Chapter 565: Into Dragon’s Roar Town
"Thank you, Guardian!"
Relief finally spread across the Town Lord’s face, and the anxious villagers around him let out long, grateful sighs. At almost the same moment, a system notification rang out.
Ding!
[Congratulations, player Stonehaven, on receiving the Unique Quest ’Saving Dragon’s Roar Isle.’ You must kill the Iceflame Black Serpent Man on Black Serpent Islet and rescue the captured Dragon’s Roar Town soldiers from the Black Ice Cave before noon tomorrow. Outstanding rewards await!]
So it really was a quest... and a Unique Quest at that.
Since it had a strict time limit, Marcus didn’t waste another second. "Town Lord, we’ll set sail for Black Serpent Islet immediately."
"Guardian, please come ashore with us first." The Town Lord shook his head with a polite smile. "Allow us to explain the situation on Black Serpent Islet in detail. We have observed the Iceflame Black Serpent Man’s habits over the years, and we can also prepare some supplies that should prove useful in battle. We only hope they will help you return victorious."
Marcus already had a general understanding of Black Serpent Islet thanks to Silas’s treasure map, but the mention of combat supplies caught his attention. Considering Dragon’s Roar Town’s long history and legendary reputation, there was a good chance those supplies would be far more valuable than ordinary equipment. "Alright."
The fleet slowly entered Dragon’s Head Bay, steering toward the dock beneath the left dragon horn.
The bay contained two separate harbors. The left dragon horn served as the main civilian dock where passenger ships and fishing boats came and went, while the right dragon horn had once been the naval harbor, reserved exclusively for military vessels.
A thousand years ago, more than a hundred warships had been anchored there, but then came the East Sea Counteroffensive. Every ship sailed out to battle, and not a single one ever returned. Since then, only the abandoned docks and weathered naval barracks had remained as silent reminders of that forgotten campaign.
Dragon’s Roar Town lay between the two dragon horns. At its peak, it had been a thriving settlement of well over a thousand households, built to accommodate the countless visitors who flocked to the island each year.
But after a thousand years of isolation, the once-bustling town had dwindled to barely a fifth of its former size. Only around a hundred households remained, with a population of perhaps three hundred people, and the eighty-eight captured soldiers had made up nearly all of the town’s able-bodied men. Those left behind were mostly elderly residents, women, and children, their faces filled with worry as they waited for news that never seemed to come.
The sight stirred something in Marcus; he had accepted the quest for its rewards, but seeing the people who had endured a thousand years of hardship made him even more determined to wipe out the Iceflame Black Serpent Men and bring their families home.
Yet as soon as everyone stepped onto Dragon’s Roar Isle and entered the town itself, that heavy mood gave way to amazement.
Dragon’s Roar Town was breathtaking.
It was an ancient town built in a grand medieval style. Towering ceremonial arches stood proudly over broad bluestone streets, while elegant buildings and multi-story towers peeked through the lush tropical greenery. Despite its age, the town radiated a peaceful charm that made it feel welcoming rather than abandoned.
Because it had originally been designed as a tourist destination, everything had been built on an impressive scale, and the streets were spacious, the buildings well arranged, and the entire town possessed an open, majestic atmosphere instead of the cramped feeling common to many old settlements.
The tall wooden buildings were covered with exquisite carvings. Dragons and phoenixes wound across pillars, bamboo groves adorned the walls, galloping horses leaped through intricate reliefs, while scenes of mythical beasts and graceful birds brought every structure vividly to life. Every detail reflected extraordinary craftsmanship, giving the town a timeless elegance.
The streets themselves were wide enough for three carriages to travel side by side. Farther ahead lay an enormous central plaza capable of accommodating tens of thousands of people, and beyond it rose even taller buildings that hinted at just how prosperous the town had once been.
It was difficult to believe this was merely a small island settlement. Judging by its scale alone, Dragon’s Roar Town could easily rival many major cities, and every road, every building, and every carefully planned district spoke of an era when the island had stood at the height of its prosperity.
According to the Town Lord, during those glorious days, Dragon’s Roar Isle welcomed over three hundred thousand visitors every single day. Its beaches, forests, mountains, and coastlines teemed with well over a million people, creating a level of prosperity unlike anything seen elsewhere in the East Sea. Now, with so few residents remaining, nearly everyone lived near Dragon’s Head Bay.
Marcus took in the view around him: behind the town rose a towering snow-capped mountain, beyond it stretched a vast emerald rainforest, while the endless blue sea wrapped around the island on every side. The contrast between snowy peaks, tropical forests, and crystal-clear waters created a landscape so beautiful it almost felt unreal, and even after everything Marcus had experienced in Dominion, he couldn’t help stopping to admire the scenery.
"Bro, this place is incredible. I wish we could live here." Amber’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked around.
"Of course!" the Town Lord replied immediately, delighted by her reaction. "If the Guardian saves Dragon’s Roar Town, we would be honored to present him with our finest residence. Whenever you visit Dragon’s Roar Isle in the future, you will always be welcomed as our most distinguished guest."
After speaking, the Town Lord hesitated for a moment, and curiosity finally won out. "Guardian... if you don’t mind my asking, did you truly cross the Storm Seal? Do you know the route through it?"
’So he finally asked.’ Marcus had expected the question. "Yes," he answered with a calm nod, mixing truth with just enough fiction to hide the important parts. "I happened to discover a treasure map. Following the markings on it, I somehow managed to cross the Storm Seal. Even now, it still feels unbelievable."
He paused before continuing with a regretful expression. "Unfortunately, the map fell apart after I found the treasure it led to. If I wanted to make the journey again, I’d have to rely on memory... and a great deal of luck."
Without giving the Town Lord time to dwell on the answer, Marcus smoothly changed the subject. "The map supposedly belonged to an adventurer named Silas the Wanderer who came here about six hundred years ago. Have you ever heard of him?"
"Silas the Wanderer..." The Town Lord searched his memory for several moments before slowly shaking his head. "Guardian, according to our historical records and the stories passed down through the generations, no one has ever successfully crossed the Storm Seal. We’ve certainly never heard of anyone by that name. If such a person had truly reached the mainland and returned, Dragon’s Roar Town would have reestablished contact with the outside world long ago."
’Just as I expected. That crafty old fox, Silas, really did keep the route to himself.’
"I understand." Marcus sighed, sounding genuinely disappointed before the Town Lord could ask anything else. "I had hoped Silas was originally from Dragon’s Roar Town and that you might know the way through the Storm Seal. It looks like crossing it again would still be nothing more than a gamble with my life."