Drawing Cards in the Middle Ages to Rise in Ranks

Chapter 738 43: Making Family Connections

"Your Majesty, that's my father's dragon, the Red Lightning."

On the city wall, Orhan gazed at the distant confrontation between the two colossal creatures with a sense of lament.

He wasn't reminiscing about Mahmud I; he had no feelings for this father.

What he lamented was that if back in the Dragon Garden he had gained the recognition of the Red Lightning, he might be in Mahmud II's place now.

But thinking again, even with the Red Lightning, he likely wouldn't be a match for Murad II with his three-headed demon dragon, and the likelihood of sitting on the Ottoman throne, although possible, would more likely end in defeat and death.

"Tell me about the characteristics of this 'Red Lightning'."

Orhan succinctly summarized, after all, it was the giant dragon he had longed for back then, so he naturally knew it well.

"Though it's a fire dragon, it's more adept at close combat, with astonishing defense..."

"Your Majesty, that red dragon has taken to the skies!"

Orhan's expression tightened; the worst had happened. Not only did the Red Lightning not fight against Mahmud II, but it also reached a deal with him, launching an attack on Constantinople.

"Such speed in the air!"

A trace of solemnity appeared on Losa's face. There are only incorrect names, never incorrect nicknames. The speed of this Red Lightning's flight was such that even he had to admit inferiority.

...

"Truly a long-lost place."

In the sky.

The massive, four-legged red dragon showed a touch of human-like sentimentality. Back in the day, when it followed Mahmud I, its partner told it that sooner or later, they would seize this city, which to dragons was merely a big toy.

As a high-level giant dragon, the Red Lightning was naturally not one of those mindless fools.

It knew well that Mahmud I's offspring, even with the help of that three-headed hybrid, couldn't capture this city, and taking the risk to "invite" it into battle meant the city wouldn't be easily taken.

Otherwise, Mahmud I's offspring wouldn't have needed to come; decades ago, it and Mahmud I would have taken the city already.

However, this danger wasn't enough to deter it.

Dragons were inherently proud, and the Red Lightning had strong confidence in its powerful racial talents and unparalleled defense.

Perhaps in terms of dragon flame and diverse abilities, it was inferior to that three-headed hybrid by a margin, but in terms of defense, it clearly couldn't be compared to that fragile hybrid.

...

"The demon dragon is here, prepare for battle."

"Battle, what battle? Quickly take cover, the emperor has ordered, everyone get to safety!"

On the city wall, chaos reigned.

Orhan's intelligence stated that the Red Lightning had incredible defense, meaning that even standing still, soldiers hitting it with crossbow cannons or arrows wouldn't harm the massive creature.

Moreover, with the red dragon's flying speed, ordinary arrows stood no chance of hitting it.

"Boss, that red dragon is coming at us!"

A terrified Genoan mercenary shouted at Giovanni Giustiniani, who was urging soldiers to take cover.

Boom——

Almost the instant his words fell.

The massive red dragon descended with intense gusts, roaring like a red storm, as its huge hind legs flexibly reached out, attempting to grab onto something, carving two deep furrows into the city wall.

By the time sound returned to their ears and they looked up, the enormous body of the red dragon was already thousands of miles away.

Giovanni climbed up from the ground, beside the Genoan mercenary; if not for his timely intervention, he would've been snatched into the sky by the red dragon's hind legs.

"Damn it."

He couldn't help but curse. The Ottomans had two dragons, and this newly appeared red dragon seemed just as powerful, a high-level giant dragon that even he, an elite centurion, couldn't handle even after transformation.

While Giovanni personally commanded here, elsewhere luck wasn't as kind.

With one dive, the red dragon snatched two Greek soldiers into the sky, spinning 360 degrees before tossing them, catching them precisely in its mouth and swallowing.

With a cruel and mocking smile, it dove towards the city wall again.

The soldiers' ears were filled with the sound of piercing screams. Faced with this terrifying beast, beyond their understanding, they couldn't muster any fighting spirit and hid.

Orhan suddenly spoke, "Your Majesty, I must return to oversee defense."

Losa shook his head, "It's too dangerous to go back now."

The Sharp Claw Dragon, though smaller, had grown in size after being infused with dragon blood granted by Losa, from just under three meters tall and five meters long, to now over four meters high and six meters long.

This size made it impossible to maneuver through the passageways inside the city wall.

Outside, the probability of being targeted by the Red Lightning was too high.

As for the southern section's wall defense, Losa had prepared contingency plans for enemy dragons. Many soldiers had personally rehearsed this scenario, so he felt there was no need to risk Orhan's life for it.

"Your Majesty, this is precisely the opportunity."

Orhan spoke earnestly, a glimmer of golden radiance flashing in his eyes.

Losa hesitated and frowned, "I can't guarantee the Dragon Slayer Crossbow can kill this red dragon."

The Dragon Slayer Crossbow came with a single compatible bolt, and he dared not test it recklessly. Due to the lack of a precise understanding of its effectiveness, and historical accounts from Yesterday's Giant Ship World showing it ineffective, he couldn't rely on it.

Orhan remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "An opportunity is enough. Besides, Your Majesty, I also bear the Ottoman royal lineage. Perhaps the Red Lightning will spare me out of respect for my father?"

With the urgency of the situation, Losa couldn't afford to hesitate.

He immediately said, "Viviana!"

"Here."

The Candle Knight, gripping her knight's sword firmly, stepped forward without hesitation.

"Do your utmost to protect Orhan."

"Yes."

She lifted her skirt slightly and curtsied. As the candlesticks on the table were extinguished, her figure melded into the shadows entirely.

Orhan showed an expression of admiration and then said, "Your Majesty, I'm off."

"Go."

As the Sharp Claw Dragon galloped across the city wall, effortlessly swift, the Red Lightning in the sky immediately set its eyes on this barely worthy of attention prey, its face showing a trace of curiosity upon sensing the rider's aura.

"Ah, my friend, your descendants, just like you, continue the game of familial betrayal."

It immediately accelerated downward toward the city wall.

"Faster, faster!"

Orhan urged the Sharp Claw Dragon to increase its speed, leaping over obstacles. The dragon's speed reached its limit, yet the terrifying oppression from behind drew ever closer.

A trace of fear transmitted from the Sharp Claw Dragon's heart, leaving Orhan to do his best to soothe it.

If not for the blessing of a drop of the emperor's blood, a low-level dragon like it wouldn't even have the courage to stand upright in front of a high-level dragon like the Red Lightning.

Boom——

With a thunderous crash, the massive red-scaled dragon landed solidly on the path ahead, its huge, sturdy body forming an insurmountable barrier.

"Mr. Red Lightning!"

Orhan shouted its name loudly, "You must remember me, right? I'm the son of Mahmud I. I used to sit on your back as a child, though you didn't acknowledge me."

The Red Lightning's massive dragon face showed a glint of realization.

The era of Mahmud I's rule, from now, was the mere span of one nap for it. But for the majority of humans in this era, these mere thirty years represented most of a lifetime.

"It's you, didn't expect you've grown so much."

"What a pity."

It said, extending a forelimb to unsheathe a row of blade-like claws.

"You didn't manage to ascend to Osman's throne like your father did with my help."

"""