Hearing the frost dragon's words, Smaug showed signs of interest.
Yet he hesitated, saying, "But if I agree, my current master will discover it and immediately let the oath backfire on me…"
"That is not a problem! Do not resist. I will now inject some power into your body, temporarily shielding the oath's influence. When we return to Mordor, I will thoroughly lift your oath curse."
The frost dragon approached Smaug, the iron crown rooted on its head radiating powerful dark energy. Contained within was Sauron's power, waiting to inject into Smaug on contact.
But Smaug immediately breathed his strongest dragonfire, blasting the frost dragon with searing flames, especially around its head, engulfing it in burning fire."
Caught off guard, the frost dragon writhed in burning pain, scales melting like ice under the flames.
The iron crown on its head was also scorched red-hot.
Suffering serious injury, the frost dragon screamed, watching the dragonfire spread rapidly. It forced chilling breath continuously to extinguish the flames.
Then it shot an angry glare at the now distant Smaug, "Damn you, Smaug! You dare deceive me? I will make you wish you were dead!"
Smaug did not look back, flying toward Isengard, chuckling to the basilisk around his neck, "Seems even that Dark Lord is not very clever, so easily believing that? Really dumb!"
The basilisk hissed in agreement.
Smaug appeared to understand, replying, "Exactly. I lie on my mountain of gold every day, eating, sleeping with nothing to do. Who would be stupid enough to betray the master and fight for a ghost without flesh?"
Approaching outside Isengard, Smaug spewed dragonfire at encircling Nazgûl, evil dragons, and Saruman.
Herpo on Smaug's head widened his eyes, glaring around.
Working together, many evil dragons were either burned or killed by Herpo's glare.
Great eagle Thorondor swooped down, crushing and tearing evil dragons with sharp claws and beak.
Soon, many evil dragons fell from the sky, their bodies piling on the ground.
Even Nazgûl lost mounts killed by basilisk glare.
Smaug did not linger, continuously breathing fire before diving into the dome as the frost dragon approached.
Other fire dragons followed, blocking enemies outside the dome.
Great eagle Thorondor grabbed another evil dragon, diving into the dome.
Evil dragons were severely harmed passing through the dome, their power waning. Thorondor decisively pecked their heads, tossing them to the ground.
"Master, we are not late, right?" Smaug landed, looking up at Kael.
Herpo rested its eyes, flicking its tongue and hissing softly at Kael.
Thorondor circled the tower protectively, alert to outside enemies.
Kael smiled, shaking his head, "No, you came just in time."
Then, smiling, he asked, "Smaug, Sauron just promised to lift your oath—but you did not accept? Do you not want freedom?"
Thanks to his enhanced hearing, Kael caught the entire conversation between the frost dragon and Smaug.
Smaug carefully glanced at Kael, seeing no anger, then relaxed, promptly pledging loyalty, "Master, rest assured, I will never betray you! I eat well, sleep well, and have my gold mountain to lounge on. What fool would listen to Sauron and work exhaustively for him? Especially when you have a treasure that can make as much gold as you want!"
With Kael's Legilimency talent, Smaug's thoughts were laid bare.
Kael rolled his eyes, "I think that last reason is the real one."
This gold-obsessed foolish dragon had no room in his head beyond treasure.
Exposed, Smaug laughed sheepishly, "Hehe, all the same! I, Smaug, will never betray you, Master!"
After joking with Smaug, the atmosphere inside the dome lightened slightly.
But no time for respite—the angry frost dragon breathed extreme cold at the dome, quickly freezing its surface.
Saruman chanted spells, summoning lightning to strike the dome.
Nazgûl unleashed dark magic to attack and try to destroy the dome.
Under this intense coordinated attack, the dome cracked like shattering ice, fissures spreading fast. Despite Kael's full efforts, the dome's cracks grew until the dome shattered and fragmented.
"Kael, hand over your creation—the gemstone!" the frost dragon glared greedily.
"I know your teleportation magic, but do not try to run or call for help. Not only are Gondor and Rohan under attack, but the elven realms of Lórien and Rivendell are also disturbed by my forces. They have no time to rescue you."
Hearing Lórien and Rivendell were attacked shocked Kael.
But he quickly calmed, knowing Galadriel and Celeborn guarded Lórien, Elrond and Glorfindel watched Rivendell. Even if Sauron sent troops, no disasters would befall them.
