Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Time passed by, and it was already 10 a.m.

Aralos, spear in hand, crouched on Berg-Shun's back. Today he had acquired a new piece of equipment: goggles that fit his helmet perfectly, the soft, airtight frames clinging to his face, looking both comical and professional. Even so, when he looked into the distance, he still unconsciously squinted—a hunter's instinct that could never be replaced by any craftsmanship.

His mouth was also busy, smacking its lips incessantly until white mist rose from the corners of his mouth, as he kept sighing.

"This is amazing, this is incredible, Lilith."

The wind carried away his exclamation, like a whispered dream passing over a snow-capped peak, scattering into meaningless echoes high in the sky.

Hearing this, Indra on the dragon throne rolled her eyes. In her opinion, even at an altitude of four thousand meters, Alalos was like an energetic hunting dog with nowhere to squander its energy, just short of whipping its tail into a whirlwind in the wind.

She shook her head silently, then picked up the oxygen tank, took a deep breath, and let her body relax slightly from the thin, high-altitude air pressure. The gas hissed, and she looked up at Alalos, who was no longer looking into the distance but at her, hoping for a response, and raised the oxygen tank, gesturing for Alalos to take a couple of breaths as well.

But Alalos simply waved his hand, as if shooing away an insignificant fly; his dismissive attitude towards all suggestions made Indra's eyebrows twitch again.

She didn't say anything, but rolled her eyes again, this time with even more force. Then, she silently put away the oxygen tank and fastened the cap. Afterward, she pressed her back against the back of the dragon seat, tightened the blanket draped over her to keep herself warm and make the long high-altitude standby a little less unbearable.

"Can't you be a little more composed?"

After doing all this, she finally couldn't hold back any longer. She turned her head and roared in the wind with a tone full of disgust.

"No..." Alaros roared in response, but before he could utter a single syllable, a gust of wind blew into his face. The wind felt like a knife piercing his throat, and he choked, forcing him to turn his head away from the wind. "Stop pretending! Okay?" he shouted after a few labored coughs, pointing into the distance.

I really want to kick you down!

Zhuo launched a powerful counterattack; his voice was shattered by the wind, but his anger was clear enough.

However, her powerful retort sounded like a joke in the wind to Alalos. After she finished speaking, Alalos steadied himself, revealed a completely unguarded smile, spread his hands, and gave a "come on" look, exuding a carefree and frivolous pleasure.

Unfortunately, the action only lasted for a second.

The spear was almost swept away by the wind, so he quickly pulled his hand back and held the shaft firmly.

"Kunos! Why did I agree to let you come up here?"

As Zhuo Ren spoke, unable to bear it any longer, he closed his eyes, his face filled with pain and disgust. The expression that said, "I must have been dreaming to agree to this," almost became a frozen image.

After the Battle of Val's Anvil, Duruch naturally returned to Lorthen. Alaros, who had also participated in the battle, returned to Lorthen as well.

Where else could he go? To visit Tal Sammersan? To tell those arrogant dragon princes who treated him like a country bumpkin how he slaughtered them? To recount how valiant he was?
So when he returned to Lorthorn, he found himself with nothing to do and spent his days idly, like a caged hawk.

The Asley forces stationed in Lorthen moved to the Tower of Leisen, located northwest of Lorthen. While ostensibly there for defense, it was essentially a diversion. The Asley were skilled archers, but unfortunately, arrows were like a breeze brushing against a dragon's scales—leaving not even a scratch.

He didn't go.

He doesn't want to go.

He didn't want to miss today.

As it turned out, his gamble paid off.

Don't you want to say a few words?

Alalos was unusually excited today, perhaps even a little too excited.

Perhaps it was the thrill of seeing a prey, or perhaps it was the tempering he received at the Vaal Anvil, or perhaps the scene before him was too breathtaking and too epic; in any case, he was very excited.

The wind lashed against his face, making his excitement feel like a flame fanned by the wind, burning upwards layer by layer.

"What did you say?" Indra's words were a roar; the wind was so strong that she had to raise her voice, but her expression remained remarkably calm. Her eyes were cool and sharp, like two icicles, staring straight into Alalos's eyes.

Alalos was stunned; for a moment, he froze completely.

He then appeared somewhat dejected.

His dejection wasn't exaggerated, nor did he sigh; he simply avoided Yin Zhuo's gaze, slowly crouching down and leaning against the dragon throne. It was as if his soul had been ripped away the moment Yin Zhuo had looked at him. That single glance, like a cruel judgment, shattered his excitement in an instant, leaving him withdrawn and isolated.

