Can This Thing Really Be Eaten?

After the loud bang, Gandalf felt a chill run down his spine. Had he known this would happen, he would have preferred the Ogres to continue roaring and howling, rather than this deafening explosion.

The Orcs trembled, exchanging horrified glances. Suddenly, someone let out a strange cry, and they scattered like a tide, leaving behind a field of corpses.

"Master Russell, you've scared them away."

Gimli praised him, and the others echoed his sentiments. Because Russell had helped improve their strength, everyone was grateful and never hesitated to offer praise.

"Haha, it's the result of everyone's joint efforts, I can't take all the credit." Russell said modestly. Although it was indeed true, he was used to being low-key and wouldn't take credit for himself without declining the credit a few times.

"No, the Orcs left because an even more terrifying creature has arrived..." Gandalf closed his eyes to sense, a bitter smile on his face, thinking to himself that he would be tricked to death by Russell sooner or later.

Hmm, it might be today!

Everyone was puzzled and about to ask a question when they heard a deep, angry roar.

"Roar roar roar————"

Behind the palace, in the direction they had come from, the firelight flickered, the dark red flames growing ever brighter. The moisture in the air evaporated instantly, and a wave of intense heat washed over them. A chill ran through them, and a strong sense of fear arose involuntarily.

Sparks drifted in the air as Gandalf raised his staff, bathing the area in light that kept out the intense heat.

"It's Balrog. We're no match for him. Let's get out of here." Gandalf tapped his staff lightly, rousing the group from their daze, and prepared to lead them across the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

Without a word, everyone turned and ran, but after a couple of steps, they realized that one person was missing from the group. Turning around, they saw Russell standing still, holding Adamantium Blade.

"Russell?"

"They can't escape; someone has to stay behind to cover the rear," Russell replied casually.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed drastically. The Balrog was a demon from the abyss in ancient times, an enemy of the gods. Even if Russell could resist the temptation of the One Ring, he could not possibly defeat such a terrifying opponent.

"No, we'll go together. I don't agree to you staying behind to cover the rear." Aragorn said decisively. The others nodded in agreement. Although they hadn't known each other for long and their friendship wasn't deep, they could only say they couldn't leave their comrade behind.

"Aragorn, lead them. Russell and I will stay behind to fight the Balrog!" Gandalf looked deeply at Aragorn, the trust in his eyes making it impossible for the latter to refuse.

"Gandalf, do you want us to desert?" Legolas and Gimli said in unison, gripping their weapons tightly as if to demonstrate their resolve.

"Swords cannot harm the Balrog, and there's no point in you staying. Protect the Ring; Russell and I can defeat the Balrog." Gandalf's words were firm and blunt. "Get out of here now, and don't distract Russell and me."

Aragorn waved his hand and pulled the group away, saying before they left, "Gandalf, Russell, we'll be waiting for you up ahead. You must come back."

As the others departed, Russell and Gandalf stood side by side.

Gandalf, his usual kind face gone, was now extremely grave, staff in one hand and longsword in the other. "Russell, what is your most powerful magic?"

"The most powerful magic... is probably transformation, turning into the enemy's appearance," Russell replied seriously. Using Character Card is indeed a form of transformation magic.

I wonder if the Balrog can trigger a lottery. If it can, the scene of two Balrog fighting each other would be quite interesting.

"Transformation..."

Gandalf, recalling Russell's disguise as Ringwraiths, took a deep breath. "I'll lead the attack, and you can use your lightning to assist. Even if we can't kill him, we can at least repel him."

Gandalf knew the origins of the Balrog; they were minions of Morgoth, the Dark Lord, and like him, they were Maiar, after their fall, transformed into Balrog.

The gods attacked Morgoth, destroying his body and casting his soul into the void. Balrog, however, deserted in the final battle and buried himself beneath the mountains.

The dwarves were simply unlucky; they dug too deep and unearthed the Balrog, resulting in the deaths of two dwarf kings.

The thunderous footsteps sounded like drums, the surrounding air grew increasingly hot, thick black smoke billowed through the passage, and blurry black shadows flashed by.

"Roar roar roar————"

A pair of jet-black hands covered in blazing red patterns reached out and tore the passage apart with a deafening roar. A gigantic monster, enveloped in raging flames, appeared before the two.

The blazing red light illuminated the hall as if it were daytime, but although the firelight was bright, it lacked the warmth of Gandalf's Illumination Spell; the thick aura of death leaned more towards darkness.

[Bite]

[The host has come into contact with the story character, the Balrog, triggering Lottery Draw. Two draws are granted. Do you wish to draw now?]

Russell narrowed his eyes, his Magic Power now accustomed to the firelight before him, and scrutinized the Balrog's appearance, looking for any... cough cough, to find his weakness.

The Balrog has black demonic ram horns on its head, and its body resembles a flaming rock, devoid of flesh and skin. Its facial features are indistinct, with flames erupting from its mouth, nose, and eyes, while black ash rises and forms flowing mane on its shoulders and back. It possesses black skeletal bat wings on its back, with raging flames forming wings that blot out the sky.

A long tail resembling a giant dragon swayed behind it, and its entire body constantly exuded a scorching and terrifying aura, giving people immense pressure and shock.

The dwarves' palace was magnificent, but compared to the Balrog, it seemed like a low, flat building. As the Balrog walked, he snapped the pillars in half, sending large shards of stone flying. Before they could even touch him, they were melted into ashes by the intense heat.

As the Balrog drew closer, Gandalf felt an unbearable heat; the intense heat assaulted his face, distorting the very air. With each breath, his internal organs felt like they were being burned, and only by enhancing his Illumination Spell did he feel somewhat better.

"Russell, the Balrog's flames are imbued with a strong dark power. Be careful not to be harmed by his flames," Gandalf said solemnly, his longsword now covered with a layer of biting frost.

"Russell?"

Seeing that Russell did not respond, Gandalf hurriedly looked at him, fearing that he had lost his fighting spirit before the battle even began.

Upon seeing this, I felt terrible.

Russell looked the Balrog up and down, his expression somewhat dazed, and muttered to himself with his mouth agape, "This thing... can it really be eaten?"

Gandalf: "..."

Gandalf shuddered, feeling he must have gone mad, having just seriously considered Russell's question and pondered the taste of the Balrog.

Heaven have mercy, he and the Balrog are of the same race!

"Ah..."

Gandalf shouted, dispelling the evil thoughts in his mind, and dared not linger near Russell. He raised his staff high, startling the Balrog and forcing him back, then raised his longsword horizontally, leaped into the air, and brought it down heavily.

Thanks to the generous donation from the guild leader 'Fighting Specialist Doctor', I'll be adding extra chapters over the next two days.