Chapter 322: Chapter 217: Dragons Dive
As David’s command echoed through the Dragon Nest, the dragons, already prepared, leapt from their temporary lairs in The Dark Mountains. They moved just as their ancestors had done years ago, taking off from the walls of Evil Scale Fortress and charging toward the Divine Realm of the War God.
"YEE-HAW!!!" Mofei, the foolish dragon, took advantage of Alfonse obediently enduring his sister’s scolding to snatch up Kraidian, his ’mom,’ and flee.
The Dwarves in the hanging baskets beneath the dragons’ bellies experienced an ordeal akin to mountain bungee jumping.
Even though the Dwarves were renowned for their bravery, this near-death plummet forced from them high-pitched wails like goblins who’d had their toes crushed. The cries echoed through the Dark Mountains. This was far from the glorious experience of being ’Dragon Knights’; instead, they only felt the suffocation of being crushed together.
It was only then that the band of Dwarves felt somewhat relieved they hadn’t slacked off during their labor, as the baskets were sturdy and reliable. Otherwise, under the violent piloting of these ’unlicensed’ dragons, quite a few Dwarves would surely have been spilled out.
Just then, Nifadora, who had been flying alongside the entire time, suddenly noticed David’s grave expression and immediately asked, "Do you have any concerns, David Uthos?"
In front of Nifadora, David had no reservations and said straightforwardly, "We’re about to enter territory occupied by the Moon Elves. I’m preparing to order an ascent to an altitude above the clouds."
"Understood."
Nifadora immediately understood. But just as he was preparing to deliver the harsh directive himself, effectively acting as the ’evil dragon’ in this instance, he saw David turn his head toward Rune Lord Bergin. Bergin, holding the reins beneath Alfonse’s basket, was gazing at their distant ’homeland.’
"Lord Bergin," David said, "you might want to prepare yourself mentally. Although our planned route is to detour south through the Kutaro Desert and then out to sea, we still can’t avoid this enemy-occupied area. To prevent an attack from the Moon Elves, we need to climb higher. Consequently, the temperature above the clouds will plummet to levels seen in the Extreme Northern Glacier. At that altitude, many Dwarves could freeze to death."
Though he had already instructed these Dwarves to weave more linen for warmth, with only three short months and a scarcity of supplies near The Dark Mountains, what they could prepare was still far too little.
Frost already forming on his beard, Bergin seemed to have anticipated such a scenario and said with his head held high, "This is the trial the gods of Modingsaman have set for us. Your Highness, simply lead the dragons along the planned route. We will take responsibility for clearing the way."
Upon hearing the Rune Lord’s words, David initially thought this Rune Lord was planning to lead a group of Dwarves as a suicide squad.
But David, who had signed an alliance treaty with them, had long since considered these Dwarves his ’construction labor force.’ He could hardly afford such an extravagant loss.
Just as he was about to refuse, he saw the old Dwarf pull out a horn made of some unknown animal material from a leather pouch at his waist. Then, amidst the suddenly solemn gazes of the Dwarves, whose expressions had shifted from stunned to grave, he blew a low, resonant note.
An unknown amount of time passed. Just as David and the others were still trying to understand, a thunderous sound, like war drums, suddenly rose from the ground.
In the next moment, the early spring ground, still covered in unmelted snow, began to collapse massively. Thousands upon thousands of Dwarves, resembling a flood of gophers, poured out like a torrent from these suddenly opened tunnels.
They wore old, battered armor but held well-sharpened weapons. Their gait was steady and powerful, each step imprinting deeply into the snow.
Singing battle songs with their powerful voices and brandishing their weapons, they charged towards the hilly highlands occupied by the High Elves.
At the forefront of the Dwarven lines were none other than Supreme King Temur and the seven Dwarven lords who had met with David three months prior and signed the alliance treaty. Raising their hammers and axes high, they let out frenzied cries:
"Oh, Ancestors, do you see this?
"We have once again set foot upon our homeland!
"We will breach the Moon Elves’ defenses!
"Our Ancestors and the gods of Modingsaman are watching us!!!"
"HAAH!" With the Supreme King leading the charge, the usually stoic Dwarves, fueled by the Anger Potion, became like ignited dandelions, erupting across the Moon Elves’ occupied territory.
「At the same time」
Far away, the gates of the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress were blasted open. But this time, it was not Dwarves who emerged, but a horde of green-skinned Beastmen. Enticed by the Drow, they charged as usual toward the Dwarves’ underground defensive lines, never imagining that the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress, which had brought them countless deaths over the past thirty years, was now utterly deserted.
But these Beastmen hadn’t even had time to celebrate for long or begin to fortify the fortress before the Drow, who had been stalking them, attacked.
Yet, despite the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress having ’fallen’ for the first time since its construction, not a single Dwarf on the front lines turned back.
All the Dwarves knew that by choosing to abandon the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress, they no longer had any path of return.
They also understood that at this moment, in addition to their Ancestors and the gods of Modingsaman, their children were also watching them from the sky!
They were reclaiming the glory their ancestors had lost.
And they were also carving a path less fraught with thorns and peril for their offspring.
"Steel forges courage, and courage heralds the dawn!"
"For the continuation of the Skanis Dwarves!
"Kill these invading Elves!"
High in the sky, David could see that the arrogant Moon Elves had apparently never imagined that these Dwarves—whom the Drow had kept pinned down and immobilized in the Eight Peaks Mountain fortress—would proactively abandon a fortress that had never before fallen.