He looked down at the armor plate beneath his feet. Its reflective metal surface mirrored his image. He sighed. Yes, what was there to say?

Unlike when it was in Azsorloth, the forest dragon Beg Shun is now completely unrecognizable.

If she were to appear in Azsorloth at this moment, perhaps those Asleys who once fought alongside her would immediately raise their bows and attack her without hesitation.

There's no way around it, it's completely unrecognizable.

Although it was painted green, it was just paint; the natural aura emanating from her was completely masked by the cold, hard smell of steel.

Apart from its claws, dorsal fins, and wings, the rest of its body was completely covered in armor plates, including its eyes.

It was less a dragon and more a flying armored fortress. Air whistled through the gaps in the armor, producing a deep, mechanical roar.

Unlike my cousin next door, who embedded the armor plate fixing points directly into his flesh—that's something only a madman would do.

The dragons weren't crazy; they were perfectly lucid and couldn't bear that kind of pain.

It's called armor plates, but to be precise, it's an armor system specifically designed for dragons.

Its core lies in the breastplate.

The elves' breastplates are divided into front and back, while the dragons' are divided into upper and lower sections, completely covering the dragon's back and belly.

The upper armor plate is shaped somewhat like a saddle, but it is more abstract, more exquisite, and more practical. The design seems to originate from ancient sculptural language, making it both art and part of the war machine.

The upper armor plates provide all-around protection for the dragon's back, chest, and heart, while the lower armor plates supplement this by protecting the dragon's vulnerable belly. The middle plates are bolted to the sides, with the front section fixed to the belly between the forepaws and the rear section located behind the gauntlet.

This ensures that even if the bolts on both sides are damaged, the armor plates will not fall apart and scatter like petals. The front and rear anchor points also provide stability, ensuring that the armor will hold until the end of the battle or until the enemy is disengaged from the battlefield.

However, during the assembly process, the fixing points in the middle and at the front and back are the last step, not the first step.

Equipping dragons with armor plates is a tedious, extremely tedious, process so complicated it's maddening. Each assembly is like a ritual—accompanied by steam, bolts, the clanging of metal, and the dragon's complaints.

Back in the old days, under Darkus's instructions and influenced by Whitney's fairy tales, the Dulcines designed an extremely modern piece of equipment for the Reptilians: the Strabokran gantry crane. This crane was specifically designed to lift combat platforms or various devices and equipment mounted on the backs of giant beasts. (Chapter 177)
With the development of the times, this equipment was widely used. The Lizardmen used it, and so did the Duruchi. The Duruchi needed it when equipping the Seafood Feast with bridles and armor, and also in industrial production. They scaled up the gantry crane proportionally and placed it in ports and stations to lift goods and equipment.

When they reached the giant dragon, it was like adding water when there was too much flour, and adding flour when there was too much water, making the gantry crane even bigger.

Even so, it's barely enough. When installing armor plates on the Emperor Dragon-class Red Dragon, the Emperor Dragon has to fold its wings, otherwise the gantry crane simply cannot pass through.

The scene was extremely exaggerated. The red dragon was curled up, its huge body gleaming with a dark gold light in the sunlight. Its enormous dragon wings were tightly folded, while mechanical cranes moved overhead, like indifferent gods measuring the dragon's body.

Moreover, two gantry cranes need to be installed simultaneously during the operation.

One reason is that using two cranes simultaneously is the most efficient. The other reason is more practical: two cranes must be used at the same time to load the armor plate, one in front and one behind, in order to ensure symmetry and balance of the center of gravity.

Otherwise, a single mistake could result in several tons of armor plates crashing onto the dragon's back, which is no joke.

As for the assembly steps...

The Red Dragon Legion was in charge, with two gantry cranes one in front of the other. First, they installed the dragon head and tail, then the four limbs, and finally the two cranes joined together to assemble the central armor plate into place.

The armor on the dragon's head, neck, tail, and limbs is inspired by the segmented armor of the lizard, also known as the lobster armor structure. The individual segments are bolted together, creating a complex, interlocking system.

This is also why the upper and lower armor plates were assembled last, to ensure complete connection and stability. The front connection point is at the junction of the dragon's back, neck, and chest, while the tail connection point is seamlessly spliced ​​with the gasket behind the gate.

With the last bolt in place, the entire dragon resembled a war artwork awakened from the shadows.

