Storm Heights, the frost giants' temporary camp.
This had once been a lush, verdant forest, but the frost giants had felled every tree, leaving the howling, freezing wind to pile heavy banks of snow across the barren ground.
Crude tents patched together from landwyrm bones and hides dotted the snow. Beside them lay heaps of plunder looted from nearby settlements—grain, furs, armor, and weapons.
The frost giant priests of the tribe prayed to their deities, casting ancient spells to carve out pockets of permafrost. These frozen domains not only provided a comfortable environment for the giants, but also kept outside intruders at bay.
Using these frozen lands as forward bases, the frost giants raided every settlement in the surrounding area, pillaging without restraint.
Kasa stood atop the rise, leaning on his double-bladed axe and looking down coldly at the heavily scarred Baya.
"Baya, where are the warriors who marched with you?"
"And why have you returned empty-handed, without a shred of plunder?"
Baya lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "Chieftain, we ran into a tough bone to crack. There were..."
He hesitated for a moment before finally choosing to speak the truth.
"A full twenty-six warriors fell heroically in battle."
As Baya spoke, his expression twisted into a savage scowl, and he quickly added, "Rest assured, though, I will avenge them and raze that fortress to the ground. Fifty—give me just fifty more warriors, and I swear—"
Kasa's brow furrowed tightly. Glaring at Baya with simmering fury, he cut him off harshly.
"Twenty-six of our kin? You lost that many over a mere fortress? Sixty years ago, your father destroyed the entire City of Nitri and plundered centuries of hoarded treasure, and our casualties were only eleven warriors!"
Baya muttered in defense, "That was no ordinary fortress. Behind them is a true dragon."
Kasa coldly interrupted him once more, granting him no room to make excuses. "The most important quality of a seasoned commander is patience. You clearly lack it. Surrender your post... to Tema."
"I do not wish to see such recklessness from you ever again."
"Yes, Chieftain."
Baya wanted to argue further, but meeting Kasa's brook-no-refusal gaze, he swallowed his pride and said no more.
Kasa shot a glance backward. Standing behind Baya, Tema stepped forward in sheer delight. The chieftain used red pigment to draw two slashes across his forehead—the mark of a frost giant warband leader, used to distinguish commanders in battle.
Kasa returned to his tent, where a massive hide map lay sprawled out, covered in crude markings.
Several frost giant priests sat gathered around it. Most were in the prime of their strength, while the frail, elderly Elder Nur had remained behind on Vahara Glacier to watch over the young and the infirm.
"Vir, can you sense the exact location of the Horn of Everfrost now?"
The young frost giant priest nodded slightly.
"Chieftain, we cannot pinpoint it completely, but we can deduce a general area."
He pointed to the weathered map, using his staff to trace a circle south of Storm Heights.
"According to the records left on this map by the previous chieftain, there is only one human city within this area—Northwind Keep."
"Good. Very good."
"We will take this city and reclaim the Horn of Everfrost. The glory of our ancestors shall be restored through our hands."
Hearing the priest's affirmative answer, Kasa's eyes gleamed.
Yet something else seemed to cross his mind; his brow creased slightly as he asked about another matter.
"From what you know, is there truly a dragon upon Storm Heights?"
The towering Korkha Mountains separated the Everfrost Tribe from the south. Every crossing demanded immense time and effort, leaving them almost completely ignorant of recent developments in the south, reliant only on the knowledge handed down by their forebears.
The priest answered truthfully, "There are no such records."
"However, Chieftain, if I may speak freely, our intelligence is sixty years old. To these fragile mortals, sixty years spans several generations. Compared to before, the Northlands may have undergone earth-shaking changes."
"Is that so...?"
Kasa stroked his chin, his eyes narrowing.
Soon, however, wild ambition once again burned in his gaze. "No matter how much those puny humans change, they cannot escape their destiny of being crushed by our great giant race."
"And a dragon that was completely unheard of sixty years ago? At best, it is nothing more than a young dragon—hardly worth mentioning. It will only make my triumphs all the more glorious, adding a dragon-slaying feat to my legend."
"Once we reclaim the Horn of Everfrost, I will turn the entire Northlands into a frozen realm and restore frost giant rule over the lands our ancestors once held!"
"Before the might of Everfrost, all resistance is utterly fragile."
***
Northwind Keep, Council Hall.
Cassius sat upon his throne, skimming through the latest intelligence reports submitted by his subordinates.
"They've already reached Bedrock Fortress? That was remarkably swift."
Delenna answered solemnly, "The frost giants' forced marches are renowned across the Northlands. They often travel in warbands of several dozen giants, sweeping in alongside the freezing winds to raid swiftly. Their marching speed far exceeds that of any human army in northern history."
"At present, both the City of Baator and Sige Town have faced small-scale frost giant raids, though fortunately neither suffered major losses. Bedrock Fortress met the frost giants' main force, but they held the line."
"According to reports from the Redscale Patrol, they seem to have abandoned raiding across Storm Heights. Instead, they are concentrating their forces for a full southward push. Their objective is very likely the Horn of Everfrost."
"After research at the Tower of the Great Savant, Lord Trump suspects the horn's runic power resonates with frost giant bloodlines, producing an effect akin to locate object. However, the tier of this magical effect is too high, and he currently has no way to dispel it."
Cassius hoisted himself up from his throne, gave his body a vigorous shake, and slowly unfurled his wings.
"No need to dispel it. Marching south with all their might suits my plans perfectly. I despise running around putting out fires and losing the initiative."
"Even so... it is time this farce came to an end."
"Notify all forces in the kingdom to halt the frost giants north of the Throat of Trier. If we let them run wild any longer, they will disrupt normal production in the south."
"The era of the giant empire has long since drawn to a close. These wretches gnawing on their ancestors' leftovers should have crawled back into their graves long ago."
Delenna hesitated a moment before adding, "Master, there is one more matter."
"The Principality of Bosque has sent a special envoy, claiming they wish to aid the Kingdom of Cinders in repelling the Frost Calamity. Would you...?"
Cassius's interest was instantly piqued.
"Oh? Such a thing?"
"Hurry and invite this 'warm-hearted' envoy in. I would love to see what game that old lion is playing."
A glint of amused intrigue flickered within the red dragon's golden slit pupils.
Chapter 174