Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 496 New Units in the Territory: Ironbreaker Warriors and Troll Hammer Flamethrowers
The shock from the horse vulture had barely subsided when King Cadlin seemed quite pleased with the effect of the gift. A slight smile played on his lips beneath his beard as he clapped his hands again. This time, instead of warriors carrying cages, two teams of neatly dressed, solemn-looking dwarven attendants entered. They were not carrying living creatures, but rather heavy trays covered in dark velvet and several long, sturdy wooden crates with metal-bound edges.

"While aerial mounts are important, a battle line built on solid ground, with sturdy shields and sharp blades, is the partner we dwarves trust most," King Kadrin said in a calm and confident voice. "These are a small token of our appreciation for the warriors and engineers of the Blackwood Territory."

He walked to the first tray and lifted the velvet cloth. Instantly, a cold, gleaming light and a dazzling gold filled his vision. Neatly arranged on the tray were twelve ancient yet imposing two-handed battle axes. These axes weren't brand new and shiny; the blades bore subtle, carefully maintained wear marks, and the handles were made of dark hardwood, wrapped with non-slip metal wire. Most striking were the intricate golden runes inlaid on the broad blades of each axe. These runes weren't merely decorative; they subtly conveyed a sense of power, clearly indicating that these were truly enchanted weapons.

“Twelve ‘Rockbreaker’ rune battleaxes,” Kadrin introduced, his tone filled with the pride of a craftsman for his masterpiece. “Forged by the finest rune blacksmiths of Dragonrock Keep and blessed by the long-bearded priest in the Hall of Ancestors. They are heavier and sharper than ordinary battleaxes, capable of cleaving through the strongest armor and even boulders with a single blow. Suitable for the bravest champion warriors.”

Before King Kadrin could finish speaking, a collective gasp filled the banquet hall, followed by the clatter of chairs and tables—Leading by Orstein, almost all the knights and generals of the Black Forest Territory involuntarily stood up! Their gazes were fixed on the twelve runic battleaxes, as if drawn by a magnet, for these were all rare weapons! Especially the most special one, which was even a Chosen One!
These weapons exuded not only a cold, chilling glint and a sense of power, but also an almost tangible, heart-stopping pressure. It wasn't malicious, but rather the natural aura emanating from overwhelming power.

“A runic weapon…and with such a powerful enchantment!” a champion knight murmured, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"It's more than just enchanted!" his companion exclaimed breathlessly, correcting him. "Look at the one in the middle! Look at its luster, feel the flow of energy... Aether! It's filled with a large amount of Aether! That's... that's a Chosen weapon!"

Chosen by God!

These three words resounded like thunder in everyone's hearts. What this meant was etched into the hearts of every high-ranking member of the Black Forest Territory. It meant that this weapon could bear the immense power of the chosen warriors, capable of scorching mountains and boiling seas, growing gigantic along with its master, becoming a thirty-meter-long giant axe capable of splitting mountains and cleaving rivers!
In an instant, everyone's thoughts were involuntarily drawn back to the early days of the territory, to the terrifying battle that nearly dragged the Black Forest Territory to the brink of destruction—the final battle against Khorne's Chosen, Skar Bloodfury.

At that time, the demon champion, who had transformed into a thirty-meter-tall crimson behemoth, wielded just such a world-destroying, god-chosen giant axe! Each strike shook the earth, the violent shockwaves tore the ground apart, and the flying debris scattered like cannonballs. Solid armor was like paper before him, and the entire army's lines were shattered by a single blow! The scene was like the end of the world.

Especially the Redbeard Clan's dwarven warriors, in order to create that one and only chance for Su Li and Hilder to retaliate, resolutely launched a near-suicidal charge, using their flesh and blood and iron will to hold back Skar's advance, paying an extremely heavy price. Many famous dwarven generals and warriors died under that terrifying giant axe... The ferocity and sacrifice of that battle are a shared scar and glory in the hearts of Blackforest Territory and the Redbeard Clan.

Having personally experienced the terrifying power of a God-chosen weapon, they understood even more deeply what a God-chosen weapon belonging to their side meant—it was the key to the full release of a God-chosen powerhouse's power, a strategic existence capable of determining the outcome of a battle!
The atmosphere in the banquet hall became incredibly intense, a mixture of excitement, longing, and painful memories of past sacrifices. All eyes were fixed on the twelve battle axes, especially the potential Chosen Great Axe.

