Chapter 94

The dust of destruction, thick as a shroud, blanketed the former ramparts of Thornheart. The massive crater formed by the furnace core’s explosion still billowed thick smoke; molten metal oozed slowly at its bottom, glowing a dull red like a wound bleeding from the earth. Burnt thornwood and shattered metal structures lay everywhere, the air thick with the acrid stench of burning, the sulfurous reek of molten metal, and the foul odor of withered monster carcasses.

Silence. Aside from the crackling of flames and the groaning of cooling metal, the battlefield sank into an eerie stillness. The vast tide of withered creatures had been utterly crushed under the dual blows of the corrupted giant scorpion battery’s implosion and the rampart’s collapse. The few surviving monsters, terrified beyond reason, had fled wailing back into the depths of the withered forest.

Yet this still-smoldering ruin was no safe place.

“Cough… cough… cough…” Wrench clawed his way out from beneath a pile of rubble and half-melted thornsteel shards. His bulky probe case shell was scraped and battered beyond recognition, one mechanical arm twisted and deformed. Ignoring his own injuries, his beady green eyes filled with terror and urgency, he lunged straight toward Tengdou’s position.

“Boss! Boss, hold on!”

The sight before him shattered his soul. Several burning fragments of the furnace, each the size of a millstone, had landed squarely on the edge of “Earthfire Vine Hammock!” The tough vine netting had been crushed and deformed, several sections completely severed, still smoldering at the edges. Lin Mo’s charred body lay buried under rubble and ash, only a small portion of his blackened chest and his right fist, clenched tight around the Stardust Crystal, visible. That faint blue-white pulse of life flickered stubbornly through the smoke, like a candle in the wind, ready to be snuffed out at any moment.

“Hold on! I’ll dig you out right now!” Wrench frantically began clearing the rubble, heedless of the scalding stones burning his palms.

Just then—

“Gaaah—!”

A sharp, ravenous screech came from above! Wrench snapped his head up and saw three smaller but unnervingly agile rotting drakes piercing the lingering smoke, circling the ruins like vultures! Their crimson compound eyes locked onto the scene below—fixed on Wrench, digging for Lin Mo, and also on Lingna, barely visible nearby beside the geopulse fissure, her bloodstained clothing peeking from beneath the charred soil.

These cunning beasts had survived the explosion and now scented “food” and “weak prey!”

“Damn it!” Wrench turned pale. He was unarmed; his only weapon, the probe case, was severely damaged. He glanced at Lin Mo’s buried position, then at Lingna’s direction, then swept his gaze over the massive slope formed by the collapsed rampart—where Ellie had fallen, her fate unknown. Despair gripped his heart once more.

One drake, unable to wait, dove first! It opened its maw, dripping corrosive saliva, aiming straight for the immobilized Wrench!

Wrench’s pupils shrank! Survival instinct drove him to roll sideways!

Ssschhh!

The drake’s sharp claws grazed his back, tearing a gaping rent in his already damaged probe case shell—parts and wiring spilled out! A searing pain flared; Wrench grunted.

“Get lost, you vermin!” Wrench grabbed a scorching stone and hurled it at the drake, who dodged effortlessly.

The other two drakes dove down—clearly targeted: one lunged for the buried Lin Mo, the other for Lingna’s direction! They meant to claim the last “spoils” of this ruin!

“No!” Wrench’s eyes bulged! He was closest to Lin Mo and instinctively threw himself to block the drake attacking his boss—but he was too far from Lingna! He could only watch helplessly as the drake extended its claws toward the spot where Lingna was buried!

At this critical moment—

“Aaaah—!”

A roar—not from a drake—filled with rage and agony—erupted from beneath the massive slope formed by the collapsed rampart!

Immediately after, a figure blazing with the embers of orange earthfire shot upward from a pile of rubble like a cannonball! It was Copperbeard!

The dwarf’s appearance was horrific. His entire body was charred black, his mechanical arm twisted and smoking, one leg apparently injured, causing him to limp. But in his grip, the massive forge hammer remained clutched tight! On its head still clung molten white metal, remnants from the furnace core’s explosion, still glowing hot!

Copperbeard’s target: the drake diving toward Lingna!

“Get the hell—down!” Copperbeard roared hoarsely, hurling the burning forge hammer with all his strength!

The flaming hammer became a streak of orange light, carrying the dwarf’s unyielding fury, striking the drake’s spine with perfect precision!

Crack!

A sickening crunch of bone! The molten white metal clinging to the hammer instantly ignited the drake’s rotting flesh! The drake let out an agonized, piercing scream, rolled over, and crashed to the ground, thrashing wildly as its wings burned, soon falling silent.

This thunderous strike stunned the other two drakes! They pulled up, circling higher, uncertain.

Copperbeard landed heavily, staggered a few steps, then steadied himself. He gasped for breath, his charred face etched with exhaustion, but his bloodshot eyes still burned with fury, fixed on the airborne drakes. “Wrench! What are you staring at? Save them!”

Wrench jolted awake, galvanized by Copperbeard’s ferocity! He no longer hesitated, frantically clearing the rubble from Lin Mo’s body, shouting: “Master Copperbeard! Lingna’s over there—buried!”

Hearing this, Copperbeard’s heart clenched. He limped urgently toward the geopulse fissure, ignoring the aerial threat, his massive mechanical hand (though twisted) digging fiercely into the charred soil.

The two airborne drakes, shaken by Copperbeard’s desperate strike, dared not dive again—but still circled low, hissing threats, waiting for an opening.

Wrench finally pulled Lin Mo free from the rubble. The charred body was horrifying, but that faint blue-white starlight still flickered stubbornly on his chest. Carefully, Wrench pried open Lin Mo’s clenched right fist and retrieved the pure Stardust Crystal. Its glow had dimmed slightly, but remained pure.

“Boss… hold on…” Wrench placed the crystal gently against the starlight on Lin Mo’s chest, hoping it might help. He looked toward Ellie’s fall site, then at Copperbeard digging for Lingna, then at the circling drakes, and finally at the silent ruin around them—its hidden dangers unknown. A crushing sense of helplessness washed over him.

Copperbeard finally cleared the charred soil, revealing Lingna’s small body. Her face was as white as paper, her breath faint as a thread, the Jade Heart shard on her chest utterly dull. Copperbeard trembled as he used his relatively intact hand to feel for her breath—detecting a whisper of life, his tense nerves eased slightly.

“Lingna’s still alive…” Copperbeard’s voice was hoarse and low.

Just then—

“Huh… huh…” A ragged, labored, agonizing breath—like a broken bellows—came from beneath the rubble slope where Ellie had fallen!

Copperbeard and Wrench snapped their heads toward it!

The pile of rubble before them trembled slightly. A hand, covered in ashen keratin and tipped with claw-like nails, suddenly thrust out from between the stones! Beneath its skin, dark purple veins writhed like living things, radiating an ominous aura.