—As War God's dependents, we Flügel have always been domineering in this world. How could we encounter enemies we can't handle?
Recalling their previous thoughts, the Flügel girls only felt deeply embarrassed.
Not only had they encountered enemies they couldn't handle, but they also had to seek help from their temporary master.
For the proud Flügel, this was tremendous humiliation.
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but glare angrily at the Old Deus before them.
"Daring to obstruct our actions—even gods cannot be forgiven!"
Before the Flügel legion stood a robust elder with his back to the Divine Forge, shouldering a massive, ancient hammer, pale flames burning in his eye sockets—the Dwarf race's creator, Forge God Ocain.
At this moment, this elder was bare-chested with bristling beard and hair, looking very angry.
This was understandable. Anyone whose home was suddenly invaded by a group of bandits who brazenly discussed stealing the family's secretly hidden treasures right in front of the owner would be unable to contain their anger.
Not to mention, Ocain's temper wasn't very good to begin with.
Now hearing the Flügel's victim-blaming, he was even more speechlessly furious.
"Daring to rob my children's works right in front of me—War God's wings, didn't Artosh teach you any manners?"
He made such an accusation.
Facing this question, the Flügel girls looked at each other. Some directly asked in confusion:
"Manners... what's that?"
Ocain and the Dwarfs all fell silent.
Discussing manners with the kill-only Flügel was perhaps premature.
"Ahem!"
Seeing her companions' unreliability, No. 4 individual Raphael helplessly cleared her throat and stepped forward as temporary representative.
Looking at the Forge God before her, having faced Old Deus alongside Azril, she showed no fear.
"Manners? Our lord Artosh said, 'What thou desirest, kill and take—Heaven's will made manifest.' If there's any manners we Flügel must observe, this would be it."
Simply translated: "Kill, then plunder."
This was quite primitive and bloody doctrine, but combined with the Flügel's superior strength, it seemed exceptionally terrifying.
If Forge God Ocain weren't here, the entire Dwarf race would probably have been completely slaughtered by now.
"Truly primitive people!"
Behind Forge God Ocain, Dwarf divine domain-level genius Ronny Drauvenir muttered quietly, immediately drawing the Flügel's murderous gazes.
He quickly hid behind Ocain, looking at the Flügel defiantly.
Unlike the Elves, the Dwarfs' god would truly protect them, so they were especially confident now.
No matter how strong the Flügel were, would they dare challenge an Old Deus?
Obviously, Ocain thought the same.
So after hearing Raphael's words, he immediately said sternly:
"Even so, with me here, you're destined to gain nothing today. Since Heaven didn't grant it to you, I can allow you to leave."
Hearing this, the Dwarfs behind Ocain stirred slightly, obviously not wanting to let these Flügel go so easily.
However, Ronny Drauvenir didn't feel this way. He nodded lightly, supporting Forge God Ocain's decision.
"Great Master!"
A mighty Old Deus facing invaders of his homeland could still refrain from retaliation—this was already extreme restraint.
However, facing this concession, the Flügel looked at each other with slightly uneasy but completely unyielding expressions.
"Impossible!"
Raphael immediately refused.
"For us to leave, there's only one possibility—hand over all the divine essences you have!"
Feeling the response from the detection spell Ryuga had granted her, she added:
"Eight divine essences total. Don't try to deceive us!"
The reason they clashed with the Dwarfs was exactly this.
Somehow, they discovered massive inactive divine essence reactions in the Dwarf stronghold, proving the Dwarfs were definitely hiding something.
Although they didn't know if it was what Ryuga-sama wanted, it didn't matter—Ryuga's task was to recover all suspicious items.
Just to avoid embarrassing Lord Artosh, they absolutely couldn't retreat now.
Hearing them mention this, both Forge God Ocain and Dwarf genius Ronny's faces darkened.
Divine essence research was the Dwarfs' greatest secret.
As a divine domain-level genius, Ronny had not only mastered artificial divine essence catalysis but could also use divine essence as bombs.
Thus, he developed "Divine Essence Explosion" with godslaying-level power—abbreviated as essence burst spells.
Originally intended for use against the Elves or War God Artosh, he hadn't expected that before preparations were complete and spells properly adjusted, these Flügel would discover them.
What terrible luck.
"Impossible! I'll never give them to you!"
This time, before Ocain could respond, Ronny impulsively refused.
Essence burst was the Dwarfs' greatest weapon to end this war, their biggest trump card to push Forge God Ocain onto the throne of sole deity. How could it be easily given to enemies?
Even if the Flügel might not see through their plan, it would inevitably arouse suspicion later.
Facing his refusal, Raphael showed no reaction.
She simply raised her hand slightly, assuming an attacking stance.
"I'm not negotiating with you mice—this is our command!"
All Flügel immediately followed her lead, raising their right arms and targeting Forge God Ocain together.
Flügel felt shame at having to seek help, but when truly risking their lives, they never hesitated.
As War God's wings, dying in battle wasn't an unacceptable outcome for them.
This behavior was naked provocation.
