Seeing this dragon appear, everyone was terrified. Horses either collapsed in fear or scattered in all directions. Dunlending chief Brog also showed horror—he had never seen such a massive dragon. Even Smaug, whom he had once encountered, could not compare to this beast.
Just as everyone showed terrified despair, the black dragon did not even glance at them, flying straight overhead carrying wind and snow westward.
But before they could feel fortunate to have escaped with their lives, dozens of sub-dragons tens of ters long followed the great dragon.
Though these dragons and sub-dragons did not attack them, they cast psychological shadows over everyone present.
King Théngel felt lingering fear. Looking toward where the dragons flew, he had an ominous premonition.
"Those dragons are flying toward Isengard?" he asked Dunlending chief Brog beside him.
Brog also had bad feelings, his face showing worry.
Those dragons and sub-dragons were clearly from Mordor, heading directly for Isengard—likely with ill intent.
The leading black dragon was several tis larger than Smaug, and there seed to be figures on the dragons' backs. He wondered if Lord Kael could handle them.
Thinking this, Brog imdiately ordered Dunlending warriors to assemble.
Seeing Brog's actions and guessing his thoughts, King Théngel said in shock, "Chief Brog, are you planning to return for support?"
Brog nodded, "Lord Kael and Isengard are in danger. As his subjects, we naturally have the duty to rescue him!"
"But did you not see that dragon group? The lead dragon is at least a thousand ters long! Going back is suicide!"
King Théngel warned, not wanting these Dunlendings who had just aided them to die needlessly.
Brog was unmoved, his expression remaining resolute.
"Having sworn loyalty to Lord Kael, we naturally cannot sit idle while he faces danger! Well, Your Majesty, pursuing Mordor's routed forces is left to you. We must return to defend our lord!"
With that, he ordered all Dunlending warriors into boxes to return to Isengard at top speed.
Seeing the Dunlendings preparing to leave, Folcred—the king's cousin and Rohan's Third Marshal of the Riddermark—quickly asked King Théngel, "Your Majesty, they are leaving. What should we do?"
King Théngel pondered briefly, "We cannot forget Isengard's support. Moreover, Mordor's army is now routed and poses no imdiate threat. Folcred, take half our forces east to pursue Mordor's remnants, trying to eliminate them before they reach the Anduin."
"As for , I will take the other half west to aid Isengard."
Folcred strongly objected, "Your Majesty, Isengard faces dragon invasion—it is very dangerous! You cannot risk it! Let lead forces to support Isengard while you pursue the routed army."
But Théngel insisted, and Folcred could not dissuade him.
King Théngel found Brog, "Chief Brog, you ca to support Rohan, and we Rohirrim are very grateful. Now Isengard faces crisis, and we cannot stand idle. So I plan to bring half of Rohan's cavalry with you to render aid. Can your boxes hold more people? If not, we will have to ride."
Hearing King Théngel's words, Brog was surprised. He had not expected this Rohirric king to have such courage. After all, in Brog's view, their aid to Rohan was a transaction to gain the Rohan Gap as tribal territory.
So now with Isengard facing crisis, Rohan had no obligation to help—especially with Mordor's routed forces still undefeated, dividing their strength was definitely risky.
But this also impressed Brog with the king, improving his attitude considerably.
Finally, Brog did not refuse the Rohirric king's aid. He had Dunlending warriors squeeze together, freeing up one expansion box for Rohirrim, giving it to the king to carry.
King Théngel would share a hippogriff with Brog.
Looking at the box containing thousands of Rohirrim cavalry, King Théngel could not help marveling at Wizard Kael's magical wonders.
If Rohan had such boxes, troop transportation would be simple.
anwhile, atop Orthanc Tower at Isengard, "Kael spotted distant dark clouds spreading westward, his brow furrowing with grave expression.
Patrolling griffin Aslan let out a sharp warning cry—urgent and piercing as if seeing natural enemies.
Rolling dark clouds seed to hide sothing terrible, rapidly moving toward Isengard.
The next mont, a fierce black dragon head erged from the clouds, breathing extrely cold mist at Isengard.
The frigid breath struck the invisible do covering Isengard. The extre cold seed to freeze the do itself, showing crystalline colors.
