[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-573":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},1162781,1504,"Chapter 573: Slaughter in the Valley","ember-dragon-chapter-573",573,"\u003Cp>Chapter 573: Slaughter in the Valley\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the only passage to Avenderdan, the Road of Glory was exceedingly narrow, allowing only five or six orcs to pass side by side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no railings on either side, and the steep cliffs were riddled with dwarf-dug tunnels and meticulously placed traps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One misstep, and an orc would fall into the abyss under the gaze of dwarven deities. Rumor had it that a \"River of Bones,\" made of hundreds of thousands of skeletons, had formed beneath the Road of Glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs panted heavily, eyes bloodshot, shouting chaotic and frenzied war cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha! Avenderdan is just ahead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once we’ve taken it, I’ll smash these dwarven statues to pieces!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just like Father Gruumsh said—those who fear death must be pierced by spears!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they were blinded by bloodlust, unfazed by death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs charged forward with bone spears and scimitars, flooding into the trap-laden grounds prepared by dwarven craftsmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill these orc mongrels! Let their blood soak the Road of Glory!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With furious roars, dwarf warriors appeared in the cliffside tunnels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some drew bows, others loaded hand crossbows, firing flaming arrows at the orcs below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thwip—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thwip-thwip—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dense volley of fiery arrows cut through the air, crisscrossing the cliffs like a burning net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screaming orcs were ignited, their bodies aflame. Rolling in pain, they fell off the stone path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their screams echoed until—\"thud\"—fresh corpses landed in the River of Bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One orc officer, struck in the shoulder, burst into flames as dwarven powder ignited the wound, releasing a charred stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A nearby orc aide gasped and rushed to help: \"Lord Monk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget me. Just a little dwarven trick. Keep charging!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orc named Monk ripped out the arrow, snuffing the flames with his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But these weaklings...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk, his lone eye bloodshot, glared at the dwarves in the tunnels—he too had only one eye!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veins bulging, he hurled his twin-bladed axe with burning fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spinning blade tore through the air, too fast for the dwarf to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His armor shattered; his stocky frame was slammed into the cliff face, lifeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You dare mock a fearless warrior of Gruumsh?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roaring, Monk’s immense strength launched him across the chasm, toward the tunnel dozens of meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up at the airborne orc, the dwarves were startled—but not afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s coming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold the line! Push this Gruumsh mongrel into the abyss!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let him join his orc brothers in the River of Bones!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dropping bows and crossbows, the dwarves raised shields to intercept him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk crashed down, shattering oak shields and knocking dwarves unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Weaklings! I’ll crush you all! The orcs will rule Avenderdan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pounded a dwarf’s skull with his fist, exploding it like a watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By Moradin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Beth’s dead just like that?! What is this thing?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Horrified by their comrade’s brutal death, the dwarves hesitated, retreating with their shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tremble! Shiver! This is Father Gruumsh’s power!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk grabbed a dwarf by the hair and hurled him into the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In Moradin’s name, avenge our kin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brothers, charge! Send this orc bastard to his god!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roaring in rage, the dwarves swarmed him, hammers swinging to pulp the orc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Monk wasn’t just strong—he was swift. He leapt, yanked his axe from the wall, and flung off a corpse still impaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-drenched axe in hand, he slashed through dwarves—flesh flying, armor cracking, screams echoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Orc mongrel! Die for my fallen brother!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dwarf charged from behind, spear in hand, eyes burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk didn’t even look back. One swing split the dwarf’s skull cleanly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, only Monk stood atop the cliff platform, surrounded by bloodied dwarf corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his axe, he licked warm blood from his face and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those who fear death will burn forever!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brave will live forever in Father Gruumsh’s realm!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk the Limb-Splitter, warrior of the Redfang Tribe and brother of chieftain Batu, was a fearsome \"Eye of Gruumsh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eye of Gruumsh were fanatics—only the strongest warriors earned this title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To become one, a warrior had to gouge out his own right eye in a ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he screamed, Gruumsh’s favor was lost—and he became a cripple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he endured in silence, he gained demonic vision and savage might—seeing the unseen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk had done just that—and his clan revered him for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just earlier, he could’ve dodged that arrow—but chose not to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He missed the feeling of pain. It thrilled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his axe again, he leapt into the air, shouting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For Father Gruumsh! For orcish glory! Crush the dwarves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inspired, the orcs surged forward, heedless of death, flooding the Road of Glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For Gruumsh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We conquer the world!