Chapter 643: The Dwarves' Hidden Realm
After securely stowing the half-fragment of the Eye of Ghush, Titus finally lowered his head, his expression turning solemn as he addressed the Dwarf prince.
“Zhen. I assume His Majesty has already informed you of the full circumstances.”
Zhen nodded gravely. “Yes, Titus, sir. From this day forward, my people—the Shield Dwarves—will stand under your protection. We shall follow your commands without hesitation.”
Titus shook his head. “We are allies, bound by mutual benefit, not by servitude. You Dwarves are no one’s vassals—certainly not mine.”
The Ancient Gold Dragon regarded the young prince, whose face bore a striking resemblance to Aid’s. A soft sigh escaped him. “Aid His Majesty… he was a brave and selfless Dwarf. He was my friend. And I will honor the promise he made me—to protect your people.”
Zhen bowed deeply, his voice respectful. “Titus, sir, on behalf of the Shield Dwarves, I extend our deepest gratitude for your protection.”
The Ancient Gold Dragon turned and strode toward the cavern’s edge. “Come. Let us begin the evacuation.”
“Understood.”
With swift motion, the Ancient Gold Dragon and Zhen exited the Treasure Vault of the Lonely Mountain, stepping into the open air beyond.
Titus spoke, his voice firm. “The Army of Ashen could attack at any moment. We must complete this retreat swiftly—your people must be moved to a safe haven.”
To save time, Titus lifted Zhen with one massive claw, unfurled his mighty Dragon Wings, and soared into the sky. With a powerful beat, he glided downward, riding the wind toward the base of the Lonely Mountain.
Below, the mountain’s foot was already crowded with Dwarves—chattering, restless, their faces etched with fear.
“Where is Zhen Prince taking us?”
“Is it true we’re never coming back? Are we abandoning Aivendeldan forever?”
“What’s happening? Where is Aid His Majesty? Is it the Ogres again?”
Suddenly, a cry rang out.
“Look up!”
“It’s Titus, sir!”
“And Zhen Prince! They’ve come for us!”
All heads snapped upward. A roar of joy erupted as the Dwarves gazed upon the sky.
There, the Ancient Gold Dragon descended from the peak, his vast wings outstretched, casting a massive shadow over the crowd. The ground trembled beneath the weight of his presence.
Wings of Dawn—Titus, the Dragon who had saved Aivendeldan, and the Dwarves’ most steadfast ally!
As the shadow grew larger, a Dwarf shouted, “Wait—here they come!”
“Clear the way! Let Titus and Zhen land safely!”
Pushing and shoving, the Dwarves cleared a space at the mountain’s base, making room for the Dragon’s landing.
Dust swirled in the wind, and in the midst of reverent, eager gazes, the Ancient Gold Dragon touched down with surprising grace.
Titus turned to Zhen. “You speak now.”
He set the prince upon a high rock, turning it into a makeshift podium.
Zhen stood atop the stone, scanning the sea of faces—old, young, women, children. Though Dwarven women were bearded and broad-shouldered, their voices deep as a man’s, Zhen still saw them as fragile.
Under the weight of tens of thousands of focused eyes, Zhen gripped his Pillar of Stone Hammer. The burden felt mountainous—almost crushing.
He had dreamed since childhood of becoming a great king, idolizing his father, Aid. But now, standing here, the reality felt surreal.
After a long silence, the prince spoke, voice steady and solemn:
“Brothers and sisters. I have gathered you here to evacuate Aivendeldan. With Titus’s protection, we will seek a safe refuge.”
“Zhen His Majesty… are we really leaving?”
“What about our families?”
“How can we abandon Blackstone Mountains—our home for generations?”
“Where are we going?”
Zhen’s voice was heavy, yet resolute. “The High Mountain Dwarf Kingdom faces a threat unlike any we’ve known. Even my father could not guarantee our survival. His final command to me was clear: lead you to safety. If Aivendeldan falls, the kingdom must endure.”
He looked down upon his kin, his gaze unwavering. These were to be his people. Their lives, their future—everything depended on him. The legacy of the Shield Dwarves, their proud civilization, rested in his hands.
Beside him, Titus remained solemn—but within, he couldn’t help but smile.
Not only had he secured the full legacy of the High Mountain Kingdom, but now he had tens of thousands of Dwarves, eager to serve—free labor, no strings attached.
A true win-win.
Though, of course, the win belongs twice over to Kai Xiusu.
A deep, echoing roar split the sky.
From above, several Golden Dragons descended in a graceful arc, landing before the Ancient Gold Dragon. They bowed their heads in reverence.
“Titus Elder. We come by order of the Golden Dragon Council.”
These were adult Golden Dragons—nearly twenty meters long—but leaner than the average. Their scales bore intricate runes, their claws and toes adorned with Mithril bracelets. Gemstones glittered across their hides, and some wore long robes.
Their status was unmistakable: Arcane-Loving Golden Dragons, spellcasters of the highest caliber.
To make amends for their inaction during the last war, the Golden Sage Krasus had personally endorsed this evacuation. He dispatched several of his most arcane-obsessed dragons—powerful enough to carry the task alone.
Transferring tens of thousands of Dwarves? No ordinary mage could manage it. But these dragons combined innate Dragon magic with high-level spellcasting—perfect for the task.
“Good heavens,” one Dwarf whispered. “I’ve never seen so many Golden Dragons in one place!”