Surrounding temperatures instantly plumted as if winter had co—nearby trees and grass quickly frosted over.
Inside the do, Kael's breath turned to mist.
Seeing the dragon in the sky, his pupils contracted in shock.
Frost dragon?!
He had not expected Middle-earth to have winged dragons besides Smaug—and this one was nearly ten tis larger, even breathing ice!
Moreover, this frost dragon emanated an ancient, powerful aura far exceeding Smaug's strength.
He wondered how such a dragon still existed in Middle-earth, feeling shocked and grave.
From this dragon, he sensed trendous pressure.
What made Kael wary was spotting Saruman's figure on the dragon's back with his keen vision. Saruman also noticed Kael, showing a smile as his thunderous voice reached Kael's ears.
"Kael, today I reclaim all I have lost. Are you prepared to face my vengeful fire?"
Hearing this, Kael sneered, "Saruman, you think finding one dragon guarantees victory?"
"Really? Then let show you my confidence!" Saruman snorted coldly, raising his staff.
At his summons, dozens of sub-dragons followed, surrounding Isengard from all sides.
Among them, eight leading black sub-dragons carried eight Nazgûl radiating terrifying, chilling dark auras.
"Wizard, surrender your red gemstone. The Master promises you anything you desire," said the Witch-king of Angmar in hellish, cold tones.
Seeing so many sub-dragons and all Nazgûl present, Kael's heart was heavy, though his face remained calm.
Hearing the Witch-king's words, Kael took out the Philosopher's Stone, waving it teasingly before them.
"Sauron wants this?"
Seeing the Stone, evil light blazed brighter in the Nazgûl's eyes, showing greedy expressions.
The Stone could restore Sauron's physical form, naturally also granting bodies to spirit-form Nazgûl.
So sensing the Stone's energy, the Nazgûl were like starving n seeing food, eager to seize it imdiately.
Saruman, equally discerning, recognized the Stone's extraordinariness at a glance.
He was filled with jealousy that Kael could create such a treasure.
"Wizard, give it to !" the Witch-king said urgently.
Seeing Angmar's state, Kael showed mocking expression, putting away the Stone.
"Want it? Then kill Saruman. I might consider giving the Philosopher's Stone to Sauron—even tell him how to make it. After all, self-made ones are surely better than others'. What do you think?"
Hearing Kael's words, the Nazgûl fell silent, all looking at Saruman as if considering this possibility.
Seeing this, Saruman was shocked and furious, cursing, "Fools, he is deceiving you! Attack with full force—once we capture him, that stone is ours!"
Then glaring at Kael with cold malice, "Kael, you want to sow discord? Let us see if you have the ability! Today you cannot escape—prepare to be torn apart by my dragons!"
At his command, dozens of sub-dragons attacked Isengard.
Kael watched coldly without fear or worry.
Indeed, the next second, a sub-dragon charging ahead passed through the do without obstruction.
But imdiately it scread miserably as both wings turned to ash, its body severely burned, crashing heavily inside the do, critically injured.
Originally the do would turn intruders to ash, but sub-dragons had too much vitality to die instantly.
Still, this result made other sub-dragons halt, warily eyeing the do without daring to attack.
"Avada Kedavra!" Kael's Killing Curse directly slew the sub-dragon inside.
Instantly a harsh, mournful scream ca from within the sub-dragon.
The next second, a black misty evil spirit flew out, rushing against the do and exploding.
Seeing his carefully bred sub-dragon die thus, Saruman's face darkened. At his command, the frost dragon beneath him breathed extre cold at the do.
The magical energy do frosted under the frost dragon's icy breath.
Saruman also wielded his staff, releasing massive fireballs attacking the do.
The Nazgûl similarly cast dark magic, attacking and destroying the do.
"Hmph, you have numbers? Watch call reinforcents too!"
Under simultaneous attacks, the do began shaking. Kael's expression tightened as he imdiately took out the Horn of Victory and sounded it.
The Horn's sound made Saruman and others outside the do feel terrible, like countless loud noises echoing in their ears.
Simultaneously, roars ca from the Misty Mountains behind Isengard.
To Saruman's shock, a group of fire dragons flew from the mountains, following the horn's call to quickly reach Isengard, then breathing scorching flas at the evil dragons.
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