Chapter 584: Spreading Fame

A phantom vision appeared before Batu Skullcrusher—he was pierced through the chest by the golden dragon’s flame and lost his life completely.

"Is this my fate? Damn you, golden-scaled reptile! Damn those dwarves and elves!"

In an instant, the mutual slaughter of orcs on the Ugo Prairie over millennia, the old shaman’s ultimate sacrifice, and Monk’s fearless charge all flashed through his mind.

Batu Skullcrusher’s hand, holding "Gruumsh’s Blood," trembled slightly. At this moment, he felt the fate of the orcs was in his hands.

If he could win, leading the Crimson Blood Tribe to conquer Avenderdan, the orcs’ long-cherished dream could come true.

The orcs would no longer need to slaughter each other over barren lands and meager resources. Their territory would span the entire Faenso Continent!

"Cowards! You will never defeat me—"

Facing enemies rushing from all directions, Batu Skullcrusher raised his axe skyward and roared in fury, as if challenging the entire world.

Bloodfury Berserk!

The orc’s entire body boiled with blood! Endless blood-red light soared skyward, as if to dye the sky crimson.

"Praise the One-Eyed God!"

"Praise the Sleepless One!"

The orc shamans raised their arms and uttered devout prayers. Terrifying power descended from the sky, surrounding the orc chieftain.

With multiple blessings, Batu’s momentum climbed several levels, nearing the peak of legend.

"For Moradin!"

The Highland Lord Edd let out a heart-wrenching roar. Dwarven royal blood surged from his body and fused into his warhammer.

Clang! Clang!

Soul-forging flames swirled around his body. Crisp hammering sounds echoed, tempering him.

At this moment, Edd was actually fusing himself with the Rockforged Hammer!

Instantly, a nearly hundred-meter-long bronze warhammer covered in mottled bloodstains appeared in the sky.

Buzz—

With a sonic boom, it crashed down toward the orcs like a mountain falling to earth.

Batu shouted and quickly raised his great axe skyward. The massive orc shadow behind him mimicked his movement.

Boom!

In an instant, a powerful shockwave knocked tens of thousands to the ground. A sweeping gale engulfed the land, and the sky roared.

Shattered stone, deadwood, blood, and abandoned blades were swept skyward, forming a terrifying storm.

At the eye of the storm, Batu maintained his stance, bracing with his axe. His body was covered in wounds, and the orc shadow behind him shattered like glass.

Edd was sent flying, crashing into the ground to form a deep pit. Covered in blood, barely breathing, he still clutched his warhammer.

"Lo- long-beard... Is this all your hammer’s got?"

Batu ignored his bleeding body, grinned savagely, and prepared to finish the dwarf king. But a clear, fierce shout came from behind.

"Sworn enemies, show no mercy!"

Batu turned. The winged avenger angel dove from above, her silver sword glowing with twilight light as it sliced through the sky.

Countless blades of light descended, crisscrossing in the air like dazzling remnants of sunset.

Shhhk—

Blood-red totems surrounded Batu’s body, blocking the storm-like assault.

But soon the totems dimmed. Dense wounds appeared all over his body, blood splattered, seared by divine light. Roaring vengeful souls surged in from all directions.

Not even a dragon could withstand such a barrage.

But the orc chieftain endured with sheer strength and willpower, bracing through the pain.

"Even in death, I’ll drag you self-righteous fools into hell!

Orcs have the right to live in the sun!"

Batu Skullcrusher growled through gritted teeth, ignoring his injuries.

The one-eyed symbol appeared above Rhea’s head—a venomous curse. The half-elf paladin weakened instantly and nearly fell.

For a legendary holy warrior, the curse only stalled her briefly—but that was enough.

Batu charged through the storm of blades with his axe, aiming to end Edd, his remaining eye glinting murderously.

"Aaaaah—"

If Edd Klein died, the Highland Kingdom would be leaderless, and the orcs could still hope to take Avenderdan!

"No!"

Rhea realized Batu’s intent. She flapped her wings and reached out to block him.

But it was too late. Batu stood before the dwarf king, raised his axe, and smirked.

Edd lay powerless on the ground, gasping. "Orcs... will never enter..."

Batu sneered, muscles bulging. "Shame you won’t live to see it!"

At that critical moment, a screech echoed above. A growing shadow enveloped them both.

Boom!

The ground quaked. Dust billowed.

The massive golden dragon plummeted from the sky like a meteor, slamming down atop the orc chieftain.

A huge crater formed, and at its center, the once-mighty Batu lay under the dragon’s claws, barely alive.

His body was in ruins—covered in wounds, bones crushed to powder, joints twisted, flesh mangled beyond recognition.

This orc chieftain who ruled Ugo for over twenty years was finally nearing his end.

Cough!

Batu spat blood and sneered. "Heh, a sneak attack? This is justice to you golden-scaled hypocrites?"

Cassius chuckled inwardly and declared solemnly:

"Against scum like you, why bother with fairness?"

"Scum..."

Batu echoed the word, growing agitated.

"Scum?

We orcs were tricked by treacherous dwarves and elves, driven north of the Blackstone Mountains, forced to live on barren Ugo soil!

