Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 466 The Rare Shield and the Dwarf Butcher King
The power of the blazing sun clashed violently with the raging crimson rune energy, producing a piercing scorching sound! The runes on the hammer handle instantly dimmed and shattered! Under the immense impact of the force, the massive hammerhead of the Earthshaking Hammer was actually shattered off the handle and spun as it crashed into the distant river of lava, splashing up towering crimson waves!
The weapon slipped from his hand! Baldek's massive body swayed violently from the sudden loss of balance!
It's now!

Su Li poured all of the Crimson Dragon's power into the spear! The crimson light at the spear tip was compressed to its limit, transforming into an extremely condensed beam of light capable of piercing through adamantine gold! Like a crimson meteor fighting for its life, at the moment Baldek's weapon slipped from his hand and exposed an opening in his chest, he thrust the spear fiercely into the core area of ​​the heavy armor, where the crimson light was most intense, with extreme speed and angle!

"Pfft—!"

The spear tip pierced the center of the heavily armored chest with unparalleled precision! The raging red dragon power clashed violently with the crimson rune energy burning within Baldek's body!

"Ughh ...

He staggered back a step, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the spear tip piercing his chest. He then slowly raised his gaze to Su Li, who was holding the spear, and the leaf on his chest that still emitted a silvery-green light.

“Silverleaf…the…protection of the elves…” His deep voice echoed like two giant rocks grinding against each other in an abyss, filled with an age-old weariness and the weight of knowing the truth. “Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. You serve the elves, but do they truly consider you a friend?”

“We have never been friends with the elves,” Su Li replied calmly, then suddenly drew the Spear of Oath and said to Baldek, “Your torment of tens of thousands of years should end now. Rest in peace.”

"Tens of thousands of years of torment?" Baldek straightened his broken, rapidly collapsing body, as if using his last strength to maintain the dignity of a dwarf warrior. In his final moments, his burning rage receded like a tide, as if he had seen the truth: "So that's how it is... The furnace... has long been extinguished. The fortress... has turned to dust. I... am just... an echo."

"The mountains stand forever..." Baldek Anvil's voice, like the last embers, drifted in the wind, its ancient pride imbued with an indelible loneliness and a sense of final relief. "...And the echo will eventually return to silence."

His broken body flickered violently, with more and more golden dust escaping from it. In the last few breaths before he completely vanished, the last trace of rage and resentment in his crimson, furnace-like eyes finally extinguished, replaced by an understanding that pierced through the dust of eternity and... an indescribable tranquility after exhaustion.

His massive frame straightened slightly, as if gazing one last time at the nonexistent, smoke-shrouded mountain range of dwarves against the sky. A low, hoarse, yet strangely rhythmic ancient song slowly emerged from his crumbling chest. The melody was rough and brief, like the echo of a dwarf's pickaxe striking rock, filled with the weight of the stone and the lingering warmth of a furnace:

A heart of stone, bones of iron.

Beneath the mountains lies the ancestral furnace.

Where the hammer fell, sparks danced.
Return to dust, return to dust…

The song faded, like a pebble thrown into a deep well, quickly swallowed up by the eternal clamor of the battlefield. His last gaze swept over Su Li, over the silver leaf on his chest, over Gerson Grayrock and his dwarf warriors, and finally settled on Su Li.

“…Thank you…” Baldek’s voice was so weak it was almost inaudible, yet it reached everyone’s ears clearly, carrying a sense of relief as if a tremendous burden had been lifted. “To put an end to this long suffering… I am free… The Long-Eared Conspiracy is now in your hands…”

The moment his words fell, the last speck of golden dust that made up his massive body suddenly erupted into a brief but intense burst of crimson light! At the center of the light, countless tiny particles, seemingly composed of pure runic energy and the will forged from the essence of dwarves, seemed to be condensing and shimmering!
"Om-!"

A deep hum resounded, and the crimson light seemed to be compressed by an invisible hand, collapsing abruptly! Then, the light went out completely, replaced by raindrops of light, shimmering with a warm metallic luster!
“This is… solidified aether? And legendary forging essence?” Gerson Grayrock struggled to his feet, ignoring the blood at the corner of his mouth, staring incredulously at the pile of invaluable dwarven treasures left on the mound.

Su Li was also extremely shocked as he watched all this. This was Ether Gold, known as the Breath of Granni. He clearly remembered that when they were by the Gem Pool, the dwarf had explained the properties of this metal to him. In its natural state, it is smaller than air, so it is corrosive and shiny, and it exists in a gaseous or gas-liquid state above the clouds.

In dwarven legend, this is the etheric cloud in the air formed when Gronn was focused on his magnificent work, the metallic dust from his hammer falling mixed with his breath.

