Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 858 - 799: Super Double

"The God of Betrayal descends upon the Black Dragon Tribe, and the Heart Snatcher is annihilated."

General Marshim repeated the intelligence report and stood by the collapsed steel gate, gazing into the molten lava light that framed Mackenbert. The blades left shallow marks on the steel, and the folded scythe-like forelimbs seemed to pray for the unfortunate allies. The battle between the Flame Diggers Beetle Swarm and the Molten Dwarves had escalated, and General Marshim led his people to capture the gate unexpectedly, firmly establishing a foothold above the great furnace.

The Flame Diggers were gigantic beetles with spherical shells as hard as steel, immune to blunt weapon impacts beyond slight dents. Due to the needs of the swarm, the Flame Diggers evolved resistance to both fire and rock. They could absorb geothermal energy to grow rapidly, thus forming an army to contend with the Red Dragon Tribe. Unlike the Heart Snatcher swarm, the Flame Diggers were fully frontal troops. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

When the war drums sounded, there was no silence to speak of.

Sounds of flapping wings, shouts, clashing metal, and bodies being sliced or flattened fell into the lava, igniting brighter flames.

A day and night later, the Flame Diggers Beetle Swarm entered the city district only to be pushed back by steel combat vehicles emerging from the workshops. A back-and-forth battle unfolded in Mackenbert, a city without night, with both sides acting like tireless machines. At least Marshim’s troop deployment and the command of King Visergg Firehammer had no major flaws.

The Flame Diggers had tried flank attacks, death drops from above, and even clumsy burrowing tactics, but they were all staunchly repelled by the relentless Dwarves. Directions where humanoids could not stand were guarded by Blazing Flame Elementals, airborne units faced city defense cannons and flying Flame Hammers. As for burrowing, Marshim had to admit it was a fool’s command; a suicidal order given in a moment of irrationality.

Mackenbert was made of steel, including its floors. Soldiers strictly following the burrowing tactics were exhausted when they pierced through the steel plates and were slaughtered by the Red Dragon Warlord. The searing molten metal recirculating in the tunnels instantly erased their trenches, along with the legs of those unable to escape.

Marshim was waiting for an opportunity, convinced that the opposing commander was too.

"General, the Worm Mother has laid the last three thousand eggs. In Mackenbert’s thermal energy, an hour is enough for our larvae to rapidly mature," the messenger’s voice was dry and rigid, a faint scent of human emotions—sorrow—lingering in the opening and closing mandibles.

Marshim bowed his head, his closed scythe-like limbs slightly opening, his wing cases vibrating, the rapid noise acting like an exciter for the swarm.

"Is the Worm Mother taken care of?"

"In compliance with orders, the body has been torn apart, and the ritual set up."

General Marshim took to the air, fully spreading his scythe limbs, his massive body bathed in golden hues from the firelight as he dove toward the Dwarf army’s technicians. Shells and hammers bounced off his carapace, facing the flames; the Worm Mother’s last words echoed in his mind through the swarm network.

[General Marshim, you are the Worm Man catalyzed by a past failure. The failed swarm has been abandoned by the great God, so rely on the anomalies granted by God to seize back His mercy.]

The bombardment hit the cumbersome combat vehicles, General Marshim spun his scythe blades dancing, fragments and scrap metal splattering over his body. He roared, the embodiment of rage bringing the sealed sorrows of the Sleepers into reality, along with the past humiliations of the Flame Diggers.

[Deprived of God’s gaze, we have no future! But that does not prevent us from building tombstones over your bones! The destiny of the Flame Diggers will be fulfilled here.]

"Soldiers, charge!"

Inspired by their leader, the Flame Diggers lowered their heads, pushing their hard forehead horns at the embroiled Dwarf Warriors, who dodged with nimble steps and jumps. But no matter, obeying their instinct to ram, the Flame Diggers’ horns hooked onto the Dwarves’ armor and weapons, lifting enemies off their feet like wrestlers using focused strength, not waiting for the airborne Dwarves to land. This multi-legged war machines charged through the gaps created in the arena, the collective assault of the swarm unstoppable. No Dwarf could withstand this wave of insects, and the discarded metal machinery lying in the road were also knocked aside by the beetles’ immense force, their eyes fixed solely on General Marshim deep within the enemy lines, carving a breach in the Dwarves’ defensive line, enduring the swarm’s trampling, the armor nearly flattened into iron discs as the Red Dragon Warlord stood up, could only watch the departing wall of beetles.

The exquisite beard was already disheveled in the struggle, coal dust and crusted scars mixing together, the body aching all over, cursing hoarsely, the stance with the hammer looking like leaning on a walking stick.

