Chapter 659: The Mountain Crumbles and the Threat
The stone dwarf roared at the sky, hurling a massive boulder—weighing tens of thousands of tons and over ten meters in diameter—at the red dragon.
This was no ordinary stone, but a weapon infused with divine earth power, strong enough to bring down a floating fortress and reduce it to rubble.
Yet the red dragon showed no fear. He opened his gaping maw, unleashing dragonfire from deep in his throat, while the dragon crystal on his chest blazed like a miniature sun.
"Boom—"
With a cracking roar, a blazing pillar of fire burst forth like a red-and-white sword, slicing the sky and piercing the massive boulder, which exploded midair.
The burning fragments rained down like a meteor shower, triggering fierce explosions across the ground. But compared to the clash between Cassius and Dumathoin, it was but a trivial ripple.
The solar-powered fire beam continued forward after piercing the boulder, striking toward Dumathoin's avatar—Edd's body, his vessel in the Material Plane.
The titan-like stone dwarf stood his ground. Gems burst forth from his arms, forming a massive, translucent hexagonal shield with an extraordinarily smooth surface.
The gemstone shield, over thirty meters long, could be cut into countless magnificent jewels.
As the master of mineral veins, Dumathoin had summoned all the gems buried within a hundred-mile radius for this very shield.
"Boom!"
Two mighty elemental forces clashed. The gemstone shield blocked Cassius's breath, its surface gleaming, even reflecting some of the heat back.
Behind the shield, Dumathoin raised the Hammer of Lava. As magma surged, shards of iron, copper, gold, silver, and mithril erupted from the ground, shooting at the red dragon like reverse-falling rain.
"Awooo—"
Cassius roared skyward, invoking his authority over the Fire Elemental Plane. Flaming meteors rained from the heavens, colliding with the sharp metal shards in midair.
The sky filled with fire and falling stars. The earth was shrouded in metal. Their collisions birthed boiling fireclouds, and burning fragments rained down.
These pure and precious metals, once worth dying for, now terrified onlookers who cowered under the divine conflict.
"Boom!"
The stone dwarf slammed his hammer down, shaking the earth. Sharp stone spikes rose from the ground, mimicking Edd's moves—but far more devastating.
Each spike soared hundreds of meters high, like towering blades aimed at the red dragon's belly and neck.
But Cassius moved with terrifying speed. His wings flapped, stirring a deadly storm. His massive frame turned into a blur of crimson, weaving through the fireclouds.
Mortal eyes couldn't track him. Only afterimages and glimpses of claws and scales flashed across the sky.
Thunderbolts rained down from the sky, striking Dumathoin, followed by miniature suns crashing from every angle.
Each blast could kill an ordinary dragon, but they barely affected the dwarven god's avatar.
Dumathoin narrowed his eyes and straightened up. Adamantine and mithril coated his skin, forming magic-resistant armor that deflected the lightning.
His silver-flame eyes glared, absorbing fireballs into the Hammer of Lava, turning them into fuel.
The surging fireclouds pressed down like a tsunami, scalding the land with steam capable of charring mortals.
But lightning, flames, and fireclouds were mere distractions. Cassius had already ascended ten thousand meters, preparing to dive.
Wind pressure howled. Sulfurous smoke filled the air. The world trembled under the red dragon's descent.
Dumathoin gripped his hammer and shield, glowing with deep ochre light, ready for impact.
Cassius burst through the clouds and smoke, unleashing dark red Chaos Breath straight at Dumathoin!
"Boom!"
The impact rocked the heavens and earth.
The ground sank several meters. Fissures spread like spiderwebs. Lava surged from the cracks.
The surrounding Blackstone Mountains shook violently. Landslides buried countless lives.
Despite the gemstone shield, Dumathoin was caught off guard. Cassius's dive slammed him deep into the earth.
Dumathoin struggled up, swinging the Hammer of Lava. Its glowing head carried power strong enough to shatter space, aimed at Cassius's skull.
Though Dumathoin's avatar was titanic, it wasn't agile. Cassius dodged swiftly, then summoned Chaos Flame from within.
The dark red fire pierced the gemstone shield, blasting toward Dumathoin.
Dumathoin rolled away, barely avoiding the dragon breath. The Chaos Flame gouged a bottomless pit in the earth.
Cassius grinned wildly, flames dancing from his jaws. "Dumathoin, on the Outer Planes, I might've feared you. But this is the Material Plane!
Admit defeat. You dwarves can't hold Avenderdan. It belongs to the Ember Empire. It belongs to me!"
