Chapter 870: The Comical Battle of the Babtali Valley (14)

A new round of attacks from the four Dwarf Warriors began; their bulging muscles and high morale made it very easy for one to overlook their short, dwarven stature.

The four formed a diamond shape, with one in the front, one each to the left and right at a distance of three meters behind, and the last one maintaining a distance of at least five meters from the first. In this way, they rotated positions clockwise, closing in on Jier.

Jier saw at a glance that these fellows had some skill, or at least were very experienced in coordinated team combat. Unlike Human squads, which usually line up tightly, these Dwarf Warriors left enough space between each other because they all wielded large, double-handed weapons, fearing that they would be unable to swing their arms in battle and end up hurting their own people.

Furthermore, although the distance between them was spread out, it was not spread too far, which allowed the others the possibility and opportunity to provide support during combat gaps after one person in the squad engaged the enemy.

They looked like veterans at a glance.

Troublesome.

Keeping cautious in his heart, Jier did not retreat further, but instead cautiously tested them with a skirmish.

"Ha—"

Leading the charge was a Dwarf carrying a massive Double-handed Metal Club on his shoulder; this fellow had been dragging his weapon on the ground while moving before, but at this moment, it was vastly different.

The bulging muscles all over his body clearly provided this one with unimaginable strength, making the already strong Dwarf even stronger. The Double-handed Metal Club, which could only be dragged along and barely swung, was not only carried on his shoulder by this fellow now, but at the very first moment of engagement, he used the momentum of his shout to swing the club at Jier!

The smash of the massive metal club looked slow, but in reality, it hit the ground in the blink of an eye.

Jier barely managed to graze the club with his Long Sword for an instant, and then, relying on the feedback of the force, he judged that this thing could not be blocked head-on.

It couldn't be blocked!

With a loud boom, the ground in front of Jier seemed as if a bomb had exploded, the loud noise mixing with flying debris as it spread rapidly in all directions.

Jier even felt the ground deform and tremble, and the mud and dust kicked up by the club scraped against his armor with a series of sounds.

Standing firm, Jier was just about to take advantage of the opening after the opponent's missed strike to kill him, but a metal Double-edged Battle Axe from the right side immediately swept across. The Dwarf Warrior using the club even leaned forward in advance along with the smash of his own weapon, clearing the way for the attack that was bound to follow from his companion.

Jier did not want to retreat; he saw that this double-handed Double-edged Battle Axe was much smaller in volume than the club, so presumably, its mass and impact force would be much smaller as well—could his weapon block it?

He should at least try, right?

He had to try to see which part of the combination of these four Dwarf Warriors had a flaw; just blindly retreating and dodging would never reveal a flaw.

Thinking of this, Jier stepped forward and pinned the Metal Club that had smashed into the ground with his foot, preventing the Dwarf in front from smoothly pulling out his weapon, and then, facing the sweeping axe, he quickly swung his sword as well.

But it was not a horizontal sweep to clash weapons; his Long Sword was clearly no match for the opponent's axe in either size or weight, but the Long Sword was more agile, so Jier swung this sword diagonally from bottom to top.

Clang—

The Long Sword in his hand trembled violently and almost flew out of his grip, but fortunately, just as it was about to slip away, it forcibly remained in Jier's right hand.

And the Dwarf opposite did not expect the Human Knight to actually clash with him; the horizontal slash that came with his forward charge was subsequently deflected by the massive force transmitted from beneath the axe blade, causing it to strike empty air at an absurd angle and fly diagonally upward.

This Dwarf Warrior was desperate and unwilling to let go, and consequently, he was carried away by the diagonally flying axe, his feet leaving the ground as he flew out while wailing!

He truly flew out; the massive Double-edged Metal Battle Axe was heavier than the Dwarf Warrior himself. When swinging on the ground, the Dwarves could rely on their surged strength and weapon-handling skills to wield such heavy weapons, but at this moment, when Jier added an upward force to the weapon during the clash, it became a disaster.

A heavy weapon with swinging speed, plus a diagonal upward angle—what would that equal in the end?

One didn't need to think to know: this Dwarf Warrior who refused to let go just flew away diagonally like that!

Jier sneered, but before he could swing his sword to kill the Dwarf Warrior with the club beside him, another Dwarf from the other side charged over.

