Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 220 Dense Tunnels Along the River! A Comical Troop? (Please Subscribe)
While Attila's hundred-strong dwarf army rested during the day, several human special operations forces also began their operations.

The newly equipped silent manned aircraft of the pioneering team is powerful and produces very little noise. It can carry a fully armed soldier and fly close to the ridgeline, accurately dropping the soldier into a concealed location six kilometers away from the target.

Further on, special forces would need to advance several kilometers to reach the designated location and wait for the target to be captured.

This is far more fortunate than the lives of our predecessors more than seventy years ago.

Back then, they carried rifles, ate coarse grain flour, and relied solely on their legs and steely will to fight for their lives on cliffs where they could fall at any moment.

High-tech creations have enriched our imagination for combat.

However, high technology also has its troubles.

The snow and high mountains restricted the warriors' movements. Even though the warriors carried equipment such as mechanical dogs that could climb mountains, the command post chose remote drop points to ensure that they would not be discovered by the dwarves with their sensitive ears.

This meant that soldiers had to travel a considerable distance over mountains and valleys to reach their combat positions.

The orders from headquarters were simple and clear: capture as many dwarves alive as possible while ensuring your own safety.

Capturing these dwarves alive will not be easy!
The cave where the enemy was hiding was very low, making it difficult for tall, strong human special forces to rush in and trap them like turtles in a jar.

In addition, the dwarves have muskets and cannons, so dealing with them requires some patience.

After discussing the matter, the warriors from each unit decided to ambush the dwarves on their inevitable route.

All units were mobilized, and emergency preparations were made, with various capture equipment being deployed. They were just waiting for the enemy to fall into the trap before they could close the net.

But plans can never keep up with changes.

After several special forces units braved the headwinds and were freezing in the snow and ice, finally managing to set up an ambush, they discovered that the target had become unusually cautious during their nighttime march.

On a mountain ridge a few kilometers away, Zhao Chong lay prone in the snow, his camouflage blending seamlessly into the environment.

He stared intently at three furtive figures several kilometers away through a high-magnification thermal imaging lens.

The three dwarves rode on a nearly full load of Gru beasts across the mountainside.

They were all covered by some kind of cloak that could distort light, very similar to the cloaks of invisibility worn by elves.

Although they were cautious, the cloaks could not completely conceal the dwarves' tracks.

Under thermal imaging, they all revealed ridiculous flaws.

Some dwarves even poked their heads out, revealing obvious heat signals, like three large light bulbs in the dark, crystal clear!

"Captain, what's the deal with these guys? They're in groups of three. Are they sentries scouting ahead, or messengers trying to communicate with us?" Xiao Zhou asked in a low voice.

Zhao Chong shook his head, his eyes still on the screen: "Would envoys be so sneaky? Look at their cowardly way of thinking three steps ahead before taking a step, they're practically human scouts."

A force of over a hundred people sent out only three people, and they looked like they were doing something wrong. They didn't seem like they were just visiting to deliver gifts.

"Have the bionic bats been released yet?"

"It's been released, and bat number three has already flown over the target area. However, these dwarfs are very vigilant, so we can only conduct reconnaissance by passing by and dare not linger. But the disguised birds have been deployed!"

"Well done. I'll report the situation to headquarters and see what they say."

"Alright!" Xiao Zhou rubbed his frozen hands, looked at the three dwarves dawdling on the shared screen, and couldn't help but mutter, "Captain, do you think they won't notice something and turn around and run away? Then all our efforts in this trap will be for nothing?"

"Shut your mouth!" Zhao Chong snapped at him in a low voice, clearly annoyed.

That's what he said, but he himself was also very uneasy.

This operation was given exceptional importance by higher authorities, who mobilized a total of five special forces units.

The Butcher Squadron, deployed on the other side, is their old rival.

A while ago, because they took on fewer missions, the Butcher and his gang stole the credit, and the Butcher's sullen face was always hanging in front of them.

The two special forces units are now locked in a fierce competition.

If the dwarves slip away right under their noses this time, their squadron will never be able to hold their heads high in front of their commander again.

Zhao Chong and all the soldiers in the unit dreamed of winning back the first place they had lost.

Of course, if these dwarves came with fine wine and goodwill, then everyone would be happy.

