Mervyn Castle looks better than anywhere Vankel could have imagined.
The dungeon is a large, ominous black stone structure that sits on a rock in the middle of a crater filled with hot lava, and the surrounding black smoke gives it an eerie feel. The remains of a half-destroyed stone bridge connected the rim of the volcano to the entrance to the castle, a stone door large enough for Winkle to pass through—unlike that stupid temple.
The castle's numerous towers and fortifications are surrounded by a ring of stones, and a magnificent dragon statue overlooks the castle. There was a steeple at the center of the building, larger than all the others, and Winkle glimpsed the shadowy figure through the stained glass windows. Flocks of scavengers and ravens swarm the rooftops, thirsty for the blood of the Manlin, while giant worms wander the lava below.
It has lava. It has food reserves. It has towers.
In short, it's the perfect lair for him to hide his treasure!
However, the grounds outside the castle are far less impressive than the building itself. The volcano is a decent size and borders the Western Sea, but the countryside is an indecent wasteland and arroyos. The soil was brown, flowers and grass were sparse, and under the southern horizon Winkel could see the beginning of a vast red desert. The remaining Manlin built a small village at the foot of the mountain, and Long noticed several primitive camps near the desert border.
Winkle wished more than one village could provide him with livestock, but the castle made up for the poverty of the neighborhood. "How strange," he muttered to himself as his minions served his audience, "I remember flying over this area two centuries ago and it looked much greener."
The dragon didn't care. He was already in a good mood, and just one look at his flying treasure made him happy.
Manlin Victor and his minions have invented an ingenious device: a spaceship.
Without igniting the fire, Winkle exhaled hot air and filled a large bag made of silk, paper, and other materials; merchants around the Alban Mountains abandoned them when the dragon kindly requested it. Somehow, powered by his magical breath, this giant balloon can even lift a ship.
The minions worked together - like the kobolds who never sleep - to create a wooden ship much smaller than a balloon that could carry the treasure. kobo
es used pedals to power a wooden spiral, allowing the craft to change direction via wheels operated by Manlin Victor. Winkle asked for the bridge to be opened so he could see the treasure inside and catch any that fell from the ship.
It took the Minions a full week to complete the construction of the ship and sew the balloon while Winkle watched, but it finally succeeded.
While Manlyn Victor was still designing the ship, the Cobbolds discussed other methods of transporting the treasure, including: using something called a "magnet"; tying bird wings to the chest ;Put everything on the throwing plate and throw them up the mountain;Find a magic bag to make the treasure smaller. Fankel dismissed the suggestion out of hand.
Although Long liked the idea of the winged chest best, he was happy with the end result. He no longer has to carry gold the old-fashioned way! He just has to fly next to it, occasionally providing hot air.
"Well done, minion Victor," Fankel congratulated his chief of staff as he flew alongside the ship. "I'm proud to be your master."
"Yeah, I noticed there was a schematic of an airplane in the iPad's file, so I thought maybe there was information about the airplane in there; I guess the dragon's breath would have to act on some kind of gas to catch fire. We're not going to cross the Atlantic in that airship , but it can also be used for short distances.”
"Only our Chief of Staff has access to the true power of the Apple of Knowledge!" Red chimed. “It worked on the first try!”
"It made its first test flight after we destroyed eight prototypes," Manlin Victor noted. "You know, there's no way I could have designed something like this on Earth. The eleven intelligence points I've gained since then have manifested themselves there."
Fankel didn't understand half of what they said, he was too happy to care. "Minion, after our introductions, you will transport my treasure there," the dragon pointed to a small and remote valley, "away from thieves."
"Of course," said the attendant Victor, keeping the ship above the edge of the crater and glancing at the castle. "I'm sure the shop owner must have seen us coming."
"Very good," Winkle replied, hovering over the rim of the volcano. "What's his name?"
"Fu
ibo
.”
"Minions, ask that Fu
ibo
Report my presence. "
"Is Your Majesty really, really sure that they want to do this?" Manlin Victor took a deep breath, and then shouted into the crater, his loud voice scared the crows to flee: "Revenge! Fan King Kel Knight Bain, King of the Alban Mountains and the greatest adventurer in history, wants to talk to you!"