This Dwarf's offensive was placed behind the previous Dwarf with the battle axe, so he had witnessed the entire 'flight' of his companion. In order not to repeat the same mistake, he did not use his surged strength to the fullest; cautiously gripping the Double-handed Metal War Hammer in his hands, he sprinted a few steps and charged at the Human Knight, using the war hammer like a long spear or a battering ram.

Due to the height difference, this strike looked like it was aimed at Jier's abdomen and lower body, which forced Jier to be careful in his response.

At a glance, the opponent's war hammer head was a metal rectangular block the size of a human head; he didn't know what material it was forged from, but even if Jier thought it was made of lightweight metal, the weight of this war hammer was clearly not low.

Not to mention that if the Dwarves had forged the war hammer out of heavy metal, he couldn't estimate how heavy this weapon really was.

Moreover, compared to the bulky Double-edged Battle Axe, the weight of the war hammer was basically concentrated on the hammer head; to block it, he couldn't use the same response method as before.

Or rather, just like the Metal Club under his feet, it was the kind of thing that couldn't be blocked no matter what.

If he couldn't block it, then he would retreat.

Jier quickly retreated, and the Dwarf with the war hammer knew when to stop. Unlike the Metal Club, which couldn't be retracted once swung, the war hammer was more controlled in the hands of this Dwarf Warrior.

This Dwarf Warrior dragged his feet across the ground, leaving two shallow grooves, and successfully checked his momentum; then, like playing golf, he swung the war hammer and struck the Metal Club that had been smashed into the ground, knocking it out in one blow.

Seeing that the last Dwarf Warrior had also approached, Jier rolled his eyes and turned to head toward the Dwarf with the Double-edged Battle Axe who had 'flown away' earlier.

Seeing this, the three Dwarf Warriors on the scene immediately shouldered their weapons and gave chase.

The 'flying' Dwarf Warrior didn't have wings after all, and the force from the battle axe wasn't enough to make him fly very far; more than ten meters away from the ruins of the battle, on another Dwarf house that had been mostly collapsed by the tremors, the Dwarf Warrior, who had finally let go and landed, tried his best to curl his body, letting his bulging muscles cushion the impact of the fall.

But ruins are ruins, with all sorts of broken walls and damaged furniture and objects scattered haphazardly on the ground; after rolling twice upon landing, this Dwarf Warrior was struck who knows how many times.

Fortunately, he tried his best to protect his head and neck, and his torso was protected by Leather Clothing with Metal Armor Plates; all in all, he had injuries, but they were not serious.

It looked just like he had been pinned down and beaten up.

But before he could climb up and let out a painful cry, the Human Knight was already approaching, running and leaping in small bounds through the ruins.

"Damn it!"

Cursing, this Dwarf Warrior didn't have time to look for his Double-edged Battle Axe, which had fallen who knows where nearby, so he had to pull a solid wood single bed from the ruins and threw it at the Human Knight with a roar.

Jier jumped slightly while charging, slashed out with his sword held in both hands, cut the incoming wooden bed apart, and then used his body to smash through the wooden bed in mid-air; opposite him was the panicked Dwarf Warrior.

But before he could get close, he was hit by a Stone in his lower back.

The heavy force even changed Jier's trajectory in mid-air; clearly, this strike was not only powerful but also long-planned.

Jier didn't want to turn around, wanting instead to focus on defeating the unarmed Dwarf Warrior in front of him.

But before he could take two more steps, another fist-sized Stone hit his back.

Bang!

Jier was so angry that he puffed a hot breath out of his nose, gritted his teeth, and squeezed out a sentence: "It never ends!!!"

Turning his head abruptly, he saw 'Shishou' at a distance, keeping a range that was neither too far nor too close, his left hand empty, while his right hand picked up another Stone of suitable size from the ground.

'Shishou's' eyes were fixed tightly on Jier; although the faint glimmer of Bronze Divine Power all over his body had almost disappeared, this last bit of strange power was still more than enough for him to throw a few stones.

Just in the time it took to turn his head, the flustered Dwarf Warrior in front of Jier immediately fled; regardless of looking for his weapon, he performed a great leap on the spot, jumping five or six meters high and over ten meters away, landing behind the other Dwarf Warriors in one go.

The Dwarves had realized the Human Knight's tenacity after just one exchange, so they adjusted their mindset; the three who still had weapons immediately formed a squad, but this time the distance between them had shrunk by more than a circle.

Clearly, when facing an enemy like Jier, they could no longer worry about the smooth swinging of their weapons or whether they would hurt or affect their own people.

