The Intruding Dragon

At a distance of several hundred paces, the orc cavalrymen hurled short spears, drew their bows, and fired at the heavy "tin cans."

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A crisp metallic sound rang out as the arrow struck the Dwarf' fine armor and was instantly deflected.

Keep in mind that these are the most elite cavalry of the High Mountain Kingdom. Even the goats they ride are clad in heavy armor, making them impervious to ordinary arrows.

The Dwarf heavy cavalry did not launch a counterattack; they simply gripped their warhammers in silence, charged forward headfirst, and awaited the close-quarters combat between the two sides.

"Boom--"

In an instant, the Steel Torrent of Dwarf heavy cavalry collided and intertwined with the raging tide of orcish Dire Wolf Cavalry.

"Crush these Dwarf!"

"Slaughter those Longfang bastards!"

To facilitate reconnaissance missions, orc cavalrymen mostly wore light leather armor, or even went shirtless.

The Dwarf, however, were clad in heavy iron armor and wielded warhammers, making them far more powerful than orc cavalry.

In a single encounter, hundreds of orc cavalrymen were crushed flat by leaping goats, and their Worg were trampled to the ground by iron hooves.

Immediately afterwards, the Dwarf, like a solid low wall forged of steel, charged forward relentlessly, crushing all the orc cavalry in their path.

"Crush them!"

Ed raised his warhammer high and brought it down with all his might.

"Boom!

The ground shook violently in front of the Dwarf king, blood and shattered leather armor splattered everywhere, and orcs and Worg were sent flying backwards with howls.

"Orcs!"

"You've messed with the wrong people! We are the Shield Dwarves of the High Mountain Kingdom— "

Ed swung his warhammer again, drawing arcs in the air, and a powerful hurricane suddenly rose up, churning up countless grains of sand and creating a terrifying sandstorm.

"No--"

"Help!"

"Gruumsh, what is this?"

Instantly, hundreds of orcs and Worg around Ed were swept into the sky by the gale. They howled and struggled helplessly, but they were still unable to break free from the binding force.

Meanwhile, the orcs' tattered leather armor, scimitars, and short spears flew through the air in the sandstorm, occasionally tearing their bodies apart.

"Never, ever will we bow down to those filthy orcs! Never!"

With a roar, Ed swung his warhammer down, and everything in mid-air—orcs, Worg, and fragments—suddenly fell to the ground.

The sharp pebbles, like a sudden storm or a falling sword, pinned the remaining orcs to the ground.

The Dwarf heavy cavalry's offensive was exceptionally fierce; they were like a heavy hammer, smashing into the orc cavalry's battle formation and tearing a huge gap in the center.

Ultimately, the Dwarf heavy cavalry numbered only five hundred, while the orcs had nearly ten thousand Dire Wolf Cavalry alone, and hundreds of thousands of other miscellaneous troops.

Soon, the Dwarf heavy cavalry's charge became increasingly slow, and the goat's steps grew heavier.

Often, dozens of orc cavalry would surround several Dwarf heavy cavalry. The Dwarf would swing their warhammers and fight desperately, but they were still somewhat overwhelmed.

Even with their superior equipment and immense strength, they were still somewhat overwhelmed when facing ten times or more enemies.

The resounding horns rang out, the howls of Worg echoed, and orc cavalry harassed the Dwarf on the battlefield from different directions, dividing and encircling them.

"Dirty Longfang, there are just too many of them! Where is the direction of the walls of Avendell Dan? Damn gravel, I can't see!"

The Dwarf heavy cavalryman gripped his warhammer, gritted his teeth, and surveyed his surroundings. The goats beneath him moved erratically, their hooves clattering loudly.

The Worg galloped across the sand, circling the lone Dwarf, raising clouds of dust that made him see only dark shadows moving among them.

Suddenly, a huge black shadow descended from the sky, Dwarf heavy cavalry didn't even have time to turn around.

"Whoosh—"

The bloodstained Double-Headed Axe blade gleamed, and the Dwarf felt a chill in his throat before his head flew into the air.

The goat beneath him cried out in alarm, trying to flee in panic, but was still cut in half by the rapidly spinning Double-Headed Axe thrown by the orc.

The goat dragged its forequarters across the ground, howling in agony. The cut was fairly smooth, with its bloody entrails spilling out onto the ground.

"The Dwarf heavy cavalry is nothing special."

Monk stretched out his hand, spread his five fingers, and the Double-Headed Axe spun and flew over, landing steadily in his hand.

The black Worg beneath him greedily licked the warm blood of the Dwarf and goats on the ground, emitting a pleasant howl.

"Boom!"

Another heavy rumble resounded, and the ground trembled once more.

Monk turned his head to look at the source of the sound, his face darkening.

—The Dwarf swung his warhammer, and dozens of orc cavalrymen plummeted from the sky, crushed into a bloody pulp by the falling rocks, their lives as worthless as grass.

"Ed. Klein, the ruler of the High Mountain Kingdom and king of the Shield Dwarves, is indeed a troublesome fellow."

but"

Monk's voice was deep, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, and a fanatical smile appeared on his fanged, ferocious face.