Nobody wants to fight the dwarves in this awful weather!
The troops were deployed here out of concern that if the two races were to develop into the worst-case scenario, the ambush formation could quickly bring the enemy under control.

Just as Zhao Chong was lost in thought, the tactical tablet beside him suddenly beeped softly.

These are special images detected by ultra-small reconnaissance bats released nearby.

In the scene, the three dwarf scouts stopped, and one of them took a box out of his backpack!
Zhao Chong and Xiao Zhou both held their breath.

The dwarf carefully placed the box on the snow, opened the lid, and took some things out.

Then, the red powder radiating high temperature is placed on top.

Then everyone saw that the box in the distance was emitting an almost invisible light.

The light then spread outwards, disappearing completely after a radius of approximately 2 kilometers.

Zhao Chong and Xiao Zhou, who were 3 kilometers away, watched all of this with puzzlement.

Xiao Zhou asked in a low voice, "Captain, what... what kind of operation is this?"

"Is the magic detection device reacting?"

"The fluctuation was a bit stronger just now!"

Zhao Chong frowned, staring intently at the dwarves under the infrared camera: "It's probably some kind of magical detection device. Hopefully, they haven't discovered us!"
-

More than 170 kilometers away, at the headquarters of the Time-Space Gate.

The high-definition images were transmitted to a giant screen, and the images were crystal clear. This was the latest live footage transmitted from the front lines by a flapping-wing bionic bird.

"It's some kind of magical detection device; the magical fluctuations spike quite high instantly. It seems the dwarves also have some special reconnaissance methods!" Commander Fu said with a smile.

Commander Man stubbed out his cigarette and shoved it into the ashtray on the table. His tone was one of leisurely detachment, as if watching a show: "They look around every few steps and use their equipment to probe. Their caution is clearly ill-intentioned!"

A young staff officer standing nearby couldn't help but ask, "Brigade Commander, should we bring these prisoners back for interrogation?"

"No rush, they're just a few scouts! We'll deal with them once they're fully inside our marked area." Commander Man waved his hand, his eyes still glued to the screen.

The so-called marked areas are human territory warning signs set up by the pioneering troops as they expand outward along the glacier defense line.

The marked area is to tell you that this has been our territory since ancient times.

If you still come here rashly, we will take necessary measures.

This is called having a legitimate reason to launch a counterattack against any potential invasion.

At this moment, the few sneaky dwarves on the screen had already left the mountains without human intervention and were huffing and puffing as they traversed the dense forest.

These dwarves' supposedly covert actions were, in fact, no different from running naked in a plaza under the multiple layers of human surveillance.

Humans are very patient, silently observing all of this.

In the scene, the leader of the dwarves arrives at a slope with a huge dead tree and works with his companions to remove the stones and branches that cover the ground as camouflage.

Then, a dark hole appeared.

The group waited for a while, then filed in and disappeared without a trace.

"Huh? Why is there a cave here?" The young staff officer was taken aback.

"It doesn't look like a cave; it's more like a tunnel dug by some dwarves! Have the operator controlling the android at the front adjust the angle! Be careful not to be discovered!"

More than 100 kilometers away, the operator of the bionic bird drone quickly adjusted the bird's-eye view and began to carefully observe the situation.

As more information was entered, everyone was astonished!

Commander Man frowned and pointed to the inconspicuous hole on the screen.

"Sure enough, the supporting structure at the entrance of the cave is not entirely natural; these mountain rats have indeed dug a tunnel."

"The tunnels must have been there a long time ago! Are these guys all gophers?"

Su Mingjin, who had been silent all along, gently placed the celadon teacup on the table, making a crisp, light sound.

"Can you confirm the final destination of these tunnels?" Her voice was soft but clear, yet carried an undeniable weight.

A technical officer immediately stood up and reported: "Reporting to General Su, we need to immediately dispatch large Wing Loong UAVs, equipped with the latest ground-penetrating radar, to conduct scanning operations!"

"Has this area not been scanned before?" Su Mingjin asked.

"Reporting to General Su, our initial key exploration areas were all within a 12-kilometer radius of the Ice River base. That forest is on the south bank of the Ru River, more than 16 kilometers away from us as the crow flies, and with the deep river nearby, it has been relegated to a lower priority." The officer's forehead was beaded with sweat.

That's a euphemism; it really means they haven't had the chance yet.

Su Mingjin can understand.

