Mercenary Wars

Chapter 139 Giant Eyes of Flame
“I don’t think I have a say in this,” Gaugano said, which was his true opinion.

After all, what the dwarves call themselves is none of his business.

Groin continued, "If you were us, what decision would you make? We'd like to hear your opinion, after all, you're our friend."

Gaucano thought for a moment: "If I were you, I might consider whether claiming to be a new race could provoke an attack from the Grey Dwarves."

Groin nodded: "To be honest, we have the same concerns..."

Brown said, "We've already killed all the Whitebeards here. No matter what we say, it will only provoke Whitebeards' hostility or even an attack. In that case, we might as well just declare ourselves a new race. This will at least make it easier for us to recruit Redbeards from various Underdark regions."

Groin countered, "Whitebeard will be hostile towards us, that's true, but the degree of hostility will certainly be different. If we still claim to be Grey Dwarves, at least we won't provoke a united attack from the other Grey Dwarves..."

Gaucano realized that Groin and Brown held different views on this matter, with Brown's view receiving more support from Redbeard, which was why Groin had come to ask for his opinion.

He stopped talking and just watched the two dwarves argue.

After a while, Brown said, "How about this, let's ask Prometheus and let Him decide our future fate!"

Gaucano was somewhat surprised: "You can consult Prometheus?"

Brown: "We may not be able to, but Abbotshire should be—he's a nobleman from the world of fire!"

Groin frowned slightly: "The Flame Guardians are only the lowest-ranking fire nobles. As the Flame King's closest subject, would Prometheus really heed Eboshir's call?"

“My intuition tells me that He will!” Brown said. “Although the Flame Titan possesses great power, He is not as cold and arrogant as Durag!”

“Okay,” Groin finally said.

Brown added, "By the way, let's find some time to take down Silverfang. I heard that guy has become even more despicable than Matolius, even enslaving his own people!"

“Silver Fang should indeed be executed,” Groin agreed.

“Silver Fang is dead,” Gao Jiano suddenly said.

"Already dead?" Both dwarves were taken aback.

Gaucano then recounted the whole story, from the miners discovering the kobolds, to the Dibuton attack on the silver mine, and then to his and his friends escaping into the Underdark. Except for a few secrets, he told almost everything truthfully.

“What an exciting experience!” Brown blurted out.

Groin then asked, "So you are Mosas?"

"Yes."

"So how did you cooperate with Jehovah's disciples?"

“They don’t know who we are,” Gaucano shrugged slightly. “And you may not know, but the name ‘Nikon’ means inclusiveness. Even if he knew we were heretics, he would still cooperate with us.”

Groin suddenly remembered something: "The Nikon of the Nikon River?"

“Yes, it is the mother river of mankind, and it was once a river stained red by war, until the ‘Nichol Treaty’ established the principle of peace,” Gaucano said.

Brown: "But I heard that the Yemeni and Mosaic nations are going to have another religious war?"

“Perhaps.” Gaucano paused briefly, “but at least until I entered the Underdark, the situation hadn’t developed to that point.”

“I wish you continued peace,” Groin said, then changed the subject, “We will be holding a grand ceremony the day after tomorrow, where we will consult the oracle of the fire titan Prometheus… I hope you can attend.”

"my pleasure."

Two days later.

After several days of cleanup, traces of the battle and Durag have largely disappeared from the town of Dibusala.

Various kinds of fire-making tools have increased, especially today, with dense torches, braziers, and bonfires filling the town with bright, warm light. The gray dwarves do not need lighting; it is a symbol of their faith.

Amidst these firelights, dwarves dressed in red or other brightly colored clothes strolled through the streets, creating a festive atmosphere.

They gathered from all parts of the town toward an open space to the south.

This vacant lot was recently demolished. It was originally Whitebeard's residential area, but now that Whitebeard is dead, it has naturally become empty and was eventually demolished to be used as a plaza.

The one who demolished this place was none other than the molten lava hound that had blocked the way in the north passage.

As Eboshir said, this "vicious dog" in the eyes of other creatures is a loyal companion in the eyes of the fire elemental.

At this moment, it lay quietly at the edge of the open space, with the Flame Guardian Abohir beside it.

Abohir would also pet the dog from time to time. Every time his fiery hands stroked the lava-like skin of the molten hound, it would wag its tail like an ordinary house dog and grin, dripping lava.

Of course, the Molten Hound can occasionally show an unfriendly attitude—when it notices Gaugano and the others.

"Roar..." It stared at the dozen or so mercenaries, clearly recalling the unpleasant past, and let out a low growl full of hostility. Fortunately, Eboshir patted it in time, preventing it from launching an attack directly.

The mercenaries had noticed the Molten Hound long ago, so when they entered, they deliberately chose a spot as far away from it as possible and sat down carefully.

"It doesn't seem like it will attack us," Thomas said to the group after observing the Molten Hound, which had calmed down.

John: "Do you think it might have been placed here by the King of Fire?"

"What do you mean?"

John: "The day we fought Whitebeard, these dwarves were essentially trapped in the Underdark—all the exits were blocked. Only if Redbeard won could they regain an exit, the one on the north side."

Hearing him say that, Daniel seemed to be thinking: "Could the motto of the Brotherhood of Prometheus, 'Rescue others, liberate yourself,' be a prophecy about this?"

"That makes sense!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

Hilgon said, "I don't think so. Even if it were some kind of arrangement, it shouldn't be the arrangement of the Lord of Fire, or even Prometheus, as their status is too high."

“That’s hard to say,” Gaucano said. “Today the dwarves are planning to ask Prometheus for an oracle, and perhaps we will indeed witness the miracle of the Fire Titan.”

