Marki Arthur said, "Your first mission might be a little tough, Lucian. Prepare yourself and meet me at the entrance."

Lucian nodded in agreement and left the room.

Arthur continued, "Uther and Albert had gone on a mission to another city, we can't wait for them. Inform Serenna and tell her to meet me at the entrance."

"Yes, my lord," replied the guard.

Arthur thought to himself: The Ice Dragon, this is not good. I can't believe I'm saying this, but if Sagar were here, our job would be much easier. It's quite unlucky he left at the last minute.

As Lucian walked through the cold stone halls of Wintergate Marquessate, the snow beneath his feet creaked softly. The harsh northern wind caressed his face like a sharp blade, while the distant sound of war horns echoed in his ears. His sister, Serenna, was also there. Serenna saw Lucian and approached him.

"So I hear this will be your first mission," Serenna said with a slight smile, "What sin did you commit, little brother, to deal with a dragon threat as your first task?"

Marki Arthur entered the area where the soldiers were stationed.

Marki Arthur stood like a mountain in his silver armor adorned with shining engravings. His tall and strong physique was evident even beneath the armor, and his muscular build was unmistakable. His dark hair fell to his shoulders, carefully combed. There were a few scars on his face, each a testament to the countless battles he'd fought. His steel-like gaze never wavered when giving orders. The Wintergate emblem on his armor marked his high rank and noble lineage. The massive sword on his shoulder, almost as tall as a man, dazzled with its grandeur. It was clear that this sword could only be wielded by a warrior of strength and skill. Arthur's appearance was not only a reflection of his physical power but also his indomitable will.

Lucian sighed as he looked at his sister. "I guess we'll find out soon enough, sister."

"Everyone, listen carefully!" Arthur roared.

Lucian, Serenna, and all the soldiers focused intently on Marki Arthur's words.

"The responsibility of defending the Northern Border of the strongest kingdom, the Kingdom of Igrapth, has long fallen to the Wintergate family. Do you know why? Because we are the best at handling dirty work, and the dirtiest thing in this world is demons. We will continue to fight demons to the last drop of our blood and protect our people, just as our ancestors did. While our ancestors fought fearlessly to drive away the great demons, are we supposed to fear a mere lizard? I, the strongest warrior, swear to you that you are my people, and it is my duty to protect my people! Be ready because tonight, we will feast on dragon meat!"

As Marki Arthur's strong and reassuring words echoed in the air, the soldiers' expressions visibly changed. At first, there was tension and anxiety as sharp as the cold air. But with each word of Arthur's speech, their fears slowly began to melt away.

Standing beside his sister, Lucian felt his heartbeat slow. The look of determination and pride on Serenna's face ignited a fire within him. He set aside all doubts about his first mission and gathered his courage.

The soldiers gripped their swords tighter, adjusted their armor, and straightened their posture. Arthur's speech not only motivated them but also reminded them of the strength in unity and brotherhood. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they gathered their courage, ready to support each other.

One soldier turned to his friend and smiled. "Dragon meat, huh? It's been a while since we had such a feast," he said, and a few soldiers around him laughed, raising their morale.

Another soldier, while putting on his helmet, muttered, "We are of Wintergate blood, it's our enemies who should be scared," and his words were met with cheers from the surrounding soldiers.

Marki Arthur, seeing that the soldiers' morale had peaked, looked at them one last time and shouted, "LONG LIVE WINTERGATE!"

Without hesitation, the soldiers all shouted in unison, "Long live Wintergate! Long live Wintergate! Long live Wintergate!" Their powerful cheers echoed through the snow-covered mountains, reaffirming their commitment to their mission.

Arthur turned to Serenna to make the final preparations. "Serenna, I'll leave command of the 3rd Unit to you. You and General Ferth will take charge of the left flank."

"Yes, my lord," Serenna responded.

Then, he turned to Lucian: "Lucian, as my son and Sagar’s student, use your strength to protect the troops and support me. No matter how developed your physique or magic ability is, you’re not yet strong enough to take on a dragon. So, try to support us from the rear."

Lucian replied confidently, "Yes, my lord."

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Marki Arthur called his horse to his side.

Arthur's horse was just as strong and majestic as its master. Its midnight black coat shimmered like velvet under the moonlight. The horse stood taller than most, with muscles that rippled visibly with every step. Its eyes scanned its surroundings with sharp, intelligent alertness.

The saddle and bridle were adorned with intricate silver designs that complemented Arthur’s armor. Silver threads woven into the saddle tassels gently swayed with every movement. Behind the saddle, there was a special sheath for Arthur's massive sword. The horse's helmet, which protected its head, also made it appear even more imposing. The helmet featured the Wintergate family’s emblem, a glowing snowflake.

The horse's legs were fitted with armor, offering protection while not hindering its movement. This armor highlighted the horse's muscular limbs, making it appear like a war machine. Its mane was meticulously combed and interwoven with silver threads, adding an ethereal, almost magical quality. The tail was similarly adorned, flowing down to the ground in a graceful sweep.

