Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

Those expectant eyes flashed back in his mind—the selfless trust of a little boy he had raised for a reliable older brother. Lyle smiled; he needed to change his approach, to think in a way that transcended this era and this world.

Andrei Model.

What happens if you smash someone with a life-and-fire hammer? Is the life force of an indestructible weapon effective against living beings?

“Veselg Firehammer might think it’s a crazy idea, but at least he’s planted the seed of absurdity in his mind, and soon I’ll let that spark grow into a raging fire.” He reached out and touched Nia’s tentacles, a strange spiritual impulse flowing from his fingertips. “Immelt is the child of a dragon, and the dragon’s predecessor was the evil god Yemotar. His life is symbiotic with mine, so I can sense Immelt’s potential.”

"What we need to do now is wait for the weapon that the Red Dragon will create with all its might."

"Then I thought about how to gradually induce the Dwarf King to use that red dragon weapon to hurt people. I wasn't really sure, though. The effect of the power is definitely related to the user. If the person using the power of the red dragon has reservations, then the effect will definitely be minimal."

[Then you will commit the crime of deceiving the king by instigating him to harm others.]

"Don't make it sound so serious. Even if we fail, it's just the death of a dwarf, the banishment of the red dragon, and the permanent loss of a dragonflight race."

Is this how you act as a Dragon King priest?

"Looking back and considering the future is an old habit; I'm a newcomer, responsible for innovation. I'm from Andre, Mr. Omen. As everyone knows, Andre has an excellent team of lawyers..."

On the steel streets of Mackenbert, a human is talking to himself, tentacles crawling up his body, the light from the Great Furnace casting a huge, eerie shadow on the mountainside.

Lyle's hesitation caused him to lag behind Freheimer. When he arrived at the Dragonfire Forge, he saw a ball of flames engulfing everything. In the raging fire, Lyle could barely make out a shadowy figure pounding something.

"Imelt!"

The Red Dragon Priest took Lyle's hand.

“That child is serious. She listened to you and is working hard to forge a new weapon. This layer of flame is a barrier set up by the Garden Baron with his body. The temperature and firepower of the furnace are under the control of the elemental lord. This is the unique advantage of fire element in the field of forging. The best blacksmith can make a good weapon on his own, but the best weapon definitely comes from the body of a fire elemental.”

This is similar to a state of seclusion.

"how long?"

"It won't be long. The new members of the Craftsmen's Council will be determined in three days. That's the final deadline."

……

Over the next few days, Visselg felt increasingly nervous. He kept receiving intelligence about Lyle's frequent contact with members of the Forge Slag crew, and his anxiety grew. After that banquet, the sobering dwarf king was convinced that the human dragon priest wasn't a fool, but rather a dangerous madman. Although he appeared gentle and somewhat timid, he sometimes exuded a powerful and undeniable presence.

He didn't seem like someone who talked the talk; he was choosing his targets! That crazy idea was growing wildly, constantly suppressed by his kingly wisdom; he had to act.

After quickly finishing his official duties, the Dwarf King rode his bighorn ram "Bagaro" and charged toward that place, carrying the Dwarf King's weapon, the Fiery Hammer.

Visselg arrived with great force, but when he reached the target location, he only saw the dwarf chef who had lost both legs sitting alone on the edge of Mackenbert's railing, feeling the hot wind rushing down and up from the furnace.

"Are you alright, Captain Paul?" The Dwarf King jumped off his mount, picked up his hammer, and came to Paul's side, looking him over.

"Why are you so nervous, child? This is MacKenzie, and it's safe at home."

Wieselger didn't know how to explain to his former captain of the Firehammer, so he could only laugh it off and push Paul back to the furnace. "It's not lunchtime yet, Firehammer kid, you don't need to be in such a hurry."

"Lyle was just here?"

"Of course, human lifespan is short. Lyle is still a child, and he can't find many people to talk to in Andre, so he often comes to chat with us."

The dwarf king bit his lip. "Humans also have the strongest talent for growth. They can reach the heights that take us hundreds of years in a short life."

"Beautiful things are always fleeting; you have to learn to understand that."

What did Lyle talk to you about?