'Shishou' and the Dwarf Warrior who had lost his weapon also joined the squad, but since the two had no weapons in hand, they had to pick up debris and stones, preparing to use them as projectiles to assist their comrades in battle.

The two sides confronted each other for a moment, then the Dwarf Wild Priest holding the Metal Box joined the opposite side.

Once this one arrived, the morale of the Dwarves surged, and amidst the loud Prayer of the Priest on the opposite side, the Dwarves' combat formation pressed forward once again.

"Wield the Mining Pick, carve through the bedrock."

"Who is it that sustains us?"

The Priest asked loudly.

Five Dwarf Warriors responded in unison: "It is the great God of Strength!"

"Carry the Mineral Ore on our backs, travel to and from the surface."

"Who is it that sustains us Miners?"

The Priest asked again.

Five Dwarf Warriors responded in unison: "It is the great God of Strength!"

"Bodies exhausted, spirits low."

"Who is it that sustains us hardworking Miners?"

The Priest asked excitedly.

Five Dwarf Warriors shouted loudly: "It is the great God of Strength!"

"What does He do for us when we mine?"

The Priest shouted loudly.

The five Dwarf Warriors continued to shout loudly: "With the great God of Strength in our hearts, the Mining Pick is no longer heavy, and wielding it is no longer laborious! The bedrock is as soft and sweet as a fruit pie!"

After shouting, they laughed happily, not knowing if it was triggered by thoughts of delicious food.

"What does He do for us Miners when we transport Mineral Ore?"

The five Dwarf Warriors shouted in unison: "With the great God of Strength in our hearts, the ore bucket on our backs is no longer heavy, even if returning from the Mine to the surface is like climbing a mountain! Those Mineral Ore can trade for everything for us Miners!"

Upon shouting this, the Dwarf Warriors fell silent for a moment; it seemed that for these Dwarves, things were not as they said, but the Faith in the God of Strength was not fake either, so in the end, they could only blame the manager of the Treasure Mine, which actually had nothing to do with the God of Strength.

"When we lie exhausted on the Stone bed, what does He do for us hardworking Miners then?"

The five Dwarf Warriors did not hesitate this time, immediately shouting in unison: "With the great God of Strength in our hearts, the body's exhaustion dissipates in a single sleep; with the great God of Strength accompanying and watching over us, life and labor will not be so hard!"

The words were resonant, and the Dwarves' footsteps gradually became steady and powerful; along with all of the above, the held-high Metal Box emitted a bronze-colored glow of Divine Power, spreading forward through the opening on the front of the Metal Box.

The three Dwarf Warriors holding weapons were bathed in the Divine Power, and the muscles on their bodies, which had been gradually returning to a relaxed state, bulged once again.

Shishou and another Dwarf Warrior who originally used a Double-edged Battle Axe did not have their bodies strengthened along with them.

Shishou had mentioned this to the team's Wild Priest before, so this time he didn't say anything, just shrugged.

But the other Dwarf Warrior couldn't help it and asked the God of Strength Wild Priest in the middle of the team loudly: "What's going on? What about mine? What about Shishou's? Don't we get any?"

The Dwarf Wild Priest holding the Metal Box turned his head to look at the two of them and said: "Divine Power is precious; it must be prioritized for the companions who have weapons."

The Dwarf who originally used the battle axe was indignant: "Just because the two of us are empty-handed, right? Stone can also hit people! Hurry up and add it to us two!"

But the Wild Priest ignored him, so the Dwarf who used the battle axe had no choice but to start cursing in a low voice, calling him a miser, a half-baked priest, saying that Wild Priests who haven't undergone church training are unreliable, and so on, pointing directly at the Wild Priest, cursing in a way that was right to the core and very unpleasant to hear.

The Wild Priest, with his back to the two, frowned tightly, his face expressionless.

As for Jier, he had been forced back by the momentum of the Dwarves ever since the other side began their Prayer and shouting.

Unlike a real fight, this kind of thing involving morale—something invisible yet actually existing—is truly hard to describe.

In previous exchanges, Jier felt that these Dwarves were indeed difficult to deal with, but not without flaws and weaknesses; however, once the Dwarf Priest joined in, the momentum of these Dwarf Warriors changed, which was a feeling very hard to describe.

It was as if the Dwarves who had fought him before were just pieces of cold, hard steel, but with the addition of the Priest, this steel became scorching hot.

Before even getting close, there was a risk of being burned by the high temperature.

