Ashen Dragon

Bjorn noticed Ed's disappointment at a glance and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I will have the craftsmen forge the finest Warhammer for you immediately."

"No need." Ed waved his hand dismissively, a hint of pride in his voice as he said, "Back in the day, I crafted several handy weapons modeled after the Rock Hammer. I've just been waiting for an excuse to use them."

"By the way, Your Majesty, there's another critical matter."

"What is it?"

"Our scouts have spotted Wyvern Knights near the Kared Mountain Range. Additionally, both the Harpist Alliance and the Arcane Priory have sent warnings. The Ashen Empire's army... has mobilized and is advancing northeast—towards our High Mountain Kingdom."

Upon hearing Bjorn's words, Ed was neither surprised nor afraid. He merely walked to the balcony of the room.

With a sigh, Ed remarked, "I truly didn't expect the Ashen Empire to move so swiftly. I thought they'd need at least half a year to fully seize control of North Aisier."

Bjorn echoed the sentiment, "Indeed. Such a hasty military deployment—don't they fear an uprising in the territories they've occupied?"

Gazing at the distant mountains, Ed spoke slowly, "Tsk, tsk. It's no wonder an empire ruled by the Red Dragon is so greedy, just like their emperor, eager to devour everything in the world. However..."

Ed extended his hand. With a resonant "hum," a metal hammer, nearly identical in design to the Rock Hammer, flew out of a distant chest and landed firmly in the Dwarf King's grasp.

Ed continued with a smirk, "I wonder how many teeth that greedy dragon will shatter on the tough bone that is the High Mountain Kingdom."

Meanwhile, in the open grounds before the palace, dwarven commanders and soldiers, having received the news, stood fully armed. Clad in the heaviest armor and wielding the finest weapons, they gathered resolutely.

"We are the children of the earth and mountains!"

"Long live the Dwarf Clan!"

"For the glory of Father God Moradin!"

"Aivendel will never fall! Long live the High Mountain Kingdom!"

Their battle cries erupted like a tidal wave, rolling across the skies. These dwarves had no idea the kind of foe they were about to face, but one thing was certain—they would never surrender easily.

...

Hearing the distant war cries and shouts, Dwarf Prince Zehn turned his head, gripping the Rock Hammer tightly in his hand, suppressing a storm of emotions in his heart.

"War is about to begin, yet I can only stand aside and watch..." he murmured.

But Zehn knew well that he had a more important responsibility at this moment. Acting recklessly would disrespect his father's instructions.

He looked to the base of the Lonely Mountain, where tens of thousands of dwarves were gathered. Most were women, children, and hundreds of hot-blooded young dwarven warriors like himself.

—They were the future of the High Mountain Kingdom, entrusted to Zehn by Ed. Together, they would flee to the sanctuary of the Gold Dragon, ensuring the survival of the kingdom's millennia-old civilization.

Beside him, the dwarf attendant Tok protested loudly, "Prince Zehn, we cannot leave when the battle begins. This—this is cowardice! We should stand alongside Lord Ed and defend Aivendel!"

Zehn shook his head, replying, "Tok, this is my father's order. He has sacrificed much for this, and we cannot let him down."

"But His Majesty..." Tok tried to argue, but Zehn didn't respond. He merely gestured ahead—Lonely Mountain Treasury was already in sight.

"Tok, wait outside with the guards. I'll go in alone."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Tok and the dwarf guards stationed themselves at the entrance, watching as Zehn slipped into the concealed opening, venturing into the depths of the Lonely Mountain.

After navigating a narrow canyon, the space widened before him.

"So this is... the Lonely Mountain Treasury," Zehn whispered to himself.

Standing before the treasury's massive iron door, towering over thirty meters high, Zehn felt an undeniable exhilaration, his heart pounding in his chest.

This was, after all, the Lonely Mountain Treasury, a place only Shield Dwarves of royal blood could enter. It was said to hold the most precious treasures accumulated by the kingdom over millennia.

Yet Ed had instructed that Titus would be waiting for him inside the treasury. The Gold Dragon ally must already have arrived, Zehn thought.

He placed his hand firmly against the door.

