Ember Dragon Novel Chapter 576: The Dragon’s Disruption

Chapter 576: Chapter 576: The Dragon’s Disruption

Chapter 576: The Dragon’s Disruption

From hundreds of paces away, orc cavalry threw javelins and fired arrows at the heavy "iron cans."

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Crisp tallic sounds rang out as arrows bounced harmlessly off the dwarves’ fine armor.

These were the Highland Kingdom’s elite cavalry—even their goats wore thick armor. Ordinary arrows couldn’t penetrate.

The dwarven heavy cavalry did not retaliate. They silently gripped their warhamrs, heads down, charging—waiting for close combat.

"Boom—"

In an instant, the dwarven steel tide collided with the wild surge of orc warg riders.

"Crush these dwarves!"

"Slaughter these tusked freaks!"

Orc cavalry wore light leather armor for scouting—so even bare-chested.

But dwarves wore heavy iron armor and wielded warhamrs, their impact far surpassing that of the orcs.

With one clash, hundreds of orc riders were smashed by leaping goats, their wargs trampled beneath iron hooves.

The dwarves, like a steel wall, pushed forward, crushing all orcs before them.

"Crush them!"

Edd raised his warhamr and brought it crashing down.

"Boom!

The ground quaked, blood and shattered armor flew, and orcs and wargs howled as they were flung back.

"Orcs!"

"You’ve picked the wrong enemy! We shield dwarves of the Highland Kingdom—"

Edd swung his warhamr again, drawing arcs through the air. A powerful gale surged, whipping up dust into a fearso sandstorm.

"No—"

"Help!"

"By Gruumsh, what is this?!"

Hundreds of orcs and wargs were swept into the air, screaming and struggling, unable to escape the storm’s grip.

Their broken armor, loose scimitars, and javelins flew about in the whirlwind, cutting through orc flesh.

"We will never bow to filthy orcs! Never!"

Edd roared, slamming down his warhamr. Everything suspended—orc, warg, and debris—plumted.

Sharp stones rained like swords, pinning the orcs to the ground.

The dwarven heavy cavalry pressed like a great hamr, smashing a massive gap in the orc formation.

But there were only five hundred dwarves, while orc warg riders numbered nearly ten thousand, not to ntion the countless irregular forces.

Soon, the dwarves’ charge slowed; their goats tired.

Often dozens of orcs surrounded a few dwarves. Though they fought fiercely, the odds were overwhelming.

Even the finest gear and strength faltered under such numbers.

Horns blared, wargs howled. Orc cavalry harassed from all directions, splitting and surrounding the dwarves.

"Filthy tuskers... there’s just too many! Which way is the Avenderdan wall? Damn this dust—I can’t see!"

A dwarf held his warhamr, gritting his teeth, eyes scanning frantically. His goat skittered nervously.

Wargs ran circles in the dust, black shadows weaving through the storm, confusing the dwarves.

Suddenly, a great shadow descended. The dwarf couldn’t even turn in ti.

"Swish—"

A bloodstained double-headed axe flashed. The dwarf felt a chill—his head flew.

His goat cried in panic and tried to flee but was cleaved in half by the whirling axe.

The goat dragged its front half, wailing, its severed torso spilling guts.

"Dwarven heavy cavalry... is that all?"

Monk opened his hand, and the axe spun back, landing neatly in his grip.

His black warg licked up the warm blood, growling with pleasure.

"Boom!"

Another tremor shook the earth.

Monk turned toward the sound, face darkening.

A dwarf wielded a warhamr—dozens of orcs flew, smashed into paste.

"Edd Clyne, ruler of the Highland Kingdom, King of the shield dwarves. A troubleso foe. But—"

Monk’s voice was low, but a wild smile stretched his tusked face.

"He’s worthy. His head will be my perfect offering to Father."

Gruumsh, god of endless war and conquest—his followers lived by his will.

Orcs had no word for "peace"—only a guttural curse aning "temporary ceasefire."

"Dwarf! I will take your head and offer it to Gruumsh!"

Monk laughed madly, charging atop his black warg, his lone eye glowing red.

Edd noticed the orc champion, turning solemn.

As king, he knew of Gruumsh’s favored—a deadly kind.

"That’s... Gruumsh’s Eye."

Edd didn’t move rashly. He tightened his grip on the hamr, ready.

"Awooo—"

The warg howled and leapt; Monk raised his axe overhead.

Edd stared calmly as the axe fell and lifted his warhamr.

"Boom!"

Rocks burst upward—sharp spikes impaled the warg, blood and guts spilling.