"He is qualified to be my opponent, and his head will be the most perfect sacrifice I offer to the Father God."

Gruumsh is a god who delights in war and is forever seeking territory for his people, and his followers follow the will of the Father God.

The orc language does not have a word for "peace," but only a guttural curse that roughly means "a temporary cessation of conflict."

"Dwarf! I will take your head and offer it as a sacrifice to the great Father God Gruumsh!"

Monk laughed maniacally as he rode the enormous Black Back Worg toward Ed, his single eye once again gleaming with a crimson light.

Ed also noticed the orc vanguard not far away. He turned around, his expression becoming serious.

As the ruler of the High Mountain Kingdom, he had access to a wealth of intelligence and knew of a type of orc favored by the One-Eyed God.

"This is... the Eye of Gruumsh."

The Dwarf king did not act rashly, but instead gripped his warhammer tightly, preparing to fight and waiting for an opportunity.

"Aww—"

The Worg let out a long, fierce howl, then leaped into the air, while Monk, on the wolf's back, raised his Double-Headed Axe and swung it down vertically.

Ed watched the oncoming orc with a calm gaze, raising his heavy hammer just as the axe blade was about to fall.

"Boom!"

Debris flew everywhere, and sharp rocks rose from the ground, instantly piercing the large Worg, causing blood and internal organs to flow out.

The heavy hammer stood in front of Ed, forcefully blocking the orc's Double-Headed Axe, making a crisp sound.

"Dwarf! Your fortress is about to fall to us! Your kingdom is about to be conquered by us! Your people will become slaves of the orcs!"

Bloodlust surged in Monk's single eye as he swung his giant axe relentlessly, the blood-stained blade raining down like a storm.

"And this time, even the gods cannot protect you! This is the power of Father God Gruumsh!"

Monk's veins bulged, his expression was extremely ferocious, and he exhaled a foul stench as he swung his giant axe with all his might.

"When!"

A crisp metallic sound rang out, and a powerful gust of air spread rapidly, almost stirring up a dust hurricane.

But the steel warhammer still blocked the attack, and the Dwarf king wielding the warhammer didn't even take a step back.

No, you're wrong.

A cold glint shone in his eyes beneath the Ed metal mask, and his voice was unwavering, each word clear and distinct.

"Even if we fight alone, even without the protection of the gods, we Shield Dwarves will drive you back to the north!"

"This is my promise to all my subjects!"

With a roar, Ed strained his hands and swung his Double-Headed Axe at the orc, unleashing unimaginable power from his short but sturdy body.

"Bang!"

Caught off guard, Monk was sent flying backwards along with his battle axe.

The powerful and solid force traveled through the axe handle into his body, causing him to spit out blood and become utterly disheveled.

Suddenly, Monk was in mid-air, had an extremely dangerous premonition. In his single eye, he saw an illusion of an orc being pierced by a sharp stone.

Not good!

Monk felt a chill run down his spine. With his powerful physique, he twisted his body in mid-air.

Just then, a stone spike suddenly rose from the ground, aiming straight for the orc's heart, but he twisted it in mid-air and it grazed past his chest.

Ed followed closely behind, raising his warhammer with both hands and smashing it down on Monk with all his might.

Monk quickly laid his Double-Headed Axe horizontally in front of him, preparing to take the Dwarf's blow head-on.

"Boom!"

The earth trembled again, and dust billowed up, enveloping the battlefield and obscuring everything.

When the smoke cleared, a huge crater nearly ten meters in diameter was visible on the ground, and the battle was still going on in the center of that crater.

Ed held the warhammer, his face contorted with rage, pressing it down relentlessly. A bright yellow light emanated from the warhammer—the power bestowed upon him by the Dwarf God!

"You filthy orc, you monster who lives by killing, you don't deserve to live in this world!"

The orc Monk lay on the ground, his teeth clenched, his face contorted, and bright red blood flowing from his mouth.

Those rough hands trembled slightly, and the handle of the Double-Headed Axe was almost deformed.

"Ahem, Dwarf."

Suddenly, Monk grinned, then shouted in a hoarse voice, "Look me in the eye!"

Ed instinctively looked over, only to find that the murky single eye was once again glowing with a scarlet light.

He'd fallen for their trap! The Dwarf king's expression changed drastically. He felt a chaotic, violent power surging forth, like a bloodthirsty beast about to devour his mind.

"Buzz—"

A sharp, violent roar rang in his ears, and Ed felt as if a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood filled with Dwarf Elf appeared before his eyes.

At the top of that blood-red hill, an incredibly tall orc turned around, a terrifying eerie light emanating from his single remaining eye.

Gruumsh!

He is the One-Eyed God, Gruumsh, the Never-Sleeping One!

Even Ed, who was usually fearless, was now trembling violently, a deep-seated fear weighing on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

It was this brief moment of distraction that caused him to loosen his grip, giving Monk, who was pinned down, an opportunity to knock the warhammer away.

"Go to hell!"

