Black Hearted Mage

Within the deep gates of Holy Thunder City, five sturdy magic steel gates stood stacked one upon another. Four of them were hollow gates, each as thick as an arm. The staggered steel bars were studded with gleaming magic steel spikes, each a foot long, and the gates dug deep into the ground a foot or two. The last gate was a seamless, solid magic steel gate, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the dim light.

At that moment, the fat dog's massive body had transformed into a blazing magical furnace, pure white flames gushing from its body. The terrifying heat distorted the surrounding air. As the first gate wailed in the flames and turned into boiling molten iron, it lunged at the second gate without hesitation. As the white flames ebbed and flowed, the solid magic steel began to melt and drip like wax.

From their observation holes above the city gate, the defenders watched in horror. When the second gate also began to melt, the entire wall erupted in chaos. Hundreds of soldiers frantically carried buckets of water, scurrying back and forth between the battlements. Bucket after bucket of cold water was frantically poured into the gate, only to have it vaporize instantly in the intense heat, turning into billowing white smoke.

On the road in the distance, Caesars sat in a maple wood recliner, leisurely sipping black tea when he suddenly caught sight of the thick steam gushing out of the city gate. He narrowed his eyes, a knowing smile playing on his lips—the Saint Laurents were so desperate to flood the city gate; presumably, that fat dog was about to burn through their last line of defense.

As the demon steel gate buckled and warped in the intense heat, finally collapsing in a volcanic mass of molten iron, the defenders of Holy Thunder City launched their attack. Hundreds of demon steel arrows, shimmering with a faint blue hue, rained down like a torrential rain, their sharp cries piercing the air as they pierced the battlefield, all aimed at the massive, fat dog, standing still like a mountain. However, to their horror, the arrows, powerful enough to pierce heavy armor, seemed to collide with an invisible barrier upon contacting its glistening fur, falling powerlessly to the ground with a resounding metallic clang. Even stranger, before they even touched the ground, the fallen arrows were consumed by the pale flames swirling around the fat dog, instantly transforming into pools of boiling iron that hissed on the charred earth.

The fat dog lazily shook its head. The arrows felt like gentle pricks from straw, causing no damage at all. Instead, they sent a tingling tingle through its glossy fur. This irritating harassment completely enraged the fat dog. Its crimson pupils suddenly contracted, and its toothy maw slowly opened. A chilling orange-red light shone from the depths of its throat.

"Ow—"

A roar, earth-shaking, erupted suddenly. The sound blended the might of a behemoth with the roar of boiling molten lava. The eardrums of the dozens of defenders closest to the beast burst, and they fell to their knees in agony. The next moment, a torrent of flames over five meters in diameter erupted from its maw. Wherever the blazing white column passed, the solid magic steel walls melted like wax. Archers caught in the act of dodging didn't even have time to scream before they were carbonized into twisted, charred corpses in the thousands of degrees of heat. When the breath ended, the city gate area, once crowded with hundreds of elite defenders, was reduced to a smoking death zone. Within a fifty-meter radius, only black, human-shaped charred bodies remained, scattered across the ground in running positions. The air was filled with a sickening, burning smell.

"If anyone dares to stop Mr. Bread from robbing again, I will eat him!"

The fat dog shouted at the distant defenders in a voice like a giant beast, then trotted towards the city with a cheerful pace, baring its dagger-like fangs.

A magical beast that could speak human language, and even speak in a rather savage manner, and incinerated over 300 archers with a single breath, had the Holy Thunder City Legion Commander horrified. Among his staff was a magician who clearly informed the Commander that only legendary magical beasts could speak the Common Language.

After Caesars leisurely finished his last piece of tea, the Roland Empire's proud Red Flame and Silver Glory Legions finally arrived. When Vivian arrived with her mighty army, all she saw was the shattered remains of the city gate, its opening covered in charred marks. Even the renowned female commander, known for her composure, raised an eyebrow, her gilded whip drawing a surprised arc in the morning light.

