Chapter 149

The bloody smell of the Dwarf Mountains was blown by the cold mountain wind for three days before it gradually faded.

The Stone Hammer Tribe's fortress had already turned into a ruin.

Broken city walls, charred wooden beams, and the dark red bloodstains solidified on the rocks silently told of the tragedy of that battle.

The surviving Stone Hammer dwarves had no time for sorrow.

Under Mike's leadership, they began to clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and collect the bodies of their compatriots.

Every dwarf's face carried exhaustion and sorrow, but in their eyes, there was something completely different.

That was hope.

It was the relief of surviving a disaster and the anticipation for the future.

Hart stood at the highest point of the fortress, overlooking this land full of scars.

The Obsidian Gold knights behind him were like silent statues; their arrival had completely changed the outcome of this war.

"Captain Hart."

Mike walked over; his wounds had already been simply bandaged, and his magnificent knight armor had been wiped clean, but it still couldn't hide the dense scratches on it.

"The casualty statistics are out."

His voice was a bit hoarse.

"The Stone Hammer Tribe originally had 1,200 warriors and over 3,000 craftsmen and family members."

"After this battle, there are fewer than 300 warriors left, and craftsmen and family members—also suffered nearly a thousand casualties."

"There are over a thousand Fire Beard Tribe prisoners, all of whom have been locked up."

Hart nodded silently.

This was a pyrrhic victory.

If they had arrived half a day late, no, even if they had arrived just half an hour late, there wouldn't be a single living Stone Hammer dwarf left here.

"How are Falco and Patriarch Bagelumu?" Hart asked.

"Lord Falco's injuries are very severe, his sternum is shattered, and he is hanging on by a single breath; the best apothecary in the tribe said they could barely save his life, but recovery will be very difficult."

Mike's tone was full of worry.

"Patriarch Bagelumu—he woke up once, but upon seeing the tragic state of the tribe, he fainted again; his physical injuries aren't as severe as Lord Falco's, but the trauma in his heart, I fear, will never heal."

Hart sighed heavily.

War has always been this cruel.

"Is there any clue about that black-robed person who escaped?" Hart asked again.

This was the question he cared about most.

That Poison Scorpion Society deacon had left too deep an impression on him.

That strange power, that ghostly movement, and that ominous prophecy left behind upon departure.

All weighed on his heart like a giant rock.

Mike shook his head.

"No."

"He was like someone who appeared out of thin air and disappeared into thin air."

"We interrogated Huorong; that guy became like a fool after the medicinal backlash, saying he didn't know anything when asked, only crying out 'my power', 'my throne'."

"However, from other Fire Beard Tribe prisoners, we learned that the black-robed person sought out Huorong half a year ago."

"He gave Huorong a large amount of gold coins and that kind of red Berserk Potion, the only condition being that the Fire Beard Tribe must annex the Stone Hammer Tribe at all costs and control the mineral resources of the Dwarf Mountains."

Hart's gaze turned cold instantly.

"Sure enough, they were coming for the Lord."

He could be almost certain that everything behind this was inseparable from the enemy hiding around Vanguard Valley.

That Viscount named Enade!

"Must report the situation here to the Lord immediately."

Hart made a prompt decision.

"Mike, I'll leave this place to you for now."

"Pacify the dwarves, reorganize the prisoners, and guard this place well."

"Wait for my return."

Mike nodded vigorously.

"Captain Hart, rest assured!"

"I will not let the Lord down!"

After this baptism of blood and fire, this former noble young master had truly grown into a warrior capable of handling things on his own.

Hart said no more; he gathered ten of the most elite knights, took that flame crystal which had become dim and lusterless, as well as the last complete bottle of red potion found on Fire-Melting.

They mounted their warhorses and turned into a black whirlwind, disappearing on the road leading to Vanguard Valley.

Vanguard Valley, Lord's Mansion.

Roko looked at Hart, who had returned dusty and tired, and listened to his report, his expression growing increasingly heavy.

When he heard that Falco was critically injured, Bagelumu was traumatized, and the Stone Hammer Tribe had suffered heavy casualties, his fists were already clenched tightly.

