The eerie bronze trees growing from the black soil were dense. At first, from the stone cliff platform above, it didn't seem like much, but once they stepped into the forest, they suddenly realized how exceptionally tall each bronze tree was.
The bronze, unadorned by leaves, resembled countless rusty, green umbrellas with only their frames remaining.
"Don't touch these bronze trees," Thor called out to Gu Sen, who was about to reach out and touch a bronze tree. Startled, Gu Sen looked at him in confusion.
"These bronze trees, grown from the soil, are watered by the blood of Demon Gods and are highly poisonous. Even a Mage, if they touch it and don't receive timely treatment, won't live for more than fifteen minutes."
"And..."
Thor surveyed the silent, towering ancient bronze trees surrounding everyone. Blue lightning, even before he finished speaking, shot out from his side. Several green scaled snakes that instantly leaped from a bronze tree to bite people collided precisely with the lightning, causing electric arcs to flash.
The scaled snakes' bodies trembled, emitting black smoke, and fell to the ground, turning into a pile of green debris.
"Hidden on the bronze trees are magical lifeforms called Rattle Snakes. If bitten by them, the venom from their fangs will enter the body in a single breath, leading to instant death."
Gu Sen was somewhat relieved that the Vice-Captain had stopped him in time. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. 'Oh dear, that was a close call. I almost lost my life. I promised Evelina (the noble girl he'd just flirted with) that I'd treat her to dinner after completing the mission... I can't die here.'
Silently, on the trunk of the very bronze tree Gu Sen had intended to touch, a coiled, raised "rope circle" was wrapped. It carefully rotated on its own, and the moment Gu Sen sighed, it left the trunk, opened its gaping maw, and lunged forward to bite.
The chilling snake fangs also glowed green.
This Rattle Snake was much longer than the one Thor had annihilated with lightning, almost twice its size. Only Gu Sen's mind reacted; his body had no time to take any action. No... why are they all coming for me?
Just as the snake's fangs were about to land on Gu Sen's neck, a long saber moved even faster, "whooshing" as it severed the snake's head, and the snake's body fell to the ground.
"I was scared to death..."
"Senior Gu Sen, be careful. This is a highly magical zone. I can't guarantee I'll save you a second time," Bai En said, sheathing his blade.
"I know~ It's just that the snake's magical aura and the bronze tree's aura are very similar, so I didn't react in time." Gu Sen pulled out his flintlock pistol from his waist and became fully alert.
The Aqua Deer Squad had barely walked a few steps when hurried breathing and wolf howls came from all around. When they looked closely, they found themselves surrounded by large dogs with bristling black manes and drooling mouths.
"Earth Dogs, also magical lifeforms. They're not poisonous, but their bodies are sturdy, highly resistant to magic, and their teeth and bite force are very strong. Everyone, be careful!"
Just as the Earth Dogs were about to attack, a giant meteor in the sky, half assimilated into bronze, began to slowly break off. A "crack—" echoed in the sky.
"Damn it!" Thor cursed under his breath. "We need to deal with these guys quickly and head to Khazad-dûm ahead. Time is running out!"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Khazad-dûm, a city built into a mountain beyond the Bronze Fertile Plains, with glowing crystals suspended above tall geomorphic domes. Beneath the luminescence were densely packed black rock houses and stairs.
At the very top of the entire mountain range was a unique building, tall and majestic, emitting a chilling black flow of light, as if forged from some special ore. In the center of the plaza in front of the building was a bronze-style telescope, capable of observing the status of the meteor over the Bronze Fertile Plains at any time.
It was precisely when the observing dwarf saw the cracking bronze meteor that a war horn, imbued with the intent of battle and slaughter, sounded from the uppermost building. Immediately after, countless horn calls echoed downwards.
The deep underground kingdom awakened from its slumber. The seldom-resting sounds of hammering and harp playing were drowned out by the horn calls. Soldiers in heavy armor, wielding hammers or battle-axes, began to gather in the plaza.
Personnel and forces began to gather, and the previously guarding strength began to weaken.
Morris and his six Diamond Kingdom companions concealed themselves in the darkness, smiling as they watched the busy dwarves. Whispers broke the silence in the pitch-black environment: "The opportunity has arrived."
The next second, a silver light glowed beneath their feet, and spatial magic was activated.
When their figures reappeared, what greeted them was a massive iron gate, with gear-like patterns carved into the dark door. This was the westernmost part of Khazad-dûm, the treasury built along the grottoes.
"many $ Ω ∐ ∡ ?" (Who are you?)
"ℒ ℓ ℳ ℴ , ℘ ℛ ℭ ℮ ℌ ℑ ℜ ℨ , ℬ ℰ ℯ ℱ ℊ ℋ ℎ !" (No one is allowed to enter here without the King's permission! Get lost!)
Two long-bearded dwarves, wielding warhammers, stared intently at Morris and his group. They brandished their weapons and shouted loudly, seemingly trying to drive away and intimidate those before them.
Ladoros looked at the two dwarves, who were half a head shorter than him, and casually picked at his ear, completely disregarding them. Instead, he asked Morris, "What are these guys saying? I can't understand a single word."
"What's going on?"
"It's probably... khuzdul. It was recorded in a book in the Diamond Kingdom as the language of the dwarves. Only a portion of dwarves likely speak human languages, and clearly, these two probably don't." Morris looked at the dwarves with interest, answering Ladoros's question.
It was his first time encountering dwarves up close.
'If only I could capture two of them and take them back for experiments, that would be great. What a pity... this time, the goal is the items in the treasury, so I probably won't have the leisure to take two people with me.'
"khuzdul?"
Ladoros wasn't interested in any of that. Before Morris could give any instructions, several magic orbs condensed beside him. As a sinister smile appeared on his face, the dark magic orbs poured out!
"с т у ф х ц ш ...!" (If that's the case, don't blame us!)
An unusual light glowed on the warhammers of the two long-bearded dwarves. They swung their warhammers, smashing the magic orbs one by one in the blink of an eye. Ladoros narrowed his eyes, and the long, linear eyeliner accompanying his smile clearly showed he was getting interested.
Watching the two figures rapidly rushing towards him, surging magic gathered in his hands. White light flashed and burst forth, and the scorching rays brightened the surroundings somewhat.
"Five Hundred Thousand Laser!"
The direct white light was incredibly fast, as if it would pierce through the two long-bearded dwarves in front of them the next moment. But... magical light appeared on the dwarves, and a barely perceptible "shhh" sound of friction emanated from the ground.
They dodged the white light attack and, using the explosive force, instantly appeared beside Ladoros.
Air currents rolled, drawing transparent wind lines in the air. Two iron hammers swung from the left and right, striking Ladoros's head and stomach respectively...
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