archers will stay to hold off Smaug," Roland replied.

"Remember to come back. Your ancestors shot Smaug. You need to settle your grievances," Roland encouraged Bard.

...

"Reynold, lead the knights and infantry out. Archers, stay behind to snipe Smaug. Kaslow, follow me," Roland ordered.

"My lord, let me stay!" Reynold protested.

"Don't worry. The team is in good hands. We have adamantine armor to protect us from the dragon's breath. Smaug can't harm us," Roland assured him.

...

"Hi! Roland, I'm back!" Bard returned after arranging for his family and the dwarves to leave.

"Good. Show me the black arrow. It's one of the few weapons that can slay dragons," Roland said, curious.

Bard handed him the black arrow. "It's so long! It could be a spear," Roland remarked.

"Look at the Lonely Mountain," Bard said, pointing.

In the dark night, the mountain glowed with the light of Smaug's fiery breath.

"The dragon is coming," Roland said, narrowing his eyes.

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