Ember Dragon 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 metallic 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 perate.

The dwarven heavy cavalry did not retaliate. They silently gripped their warhammers, 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—some even bare-chested.

But dwarves wore heavy iron armor and wielded warhammers, 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 warhammer 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 warhammer again, drawing arcs through the air. A powerful gale surged, whipping up dust into a fearsome 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 warhammer. Everything suspended—orc, warg, and debris—plummeted.

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

The dwarven heavy cavalry pressed like a great hammer, 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 mention 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 warhammer, 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 time.

"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 warhammer—dozens of orcs flew, smashed into paste.

"Edd Clyne, ruler of the Highland Kingdom, King of the shield dwarves. A troublesome 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 meaning "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 hammer, ready.

"Awooo—"

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

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

"Boom!"

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

Edd’s hammer 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 hammer 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 frame 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, hammer raised.

Monk raised his axe to block.

"Boom!"

The ground quaked, dust filled the air.

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

Edd pressed down with his hammer, 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 me!"

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 hammer 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 flame 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 mean nothing to dwarves! Meet Gruumsh in death!"

He lunged, hammer aimed at Monk’s heart, but Monk predicted every strike.

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

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

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

"Boom!"

The earth shook.

Edd’s hammer 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 same.

Monk Broken-Body was dying.

Edd pulled out the hammer, 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 swarmed the wall, climbing like ants.

They fought the dwarves on the parapets.

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

"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 time, shouted, and died.

Edd clenched his hammer. 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 loomed.

He gritted his teeth until blood seeped.

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

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, flames erupted, tearing through the clouds.

A gold dragon?

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