Arthur’s horse was not merely a tool of war but also a loyal companion and a symbol of his strength.

Mounted on his horse, Arthur shouted with all his might, "UNITS, FORWARD!"

The soldiers marched in formation behind Marki Arthur. The roads were completely covered in snow, and a fierce storm made every step more challenging. The relentless northern wilderness was testing them just as much as the battle they were about to face.

Moving through the snow was arduous. The snow piled up to knee-height in places, making each step a struggle. The soldiers advanced to the crunching sound of snow beneath their feet. The thick snow not only slowed their pace but also made tracking the enemy and preparing for any surprise attacks more difficult.

The harsh, freezing northern winds hurled snowflakes at their faces like arrows. The storm was so intense that the soldiers could barely hear each other. The wind's howl swirled around them with a deafening roar. Visibility had dropped to almost zero, and seeing even a few steps ahead required tremendous effort.

It was so cold that their breath came out as steam and froze instantly. The soldiers’ armor had formed a layer of ice. The cold penetrated their bones, making every step more painful. Fingers were numb, faces and ears reddened from the cold. This freezing air demanded not just physical strength but also mental resilience.

As the soldiers approached the ice-covered mountain pass, the storm intensified. The wind's howling echoed like the roar of a creature deep within. Lucian stood beside his sister Serenna. Marki Arthur, on his horse, was observing the pass ahead.

Suddenly, a powerful tremor was felt from deep within the earth. The snow cracked loudly and began to slide down the mountain. The soldiers clung to one another to keep their balance. Right after the tremor, a dark and terrifying silhouette appeared over the pass.

The Ice Dragon soared in the sky, spreading its massive wings. Each flap of its wings sent out a chilling cold. The dragon's ice-covered scales sparkled in the moonlight, creating a dazzling display. Its enormous size and fearsome appearance struck fear into the hearts of the soldiers.

The dragon had taken refuge in the mountain pass used by the demons to hide. With only one entrance, this pass was a perfect environment for the dragon to protect its eggs.

The dragon, determined to protect its eggs, began a dive, like a meteor falling from the sky. As it neared the soldiers, it took a deep breath, opened its massive jaws, and unleashed a freezing breath.

All the soldiers were at least 4th-level aura users, which meant they could release their aura to protect themselves somewhat from the cold. But the dragon’s plan didn’t stop there. It started hurling ice spikes at us by flapping its wings.

"SHIELDS!"

At Marki Arthur’s command, the soldiers quickly raised their shields. The ice spikes shattered upon impact with the shields, their fragments scattering across the ground. The metal surfaces of the shields vibrated from the force of the attack, and the soldiers felt a slight sting in their wrists. But none of them retreated, as they trusted Arthur’s leadership.

Serenna was commanding her troops on the left flank. "Hold steady! Don’t drop your shields! Move together!" Her strong and determined voice boosted the soldiers' morale and gave them courage.

Though the soldiers continued to resist, the ice spikes didn’t relent, and the shields began to lose their durability. If this continued, they would suffer heavy losses.

Lucian thought about what he should do. "I should cast a large-scale protection spell, but if I do, I’ll almost completely exhaust my mana, and that could be dangerous. Think, Lucian, think!" Then, an idea came to him.

Lucian formed a magic circle in his hand and enchanted the nearest soldier's shield. The ice spikes could no longer damage the shield, but the downside was that enchanting multiple shields required an enormous amount of mana.

"Alright, this will work!" he said, "With this enchantment spell, I can strengthen everyone's shields and armor. The only problem is how to get to all of them in time. I could use aura to strengthen my legs and speed up, but they might notice I'm using aura. No, I can't think about that right now."

Lucian began channeling aura into his leg muscles and cast protection enchantments on both of his hands. The moment he was ready, he started running and applying enchantments to everyone's shields. This allowed the soldiers to continue defending themselves.

One of the soldiers said, "Hey, defending just got easier. It feels like someone’s supporting us with an enchantment-type spell, but I thought there were no mages in the Wintergate forces!"

Another soldier replied, "Don't you know? It's him, the youngest of the Wintergate family and the apprentice of the Great Mage Sagar, Lord Lucian Wintergate!"

Hearing this, all the soldiers, now highly motivated, began to shout battle cries.

Meanwhile, Marki Arthur was preparing for a massive attack.

Marki Arthur said, "I think this should be enough."

Gripping his massive sword with both hands, he swung it toward the dragon hovering above them. A huge aura slash hurtled towards the dragon's heart, but the dragon sensed the attack and dodged at the last moment. While it managed to protect its heart, it lost one of its wings, causing it to crash into the ground. Snow exploded into the air, blocking everyone's view, and for a brief moment, there was silence.

The soldiers thought, "Did we win?"

Suddenly, two enormous eyes appeared through the mist, their icy blue hue piercing through the haze as they locked onto Lucian. He found himself face-to-face with the dragon.

Lucian muttered, "Oh, fuck..."