“I’m seriously fed up. Why is it that no matter where we go, something goes wrong!?” Po Kong slapped his forehead hard, counting them off in exasperation.
“Think about it. We won’t even mention the Violet and Crimson city-states, but then Star-Song Forest had a crisis, Dragon Valley was turned upside down, and now it’s Cinder City’s turn~ I’m starting to think we’re just harbingers of doom.”
Xia Duo pulled a long face and glared at him. “Listen to yourself. Can’t you phrase that differently? For example, how about saying we’re like firefighters who put out fires wherever we go?”
Starlight gave a bitter smile and rubbed his temples without saying anything. Deep down, however, he knew that while one or two incidents could be a coincidence, the fact that disaster had followed them like a shadow throughout their journey made it difficult to dismiss as mere chance.
He had considered it many times, and the most likely explanation was the curse inherent to the Radiant Elemental Body.
The thought lingered in his mind. Even with the double suppression of Carlos’s sealing formula and Noah’s soul power, who could guarantee that the power of misfortune originating from the elemental source was completely contained?
Moreover, he was certain that Po Kong and the others had surely thought of this as well. They simply hadn't said it directly out of consideration for his feelings.
At that moment, he felt a slight tug on his sleeve. Starlight turned to see Moen looking at him with eyes as warm and gentle as water.
The young woman didn't speak; she simply shook her head slightly, her azure eyes filled with the comforting message of “it’s not your fault.” The warmth from her fingertips allowed Starlight’s tense shoulders to relax a little.
“Although the situation hasn't reached a dire emergency yet, Stark, you should go to the shelter with the civilians. I’m sure the evacuation notice will be issued soon, and it’ll be hard to get in once everyone rushes there!” Maela said, looking at Stark with concern.
“Are you kidding!?” Stark slammed his hand on the table, his rough dwarven voice causing the parts on the workbench to rattle. “I am a direct descendant of the Iron-Heart family! Which of my ancestors didn't fight before their furnace until the very end?”
Unexpectedly, Maela’s voice was even louder than his, immediately overwhelming his momentum.
“Stop joking around! This is war! What can you do with those scrawny limbs of yours in a situation like this?” Maela’s gaze swept over Stark’s thin frame like a blade, making him subconsciously shrink back.
“I… I can at least use my inventions…” Stark’s voice grew smaller as he looked instinctively at the unfinished communication device on his workbench.
But Maela’s words were like a bucket of cold water, drenching his rising passion—his unrefined inventions would likely fail to make even a ripple on a real battlefield, and might even be counterproductive.
“Maela is right,” Starlight spoke up, his voice gentle but firm. “Your value doesn't lie in fighting on the front lines.”
He pointed to the communication device on the table. “Think about it. If you can complete this invention, how many soldiers’ lives could you save in the future?”
Po Kong also stepped forward and lightly patted his shoulder. “Brother, true courage sometimes lies in… knowing when to step back.”
“Fine, I understand.”
Stark’s shoulders slumped. He reached for an old towel on the workbench and silently wiped his face.
“I’m glad you understand! There’s no time to lose, we need to move. The rest of you, please accompany me to the defensive line at the city walls!” Seeing that Stark was no longer insisting, Maela breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Starlight and the others.
However, she failed to notice the stubborn fire still burning in Stark’s eyes.
...
Starlight and the other three followed Maela as they hurried through the intricate alleys of Cinder City.
As they moved deeper into the city, the stone-paved roads became wider and smoother, and the metal decorations embedded in the surrounding buildings shimmered with a unique light under the torchlight.
“The dwarves today don't have a monarch in the traditional sense,” Maela explained as she walked briskly. “Cinder City is governed by a Council composed of the four most prestigious families.”
She nimbly sidestepped a steaming drainage vent and continued, “The Gold-Palm family manages finance and diplomacy. Their insignia is a gold-inlaid palm print.”
As they passed a magnificent building, she pointed to a glowing golden palm print relief above the doorway.
“Our Copperboot family and the Silver-Beard family are jointly responsible for city defense.” Maela tapped the copper boot emblem engraved on her breastplate. “The Silver-Beard warriors guard the outer city, while we oversee the inner city’s security.”
As she spoke, she nodded in greeting to a squad of dwarven soldiers passing by.
“As for Stark’s Iron-Heart family… they have been the finest craftsmen for generations, overseeing ore mining and the manufacturing of weapons and equipment.”
“Conflicts between us and the Stone Trolls break out almost every few years.” Maela furrowed her brows and gripped her short staff. “But in the past, they were limited to battles over mining sites. Cases where they truly threatened Cinder City are… few and far between.”
“What’s more terrifying is that the unit led by the Stone Troll King we encountered earlier seems to have gathered the elite fighting force of their entire race.”
“And this time, they actually bypassed the northern side where we usually clash and attacked from the west. They are clearly well-prepared.”
Xia Duo suddenly gasped. “Wait! They’re attacking from the west this time? But according to what you said before, aren't most of the defensive fortifications built in the north…?”
Maela nodded solemnly. “Exactly. That’s why this is no simple matter. It is very likely a long-premeditated surprise attack.”
“But according to you, ordinary Stone Trolls shouldn't have the intelligence to plan such a tactic?” Starlight asked.
“That only applies to common Stone Trolls. The Stone Troll King is an exception. According to our records, every few decades, a king appears among the Stone Trolls with intelligence and strength far exceeding ordinary individuals. If it is leading them, none of this is surprising. It’s like… like…” Maela said slowly.
“Like the queen in a beehive?” Moen followed up, a look of realization in her eyes.
“Yes! Exactly like a beehive! But Stone Trolls are far more terrifying than bees. After all, it takes several battle-hardened warriors to confront a single Stone Troll, let alone their king…” Maela sighed, her voice full of worry.
“Then how many Saint Rank powerhouses are currently stationed within the dwarven race? No matter how strong that Stone Troll King is, it’s still just a single individual. It shouldn't be too hard to keep it in check, right?” Po Kong asked.
Maela gave a dry laugh, her face full of helplessness.
“Heh… Po Kong, you’re making things sound far too simple. We currently have four Saint Rank experts, who are the current patriarchs of the four families. However, the Iron-Heart patriarch focuses all his energy on forging, so his combat strength is far below a normal Saint Rank. The Gold-Palm patriarch is much the same. So, there are only two people who can truly face the Stone Troll King in a direct confrontation.”
“Only four? And two of them are just making up the numbers? Are the dwarves really in such a bad state now? Ah… I didn't mean to be offensive, sorry.” Po Kong spoke without thinking, but quickly realized his slip of the tongue and apologized.
“There’s no need to apologize; it’s simply the undeniable truth. Originally, my master was the only Saint Archmage of the dwarven race, but he was severely injured in the last Great War and passed away a few years ago.” Maela waved her hand, signaling him not to worry about it.
“Speaking of which, it’s said that in the last Great War, it was your grandfather, Grand Duke Cang Lan, who came to our aid and resolved the crisis.”
“Oh? The old man had such a glorious moment? Wait… the old man has had plenty of glorious moments, too many for me to even count… It seems we really are destined to cross paths~”
Po Kong chuckled and was about to say more to lighten the mood when his voice was interrupted by a sharp, piercing alarm.
“Screee—!”
As sirens wailed from the loudspeakers lining the streets, a brilliant crimson trail streaked across the distant sky, blooming into a vibrant flare above Cinder City.
Rate on N.U.