"Boom—"

With a deep rumble, the massive iron door slowly opened, revealing an empty interior. There were no mountains of gold, no gleaming gemstones as he had imagined.

"Why... why is it like this?" Zehn frowned instinctively, scanning the surroundings.

A familiar voice echoed from deep within the treasury, "Stop looking. I've already relocated your treasures to a half-plane. These items are far too valuable and could be discovered by Ashen Empire spies at any time."

Zehn's head snapped toward the direction of the voice. A towering Gold Dragon emerged gracefully from the shadows, its scales shimmering in the faint light, though marred by numerous wounds.

Zehn's face lit up with joy as he greeted, "Lord Titus! You're here. My father sent me to see you."

Though Zehn had exchanged only a few words with "Dawn Wings," the Gold Dragon was an acknowledged ally of the dwarves and revered as the greatest of dragons in their hearts.

"Prince Zehn, I presume? You've finally arrived. We don't have much time left. We need to complete the relocation swiftly," Titus nodded slightly in greeting, then gestured toward the depths of the treasury. "I moved your treasures to a half-plane where they are safe and completely hidden from the Ashen Empire.

However... Lord Ed told me there remains one item only you can take."

Zehn's curiosity was piqued, "What is it?"

"Your Highness, follow me," Titus said without further explanation, striding deeper into the treasury on his powerful limbs.

Zehn followed closely behind the Ancient Gold Dragon, his eyes wandering over the surroundings. The walls bore masterfully carved depictions of the High Mountain Kingdom's history, with statues of past dwarf kings exuding a profound sense of grandeur and resilience.

Though the treasures had been relocated, the Lonely Mountain Treasury itself was immovable, and the murals would remain behind.

At that moment, Zehn wished he could imprint all these images into his memory, to recount the glory of the dwarves to future generations. He finally understood the weight of his father's charge.

This was... legacy.

Titus's voice interrupted Zehn's thoughts.

"We've arrived."

Zehn realized they had reached the end of the treasury, standing before an unassuming section of wall.

"Smear your blood here," the Gold Dragon instructed, tapping a specific spot on the wall with a claw.

"Understood." Zehn bit his finger and smeared his blood onto the wall.

The Ancient Gold Dragon guided the blood to form runic symbols in the dwarven language, then solemnly commanded, "Repeat after me: In the name of the Master of High Mountains, ruler of the Shield Dwarves, heir to the blood of Black Stone Mountain..."

"By Moradin above, in the name of the Master of High Mountains..." Zehn echoed.

The blood-formed symbols suddenly glowed, the runes emitting a faint light as the dwarf carvings let out an angry roar.

"Boom—"

A pedestal forged from Black Iron rose slowly from the ground, upon which rested a fragment of stone exuding a malevolent aura, bound tightly by chains.

"Drip your blood onto the pedestal," Titus instructed further.

Zehn obeyed, pressing his finger against the surface. As the royal blood of the Shield Dwarves touched the pedestal, the seals around it broke open, and dark mist spewed from the stone fragment.

"Roar—Release me! I will destroy you all!"

The beastly roar filled the air, its aura of malevolence, chaos, and ferocity overwhelming the chamber, forming a terrifying Orc-like specter as though to consume both the Ancient Gold Dragon and the dwarf.

Years of sealing had fostered a consciousness within the fragment of "Gush's Eye." If fully unleashed, it could very well transform into a demigod-level evil artifact.

Zehn gripped the Rock Hammer tightly, his expression resolute as he prepared to charge forward.

But Titus interceded, the immense Gold Dragon radiating golden light as he plunged a massive claw into the dark mist. Furious roars, howls, and struggles emanated from within.

After a moment of grappling, the Ancient Gold Dragon extracted the stone fragment, its seams oozing dense black energy.

"Lord Titus, this is..." Zehn asked gravely.

"Gush's Eye," Titus replied with a furrowed brow. "A truly malevolent creation. You are not yet capable of sealing it. I will safeguard it for now."

"Understood, Lord Titus."

Shock coursed through Zehn's heart. He never expected the Lonely Mountain Treasury to hold such an evil artifact.

Unbeknownst to Zehn, Titus—or rather, Cassius—was inwardly elated. With this, the dwarves' treasures and half of Gush's Eye would remain in his possession forever!