However, although he was forced back by the opponent's momentum, Jier's calm observation had never stopped.

This time, he noticed the situation of the Dwarf Warriors who had been blessed by the Divine Power after the Prayer.

The muscles all over their bodies bulged, and in this way, they had the immense strength to wield heavy weapons.

"Wait?"

"Divine Power blessing, gained strength?"

"Didn't they already have the strength to wield heavy metal two-handed weapons just now? Why could the bulging muscles bulge even further?"

"Where did the previous bulging muscle buff state go?"

Thinking of these, Jier had questions in his heart, and following that, a vague answer naturally emerged.

But the answer brought by intuition was vague and untested; evidence was needed to verify the answer.

Jier had a slight plan in his heart, and then during the retreat, he deliberately shifted his footsteps, bypassing the place where the metal Double-edged Battle Axe might fall, and retreated toward the houses in the center of the Village that were not as severely damaged on the outside.

Intuition told him that fighting these Dwarf Warrior teams on the flat ground in the center of the Village was the worst. And while the terrain of the surrounding ruins could affect the opponent, it was equally inconvenient for himself.

Considering that Jier himself was a Human, having an advantage over the Dwarves in flexibility and physical strength, the houses of the Villagers scattered throughout the more complex terrain of the Village were clearly more suitable for him to fight the enemies.

Since Jier had noticed the bulging muscles of the front-row Dwarves, he could naturally see at a glance that the two Dwarves in the back who had lost their weapons had not been blessed with the strength increase brought by the Prayer.

Thus, he used his toe to flick up a Stone, caught it in mid-air with his left hand, and threw it at the three Dwarves in the back row.

Naturally, the Dwarf Priest holding the Metal Box was among them.

The three Dwarf Warriors holding weapons immediately blocked with their respective two-handed weapons, and at the same time, all moved their footsteps in front of the Wild Priest.

The Wild Priest did not care, but instead urged them to attack.

But the Stone Jier threw just brushed past them and headed toward the head of the Dwarf who had previously used the Double-edged Battle Axe.

Shishou jumped and threw himself in front of his companion at this moment, blocking this strike for his companion.

"Bill! Are you okay?"

The Dwarf who had been saved immediately crouched down, turned over Shishou who had fallen to the ground, and asked.

Shishou bared his teeth and rubbed the position on his left shoulder and back: "I'm fine! My last bit of strength blocked it for me. Hiss—we have to be careful later; this Human Knight has no honor, and to win, he will probably do anything."

After climbing up, the two guys were much more careful this time; they didn't dare to stand openly in the back row of the team while keeping a distance, and instead followed directly behind the Wild Priest, using this companion who had the means of a Priest as a "Shield" for protection.

Jier retreated step by step, from the ruins of the Dwarf Residence, all the way back into a half-collapsed Dwarf Residence.

The Dwarf Warriors, who had forced the enemy back step by step, were in high spirits and, taking advantage of the time their muscles were bulging from the blessing of Divine Power, launched another attack.

This time, the Dwarf Warrior holding the warhammer attacked first, while the other two guarded him from two meters behind on the left and right.

"Kill!"

The Dwarf Warrior holding the warhammer shouted in a language Jier could understand, but the target of his warhammer was not Jier; instead, he swung the hammer toward the wall of the half-collapsed house where Jier was currently located.

Boom!

With one strike of the hammer, a large hole appeared, wall rocks the size of half a person's body were sent flying, and dust and smoke drifted everywhere.

Jier instinctively shouted out: "Eighty!"

Once he made the sound, he ended up laughing at himself, which left the Dwarves confused as to what the Human Knight meant.

How did swinging a warhammer have anything to do with the number eighty?

"Are you insulting me?"

The Dwarf Warrior wielding the warhammer roared in anger, then swung his hammer again, but it missed Jier entirely and smashed into the wall once more.

Jier had been surprised that the warrior's technique was so poor, failing to hit him at such close range and completely miscalculating the distance of the swing. But then, the Dwarf Residence, having been smashed by two hammer blows, collapsed entirely.

The Dwarf Warrior wielding the warhammer had already retreated, leaving only the Human Knight shrouded in dust and smoke.

Then, with a rumbling sound, the entire Dwarf Residence collapsed. The half-damaged house was now completely destroyed.

But at this moment, these Dwarf Warriors no longer cared about this; since 'Shishou' had already destroyed so many houses in the village, one or two half-damaged, broken houses didn't matter anymore.