Edd’s hamr blocked the axe with a sharp clang.

"Dwarf! Your fortress will fall! Your kingdom will be ours! Your people will be our slaves!

Monk’s eye burned crimson. He rained axe strikes like a storm.

"Even gods won’t save you! This is Gruumsh’s power!"

Veins bulged, breath foul, Monk poured strength into his axe.

"Clang!"

The clash sent a shockwave outward, dust swirling.

But the hamr held—and Edd did not step back.

"No, you’re wrong."

Behind his mask, Edd’s eyes were ice. His voice, resolute.

"Even alone, without the gods—we shield dwarves will drive you north!

"This I swear to my people!"

Edd shouted, swinging mightily. His small fra exploded with power.

"Bang!"

Monk couldn’t react. His axe flew, blood spraying.

The force traveled through the shaft, knocking him back.

Midair, Monk saw a vision—himself impaled.

Not good!

He twisted in the air with brute strength.

Stone spikes shot up, grazing his chest instead of piercing his heart.

Edd followed up, hamr raised.

Monk raised his axe to block.

"Boom!"

The ground quaked, dust filled the air.

When it cleared—a ten-ter crater. At its center, battle raged.

Edd pressed down with his hamr, yellow light glowing—divine dwarven power!

"Filthy orc! You don’t deserve life!"

Monk lay beneath, blood at his lips, face twisted.

His hands trembled, axe shaft nearly bent.

"Heh... dwarf..."

Monk grinned. "Look at !"

Edd glanced—red light flared in the lone eye.

A trap!

Chaos surged into Edd’s mind, a blood-soaked beast.

"Bzzz—"

A piercing buzz. He saw hills of dwarf and elf corpses.

Atop them—a towering orc, his lone eye gleaming.

Gruumsh!

The Ever-Watchful One—One-Eyed God!

Even Edd trembled. Fear gripped his soul.

He faltered—Monk pushed the hamr aside.

"Die!"

With a mad grin, Monk’s axe streaked toward Edd’s head.

"Clang—"

Monk froze. The ancestral dwarven helm blocked it.

A phantom appeared: a broad-chested male dwarf, stone-like hair and beard, earthy skin, silver fla eyes.

The spirit shielded Edd.

Dumathoin—child of Moradin, god of shield dwarves!

Edd wore the sacred heirloom armor—Earthvault!

But the helm now had a crack.

Edd gasped, staring at his god, then at Monk, his eyes blazing.

"Filthy orc! Your tricks an nothing to dwarves! et Gruumsh in death!"

He lunged, hamr aid at Monk’s heart, but Monk predicted every strike.

Hamr clashed again and again. Monk dodged, barely keeping up.

"Crack!" Monk’s axe finally shattered, fragnts flying.

Edd leapt, hamr high, stone spikes rose—trapping Monk.

"Boom!"

The earth shook.

Edd’s hamr crushed Monk’s chest, shattering his heart.

Monk lay dying, body torn, silent.

He had once gouged his own eye in silence—now he died the sa.

Monk Broken-Body was dying.

Edd pulled out the hamr, stared into Monk’s eye. "This strike—for my people."

Monk laughed, coughing.

"Hahaha... cough... dwarf, you’re strong. But do you really think you’ll win this war?"

Edd looked around—his heavy cavalry lay dead. The battle had turned.

Orcs sward the wall, climbing like ants.

They fought the dwarves on the parapets.

Monk’s plan! He stalled Edd to buy ti.

"No! Avenderdan must not fall!"

Edd paled, sweating, muttering.

"I will... live in Father’s kingdom! You and your people—orc slaves forever!"

Monk sneered one last ti, shouted, and died.

Edd clenched his hamr. Stones gathered into boulders.

There’s still a chance!

If he gave his all, he could turn the tide!

"Cower before the Sleepless One—tremble!"

A raspy voice spoke. Shamans surrounded Edd, chanting.

White bone staves emitted dark fog, forming chains—binding Edd.

"Gruumsh again..."

Sweat poured from Edd. Gruumsh’s image lood.

He gritted his teeth until blood seeped.

"Moradin... Must the Highland Kingdom’s legacy end with ?"

The sky darkened, terrifying visions filled the air.

Orcs surged up the wall, guards fell. Even Edd felt despair.

Who could save them now?

Then—a piercing roar echoed.

"Roooar—"

All looked up. A massive golden dragon appeared on the horizon.

It glided through the air like a wave, jaws glowing.

With a crackling blast, flas erupted, tearing through the clouds.

A gold dragon?

Seeing its golden scales, Edd’s eyes lit up—hope returned.