All of this is somewhat like the "big toy" Gustav railway gun. Krupp specially designed two 112-ton gantry cranes for this gun, and it took 250 people three weeks to assemble this giant gun. The 102-ton gun barrel was divided into two sections, which were lifted and joined by the two gantry cranes respectively. The work was very difficult.

The manpower required to operate the railway gun was staggering, with no fewer than 1420 personnel directly assigned to it, under the specific command of a colonel who had his own independent headquarters and staff. The gun crew, responsible for operating the cannon and transporting ammunition, numbered over 500. In addition, a team of experts was on hand to assist the gun and resolve any technical issues. In reality, even more manpower was needed, requiring air defense, railway coordination, and comprehensive logistics – a classic case of adding more water when there was too much flour, and more flour when there was too much water.

However, the dragon armor that Duluqi equipped the dragon with was no mere toy. It wasn't just a display of power; it was something that could truly determine the outcome of a battle.

Within the Duruch community, there's a joke that goes like this: if Asur had equipped the dragons with dragon armor during the War of Revenge, even if it was just a slightly inferior version, perhaps the elves, not the dwarves, would have won the War of Revenge.

The dragon armor is custom-made—yes, entirely DIY. Tailored to the specific size of each dragon, no two sets are exactly alike. They were a joint production of the Arcane Academy, the Stormweavers Order, the Institute of Crafts, and the Red Dragonflight.

The Institute of Craftsmanship is responsible for forging and production; the Order and the Institute of Arcane Arts are responsible for drawing magical patterns and matching runes; as for the red dragons... they are responsible for breathing flames during the forging process to maintain the fusion of metal temperature and magical patterns.

That collaboration was like a grand symphony, the perfect fusion of industry and magic, where fire, runes, metal, and chanting intertwined in the same instant.

Even dwarves and Zar would be amazed by his awesomeness. This is why Beg Shun's eyes are covered. Unlike horses, whose eyes are covered so they can't see anything, dragon armor has visible runes. The helmet is inlaid with matching magic and runes, allowing the dragon to see through the armor.

Moreover, her dragon armor wasn't something that was made on the spot; before she even arrived in Ulthuan, Duruchi of Nagalos had already prepared a matching set for her. Not only her, but Cecin-Hal also had one, and even Basil, who hadn't come to Ulthuan and was still sleeping soundly in Tal Litanel, had one.

The dragon's armor is extremely protective, especially the front and middle sections. Even an imperial dragon would take a while to tear it apart, let alone kill it instantly. Unless the size difference is too great, you must master the angle and damage the structure. If the angle is wrong, all you can hear is that teeth-grinding tearing sound and the mournful sound of metal scraping.

My teeth are even worse now.

"Terrible" Marathex was missing a part of his left front tooth. Before he came to Nagarus, that part of the tooth was still there. Don't ask how it disappeared. The answer is that during the test, he didn't believe in the superstition and bit down hard, and as a result, the tooth broke.

Of course, there is one exception: Calledal, the "Fire-Scythe." The dwarves have an entire book of hatred for her, the most indignant entry detailing how she obtained star iron to coat her claws. Star iron, in the Kazari language, is "meteorite iron," a rare and precious metal.

During the test, she performed better than the Imperial Dragon, but that was all—her anger, her roar, her ferocity were enough to tear apart a storm, but she still couldn't directly pierce through the layer of cold steel forged by warlocks, Vaal priests, and red dragons.

Otherwise, the silver of Ysera in Nagalus's treasury would be in serious trouble.

There was no other way; the casting process of the armor plates was a labor of love for warlocks, Vaal priests, and red dragons. Besides being hard, they were also thick, offering protection against dragonfire; furthermore, they included auxiliary spells such as reflection, self-healing, levitation, and lightness.

The entire process follows a high-end customization approach.

It can be said that a dragon equipped with dragon armor is practically invincible.

That wasn't a living thing, but a flying iron lump, a flying fortress that appeared out of nowhere.

However, invincibility is only possible in most situations. There are exceptions, such as being surrounded and suppressed by multiple dragons, or encountering an existence with power far exceeding common sense. This is why even Basil possesses invincibility, but Merano does not—his size is too small, he hasn't fully grown, and whether he can defeat a griffin is questionable, much like a Yangtze alligator. Another example is encountering the Archmage Tzeentch of Conte; unfortunately, the magic of the Divine Gate is the bane of all metals.

The magic on the dragon armor, while protecting the dragon, also served as a backdoor left by Duruchi. Reciting the corresponding incantation would instantly disable the magic—meaning that control would forever remain in Duruchi's hands.