Forge God Ocain's anger flared as he also raised his giant hammer.
"Mere dependents dare challenge a god! Broken wings, who do you think you're threatening—a divine species?"
As an upper-tier Old Deus, he didn't fear the Flügel legion before him.
However—
"Just a mere god! We've established godslaying achievements before!"
Raphael sneered, her attitude even more aggressive.
"All units—prepare Heavenly Smite!"
"Yes!" ×n
The Flügel's strongest technique, Heavenly Smite, multiplied in power when used collectively.
Now, over a thousand Flügel using Heavenly Smite together could amplify their power to threaten upper-tier Old Deus.
Even Ocain felt uncertain facing such an attack.
However, before his children, he couldn't soften his stance.
"If you insist, I don't mind demonstrating divine might to send you all back to the Spirit Corridor!"
Hearing this, Raphael sneered.
"Trying to intimidate Flügel with death? How foolish! Even if we perish, War God Artosh-sama will take your lives. We absolutely won't lose!"
Hearing this, the originally battle-spirited Dwarfs immediately cooled down.
Right—Flügel had their ultimate move: calling their parent.
Compared to Dwarfs who had already called their parent but only held slight advantage, once War God Artosh appeared, it would be overwhelming victory.
Even if Ocain killed all Flügel now, given War God's care for his dependents, he'd definitely immediately act to eliminate both Dwarfs and Ocain.
This was the Flügel's thuggish nature—no matter how you chose, targets they marked were mostly doomed.
"Great Master, perhaps we should step back!"
Understanding this, Ronny immediately calmed down and said to Ocain.
Once they fought all Flügel, regardless of victory or defeat, they were dead. Such gambles were best not started.
They couldn't afford it, but these Flügel lunatics might flip the table anytime.
"No!"
Forge God Ocain immediately shook his head.
"I know your concerns, but... facing Flügel hyenas, we cannot make any concessions."
No Old Deus in this world didn't fear Artosh—Ocain included. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so restrained, always avoiding large-scale conflicts.
If Dwarfs themselves killed a few Flügel, War God wouldn't care. But once he as an Old Deus acted against Flügel, War God might spear him to death.
His status wasn't suitable for direct action, but unfortunately Dwarf strength was insufficient—without his protection, they'd be annihilated.
Therefore, facing the Flügel legion, he could only use divine authority to deter them, hoping to protect his people.
But even retreat had techniques. If he as an Old Deus made unlimited concessions, his people would be disappointed, and the Flügel would become even more aggressive.
So he absolutely couldn't retreat.
"Moreover, I am the Dwarfs' creator god! How can I let outside villains steal my children's proudest works?!"
His final words were roared out, inflaming the other Dwarfs' blood.
This was also his honest feeling. Finally having an excellent child create "Essence Burst"—how could it be taken by Flügel?
Under this tense atmosphere, both sides' momentum became increasingly hostile, yet neither moved first.
Ocain wanted to claim righteousness by not striking first—whether useful or not, it might reduce Artosh's retaliation chances.
Raphael was purely praying for Ryuga's arrival.
As she said, Flügel didn't fear sacrifice, but they didn't want meaningless sacrifice either.
If there were methods to handle enemies without harm, they didn't want to die.
Like a stalemate between two afraid wolves, the battlefield temporarily deadlocked.
After dozens of seconds, Ronny finally noticed something wrong.
Not attacking for so long didn't match Flügel's violent temper. Could they also not want to fight?
Thinking this, he boldly suggested:
"If we hand over one divine essence, could we reconcile?"
He felt both sides might need face-saving steps.
However—
"No!"
Raphael still firmly shook her head.
"Ryuga-sama's command was all suspicious items, so you must hand over all divine essences."
"Ryuga-sama?"
Hearing this unfamiliar name, Ronny was somewhat confused.
Who was this? Wasn't the Flügel's main god Artosh?
"Impossible!"
Ocain firmly shook his head, also showing an uncompromising attitude.
"The divine essences absolutely cannot all be given to you!"
Those were the Dwarf race's treasures and his dignity as an Old Deus.
Otherwise, if word spread that a group of Flügel successfully extorted him as a god, Kainath could laugh at him for a thousand years.
Negotiations failed, and the atmosphere became menacing again.
"Strange..."
Watching both sides maintaining positions with increasingly strong momentum, Ronny scratched his head, feeling something was off.
If both sides' conflicts were so irreconcilable, why were the Flügel still dawdling?
Since they wanted divine essences, shouldn't they directly wage war?
Their attitude clearly showed readiness to fight to the death, but their actions seemed like stalling for time.
What did they need to stall for?
Could it be...
"Great Master—"
Just as an ominous guess formed in his mind and he wanted to tell Ocain—
Suddenly, weak spatial fluctuations occurred, and four figures appeared before the Flügel legion.
Seeing the black-haired, black-eyed man, Raphael finally sighed in relief, showing joy along with all Flügel.
Looking at Ocain's incomprehensible expression, this Flügel lightly laughed mockingly:
"I was waiting for reinforcements. What were you waiting for?"