Chapter 762

Chapter 762

I suppose I’ll have to do it that way. (3)

Other mercenaries couldn’t use the metal rods.

It was because they couldn’t withstand the recoil of mana that surged through the rods.

“Hurry!”

Julien clenched his teeth and received a new metal rod from his comrade.

He extended the rod again to block the advance of the monsters.

Kwaaaang!

He wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. Only a few rods remained.

And the more he used them, the more Julien’s speed was being sapped.

Julien shouted toward the dwarves.

“Quickly, go to the royal fortress! All the dwarf warriors will be gathering there! If you fight here now, you’ll end up dead for nothing!”

“B-but…”

“It’s the king’s command! His Majesty himself sent us here!”

Julien deliberately lied. It was a time when action mattered more than the truth.

Fortunately, the dwarves understood what Julien was really saying: that fighting here was nothing but a futile death.

“You all heard him? We’re heading to the royal fortress!”

“Gather all the warriors and residents in the settlements along the way as well! We have to join forces and fight near the fortress!”

“Don’t worry! You get back too!”

They immediately turned their direction.

This was the outermost of the dwarf settlements. If they could persuade the dwarves in the other settlements, they would be able to move even faster.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaang!

Julien remained with the mercenaries to keep blocking the enemy’s advance.

From the metal rods, lightning magic of the 7th Circle was pouring out in torrents.

Ghislain was also pouring out the mana he had gathered over several days through the mana concentration array without holding back.

But the limits of the metal rods were clear. Julien and the mercenaries slowly retreated, conserving their spells.

Their goal wasn’t victory but to buy as much time as possible.

The priest of the Salvation Church glared with eyes blazing in fury.

“Those bastards…”

Their plan had been simple: to launch surprise attacks from the outskirts and reduce the number of dwarf warriors.

But the plan had gone wrong from the start. Some unknown people had appeared out of nowhere and were pouring out powerful magic to block their advance.

They hadn’t managed to kill many dwarves. Before they could even approach properly, everyone had fled.

They had chased them persistently, but every time, the sudden blasts of magic had stopped them in their tracks.

The priest gnashed his teeth. If not for those people, the dwarves in this area would have already been wiped out.

However, the priest soon composed himself.

“It’s fine. This wasn’t the only target.”

Simultaneous surprise attacks were already underway all over Valskrum. This was merely one of them.

Although they hadn’t inflicted major casualties, the chaos had already begun.

“Now that we’ve entered Valskrum, victory will be ours in the end.”

Even if the dwarves gathered together, it would be useless. All they would achieve was dragging out their resistance a little longer.

After all, there were two Prophets here.

The priest began advancing again together with the Black Mages.

In any case, their ultimate destination was the royal fortress.

Kuuung! Kuuung! Kuuung!

Within the black smoke, countless undead and chimeras were writhing.

* * *

“Those bastards are really persistent.”

The ruler of Valskrum, Guardian of the Iron Fortress, the one who wielded the Thunder Axe, master of the Twelve Forges, Father of Hammers and Warriors...

Grondal, the King of the great dwarves who held so many titles.

He was now leaning against his throne, raising a cup with an expression full of irritation.

He had heard the news that the Pope’s envoys had arrived. He already knew well why they had come.

So, he had refused to meet them. Even after they requested an audience for days and days, he turned them away.

At this point, they should have taken the hint and left, but instead, they had rented out an entire lodging and settled in.

“Were humans always this thick-skinned? I thought they were a race quick to pick up on such things.”

At his words, the other dwarves burst out laughing.

“From their perspective, going back empty-handed must be difficult.”

“If they return without anything, won’t the Pope have their heads? I heard they were mercenaries.”

“If they’re mercenaries, it’s even easier to kill them! Looks like the Pope just grabbed any stray dogs to send here!”

“Humans slaughter each other senselessly because of that so-called authority of theirs! Puahahaha!”

The dwarves roared with laughter.

Unlike humans, they all spoke and laughed freely before their king without reservation.

That was the way of the dwarves. They recognized the king’s authority, but never bowed their heads servilely.

It was how dwarves, wrapped in pride from head to toe, lived.

In the first place, unlike the elves, the reason they even set up a king was merely because they had borrowed the human system to some extent.

To develop and expand, they needed their own form of structure.

After all the laughter, Grondal let out a small chuckle.

“What did those bastards say again? That the Salvation Church and the Black Mages would attack this place?”

“Yes, they said that even if you wouldn’t meet them, you should at least summon every warrior and maintain battle readiness.”

“Humans, that’s always their problem. Thinking they’re something special and meddling in everyone else’s business. That’s why they can never stop warring among themselves.”

At Grondal’s words, the other dwarves all nodded in agreement.

“What do they take this Valskrum for, to spout such nonsense? Mere humans daring to worry about Valskrum?”

“Those wretches didn’t even march out of the Demonic Abyss with a proper army. What do they think they can do against this city?”