For millennia we slaughtered each other for scraps. All we ever wanted was the right to survive—and that makes us scum?

You sanctimonious golden lizard! You’ll never understand—"

Boom!

The blazing dragonfire consumed him mercilessly. Cassius exhaled smoke and muttered:

"Villains sure love their speeches. Better to end it quick."

Batu’s soul rose from his charred corpse, shrouded in blood-colored divine power.

"Gruumsh’s Blood" floated beside the soul.

The soul stared at Cassius with his single eye, horrified. "No... you’re not a dragon! What are you?

Ha... ha ha! I see now! We’re not so different after all!"

The golden dragon remained stoic. "Leaving already? At least leave something behind."

He reached out, a vortex in his palm siphoning away the divine power left in Gruumsh’s Blood.

Batu’s soul screamed, rising with the axe. "Damn you! Remember this—you’ll die worse than I did!"

"Empty threats. You sicken me."

Rhea landed, folding her wings, squinting into the distance thoughtfully.

Not far away, the dwarf king slowly opened his eyes and pushed himself up.

Staring at the charred corpse by the dragon, his voice hoarse with emotion:

"Batu Skullcrusher... is dead!"

The dwarves and elves on the wall erupted in thunderous cheers.

"This battle will go down in history! The golden dragon slew the orc chieftain!"

"He killed Batu Skullcrusher!"

"Praise Moradin!"

The orcs were devastated. Many shamans went mad, lashing out in blind rage.

"No!—"

"How could this happen!"

"Batu was Gruumsh’s chosen! How could he lose!"

The dwarves seized the chance to counterattack, loosing volleys and sending infantry in pursuit.

Their morale soared, while the orcs, leaderless and chaotic, began infighting. The battle became a one-sided slaughter.

Cassius soared above, diving repeatedly to unleash dragonfire, incinerating hundreds at a time.

Rhea hovered, cleaving through orcs with sweeping arcs of her silver blade.

The remaining "Eyes of Gruumsh" and shamans attempted retaliation—but this was no equal fight.

At last, orc commander Soro Blooddrinker stood tall, rallying the remnants.

"We haven’t lost yet! Gruumsh still favors us! Retreat! One day, we’ll avenge Batu and bathe Avenderdan in blood!"

"Blood for Avenderdan!"

The crimson one-eye banner flapped in the wind as the orcs fled, leaving corpses in their wake.

The dwarves and elves harassed their retreat, inflicting heavy casualties.

Even so, nearly 100,000 orcs survived the brutal campaign.

The allied army rejoiced, raising weapons and shouting triumphantly:

"By Moradin, we are victorious!"

"Avenderdan will never fall! The Highland Kingdom stands eternal!"

"Justice has prevailed!"

Edd gazed at the shattered walls and piles of corpses, sighing as if he had aged years.

He turned to the dragon atop the keep. "Lord Titus, you saved my life and our homeland.

You shall forever be a friend to us dwarves. I will repay this debt to the utmost."

The golden dragon nodded, letting out a soft roar.

Edd turned to the half-elf paladin. "Thank you as well, our ally.

The Highland Kingdom will support Queen Catherine Moonchaser’s restoration and oppose the Senate’s rule."

Rhea nodded, finally smiling. "Thank you. That is exactly what Her Majesty desires."

Her eyes turned sharp. "But Gruumsh’s schemes aren’t over. The northern orcs are still restless. I will remain in the Blackstone Mountains and help you eliminate the orc threat."

"Good."

Sunlight broke through the clouds and bathed the earth.

Under elven and dwarven gazes, the golden dragon shimmered with a morning-glow halo.

Someone cried out: "Praise the Dawn Dragon!"

"Thank Lord Titus! He helped us repel the orc invasion!"

Titus gracefully circled above Avenderdan, wings billowing like waves, and let out a mighty roar.

Roooaaar!

"Justice, like the rising and setting sun, is eternal!"

And so, the massive Blackstone War ended with the death of Batu Skullcrusher and Soro Blooddrinker’s retreat north.

The dwarves and their allies repelled the orc invasion, preserving peace in northeastern Faenso.

Edd the Highland Lord and Rhea the Twilight Blade became celebrated heroes, lauded by bards across the land.

Meanwhile, the mysterious golden dragon Titus appeared in public for the first time and was honored as the "Dawn Dragon."

Dragon scholars speculated that Lord Titus was at least an ancient gold dragon with legendary spellcasting powers.

People rejoiced at the emergence of such a noble and righteous being. Many young metallic dragons traveled to Blackstone Mountains seeking his friendship.

Anzeta Wasteland, Dragonblood Mountain.

After months of bloodline purification, the Ember Emperor’s body grew even larger, now measuring forty-five meters.

The red dragon slowly opened his eyes, exhaling sulfurous white smoke in satisfaction as he viewed his updated info.

\[You have slain "Crimson Blood Tyrant - Batu Skullcrusher (Challenge Level: 24), gaining 60,000 XP.]

"Compared to grueling battles, kill-stealing feels way better," Cassius mused with genuine satisfaction.