To collect this precious metal, either a natural wonder like a pool of gems is needed, or an ether refinery must be built.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, as the image of a legendary dwarf dissipated, at least 20 kilograms of Ether Gold were formed on the spot.

More importantly, there was the legendary forging essence. Gerson immediately stepped forward and collected all the forging essence, saying to Su Li, "My big friend, this is forging essence that only legendary-level dwarves can condense. About 100 of these essences can forcibly upgrade a rare-level weapon to legendary level. We already have 34 here. If we're lucky, after freeing ourselves from the three legendary-level dwarf mirror images, we can obtain a legendary-level piece of equipment or even armor!"

Upon hearing this, Su Li was filled with respect and looked solemnly at Baldek.

"...Let the wealth belong to the living..." Baldek's last words seemed to still echo in the air, while his massive and majestic figure had completely transformed into specks of light, merging into the smoke-filled background of this eternal battlefield, leaving no trace. Only a huge shield, gleaming with a surface flowing with lava-like crimson patterns, remained in its place.

On the solitary hill, only the panting Blackforest tribe, the wounded Gerson Grayrock, the filthy remains of the embryonic dwarves, and the pile of aether and legendary forging essence shimmering alluringly against the crimson sky remained. The phantom battles of the Longbeard War still raged in the distance, but the fighting and sacrifices here had come to an end.

Gerson Grayrock struggled, supported by the young dwarf, to the lone shield standing on the scorched earth. His calloused and wounded hands, with an almost reverent respect, gently brushed away the dust and fragments of illusion from the shield's surface. The shield was incredibly heavy, far exceeding the weight of ordinary steel, its cold touch faintly radiating the lingering warmth of a furnace. Ancient runes flickered on its surface, as if still breathing.

“Take it, big guy.” Gerson’s voice was hoarse, yet unusually solemn. He pushed the giant shield, which was taller than himself, toward Su Li. “This is the Chosen Shield, Echo of the Mountains. It is the condensation of Lord Baldek’s last will and power. It belongs to you. It carries the will of the last bulwark of the mountains.”

"As a divinely chosen shield, it is inscribed with three layers of runes. [Forge Barrier] This shield embodies Baldek's ultimate will to guard the gates of the Forge. When the wielder focuses on a defensive stance, a crimson runic force field, like the core of a forge, will be generated on the shield's surface. This force field can absorb and deflect most physical impacts, greatly weakening or even completely negating massive blows from the front (such as battering ram impacts, behemoth tramplings, and heavy weapon strikes). The shield itself is also made of indestructible material, providing absolute defense against slashing and piercing."

"【Rune Annihilation】The ancient dwarven runes inscribed on the shield possess an extremely strong interference and annihilation effect on magical energy. When magical attacks (such as Arcane Missiles, Fire Blast, Ice Rays, Cursed Beams, etc.) hit the shield, the energy contained within is violently consumed and its structure distorted by the runic force field, ultimately resulting in most of it being annihilated and rendered ineffective. Even powerful legendary spells will have their power significantly weakened after penetrating the shield." "【Anvil Echo】When the shield wielder successfully blocks a potentially fatal attack, or when the shield withstands an unimaginable impact, the shield's core will briefly resonate, absorbing and storing some of the impact energy. The shield wielder can actively release this energy in the next attack (Shield Slam or an attack combined with a weapon). Upon release, the attack will be accompanied by a powerful, area-of-effect shockwave (similar to a mini-Ground Slam), dealing concussive damage to nearby enemies and potentially knocking them back or briefly stunning them. This ability requires a short recharge time and cannot be used continuously."

Su Li solemnly accepted the chosen shield, named "Echoes of the Mountains." The moment he held it, a heavy weight, as if bearing the weight of mountains, washed over him, accompanied by an indescribable, unwavering will pulsating within the shield. The ancient runes on the shield's surface seemed to glow slightly upon contact with the aura of his red dragon bloodline, before returning to their restrained darkness. This shield carried immense weight; it was not merely a powerful piece of equipment, but a testament to the recognition and entrustment of a legendary dwarven warrior across countless ages.

"The mountains remember his sacrifice, and they remember his gifts," Su Li said in a deep voice, holding the shield firmly at his side. The cold metal surface pressed against his arm, bringing an unprecedented sense of security. "Collect the spoils, treat the wounded. Although Mhawa has escaped, he took the embryo with him. We must find him as soon as possible, and not let him desecrate any more dwarven spirits!" His gaze turned to the direction where Mhawa had disappeared, where smoke still lingered, and the phantoms of the battlefield continued their endless slaughter.

