Dimrill Dale.
This was a valley on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, where rapids fell from mountain passes, forming a waterfall-like stream at the valley's northern end that rushed into a lake in the northeastern part of the valley.
It was called Mirrormere.
Moria's east gate opened on the hillside west of Mirrormere, where damaged dwarven statues could be seen everywhere.
However, today this place welcomed a group of uncommon visitors.
Large stretches of armor gleamed golden in the sun, their momentum even surpassing the radiance reflected by the lake.
Rumble rumble...
Tremors came from within the mountain.
Splash.
Levi tumbled and shot out from the great door.
When the dazzling daylight shone on him, Levi realized, Wait, why was this a downward slope?!
"Oh, ah, ugh!"
The armor clanged and clattered in intimate contact with the stairs. The figure bounced and rolled down the steps, finally coming to rest on soft grass after quite some time.
Phew.
Levi took a deep breath, climbed up from the grass below the stairs, and dusted himself off.
Though the process was somewhat embarrassing, he had finally made it out.
Unfortunately, he still hadn't been able to stop the Balrog. He'd let that guy cross the bridge.
The outside air was so much better.
Before the grass, Levi couldn't help but sigh:
"Ah, this grass, this sunlight, this waterfall, this lake, these... elves?"
His face froze.
A fully armored elven army holding high the banners of Lothlórien stood quietly by Mirrormere, their faces serious as they maintained formation without the slightest movement, like stones.
"Why is there an elven army here?"
"Respected ally, we've come with reinforcements!"
An elf waved from a distance and shouted loudly, his face bearing unstoppable mirth.
"I sincerely thank you!"
And could you please stop laughing!
Beside that loudly shouting elf, a noble and beautiful lady slowly nodded toward Levi. She wore a long dress and walked barefoot on the ground, yet remained spotless, untainted by any impurity.
"Greetings, my lady!"
Levi immediately shouted: "But now is really not the time for conversation. Listen to me, quickly have the army withdraw. He's right behind me!"
He?
Hearing Levi's shout, the elves felt somewhat puzzled.
Who was this "he" their ally referred to?
Soon, this question had an answer.
As the mountain tremors became increasingly obvious and scorching heat rose from underground, the elves' breathing unconsciously grew heavier, even faintly unable to grip their weapons steadily.
A burning heat enveloped all the elves' hearts.
Natural enemy.
This was the being that had been called the 'Elf-bane' thousands of years ago: the Balrog.
It was both the bane of elves and the natural enemy of all living things. Of all life existing on this continent, none had a higher rank than it, including Sauron and the five wizards, and including the Lady of the Golden Wood before them.
Thud!
Along with the scorching heat came war drums from the depths of the abyss and the legion from hell they represented.
BOOM!
Mountain rock shattered, flames erupted from within, shooting toward the sky, followed immediately by two charred giant claws that pried open the exit, crushing the door frame to powder.
ROAR!
Massive wings fully spread under the sky for the first time, almost blocking out the sun and turning this place overcast.
"Ah... ah!"
When the sunlight on their faces turned to firelight, and thick smoke with choking sulfur filled the entire valley, finally some elves couldn't withstand this terror and cried out on the spot, stepping back several paces.
The Balrog had disrupted the elves' formation with just an appearance.
For these later-generation elves, the Balrog was too stimulating.
Just like orcs facing Levi, the elves' fear of the Balrog was almost carved into their souls. Only the mighty could overcome it.
Never mind them. Even among the truly capable elves in the holy land of Valinor, few dared battle Balrogs.
"Maintain formation, hold your ground!"
Behind Lady Galadriel, the elven captain leading the army was first to recover, turning to face the troops and shouting.
However, the Balrog didn't even glance at them. From beginning to end, only one person existed in its eyes.
"I told you, you cannot escape!"
"Ridiculous creature, thinking you could avoid disaster by calling elves as reinforcements? You'll all die here today!"
Flames gathered in its hands.
Levi knew this move all too well.
Having fought so long, now when the Balrog raised its hand, Levi knew what it wanted to do next.
He had it memorized.
Swoosh.
He drew his long sword, stood before the elven army, and struck forward fiercely, clashing head-on with the Balrog and deflecting the flaming sword from its hand.
At this moment, Levi could clearly feel the precious sword in his hand was unprecedentedly responsive. This strike was heavier than any in the past days.
Nemesis seemed to sense something. Its radiance increased, and its power grew stronger.
"That is a sword forged by our kinfolk..."
The elves looked at that long sword that faintly resonated with their souls, their hearts stirring.
"What do you think you are, weak creature..."
Clang!
The long sword met the Balrog's weapon, friction sparking light and scattered falling sparks. The runic rings on his hands continuously flashed brilliant orange-yellow radiance, deflecting the Balrog's impact.
Golden rings...?
Lady Galadriel suddenly lowered her raised hand, feeling somewhat alert.
She chose to observe for now.
Led by Galadriel, the elves remained motionless for the time being.
Meanwhile, the Balrog's strength ultimately gained the upper hand. While clashing blades, its other hand condensed a prepared whip at extreme speed, wrapping around Levi's foot.
