Chapter 1026: The Man on the Dragon Head

Chapter 1026 -248: The Man on the Dragon Head

The second person to detect the Demon Dragon was the Wusun Shaman. Suddenly, he felt the divination bones in his tent begin to tremble.

These magical artifacts, sealed with the spirits of beasts, seemed being watched by a fierce beast at the top of the food chain, causing even their remaining instincts to wail.

“What kind of monster is that?”

The Wusun Shaman, wearing a nine-feathered hat and a sheepskin drum around his neck, hurriedly walked out of the tent, leaning on an eagle-headed scepter.

The terrifying aura emanating from the sky felt like a falling sun, ready to bring world-obliterating heat upon the Tatar army.

Even at such a distance, the Wusun Shaman could sense that scorching and powerful soul.

“It is the Demon Dragon, the Fulin people’s Demon Dragon!”

In the Tatar language, there is a specific term for the Demon Dragon, which won’t be confused with the symbol of imperial power from the Eastern Dynasty. This monster capable of flight, covered in scales, breathing raging flames, poisonous water, and icy frost is often a major adversary for nomadic tribes on the grassland.

In his youth, the Wusun Shaman once followed his teacher to slay a red-scaled Demon Dragon.

The severed neck of the dead Demon Dragon oozed a lava-like, semi-solid fluid, leaving the area barren, still filled with acrid smoke, a forbidden zone for the Tatars.

Understanding the creature’s prowess made the Wusun Shaman realize the terrifying destructive power such a monster could unleash during battles.

“Send a message to Jochi Nayan, warning him of the threat overhead, and invoke Kokko when necessary.”

Inside the tent, the bones on the table began to vibrate.

The Shamans of Longevity Heaven excel at communicating with the spirits of heaven and earth and are adept at harnessing animal spirits. Their path is not to draw the great powers of heaven and earth unto themselves but to act as a medium for communicating with all spirits.

The animals they frequently harness are those most revered by the grassland people — the “eagle,” “wolf,” “deer,” and “horse.”

A black spot in the sky grew larger and larger, as the bones on the table flew up, and a huge spiritual radiance descended from the sky, infusing them. In the blink of an eye, they manifested into a large eagle adorned with shining iron feathers.

As the Wusun Shaman landed on the back of the great eagle, this fierce bird emitted a clear eagle cry, flapping its massive wings and rushing towards the Demon Dragon in the sky.

As they drew closer, the terrifying outline of the Demon Dragon became clearer.

It was a peculiar Demon Dragon with three heads, each crowned with an unknown metallic crown, and its entire body covered in massive black scales akin to shields, exuding an aura far stronger than the Demon Dragon his teacher once hunted with him.

The appearance of the giant bird attracted the attention of the three-headed Demon Dragon.

Three sets of eyes, ranging from violent, to mischievous, to indifferent, made the Wusun Shaman feel suffocated.

As the Great Shaman most skilled in invoking the spirits of heaven and earth, he could clearly perceive that the rules of this realm were twisted before the presence of this aberrant Demon Dragon, again demonstrating its extraordinary power.

It seemed even the giant from the North Sea that Kokko personally subdued, which turned the entire Tatar Grassland into frozen tundra, was of this caliber.

“Respectful guest, are you the Fulin Khan?”

As the firelight flickered within the mouths of the three-headed Demon Dragon, the Wusun Shaman keenly noticed a figure standing on top of the Demon Dragon’s head, despite the dragon’s swift flight. The figure was merely holding onto a dragon horn, yet stood steadily as if on flat ground.

“I am the Emperor of all Eastern Franks, the new sovereign of Mesopotamia, also known to you as the Fulin Khan. Are you the Tatars’ Extraordinary?”

The Demon Dragon, seemingly receiving some instructions, extinguished the flames in its mouth, and a gentle male voice gradually echoed within the mind of the Wusun Shaman. It was not a language exchange but an exchange of consciousness.

The Wusun Shaman felt the profound, unfathomable spiritual power likened to a vast ocean within the other party.

“Fulin Khan, we have established a pact of non-aggression to jointly deal with the Sassanids. Why suddenly come here?”

“I agreed with your Great Khan that both parties abide by the boundaries of the Zagros Mountains. My forces have already conquered Tarsus and Baghdad, and the Sassanid King has surrendered to me. From now on, all of Mesopotamia is my territory. You Tatars invaded my lands without permission and still ask why I came?”

The Wusun’s tone weakened: “We were unaware the Sassanids in Mesopotamia had submitted to you. This is a misunderstanding. How about we sit down and discuss it thoroughly?”

“Ignorantly starting a border conflict and breaching the alliance; I see little to discuss with you unreliable barbarians.”

Losa did not intend to waste further words. The evil wolves of the grasslands only respect strength; if they attempted to emulate their past campaign into Eastern Europe, even fighting to the Danube River, he would not bother to interfere.

But establishing the Ilkhanate under his nose in the Persian Region, devouring his interests, was absolutely impossible.

Roar——

With Losa’s command, the three gigantic dragon heads simultaneously ignited with fire, instantly elevating the air’s temperature to an extreme.

The Wusun Shaman could clearly sense that the number of spirits he could summon from nature at that moment was reduced to a minuscule amount, and the spirit of the great eagle beneath him issued a series of anxious cries.

…

The pressure felt by the defenders of Khovezan suddenly decreased.

From the rear of the Tatars came the desolate sound of the horn.

The Qesem Army, about to ascend the city, halted its steps and retreated to its camp without a backward glance. The elite Ivan forces on the city walls also began to retreat while maintaining a fight, leaving behind a dozen men to cover their retreat, most withdrew to their camp.

“The Tatars retreated?”

“Should we pursue?”

Governor Lumi shook his head: “The Tatars are cunning; be wary of deception.”

He couldn’t comprehend why the Tatars decisively abandoned their siege when they held the advantage, but it was ultimately a good thing. Listening to the jubilant cheers around him, his heart surged with relief at their survival.

This bloody battle resulted in significant losses.

It was also his first experience of the terrifying nature of these Tatars, explaining why so many fortified cities and strongholds were easily breached by them, and why countless long-established Sassanid nobles bowed to these savages.

“Lord Governor, could it be?”

Almost simultaneously, Governor Lumi and his personal guards thought the same and looked up, only to see a clearly defined Demon Dragon battling a particularly formidable giant bird in the sky.

“By the Holy Fire above, the new sovereign indeed arrived, commanding his Demon Dragon!”

“Brothers, reinforcements have arrived, and Khovezan is secured!”