The dwarves and Blackwood warriors moved swiftly, carefully gathering the scattered aether and legendary forging essence. Supported by the young warrior, Gerson Grayrock gazed with complex emotions at the clearing where Baldek had vanished, ultimately spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva and casting his hateful eyes in the direction where Mhawa had disappeared.

"Let's go! We can't let those bone fragments harm other heroic souls!" Gerson's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

The group regrouped and set off again, following the faint traces of blasphemous aura and energy channels left by Mhava, rapidly advancing towards the heart of the battlefield where the smoke was thicker and the sounds of fighting intensified. The silvery-green light of the sacred tree leaves still shimmered on Su Li's chest, protecting them from the hostility of the high elf phantoms.

However, after traveling less than a few hundred meters, a chilling change occurred!
The dwarven phantoms around them, the steel warriors who had been focused on fighting the elves like background figures, suddenly froze and sluggish. Their hammer swings stopped, and their bearded faces slowly turned towards Su Li and his group!

No longer turning a blind eye! No longer being allies!

The eyes beneath those helmets, which had previously burned with hatred for the elves, were now focused on Su Li and the others! A new, chilling, and piercing aura, a mixture of blasphemous rage and a hatred that vowed to crush everything, instantly locked onto the entire group like a tangible cold current!

“By the ancestors! They…they have seen us!” a dwarf warrior cried out in disbelief and terror.

"It's because of Lord Baldek!" Gerson Grayrock's face turned ashen as he instantly understood the reason. "We ended the Mirror Image! In the perception of the dwarven spirits, this is tantamount to blasphemy! Tantamount to betrayal! Coupled with the leaves of the Sacred Tree, all of this fueled the dwarves' wrath!"

As if to confirm Gerson's words, a deep, resonant bugle call, piercing the entire battlefield, suddenly rang out from somewhere, carrying endless sorrow and determination!

"Woo-hum-hum!"

The ancient horn's piercing sound echoed across the battlefield, like the mournful cry of mountains awakening. Accompanying the horn, a figure leaped from the ruins of a collapsed dwarven runic turret, landing heavily in front of Su Li's advance!

The heavy thud shook the scorched earth! In the rising dust, the figure of a dwarf warrior gradually became clear.

He was far more imposing and robust than any ordinary dwarven phantom, standing nearly four meters tall. He wore a suit of heavy, dark gold plate armor, scarred and seemingly cast directly from a furnace. Layers of rough runes covered the armor, now shimmering with a dangerous and oppressive dark red light, like molten lava cooling. Most striking were his massive, unruly, orange-red mohawk, like burning flames, and the two weapons he gripped tightly in his hands—a heavy, round shield with jagged spikes along its edges in his left hand, and a massive, exaggeratedly large, double-bladed runic axe in his right, almost as tall as him!

The giant axe's blade was as wide as a door panel, its edges shimmering with ominous dark red runes, and its handle was so thick that only a giant's hand could grip it. Simply resting it casually on the ground, the sharp blade embedded itself deeply into the rock, radiating a suffocating aura of destruction.

His helmet visor remained raised, revealing a weathered, scarred face with a thick, red beard. But at this moment, there was no hatred for the elves on that face, only an icy, rage as cold as ancient ice! His eyes were fixed on Su Li, especially on the silver leaf on his chest and the "Echoes of the Mountains" shield that Hilder had just acquired beside him!
"Desecrators! Thieves!" His voice was like two giant rocks colliding violently in an abyss, deep yet containing the terrifying power of a volcanic eruption. "How dare you! How dare you defile the legacy of the heroic spirits of the mountains! And with the curse of long ears!! I, Butcher King Agrim, will show you the terror of ancestral hatred!"

He recognized Baldek's aura on the shield, which only added fuel to the fire!
No unnecessary words, no battle cries. The identity of this powerful dwarven warrior was immediately apparent—he was a pinnacle of the dwarven phantoms, a legendary Butcher King! His sole purpose was to crush these "traitors" who had tarnished the honor of the dwarves!
"For the blood debt of our ancestors! For the tarnished glory!" he roared, his massive body unleashing a terrifying speed disproportionate to its size! He swung the heavy runic axe with a single hand, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air! The dark red runes on the axe blade instantly glowed with a blinding crimson light, gathering destructive power capable of cleaving mountains! His target was none other than Hilder, wielding "Echoes of the Mountains"! He would first shatter this "stolen" shield!
This strike was swift, fierce, and ruthless! Completely devoid of any frills, it was the purest, most honed killing technique! Before the axe even arrived, the violent gust of wind forced Hilde's golden hair to dance wildly backward, and blew away the rubble beneath her feet! The air itself seemed to be cleaved open by the giant axe, leaving behind a vacuum!