"Lord Caesars," Vivian reined in her warhorse, her dark red leather armor gleaming in the sunlight. "Did we agree to fight together?" Her voice was tinged with rebuke, her gaze sweeping over the still-intact defensive equipment on the city walls. With a graceful gesture of her hand, the miles-long torrent of steel behind her halted its advance, raising a cloud of dust.

Caesars calmly tucked his gold-embroidered silk handkerchief back into his sleeve and put away the flamed maple lounge chair. "Ms. Vivian," he pointed at the billowing black smoke rising from the city gate, "all this is thanks to my fat dog—it's hungry from all the running, so it went into the city to rob!"

"That greedy monster? Robbery?" Vivian snorted, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the whip, "Forget it, the siege will have to wait. The people who delivered the alchemical bombs have just arrived at Bone Crusher Castle." She looked at the cold and sharp magic cannons on the city wall, and the giant crossbows that were powerful enough to penetrate heavy armor were aimed at them.

Caesars suddenly smiled mysteriously and pulled out a gleaming red crystal from his space ring. "Why wait, ma'am?" He produced dozens of alchemical bombs one after another like a magic trick. "These are more than enough to blow up these things that are in the way!"

"Then you go ahead and blow it up first. The alchemical bomb is for you anyway!"

A meaningful smile played across Vivian's lips. She tucked her stray golden hair behind her ear, her cloak swishing gracefully in the air as she turned. She strode quickly toward the two heavily armored legion commanders, her mage-patterned leather armor gleaming in the sunlight. As the three of them conversed in low voices, her slender fingers occasionally pointed toward the city wall. The two legion commanders nodded frequently, their armor clacking against each other's joints.

Caesars took a deep breath, quickly forming hand seals with his hands, and the ancient incantation flowed from his lips. With the final syllable, dark elements coalesced into a pair of magical wings behind him, ripples of black energy flowing between them. As his feet left the ground, a whirlwind erupted, and the elemental wings spread out, propelling him high into the sky like an arrow from a bow.

From his perch, Caesars pulled alchemical bombs from his space ring, crafted by himself. He activated the explosive crystals with his magic, and the bombs plummeted toward the city walls with a piercing whistle. However, to his surprise, the fierce resistance he had expected was absent. The crossbows that should have been on full alert were deserted, with only a few shattered flags of the city defense forces fluttering in the smoke.

Confused, Caesars turned and looked back. In the most conspicuous position in the rear formation, Vivian's massive chariot stood tall like a moving fortress. Atop the chariot's thirty-foot-tall flagpole, a blood-red banner fluttered in the fierce wind. A rose pattern embroidered in gold thread against a scarlet background shone brightly in the sunlight. It was the "Blood Rose Banner" that terrified the enemy. Beneath the banner, Vivian looked up at him, her red lips parted as if to speak, but her voice was drowned out by the continuous explosions.

Caesars muttered a spell, his slender fingers tracing intricate paths through the air. With the final syllable, a triple layer of magical barriers materialized around him: first, a magical shield shimmering with a faint blue glow, its surface woven with intricate runes. Next, a dark golden armor enveloped him like liquid, gleaming metallically in the sunlight. Finally, a translucent arcane shield, ripples of purple energy slowly rippled through it. He carefully checked the stability of each layer of protection, ensuring it was flawless, before folding his magical wings and landing on the towering city wall.

Below the city walls, the fleeing soldiers retreated like a tide. Steel armor clashed with each other in panic as they fled. Sharp swords and gleaming spears were carelessly discarded in the streets, and several banners embroidered with Saint Laurent's emblem were trampled in the mud. Caesars watched the scene, his scarlet cloak fluttering in the wind.

"Is the Blood Rose's deterrent truly so profound?" He whispered to himself, stroking the magic blade at his waist, a hint of amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Even after nearly ten thousand years, the sight of that fluttering blood-red banner will still cause the rebels to flee in disarray." He withdrew a message stone from his bosom, its interior pulsing with magical light. "Ms. Vivian, the defenders have fled. Holy Thunder City is ours," he reported briefly, his voice like an undercurrent beneath the surface of ice.

Meanwhile, the Roland Empire's iron torrent converged outside the city. The heavily armored infantry phalanxes advanced in measured steps toward the city gates, the clink of armor resembling thunder. After clearing out the remaining enemies within, they would establish a defensive line, awaiting follow-up troops to take over this strategically important point.

As Caesars slowly descended the steps of the city wall, thousands of miles away, the Saint Laurent Palace was in chaos. A herald stumbled into the council hall, the wax seal on the battle report barely dry in his hand. "Your Majesty! Saint Thunder City... has fallen!" This cry interrupted the courtiers as they discussed reinforcements. The young emperor abruptly rose from his throne, the color drained from his face beneath his crown.

"The speed of the Roland Empire's advance..." He gripped the armrest, his knuckles turning white. "We just heard the news of the fall of White Bone Castle this morning, and by the afternoon, Holy Thunder City had changed hands." The crystal chandelier in the hall swayed slightly as his voice trembled. "At this rate, in less than five days, their troops will be directly under the city of Holy Roland."

"Your Majesty, they'll stop after conquering Holy Thunder City. Taking over such a large city is no easy task!" The aged prime minister adjusted his shaky gold-rimmed glasses, his wrinkled fingers trembling slightly, his cloudy eyes filled with worry. "Holy Thunder City has a population of over half a million. Maintaining order alone will require at least 20,000 to 30,000 people. They'll have to carefully inspect the noble estates outside the city and the noble mansions within..."

The dome of the council hall cast a dark shadow, and the old chancellor's hoarse voice echoed between the stone pillars. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple rolling beneath his sagging skin. "According to the Bloody Rose's character... she will never go easy on us." The attendants beside the throne involuntarily flinched at this. "In her eyes, we are rebels. She will make us die in the most painful way! Every inch of bone will be shattered, every piece of flesh will be..."

The old chancellor suddenly began coughing violently, his hunched frame swaying like a candle in the wind. By the time he finally caught his breath and wiped the spit from his mouth with a silk handkerchief, the entire council hall had fallen into a dead silence, one could hear a heartbeat. Everyone knew that the Valkyrie, renowned for her ruthlessness, always dealt with rebels with the most extreme measures—no surrender, no room for negotiation, and no blinking when executing.

Meanwhile, in the city of Holy Thunder, Caesars tore open the oak doors of the cathedral. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting eerie glints across the devastated ground. He stepped on scattered Bibles and tore the pure gold chalice from the altar... By the time he emerged from the cathedral with his loot, the entire city had fallen into the Legion's control. All three gates were heavily guarded, and the streets echoed with the shouts of soldiers searching door to door, punctuated by the occasional scream.

Just then, a round shadow slowly inched down the street. Caesars narrowed his eyes, and when he saw it clearly, his jaw dropped—it was his fat dog, now a moving ball of flesh. Its belly dragged on the ground, and it held a string of pickled sausages in its mouth, clearly unable to hold anything more.

"Gods be upon you!" Caesars gasped. "Bread? I almost didn't recognize you!" He reached out and poked the fat dog's belly. His fingertips felt hard. "I thought what rolled over was a wine barrel with legs!"

The fat dog collapsed on the ground with its four legs in the air, its round belly rising and falling with each breath. It whimpered a few times, and its stubby tail weakly slapped the ground, leaving greasy marks on the stone slab.

Caesars knelt down and gently untied the storage ring from around the fat dog's neck. He examined each of the glittering trinkets one by one, finding that most of them were stuffed to the brim—piles of smoked ham, fragrant cheeses, glistening sausages, and barrels of aged wine. When he examined the last two rings, his eyes suddenly shone with gold—piles of gold bars and mountains of gold coins that threatened to overflow.

"Bread, you've worked really hard this time! After you digest all this delicious food, you need to take a good bath. You haven't put on the vest that Cecilia specially made for you yet, but now..." He glanced at the fat dog's round figure, "I'm afraid you can't even button it!"

The fat dog covered in grease, barely opened its small eyes and hummed at Caesars, as if protesting against the teasing of its owner, or as if it was happy about the red vest.