Chapter 315: Chapter 214: Let’s Give It a Try First (Part 2)
In a pitch-dark environment, perception is equivalent to radar on the Blue Star battlefield. Whoever detects the target first gains an overwhelming strategic advantage.
Indeed, reality is often that simple and dramatic; the difference could boil down to mere visibility.
And history, too, is often stealthily determined by such seemingly insignificant details.
Only then did David remember a situation he had inadvertently learned about during his trip to Toriel:
In the Gloomy Region of Toriel, the only true overlords were the Drow, Spirit Suckers, and Abyssal Demon Fish.
As for Dwarves, or rather Gray Dwarves, and other races like Dark Gnomes and Goblins, they were largely enslaved by these three dominant groups. Well, that wasn’t entirely accurate. Goblins were considered such a waste of rations they weren’t even worth enslaving. Dark Gnomes, like subterranean fungi, could practically be left to generate their own sustenance. Dwarves, on the other hand, were resilient, skilled in both combat and craftsmanship.
The Dwarves might have been on par with the Drow in terms of military might, but chasing them further underground, into the Dark Regions, was a different story. Whether it was ambushes from the shadows, traps, or poison, all these tactics made life unbearable for the Dwarves.
For this very reason, the Drow had been present in the caverns beneath The Dark Mountains for nearly thirty years. Yet these Dwarves, who were not lacking in legendary figures, still hadn’t managed to figure out where exactly the Drow were emerging from, let alone exterminate them.
Being unable to eradicate the source of the threat and strategically suppressed by the enemy’s advantage doomed them to perpetual exhaustion from defending on the surface, at the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress.
But in any world, the saying holds true: a thief may operate for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days.
Over the years, the decline of the Dwarves had become apparent.
And the invasion of the High Elves on the surface, compressing their territory, was almost like sounding the death knell for the Dwarves.
It’s like playing Warcraft: you want to develop honestly and fight head-on, but your opponent refuses. Instead, they’ll execute a Tower Rush right at your doorstep, constantly harass you, and keep slaughtering your peasants. If you play an entire game without even discovering the location of their base, it would be a miracle if you won.
At the same time, David finally understood why, despite originally planning only to meet the Tisay Lord of this particular mountain, all the Tisay Lords from Eight Peaks Mountain had come. They even ’included’ a Dwarf Supreme King known for being as "hard as a rock in a latrine" and as arrogant and unyielding as any Elf.
This could only mean that the Skanis Dwarves were truly at the end of their rope, forced to lower their once proud and noble heads for the survival of their race.
They no longer even bothered with that fig leaf of concealment.
Of course, it couldn’t be hidden anyway. The armor once revered by the Dwarves was now riddled with blemishes, with no opportunity for repair. It could barely cover their vitals, let alone preserve their dignity.
Indeed, after several rounds of drinks and courses, when the idle chatter had subsided, David saw Supreme King Temur place his empty goblet on the stone table with a CLUNK. Temur then looked at him solemnly and asked,
"Lord David Uthos, as I understand it, the territory in the Katjana Mountains, left by your mother, the Crimson Calamity, is now occupied by the Moon Elves. Do you, my lord, have any intention of reclaiming your lost lands?"
Mofei, stuffed from the insectoid meal, finally processed the situation. His eyes widened. Good heavens,
he thought, the Dwarf King is finally showing his true colors! We just came for a meal, and these Dwarves want to work us like pack animals!He gazed pleadingly at David. Boss, we just got back from fighting in Barto Hell for over thirty years! I know our territory is important, but can’t we rest for a bit... even just a few days would be great! Us followers need to find love too—I mean, we need to carry on our lines, right? He was even planning to go home and ask his mother, Kraidian, to find him a Drow girl so he could start siring little Drow-Dragon whelps in a few years.
Then he heard David say with a smile,
"Taking back my territory is inevitable."
All the Tisay Lords sat up straighter, listening as the young Red Dragon continued, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice,
"But my current strength doesn’t allow for it. I barely poked my head out of Barto Hell before a band of Elves chased me out. If the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress hadn’t deterred those Elves, I doubt I’d be sitting here now, enjoying ’wine and jovial talk’ with you esteemed Tisay Lords."
The Dwarves realized this Red Dragon was definitely scheming.
This damn Red Dragon had once flattened Spider Nest City. He was the sole scion of the mighty goddess Pafila and bore the Sed Ponga surname. Who would believe he didn’t have a few tricks up his sleeve?
But before the frowning and displeased Tisay Lords could speak, they saw the Red Dragon narrow his eyes, sweep his gaze across the assembled Dwarves, and retort,
"Or perhaps, are you esteemed Tisay Lords willing to dispatch troops to battle those Moon Elves and assist me in reclaiming the Katjana Mountains?"
At this, David shifted from his reclining posture, rearing up to his full height, and declared loudly,
"If that’s the case, then I, David Uthos, will not hesitate! I will personally lead the charge alongside you, esteemed Tisay Lords. We will fight to the death, without retreat, until we drive those long-eared invaders from another plane completely out of the Skanis Continent!"
David’s passionate declaration of war seemed to stun the previously indignant Dwarf Lords. The words they had been about to utter died on their lips, and their faces flushed red with a mixture of frustration and awkwardness.
Supreme King Temur took a deep breath and looked towards one of the Dwarves. The Dwarf, whom David recalled was likely the Rune Lord, met the King’s gaze, then turned to David with a somewhat apologetic expression and said,