Hilde's pupils constricted sharply! She could clearly feel the terrifying power contained in this axe strike, far surpassing any of Baldek's previous attacks in his berserk state! This was the pinnacle of destructive power displayed by a legendary dwarf warrior!

"Drink!" Hilde showed no fear, the power of the blazing sun instantly flowing into her entire body, resonating powerfully with the "Echoes of the Mountains" in her hand! She pushed the power of her divine body to its limit, her left arm muscles bulging, and her shield fiercely met the descending crimson giant axe! On the surface of the shield, the crimson rune field of [Furnace Barrier] instantly flared up to an unprecedented brightness, like a tangible wall of lava!
"clang------!!!!!"

An indescribable, terrifying roar exploded on the isolated hill! It was as if two metal peaks had collided at a devastating speed!

Blinding sparks, mixed with turbulent flows of crimson and dark red energy, erupted in all directions like an explosion! The solid black rock beneath Hilde's feet shattered and collapsed instantly, like tofu! Her massive divine body was forced to her knees by this overwhelming force, her knees sinking deep into the rock! A sickening grinding sound came from her left arm, which held the shield, as if it were about to break!
The "Echoes of the Mountains" trembled violently, the crimson runes on the shield flickering wildly and emitting a hum that seemed to be struggling under the strain! The force field of the [Furnace Barrier] twisted violently. Although it successfully deflected the most deadly edge of the giant axe and dispersed and absorbed most of the destructive impact, the pure power transmitted through the force field was still terrifyingly powerful!
The Butcher King's massive body was also jolted back slightly by the recoil, but the rage burning in his eyes intensified! He let out a beast-like roar, and using the force of the impact, his giant axe traced a precise arc, striking at Hilder's side once more with greater speed and a more cunning angle, accompanied by a piercing shriek that seemed to tear through space! This time, the dark red runes on the axe blade, like boiling blood, radiated scorching heat and an armor-piercing sharpness!

"Watch out!" Su Li's Crimson Dragon Battle Aura erupted, and his spear, like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, pierced towards the Butcher King's ribs with a crimson light that tore through the air, attempting a diversionary tactic! Orstein's Chosen Hammer also slammed towards the Butcher King's back with the force to crush everything!
But it was as if the Butcher King had eyes in the back of his head! His spiked shield in his left hand suddenly deflected backward at an incredible angle!
"Boom!" The Chosen Hammer slammed into the round shield, unleashing a dull thud and sending sparks flying! Runes swirled across the shield's surface, managing to withstand Orstein's powerful blow, only causing the Butcher King to stagger slightly! Meanwhile, Su Li's spear pierced his heavy armor, leaving only a deep white dent on the dark gold plate armor, producing a grating scraping sound, but failing to penetrate its defenses! The armor's defensive capabilities were also at the legendary level!
The Butcher King completely ignored the attacks from Su Li and Orstein; he had only one goal—to crush Hilder and that shield! The blood-red giant axe, with the force of splitting the heavens and earth, cleaved down fiercely!

Hilde gritted her teeth, frantically channeling the power of the sun into her shield! [Forge Barrier] was unleashed to its fullest potential once more! At the same time, the sunblade in her right hand also erupted with brilliant light, attempting to block.

"Clang—Sizzle!!!"

A second, even more terrifying collision erupted! This time, the runic power on the crimson giant axe clashed even more violently with the crimson force field of the [Furnace Barrier]! The ear-piercing metallic creaking and the explosive roar of colliding energy sent chills down everyone's spine!
Hilder grunted, slammed backward by the immense force, her feet carving two deep furrows in the rocky ground! The crimson light on her shield dimmed considerably, and visible ripples and cracks appeared in the force field! The Butcher King's power and the destructive force of that runic giant axe were simply terrifying!
The Butcher King pressed his advantage relentlessly, his massive body a shadowy figure, his double-bladed axe leaving a trail of crimson afterimages as he unleashed a storm of attacks! Each strike was powerful and devastating, its angles unpredictable, brimming with the ferocity and precision of dwarven martial arts! Hilder struggled to hold on behind her shield; the [Forge Barrier] was rapidly depleting its energy under such intense assault, emitting a mournful hum. While Su Li and Orstein's attacks could distract the Butcher King, they couldn't truly breach his legendary heavy armor and round shield.

This powerful dwarf warrior, with his unparalleled strength, impenetrable defense, and ferocious fighting spirit, instantly dragged the team into an extremely dangerous situation! He alone was like an insurmountable wall of sighs!
(End of this chapter)