Among this group of emotionally charged people, one person reacted the most violently.

That was the high-ranking deputy steward of the Black Forest Territory, and also one of the few chosen knights in the territory—the rogue Tiberos.

This general, known for his roguish and unrestrained personality, suddenly sprang up from his seat, his eyes wide as copper bells, almost spitting fire! His usual playful and lazy expression vanished, leaving only the most primal and ardent desire as if he had seen his dream lover!
Tiberius himself wielded a battle axe! His usual battle axe was considered a fine piece, but compared to any of the "Rockbreakers" here, it paled in comparison, let alone that potentially God-chosen one! He felt his blood boiling, his heart pounding like a war drum, every cell screaming with desire for that axe. He even unconsciously took a half-step forward, his thick arm slightly raised, as if he were about to rush forward and grasp it in his hands at any moment.

“Granny’s beard…” Tiberius’s voice was hoarse, filled with unprecedented seriousness and excitement, “This…this treasure…if only I could swing it…” He seemed to already imagine himself transforming into a giant, wielding such a divine weapon and sweeping across thousands of troops, and his breathing became heavy.

He suppressed the plea that was about to spill from his mouth, and instead looked at Su Li with an extremely eager, even pitiful, gaze, then at King Kadlin. His eyes clearly said, "Give it to me! Please! This is tailor-made for me!" This was in stark contrast to his usual fearless and ruthless demeanor, showing just how attractive the battle axe was to him.

King Cadlin took in the reactions of the people of the Black Forest, especially Tiberius's undisguised desire.

He nodded steadily, confirming everyone's guess: "That's right, Lord Su Li, your warriors have a keen eye. This 'Rockbreaker Axe' is indeed infused with enough aether to bear the power of the Chosen One. It is one of the treasures in my private arsenal, but I believe that a powerful ally, a Chosen Warrior, is more worthy of its value than it lying rusting in a vault."

His words undoubtedly included this invaluable Chosen-class weapon in the gift list!

Before the shockwaves from the Chosen Battle Axe had subsided, King Cadlin had already signaled to his servants to unveil the velvet cloth covering the next tray.

This time, what came into view were several sets of plate armor components, neatly folded and displaying a dark blue hue reminiscent of a deep night sky. The surface of the armor seemed to be inlaid with countless tiny, star-like silver specks, which swirled with a faint yet clearly visible energy halo under the firelight, giving it an impression of both sturdiness and the presence of mysterious power.

However, what is even more striking is a thick scroll tube encased in dark metal placed alongside these armors. The seal of the tube is imprinted with the emblem of the Cadlin clan and intricate runes, giving it an unusually solemn appearance.

King Cadlin did not touch the magnificent armor first, but instead carefully picked up the metal scroll. His movements were cautious, as if he were holding a priceless sacred object.

"Lord Su Li, and friends of the Black Forest Territory," his voice was more solemn than ever before, even carrying a hint of reverence as if imparting sacred texts, "This gift is far more valuable than those gleaming swords. Sealed within are the improved blueprints for the core forging process of the 'Star Iron Forge,' which our Gray Mountain Kingdom's Engineers Guild and Rune Blacksmiths Association have spent generations of their lives finally conquering and perfecting. It is based on the structure of the Dragon Rock Forge and possesses some of the Dragon Rock Forge's weakening capabilities."

He gently stroked the runes on the scroll and continued to explain: "The core difficulty in forging Star Iron Armor lies in how to perfectly fuse precious vibranium with other alloys, and use them as a framework to guide and bind the energy of Star Iron itself. Traditional processes consume a huge amount of vibranium, and the success rate is difficult to guarantee."

“However,” King Cadlin’s voice was tinged with barely suppressed pride, “based on the improved technology of this Star Iron Forge, through optimizing the rune sequence, adjusting the forging temperature curve, and a special energy guiding array, we have successfully reduced the amount of vibranium required for each set of Star Iron Armor to half that of the traditional method!”

"half?!"

This word was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the banquet hall far deeper than any of the previous gifts! Everyone who understood what this meant—especially Su Li, Hilde, Orstein, and other core members of the Black Forest Territory—changed their expressions, their eyes bursting with unbelievable ecstasy!

