CHAPTER 452: CHAPTER 31: SIEGE (3)_2

"In order to smoothly exact revenge on the Black Dragon Clan, I disguised myself as our father. I have yet to reveal to the outside world what happened in Dragon Valley. Yes, these past few months, it has always been me commanding the Undead Army in our father’s name. Even our mother doesn’t know about this. You are my family, my only brother, and so I chose to inform you at this moment when the situation is becoming clear."

"I think you would want a chance to personally avenge our father. As his sons, we should both do so. I am waiting for you at the Dragon Peak. Your brother, Richie."

When Jones received this news in Giant Snake City, he was completely stunned. His mind went blank. He turned the envelope over and looked at it several times, only collapsing into his seat once he confirmed that it was indeed Richie’s seal, staring blankly with wide eyes.

He felt like he couldn’t breathe...

After a while, Jones looked at the Lich Green, who had been sent by Richie to deliver the message, and asked, "Father... is in trouble?"

"Yes," Green nodded, "None of us anticipated this, but it did happen."

"Did you not protect him?"

"Lucy and Aikleion were present at the time, they were both pushed back into their soul phylacteries."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Revenge on the Black Dragon Clan, just as Richie is doing now. He is the new Lich King, already decided by the White Bone Holy Light Court."

"What can I do?" Jones asked, somewhat confused.

"Um... I don’t know either, maybe Richie wants you to witness that moment with him," Green answered.

...

Green left.

In the empty hall of the castle, Jones sat there dazed, his thoughts a tangled mess.

Dora stood beside him, blinking blankly.

The hall was silent, save for the occasional shouts of dwarves and goblins from the construction site outside.

Hydra Snake Ophelia no longer resided in the castle hall, Jones had arranged a larger, better residence for her.

In just over a year, Giant Snake City was no longer the desolate place it once was. Early dwarves and later arriving goblins were building a massive city-state here. Though far from complete, its shape had already begun to form.

Jones was still as poor as ever, even poorer now, with a mountain of debt. Feeding hundreds of thousands of goblins was no easy task.

After a long silence, Jones spoke softly, "Leave everything here to Barrel, let him decide everything. I must go to Dragon Peak."

"But Lord Jones, what can you do if you go?" Dora asked.

"I probably can’t do anything, I can’t even fight a single black dragon, what can I do? But at least I have to go. Richie needs me. He’s definitely in extreme anger now. I wasn’t there when Father was in trouble, but now I should at least go. You have to come with me too, I won’t be used to it if you’re not by my side."

Dora nodded silently, whispering, "Okay, I’ll arrange it right away."

With that, Dora hurried off.

Jones sat alone in the castle hall, covering his face with his hands.

Blue moonlight slanted through the window, casting its light on him.

That night, Jones and Dora finished all the arrangements. They originally planned to leave immediately, but dawn had already arrived.

For the Blood Clan, dawn was a barrier they couldn’t cross. Although Jones had armor that could resist sunlight, he couldn’t transform into a bat and fly in daylight.

If he traveled on foot, it would take him over a year to reach his destination.

So he had no choice but to rest for a day, then set off with Dora and their Silver Moon Armor the following night.

If only a Lich could help them open a space gate now. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anyone in Giant Snake City capable of doing that. In fact, there were very few in the entire Blood Clan with the ability to open a space gate.

From Giant Snake City to Salted Fish Port, it would take at least one night for Jones and Dora. To get to Black Dragon City, it would take at least three nights. Dragon Peak was even further away.

Even though Jones began preparations immediately after receiving Richie’s letter and set off the next night, it would still be a week before they reached Dragon Peak.

On the way, he saw the devastation of Black Dragon City. And at Dragon Peak, he saw the frenzied Undead Army.

Most of the time, unless in battle or on the march, the Undead Army would stand motionless like statues, as if they were just a pile of bones.

After all, the undead needed no training, no supplies, no rest. However, no undead at Dragon Peak stood still.

Every undead had been assigned tasks, patrolling, or frantically digging the foundations of Dragon Peak. Despite the cold northern weather, it was a scene of bustling activity. And the almost ubiquitous fortresses and defenses added to that.

The Liches were all fervently active too.

Jones was dumbfounded.

He had seen many Undead Armies, but never one like this.

Richie still stood atop the cliff, looking out over Dragon Peak, commanding the Undead Army.

Taking a step forward in his Silver Moon Armor, Jones followed the ghostly guide step by step toward Richie.

...

"Who’s that?"

"It should be Lich King Gray’s adopted son, Jones."

"Lich King Gray has an adopted son."

"Yes. He’s a little vampire."

The black dragons at Dragon Peak whispered among themselves.

...

Walking step by step to stand before Richie, just as Jones hesitated over whether to formally salute, Richie pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Brother, you’ve finally arrived!" Richie said, releasing Jones from the hug.

Jones tilted his head back to scrutinize the armored Richie: "You’re taller than me now, much taller. If I didn’t know our father was in trouble, I might have mistaken you for him."

"I modified my skeleton so I could wear our father’s armor."

"But weren’t you originally... flesh and blood?" Jones hesitantly asked.

"I still am." Removing a glove, Richie showed Jones the fleshy growths on his hand bones, "I have to scrape them off regularly."

"Why do you do this?"

"Because I’m in our father’s position now."

Glancing towards Dragon Peak, Jones spoke softly, "Black Dragon City has been taken, you no longer need to pretend to be our father. Perhaps you should consider returning to your true form."

Richie hesitated, not answering.

After a brief silence, Jones opened his arms, and they embraced again.

Patting Richie’s back gently, Jones said, "Is there anything I can help with? Let me share the burden with you. This period..."

"Help me... find a way to collapse Dragon Peak? I want to avenge our father as soon as possible."

"Sure, that’s my expertise. I’ve dug plenty of tunnels in Giant Snake City, I know exactly how to make things collapse."

...

"Liches actually have brothers now... Hmph, what should I say? When are the angels and demons finally going to save us?"

"Who knows? Maybe tomorrow, maybe never. I just wish I’d wake up to find this was all a nightmare."

"I feel the same. I’ve slept many times, and every time I wake up, things are worse."

The black dragons looked on blankly at the two figures embracing on the cliff.