Because the human settlement area is too large, there is a severe shortage of manpower. In the early stages, the Glacier Base was mainly responsible for ensuring the safety of the Glacier tribe savages that had been rescued earlier. Now that it is not an important base, its military defenses are naturally not as robust!

"Brigadier General Fu, what's your opinion?" Su Mingjin turned to another officer with a general's star on his shoulder.

Commander Fu said calmly, "General Su, I suggest a two-pronged approach. We can send in the Pterodactyls, but the risks on the other side of the river are unknown. We should immediately launch more detection equipment on the north bank of the Ruhe River, which is on our side, to ensure that the ground beneath our feet is clean!"

“That makes sense. We’ll do it your way.” Su Mingjin nodded. “You’re professionals, so make sure we maintain control of the battlefield.”

"Yes!"

Brigade Commander Man and Brigade Commander Fu responded in unison.

After the order was quickly issued, all departments got busy.

Fifteen minutes later, the technical officer's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"Report! The Wing Loong UAV has begun to loiter nearby. The ground-penetrating radar is activated and is generating a cross-sectional map of the underground structure!"

The screen viewpoint was split again.

The real-time ground footage transmitted back by the drone is monitored by designated personnel.

A three-dimensional image composed of countless data points and lines begins to be rapidly generated with the help of the exploration radar.

Soon, a red line began to meander from the cave entrance where the dwarves disappeared, extending deep underground.

"The depth is five to twelve meters... and the direction is towards the ridge to the south! There are many collapsed sections. It seems to be an old tunnel."

"Some underground passages are too deep for our radar to explore further."

Commander Man said directly, "Explore along the riverbank and see if there are any tunnels or entrances to what appears to be tunnels nearby."

"it is good!"

Soon, the ground-penetrating radar carried by the drone quickly scanned and obtained more information.

"There are tunnels, lots of them!"

As the operators shouted excitedly, everyone in the command center held their breath.

Multiple discontinuous red lines, representing underground cavities, are formed along the riverbank.

This doesn't mean these tunnels are different; rather, it means that human exploration radar doesn't have enough power to fully explore all the nearby underground tunnels.

“There must be a sophisticated network of tunnels built by the dwarves nearby. The pits they dug here are huge! It seems like they’ve been stationed here for a long time.”

Brigade Commander Man and Brigade Commander Fu exchanged a glance and found that the other also had a furrowed brow.

The two then looked at the big screen in unison.

At this moment, alarm bells rang in both of their hearts.

If it weren't for the drones routinely patrolling that area and discovering the nocturnal dwarf forces in advance, these people would have sneaked in from the other side of the hillside.

Even with numerous contingency plans, their pioneering team couldn't avoid a period of chaos and confusion.

High technology is good, but human vigilance is always the first line of defense.

We can't rely too much on high technology!
Su Mingjin frowned upon seeing this.

Although she knew it was because the military's focus was not on the reclamation team, she also knew that more manpower needed to be deployed.

The undead scourge in the north and the elves in the southwest require focused defense.

To the southeast lies the dwarves who prefer to live in the towering mountains, and whom we thought we could communicate with. This area also requires close defense.

Just as the command center was contemplating potentially worse consequences and developing more contingency plans, dwarves suddenly crawled out of the tunnel.

The dwarf was wearing an invisibility cloak. He poked his head out, his small, darting eyes scanning his surroundings warily.

After confirming that there was no danger, he nimbly climbed out of the tunnel.

Then, several much larger Grumon that had just crawled into the tunnel came out.

The backs of these goat-like Gru beasts were hollow, indicating that the supplies had been unloaded into those underground tunnels.

The dwarf moved swiftly, bringing over several pieces disguised as rocks and dead trees to reseal the cave entrance, leaving no trace.

After doing all this, he draped the other two Grumon with cloaks that could make them invisible, then mounted one of the Grumon and hurriedly left.

The atmosphere in the command hall instantly became tense. "They left two dwarves inside!" Brigade Commander Man frowned deeply. "Could it be that they've been having troops monitoring us right under the noses of the Ice River Base?"

"Impossible!" the technical officer immediately retorted, his tone resolute. "While we haven't thoroughly investigated the surrounding underground environment, we have been regularly conducting drone reconnaissance; our coverage density is very high. The dwarves' camouflage is impressive, but to think they can fool our thermal imaging and multispectral scanning is simply a pipe dream!"