When he heard that the Poison Scorpion Society deacon had easily pushed back Hart.

And left calmly with Fire-Melting, a cold killing intent radiated from his body.

The temperature in the entire council chamber seemed to have dropped several degrees.

"Silver Grade—"

Roko spat out these three words lightly.

That deacon was definitely a Silver Grade powerhouse.

Perhaps even stronger than an ordinary Silver Initial Stage.

And he was currently only at the Bronze Peak.

Although he had confidence in fighting a Silver Initial Stage with various trump cards, facing an opponent of that level,

He had no certainty of victory.

Not to mention that behind that deacon was the entire Poison Scorpion Society.

It was Viscount Enade, and there might even be the shadow of the Light Temple.

The enemy was even more powerful and complex than he had imagined.

"Master, this is the potion found on Fire-Melting, and—this crystal."

Hart respectfully presented the two items.

Roko looked at the dim crystal; it was Tain's companion object.

To save the situation, the original flame power within it had been exhausted.

Who knows how long it would take to recover.

His heart was bleeding.

He would remember this debt!

He picked up the bottle of red potion and handed it to Martina beside him.

"Take it and study it."

"I want to know all its ingredients, and—what relationship it has with Tain's power."

"Yes, Master." Martina took the potion and withdrew solemnly.

Roko's gaze fell back onto Hart.

"Hart, you and your knights have worked hard."

"You fought this battle very well."

"Go down and rest first; I will have Fura prepare the best medicine and food."

"Yes, Master!"

Hart saluted and turned to leave.

In the council chamber, only Roko remained.

He sat on the Lord's throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest, making a rhythmic sound.

Become stronger!

Must become stronger!

His current power was no longer enough to protect everything he cherished.

He didn't want to experience that feeling of powerlessness a second time; he remembered the fragment of the "Ancient Elemental Heart" he had obtained in the Red Leaf Forest.

It contained violent and pure elemental power; he had always only used it to assist his cultivation,

Not daring to touch its core easily.

Because he knew that with his strength at the time, once he triggered that power.

There would only be one result, and that was exploding to death.

But now, it was different.

He was already at the Bronze Peak, and his body had fused with the Holy Light power of the "First Saint's Tear".

Perhaps he could take a gamble!

A hint of madness flashed in Roko's eyes.

He stood up and walked toward the secret chamber in the deepest part of the Lord's Mansion.

"Martina!"

His voice echoed in the corridor.

"Yes, Master." Martina's figure appeared before him quickly.

"I am going into seclusion for a period of time."

"Before I come out, all affairs in Vanguard Valley are to be handled entirely by you."

"Raise the surveillance of Viscount Enade to the highest level!"

"Also, have the dwarf craftsmen work at full capacity to forge a special type of crossbow bolt, with a hollow design for the arrowhead, capable of being filled with potion."

"I want you to have at least 10,000 such arrows ready by the time I come out!"

Martina's heart shook.

She knew that the Lord was getting serious now.

A storm that would decide the fate of the entire New Wind Province was about to arrive.

"As you command, my Lord."

She knelt on one knee and performed a solemn knight's salute.

Roko said no more; he pushed open the heavy stone door of the secret chamber and walked in.

"Boom!"

The stone door closed slowly.

Completely isolating him from the outside world.

Inside the secret chamber, it was pitch black.

Roko sat cross-legged and slowly took out the fist-sized heart fragment emitting seven-colored light from his Space Ring.

Ancient Elemental Heart!

He took a deep breath and pressed it against his chest.

Cold, burning, stinging, numbing—

The moment the Ancient Elemental Heart fragment touched his skin, countless distinct sensations flooded into Roko's mind like a bursting flood.

"Ugh!"

Roko let out a muffled groan, and beads of sweat the size of beans instantly seeped from his forehead.

Too chaotic!

Too violent!

The elemental power contained in this fragment was like a pot of boiling stew—wind, fire, water, earth,

Lightning, light, dark—

All powers were entangled together, conflicting and colliding with each other, forming a destructive, chaotic balance.