“No wonder Titus is called Wings of Dawn!”
“Even the gods must bow before such might!”
The Dwarves stared in awe. Even Zhen was stunned.
Titus gave a slight nod. “Excellent. Thank you for your aid. Begin the portal.”
“Affirmative,” the dragons responded in unison.
They gathered in a circle, runes across their scales glowing fiercely, pulsing with spatial magic.
A low chant rose from their dragon tongues. The air shivered. Space warped, folding inward—until a portal, dozens of meters high, tore open before them.
[Portal of the Otherworld (Dragon Tongue)]
Beyond lay Half-Plane 054—a sanctuary Kai Xiusu had meticulously prepared for the Dwarves. Known to the Empire’s colonists as Volcanic Seclusion.
This realm lay at the crossroads of the Elemental Plane of Fire and the Earth Element Plane. It had formed only a decade ago after a cataclysmic elemental explosion, and was only recently discovered by Empire Colonial Governor Selkan’s expedition.
Rich in rare ores and magical gemstones, the plane was untouched—virgin territory.
The Empire had not yet exploited it. Few knew its coordinates. After all, manpower in the Elemental Plane of Fire was scarce, and revealing the location risked drawing unwanted attention.
But now, the Dwarves’ retreat was perfect.
They were isolated, eager to flee. They knew nothing of the outside world. They were miners by blood, masters of forging, loyal to Titus—perfect for serving the Empire’s needs, for free.
Swish—
The chant ended.
Before the Dwarves stood a colossal golden portal, leading to an unknown, mystical realm.
They stood frozen before it, hesitant.
Generations of Dwarves had lived in the Blackstone Mountains—mining, smelting, forging. They had never imagined leaving.
What awaited them beyond? Could they survive in a world so alien?
Zhen, the future Mountain Lord, stood trembling at the threshold. He turned to face his people, their faces a mix of fear, hope, and uncertainty.
Can I really lead them? Can I become a king as great as my father?
He didn’t know.
Then—
A deep, mournful horn blast echoed across Aivendeldan.
Zhen recognized it instantly. The Assembly Horn.
It was sounded only in full-scale war—when every Dwarf warrior was summoned. Its call rang through the mountains, a signal of dire emergency.
Hearing it, Zhen’s mind flashed to his father’s face. He remembered his final words.
Gripping his Pillar of Stone Hammer, he whispered, voice barely audible:
“Father… I promise. I’ll carry on the High Mountain Kingdom.”
He turned back to the portal, his gaze unyielding.
Then, with a deep breath, he stepped forward—into the light.
“Come, everyone. We go.”
One by one, the Dwarves followed, hearts heavy with doubt, but spirits lifted by hope.
Through the twisting tunnel of space, Zhen emerged—into a new world.
Before him rose endless, rolling mountains of fire, molten rivers winding through jagged peaks. The sky blazed orange, a furnace of light.
New. Unseen. Alive.
“By Molradin… this place…” Zhen breathed in awe. He had never seen anything like it.
The Ancient Gold Dragon landed beside him. “Zhen. This is your new homeland. I discovered this plane years ago. Rich in ore, perfect for your kind. I call it Volcanic Seclusion.”
Zhen looked at Titus, his voice thick with gratitude. “Titus, sir… I have no words to repay your kindness. What do you need from the Shield Dwarves?”
Titus inhaled the hot wind. “Do as your father would. Live in peace. Grow strong. One day, reclaim Aivendeldan.”
Zhen shook his head. “You’ve done too much. You’ve saved us from the Ogres, guided our people, found us a new home. We cannot repay such a debt. Dwarves do not forget kindness.”
Titus paused. Then, reluctantly: “Very well. If you insist… I am planning a rebellion—a military alliance against the Evil Dragons. But we lack weapons, gear, and funds. I propose this: you use 60% of the gold and gemstones you mine here for your own growth. The remaining 40% goes to the future Anti-Monster Dragon Alliance.”
Zhen nodded. “That’s fair. But here’s my offer: once the new High Mountain Kingdom is stable, we’ll keep only 30%. The other 70% will go to you—along with the finest weapons we can forge.”
Titus frowned. “That’s… too much. You’re giving too much.”
Zhen’s voice hardened. “Not if it’s to repay your debt. Not if it’s to honor my father. Reclaiming Aivendeldan, defeating the Dragon Tyrants—this is our duty. We will scour these fire mountains for the rarest materials, the purest metals. We will work until our hands bleed. If that’s what it takes, so be it.”
Titus exhaled. A rare smile tugged at his lips.
“Then it’s agreed, Zhen. I know your father would be proud.”
In truth, he was already laughing inside.
Who knew there were still fools willing to be oxen and horses?
Just wait till they learn they’re working for the very monsters they’re supposed to fight…
Zhen turned, gazing at the fiery horizon.
Father…
His heart ached. Aivendeldan was in peril. But he would not let it fall.
He vowed in silence:
One day, I will return—to the Prime Material Plane. With the finest Dwarf army, the finest gear, the greatest might. I will reclaim our homeland. And this land… this fiery realm… will become our new home.
The Dwarves’ future was no longer uncertain.
It was dawn.
And like their Golden Dragon ally, their fate was written in light.
And in the heart of the Ancient Gold Dragon, a quiet thrill stirred.
Free miners, at last.
(End of Chapter)
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