Commander Fu stroked his chin, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with thought: "If it's not surveillance, then what are they doing inside? They can't be digging an underground river and trying to infiltrate us, can they?"

His words added a touch of absurd dark humor to the tense atmosphere.

Infiltrating right under people's noses?
This isn't a military operation, it's military amusement!

Su Mingjin frowned, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound, her gaze fixed on the forest on the screen that had returned to peace.

At this moment, she really wanted to break some principles and just grab the dwarf for interrogation!

Unfortunately, reason told her that it was best not to open this door carelessly before the other party fully revealed greater hostility.

The Organization Department gave Su Mingjin and her team the authority to act according to circumstances, but also instructed them to strive for peace as much as possible!
It's normal for the organization to have some concerns.

It's worth noting that dwarves and elves are clearly at odds, yet the two races manage to cooperate, which suggests that the dwarves' military strength must have some merit.

Although the weapons the humans had previously captured for the dwarves were mostly primitive firearms, the dwarves have now demonstrated their ability to march through high mountains and their alchemical technology.

But those things come with an absurd security device that's like an identity verification system!

What if the dwarves really possess powerful weapons that could pose a significant threat to humanity?

Why didn't either the elf captives or the dwarf captives say anything?

For example, what if the dwarves possess magical weapons whose explosive power is comparable to that of a nuclear bomb?
Before you've confirmed just how powerful the dwarves are, you should at least hide your fangs and claws, and then communicate with them with a friendly face.

They look like a teddy bear to everyone they meet, and it's easy to get annoyed by them.
"Gentlemen, if we allow the enemy to infiltrate our territory, can we guarantee a resounding victory?" Su Mingjin inquired.

"We are confident that we can accomplish the tasks assigned to us by the organization!"

Su Mingjin nodded: "Everyone has seen the dwarves' weapons! We also learned from the elves that the dwarves have quite a few powerful weapons! They are alchemical equipment that is completely different from the elven magic system!"

"Gentlemen, I know you all yearn for battle and glory, but the lives of soldiers are extremely precious. Unless absolutely necessary, we should strive to capture the enemy alive and fight for peace!"

Brigade Commander Fu nodded: "Commander Su's concerns are normal. The soldiers are not afraid of sacrifice! They are only worried that their sacrifice will be meaningless!"

"President Su, thank you for the Party's concern. All of the dwarves' actions now prove that they are going to attack us. We request to launch a preemptive strike and keep the enemy out!"

“These pits were our oversight, and they’re fatal. We know how many dwarves live nearby; we need to eliminate this threat completely!”

"How about we conduct some special infiltration and reconnaissance? By the way, we can deploy some spy devices, and we can also deploy some recording equipment nearby."

Su Mingjin's eyes lit up: "Okay."

The pioneering team explored the other world for so long and gained so much. All the equipment from major scientific research institutions and research institutes was first given to the pioneering team.

For example, the Black Edge drone, which was never seen in other military units before, and some smaller drones.

Many drones used in this other world did not achieve ideal results. The constant electromagnetic interference turned a large number of miniature high-tech devices into headless flies, making them impossible to control.

However, military technology and various discoveries have spurred the upgrading of equipment.

After several months of progress, the military has acquired a number of miniature reconnaissance devices that are now capable of close-range use.

The order was given, the troops at the front began to move, and the people in command turned their attention to the screen.

Suppressing their various speculations, everyone quietly observed the movements in the forest and the caves where the dwarves were hiding.

Su Mingjin's gaze was drawn to the returning dwarf.

When they arrived, the three dwarves rode three-headed Gru, which were laden with heavy supplies, making them stagger.

Now, only a nimble dwarf and a three-headed, empty-handed Grumon wearing an invisibility cloak have returned.

The dwarves were very cautious when they went out to scout, but they were very fast on their way back.

Su Mingjin felt that these guys must be scouts!
More than half an hour later, the dwarf returned to the cave where the main dwarf army was resting.

After the dwarf stayed for a while, three more dwarf cavalrymen riding Gru beasts appeared at the cave entrance.

Then the dwarves used the same trick again, climbing over the hills and entering the dense forest, heading straight for the tunnel entrance near the riverbank that had been detected by the ground-penetrating radar.