This guy had learned to ambush too!
Whoosh. Levi was flung onto the hillside, flying high into the air.
The Balrog on the ground looked up expectantly, gripping its sword tightly and watching the falling Levi, preparing for a charged heavy strike.
However, it wasn't only the Balrog that couldn't fully deploy underground.
Swoosh.
Firework sounds rang out. Levi instantly switched to elytra, and after using fireworks for propulsion, quickly switched back to chestplate. Using this momentum, he rushed to the Balrog's front with lightning speed like a missile, smashing into its head and taking advantage of this opportunity to deliver a heavy slash!
Thud!
Caught off guard, the Balrog crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact, its entire massive head burying directly into the soil.
At this moment, it felt its head buzzing.
[-103]
The heavy sword carrying acceleration momentum directly shaved away one-tenth of the Balrog's life force.
But force was mutual.
While the Balrog suffered a heavy blow, Levi also felt powerful momentum. His health bar directly emptied by more than half.
Not from being hit, from the fall.
He quickly bit into a golden apple.
Not many left.
Whether golden apples or food, there wasn't much left. If this continued, he'd really have nothing to eat.
"Damn!"
In over ten thousand years since its birth, the Balrog's fury had never blazed as fiercely as today.
"Since you can't kill me, and I can't kill you..."
The Balrog pulled its head from the soil and suddenly laughed loudly:
"Then I'll kill all your friends and relatives and destroy everything you care about!"
Roar!
No longer bothering with Levi, the Balrog turned and charged toward the elven army.
At this moment, Lady Galadriel, who had been observing, finally moved.
She raised her right hand high, and something that flickered like a star flowed between her fingers, blooming with silver-white radiance.
Thud!
The next moment, the Balrog's form suddenly stopped before the great army, as if hitting some obstacle, unable to advance a single step.
The Ring of Water, Nenya.
Levi stared at the object between those fingers.
Nenya, one of the three elven rings, possessed the authority of "understanding, creation, and protection." It was precisely because of this ring's existence that Lothlórien could be full of vitality, growing mallorn trees, a Valinor specialty species, and becoming the 'Golden Wood' people spoke of.
Later, after Sauron's master ring was destroyed, Nenya also lost its power, and the Golden Wood under its protection soon returned to wilderness.
In a sense, this ring was equivalent to Levi's territory system, maintaining the rules of a territory. It was because of its existence that the Golden Wood could prosper as it did today.
"What is this power?"
The Balrog felt somewhat unfamiliar.
It had been sleeping since the end of the First Age and knew nothing of what had happened in the outside world.
These Rings of Power were only forged in the Second Age.
Seeing the Balrog blocked, Levi also relaxed and caught his breath.
Lady Galadriel herself was very powerful, and with the Ring of Water in hand at this moment, restraining one Balrog wasn't difficult...
After all, there was still a lake right beside them.
As the Ring of Water began displaying its power, Galadriel glowed with holy white light that became increasingly dazzling, mixed with a silver-white similar to starlight.
"Return to your place of slumber, Balrog."
Lady Galadriel slowly spoke:
"Wherever starlight can shine, there is no place for you!"
Thud!
The silver-white radiance became more obvious, forming a barrier that firmly isolated the Balrog within.
"Go back!"
A furious shout forced the Balrog to retreat several more steps.
But that was all.
The powerful force contained in that ring might restrain the Balrog but couldn't truly threaten it.
Even if close enough, the Balrog's extreme high temperature could threaten the ring in return.
Very dangerous.
Levi raised his sword and stood before the Balrog again.
"I still have to say those words..."
"You shall not pass!"
Armor Break!
Thud!
The charged strike landed, and the Balrog couldn't help but retreat again. Not wasting this opportunity, Levi locked onto the Balrog, continuing to slash sword after sword, forcing it step by step back to Moria's great door.
Flames disappeared from under the sun, retreating into the shadowy Moria entrance.
"I will return."
The Balrog gripped the door frame and shouted unwillingly:
"I will return to destroy everything!"
At the door, it stared fixedly at Levi, bent down, and brought its large face close to Levi's, slowly saying:
"When that time comes, you won't face only me."
"We will find you..."
The suppressing force grew stronger.
Darkness returned to its shadowy domain.
However, the drum sounds didn't cease.
The radiance on Lady Galadriel gradually faded. Her body softened, and she collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
Levi hurried over to check her condition.
Good. Her health was fine.
But it looked like the consumption was significant. She needed to recover properly.
"A legion from hell is approaching. Prepare for battle!"
The elven captain raised his long sword high, signaling the army behind him to prepare for combat, blocking the brutal orc army that surged up following the Balrog.
He looked toward Levi beside him.
"Ally, will you join us?"
Levi waved his hand at him.
The captain nodded.
"Understood. Please rest in the rear. We'll handle those orcs."
"No need."
Levi stepped forward and sat quite relaxedly on the steps of Moria's entrance:
"Waving wasn't refusal. No need for words."
"You don't need to move. I'm fine here."