586 Chapter 586-The Trial of the Blacksmith Emperor
Chapter 586
The swirling vortex of light faded as Dave landed in the middle of a dark, eerie forest.
Shadows stretched between tall, twisted trees, and the faint glow of the moon barely illuminated the damp ground beneath his feet.
The silence was unsettling, broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures moving through the dense undergrowth.
Dave dusted himself off, a confident smirk on his face.
"Alright, where's the next trial? Can't waste my time waiting all day."
He looked around, his voice echoing faintly through the quiet forest. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Suddenly, a faint metallic clinking sound caught his attention. His sharp eyes darted toward the source, where a small, armored figure stepped into view.
The figure was barely over four feet tall, clad in intricate black armor covered in glowing runes.
A heavy, oversized hammer was strapped across its back, and a single red slit in its helmet burned with an ominous glow.
Dave stared for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"No way. This is my next opponent?"
His laughter echoed through the forest as he clutched his sides.
The dwarf-like figure didn't move or respond, standing perfectly still in the clearing.
"Hey, come on now," Dave teased, grinning widely.
"Don't tell me they ran out of strong enemies, so they sent... you. Did you get lost on your way to a blacksmith convention? Or did someone drop you off after story time?"
The armored figure remained silent, the glowing slit in its helmet narrowing slightly.
Dave crossed his arms and continued, clearly enjoying himself.
"Look, I get it. Life must be hard when you're that... compact. I mean, do you need a ladder to swing that hammer? Or maybe you could just throw it and hope for the best?"
He snickered at his own joke.
The air suddenly grew heavy, and the temperature seemed to drop.
Dave tilted his head, noticing the tension in the air but not taking it seriously.
"What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve? Don't tell me you're mad about being... fun-sized."
At that moment, the dwarf's glowing eye slit flared bright red.
The figure raised one armored hand, and the ground beneath them began to tremble.
A deep, guttural growl came from the small figure, and the sound of metal grinding against metal filled the air.
"Huh?" Dave raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. "Oh, are we finally getting serious?"
With a powerful swing, the hammer struck the ground, sending a shockwave of molten energy toward Dave.
"You have an anger issue; the demonic clone would easily destroy you if he met you because of your emotion."
The blast incinerated several of the puppets in its path, forcing Dave to leap into the air to avoid it.
"Whoa!" Dave exclaimed, landing gracefully on a nearby tree branch.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! Finally showing off some real power."
The dwarf roared, summoning more puppets from the earth. This time, their weapons glowed even brighter, and their movements were faster and more precise.
Dave grinned, leaping back into the fray. "You think a few more tin cans will make a difference?"
As he fought, the puppets' Semi-God grade weapons clashed against his fists, creating sparks that lit up the dark forest.
Despite their numbers, Dave moved with ease, dismantling them one by one.
However, he noticed that the dwarf was studying his movements carefully, waiting for an opening.
"You're not just sending puppets for fun, are you?"
Dave said, dodging another attack. "You're stalling, trying to find a weakness."
The dwarf smirked beneath his helmet. "Clever boy. But it won't save you."
With a sudden burst of speed, the dwarf charged toward Dave, his massive hammer glowing with molten energy.
The ground shook with each step, and Dave barely had time to dodge the devastating swing.
The hammer struck the ground where he had stood, creating a massive crater and sending shockwaves rippling through the forest.
Dave flipped backward, landing on his feet with a chuckle.
"Alright, I'll admit it. You hit harder than I expected. But if you think that's enough to bring me down, you're in for a surprise."
The battle continued, the forest echoing with the sounds of clashing metal and thunderous impacts.
Dave's playful demeanor remained unchanged, but his sharp eyes carefully studied the dwarf's movements and the enchantments on the puppets' weapons.
"Interesting..." Dave muttered under his breath.
"You're not just swinging blindly. Every attack has a purpose, and every move is calculated"
'This guy knows what he's doing.'
The dwarf, noticing Dave's focus, growled in frustration.
"Stop mocking me and fight seriously, boy! Or are you too afraid to face me at full strength?"
Dave smirked, stepping forward. "Afraid? Nah. I just like to have fun before things get serious. But if you insist, I guess I'll stop holding back."
He raised his hand, summoning a faint glow of chaotic energy around him. "Let's see if you and your toys can handle this."