Other countermeasures include: interpersonal relationships, the leadership of "Mother of Dragons" Modax, the perfect fusion between Duruci and the red dragon, property, dragon eggs, dragon offspring, and promises about the future.

Is it gloomy? A little, but it's necessary.

Otherwise, Trucchi would truly be considered an idiot.

Furthermore, the dragon armor is indeed a bit heavy and will slow you down. But that only happens when there's no specific system in place.

As for what a system is, and what a system is...

That was the war logic constructed by Duluqi, a perfect coordination between legions, spellcasters, magic, dragons, and will; it was the order that Duluqi was most proud of.

At this moment, Beg-Shun was four thousand meters above the ground, the air currents whistling around her. Her wings were fully extended, instead of flapping as in normal flight. Now, she only needed the aid of the air currents and magic to maintain stable flight, while her body was slightly tilted to the left.

Ahead of her was Splintwin, and behind her was Cecin-Hal. They flew in the same posture and at the same angle, silent yet in sync. Their tacit understanding was like the battle formation that could only be formed by countless times of fighting side by side in the fire.

Further away, to where Alalos's vision was completely swallowed by darkness, the four Egyptian Gods—Mordeka, the Destroyer, Scyrex, the Majestic, and the Terrifying—were flying at the same posture and speed.

Ashdaron and his wife Caledar were also there, but they didn't fly side by side; instead, they flew one in front of the other.

In addition, there is the "investment expert" Kaminus, who is very good at having fun (Chapter 422). He participated in the Second Battle of Gorond and, in the years that followed, in addition to training and fighting, he has been investing, using his own assets to do business and purchase manors. His goal is to build a vast commercial empire.

The results of it?
He actually made it happen. Now he's the financial guru among the Red Dragons, specializing in managing money and investments. The Red Dragons trust him completely in this regard, entrusting their assets to him. In Modax's words: "Make as much money as possible to prepare for the subsequent construction of Vadraken."

The four Egyptian Gods, Kudnos, Azogalon, Ysbah, and Carmine, are also present. They are the strongest of the strong, and there are too many stories about them to tell in a day and a night, so we will simply leave them out.

And then no more.

On the Red Dragon side, a total of fourteen participated in today's battle.

Fellag and Kalendas remained in Nagalond. In Modax's absence, they were the main caregivers for the female dragons and their eggs, and would also take to the skies to fight when necessary. Besides them, the "Novelist" Evanah also remained in Nagalond.

Skalandir was not in Lorthorn either; he was in Krakarond, guarding the Nightbringer Maranul.

In other words, dragons guard and watch over both the north and south ends of Nagarus.

Hibchad has always stayed in Ashriel, and as a couch potato, he has absolutely no combat ability. If you really want to talk about fighting skills, he does have some; he excels at running on the ground, not flying in the air, like a wild boar charging, and he even breathes fire before the charge!
Efilomen and Drake were reinforced in the northern peninsula of the Kingdom of Elion and were not recalled.

Agatagu and Akregon were in Lorthen. They had taken to the air, but not for combat. After the meeting, they boarded a raiding ship, transformed upon reaching a high altitude, and flew to the city's defense system near the vast ocean. They were to be responsible for commanding the Red Dragon Legion and coordinating the troops.

Perhaps when things get really heated, I'll stop acting and transform? Of course, without the dragon armor, I'll have to fight naked.

The fourteen dragons were currently flying in a line, maintaining an average speed while keeping a distance between them. However, this line was not a straight line, but a circle, a flight path unique to them.

It was a perfect synergy, a combination of power and order, an art.

This is why their bodies lean to the left when they fly; they circle, drawing perfect trajectories in the clouds, aided by the wind and the magic on their dragon armor, enveloped by the wind, lifted by the magic, and shrouded by the shadow of fate.

Above Cecin-Hal and Berg-Shun, at an altitude of 4,100 meters, was the accompanying falcon squadron responsible for covering the dragon. The Asley riders wore thick windproof jackets, and their waists were equipped with oxygen cylinders, oxygen tanks, masks, and goggles. This standard equipment, issued by Duruchi, was to protect them from the cold and lack of oxygen at high altitudes, ensuring they wouldn't lose their combat effectiveness while on standby.

Tiktato's Pterodactyl squadron was positioned ahead of the Falcon squadron, but at an altitude fifty meters higher, directly above Springtwin. The Spirit Lizards were dressed much like the Asleys, though they looked rather comical.