With a savage laugh from the orc, the axe blade tore through the air, carrying endless blood-red light, and cleaved toward the Dwarf king's head.

"When--"

Monk looked terrified as the helmet that had been passed down for thousands of years in the High Mountain Kingdom finally revealed its power.

A familiar figure appeared before Ed: a broad-chested male Dwarf with hair and beard that looked as if they had been carved from gray stone, earth-brown skin, and Silver Fire Eyes.

It was this illusory figure that shielded Ed from this fatal attack.

That was Dumasong, the son of Moradin, the chief god of the Shield Dwarves! And the armor Ed wore was the treasure passed down through the Shield Dwarves for thousands of years— the Earth Secret Treasure! But now, having withstood a fatal blow, a crack had appeared on the helmet.

Ed finally came to his senses. He stared in astonishment at the main god in front of him, then looked at Monk, his eyes burning with rage.

"Filthy orcs!"

Your despicable tactics are futile against Dwarf! Go see Gruumsh!

The Dwarf king swung his warhammer with all his might, aiming straight for the orc's heart, but Monk, with the power of the "Eye of Gruumsh," predicted his attack several times.

Ed's heavy hammer bombarded the enemy relentlessly, while Monk, though not as strong as the Dwarf, was able to dodge and defend himself, resulting in a stalemate between the two.

But with a "crack," the orc's Double-Headed Axe finally gave way under the weight of the warhammer's repeated blows, shattering into pieces that flew everywhere.

Ed leaped high into the air and swung his hammer down, causing several rock spikes to rise up and block all of Monk's escape routes.

"Boom!"

The earth trembled, and the sound was deafening.

Ed's hammer pierced straight through Monk's chest, shattering his heart that flowed with raging blood.

Monk lay flat in the center of the giant pit, breathing barely, but without uttering any screams. His mangled body was covered with horrifying wounds.

During that bloody ritual, he had silently gouged out his own eyes, and now, even with his heart shattering, he didn't utter a sound.

Monk the Maimer is about to die.

Ed pulled the heavy hammer from the ground, stared intently at Monk's single eye, and said in a deep voice, "Orc, this hammer blow is for my people."

Despite his impending death, Monk suddenly burst into laughter, which caused him to cough.

"Hahaha, cough cough Dwarf, you are a strongman."

But do you really think your High Mountain Kingdom can win this war?

Ed's expression changed abruptly, and he looked around anxiously.

Under the siege of orcs covering the mountains and plains, his most elite Dwarf heavy cavalry was almost wiped out. Despite their valiant efforts, they could not change the course of the battle.

The orcs once again crowded in front of the city walls, building ladders and climbing upwards like swarms of ants, gnawing at the Dwarf's fortress.

At this moment, the vanguard of the orcs had already climbed the city walls and were fighting with the Dwarf guards stationed there.

So this was Monk's plan! He was going to risk his life to hold off the powerful "Lord of the High Mountains" and buy time for the orcish army to attack.

"No, no, Avendell Dan will never fall!"

Ed turned pale instantly, sweat beaded on his forehead, and he muttered to himself.

"I will gain eternal life in the kingdom of the Father God! But you, Dwarf, and your people will be slaves of the orcs for all eternity!"

Monk behind him gave a mocking laugh. With his last breath, he called out in a hoarse voice before falling silent.

Ed gritted his teeth, raised his warhammer, and the surrounding rubble coalesced into a giant rock that floated in mid-air.

There's still a chance!

As long as he gives it his all, he will surely be able to turn the tide and defeat the orc army!

"Prostrate yourself before the Never-Sleeping One, tremble with fear."

Just then, a deep, hoarse voice rang out, and several Orc Shaman surrounded him, chanting spells continuously.

Dense black mist emanated from the stark white Bone Staff, gradually coalescing into dozens of chains that bound Ed at the center, rendering him immobile.

"It's Gruumsh again."

Ed was drenched in sweat and trembling all over. Gruumsh's image reappeared before his eyes, crystal clear.

The Dwarf king was grinding his teeth to powder, blood gushing from his mouth. He raised his head, barely managing to maintain his composure.

"Moradin, is the thousand-year foundation of the High Mountain Kingdom and the ten-thousand-year glory of the Shield Dwarves race about to be destroyed by me?"

The sky was overcast and dark, blocking out the sunlight, and terrifying images kept flashing before my eyes.

In the distance, more and more orcs climbed the city walls, and Dwarf guards fell one after another. Even Ed was always as strong as steel, felt a sense of despair at this scene.

Who can save them?

Just then, a loud roar came from the horizon, echoing among the mountains and instantly drowning out all the noise.

"Roar--"

The orcs and Dwarf on the battlefield all looked up and saw a huge golden dragon with shimmering scales appear on the horizon.

The behemoth flapped its wings with a unique wave-like motion, almost as if it were swimming through the air, with flames surging from its gaping maw.

With a crackling sound, a brilliant, raging fire burst forth, tearing apart the gloomy sky.

Is that Golden Dragon?

Gazing at the golden behemoth with its winding form, Ed's expression immediately lit up with joy, and a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes.