Within the mithril mine, Angus sat feasting on meat and wine with his captains. "This wine is truly exquisite!" Walker exclaimed, savoring a luxury usually beyond their means, available only to nobles like Angus who could afford to drink such fine beverages as if they were water.

"Ha ha, I must thank you all for helping me secure this mine. I'll make sure to commend your efforts to the family once we return!" Angus laughed.

"Thank you, my lord!" the men replied in high spirits. Despite Angus's strictness, he was generous with his rewards.

"What's that?" A soldier, mid-sip, glanced up at the sun, but before he could voice an alarm, a powerful white breath reduced him to ashes. The other soldiers nearby met the same fate, their screams echoing through the air.

"Enemy attack! Prepare defenses, get ready to counter!" Angus barked, discarding his wine cup.

"A dragon! It's a black dragon!"

"We're under attack by an adult black dragon!"

The stronger few finally turned to see a robust black dragon relentlessly firing off the deadly white beams. More than half of the hundred soldiers brought by Angus had already fallen.

Angus was dumbfounded, his mind grappling with a single thought: why would an adult black dragon appear here?

Salron, intending to use the sunlight for a surprise attack—the proper way for a black dragon to make an entrance—had not anticipated they'd be caught in celebration, sitting ducks in neat rows. He felt it would be a disservice not to treat them to his breath's care.

Thus, he chose not to rain down acid but instead unleashed a more potent thermal ray, having gained a clearer understanding of his strength from the recent battle. Ordinary soldiers couldn't breach his defenses, even if he remained stationary, which meant Salron could slaughter them with abandon.

Shortly, Salron landed amongst the soldiers, dealing with them on the ground.

At the first roar of the dragon, Doug knew their moment had arrived. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged, sinking his teeth into a guard's neck, seizing his longsword.

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"The great True Dragon has come! Follow me, and let's break free!" he rallied.

"Kill!"

It was hard to imagine the kobolds, usually seen as lowly creatures, could look so ferocious. They surged out of the mine shaft, attacking the disoriented human soldiers. The goblins exchanged glances, hesitated, then one, teeth gritted, picked up his mining hammer and charged out, with the others soon following his lead.

"Lord Angus, we must flee!" Walker, armed with a shield, urged Angus as the black dragon in the distance seemed insurmountable. His thrown spears couldn't even scratch the dragon's scales.

"How can this be?" Angus was still in shock.

"My lord, the kobolds and goblins are attacking us!" shouted a soldier, clutching a wounded arm.

"These wretched creatures dare to..." Angus was almost breathless with indignation. Kobolds were one thing, but even the goblins dared to join the fray.

He watched as the short-statured goblins, with baskets on their backs, periodically pulled out chunks of ore to hurl at the surrounding soldiers.

The mithril ore, naturally hard and heavy, proved to be an effective weapon as the goblins cleverly used it to bash the heads of their foes. The mine soon turned into a chaotic battlefield as the miners recognized their newfound power.

Before long, Angus realized they were completely surrounded by goblins and kobolds. Walker, sensing the tide turning against them, attempted to flee but was swiftly taken down by a well-aimed rock from a goblin, falling lifeless to the ground. Angus was stunned; had Walker truly fallen so easily? He turned to see he was left with no soldiers at his side. Then, a vast shadow loomed over him.

Salron gazed down at the human swordsman before him, identifying him as the leader by his armor, which matched that of the commander he'd seen earlier. This battle had been an absolute rout.

Angus took a deep breath to steady his trembling body. "Honorable Black Dragon, I am Angus of the Woltan family, delighted to make your acquaintance!"

"Human, you dare to trespass in my domain," Salron declared coldly in the common tongue of the continent.

"Black Dragon, this is a misunderstanding. Had we known this was your territory, we surely wouldn't have intruded!" Angus replied, trying to maintain his dignity. He internally cursed Walker for the poor intelligence.

If the Woltan family had known about the dragon, they would have come better prepared with dragon-slaying weapons, more Savage Shields, and soldiers.

However, the idea of retreat was inconceivable; even a dragon must bow before the glory of the Woltan family, especially a young dragon. Besides, a black dragon itself was a treasure trove...

"The Woltan family, never heard of it," Salron dismissed with disinterest.

As Angus attempted to continue, Salron grew bored with the noble's bluster. He spat a few drops of acid, swiftly corroding Angus's feet.

Angus screamed in agony, experiencing such a grievous injury for the first time in his life, momentarily breaking down.

"Doug, this one's yours. Extract anything of value from him. His fate is in your hands," Salron commanded, turning to the kobold, Doug. He had observed his ferocity in battle and deemed him a promising prospect to nurture.

"At your command, great Black Dragon!" Doug kneeled, eager to serve.

"And that one playing dead, take him for questioning too," Salron indicated Walker with a glance.

All eyes turned to Walker, who lay motionless. But as Salron drew a claw across Walker's legs, he sprang up, aiming a short sword enveloped in fighting spirit at Salron's eye.

Salron's reaction was swifter; his claw sliced Walker's legs, and the man fell, silent and stoic—unlike Angus, leaving Salron to wonder how his feigned death technique was uncovered.

"Commendable courage!" Salron praised. In a story of a hero battling an evil dragon, such a move might have blinded him, leading to his demise. But reality was far harsher...

With that, the human invaders at the mithril vein were vanquished.