"Fire Hammer above, by Grandfather Goatbeard, plan failed, initiate backup plan." The Red Dragon Warlord kicked the messenger lying beside him like a dead pig, whose fallen Dwarf-mail was cleaved in two, the fiery wound growing red flesh. Not long ago, his chest had been concave, and if the Red Dragon Warlord hadn’t given him a hammer blow, he would be having difficulty speaking now.

"What’s the order for, His Majesty isn’t blind. He already started." Before the words ended, the entire iron bridge began to tremble, the only connection between Mackenbert and the outside world, a steel bridge capable of allowing four chariots to run abreast, suddenly began to wobble. Affected not only was the Dwarf defense line that stayed in the middle and got washed away but also the advancing swarm of insects. The moment the swarm broke through the defense line, Visergg changed the orders.

"This is our kingdom, insects." The King of the Dwarves took a deep look at General Marshim, who was leading from the front, mounting his own goat, "Lower Frafa Bridge’s ropes, if not cut them down, charge? Mackenbert only allows the hoof prints of goats. Warriors of the fiery slag, once more, for the Red Dragon!" Jumping down from the plaza tribune, the Dwarf goat cavalry maneuvered smoothly through the complex streets, finally converging in the streets, accelerating toward the held General Marshim, seemingly to meet the insect army at him as the intersection.

The bridge rapidly slid down, separated steel plates plunging straight into the magma, the Dwarves cut the ropes, and the rampaging swarm of insects about to charge into the district encountered a five-meter height difference with the city road. Of course, they could jump it easily especially with a running start and moreover, they had wings, they could fly. But the Dwarves chose this critical moment of their charge to lower the drawbridge, essentially raising deadly roadblocks on a highway. Jump it, and they lose their acceleration facing the speeding goats of the Dwarves; take flight, and become live targets. Worse, because of the descent of the drawbridge, the rear line held by General Marshim turned into a cliff edge, if the swarm didn’t assist, their general would face a desperate battle, meeting an entire force of goat cavalry.

In an extremely uncomfortable state, the beachhead landing swarm collided with the elite cavalry of the Dwarves, the elderly warriors of the fiery slag significantly increased the battle pressure on General Marshim. With forelimbs splitting the King of Dwarves’ Fire Hammer, the hooves of that horned beast sparked on his own shell, General Marshim kicked out blade-like legs, sweeping away a Red Dragon Warlord along with his goat.

"To disregard the lives of subordinates, I thought this awakening was unique to my species," the General remarked appreciatively, the number of Dwarf warriors who stayed on the sinking drawbridge wasn’t small, they did not have wings. It was evident the Dwarf King’s decisive sacrifice for victory was to his liking.

"To compare the warriors of the Fire Hammer with you is an insult to them." Visergg retaliated with his heavy hammer, clad in armor, his woolly royal robe embroidered with gold lanes had been exhausted in the first round flurry. "Not only insects can fly." The goat cavalry retreated while fighting, giving the air-dropped Fire Diggers enough space to endure the aerial bombardment.

"Fire!!!" The burning Dwarf screamed as he descended from the sky, riding a Blazing Flame Elemental, clutching a Magma Bomb smashing into the insect swarm. Those Dwarves who fell with the bridge did not give up; instead, they coordinated with the responding Flame Elementals, becoming bombers. The fearlessly daring Dwarves disrupted the formation of the swarm; Magma Bombs from the Flame Elementals blossomed everywhere, endured by the Fire Diggers, both the King of the Dwarves and the Red Dragon Priest witnessed it all.

"Our warriors are nearly exhausted." Red Dragon Priest Freheimer was well aware of the terrifying resistance of the Fire Diggers, even though currently in a sorry state, such an attack would not decide the outcome. The Dwarves needed a greater power, more spirited morale, fortunately, everything was prepared.

The flame portal linking to the distant Dragon’s Nest was finally complete.

The Dragon King Sacrifice had brought different trends into each dragon family; the Black Dragon’s mass "festivities," the Green Dragon’s virtual games, and the Red Dragon’s idol fervor. Without idols, the Dwarves couldn’t get excited. The Dwarves would win but needed inspiration, their tired spirits needed nourishment, all the Molten Dwarves were longing for their warrior goddess.

"Although Imelt should be dealing with the White Dragon’s injuries, now at this critical moment, she will surely respond to the call of her kin."

The Red Dragon Priest chanted the spell, the red glow around the portal overpowering everything.

"Blood of the Molten Fire, Body forged a hundred times, descend, guardian of the Dwarves, descend, life and flame!"

The portal responded, a peerless pressure stunning everyone’s spirits.

The Red Dragon Priest’s expression turned odd, if possible, he even wanted to leave sweat behind.

"The Red Dragon Queen has not answered us..."

"The one who has answered us is the Father of All Dragons, the Devourer Yemotar!"

The irascible old father stepped through the portal, at his daughter’s plea, prepared to meet that cur messing with his precious treasure.

"Damn bugs, your old man is here!"