Had it been an open area and a head-on confrontation, the group’s strength should have easily suppressed the Stone Troll King. But once that bizarre crystallization ability was added to the mix, everything became uncertain.
After guiding everyone through the process, Noah floated leisurely back to Starlight’s waist, not forgetting to offer a reminder.
“Rather than obsessing over this, you’d better consider how to deal with that fellow the next time you meet. Based on the direction those Stone Trolls were moving, you might see them again soon.”
It wasn’t until then that the group suddenly snapped to their senses, and Maela’s face, in particular, turned deathly pale.
“Cinder City will be fine, at least for now,” Xia Duo said suddenly. “Even if the Stone Trolls want to start a war, their main force is still here. If we pick up the pace, we might still be able to warn the dwarves.”
Stark nodded in agreement. “Miss Xia Duo is right. The priority now is to speed up. If we can make it back to Cinder City before the Stone Trolls attack, it won’t be too late.”
The group fell silent for a moment before moving in unison with practiced efficiency.
After that ordeal, they had escaped to a distance of over ten kilometers. As for their exact location, even a dwarf as naturally gifted as Maela was having trouble figuring it out.
Fortunately, Stark was an anomaly in their group. He had Maela retrieve his probe from her storage space, intending to replan their route.
Unexpectedly, the moment the probe was activated, its six mechanical legs began to flail uncontrollably. Its two eyes blinked incessantly, accompanied by bouts of swaying.
“What’s going on? Is this junk machine malfunctioning again?” Maela asked, her brow furrowing in dissatisfaction.
“No, no, no, the parameters are just a bit haywire... Uh, why do I feel like Xiao Qi is excited?” Stark scrambled onto the probe, shouting as he checked the readings. “I’ll reboot its system right away!”
Following a series of mechanical clicks, the probe finally returned to normal. A holographic map was projected from its eyes once more, displaying a three-dimensional view of the intricate mining tunnels.
Stark quickly locked onto a path shimmering with green light. “Found it! I’ve switched Xiao Qi to ‘Home’ mode. It will take us along the safest route. Navigation, start!”
At Stark’s command, the mechanical legs of the probe, Xiao Qi, suddenly extended to their limit. The steam valves at its joints hissed with scalding white mist as it began to sprint through the tunnel.
In this mode, the probe’s speed was many times faster than before. The others didn’t dare dawdle and quickly gave chase.
After two days of relentless, sleepless travel, Starlight caught the scent of charcoal growing heavy in the air.
The appearance of this smell meant they were nearing the main city of the dwarves—Cinder City.
When the probe suddenly screeched to a halt in front of a massive ventilation shaft, Stark, though exhausted and weary, jumped up in excitement.
“We’re here! Above us is the western watchtower of Cinder City!”
The group immediately began to scale the side walls of the ventilation shaft. As they ascended, the air became thick with the scorching scent of coal and molten metal.
When Stark, leading the way, pushed open an ancient metal gate, a spectacular sight unfolded before Starlight’s eyes.
If he wasn’t mistaken, they were currently inside the inner wall of a mountain range. The dwarves had hollowed out the heart of the entire mountain over countless years. In the pit below them, semi-solid magma could be seen flowing slowly.
By the light of the magma, countless bronze pipes could be seen on the opposite rock wall, snaking and intertwining like thick veins, belching plumes of steam.
At the center of it all stood a majestic city of iron.
“Welcome to... Cinder City!” Stark looked back at everyone, his voice brimming with pride.
Starlight instinctively took a step forward. Though he had read many accounts of this legendary underground capital, the shock of seeing it in person still took his breath away.
From a distance, the entire iron city seemed to have grown out of the mountain itself, with every building perfectly integrated with the rock.
A giant furnace at the center of the city pierced the dome, its base connected to the ley lines. The golden-red magma it erupted flowed through a network of precision-engineered channels across the city.
These scorching “veins” brought light and heat to the entire city. After flowing through the metropolis, they eventually transformed into cascades of crimson waterfalls plunging into the abyss, forming a natural moat of fire.
Starlight could see several iron bridges crisscrossing between platforms at different heights, with the silhouettes of numerous dwarves moving between them.
The distant echoes of forging hammers, the hiss of steam valves, and the grinding of gears converged within this subterranean space into a unique rhythm.
“Phew, it looks like Cinder City is still safe for now!” Maela finally let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that the city was unharmed. “Let’s hurry inside. Regardless, I must report the news of the Stone Trolls to the Council immediately.”
Under Stark’s lead, the group walked quickly toward the nearest large bridge.
The metal bridge spanning the abyss glowed dark red under the reflection of the magma, and the sound of meshing gears grew clearer as they approached.
Just as they were about to step onto the stairs of the bridgehead, a heavy, riveted iron door suddenly swung open from the inside. Dozens of fully armed dwarven warriors filed out, watching them warily. The guard captain at the head raised a battle-axe inlaid with rubies and asked loudly:
“Halt! State your identity and your business!”
Stark and Maela stepped forward, pulling back their dust-covered cloaks to present their clan insignia. “I am Stark Iron-Heart, younger brother of Amael Iron-Heart. This is Maela of the Copperboot Clan. These individuals with us are our allies, and they bring urgent military intelligence concerning the survival of Cinder City!”
The guard captain’s gaze swept over the group. When he saw the two humans, Starlight and Po Kong, his thick eyebrows knitted together. The sight of Moen and the other elves left him looking even more perplexed.
At that moment, his deputy stepped forward and whispered a few words to him. Only then did the captain nod.
“Stark Iron-Heart, your identity verification is in order. But these outsiders... forgive my intrusion, please come with us to register.”
After carefully inspecting Stark’s clan insignia, the guard captain spoke in a deep voice. Simultaneously, the warriors behind him lowered their weapons and cleared a path for them.
With the guarantee of Stark and Maela, the registration process went exceptionally smoothly. The guards simply recorded the basic information of the four and handed them copper badges engraved with temporary transit runes.
After briefing them on some of the city’s regulations, the guards allowed the group to pass.
Once inside, Maela urgently grabbed Stark. “I need to head to the Council immediately. Are you coming with me?”
“I won’t go. You have more of a say in these matters anyway.” Stark shrugged and muttered under his breath, “I’m not exactly well-liked there; my presence would just be for show.”
“Tsk, you really should have more confidence!” Maela clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction but didn’t press further.
She could only turn to Starlight and the others, nodding hurriedly. “We’ll talk more later.”
“I’ll take Starlight and the others to my workshop. Let’s meet there in a bit!” Stark called out after Maela’s retreating figure.
“Alright! See you later!”
Seeing Maela’s figure disappear at the end of the road, Stark let out a soft sigh and pointed toward a small path in the opposite direction. “Come on, everyone. Let’s head to my place and rest for a while.”
The group followed Stark across the main road. After taking a few turns, they arrived at what he called the Craftsman District. As they approached, a wave of heat immediately washed over them.
“Good grief, aren’t you afraid of getting heatstroke, being cooped up in a place like this every day?” Po Kong asked curiously, fanning himself with his hand.
“You get used to it. We’re almost there. It’ll be much cooler once we get inside,” Stark replied with a smile.
Rate on N.U.