The dwarves made this round and round more than ten times right under the noses of the humans, moving back and forth like ants carrying food.

During this time, there were even times when the dwarf Grumon returned, and the Grumon dragged the tree trunks to sweep the ground, erasing all the hoof prints and traces left by the group.

The whole process was smooth and seamless, and the disguise was very sophisticated.

“Transporting two or three people at a time, going to such great lengths, do the dwarves still think they haven’t been discovered by us?” Commander Man said with a strange expression.

"The other side is definitely secretly moving troops to the riverbank! They're going to such lengths to attack us."

Commander Fu nodded: "This should be a premeditated and organized military mobilization! They have transferred troops from the southern mountainous area and are now infiltrating in batches... Tsk tsk, it seems we made these dwarves too cautious after capturing them at night last time?"

"Dwarves are so poor! I feel like they probably have very few invisibility cloaks, which is why they have to rely on such a large force to transport warriors."

"Do you think they'll just hide in those dilapidated tunnels and wait for the right moment to swim across in arms and attack us?"

“I think these guys really have that idea.”

Although Commander Fu's speculation was far-fetched, after observing the dwarves' actions and some of their bizarre tactics for so long, it's quite possible that they really wanted to infiltrate in batches and then launch a surprise attack on the humans.

The other party's actions appear comical from a human's God-like perspective.

If these short, stout guys were to sneak up near the base and deploy some strange and powerful magical weapons, it would definitely cause casualties among humans.

During the transport, they saw quite a few short guns with a caliber of at least 100 mm being carried over by those goats.

"President Su, let's get started!"

The entire command hall fell silent, all eyes turning to Su Mingjin.

Su Mingjin pursed her lips, carefully examining the forest cave entrance on the screen, which had been disguised flawlessly, her eyes flashing with cold light.

She inquired, "Didn't we previously detect over 100 dwarven troops carrying multiple batches of Gru beasts?"

"Yes!"

"If we engage in mountain warfare, won't we be unable to capture all the dwarves alive, and might inflict heavy casualties on them?"

"Yes, the cave they're in is small, and they often move around halfway up the mountain. Our tranquilizer fog weapons might not be able to capture them all alive safely!"

"Those tunnels would be excellent attack points, wouldn't they?"

"Yes!"

Su Mingjin laughed: "They went to great lengths to try and ambush us, but their transport efficiency is too slow. At this rate, they won't be able to transport all the dwarves to the riverbank until tomorrow night!"

"So we have plenty of time to arrange everything!" Su Mingjin said with a smile again, "Besides, everyone, playing whack-a-mole is always more fun than hunting mountain goats, isn't it?"

Many people at the scene laughed.

Su Mingjin instructed, "The troops can first explore the tunnels that may exist on our side to ensure the safety of the Ice River Base! The other troops should continue to maintain the pocket formation. If the dwarves are confirmed to be dangerous, firing is permitted. Otherwise, wait until all the dwarves are inside our pre-set pocket before catching them."

"it is good!"

"Also, when will our spy drones arrive? I'm eager to know what those dwarves are saying in the tunnels right now."

"Report! The troops have moved forward to build signal enhancement equipment and will be deploying spy drones soon!"

Looking at the now tranquil forest, Su Mingjin felt a sense of anticipation rising within her.
-

More than 100 kilometers away, on the leeward side of a mountain ridge, a knife-like wind whipped up snowflakes, mercilessly lashing at every soldier lying in ambush.

The infiltration has now entered its tenth hour.

Despite having top-notch cold-weather combat clothing paired with some simple snow camouflage nets to avoid the wind and snow, the lack of exercise over a long period of time caused the bone-chilling cold to make every muscle in the body stiffen.

Zhao Chong lay prone in a spot where he could easily spot more clues; his snow camouflage suit made him almost indistinguishable from the vast snow-covered mountains.

He used his tactical binoculars, through the white mesh cover, to scan the desolate cave a few kilometers away one last time.

It was a dwarf cave, its entrance camouflaged so that from a distance it blended almost seamlessly into the surroundings, and there was no longer any movement.

The footprints and goat tracks outside the cave had all disappeared due to the wind and snow.

He lowered his voice and asked into the microphone, "Xiao Zhou, what did headquarters say?"

Xiao Zhou's voice carried a hint of static and a touch of helplessness: "Reporting to the captain, headquarters orders us to continue lying in wait until all the shorty-looking guys have crawled into our pre-set trap before we make our move."