"Minions, don't forget the 'Great Disaster of the Age.'" Vankel scolded his minions. "I worked hard to get this." So many princesses were kidnapped... Long promised himself that he would catch one after moving in.
Unfortunately, before the Minions can correct their mistake, the current owner teleports outside the castle.
The Lich Freebon is a skeleton, larger than the skeletons of most weaker races, with a long, serpentine neck and a manling-like skull. His bones were made of gold, his teeth were like gems, and his empty eye sockets shone with bright purple light. The creature wore expensive reddish-purple robes, like living wizards, but it had long, thin arms and no legs. Only magic can make it fly.
It had a beautiful crown, and Winkle immediately wanted to wear it for herself. "I want to know what his level is...let's use [observation]..." Manling Victor's eyes widened. "Fifty-eight?!"
The undead flew upward toward the dragon and his flying treasure with speeds worthy of Winkle. The Lich stopped just in front of the bridge. "Hello everyone, mortals." The Lich said in a low and cold voice. Winkle noticed the air around him grew colder. "His Majesty King Winkle Knight Baine, and Victor Dalton, I presume?"
"Yes, I am King Winkle." Winkle replied proudly, happy to be treated with the respect he deserved. What a great day.
"You face Freeburn, the Archmage of Ishfania," the undead replied, "Welcome to my humble abode. It has been a long time since I had a living visitor. My creations are so hungry for battle. "
"Do you know our names?" Manlin Victor shouted. "Are you waiting for us?"
"My master and master, King Brandon Morr, warned me that you helped Gadmani retake the Fortress of Rochefrund by destroying his chosen agents, and also stole the Apple of Knowledge." That. The creature's "eyes" moved and looked at the ship. "I see you have glimpsed its forbidden knowledge."
What had they done to Rochefounde? Fankel did not notice it at the time.
"Are you here to return the artifact to its rightful owner?" the Lich asked. "I hope not. In that case, I will have to spare you."
"As if someone could take something that belongs to me." The dragon taunted the lich contemptuously.
The monster made a low sound, and Fankel thought it was laughing. "Then why not play a game?" You are the adventurers eager to challenge my castle, aren't you? Not having victims annoys me greatly; your retards can't imagine how many traps I've been through over the past half century. When you're immortal and tasked with maintaining a crumbling ruin, you have to occupy your time in some way. "
"By creating a death trap?" Minion Victor asked in a strange tone. "Everyone has their own hobbies."
"A sarcastic mortal," the lich replied in the same tone, only sounding more sarcastic. "Original. The Black Curse."
A black aura surrounded Manling Victor, instantly sucking all the color from his skin and causing him to kneel to the ground.
However, the sound that the servant made... Wenke had never heard such a ridiculous sound in his life, and Fulibang didn't hear it either, and he chuckled. "Still standing? Well, let's try again. The Black Curse."
This time Victor fell to the ground and nearly fell off the boat. "Sir! Kobolds and kobolds rushed over to help him immediately.
"Why didn't it make any interesting noises this time?" the Lich thought.
"Because I have...learned your monster Pe
K...want to see it?" Manlin Victor raised a weak hand towards the Lich. "The black curse..."
A black halo surrounded the lich, and the lich shrugged. "A [Mo
ste
Squi
e]. So funny, using my own Pe
K fights with me. Maybe I should cut my greeting short and throw the ship out of the sky and throw you out too. "
"Stop bullying my minions," Winkle warned the creature, moving between the airship and the lich. "He is my chief of staff. To attack him without my permission is to disrespect me and kill yourself with a dragon."
"Oh? You want to fight? I admit that I would rather test my invention on you first, but if you want to fight directly, I will take the apple back-"
Tired of the conversation and eager to get his new castle before dinner, Winkle poked the lich in the chest with his finger.
The blow sent him flying towards the castle, but his flight stabilized before it hit the wall. "You..." The Lich was furious. "How dare you touch me, you lizard?" I will hang your head on a nail in my study!"
He survived a poke.
The lich survived the poke.
"How dare you survive a poke!" Winkle complained, holding up two fingers. "Now I have to use half my hand to destroy you!"