"There's so much to say. He's a good listener. We reminisced about the past together, like I told you before, about those days of gazing at the sky and facing the waves. It was a beautiful and unforgettable time..."

"Then why did he suddenly leave you here?"

"Something seemed to have changed about the little red dragon; it left in a hurry."

Are the weapons ready?

Paul then chuckled, "By the way, Lyle seems to be a silly, dreamy boy. He asked me, 'What would you do if you regained your health?'"

The Dwarf King stopped, his hand gripping the handle tightly, the metallic creaking sound sending shivers down Paul's spine.

"So... what's your answer?"

Paul looked at Wieselger's expression and seemed to understand something.

Before I could answer Lyle, he ran off.

"But whether it's you or him, my thoughts are the same."

I am a warrior, and I will fight to the death.

Wieselger pushed Paul back into the furnace and left his words behind through the curtain.

"Thank you for everything you have done for Mackenbert, the most powerful legion of the Molten Dwarves."

"The fire hammer will burn forever, Your Majesty."

Chapter 628 Favoritism?

Lyle was now extremely agitated. Although Immelt had already forged the weapon, facing that smiling girl, Lyle felt utterly hopeless. The dwarf kingdom might be doomed too. The weapon was no longer important, the Craftsmen's Council was no longer important. Lyle was pondering how to distance himself from the situation so that the dragon wouldn't blame him for the transformed Immelt.

"My Holy Light, what have you done to yourself, Immelt!"

Along with Lyle, the red dragon priest Freiheimer was also shocked, but his surprise quickly turned into relief.

“Lyle, I realize it, a more perfect version of myself, a more perfect version of myself for the dwarves.”

The red dragon, Immelt, changed its disguise. Originally, the five dragons would all choose a default human or elven form, just like their parents. Lyle wasn't sure if this was a remnant of human aesthetics within the dragons.

And what has become of the eldest daughter of the dragon?!

A red-haired dwarf woman with almost identical measurements, arms thicker than Lyle's thighs, and just over 1.34 meters tall! Her skin was no longer the flawless, snow-white skin; her firm muscles were covered by wheat-colored skin. Although her features had become rugged, in Lyle's eyes, she could still be considered cute... my foot!

How am I supposed to explain this to your dad?! His precious, beautiful, and adorable daughter has turned into a short, stocky little thing!!!

"Imelt, why...why did you become like this?"

The red dragon dwarf shyly flaunted his muscles.

“Because it’s convenient! All the forging equipment here is made to dwarven standards. To unleash my full power, I have to actively adapt to them!!!” Immelt picked up his newly crafted warhammer and slammed it against the anvil, the loud crack startling Lyle. “And I’ve figured it out! Lyle! The dwarves haven’t accepted me. I used to think it was because they were narrow-minded, but that’s not true! I also have my reasons. I never actively tried to integrate into their society; I just wanted them to accept me! That’s wrong! Beauty and figure are just my shell! In any case, I will express my enthusiasm to the dwarves. I want to become part of their community! That’s it, my wholehearted dedication! Isn’t my new form amazing, Lyle! Super~ strong!”

Lyle clutched his chest and knelt down.

"It's over. I can already see your father dragon's furious face. The Dragon Father who destroyed the world is coming back... At the very least, the Dwarf Kingdom is definitely going to be destroyed."

"Oh? That won't do! Fine then, I'll transform into my true form or spirit form when I get home. But how can Father be so superficial? My inner self hasn't changed, so why be so fixated on appearances?"

"How can that be the same? If my lively, adorable, and sweet little girl suddenly changed herself to please another man, even if her heart hadn't changed, I would kill her. Immelt, from this moment on, you are bound to the fate of the Molten Dwarves! For Mackenbert's sake, keep a low profile."

"...Is it that serious, Lyle? Could you put in a good word for me then, just in case..."

"That's impossible. I'll definitely be in trouble by then."

Immelt's change in appearance was quite a turn of events, but since things had come to this, they had no choice but to continue.

As the molten lava gears turned for the 863rd time, the bronze gates of the Craftsmen's Council slowly opened once more. Each councilor took their seat, leaving the central platform empty. This council would decide on the new councilors, presided over by the dwarven king and member of the Craftsmen's Council, Vyselgor Firehammer.