"Prometheus's oracle?" The crowd was somewhat incredulous and whispered among themselves.

Just then, the previously noisy open space suddenly fell silent as Groin walked toward the central stone platform under the watchful eyes of the dwarves.

Standing on the platform, Groin first made some polite remarks, then changed the subject: "Today, the Flame Guardian Eboshir will consult the oracle for us, hoping that we can receive guidance from Prometheus within the flames!"

"The fire is with us!" the dwarves cried.

Then, at Groin's invitation, Flameguard Abohir walked to the center of the open space.

Eboshir spoke slowly in his distinctive fiery tone: “Prometheus holds a revered position in the world of fire. To receive His response, you must call upon Him with me.” “Even then, He may not answer us,” he said, his armor folded. “You should understand that countless beings pray to Prometheus every moment; the world of Farallo is merely an insignificant little place.”

Groin nodded: "We understand."

“Begin, Guardians of Abbothill,” Brown said.

Eboshir nodded, then raised his hand and tossed out a ball of fire.

"Whoosh—" The flames landed on the prepared fuel and instantly turned into a huge bonfire, burning fiercely.

Illuminated by the bright firelight, solemn expressions appeared on the faces of the dwarves, and the atmosphere became solemn.

Gaucano and the others were also affected by the atmosphere, and their expressions unconsciously became serious.

Even the Molten Hounds seemed to have become reserved, staring intently at the massive bonfire.

After a moment of silence.

The Flame Guardian Eboshir began to chant, his voice seemingly forming a subtle rhythm with the flames: "In the name of Oprometheus, great Flame Titan, heed the cry of your people..."

As he uttered "Oprometheus," some of the red-bearded dwarves immediately felt a faint glow as the firelight flickered.

At the same time, the dwarves joined him in chanting: "In the name of Oprometheus, great fire titan, heed the cry of your people..."

Eboshir then chanted, "In the name of Prometheus..."

Another group of dwarves seemed to sense something and their bodies glowed faintly: "In the name of Prometheus..."

"In the name of Laprometheus..."

"In the name of Prometheus..."

And so, led by Eboshir, the Redbeards continued to chant the holy name associated with Prometheus, accompanied by devout invocations.

As they called out, the fire burned ever brighter.

Another moment passed.

Eboshir said, “Those who are named after Prometheus, recite your own holy names.”

"Oprometheus!"

"Prometheus!"

"Laprometheus!"

"Prometheus!"

Guided by the Flame Guardian Eboshir, the dwarves' chanting overlapped, and the prefixes and suffixes of the many holy names seemed to cancel each other out, until only the name "Prometheus" could be heard.

"Prometheus...Prometheus..." The dwarves' cries echoed throughout Dibsala.

"Prometheus..." Eboshiel chanted in unison, the sacred name echoing in the flames.

About two minutes later, without warning, the fire suddenly blazed brightly, and the bright flames rose a dozen meters high, pointing straight at the dome of the dark area!

The flames continued to rise, quickly draining the fuel and extinguishing the fire abruptly.

Although the bonfire was extinguished, the flames that rose up remained bright, swirling and coalescing in the sky, gradually displaying a sun-like brilliance, and an invisible majesty enveloped the town of Dibusala.

Then, amidst everyone's shock, a gigantic eye made of flames slowly took shape in the sky, looking down upon them with a condescending gaze!

The gaze of Prometheus!

Gazing up at the enormous and magnificent fiery eye, Redbeard and the mercenary were both deeply shocked and speechless.

It is obvious that this is merely a distant projection of an eye, but it is still an absolute miracle, a miracle of the Flame Titan!
For the vast majority of people here, this was the first time in their lives they had witnessed a miracle.

At this moment, under the brilliant gaze of the giant fiery eye, their only feeling was their own insignificance, like a speck of dust floating humbly in the light and shadow.

The Molten Hound seemed to be no exception, lying motionless on the ground with its tail between its legs.

Fortunately, Abohiel is a seasoned veteran of big events.

He bowed deeply, like a low-burning flame, and said humbly, "Your Excellency, Flame Titan, the Flame Guardian, pays homage to you."

The giant, fiery eye remained calm and still.

Eboshir was not surprised by this, and then said, "These dwarves are all your followers, and most of them are your namers. Driven by their faith, they have just defeated the followers of Durag and freed the slaves here... Now they do not know what to choose—to continue to call themselves Grey Dwarves or to become a new dwarf race."

“They want your divine guidance to lead them on the right path,” he continued.

The giant fiery eye finally reacted, glancing indifferently at everyone. The rotating flames caused the many shadows on the ground to rotate as well, like a sundial.

The scanning time is very short, probably less than a second.

But Gao Jiano still felt a chill run down his spine, and involuntarily shuddered, as if the distant gaze from the world of fire was some kind of entity that was touching him all over.

Fortunately, he could sense that the person looking at him had no sinister intentions.

Of course, this might just be an illusion—stemming from Prometheus's positive image in mythology. If Prometheus harbored any ill intentions, he probably wouldn't have sensed it.

"Boom." After a single glance, the giant fiery eye disintegrated and returned to flames.

The flames split into hundreds of strands that fell from the sky, landing on each red-bearded dwarf and merging into him.

After being infused with flames, the dwarves' appearance immediately changed.

Their beards were even redder, and their skin was no longer grayish-white, but also a fiery red.

Along with them, the shape of their facial features also changed, subtle yet undeniable. In fact, this completely altered their demeanor, shedding the inherently dark aura of the gray dwarves.

In addition, they grew hair.

Grey dwarves are bald, both men and women. This physical characteristic plays a significant role in their notorious reputation.

Now they have hair—and it's fiery red, of course.

(End of this chapter)