[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-572":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162780,1504,"Chapter 572: The Battle of Blackstone Mountain","ember-dragon-chapter-572",572,"\u003Cp>Chapter 572: The Battle of Blackstone Mountain\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To enter Avenderdan, one must first pass through a narrow mountain valley before Blackstone Mountain, known to the dwarves as the Road of Glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The terrain here was treacherous, flanked by towering cliffs with a fractured ravine connected by stone bridges and lined with majestic statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the gods of the dwarves: Dumathoin, god of minerals and gems; Clangeddin Silverbeard, god of dwarven bravery and war; Thard Harr, god of dwarven hunting; and Gorm Gulthyn, god of defense and vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper along the Road of Glory stood a bearded goddess of stunning beauty in dwarven eyes—Sharindlar, goddess of love and fertility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the gateway to Avenderdan, this place was easy to defend and hard to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly vertical cliffs were riddled with dwarf-dug tunnels and defensive structures, with bunkers crowning the mountain tops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the valley stood an immensely sturdy wall the dwarves proudly called the \"Orc Tombstone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the thirteen northern orc invasions over the millennia, eight had been repelled at the \"Orc Tombstone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wall bore ancient bloodstains and signs of repairs, telling tales of fierce battles and hard-earned glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Armored dwarven warriors with fine crossbows and short spears stood ready atop the wall and in tunnels along the cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the wall, dwarf general Toru Yalon, clad in beast-hide armor and a horned helmet, tilted his head back and downed a barrel of fiery liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped his mouth, face reddening, eyes burning as he roared at his soldiers: \"Bro-brothers! This time we’ll keep them outside again! Let those orc bastards never lay eyes on Avenderdan’s walls! Smash them flat!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy smell of alcohol filled the ramparts, but no one minded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For dwarves, drinking before battle to lift morale was entirely normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their commander drink heartily, the dwarves raised their hammers and cheered with fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live King Edd!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smash them flat! Avenderdan shall never fall!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Highland Kingdom is eternal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves manned the hills, tunnels, and walls, standing ready for the approaching orc horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last orc invasion had been 400 years ago—only the oldest priests had witnessed it; most warriors hadn’t even been born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the dwarves remained confident—they believed the Highland Kingdom had Faenso’s finest arms and mightiest warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn those Gruumsh-worshipping mongrels! If not for them, I’d be feasting and drinking right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grumbling, Toru climbed the watchtower and peered into the distance—only to sober up in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great Moradin...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wild plains were a sea of orcs—like mottled waves—mixed with hill giants, ogres, and goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orc cavalry rode dire wolves across the land. Above them, vultures and giant eagles circled, along with devils from the Nine Hells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sight, Toru’s hands trembled, his barrel dropped and shattered on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he prided himself as the kingdom’s top warrior, Toru Yalon never imagined the orc horde would be so vast and fierce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one-on-one combat, dwarves held the upper hand—though shorter than humans, their dense muscles and barrel-like builds made them heavier and stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born warriors, dwarves had honed combat skills and iron will. They endured magic and physical harm and smashed foes with handcrafted hammers. Shield dwarves of the Highland Kingdom were elite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had one fatal flaw—low numbers and weak reproduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as the largest dwarven nation in Faenso, the Highland Kingdom had under 100,000 citizens, most scattered in the mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its capital, Avenderdan, housed just over 20,000 dwarves, with barely 12,000 able-bodied fighters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, on the Ugo Plains, orcs bred wildly, tearing up grasslands in search of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For centuries, dozens of orc tribes fought in bloody contests to gain Gruumsh’s favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, chieftain Batu Skullcrusher of the Redfang Tribe had conquered 23 great clans and 114 smaller ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unified over a million orcs on the plains and marched south, obeying Father Gruumsh’s divine command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With hellish mercenaries, goblins, ogres, and hill giants, the orc horde outnumbered the dwarves by tens of times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifying figure! Most dwarves would never see that many orcs in their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, plains drakes snorted, their mossy backs resembling hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Atop one drake’s spine sat a throne of bone—on it, a massive orc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore shoulder plates of dragon scale and bone, his bare torso inked in bloody runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was monstrous, with one dark yellow tusk protruding. His one eye gleamed with killing intent, the other hidden behind scarred leather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumor said that in a fight with a Titan-blooded warrior, he let a sword stab his face just to split the foe’s skull with his axe—earning the name Skullcrusher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batu lost his left eye, just like their god, the One-Eyed Gruumsh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, orcs revered him as their god’s chosen champion—destined to lead them to conquest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glaring at Avenderdan in the distance, Batu Skullcrusher stood on the bone throne, raised his bloody axe, and grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! Finally—Avenderdan, soon to be ours!