“Will the Salvation Church bastards collapse from exhaustion halfway up the mountain?”

“Wahahaha! Indeed, this mountain range is too harsh for such frail creatures to climb!”

The dwarves laughed warmly as they scorned the Salvation Church and Julien’s mercenaries.

It was understandable. They held boundless pride and confidence in this Valskrum.

While they were drinking, laughing, and talking for some time, a dwarf burst through the door roughly as if breaking it down.

Grondal let out a burp as he spoke.

“Urgh, what’s this? Can we try to keep things a bit proper, eh?”

Drunk from the drink and chatter, Grondal suddenly stopped speaking.

The dwarf who had entered looked utterly filthy beyond description.

“What is it? What happened?”

“A-a raid!”

“…A what?”

“A raid! A raid! The Salvation Church bastards have finally crossed the fortress walls!”

Grondal felt as if all the alcohol evaporated in an instant. Blinking, he asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Th-the Black Mages and the Salvation Church’s high priests have launched attacks all over! Chimeras and undead have come swarming from the sky, and a giant sandworm burst out of the ground! Monsters are pouring in through that hole too!”

Grondal’s eyes widened at the unbelievable report.

The six dwarves standing beside him were the same.

They had thoroughly prepared defenses against enemies attacking from the sky. They were confident they could stop even thousands of monsters. And yet, they had still been assaulted.

But even harder to believe was the claim that they had burrowed up from underground. How in the world had they broken through that solid bedrock?

But there was no time to argue about it now. Judging by the expression on the reporting dwarf’s face, the situation was grave.

“Those bastards… how dare they…”

Grondal ground his teeth and seized the weapon he had left at his side.

It was a massive, long halberd.

He dragged the halberd, many times larger than his own body, and walked outside.

Outside the fortress was chaos.

The dwarves were crowded together, many still unable to grasp what was happening, mixed with dwarves arriving from other districts.

Everyone looked lost in confusion. No one had ever imagined that Valskrum would be attacked.

Seeing them like that, Grondal struck his halberd hard against the ground.

Kuuuuung!

A huge wave of force spread wide.

The dwarves’ gazes all turned to Grondal.

With a fierce expression, Grondal shouted in a booming voice.

“Pull yourselves together! If the enemy is inside, then you fight them! What’s the problem!”

At those words, the dwarves gradually began regaining their composure.

Yes, wasn’t it enough to just fight?

Soon, everyone’s faces filled with fighting spirit as they began preparing their weapons.

Grondal shouted swiftly.

“Spread the word! Summon every warrior! Evacuate the elderly and the young in the residential districts at once!”

All dwarves were warriors.

If they gathered everyone, it would become an immense fighting force.

Grondal was confident of that.

But the news that came next was not good.

“The outer settlements are being attacked first!”

“They’ve struck from all directions!”

“We must send reinforcements immediately!”

Grondal’s eyes twitched. His mind began to race.

‘Those bastards… are they aiming for defeat in detail?’

Defeat in detail was no simple matter.

If they lacked the strength, they could be beaten back instead.

And yet, for them to split up and attack so many places at once…

‘There must be Transcendent high priests among them!’

If chimeras and undead had swarmed in, it was obvious without even seeing that many Black Mages were present.

And if Transcendents were among them as well, they were bound to suffer great losses.

The dwarves in the residential areas who hadn’t yet received the news would fight without even knowing the enemy’s strength and die pointlessly.

“We have to send reinforcements at once…”

Grondal began to speak, then paused.

What if even this reaction was exactly what the enemy wanted?

To help the settlements already under attack, the warriors would have to split up and scatter.

And if, in that state, the true main force struck here…

If he died, the entire dwarf race itself could come to an end.

The Eternal Forge and the Guardian Stone could also fall into enemy hands or be destroyed.

Realizing the situation, Grondal opened his eyes wide and spoke.

“All warriors will remain here and wait! Only a few will go to the settlements to deliver the message, tell everyone to gather here at once!”

They must not be led around by the enemy’s tactics.

If they kept reacting blindly, defeat was inevitable.

Several dwarves nodded gravely.

They too understood the reality of the situation now.

In the end, most of the outer settlements would be destroyed, and countless dwarves would die.

But there was no choice. Even if those dwarves sacrificed themselves, the warriors from the inner settlements had to gather here.

Grondal pressed his forehead and quietly closed his eyes.

“…I underestimated those humans far too much.”

Julien’s mercenaries had clearly warned them.

They had said the Salvation Church would attack.

Yet he, along with every dwarf here, had ignored that warning.

He regretted it bitterly.

He should have at least met them and listened to what they had to say.

Even if everyone else dismissed it, he shouldn’t have.

A king was meant to look out for everything.

In the end, it was the dwarves’ arrogance that had created this crisis.

Kuuung!

Grondal’s halberd struck the earth again with a deep reverberation.