They knew all too well how rare and precious vibranium was as a strategic resource. The biggest bottleneck preventing the Black Forest Territory from large-scale deployment of elite-grade star armor in the past had been the terrifying consumption of vibranium! And now, this great gift from the dwarves had directly severed this bottleneck!

King Kadrin pointed to the sample armor sets on the tray: "These Star Iron Armor sets are exquisite products forged using this new technology. They not only perfectly retain the powerful protection, energy affinity, and natural resistance to dark magic that Star Iron Armor should have, but they are also slightly lighter than traditional Star Iron Armor."

He looked intently at Su Li: "This blueprint means that in the future, the Black Forest Territory will be able to forge twice the number of exquisite-grade Star Iron Armor with the same vibranium reserves! It will not only improve the combat power of one or two heroes, but also the basic equipment level of your entire core elite legion!"

The significance of this gift is beyond words. It's no longer just a gift of fish; it's a gift of the highest fishing techniques, and revolutionary ones at that! This fully demonstrates the Grey Mountain Kingdom's sincerity in regarding Black Forest Territory as an absolute core ally, a truly strategic investment focused on the long term and aimed at fundamentally enhancing the ally's strength!
Su Li took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. He stepped forward and, with utmost solemnity, accepted the heavy metal scroll that carried the weight of the future.

"Your Majesty Kadrin... this generous gift from the Grey Mountain Kingdom..." His voice was slightly low with excitement, "I, Su Li Bauhinia, on behalf of the Black Forest Territory, assure you! We will make good use of this technology, so that the Star Iron Armor, shining with the wisdom of the mountains, will become a bulwark protecting order and light! The friendship between the Black Forest Territory and Grey Mountain will be as unbreakable and eternal as this Star Iron, forged through countless trials!"

The gift of these technical blueprints has elevated the trust and cooperation between allies to an unprecedented level, its significance far exceeding any powerful weapon.

Then, everyone's attention was drawn to the largest of the long wooden crates. When the lid was pried open, revealing the thick tarpaulin and shock-absorbing padding inside, a strong, peculiar odor mixed with sulfur, refined grease, and arcane energy filled the air.

King Cadlin, together with Master Draj, carried out a truly astonishing weapon.

It was a scaled-down version of a flamethrower, yet still incredibly heavy. Its main body was a massive metal canister connected to a complex network of pipes and a handheld nozzle device with a trigger and stabilizing grip. The entire device was riddled with regulating valves, pressure gauges, and dwarven runes flashing a dangerous red light; some interfaces still emitted faint wisps of smoke. "The 'Troll Hammer' Flame Launcher," Master Drage's voice carried the characteristic fervor and pride of an engineer, "an Iron Dragon Hand Cannon improved upon from the years of war in our Gray Mountain Kingdom! The canister is compressed with a highly flammable alchemical mixture, which, when ignited by the runes, instantly unleashes a torrent of scorching fire capable of melting steel and devouring everything! Its range is relatively short, but its coverage is extremely wide, making it an excellent tool for clearing trenches, purging rat burrows, dealing with hordes of lightly armored targets, or those regenerating monsters!"

He added cautionarily, “Of course, extreme caution must be exercised when using it, operators must be rigorously trained, and wind direction must be carefully monitored. We are providing ten canisters of spare fuel and a detailed operation and maintenance manual.”

This gift caught the eye of generals like Erstein, who immediately recognized the devastating effects and tactical value of this weapon in specific battlefield environments.

This means that the Blacksin Territory can now also form standard dwarven tactical groups!

The dwarves' tactics consist of forming a square with their strongest Ironbreaker warriors, followed by a fire attack from powerful Iron Dragon Gunners, and finally, the Butchers launching a counterattack from the flanks.

The so-called Ironbreaker Warriors are the top-tier troops of the dwarves, above the Dwarf Warriors and Dwarf Longbeard Warriors. One of their defining characteristics is that they all wear star-plated iron armor and wield powerful warhammers and battle axes.

The vast majority of the dwarven kingdoms lie beneath the surface—from towering vaulted halls and rows of fortified fortresses to endless, dark tunnels. And near these dwarven facilities are countless mines, most of which are buried deep in the dark abyss.