"Understood! All units remain vigilant and take turns resting!"

"Damn it!" Sun Dezhu, who was not far from Zhao Chong, couldn't help but curse under his breath. He shifted his position, feeling that half of his body was almost numb. "When the hell are we going to get here? Are we here to fight a war, or to become snow statues?"

Zhao Chong glanced at him, his lips twitched slightly, and the white breath he exhaled was instantly blown away by the cold wind.

"Being a statue is better than being a target. Do you want to rush into a cave more than a meter high right now and play whack-a-mole?"

Sun Dezhu immediately fell silent.

Zhao Chong patted him on the shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.

"Don't worry, there's still a battle to fight. Even if we don't get to eat meat, we'll still have soup. Have you seen those Gru beasts? We can catch a few and make mutton soup. The meat of those things is absolutely delicious. Isn't that more interesting than capturing a few broken cannons?"

Hearing this, the soldiers, who were shivering from the cold, perked up a bit.

……

At another mountain pass eight kilometers away, the butcher wrapped himself in a snow cloak, revealing only his hawk-like eyes, which were fixed on the distance.

They were lucky; the snowstorm on the mountain was much lighter than on Zhao Chong's side, but the snow still stung their faces.

Communications officer Hong Mingxu hunched over and whispered, "Team Leader Tu, there's new information from command post..."

The butcher grunted in response, signaling him to speak, while his gaze remained fixed on the observation post.

"At first, headquarters thought those dwarves had sneaked in here without us noticing..." Hong Mingxu's tone was strange as he suppressed a laugh as he described the dwarves' situation, "...they seem to have very few invisibility cloaks, only three...like ants carrying food, they keep making trips into that tunnel by the river. Command analyzed that at this rate, they wouldn't be able to finish transporting them in less than two nights."

Hong Mingxu couldn't help but laugh as he spoke: "So the command headquarters told us to wait!"

The butcher remained silent for a moment.

Amidst the sound of wind and snow, he suddenly let out a low laugh.

The laughter rolled out of his throat, carrying an indescribable flavor, making the hideous scar on his face twitch.

People tend to laugh when they're speechless.

Despite all the careful planning, and considering the other party a major threat, they ended up encountering a bunch of... incredibly incompetent oddballs.

It feels like you've written your will, shouldered a glorious bomb, grabbed your weapon, and are ready to go and take on a Space Marine.

They discovered that a group of groundhogs had emerged from the enemy's lair.

"Alright." The butcher's smile faded, and his voice returned to its usual coldness. "Pass down the order: take turns on guard duty and take turns resting. Since they're giving us ample time to prepare, let's not be polite."

He paused, then added, "Tell the brothers to get their spirits up. Once these gophers are all inside their burrows, I'm going to make sure none of them escape, alive!"

"Yes!"

Just as the frontline troops received their orders and were preparing for a protracted war with mixed feelings of amusement and dismay,

Near the river, several soldiers were installing some parts on a reconnaissance flapping-wing aircraft.

Not far from them, devices used to enhance communication signals had been activated.

"Ready to start!"

The soldiers pressed the switch on the flapping-wing aircraft and then placed a bionic spider into the rack below.

"Let it fly!"

The flapping-wing bionic aircraft took off into the sky with a noise level of less than ten decibels, and then quickly flew to a spot not far from the entrance of the tunnel where the dwarves were hidden.

The aircraft descended to a lower altitude and then dropped the bionic spider, which was in standby mode.

Soon, the bionic spider began to move under the control of the warriors, crawling towards the tunnels the dwarves had used for hiding...

……

More than 100 kilometers away, at the command headquarters on this side of the time portal.

A technical officer jumped to his feet, his voice brimming with excitement: "General Su! The spy spider has successfully infiltrated! We're inside!"

Su Mingjin's gaze sharpened instantly.

"Switch the camera here!"

On the main screen, the snow-covered forest scene instantly switched to a shaky and dim perspective.

That's the inside of the tunnel dug by the dwarves!
Scattered luminous crystals hung on the rough rock face, and dust filled the air.

Immediately afterwards, a series of indistinct dwarven words, along with the sound of snoring, came clearly from the sound system in the command center!

"Are the dwarves asleep?"

(End of this chapter)