Chapter 171: Battle in the Dwarven Kingdom Part 1

Chapter 171: Battle in the Dwarven Kingdom Part 1



Meanwhile, inside the Dwarven Kingdom, the halls were filled with the sound of dwarven voices raised in celebration. The signing between Vincent and Velara had been a success, marking a pivotal moment for both parties. As mugs of ale clanked together and laughter echoed through the stone halls, the mood was abruptly shattered.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The doors to the hall burst open, and one of the dwarven guards stumbled in, his armor scraped and his face pale with urgency. "We're under attack!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward the guard. Velara, seated beside Vincent, immediately stood up, her expression hardening. "What do you mean, under attack?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

The guard, still catching his breath, stammered, "Stone Sentinels...they are destroyed!"

Vincent, who had been quietly observing the celebration moments before, now looked at Velara, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Who could be attacking? And how did they get past your defenses so quickly?" he asked, his voice calm but with a clear edge of concern.

Velara shook her head, clearly as puzzled as Vincent. "The Stone Sentinels are ancient, nearly indestructible. For them to be destroyed... this must be a powerful enemy...like you."

"Could it be from the demon clan or is it a third-party whom you are belligerent..."

Velara shook her head, her expression troubled. "No, it can't be. The Dwarven Kingdom is not at odds with any other nation. We've maintained neutrality for decades. This attack-it surprises me as much as it does you."

Vincent crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as he processed her words. "If that's the case, then it means this isn't an act of war from any known nation. Whoever they are, they're either acting independently or in secret."

Velara looked around at the dwarves in the hall, their earlier joy replaced by confusion and unease. "We've had no warnings, no threats. It makes no sense for someone to attack us now, especially with the Stone Sentinels as our first line of defense."

Vincent tilted his head. "Personal?"

Velara nodded slowly. "They're not just marching in to raid our resources. There's something deliberate about this attack, almost as if they've been waiting for the right moment. And they're targeting areas we've fortified for centuries. It feels like they've known about these defenses all along."

Vincent's eyes widened slightly. "You think someone gave them this information? An inside job?"

Velara's gaze darkened. "I don't know. But there's something deeper at play here, something we're not seeing."

The crystal's glow intensified, showing a clearer view of the demons advancing toward the front gate. One of them, a tall figure with dark, swirling energy radiating from its form, casually placed a hand on the massive iron gate. As soon as its hand touched the surface, dark tendrils of corruption began spreading across the mechanism, seeping into the metal and stone like a venomous liquid.

"What are they doing?" Vincent asked.

"It's breaching the gate, they are going to open it," Velara said. "Assemble the troops!" Velara commanded.

The dwarven guards scrambled to their feet, rushing out of the chamber to prepare for the oncoming assault.

The crystal flickered again, showing the demon's hand slowly corrupting the gate's mechanism. The dark tendrils twisted deeper into the iron, causing the ancient structure to groan under the pressure. With a final pulse of dark energy, the massive gate began to creak open, its ancient locks failing against the power of the demonic corruption.

"They've breached it," Vincent muttered, his voice filled with urgency. He clenched his fists, readying himself for the inevitable conflict.

Velara's eyes blazed with determination as she turned to him. "You're right. We can't let them gain any more ground. If they reach the inner sanctum, it's over."

"But they are just five of them," Vincent noticed. "Could it be...the demon's clan strongest forces?"