Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1609 - 556: Fiery Flame Storm (2)

"If not, then the Dragan Empire is truly belittling how vital this partnership is. I plan to request the council to pull out from this mission."

"Absolutely, we ought to do that. The Floating City Ruins hold immense peril, so our exploration squad needs solid might. Right now, with only our small group, we don't possess the required force." Otto agreed with a nod.

...

At the same time.

Ressero Canyon.

Because of its enormous bulk, the Black Dragon Metheus had no choice but to remain beyond the cavern outpost, as Rein trailed Haleem into the site.

"Lord Rein, Terrio will be back in moments, and the Zok siblings ought to show up shortly too." While Haleem was talking, he noticed Terrio and his companions hurrying over from afar.

"Haha, Lord Rein, what a delight to meet you once more," the Federation Sword Saint Terrio greeted with great warmth.

"Lord Terrio, long time no see," Rein replied with a slight bow and a grin.

"Lord Rein, forgive me—I was scouting the conditions at the Floating City Ruins, which delayed my welcome. Oh, and where might the rest of the Empire's folks be?"

As Sword Saint Terrio continued, he scanned the area and discovered only Rein represented the Empire. Confused, he looked about and remarked,

"Lord Terrio, this time I'm the sole representative from the Empire... well, to clarify, my dragon partner is waiting just outside the cavern too."

"Oh? Lord Rein, you've formed a pact with a colossal dragon? Show me."

Terrio paid little heed to Rein's solo arrival.

In truth, Terrio knew Rein's prowess well. Rein by himself matched three fighters at minimum, and with his new dragon contract boosting his abilities, he now equaled four or five epic warriors—no problem carrying the Dragan Empire's banner.

Yet, though Terrio recognized Rein, the trio at his side did not.

Their attention, of course, shifted away from Terrio's view. When they caught that the Dragan Empire had dispatched merely Rein for the joint venture into the Floating City Ruins, their faces shifted, and they murmured to each other:

"This Lord Rein appears rather youthful. Did the Empire seriously dispatch only him? They're definitely looking down on this alliance," the senior Wizard gripping a staff of blazing red crystal uttered gravely.

"True enough, even if Lord Rein's might lives up to Terrio's boasts, he's still just one man. How...absurd!" A second senior Wizard, his beard woven into a tiny plait, shook his head in disbelief.

"Why don't we head over and check out the dragon he's bound to?" proposed the senior in a Wizard Robe edged with red and gold.

"...Fine, let's go observe it first."

...

Before long, the six of them reached the edge of the cavern outpost, spotting a colossal dragon like a tiny ebony peak coiled up in repose.

"This...this Black Dragon is gigantic! Lord Rein, is this perhaps a Black Dragon at the Old Dragon rank?"

The instant they laid eyes on Metheus, Sword Saint Terrio wasn't the only one— the other three gaped in total shock, eyes bulging wide.

Giants dragons reaching the Extremely Old Dragon tier were seldom glimpsed even by most Imperial Guardians, much less by Federation fighters.

"Lord Terrio, meet my dragon ally—'Mad Wings' Metheus, a Black Dragon at the Extremely Old Dragon tier. In Wizard battle strength terms, it falls somewhere from Dawn Late Stage to Dawn Peak."

Rein pondered briefly before revealing the details straightforwardly.

Since they formed a unit, and to claim leadership for the impending delve into the Floating City Ruins, Rein figured it wise to disclose this upfront.

Besides, Metheus's mountain-like form already proclaimed its might.

"Extremely Old Dragon? Dawn Peak?"

These words hit, and the group traded looks, momentarily at a loss for words.

The three elder Dawn Wizards trembled their lips faintly, falling silent completely.

Doubt had no ground to stand on anymore.

The Black Dragon's immense scale, paired with its deep, crushing presence, proved Rein hadn't overstated a thing.

With such a mighty beast at his side, the Dragon Knight himself must hold power no less than Dawn Late Stage!

Suddenly, the trio felt embarrassed by their earlier comments.

Meanwhile, Haleem observed their shifting faces with a smirk, chuckling to himself.

They'd questioned his and Sword Saint Terrio's lavish endorsements of Lord Rein.

Now, their dazed expressions brought Haleem a cool, invigorating thrill, like gulping chilled water in scorching heat.

Right then, the Communication Mark on Haleem's chest glowed, drawing his close ear.

In the following instant, Haleem's expression twisted, and he blurted out,

"Lord Rein, all of you, Brother Zok reports a formidable colossal creature barreling toward the cavern outpost. Battle preparations are needed."

"Hmm? Some colossal creature?" Rein's mind raced to a possibility.

"Report! Lords, the sentinel has detected an odd colossal beast akin to a huge dragon speeding our way from the west's edge." Here, a Federation soldier shouted the update.

"Lord Rein, care to join me in viewing it?" Sword Saint Terrio suggested.

"Sure," Rein assented with a nod.

Truth be told, Rein suspected the beast in question was likely the Steel Dragon Dorick.

Still, without a direct look, certainty eluded him, making it sensible to inspect and verify beforehand.