Barros Hopkins, the King of the Black Throne, had noticed the elf settlement beneath the Yadla Sea north of Berens Harbor more than a decade ago.
At first, he had paid it little mind. Then, five years ago, he happened to invade the mind of an elf named Tyro, who had gone out to purchase supplies, and discovered that a Mind Dragon was hidden in the Sea of Collective Subconscious within that Hidden Space.
Afterward, he settled on a nearby island under the identity of Eric Derrick, "the Hermit." By July seventh of last year, he had finally learned the Ancient Dragon's approximate condition. It was in such poor shape that capturing it might be possible.
But the King of the Black Throne dared not take an Angel lightly. Over the past year, he had diligently completed many assignments for the Twilight Hermit Order, finally accumulating enough credit to ask the "Lord" for an item that could counter a Dragon at the Angel level.
The item could only be used once, but if he succeeded, he could enslave that weakened Dragon!
That was why he had gathered his strongest forces today to ambush the elf settlement, while hiding his true body inside the captain's mind.
His plan was to capture all the Dragon-worshipping elves and transport them out of the Hidden Space.
After all, the Sea of Collective Subconscious was anchored to intelligent beings, not to any fixed location.
The Hidden Space was the elves' home and might have other unusual properties that could interfere with his capture of the Dragon. It would be better to act at a location he had prepared.
Besides, those expendable troops could test whatever the elves had in reserve. One move, several gains.
Yet as soon as he arrived at the Yadla Sea, Barros