But thinking of Sauron's meticulous plot to capture the Philosopher's Stone, Kael's mood darkened.
He looked at the frost dragon, took out the Philosopher's Stone, waving it playfully, "Sauron, you want to restore your body with the Stone?"
Greed blazed in the frost dragon's eyes, "Since you guessed it, hand it over obediently. For the Stone's sake, I might spare your life!"
Amid the frost dragon's greedy gaze, Kael cast a Portkey spell on the Stone, causing it to vanish suddenly from his hand.
The frost dragon furiously demanded, "Where did it go? Where did you hide it?"
Kael gave no answer and immediately attacked.
"Avada Kedavra!"
The frost dragon reacted quickly, exhaling a wall of ice blocking the killing curse.
The ice wall shattered on impact.
"Kael, you have angered me! I once admired you and planned to make you my most trusted, but now I have changed my mind. I will kill you and imprison your soul to suffer eternal hellfire!"
"Kael, you have angered me! I once held you in high regard and meant to make you my most trusted, but now my mind is changed. I will slay you and bind your soul to eternal torment in hellfire!"
The frost dragon angrily breathed extreme cold.
Kael swiftly apparated away from the cold attack, appearing on an evil dragon's back. His Flame Sword flashed as he slashed the dragon's slender neck.
Fiery blade sharp as a razor, effortlessly severed the evil dragon's neck.
Wind blades and blazing fire from the sword cut deeper, leaving burn marks.
The evil dragon wailed in pain, its neck falling in two, plummeting from the sky.
Just before falling, Kael disappeared from its back, appearing atop another evil dragon.
But before he could strike, the frost dragon breathed cold at him.
Kael sharply inhaled; the Ring of Power instantly formed a shield blocking the cold. Before being frozen, he apparated away.
The unlucky evil dragon was not slain by Kael but frozen solid and fell.
Next, Kael appeared on the frost dragon's back. Before moving, the dragon flipped midair, appearing under Kael, snapping its jaws.
Just before being bitten, Kael apparated away, appearing on the ground.
While Kael tangled with the frost dragon, Smaug locked in combat with Saruman. With the basilisk's help, Saruman dared not open his eyes, granting Smaug and Herpo the upper hand.
Thorondor, Aslan, and Cerberus hunted the Nazgûl and evil dragons.
Thorondor's wingspan now reached fifty meters, larger than evil dragons, effortlessly chasing them down.
Aslan flew nimbly, harassing foes and moving between evil dragons and Nazgûl.
Cerberus spewed fire and poison, battling mounted Nazgûl that had lost their dragons.
Isengard became a battlefield.
The frost dragon's terrifying power made Kael avoid direct confrontation, relying on apparition to entangle it while fending off Nazgûl attacks.
Under the frost dragon's rampant cold assaults, Isengard seemed plunged into winter. Orthanc Tower was frozen.
Surrounding temperatures dropped below zero.
Then came the sound of hippogriff-riding Dunlendings returning.
Among them was King Théngel of Rohan.
Seeing the fierce state at Isengard, Dunlendings and Rohirrim gasped.
They wondered if they were fit for such a war.
But regardless, having come, retreat was impossible.
They immediately opened their space boxes, releasing Dunlending warriors and Rohirrim cavalry.
Kael frowned in surprise.
Why had they returned so quickly—and bringing Rohirrim cavalry?
Their arrival did not bring joy but foreboded trouble.
Were they merely cannon fodder?
"For Isengard! For Lord Kael!" Chief Brog shouted, rallying the Dunlendings.
They all shot arrows at the frost dragon, Saruman, Nazgûl, and evil dragons.
But the densely packed arrows could not pierce dragon scales—not even tickle them.
Saruman and Nazgûl were even less affected.
This failed not only to harm enemies but also drew the frost dragon's attention.
The frost dragon gave a disdainful look, like seeing ants, and breathed cold at Dunlendings and Rohirrim.
It merely swept away pesky insects.
Faced with the terrifying cold, Dunlendings and Rohirrim showed panic and despair.
But the next second, Kael appeared instantly before them, raising a huge shield blocking the cold assault.
Though Kael's shield stopped the cold, everyone still felt bone-chilling cold.