Just this aura alone was enough to drive an ordinary Bronze Grade knight insane and cause them to explode to death.

"Suppress—for me!"

Roko roared, and the golden flame Battle Qi within his body began to circulate with a roar, like a lion awakening.

He pushed the Flame Griffin Breathing Method to its limit.

The golden Battle Qi formed a giant vortex, attempting to pull that violent elemental power into his control, bit by bit.

This process was extremely difficult.

It was like trying to tame an ancient beast with a hemp rope.

Every tug caused Roko's meridians to feel a tearing pain.

His body was trembling slightly.

But his will was like a piece of red-hot steel, indestructible.

"Not enough!"

"Not fast enough!"

Roko gritted his teeth; if he couldn't completely suppress this power in a short time.

The only thing waiting for him was death.

With a thought, another distinct power emerged from within his body.

It was the Holy Light power from the "First Saint's Tear" stored deep within him!

Holy, warm, and full of purifying aura.

As soon as this power appeared, it was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a pot of boiling oil.

"Boom!"

A heaven-shaking explosion seemed to ring out in Roko's mind.

If the Elemental Heart and his flame Battle Qi were just two beasts biting each other before.

Then, the addition of the Holy Light power was like lighting a powder keg on the entire battlefield.

Holy Light power was naturally repelled by the chaotic elemental power.

And there was also an essential conflict between it and Roko's flame Battle Qi.

Fire represented heat and destruction.

Holy Light represented rebirth and purification.

At this moment, three distinct powers unfolded an unprecedented melee within Roko's body.

Golden flame Battle Qi, seven-colored elemental torrent, milky-white Holy Light.

The three were like three armies fighting to the death, crazily colliding and slaughtering within his meridians.

"Pfft!"

Roko spat out a mouthful of blood abruptly.

His complexion instantly turned as pale as paper.

It's over!

Played too hard!

He had overestimated himself and underestimated the terror of these three powers.

He could clearly feel his meridians breaking inch by inch.

His internal organs were also beginning to show fine cracks under the impact of this violent energy.

His consciousness began to blur.

The aura of life was flowing away rapidly.

【Warning! Warning! Host is experiencing fatal energy backlash, vital signs are dropping rapidly!】

【Meridian damage: 30%—... 45%—... 60%—...】

The system's prompt sounded in his mind like a death spell, crazily.

Am I going to die?

Is it—ending just like this?

No!

I am not reconciled!

Martina is still waiting for me!

Fura is still waiting for me!

The 350,000 people of Vanguard Valley are still waiting for me!

Falco's revenge has not been taken!

That damn Poison Scorpion Society deacon has not been slaughtered by my own hands!

How can I die here!

An instinct for survival, like a volcanic eruption, suddenly gushed out from the depths of Roko's soul.

"Ahhhhh!"

He let out a roar that did not sound human.

Since it cannot be suppressed, then—fuse!

Since it cannot be reconciled, then—break everything and re-establish order!

This was an incredibly crazy, incredibly bold idea!

The possibility of success was infinitely close to zero!

But Roko had no other choice at this moment.

"Fuse—for me!"

He abandoned control and suppression of the three powers.

Instead, he used his will, which was on the verge of shattering, to guide them.

He used his flame Battle Qi as the furnace for all of this.

He no longer tried to distinguish or strip them away.

Instead, he pulled the violent elemental torrent and the holy Holy Light power into his Battle Qi core all at once.

"Boom!"

Roko's body, like an over-inflated balloon, suddenly expanded by a circle.

Countless fine bloodstains appeared on the surface of his skin.

Gold, white, seven-colored.

Three colors of light flickered alternately on his body, as if they were about to explode at any moment.

Pain!

Indescribable, intense pain!

It felt as if billions of steel needles were stirring in every one of his cells.

His consciousness hovered crazily on the verge of collapse.

But in his heart, he always held onto the last bit of clarity.

"Core—"

"I need a core—"

"A core capable of bearing these three powers and allowing them to reach a balance!"

This thought flashed through his mind like a lightning bolt.