"Before I announce the start of parliament, I would like to introduce a special guest to you."

"The Dragon King Priest, a human named Lyle. He represents the newly born dragon race and will observe our council's proceedings."

"Objection!" Soon, a councilor raised objections to this unexpected event. "No outsider has ever been able to enter our sacred Council of Craftsmen, let alone someone unworthy of the position. What right does this human have to interfere with our solemn examination!"

Before the Dwarf King could speak, the voice that had been giving him nightmares for the past few days already echoed in the Bronze Hall.

"Artisan Council Examination, Article Twelve: The examinee is entitled to participate in the examination and assessment in the presence of one family member. I am the Dragon Priest of Yemotar, the Father of Ten Thousand Dragons, and the Red Dragon Immelt is his daughter. As the eye of the ruler of the previous era, do I not even have the right to see whether my daughter is being treated fairly?"

"..."

"Parliament continues."

"The content of this council... was questioned by Lyle, the priest of Yemotar, the father of the Red Dragon, who demanded a re-examination to reassess the forging skills of the Red Dragon Immelt."

"Does anyone have any objections?"

Lyle stood calmly to the side of the bronze door, a smile on his face. Indeed, borrowing the infamous reputation of arrogance and domineering power proved very effective, whether from the tyrannical Dragon Father or Andre Academy.

"Then, announce to the person being assessed, Red Dragon Immelt, come in."

The bronze gate slowly opened. The councilors sitting in their high positions narrowed their eyes, raising their gazes to search for the alien.

"Hello everyone, I am Immelt! I want to become the Master Forger of Mackenbert!" The loud voice made all the councilors who were looking up at the sky stand up. They looked across the platform at the female dwarf standing on the central platform with a sunny smile.

Some lawmakers pushed up their goggles, coughed a few times, and muttered, "A honey trap, huh? The despicable Red Dragon."

Wieselger stared wide-eyed when Immelt entered, but a king does not forget his manners.

"Then, according to our tradition, Ms. Immelt will present her work."

The red dragon raised her warhammer.

It was a relatively simple flat-headed one-handed hammer, engraved with the image of a red dragon breathing its breath. The dragon's scales shimmered, formed from compressed dragon runes. Judging by its appearance alone, most councilors would classify this warhammer as a divine artifact.

Immelt's forging talent had long been recognized by most people, but her inner resistance made the councilors unwilling to let a dragon become a dwarf councilor, and according to tradition, she did indeed fail the test.

"Then, guard, hand over your weapons!"

Just as the guard was about to remove the two-handed battle axe from his back, Lyle stepped forward.

"Wait a minute! I have a problem with the test equipment."

The dwarf king was startled, thinking that Lyle was about to suggest using a person to test the hammer.

"Lyle, don't change our rules!"

With a smile, Lyle handed something to the dwarf king.

“I have no intention of changing the dwarven traditions. I just want to give Immelt a little test from her family before she begins her real trial. She should get back up where she fell. This is the sword that defeated Immelt in her last trial. It’s been sitting for a while and it’s a bit rusty, but let Immelt test it out first.”

Wieselger took the sword and looked at Lyle with a strange expression.

This weapon was more than just rusty; its once gleaming blade looked as if it had undergone some kind of devastating corrosion, dull and lifeless, riddled with a series of corroded holes and twisted, curled edges. This shouldn't be called a weapon; it should be called junk. Without even needing to hammer it, Visselg could easily break it in two with just a little force from both hands.

He looked at Lyle and thought, "I understand your desire to build the red dragon's confidence, but this is just too outrageous. You could break this thing with your bare hands, let alone with a hammer."

Laughter had already erupted in the parliamentary seats.

"Hahahaha, is this your preparation? Using something like this to help the Red Dragon pass the test is an insult to forging! You rude human brat."

"Furthermore, the standards for weapon collisions are different. Heavy weapons should collide with heavy weapons, such as warhammers and battle axes, or swords and spears. If you use a thick iron hammer to strike a thin blade, of course it will shatter upon impact!"

Ignoring the dwarf's mockery, Lyle approached Immelt and calmly said, "Do you remember what you promised me?"