Chapter 1867: Chapter 1261: Problem Solved (Starting Today, Playing Shin Megami Tensei V)
The next day, Marshal Reginald arrived at the hotel where Duanmu Huai and the others were staying early in the morning – well, fortunately, he was fast enough, because if he had been a little later, Duanmu Huai would have checked out and gone to Ahn’Qiraj.
“Blackrock Spire?”
Looking at Reginald in front of him, Duanmu Huai was somewhat surprised. Of course, he recognized that this warrior was the guy who had clashed with the Black Dragon yesterday. But this guy was coming to him early in the morning, talking about Blackrock Spire, Dragonkin, and Black Dragon conspiracy… Is this morning talk?
I haven’t even brushed my teeth!
“So you want us to go with you to investigate Blackrock Spire, right?”
Duanmu Huai stopped Reginald’s words as he felt groggy. In the morning, all he wanted was a clear mind, not this conspiracy or that Black Dragon making his head spin.
“That’s right, warrior, we need your strength, the Kingdom of Stormwind needs your strength!”
“Alright, alright, I haven’t been to Burning Steppes anyway, might as well take a look around…”
Duanmu Huai didn’t mind much, anyway, exploring around is what he does, and the Judge’s duty is to guard humans and eliminate monsters. According to Reginald, there are Dragonkin and other funny things there, so purging them would certainly be right. Hence, he agreed outright without much hesitation.
Reginald was a bit surprised. He originally thought that to persuade such a big figure, he would have to lay out the facts, discuss the reasoning, and exert a great deal of effort. Unexpectedly, as soon as he started talking, the other side agreed?
Anyway, as long as they agreed, it’s fine.
As the saying goes, get up from where you fell. Reginald was infuriated during his time locked in Blackrock Depths, and he had long been itching to go back and clear his shame. Although Varian couldn’t dispatch a full army for Reginald, he did send dozens of elite soldiers to accompany him back to Blackrock Spire, determined to uncover its secrets.
After talks were settled, the group quickly set off for Burning Steppes where Blackrock Spire is located.
Honestly, the environment at Burning Steppes in Duanmu Huai’s eyes was worse than the wetlands. Dry, arid, and hot; Blackrock Mountain seemed to Duanmu Huai like Flame Mountain.
Because the group was small, Reginald stuck to the elite decapitation tactic, planning to lead everyone to quietly bypass the patrol lines of Dark Iron Dwarves and Dragonkin, sneak into the interior of Blackrock Mountain, and investigate what the Dark Iron Dwarves and Black Dragon were up to, then find a way to deal with the culprits.
Yep, a whole Hollywood blockbuster plot.
Originally, Duanmu Huai didn’t care, but after entering Blackrock Spire, he regretted it.
The reason was quite simple.
“Let me see, Blackrock Depths is over there; if I remember correctly, below should be Molten Core.”
“Molten Core? Where?”
“Uh… Walking over from Blackrock Depths, then go down… But now we should head to the upper level.”
“Upper level?”
“Follow this chain to the other end, then it’s the upper level of Blackrock Spire where the Black Dragon’s secret should be hidden…”
“Which end? Where do we walk? Where are we going right now?”
Standing in the middle of Blackrock Spire, looking at the maze-like paths and entrances ahead, Duanmu Huai was utterly baffled.
Is this even a road for humans?
“Enough!”
Watching Reginald mumbling with the map and discussing with others, Duanmu Huai couldn’t help but interrupt their discussion, he felt his head was about to explode; such a mess for a mere volcano, why is it so complicated? Does it ever end?
“Warrior? What’s wrong?”
Hearing Duanmu Huai’s interruption, Reginald paused for a moment, then saw Duanmu Huai step forward, lower his head, and stare at him.
“Let me confirm, you came to Blackrock Spire to investigate and solve problems, right?”
“That’s… correct.”
“At the end of the day, you want to solve the problem, right?”
“Uh… that’s correct?”
Being asked like this, Reginald became a bit uncertain.
“Alright then.”
Getting a positive response from Reginald, Duanmu Huai nodded in satisfaction, then watched as he took out a strange object from his pocket. Seeing this, Naruse Mio, Banriya, Homura Akemi and Mugeng all took a few steps back from Duanmu Huai.
Just a pure instinctive reaction.
Duanmu Huai didn’t care about the girls’ reactions, he fiddled with the object for a bit before casually throwing it into the magma below the Abyss ahead.
“Alright, let’s go.”