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, a hunched, elderly orc shaman cried out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes! Yes! Father watches us! The orcs’ millennia-old dream nears!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hear Father’s joy—he approves of you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lord Batu, you’re his chosen hero! You’ll lead us to conquer the continent and show the world Gruumsh’s might!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old shaman stepped forward, spreading red powder on Batu’s forehead, drawing the symbol of the One-Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The sigil of Gruumsh, the Ever-Open Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it appeared, Batu felt a violent surge of power—his blood roared like fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahhh—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart ignited with bloodlust, ambition, and vengeance. He raised his axe skyward, crimson light tearing the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father has blessed me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Praise the One-Eyed God! Praise Gruumsh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orcs gazed at the red sky, eyes filled with fanatic faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned to Batu, who panted heavily, adjusting to his newfound power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Runes across his body glowed red. His one bloodshot eye burned with rage and battlelust, and his aura surged in a violent storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batu rose, overlooking tens of thousands of orcs, and lifted his axe with one arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rejoice, warriors! Father has spoken!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Show weakness and you die. Any who cannot fight for their tribe must be pierced by spears!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gruumsh, the One-Eyed God, gave orcs the gift to survive where lesser races perish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Build strength on these lands. Use it to crush your foes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batu swung his axe again. Bloody light tore the clouds, leaving a crimson scar in the sky. His voice roared like a barbaric chant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wage endless war on your enemies! Kill or enslave those who oppose you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seize land. Seize survival. Destroy the elves, their homes, their lands! Crush the dwarves! Claim their caves and fortresses!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Batu exhaled foul smoke, raised his axe, and screamed, \"Destroy the Highland Kingdom! Conquer Avenderdan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Destroy the Highland Kingdom! Conquer Avenderdan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountains echoed with the orcs’ roars, shaking the heavens and earth—far fiercer than the dwarves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crush them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves on the outer walls and rocks scrambled to shoot arrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quick! Stop them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too many! There are too many orcs!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By Moradin! These ugly bastards multiply like rabbits—we can’t count them!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thwip—thwip-thwip—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrows pierced orcs, pinning them down—but those behind stepped over their kin without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few hundred dwarves defended the outer line, while tens of thousands of orcs surged outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrows vanished into the orc tide like pebbles in a river, barely making ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orc chieftains now had hill giants and half-giants slam heavy logs against the wooden gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heeyah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom—boom—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dull thuds rang out. Dwarves rained arrows down, but it was useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Burly dwarves carried barrels from narrow tunnels—explosives filled with liquor and gunpowder—then hurled them at the orcs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barrels burst, flames devoured dozens of orcs, stalling their charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon after, the warrior was struck by arrows and crushed by boulders hurled by giants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giant eagles and vultures, guided by bone whistles, dove from the skies, blinding dwarves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dwarf was swarmed by eagles, his sight blocked until he fell from the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rip that dwarf apart!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His head is mine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of orcs pounced and shredded the unfortunate dwarf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood splattered. Flesh flew. Not even a full limb remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the orc onslaught, hundreds of front-line dwarves perished. Some retreated into tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Batu stood on the plains drake, pointed his axe at Avenderdan, and shouted hoarsely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tear down their walls! Break the dwarves’ spirit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hahaha! They only know fear! Fear the orcs!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giants and half-giants surged again, slamming into the oak gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each thud, more cracks appeared. Dwarves guarding the gate looked panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crack!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a snap, the gate finally gave way, revealing a hundred dwarves in armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! Charge!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crush the dwarves! Offer their blood to Father!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves swung their hammers, flattening the lead orcs—killing hundreds in moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But wave after wave followed, soon overwhelming them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Children of Moradin, my brothers, never yield!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dwarf roared, smashed an orc’s skull, but fell pierced by spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, warcries echoed through the valley. Orcs flooded into the Highland Kingdom’s Road of Glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their goal: the capital—Avenderdan.\u003C\u002Fp>",1490,"2026-06-03T12:47:18.890Z","2026-06-03T12:47:22.748Z",1,"novelbin.me","e99bff892499dab8752c799392a78374098e595d118f6160a49c6ad0045b8de4","ember-dragon-chapter-573","ember-dragon-chapter-571",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]