Chapter 508: Swagger at Its Peak (Part 2)

The scene was both bizarre and comical.

Duke's companions, all four of them, were in disarray and panic, nearly unleashing their invincibility and ice barrier spells.

But Duke alone stood with hands behind his back, tall and proud like a vigorous pine in the mountain wind, flaunting an act of sheer arrogance.

Opposite him?

That mysterious red dragon, who had been prepared to greet Duke and his team with a grand fiery breath, had an even more amusing reaction.

Though it had already spewed most of its dragon's breath, the dragon managed to swallow it back as if gulping down saliva.

By the Light!

Fire that's been spat out can be swallowed back?

Why not perform something even more ridiculous?

Cough! Cough!

That was over.

The expressions on the faces of Duke's four companions were priceless! They had anticipated a fierce battle, only for that red dragon to... cower?

Yes! It actually cowered!

In truth, it was hard to blame the red dragon.

Ancient dragons aren't cabbages; you can't just find one whenever you want. Gizrila was known among the red dragonflight as a three-generation dragon leader!

Ever seen a knife-mountain?

Ever rolled in an oil pot?

Ever swallowed ancient ice as a popsicle?

She! Had! Seen! It! All!

Yes! This was the Gizrila's performance!

Now, the most daring and fearless Gizrila's head, as large as a small house, appeared suddenly before the eyes of this young female dragon. Seeing the once-arrogant Gizrila's furious eyes wide open and a look of death in her face, it was no wonder the young female dragon was terrified.

Swallowing dragon's breath isn't easy.

Though a significant amount of dragon's breath found no outlet, bubbling out between her teeth and nostrils, choking her nearly to death, she dared not direct it at Duke.

Her long serpentine neck quickly turned, spewing the unbearable dragon's breath to one side.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" The young female dragon choked, nearly bursting into tears.

Ronin: "..."

Vereesa: "..."

Marian: "..."

Gavinrad: "..."

Silence!

Dead silence!

In the vast dark cave, only the pitiful coughing of the young female dragon remained.

What in Azeroth's name was that?

The four of them looked at Duke with a reverence that transcended reason. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what Duke would do next.

Duke slowly raised his right hand, palm up: "Ronin, did Krasus give you that trinket? Give it to me."

Ronin was stunned. How did Duke know that Krasus had given him a small amulet? However, he did not hesitate. Duke was not only the leader of the group but also the leader of half the Alliance. Admiring and respecting Duke, he handed over the amulet Krasus had solemnly entrusted to him, instructing that it not be given to anyone else.

Duke received it and seemed to toss it casually. The silver earring-shaped ornament traced a beautiful arc through the darkness, flying in front of the young female dragon, bouncing twice on the ground, and stopping.

The young female dragon stared at the ornament on the ground, speechless for a long time.

She knew what it represented...

Duke's voice, brimming with confidence, rang out again: "Choose, become the second Gizrila, or help us with a small favor..."

Duke's mouth twisted into an evil grin, as if waiting for the young female dragon to refuse, so he could openly slaughter the dragon.

Who would have thought, the young female dragon chose neither. Her large yellow vertical pupils rolled, and she spoke in Common: "I must be seeing things from too many quests lately. I need to catch some sleep during my watch."

With that, she shook her massive body, curled up in a corner of the vast cave like a little dog, and fell asleep.

Yes, yes, I'm sleeping. I didn't see anything. Believe it or not, I believe it!

The young female dragon's unspoken words seemed to say just that.

At that moment, the world seemed to fall silent.

Vereesa and the others were utterly speechless.

Was this even possible? Was this creature really a mighty dragon or just a cunning merchant peddling fake goods in an antique market? Duke merely scared it, and it cowered?

Duke, who should have led them directly past the dragon, suddenly turned sharply toward the young female dragon, taking a step forward, his right hand glowing with magic.

It looked like Duke was about to attack!

Sure enough, the sleeping dragon sprang up, her scales bristling, looking like a frightened, puffing cat!

Who would have thought, Duke raised his hand and cast a small "Illumination" spell.

Duke remained calm as if he hadn't done anything: "No, I just wanted to ask if you know where your queen is trapped? Which way is closer?"

The young female dragon was frustrated!

The young female dragon wanted to kill!

Her tears nearly sprayed out, "I'm still a thousand-year-old young dragon! You shouldn't bully a dragon like this..."

Cursing Duke's ancestors eighteen generations in her heart, she still pointed to an entrance.

Well, now she couldn't even pretend to sleep. The young female dragon could only watch Duke and his team leave warily.

The moment they left the dragon's lair, the four of them breathed a sigh of relief.

Yes.

Ronin knelt.

Marian knelt.

Vereesa knelt.

Gavinrad also knelt.

"Boss, you scared me to death. I was all prepared to battle the dragon," Gavinrad said, wiping his brow, though not a drop of sweat was on his forehead.

Duke shrugged: "We couldn't have fought. We've seen this dragon before. When we just killed the first dragon, she was the one who patrolled afterward. She didn't have the courage to fight then, and she won't now."

Duke's words satisfied Vereesa: "Alright, what's the way now?"

"Downward!" Others might not know the way, but Deathwing knew! His annoying, silent whispers entered Duke's mental isolation layer.

Exaggeration aside, Duke wouldn't have gone wrong even with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, Duke sighed, grabbing a handful of mana crystals from his storage bag and handing them to Ronin.

"My lord, this... this is too valuable," Ronin stammered.

"First, I need your strength. Second, isn't this a good opportunity to enhance your casting ability? When we encounter the orcs, kill them mercilessly."

Duke was not wrong.

Orgrim wouldn't let the Horde's biggest trump card be destroyed by the Alliance. In fact, after leaving the dragon's lair, Duke's team began to encounter a large number of orc guards.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" The four stared, dumbfounded, as if seeing ghosts, at Duke, who strolled leisurely in front of the continually emerging orc guards.