"Your Majesty, the powerful undead are immune to critical strikes..." the servant Victor warned, having recovered enough strength to speak normally. "Take a deep breath!"
"(Magic rises)." The Lich said hoarsely, with a crimson aura shining on his body. "[Fire Zone-]"
Fankle just blasted him with a quick fireball and he instantly evaporated.
He immediately regretted it.
crown!
Congratulations! You gained a level in Gladiator by taking down a powerful Lich by surprise and temporarily destroying it in front of your fans!
+30 hp, +2 st
, +1 ski, +1 agi, +1 cha, +1 lackk!
"Winkle, the best dragon!" his servants congratulated him. "Vinquel, Wenquil, Wenquil!"
"Where is the treasure?" Winkle asked as the smoke cleared and only dust remained. "He should have lost a treasure."
"That's because he's not dead yet, Your Majesty." Manlin Victor said and stood up.
"Of course he is. He is immortal and was already dead before I killed him."
"Your Majesty, first of all, Fulibang is a lich. Their soul is kept in a container, and if it is not destroyed, it will be resurrected within a few days."
Before Fankel could argue further, the Lich appeared before them, surrounding him with powerful magic. "[Enhanced Fire Resistance], [Magic Protection], [Stone Protection], [Acceleration], [Enhanced Dodge]."
"Already?" Victor narrowed his eyes and looked at the scene in front of him. "Don't you need a few days to recover?"
"I have a special perk that can speed up this process. As for you, Venquer, I will teach you why your kind are—" The lich dodged Venquer's attempt to stab him and flew away. "Stop it now—" He avoided another's poke again. "Stop! Crimson barrier."
A glowing red ball of magic surrounded the Lich, blocking Vankel's failed attempt to poke him with two fingers. "Better. King Winkle, I thought you would be a fun victim, but now I can't wait to make a bag out of your skin."
"It seems so," Wicker replied with smug contempt. "Dragons have no weaknesses!"
"Is that so?" The Lich flew to the bridge of the ship and directly saw Winkel's gold. "Is that your treasure, King Winkle?"
No, "Don't you dare throw my treasure into the lava! "
"Throwing wealth into lava?" chuckled the lich. "Do you think of me as an animal, Knight Baine? What kind of monster would throw such hard-won treasure into the lava?"
ah. Ah, thank you, old demon, that undead is a civilized guy.
"I have a better idea," the lich said, raising his hands and summoning purple lightning.
"[Turning gold into lead]!"
Before Winkle knew it, all his treasures had been transformed from beautiful gold to dull lead in a flash of dark magic.
For a long, agonizing moment, the giant maggot was too shocked to fathom the situation, and his brain froze inside his skull.
…
"Boss? Wang Vai
queue
?”
…
"His Majesty?
…
"Oh, I've been 'living' for centuries and I never knew a dragon could make an expression like that."
…
"Minion, turn the balloon away. Let's get out of this damn place now."
"But chief - - - - - -"
"Turn the damn balloon away!"
…
"Well, King Winkle, now that I've taken what you value most, why not make a deal? Give me the apple right now, and I'll give you your gold back—"
Fankle's eyes turned red.
Attack! Attack! Attack! Increased firepower! Warning: [Rage] Disease!
"RAAAAAARGH!"
Winkle immediately fired a huge fireball at the Lich, a projectile large enough that several Manlin who had witnessed the attack in the past mistook it for a meteor. "(Teleport)." The Lich blinked out of the way before the flames destroyed him, and the projectile hit the edge of the crater, causing a large area of the crater to fall into the lava.
The lich reappeared nearby, observing the destruction with ominous silence. "In hindsight," he said to himself, "maybe that was a mistake..."
In a furious rage, Winkle destroyed the entire area, including the castle and the lich, with flaming death. This time, Fu
ibo
He was hit directly by a fireball that shattered his crimson shield and flew over one of the castle walls. A smaller tower fell on top of him.
Fankle, too angry to think, continued shooting into the dungeon, melting the stone and blasting another tower into the lava. Immediately afterwards, a bright yellow magical barrier surrounded the castle, protecting it from the dragon's repeated bombardments. The monsters in the lava huddled in fear.
Winkle roared into the sky and the mountains trembled.