Leading the pterosaur formation was a griffin formation led by Azalion and Arslan. This force could be described as a collection of the best from the kingdoms of Itien and Iris, with nobles from both kingdoms who had griffin companions participating in the battle.

Their flight altitude dropped again, to 4,100 meters.

The combination of two lows and one high ensures fault tolerance.

Flying ahead of the griffin formation was the giant eagle formation, which had returned to an altitude of 4,150 meters. Compared to the formations flying behind them, this giant eagle formation was a mixed bag, including giant eagles native to Ulthuan, those that had chosen to settle on the Anuriel Peninsula, and branches that had long been active in Lauren Loren and Azsolo Loren.

Not only the giant eagle itself, but also the riders were a diverse group, including Asur nobles, sea helmets, Hoth mages, and forest captains. But this eclectic mix did not equate to chaos; rather, it created a strange harmony.

Besides their well-developed system, they have a core member: El-Rahir.

Yes, Elashir, the leader of the giant eagle, has also joined the battle. (Chapter 730)
Zooming in, these formations of dragons and flying creatures fly in the inner circle, their formations overlapping like a giant spiral.

The outer ring consists of raiding ships.

The massive raiding ship group, composed of the Truc Navy and Army, was divided into multiple formations of varying heights and levels, but they all had one thing in common: the sails in the center of the ships were lowered and lifted by the wind, entering an energy-saving mode.

This scene is not only a manifestation of the Duruci military system, but also a great symbol of the evolution of the times—Asur, Duruci, Asley, and Enil, these four forces can now fly together under the same sky. Even if it is only for a day, it is enough to be shocking and go down in history.

If the clouds suddenly disappeared, the scene in the sky would look like students running laps on a playground, organized by class. Everyone was running, normally and orderly, without disturbing other classes.

Those laps, one after another, were not a playground, but the prelude to battle; those layers of circles were not running laps, but the call of death.

They kept moving, kept flying, with the gale as their drum and the sky as their arena, and the order of war slowly turned in the high sky.

A raiding ship carries a spellcaster and a squad of soldiers, which means... right now, there are more than 10,000 people in the skies above Lorthorn!
The will of ten thousand people, the breath of ten thousand people, ten thousand lives wandering in the clouds.

This is why Alaros was excited, yet also became withdrawn.

The core of the entire system is what Darkus jokingly calls the "Serenity Roller," a combination of coordination, power, and magical arrays, serving as the central hub of the entire tactical system.

During Elsin Alwyn's journey to Ashriel, the Vicious Temple was attacked unexpectedly. At that time, Serene was preparing to sacrifice herself to obtain the Wind of Magic—a desperate act of courage, or perhaps a final struggle. (Chapter 503)
But in the end, she was stopped by Darkus.

Although the incident happened long ago, it left an indelible shadow in Serene's heart. That deep-seated, inescapable sense of powerlessness clung to her soul like cold iron. She always remembered that moment, and because of this, she devoted herself to research whenever she had free time in the years that followed.

Once the Arcane Orb appeared, things spiraled out of control.

And now, the rolling dark cloud hanging over Lorthorn is the culmination of her research—her masterpiece.

The wind wasn't blowing randomly; it was somewhat like a typhoon, but different. More like a stationary tornado, a slowly rotating, but never collapsing, giant celestial phenomenon.

This wind is a wind of order, forcibly tamed; it flows in an orderly, rational manner, imbued with will. The wind presents a layered, rolling state, like invisible eddies pulling each other together, forming a vast internal cycle.

As a result, flying creatures hardly need to flap their wings; they only need to adjust their attitude to complete flight using lift and wind power, circling and advancing layer by layer. This extremely energy-efficient flight method allows the standby time of aerial formations to be extended many times over.

Therefore, Dakous named it "Cerene Roller", or simply Serene Roller.

Furthermore, the dark clouds contained a large amount of the winds of Aigil and Urku, which intertwined and balanced under Serene's control. The winds of Aigil resonated with the magic on the dragon armor, forming a near-perfect buoyancy and shield, making the dragon seem to be lifted by an invisible hand; while the winds of Urku roamed in the shadows, obscuring perception and disrupting vision.

With this combined effect, the flight formation hidden inside the clouds is almost impossible to detect from the outside world, and this is only the first stage of the race.

The second phase has two modes, which will be adjusted according to the progress of the battle.

"Aralos!"

Seeing that Alaros remained motionless, Indra finally couldn't hold back and shouted. (End of Chapter)