When Ferrum arrived at Steelspine Plains, the first thing he saw was not the fortress, but the towering smoke.
Hundreds of smoke pillars rise from the ground, forming low-hanging black clouds. Under the black clouds is the majestic and deep Ash Fortress, like a giant war beast that towers over the sky, standing at the end of the horizon, staring at the entire Steelspine Plains and Bloodridge lands.
The history of this fortress is as old as Ashmark Lineage. Today, it is no longer a simple military fortress, but a magnificent city rooted on the border.
Its walls continued to expand over the years, ring after ring, swallowing up barracks, stables, warehouses, blacksmith shops and sheds.
To this day, part of the fortress wall is still unfinished. When Ferrum approaches, you can see dense scaffolding built between the rammed earth. The hard workers climb along the wooden frame, shouting to each other, and use cables to pull up huge stone slabs and stack them higher.
"It's truly spectacular."
Seeing this scene, Moqi was amazed.
"This fortress alone is enough to show the strength of the family. As long as Ash Fortress is not lost, our rule in Steelspine Plains will always be as stable as a mountain." Kेलaili also said.
Ferrum nodded slightly. "It is indeed a majestic city."
He led the troops gradually closer to the fortress. Ferrum arrived not too late, but the nearby local clans were faster. The plain that was now surrounded by Beyond the Wall was full of people. Various clan armies were stationed here. Animal leather tents and coarse cloth wooden sheds stretched to the horizon.
When approaching the city wall, a group of fortress guards took the initiative to greet them.
"Meet you, distinguished member Ashmark Lineage."
Facing Ferrum, the barbarian guards bowed respectfully and asked, "I wonder where you come from?"
"Ferrum·Solaxus, this is my name, I brought Windsong Plateau's troops." Ferrum replied.
Upon receiving this news, a barbarian guard immediately turned around and left, heading to the fortress to report. The other guards remained in place, maintaining a respectful posture:
"Master Hatchling Dragon can enter the fortress with some of his followers, but your army must stay outside the city. This is the order of the Lord of the Plains. The fortress cannot accommodate so many people. Please forgive me."
"I understand."
Ferrum agreed. He had already seen the cloud-like camp outside and was not surprised by the guards' obstruction.
In just two or three sentences, the guard who had left returned with the quartermaster.
"Windsong Plateau's troops, according to the plan, are temporarily assigned to North Outer District."
The quartermaster recorded on the parchment in his hand and said, "The fortress promises to bear your supplies, but before that, we must count your soldiers. After determining the number, barley, dried meat, salt and water will be rationed for seven days, and livestock fodder will be rationed for fifteen days."
After speaking, he looked up at Ferrum and bowed slightly. "Master Hatchling Dragon's blood food is not included in the supply quota. When you arrive at the station, we will use Wyvern to transport fresh meat to you."
"Why only provide supplies for seven days?"
Yazi frowned and took the initiative to go out and contact the quartermaster. They were all mortals. The noble dragon lord should not talk about chores with them. These are what he should do.
The quartermaster summoned his deputy and quickly counted Windsong Plateau's soldiers, livestock, vehicles and supplies. Yazi gave orders to restrain Mountain Goblin and Bearfolk to line up again while bargaining with the quartermaster.
"Seven days of supplies is enough. The brutality of the battle on the front line is beyond your imagination. The seventh Warband of the family came from Red Fort. Five thousand soldiers were all killed in Fertile Hills in just two days. Do you, the army of local clans, think that you are more powerful than the Warband of the family?"
The quartermaster's voice gradually faded away. "If you can survive seven days, new supplies will naturally be delivered to you..."
"Let Yazi stay here to take care of contacts and chores."
Ferrum withdrew his gaze and said to the other three Hatchling Dragon: "Let's go to the fortress, find Great Dragon, and ask about the family's arrangements for us."
The interior of Ash Fortress is even more crowded, and the flow of people is almost shoulder to shoulder. Peons push heavy carts filled with grain and hay, slaves carry stone and wood, and Komodo beasts drag huge war instruments and iron furnaces...
Neighings, roars, horns and hammers came together, roaring over and over again, and the noise was like a sea tide.
"This place is pretty big."
Moqi looked left and right. "Compared to Red Fort, which describes sewage flowing across the river in Afterglow, I feel that Ash Fortress is more like the town in my fantasy. It would be great if pubs, gambling houses and brothels could be built."
Ferrum patted him on the head neither lightly nor hard.
"The guard captain just now was very powerful." Kेलaili suddenly said.
"Indeed."
Ferrum said, "At least there are Seventh-Level Calamity. This is Ash Fortress after all. The army is flowing and Great Dragon are gathered together. The family has summoned all the force. Powerful warriors can be seen everywhere. The power of Hatchling Dragon is inconspicuous in a place like this."
Moqi didn't notice it at all, he just scratched his head. "But he respects us very much."
"What he respects is Ember Scar, our family and identity, not our strength itself."
Kेलaili seemed a little dissatisfied and said angrily, "I don't like it."
"What's the difference?"
Moqi didn't take it seriously. "We should be proud of our family."
Kेलaili looked at Moqi, then at Ferrum. Just as he was about to speak, he discovered that huge chaos suddenly occurred in front of him.
"Make way!"
"Get out of the way!"
The city gate to the west burst open, and the convoy returning from the front line blocked the entire road. The leading warrior shouted loudly, asking the crowd to make way for the wounded soldiers. Upon hearing the sound, the wizards and herbalists in the fortress rushed over and fed the wounded soldiers lying on the carts with herbs and broth, and also let them drink some water.
Nickel Dragon Bido who was following behind saw this scene and his expression changed slightly.
The primitive clan has never had any ability to treat the injured, so when cleaning Battlefield, they often give up and kill the seriously injured, and only bring back the lightly injured soldiers with a higher chance of survival.
However, the war between clans involves bloody battles and swordsmanship. Such wounded soldiers are rarer than the seriously wounded or killed. As a result, the roads are now full of lightly wounded soldiers who have retreated from the front line. Based on the proportion, one can imagine how many people died on Battlefield.
Compared with Nickel Dragon, Ferrum pays more attention to the injuries of the wounded. Some people have dented chest armor and were almost punched through the armor. Some people were severely burned, and their clothes and flesh were stuck together. Some people kept vomiting, vomiting green bile and black blood...
Juli, Thunderstrike and Poison.
These are the three powers used by the opponent, representing the three enemies of Ashmark Lineage, Bloodridge Giants, Storm Family and Emerald Family.
"Ferrum."
Ferrum heard a low and familiar tone, subconsciously looked up and saw a young man Iron Dragon standing above the junction of the military camp and the street.
She was taller and more majestic than in memory, with dried blood stains on her burly chest, and a newly healed crack in her left wing membrane. The moment they saw her, the dragons lowered their heads in unison, showing sincere respect and love.
Nurturer, Valyria·Burning Heart.