Many mines have been infiltrated—Skaven ratmen have slowly dug tunnels and poured in, while night goblin mushrooms have breached fortresses and stormed in. The dark and perilous underworld is also home to other monsters—a hauntingly grotesque and twisted creature that is unimaginable to the surface inhabitants.

The dwarves erected roadblocks between the tunnels and built gates to block the terrifying invasion from underground. Even so, the dwarves still needed to remain vigilant in the perilous underground world. To protect the deepest and most dangerous tunnels, the dwarves summoned the Ironbreaker Warriors to fight.

The Ironbreaker dwarves are clad head-to-toe in Starsteel armor, a nearly indestructible suit that allows them to survive in the perilous underworld, where falling rocks and ambushes are commonplace. They fight with unwavering resolve, fearlessly blocking any danger that approaches them.

For dwarves, being chosen to join the Ironbreakers is an honor, for they bear the vital responsibility of defending the fortress's weakest point. Only the strongest and bravest dwarves are qualified to become Ironbreakers, but the dark underworld offers them no glory, and ambitious warriors will inevitably seek the opportunity to become Ironhammer Warriors.

To become a Shattered Iron Warrior, a dwarf must swear an oath of eternal courage and fearlessness, even without the presence of a king, lord, or chieftain. For behind him and above him are the Beardless (young men without beards, or more generally, other races that never grow beards), the treasure vaults, the ancestral tombs, and the magnificent halls of the fortress, painstakingly carved by their ancestors in the distant past. Before and beneath the Shattered Iron Warrior lies only darkness, boundless and all-consuming darkness.

The Ironbreaker Warriors were trained to form dense formations and fight in extremely narrow tunnels. Inside the tunnels, they found places to defend themselves and then erected thick, interwoven shield walls, before which the surging enemies seemed as weak and powerless as water crashing against rocks.

This shield wall was unwavering, unyielding, and unshakeable; they formed a solid line as unbreakable as star iron, strong enough to hold back any threat surging from the darkness like a torrent. Beneath their axes, heaps of enemies were harvested like wheat; their blows struck their heavy armor with only a harmless clang, or were deflected by their sturdy shields.

Each Ironclad unit has a veteran leader, known as Ironbeard, who is extremely knowledgeable about the underground tunnels. They are responsible for deploying their soldiers to advantageous positions on the battlefield and adjusting them into battle formations suitable for the current situation, such as iron crates and steel horns.

The Ironbreaker warriors, with their formidable fighting prowess, frequently respond to the calls for help from surface races. While wars on the ground are often relentless battles fought day and night, the Ironbreaker warriors beneath the mountains often experience bloody battles that last for dozens of days.

Meanwhile, as the dwarves' enemies relentlessly sought to breach their fortresses, the arduous underground warfare the dwarves waged daily to protect them underwent a transformation. The dwarves, relying on their courage and runes—runes that enhanced their weapons and armor—repeatedly turned the tide of battle, but their enemies gradually learned how to counter their fighting style.

Now, whenever the Skaven find their tunnels teeming with seemingly invincible Ironbreaker warriors, they resort to their own abhorrent tactics—dimensional fire projectiles, poison gas grenades, or impenetrable road-clearing machines. Meanwhile, their adversaries, the Night Goblins, have turned to fanatics driven mad by the Mad Mushrooms, wielding chains, along with cave skulls and troll hordes. For the dwarves, the cost of war is ever-increasing.

In response, the Engineers' Guild invented the Iron Dragon Hand Cannon, which fires scorching projectiles imbued with boiling energy. Though its range is short, its power is immense; a single, ferocious volley from a squad wielding an Iron Dragon Hand Cannon is enough to fend off even the most ferocious Skull's relentless charge. Ironbreaker warriors who demonstrate a talent for operating the Iron Dragon will be trained and formed into a new force.

Today, when facing enemies capable of breaching the sturdy shield walls of the Ironbreakers, they employ a completely new tactic. The Ironbreakers spread out, creating space for the Iron Dragons to fire. Under the precise calculations and commands of an Iron Watcher, the dark underground is instantly illuminated by the blinding flashes of hand cannons. Shells rain down on the enemy, leaving fist-sized bullet holes in the charred remains of those struck. To this day, the Iron Dragons have proven time and again their ability to efficiently eliminate hordes of enemies.

The "Troll Hammer" flamethrower is undoubtedly the top-tier weapon among the Iron Dragon hand cannons. A single volley from it can even vaporize two to three terrifying trolls!