He slowly opened his eyes and murmured.

“I will repay my mistake with my own blood.”

Even if it cost his life, he would protect this fortress and save his people.

That was the final duty he bore as king.

Grondal, exuding a fierce determination, spoke to the dwarf beside him.

“Bring Julien’s mercenary corps here. With respect.”

Perhaps they had already fled.

Still, if by any chance they were still here, he had to apologize for ignoring their warning.

And if it looked like Valskrum would fall…

He intended to entrust the Guardian Stone to them and help them escape.

That would be better than letting the Salvation Church seize or destroy it.

But before that thought could even fade—

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

The dwarves gathered in the royal fortress erupted in cheers.

Beyond the castle gates, dwarves were pouring in from many directions across Valskrum.

Grondal looked bewildered.

The dwarves from other settlements had gathered far faster than he had ever expected.

“What… what is this? Has word already spread? How?”

It made no sense. It should have been impossible for them to grasp the situation and mobilize so quickly.

The dwarves who had gathered from all directions began shouting loudly.

“The Shield of Durankaz! Bolum has come!”

“The Iron Hammer of Brunahn! Cordin has come!”

“We have all come at the king’s summons to fight the enemy!”

The number of dwarf warriors kept growing. Each one raised their weapon, proclaiming the place they had come from.

To those who looked bewildered, they called out again.

“Julien’s mercenary corps delivered the message!”

“They are holding back the enemy even now, buying us time!”

“They told us to gather here! To stand with the king and fight the enemy!”

Grondal felt as if a hammer had struck him in the chest.

He had dismissed Julien’s mercenary corps. And yet, they had not given up, but instead risked themselves to buy this precious time.

He was ashamed. He had been drunk on arrogance, unable to see what kind of people they were. He truly had no eye for judging character.

Suddenly, Grondal began to laugh, a rough, booming laugh.

“Hahahahaha! Yes! Incredible! Truly incredible men! No wonder the Pope trusted them enough to send them!”

It was truly a remarkable feat. For a mere mercenary corps to accomplish so much.

He still didn’t know how exactly they were holding the enemy back. But what mattered was that they had done it. That they had brought hope.

Of course, not all the settlements had made it here. From a quick look, it was clear that the dwarves coming from some directions were far fewer. Only those from settlements near the royal fortress had arrived.

Julien’s company couldn’t possibly have held back all the enemy forces in every place. The settlements with fewer survivors had probably already been wiped out in battle, or were still fighting now.

There was no helping it. Even gathering this many was something to be grateful for.

‘What we must do now… is not let this chance slip away.’

Grondal shouted in a loud voice.

“Everyone, listen! The enemy is converging here! Today, on this land, the final battlefield will open!”

The warriors fell silent, all gazing at Grondal.

Kuuung!

He struck the halberd against the ground again.

“Even if we all die, we must wipe out the invaders who have come here! The Demonic Abyss has already awakened! But if we buy time with our blood! Our brothers in other regions will be able to finish their preparations to face it!”

Goooooo…

Kuuung! Kuuung! Kuuung!

In the distance, the monstrous army was visible, advancing while crushing everything before them.

Flames were raging on all sides, and smoke was covering the sky.

Grondal shouted, his voice like blood pouring from his chest.

“The flames are rising! Steel will be tempered in the fire!”

At his cry, the dwarves roared back in unison.

“Steel is forged in the fire!”

“Today will not be our death!”

“We will be tempered anew!”

A dwarf blacksmith raised a huge hammer and struck it hard against the anvil at the center of the fortress.

Kaang!

That sound was the signal.

The dwarves all took their positions, forming defensive lines and advancing step by step.

Kaang! Kaang! Kaang!

Kuuung! Kuuung! Kuuung!

With every beat of the forge’s hammer, the dwarves stamped their feet, and all of Valskrum seemed to echo in answer.

The flames were blazing furiously in every direction. But the dwarves’ eyes burned even hotter as they glared forward.

Grondal looked upon them with a proud expression.

The warriors gathered here would not spare their lives, but would crush the enemy.

Standing tall, he lifted his gaze.

Saaaak…

A cold darkness was gathering.

A darkness that had arrived even faster than any of the other enemies.

The darkness spread out like a pale fog, carrying an overwhelming presence.

The moment Grondal saw it, he knew instinctively.

No other warrior here could face that darkness. Only he could stand against it.

“I will be the one to kill you. You worthless bastard.”

Drrrk!

Grondal clenched his halberd tightly.

As he gathered his strength, the earth trembled.

Paaaah!

The darkness swiftly took a complete form.

The one who appeared was a middle-aged man with a powerful aura, clad in a black robe.

It was Tagmah, Prophet of the Salvation Church.

When he stretched out his hand, a torrent of darkness burst toward Grondal.

At the same time, Grondal leapt into the air.

The enormous halberd he swung split the darkness apart in a single stroke.

Kwaaaaaang!