Chapter 556: The Ultimate Ritual and the Apocalyptic Steed

Snorri Thorsson had been waiting for this axe; previously, he had used the Battle Axe gifted to him by the Old One Taiboke beneath Zhuwangshan. The material used for it, long since extinct, was of extraordinary texture, but it was difficult to engrave with Runes and lacked growth potential, becoming a shortcoming that limited the display of his strength.

"As the first imperial decree after ascending to High King, initiating the Ultimate Grungni Ritual is the most appropriate choice!"

"Long live Grimbrindal!"

"Praise the White-Bearded Ancestor!"

"Cheers to your magnificent beard!"

Half-asleep while clutching the divine axe in the lounge, Snorri was startled by the cheers of his clansmen; the revelry in the hall of the Everpeak reached a new climax as the clansmen surged like waves toward that white-bearded figure.

"Respected White Dwarf, what wind has blown you here?"

"Haha! Must there be a reason? Can I not just congratulate the master of the mountains and ask for a barrel of beer? I predicted this day would come when we first met in the Grey Mountains all those years ago! My clansmen haven't been this happy since I returned to the Mortal World!"

"Since you are here, you must stay a while longer. The return of the entire World's Edge Mountains is a major event. I plan to choose a day to offer sacrifices to the Father God and report to Him; I need your guidance on the specific procedures!"

"Hmm, prepare the best ore mined in recent years; my Father will be pleased."

Once the White Dwarf spoke his golden words, the ticking of the Rune telegraphs sounded like raindrops. The sacrifice the Mother Valaya likes is seasonal agricultural produce, while the God of War Grungni prefers the heads of powerful enemies.

"Let it be done,"

"Besides the three treasures, what is also to be handed over to you is the Eternal Hammer Guard—they have sworn an oath before the Throne of Power: to defend the High King until death!"

After the hangover, the High King Snorri arrived at the residential area of the Drazkrad Clan, his former small room. The King of the Everpeak, the Clan Chief Thorgrim, sat in the lower seat to report the situation.

The Karaz Dragon Crown and the SkaldorArmor were still worn by the old father. Snorri had no intention of letting him retire directly—he could not chill the heart of his number one supporter, and Thorgrim also had seasoned experience in governing fortresses and coordinating resources.

"I am very familiar with them. When I was just starting out, you lent me ten guards; thinking back on it now, it was truly great kindness."

Snorri nodded while drinking coffee. Throughout Dwarf history, the Eternal Hammer enjoyed the highest reputation, though in recent years his "Ancestor Chosen Guard" had managed to surpass them. In those campaigns where even the High King's personal expeditions had failed miserably, they deserved the credit for the fact that the royal treasures had not been lost.

"Where do you intend to establish the High King's Court? Karaz-a-Karak is your home; the elders of the clan and I will always welcome you!"

"Each has its advantages. Gaoyuanbao is my base, and the Southlands are a hotbed of change; this place is more convenient for coordinating the various forces of the Old World, and calling everyone to the far south for a meeting would be too labor-intensive."

Snorri stroked his beard; this was also a problem he was pondering. Historically, the Throne of Power had been placed as far south as Eight Peaks at most, and he could not swear an oath for a northern expedition from Gaoyuanbao.

"In the Human world, the Everpeak has an unusual symbolic significance."

"Perhaps I should work in two places, change the next Thunder Airship into my private plane, and use the Storm Authority to propel it; the time for a round trip from Red Cloud Mountain is acceptable."

"Damn, what is going on?"

While the Dwarfs were busy with their preparations, in that small Chaos Rift at the South Pole of the world, a burly man scratched his bald head—the remaining V-shaped tattoo told the world that he was once a noble Sigmarite.

Engraved on the burly man's forehead was a perpetually burning multi-pointed star mark, representing the joint blessing of the Chaos Four Gods. He was clad in black heavy armor with faint battle scars, and a necklace with an eye-shaped Amulet hung around his neck.

"I swear in the name of the Changer of Ways, there is definitely a most deadly trap ahead."

Through the Eye of Sheerian, which possessed the ability to foresee the future, he knew that the fourth secret treasure he was looking for, the Apocalyptic Steed—Dorghar, was residing in the labyrinth of the high-ranking Demon Prince Agramon.

Entering the Chaos Realm, he did not encounter the beasts and giant insects guarding the path on his way to infiltrate the palace. Right now, the black steed was lying leisurely under a tree, as if it were a packhorse from the Kastner Knight family of Nordland.

"Archaon, Chosen One, the holy seal of the Four Gods burns on your skull! What are you fearing by hesitating? A great power has already appeared in the Mortal World; if you are to live up to the divine grace, you must speed up!"

Agramon deactivated the Invisibility Spell and jumped out, roaring. It was once the Chaos Champion most favored by Slaanesh, and after failing to compete for the Everchosen, it had gloomily ascended to become a Daemon, seeking eternal life.

"To think such a thing exists! Before the will of the Four Gods and myself, those cowardly resistances will only collapse!"

Though he appeared indifferent, Archaon felt a chill in his heart. He knew those four did not like to joke, and as a former member of the Twin-Tailed Comet Knight Order, he also believed that the Old World had the potential to breed opponents capable of causing him trouble.

"Go, ride it, ride Dorghar, and go find the fifth secret treasure—the Kingslayer; after that, the final trial awaits you!"

"Karak-Varn, offering one piece of raw meteorite iron, weighing fifty kilograms!"

"Middenheim residential area, offering one ingot of pure gold ore, naturally born and of extremely high purity!"

"Karak-Copper Mountain, offering one piece of raw red copper ore of excellent quality!"

The headquarters of the Miner Guild was located on an auxiliary peak of Karaz-a-Karak, with the richest gold deposits in the Old World hidden beneath it. When the ancestors marched north all those years ago and established their capital here, this mine was a major reason; to this day, it still provides a steady stream of wealth for the Everpeak.

The once simple entrance to the gold mine had long been expanded into a temple of Grungni. The most skilled miners used pickaxes to complete work no less impressive than that of professional stonemasons—the Divine Statue was depicted wielding a divine pickaxe in a strenuous excavating posture; the Dwarfs believed that worshipping Grungni would greatly reduce the occurrence of mining accidents.

"Great Father God, the World's Edge Mountains have returned to the control of the mountains, and all the mines stolen by the enemy have been recovered. Your children offer their proudest mineral products here to pray for your grace!"

The Gold Seeker finished the Miner Guild's procedures and sang out the offerings of each faction one by one, then left the altar for Snorri to preside over. The High King, as usual, praised Grungni's great achievements before getting to the point.

"I am here, Sons of the Mountains, you have done well. Snorri Thorsson, They are all talking about you, saying that where your oath reaches, it is as firm as rock!"

As soon as the words fell, two clusters of yellow light suddenly flared in the eyes of the Divine Statue, and a powerful voice rang out. The Dwarfs cheered thunderously; this was the descent of the Father God Grungni!

"My spouse told you, didn't she? Back then, the deeper I dug, the more I found a relic of the Creator in the deepest part of the world, which needed continuous nourishment to manifest its power. Now it seems everything was worth it; without you, I might never have awakened again."