Chương 46: The Dwarf’s Choice

"It seems you need to stay and continue practicing."

After saying this, the puppet stopped moving.

Frillie protested, puffing out her cheeks.

"That doesn't count! Let's have another round!"

Xia En couldn't stand it anymore.

How could you lose like this to a game of rock-paper-scissors?! No wonder you can be one-shotted by a mimic monster. Watch this! Let me show you what true "super luck" looks like!

5 seconds later.

Shane has a record of 0 wins and 20 losses.

Hey?

This isn't right!

It's cheating!

With both players having used up their match opportunities, the puppet fell silent.

The stone statue at the entrance won't let people in.

The scene became very awkward.

Frillian pondered for a moment, then took out her staff again, preparing to force her way in.

Xia En glanced at the endless stone statues in the passage ahead, then shrank back. He was now depleted of mental energy and had lost his weapon, making him "extremely weak."

Let's forget about forcing our way in.

He circled the rock-paper-scissors puppet in front of him twice and noticed a small bump on its back.

The protrusion is not very noticeable, about the size of a thumb.

He pressed it out of curiosity.

A magical scene unfolded: the puppet that had just been inviting them to play rock-paper-scissors started speaking again and began inviting them to play cards.

Press again, and the puppet will invite them to request a song. Press again, and the puppet will invite them to sit in a small room upstairs and enjoy some private service.

"..."

Goodness, it really is a service puppet.

Xia En decisively chose the "small room".

Led by the puppet, the two safely passed through the main entrance, turned right, went upstairs, and headed to the small room.

The so-called small room is not small at all.

The entire second floor is exquisitely decorated and has an elegant environment, resembling a public lounge.

To Xia En's surprise, one side of the second floor was piled high with various broken puppet fragments, forming a tall mountain of garbage that reached all the way to the roof.

Judging from the appearance of the fragments, they are the same as the puppet that led them the way.

"Please choose your exclusive companion; we hope you find happiness here."

Looking at the wreckage before them and then at the oblivious puppets, Shane and Frilian felt a pang of sympathy.

It seemed completely unaware that the dwarf kingdom had perished and its own kind had turned into a pile of scrap metal... yet it still dutifully served its guests.

Seeing the puppet's stiff smile, Shane remained silent for a moment.

"Let's go and see some other places."

This time, the statues did not stop them, and the two walked through a long passage to a casting room.

The foundry was built next to an underground cliff, clinging tightly to the steep rock face, with a bottomless abyss beside it, where the sound of rushing water could be faintly heard.

Shaun guessed that the dwarves were directly utilizing the ley lines and groundwater.

That's both bold and clever.

The iron furnace, sealed for thousands of years, was already rusted. Countless iron chains of varying lengths hung down from the dome, connecting crucibles of all sizes. On the casting table lay a half-cast battle axe.

It is evident that the war between the demons and the dwarves was fought very hastily.

The two people spiraled upwards along the steep steps.

Before long, they arrived at the center of the entire underground royal city, the Golden Hall.

This is where the former leader of the dwarf tribe once lived.

The tightly closed gate was carved with intricate and twisted dwarven script. Shaun studied it carefully; it was a poem: Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art.

She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Crossing the cold and misty mountains, This deep underground cave has existed for thousands of years.

The dwarves of old chanted powerful spells, Accompanied by the clanging sound of the hammer striking, In the depths, dark creatures slumber.

Those who travel far to this place, please be very careful.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As Shane looked at the contents of the poem, he pondered to himself, "[Powerful spell], [Sleeping dark creature], could it be that the dwarves sealed something here in the past?"

Or is this just an ordinary folk ballad for dwarfs?

Before he could figure it out, Frilian beside him slowly pushed open the long-sealed door.

Suddenly, a rustic and dry aura wafted over.

The sight before them shocked them.

The golden hall was packed with all sorts of dwarves, and a serious meeting was being held there.

Shane and Frilian immediately became alert, gripping their weapons tightly and quickly scanning their surroundings.

They've already fallen for the illusion once, they won't be fooled again!

But strangely, no enemies appeared around.

Even the people in the hall seemed not to see them at all, completely unconcerned about their behavior.

Shane glanced at Frilian and read the same guess in her eyes. Then, he took a step forward and crashed straight into the nearest dwarf uncle.

As a result, nothing happened.

He walked straight through the dwarf uncle's body.

The dwarf uncle seemed completely oblivious, continuing to hold his battle axe and whispering something to another dwarf beside him.

Shaen couldn't help but recall the dream he had experienced in the mine about "Mad Sage Shaen".

Similar to the situation back then, they also seemed to have entered a dream.

But why?

Why is there a silhouette of the past in this hall?

The two wanted to leave, but the path they had taken was long gone.

resignedly.

He and Frilian had no choice but to slowly enter the hall, walking among the many dwarves, observing their actions, hoping to find some clues.

Clang clang— Someone tapped the metal.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

Xia En looked towards the high platform deep in the hall, following the sound.

There stood a human girl, dressed in leather armor, her figure slender and her face solemn. She gestured for everyone to be quiet.

"King Alan has something to say."

After saying that, she silently stepped aside.

Behind her, on a golden throne, an aged figure slowly rose. He stood up, walked slowly to the front of the platform, looked down at the dwarves below, surveyed the crowd, and then spoke in a deep voice:

"Everyone should know about the Demon King's declaration of war; many of our tribes have already been massacred."

"I've gathered everyone here today to hear your opinions: to fight or to surrender?"

The king's question was met with calm.

The dwarfs below the platform looked at each other, some deep in thought, some angry, and others confused and at a loss.

Suddenly, a young soldier stepped out from the crowd.

He wore a steel helmet and armor, had a small tuft of golden beard, and had a resolute expression.

Facing the king and all the dwarves present, he declared emphatically, "To beg for mercy from the enemy is the most foolish thing to do."

This one sentence instantly ignited the anger of everyone present.

The dwarves erupted in a unified roar, a continuous roar filled with hatred for the slaughter of their loved ones and an endless killing intent towards the demons.

A powerful fighting spirit surged throughout the hall.

Xia En looked at the young figure and exclaimed "Huh?"

Frilian, standing beside him, was equally surprised.

They all realized that the figure looked far too much like [Aize]... but that was impossible...