Master Drage's introduction to the "Troll Hammer" flamethrower, and the complete dwarven underground tactical system it represented, sharpened the eyes of military commanders like Su Li and Orstein. They saw not just a new weapon, but a key that could completely reverse a potentially disastrous situation in Blackforest.

“Your Majesty, Master Dragi,” Su Li’s voice was more solemn than ever before, even with a hint of relief, “Your gift is like sending charcoal in snowy weather, relieving my Black Forest Territory of a growing and serious problem!”

He turned to King Cadlin, his tone becoming heavy: "As you know, the Blacksin Territory has only been established for a little over two years, and its development has been rapid. But our foundation also depends on the earth—our territory has three giant iron mines, as well as a large number of precious gem mines, which are the lifeblood of our forging of armor, enchanting of weapons, and export of special products."

“However, as the mine extends deeper into the mountains, darkness follows.” Su Li frowned. “In recent months, our miners and guards have been reporting more and more frequently that things that shouldn’t be there are starting to appear deep underground—twisted colonies of mutated giant rats that seem to be corrupted by chaos; underground arthropod monsters with thick shells and scythe-like forelimbs that can easily tear flesh, crawling out from deeper fissures; and even sporadic night goblin scouts that seem to have some kind of primitive tribal structure… They attack miners, destroy tunnel supports, and even try to occupy the rich ore layers.”

“Our soldiers are mostly human,” Erstein added in a deep voice, his expression equally grave. “On the surface, they are fearless knights and infantry. But once they enter the narrow, dark, and intricate tunnel environment, their lances are difficult to wield, their heavy armor hinders their movement, and their vision is severely limited. Every clearing operation is costly and difficult to eradicate. The casualties among miners and the reduction in ore production have gradually become a problem that cannot be ignored.” This underground threat, like a constantly bleeding wound, continues to drain the energy and resources of the Black Forest Territory.

Su Li's gaze returned to the menacing "Troll Hammer" and the star-shaped iron armor and battle axes beside it, representing the dwarves' highest forging skills, his eyes gleaming with excitement:
"But now, with these, everything will be different!"

His voice rose: "This is not just weapons and blueprints, Your Majesty. You have bestowed upon us a complete and mature tactical system for dealing with underground threats! The flames of the 'Troll Hammer' are the perfect weapon against those hordes of low-level monsters and regenerating monsters that are fearless and hordes of monsters! And the Star Armor and these powerful battle axes will be able to build our own steel defense line that can stand firm underground!"

More importantly, Su Li saw a deeper possibility. His gaze swept over the excited artisans and warriors from the dwarven communities within the Black Forest Territory.

"Moreover, we are not starting from scratch!" Su Li's tone was full of confidence. "My territory is already home to a large number of excellent dwarven compatriots! Among them are experienced miners, skilled blacksmiths, and many veterans who have experienced underground battles in their homeland! With this equipment and technology, I can recruit and arm two to three 'Ironbreaker Warriors' squadrons composed entirely of dwarves from the empire's dwarven communities in a short period of time!"

This idea thrilled him. A professional underground combat force composed of local dwarves, equipped with replica Star Iron Armor, wielding "Rockbreaker" battleaxes, and supported by "Troll Hammers"! They would no longer be ordinary miner guards, but true elite warriors capable of proactively venturing into the tunnels, clearing out lairs, and ensuring the safety of the mine!

“They will no longer be on the defensive,” Erstein interjected, clearly having thought of this immediately as well, his eyes gleaming with the light of a military commander. “They will be able to form a solid shield, advance steadily, purify every contaminated tunnel with fire, and bring the flames of war directly to the doorsteps of those monsters’ lairs! Even… in the future, we can explore those deeper, ancient veins that we dared not touch before!”

This gift has instantly transformed from an imminent tactical problem into a strategic opportunity! It can not only solve the immediate mine safety issue, but also greatly enhance the overall military strength of the Black Forest Territory, adding a professional and incredibly powerful underground force.

King Cadlin stroked his beard with satisfaction and laughed heartily: "Excellent! It seems these old buddies will finally be of real use in Blacksend Territory, instead of gathering dust in the treasury! May their flames and blades clear away the darkness beneath the earth and bring you secure wealth and safety!"

(End of this chapter)