After saying this, Duanmu Huai directly turned around and walked away.
“???”
Although they didn’t know exactly what Duanmu Huai intended to do, Reginald and the other soldiers could only follow along. After all, in Reginald’s plan, this fierce warrior who could tear apart the Black Dragon by hand was the key; if he refused to cooperate, it was entirely impossible to rely on himself with a group of soldiers to storm into Blackrock Spire and cause trouble. That would just repeat the previous incident of being captured by Dark Iron Dwarves.
“Warrior, I understand your feelings, but this matter is indeed very serious… How about I first send someone to investigate inside Blackrock Spire, and take action after confirming the situation inside…”
Of course, after stepping out of Blackrock Spire, Reginald still wanted to persuade Duanmu Huai. In his view, Duanmu Huai might be unwilling to waste time here, so he quickly revised his own plan. However, Duanmu Huai said nothing, merely kept his head down and continued walking forward, leaving Blackrock Spire a good distance behind before he suddenly stopped. On the other hand, Reginald, who was babbling on, nearly bumped into Duanmu Huai.
“This warrior?”
“Hmm, this distance should be about right.”
Duanmu Huai ignored Reginald’s inquiry, turned his head to glance at Blackrock Spire, and then looked at Reginald and those soldiers behind him who were still clueless about the situation.
“Simply put, it’s about solving the problem, right.”
“Yes.”
Duanmu Huai stared at Reginald again, and Reginald felt increasingly peculiar inside, but he nodded nonetheless. As Duanmu Huai said, wasn’t their ultimate goal to solve the problem?
“Good then.”
Upon hearing Reginald’s answer, Duanmu Huai nodded.
“Now cover your ears and get down on the ground.”
“???”
Though unaware of what Duanmu Huai intended to do, Reginald and the soldiers obediently followed Duanmu Huai’s command to cover their ears and lie down. As for the girls, they had already adeptly taken cover behind Duanmu Huai, with Naruse Mio directly using Gravity Magic to construct a wall, shielding them and the soldiers behind it.
Then Duanmu Huai reached out and snapped his fingers lightly.
“———————————”
In the next moment, before Reginald’s eyes appeared a dazzling, almost blinding sun.
In his view, beneath the towering Blackrock Mountain, a radiant glow suddenly appeared, followed by the earth suddenly starting to tremble and surge like giant waves. Meanwhile, in the terrified, incredulous gazes of everyone, Blackrock Mountain completely exploded!!
The roaring air currents mixed with debris swept across the Burning Steppes, sending stones flying through the air like bullets or shells toward the surroundings. Despite Naruse Mio’s wall of protection, Reginald and the others could still hear the hail-like collision sounds as debris hit the wall.
Beneath them, the ground heaved and shuddered like surging waves, nearly tossing Reginald skyward!
They were like fish stranded on the shore, endlessly flapping and jumping—not voluntarily.
After a brief moment, the earth returned to calm, and Reginald stood up, enduring the soreness all over his body, and looked ahead.
He was utterly astonished.
In front of Reginald, the towering Blackrock Mountain had completely vanished without a trace, replaced by a giant, smoke-billowing pit!
What on earth happened?
Blackrock Mountain? That enormous Blackrock Mountain? It was right there, how could it disappear?
“Roar———!!!”
However, before Marshal Reginald could react to what had happened, a thunderous Dragon Roar suddenly erupted, so powerful that it scattered the surrounding dust and clouds. Then, a massive Black Dragon emerged angrily from the explosion’s smoke, flapping its wings and letting out a furious roar.
“Who! Who dares act so recklessly! I will make you pay!!”
“Oh, looks like that’s the main culprit.”
Duanmu Huai flexed his body, ready to step forward and take it down. But before he could act, a blazing flame erupted once more from the giant pit, followed by a towering monster composed entirely of fire bursting out, holding a War Hammer and glaring angrily across the Burning Steppes.
“You dare destroy this sacred place; I will make you pay! Witness Ragnaros’ Strength firsthand, then perish!”
Good grief, two at once. It seems this place really is as Reginald said, a hidden danger; Duanmu Huai initially thought just blowing it up would be enough, yet didn’t anticipate anyone surviving the blast. Looks like they have considerable skill or… good luck?
If I’d known, I would have used more Thermite Bombs like when I blew up the Worldstone.
Oh well, doesn’t matter, all the same, just fight.
Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment, shrugged, then looked at Naruse Mio.
“You go deal with that big lizard; I’ll go over there and handle that fiery one.”