Still silent, Dumathoin raised a mountainous fist, striking at Cassius's chest. His silver-flame eyes burned with fury.
"Boom!!"
Cassius took flight, dodging the blow. The punch cracked space, making even the red dragon marvel.
Dumathoin's attacks grew fiercer. His rocky body seemed tireless, punching, kicking, and hammering through the dragonfire.
Cassius relied on his mobility, dueling midair.
He unleashed breaths infused with chaos, order, and solar power. Dumathoin's avatar became scorched and cracked.
"Die!"
Cassius dove again, spewing fire. Caught off guard, Dumathoin crashed into a nearby peak. The fire punched through his abdomen.
"Boom!"
The mountain collapsed, burying Dumathoin. But when Cassius lunged, his foe had vanished into the rock.
The stone dwarf burst from the ground with shattering rocks, swinging his hammer at Cassius's head.
But Cassius lashed out with his tail, swatting Dumathoin away.
This wasn't just brute force—it was divine authority clashing with divine authority.
They fought from the Blackstone Mountains to dozens of miles away, leaving behind magma-scorched wastelands.
"By Cassius!"
"Terrifying... even the shockwaves toppled mountains. Glad we didn't charge in earlier."
"His Majesty will win."
"Someone can fight His Majesty to this extent? Who is that dwarf?!"
A clear female voice rang through the Imperial army, answering their questions: "He is Dumathoin, guardian god of the Shield Dwarves.
The great Ember Emperor, our master, is battling a true god!"
Soldiers turned toward the voice. It was Misha, eyes shining with awe like she had witnessed a miracle.
In truth, Dumathoin had merely possessed Edd's body and was weakened by orc gods. His strength was far below his true self.
But that didn't stop Misha from glorifying Cassius, spreading tales of his heroism.
The crowd buzzed. Though many mocked the gods, they couldn't deny their power.
"A real god...?" someone murmured in disbelief.
"No wonder His Majesty came himself! Only someone like that could match him!"
"His Majesty fights a true god to protect us... how can we ever repay him?!"
Tears streamed down faces. Some knelt, sobbing at the Emperor's sacrifice.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield miles away, Cassius showed no concern for his people. His face twisted into a mad, arrogant grin.
"Feel it, Dumathoin? The world rejects you!
Look around. You've brought ruin to the Material Plane. Still call yourself its guardian?"
Dumathoin's face darkened. He had no retort.
Divine roles affect personality. Witnessing so many Shield Dwarves die had clouded his judgment, and Cassius's provocation had pushed him too far.
For once, the Silent Keeper snorted, glaring at the red dragon and gesturing. Cassius understood the message clearly:
"Ember Emperor, do you intend to challenge the entire dwarven pantheon?"
Cassius shook his head casually. "Of course not. I'm helping you. Better a swift pain than a long one. If the orcs invaded, the dwarves would've lost far more."
Dumathoin clenched his teeth. Even a stoic god was enraged by the dragon's shamelessness.
"This is not over! Your actions have angered Moradin! Return Avenderdan until the war with the orc pantheon ends!"
"I've already made concessions. Why don't you understand?"
Cassius sighed as if heartbroken. "If the dwarven gods persist, I won't hesitate to wipe out the Shield Dwarves entirely."
Dumathoin's eyes flashed. He gestured again: "What do you mean?"
"You think I didn't notice the Mountain Lord's actions? Think his little tricks escape me?"
Cassius slowly descended. His wings stirred the earth, cracking it further.
He smiled coldly. "Old guardian, if you keep pushing, I might visit that demi-plane and slaughter the rest of your dwarves.
Then tell me—would you still be worthy of the title 'Shield Dwarves' Guardian'?"
The red dragon stared down Dumathoin, golden eyes brimming with killing intent—the pinnacle of opportunistic cruelty.
"You—"
Dumathoin's face darkened further. Rage welled within him. The earth trembled like a volcano about to erupt.
A mortal would kneel before such wrath. But Cassius only grew more eager.
He spread his wings and stepped forward boldly. "If I can't find that demi-plane and you persist, I'll ally with the orc gods.
You know this—fate favors me. Even Tiamat covets my blood. Imagine what monsters orcs and dragons might birth."
A threat—blatant, brazen, aimed at a god.
A heresy, a provocation few would dare.
In earlier ages, Dumathoin would've descended in full fury, unleashing divine judgment.
But now, his stone face flickered with hesitation.
Because the red dragon was right.
If this continued, and the red dragon allied with the orc gods, the consequences would be catastrophic—even Dumathoin couldn't bear it.