Chapter 96: Dragon’s Pit [2]

The cool morning air swept through the rocky terrain as three steeds came to a halt on the high ridge overlooking the Old Valley.

Craig, flanked by Ser Hughway on his right and Ser Damian on his left, sat comfortably atop his white warhorse, looking down at the landscape below.

The Old Valley was a striking sight—a dramatic expanse where rugged, charcoal-grey rock formations thrust upward through a thick carpet of emerald greenery and wild moss.

Situated only a few dozen kilometers away from Heaven’s Net Castle and neighboring the historic Old Central Town, it had once been a quiet, secluded region.

But over the past month, it had transformed into one of the most heavily fortified, fiercely guarded locations in the entire Myrain Viscounty.

Patrols of armed knights and elite sentries crested every ridge, their polished armor glinting beneath the sun.

Looking out across the expanse, a satisfied smile spread across Craig’s face as his eyes locked onto the towering structure in the distance.

The Dragon’s Pit.

Even from kilometers away, the building was a magnificent sight.

It had been constructed in the design of a colossal, gothic cathedral, forged entirely from heavy black ironstone that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.

It took the trio over thirty minutes of steady riding down the winding, rocky valley paths to finally arrive at the grand entrance perimeter.

Up close, the black cathedral-shaped fortress was nothing short of breath-taking.

Its spires reached toward the heavens, and its sheer scale dwarfed the rocky cliffs surrounding it.

Dozens of heavily armed sentries stood watch at every balcony, perimeter post, and iron gate, maintaining absolute vigilance.

Suddenly, a low, reverberating howl echoed across the valley sky, vibrating through the rocky soil beneath their horses’ hooves.

Dark Sister had sensed her master’s presence the moment he entered the valley.

A massive shadow swept over the black stone roof of the building as the 4th-Tier Child of the Abyss swooped down from the clouds.

With a heavy thud that sent a cloud of dust into the air, Dark Sister landed softly right behind Craig.

Her violet-emerald, scaled frame folded gracefully as she lowered her massive head.

Craig dismounted his stallion without a word, stepping up to the terrifying creature and gently petting her cool, dark scales.

Dark Sister let out a low, purring rumble that shook the air around them.

CREAK—HEAVY THUD!

The cathedral’s grand entrance doors—built so massive they easily dwarfed even Dark Sister’s sweeping form—swung slowly open.

The Chief Imperial Architect overseeing the month-long project emerged, wiping sweat from his brow and adjusting his iron-rimmed spectacles.

Seeing the young Viscount standing before him, the architect immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head respectfully.

"My Lord Viscount! Welcome to the Dragon’s Pit!"

Craig gestured for the man to rise, his eyes scanning the towering black stone facade with genuine appreciation. "You have done remarkable work here," Craig complimented smoothly.

"The structure is grand. But tell me... how can this single building comfortably house ten dragons? Not juvenile beasts, mind you, but fully grown, massive dragons?"

The Chief Imperial Architect offered a confident smile, adjusting his glasses once more as he gestured toward the open threshold.

"If Your Lordship would follow me inside, I shall gladly show you the magic of its design."

Craig, Ser Hughway, and Ser Damian followed the architect through the monumental entrance.

The interior of the building opened up into a staggering, cavernous main hall—a grand concourse so immense it felt as though it could easily hold an assembly of over ten thousand people without feeling crowded.

The vaulted ceiling arched hundreds of feet overhead, reinforced by dark iron beams.

However, the true brilliance lay along the perimeter.

Spaced evenly around the base of the massive stone walls were twenty yawning cave entrances, framed in reinforced steel.

Above them, a wide, elevated stone staircase wound its way up to a wrap-around balcony that comprised the second floor of the fortress—the administrative hub where the designated dragon keepers would oversee operations and monitor the beasts from a safe height.

The Chief Imperial Architect led the group across the polished floor, pointing toward the dark archways.

"As you can see, My Lord," the architect began passionately, "each of these twenty entrances leads down into a vast, subterranean cavern dug sixty feet deep into the solid bedrock of the valley.

Every cavern is individually reinforced with spatial stabilization runes and heavy stone partitioning. With twenty entrances, the Dragon’s Pit is designed to comfortably house up to twenty fully grown, massive dragons without them interfering with one another."

The architect gestured toward the rear arches.

"Furthermore, just outside at the building’s rear courtyard, we have constructed a colossal, high-fenced stable designed to accommodate massive herds of livestock to ensure your beasts are constantly fed."

Craig shook his head with a soft chuckle, the smile never leaving his face as he turned to the chief architect. "Your hard work is beyond commendable, and I am deeply pleased with the results. However... there will be no need to feed my dragons ordinary livestock."

The architect blinked, surprised.

"In place of cattle," Craig explained smoothly, "there are over two hundred 1st-Tier Abominations—both freshly slain corpses and living captured specimens—that will be transported and stored in those rear stables.

My dragons will be designed for war; they will feed directly on the flesh and cores of Abominations to maintain their absolute vitality and health."

Turning his attention toward his Guardian Knight, Craig delivered his next commands.

"Ser Hughway, appoint a dozen of our most disciplined personnel as official dragon keepers to manage this facility. Before I bring Chaosbringer and Soul Dreamer here from the City of Dragons, I want this entire complex cleaned, stocked, and fully operational."

Ser Hughway bowed his head tightly. "It shall be done at once, My Lord."

Satisfied, Craig turned on his heel and walked back out into the open valley air, where Dark Sister waited patiently beside the grand steps, her dark wings folded against her back.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Craig walked up to her side and smoothly mounted the beast, taking his place upon her spiky crest.

He leaned forward, running his hand over her dark scales, and spoke in the ancient, melodious cadence of the High Darkstarian language:

"O, Mi Tegros, Dark Sister, Morvash Drak-Ryn!"

("O, Let’s fly, Dark Sister, take to me to the City of Dragons!")

With a mighty leap that kicked up a gale of wind across the Old Valley, Dark Sister unfurled her massive wings, snapped them against the air, and shot straight into the clouds, soaring rapidly toward the distant City of Dragons.