Chapter 545: The War of Vengeance

"Send out the gyrocopters as well, search in the direction of Tiefengbao; in the worst-case scenario, they may have veered off the main road. Belegar, where is your Ranger commander?"

"Guardian of Eight Peaks, I am here. I, Ande, swear by my beard and everything else, my men have been keeping a close watch on Black Crag. It is absolutely impossible for a large army to have escaped surveillance and crossed the World's Edge Mountains!"

A middle-aged Dwarf with a weathered face stepped out from the crowd. Sinuoli found him somewhat familiar; he was one of the generals who had followed Belegar since his time residing in Keladeluomen.

"Hmm, I believe you. Theodore Bruckner, take the cavalry and seal off these two trails at top speed. I haven't heard of those two Greenskin generals, but if their forces are indeed limited, they will certainly attempt to retreat to the Badlands rather than endure the vengeance of the Sons of the Mountains."

"Understood!"

The Demigod's calm and collected command greatly stabilized the morale of the army; in fact, almost no one believed that Tiefengbao could fall. If he hadn't used his Oath Authority to verify that Fulinke was not lying and subsequently vouched for him, the Ranger captain would not have gotten off with just house arrest.

"Queen Freya has been brought back! The news is true!"

"Did you engage them in battle?"

"Indeed, they used rear-guard pursuit tactics. To cover the women and children, the warriors of Tiefengbao had to split off men to hold the rear again and again. If not for the round of fire suppression from the gyrocopters you sent, those poor kin might have collapsed before I could reach them."

"Well done. Can anyone clarify the enemy's situation?"

"I'm afraid not. Tiefengbao originally had a detachment stationed at Eight Peaks, and King Kazador and his Rune Master have almost exhausted their strength. The two who could take charge are not in the retreating party."

Henlide-Tulongzhe possessed basic operational security awareness and did not rush into the hall to report in front of all the generals, but the refugees arriving had already confirmed the news of Tiefengbao's fall.

"Pass my order: assemble in the throne room and invite King Kazador to preside over the meeting and report the situation!"

"I, Kazador, King of Karak-Azul, swear by the honor of the Thunderhorn Clan! My people tell me that the god-forsaken Greenskins have invaded..."

The Dwarf Giant's booming voice echoed through the mountains with towering rage, while Sinuoli thought rapidly—the army of Tiefengbao had left their home in response to his call; in terms of both reason and sentiment, he had to support their return.

However, scouts reported that the army from Black Crag had already set out, with its spearhead pointed directly at Eight Peaks. Strangely, Tiepi and his Immortal Guard were not marching at the very front of the formation as they usually did.

The Demigod, known for his strategic foresight, found himself in a passive position—not sending reinforcements would destabilize morale and violate righteousness; letting the Tiefengbao party return, if Tiepi seized the initiative and waited for them, the two peak mortals might not be able to hold, and if something went wrong, the losses would be even greater.

It wasn't impossible to lead a force to Tiefengbao himself, but who would deal with Tiepi if he appeared on the main battlefield? Losing face by ignoring the challenge he had issued was a small matter, but the safety of Eight Peaks was paramount.

"Great Restorer, the Grudge of Tiefengbao must be settled immediately! Please allow me to withdraw from this campaign, and I will seek forgiveness from the Ancestor Gods afterward!"

"The Ancestor Gods, yes, why didn't I consult Her?"

Kazador's words reminded Sinuoli that Valaya was a true god who had awakened; it was just that Sinuoli had subconsciously treated Her as a mascot he kept on his lips.

"Quiet! I am deeply pained to learn of the bad news from Tiefengbao. I have decided to hold a ritual immediately to report this matter to the Ancestor Goddess and ask Her to send down an oracle!"

Sinuoli raised his hand to suppress the noisy arguments in the hall. Many Dwarf generals were already panicking—the sudden fall of Tiefengbao was no less shocking than the recapture of Eight Peaks back then.

"Move! Prepare the offerings and sweep the grounds!"

Belegar Ironhammer was the most anxious. He knew that the Greenskin army under Tiepi had been honed into an efficient and disciplined force, and maintaining security operations had already become increasingly difficult for him.

Standing under the magnificent Divine Statue that cast its shadow over the fortress gate, Sinuoli continued to manage the ritual while secretly communicating with the Ancestor Goddess in his spirit. Valaya responded to him immediately, her warm spiritual power making him feel as if he were bathing in a hot spring.

"Child, you must believe in yourself. You are troubled by that Greenskin, but does it not fear you as well?"

Valaya knew about Tiefengbao immediately—this fortress, which had guarded her hiding place and provided her with faith for a long time, had suffered a tragedy. It was only because she had sent down divine grace that Queen Freya was able to lead the party out safely.

"Then, what about Tiefengbao?"

"Let Kazador go back. There is no point in having him here when his heart is not, is there?"

The Ancestor Goddess enlightened Sinuoli. Expecting everything to be under control was unrealistic. He truly could not afford to lose, but the more he could not afford to lose, the more he needed the courage to burn his bridges; blind caution would only make him increasingly passive.

"My children, I have heard the lament of Karak-Azul. Go! Take up your axes and shields! Every life lost must be repaid with the heads of three Greenskins!"

Valaya's mercy was only for the Dwarfs and their allies. Having emerged from the creations of the Old Ones and survived the ages of Chaos, she was no "saint."

"What I say is the divine oracle! Kazador, lead your troops back to reinforce. The rest of the warriors, follow me to march on Black Crag!"

The brief appearance of the Ancestor Goddess greatly boosted the morale of the coalition. Sinuoli made a prompt decision, allocating supplies and ordnance for King Kazador's return journey, and immediately dispatched all ground and air reconnaissance forces to seek an opportunity for a decisive battle.

"Restorer chosen by the Ancestor Gods, I, Thorek Ironbrow, am willing to serve as the vanguard for this battle!"

The Rune Master of Tiefengbao did not go back. Upon arriving at Eight Peaks, he brought his Apprentices and used Runes to seal the workshops and weapon production lines, assuming the Greenskins could not break them in their haste.

King Kazador's prestige had been damaged by his repeated failures to challenge the Demigod, which allowed him to see an opportunity. He had performed a great service by opening Valaya's Gate and had received her personal guidance—after rapidly breaking through to the peak of mortality, he styled himself as a priest of the Mother Goddess. Having just turned two hundred, his window for breaking through to Demigod was not narrow.

"Very good! Set up camp and garrison at the Stone Mine Outpost upstream of the Bloodwater River. Remember, do not act without orders."

Sinuoli nodded in agreement; it was always a good thing to have people willing to lean toward him. He prepared to use the power of the Rune Colossus and Rune Guardians to deal with the reckless charges of the Greenskins; these stone statues moved slowly and required more time to deploy.

"Master, Tiepi's army is different from ordinary fools; I expect the vanguard to be even more elite. Andre and his brothers will accompany you; they are as familiar with Death Pass as they are with their own cellars."

Belegar Ironhammer's brow remained furrowed. He also wanted to compete for the vanguard position, but he still needed to arrange the city defenses of Eight Peaks, so he had to send the Ranger unit to redeem themselves.

(End of chapter)