Ashen Dragon

Singo and Mantou listened to the Great Goblin's explanation, carefully observing the "Heavenly Fire" armor inside the glass cabinet.

Beneath the wing armor were several intricately designed metallic discs—these were gravity suspension devices that allowed the Bipedal Wyvern to carry more ammunition and ensured a stable landing even if hit.

Even the claws were specially covered with armor, equipped with several wheels on either side, enabling the Bipedal Wyvern to speed up for takeoff on the ground runway while bearing the heavy armor.

Mantou stared at the armor inside the glass cabinet, his eyes fixed, burning with excitement. Anyone who didn't know better might think he was beholding the love of his dreams: "So cool…"

Singo couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim: "As expected of the Mechanical God Cult's creation—it's practically turned the Bipedal Wyvern into a bomber."

The Great Goblin reminded them, "All thanks to His Majesty Cassius's wise leadership."

Singo hurriedly responded, "Of course! The great Ashen Empire's Emperor is everywhere. Whether it's the Empire's economy, politics, military, or technology, all accomplishments are owed to that supreme majesty. His wisdom permeates every corner of the Empire…"

"Well said! Worthy of being the Empire's Earl—what remarkable awareness you have."

Hearing this, the Great Goblin nodded in satisfaction, even clapping his hands in approval.

Watching the two of them skillfully flatter the Emperor, even thick-skinned Mantou secretly cursed to himself: "Shameless! Why didn't you include me?"

"Indeed, thinking about how His Majesty labors for the Empire, my heart swells with an innate loyalty. I feel compelled to sing a stirring 'Hymn of Cassius': 'How can this kindness ever be repaid?'…"

Mantou wiped away his tears with genuine emotion, using his inherently dramatic skills to blend into this uniquely Ashen Empire-style cultural salon. After they finished slathering flattery, they gradually returned to the main topic.

Gazing at the "Heavenly Fire" armor, Singo pondered for a moment before asking, "After equipping this armor, our previous techniques for riding Bipedal Wyverns will likely see significant changes, won't they?"

The Great Goblin nodded slightly, responding earnestly: "Indeed. This armor represents a groundbreaking shift, and the flying techniques evolved from it have diverged greatly from traditional riding skills. However…"

He lowered his head with a chuckle before continuing: "With your talent, mastering this new equipment will be a piece of cake. Although the equipment is cutting-edge, riding a Wyvern is technically now far simpler than before."

Back then, I spent half a year struggling to control a single Bipedal Wyvern and gradually grew into a Wyvern Knight, whereas you did it in just half a day."

"Naturally, this time will be the same."

Singo was supremely confident about this matter.

"Well then, I ask you both to begin your training immediately! I hope you can swiftly complete His Majesty's assignment and eradicate those Orcs entirely!"

The Great Goblin snapped his fingers again, and with a resounding rumble, two enormous iron doors slowly opened.

The view before them suddenly expanded. The sky was a clear azure, cloudless. Beyond this room lay a long, smooth runway designed specifically for Bipedal Wyverns.

The glass display cabinets lining either wall also sprang open. Two brand-new sets of "Heavenly Fire" armor were retrieved and piled before the two of them.

Not only did the Bipedal Wyverns have dazzling armor, but their riders also received matching gear, including a windproof jacket crafted from Dragon Beast Fur and a helmet resembling a motorcycle helmet.

Mantou eagerly donned the helmet, and immediately his vision displayed a translucent screen. It astonishingly showed his current location, with clear markings of multiple red dots on the map. The bottom-right corner presented precise data such as distance, altitude, and wind speed.

The Great Goblin explained, "This helmet is similar to the previous Empire map. You can use it to confirm your position and target location for accurate strikes. Additionally, with the built-in intercom, you can communicate with the Empire's ground crew, access various information, and receive real-time instructions…"

Out on the runway, Mantou waved excitedly, activating the contract embedded in his hand.

"Come out, Noodle!"

"Graaaww—"

With a thunderous roar, the Bipedal Wyvern suddenly appeared in the sky, then descended majestically to the ground amid a whirlwind of dust, looking commanding.

Mantou pointed at the nearby armor, exclaiming enthusiastically: "Noodle, try it on!"

"Graaw?" The Bipedal Wyvern gazed at the strange pile of steel with a puzzled growl. What Mantou considered stylish armor seemed, to Noodle, an enormous cage.

Due to their size and weight, the Bipedal Wyvern species already struggled when it came to flight.

If you added the heavy-looking iron lump on top, its very ability to move would be compromised—let alone flapping its wings and soaring freely through the skies.

Mantou understood the Wyvern's hesitation, promptly stroking its head and running his hand down its neck, speaking soothingly: "Don't worry, Noodle. I won't let you be grounded…"

"Just try it. Who knows, you might end up liking how it feels!"

"Graaw..."

The Bipedal Wyvern let out another growl, nudging its massive head against Mantou's shoulder. Ultimately, though reluctant, it nodded in agreement.

"Hey, ha!"

"A bit more to the left. Yes, slot the wing armor into the groove!"

"Graaw?"

The process of equipping the "Heavenly Fire" armor was extraordinarily intricate. Every step needed precision, akin to assembling an aircraft with a living creature as its skeleton.

Amid heavy panting, several brawny Ogre workers hoisted the components laboriously, matching and fitting them together.

Finally, a Bipedal Wyvern clad in imposing armor emerged before Mantou, resembling a futuristic mechanical beast.

"Damn, that's too cool!"

Mantou dashed forward, hugging the Wyvern's claw and lightly stroking the armor's intricately designed surface, eyes glowing with adoration.

But the Bipedal Wyvern still seemed unaccustomed to it, tilting its head and shaking its body to adjust. As it tried to flap its wings, it realized its movements were restricted by the wing armor, requiring considerable effort to even twitch.

Mantou leaped up, straddling the Wyvern's back. The rider's uniform seamlessly merged with the Wyvern's armor, forming a unified entity.

"This is the emergency brake; this is the jet acceleration; and this…?"

Mantou flipped through the "Skyfire Operation Manual," studying the multitude of buttons and levers on the Wyvern's back, feeling overwhelmed and unfamiliar.

After more than ten minutes of practice, Mantou finally gained some confidence, gripping the control lever in his hands. This sensation was completely different from traditional Wyvern riding.

With anxious anticipation, he spoke into the intercom: "Requesting takeoff. Runway A01, wind speed…"

"Takeoff approved."

Hearing Holan's voice from the intercom, Mantou clutched the Wyvern's neck and gritted his teeth: "Noodle, I'm still unfamiliar with the controls—ah, whatever, let's go!"

"Boom—"

In an instant, jets of gas and flame erupted from the steel pipes behind the Wyvern's wing armor, generating tremendous propulsion. The wheels beside its claws spun furiously, accelerating rapidly until sparks flew from the friction.

"Graaw—"

Noodle let out a frightened roar, unaccustomed to racing across the ground at such breakneck speed.

"Damn, it's so fast…"

The intense pushback sensation left Mantou slightly flustered, but more than anything, exhilarated—he had reached this speed before while riding Wyverns in the past.

Mantou could feel the wind currents growing increasingly fierce around him, the lift beneath the wings strengthening moment by moment until they finally left the ground, ascending off the tilted runway into the bright blue sky.

"Woohoo—takeoff!"