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves fired flaming arrows and hurled explosive barrels—killing hundreds in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the orcs charged on, howling, throwing their lives away to advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orc-trained eagles and vultures swooped down, knocking dwarves from cliffs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orcs adapted quickly—hill giants and half-giants raised huge shields, blocking arrow fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under this cover, orc infantry advanced to the end of the Road, nearing the \"Orc Tombstone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Atop the towering wall stood dwarven heavy infantry—long-hammered, iron-armored warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They formed a squat, unmoving iron wall in the orcs’ path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undaunted, they stood firm. Leading them was Toru Yalon, who had just been drinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike others, he was under 1.5 meters tall, but wielded a five-meter warhammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brothers! For three thousand years, Avenderdan has never fallen—even when alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In Moradin’s name, hold the Orc Tombstone! Send them to Gruumsh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To Gruumsh with them! Die, orc bastards!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like moving fortresses, the dwarves roared and charged into the orc tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orcs climbed ladders set by giants, trying to scale the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though short, the dwarves were stocky and powerful—crushing dozens with each hammer blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toru, reeking of alcohol, leapt high and spun his massive hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The half-giant’s skull exploded, his massive body toppling and crushing orcs below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disgusting mongrels! Go to hell!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughing, Toru swept his hammer sideways, smashing a dozen more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orcs twisted and flew, teeth and eyeballs flying in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide finally slowed. Hundreds of orcs lay crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic broke out. They tried retreating—but jammed with reinforcements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens fell into the abyss, joining the River of Bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not fear death, children! It is the orc warrior’s glory!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Die here and you will live forever in Father Gruumsh’s realm! Die cowardly and you’ll become meat on a banquet table!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shaman soared above on a giant eagle, raising a skull-topped staff and chanting an ancient song:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Blood for wine, skulls for cups, wails for music, fear for food...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When corpses cover the land, and the orc empire spans the world, Father Gruumsh shall descend!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Orc society revered power, survival, fear, and war—ideals rooted in Gruumsh’s worship and taught through cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shamans passed down these legends with terror, zeal, and tyranny—instilling unshakable belief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves fired arrows at the circling eagles, but magical shields deflected them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shaman finished his song, chanting, and the skull’s eye sockets glowed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crimson, single eye appeared in the sky, watching the carnage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-scented mist swept the valley. Inhaling it, the orcs went berserk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lost all reason—unable to speak coherent words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Awooo—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill! Kill the dwarves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orcs launched a mad assault, caring nothing for death—only slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed in bloody chaos. Orc corpses piled into hills, which new orcs climbed to storm the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huff... huff... Damned mongrels! Do they think of nothing but war and mating?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gasping, Toru exhaled boozy breath and swung again, knocking another orc off the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drenched in enemy blood and his own sweat, he lost count of the bodies crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe three hundred. Maybe five hundred. He’d stopped counting at one hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were too many orcs. On the left flank, dwarves were about to break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—Toru heard a voice, low and mad, louder than the battlefield’s chaos. It chilled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dwarf, your head would make a fine offering to Father!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spun—and saw a towering orc with a twin axe, grinning like a hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse, the orc was toying with a wide-eyed dwarf’s head. Chuckling, he said, \"Let’s hope you’re not as boring as the others.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Monk the Limb-Splitter—the mad, powerful Eye of Gruumsh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around him were corpses of Toru’s finest warriors—his kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head in Monk’s hand was Toru’s dearest friend: Grando.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toru froze. His red face went pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? He meant that much to you? Good. Now this’ll be fun.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monk grinned, veins bulging, and clenched his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The head burst like a melon—bone, brain, and gore flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toru’s eyes turned bloodshot. His hammer hand shook. His teeth ground together. \"You orc bastard—you’re dead!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roaring, he swung down his hammer. Monk met him with his axe, eyes gleaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clang—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metal clashed with a deafening screech, sending shockwaves through both armies.\u003C\u002Fp>",1459,"2026-06-03T12:47:18.890Z","2026-06-03T12:47:22.748Z",1,"novelbin.me","7d77eddc6e608b382cd84b4ac08ff87cdf8a0ee1069967478aa434fd14ea59e1","ember-dragon-chapter-574","ember-dragon-chapter-572",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]