Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"We must give it our all."

“That’s right. Even for the smallest and most fragile target, I want to see you give it your all, Immelt. Go and smash that rusty knife with all your might.”

"...Okay, Lyle!"

Chapter 629 The Flames of Change

When Immelt raised her gavel, all the members of parliament scoffed. They tapped their fingers on the table, their eyes darting back and forth like thieves searching for accomplices, their equally arrogant faces exchanging knowing smiles.

In this noisy and sarcastic atmosphere, Immelt emptied his mind and focused his power on the warhammer.

"drink!!"

The burning red dragon's hammer crashed down, and before the thunderous roar could be heard, the dwarves were all awestruck by the sight. The red-haired dwarf's body stretched to its limit, her robust frame as solid as rock and as fierce as fire. Sparks from the impact flew through the air along with her red hair. Her red dragon eyes were like jewels set in a statue…

Lyle paid no heed to the sudden shift in atmosphere at the Craftsmen's Council; his eyes were fixed on the rusted blade engulfed in flames. The blade, which Nia had spent thirty minutes chewing on, was now enveloped in intense light. Lyle was certain it wasn't the aftershock of an explosion, but the manifestation of some special power.

As the light faded, what appeared before everyone's eyes was a brand-new dwarven standard-issue battle sword, without any nicks, corrosion, or stains, so new it looked as if it had just been taken off the polishing machine.

"How is this possible..."

The previous corrosion and the current shock had a profound impact on the master blacksmiths. This reality, which completely overturned their experience, left the councilors bewildered. They looked at the red dragon that had transformed scrap metal into weapons, wanting to know the answer.

The red dragon was now standing in front of Lyle, its dwarf face showing it biting its lip and wiping away tears.

"I failed again, Lyle."

Lyle shook his head and patted Immelt on the back.

"You've done your best, and now I'm going to show these fools just how amazing you are."

The Dragon King Priest led the red dragon onto the platform, raised the brand-new weapon, and proudly announced to everyone, "This is the power of the red dragon Immelt. She can shatter your perceptions and turn the rotten into the magical."

"The power of the red dragon is enough to grant new life, and this is the first manifestation of her power: the repair of weapons. No master blacksmith could do this. Although I am a human idiot who knows nothing about blacksmithing, I can see this from the faces of you dwarven masters. Immelt has done it better than any of you here!"

Lyle bowed with his hand on his chest, his aggressive expression transforming into a smile as if he had undergone a facelift.

"I've finished the little quiz I gave Immelt. Now, please continue with the Dwarven Craftsmen's Council's assessment..."

“Lyle, you’ve already explained Immelt’s abilities, so the result of the assessment will definitely be the same… Is there any point in continuing?” The dwarves’ arrogance prevented them from discovering the red dragon’s magical power in the last assessment. Would this power be useful to dwarves? Of course it would. Forging equipment can fail, and the more powerful the equipment, the greater the difficulty and the higher the probability of failure. Such a failure could lead to the equipment shattering under the strain. A powerful weapon would be gone just like that.

What does the power of the Red Dragon signify?

[Weapons are immortal], and by making good use of this power, everyone in the Craftsmen's Council firmly believes that no other race in the world has weapons and equipment that can surpass those of the Molten Dwarves.

But even with such power, their eyes were clouded by narrow-mindedness, and they were rebuked. It was precisely because they realized their mistake that Lyle's declaration made every senator's face burn. Each senator, putting themselves in Lyle's shoes, would surely have retaliated fiercely after such humiliation, but Lyle did not continue his accusations; instead, he simply smiled and let it go.

Visselg saw this as Lyle giving the Craftsmen's Council a way out, and while grateful, he decided to save face for the Red Dragon. He was certain the Craftsmen's Council would secretly grant the Red Dragon a seat afterward; her power was too important to the dwarves. When interests are at stake, rules can be changed.

"No, please continue with the Craftsmen's Council assessment. I haven't finished speaking yet!"

"But..." The Red Dragon Hammer, which can be repaired from scrap metal, certainly can't destroy heavy weapons. Aren't you just insulting the Red Dragon?

Lyle gave a dangerous smile. "I've said it before, Immelt has her strengths, and repairing weapons is only one part of it. Aren't you curious about her other abilities?"

An unease arose in Visselg's heart, that same sinister feeling again. The test just now was merely an appetizer. This human was slowly revealing his plan. But... even though the Dwarf King knew the danger, he couldn't resist, just like all the Dwarf Councilors, the temptation set by the Dragon King Priest Lyle.

"Other abilities of the Red Dragon's power..."

The dwarves' eyes gleamed red as they leaned forward, straining to hear every word Lyle uttered, like greedy dragons eyeing a treasure.

[Corrupting their minds, driving them to greed, is truly...interesting. Okay, I'll control the extent.]

"The power of the Red Dragon can repair damaged objects. And for intact objects, the power of the Red Dragon can enhance them. I don't think I need to explain the meaning of enhancement to you masters."

The dwarf councilors began whispering among themselves.

"Enhancement, that doesn't sound too far-fetched. We can all enhance and forge most weapons..."

Lyle's smile grew even brighter.

"You just said the majority, right? You can only upgrade the majority of weapons."

The councilors were initially angry at Lyle's blatant mockery, but then, as if suddenly understanding everything, they turned to look at the red dragon Immelt, their eyes filled with a look that went beyond mere greed.

Could it be that...?!

Lyle laughed wildly, spreading his arms wide.

"The Dragonfather Yemotar was once the ruler of the world, his power encompassing the evolution and annihilation of all things. The power that the Dragonfather bestowed upon the Red Dragon is authority, is the rule. The power of the Red Dragon can enhance all equipment."

Even those unimprovable divine artifacts.

[Weapons exceeded limit]

The councilors went mad! This wasn't a dragon! It was the god of blacksmithing! My God, this god was the guardian of us dwarves! All the councilors now wanted nothing more than to go back in time and kill themselves, those fools they once were.

"Don't get excited, let's verify this first. What if I'm just fooling the Dwarf King and the entire Council of Craftsmen? Are you all out of your minds?"

Lyle's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the dwarves' heads; they were already overwhelmed by the wonderful information and their sense of shame.

"That's right, then we need to find a divine artifact to test the hammer..."

"But magical artifacts are hard to find..."

“McKembert does have a few, but they are all in the possession of the Firehammer royal family…”

"One of them seems to be..."

"The Fiery Hammer, forged by the Red Dragon Freiheimer for the Firehammer royal family... now hanging on His Majesty's waist."

Do you want to rebel?! You actually dare to test my national treasure with a hammer!

Visselg thought this to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. He picked up the flaming hammer in his hand and exhaled a breath of stale air.

“Ms. Immelt, please hand over your divine artifact to me for use.”

"Only the son of the fire hammer can wield it."

"I will personally test the hammer for you."

Viselger Firehammer switched the Flame Hammer to his left hand and picked up the smaller Red Dragon Hammer with his right. He pressed the head of the Red Dragon Hammer against the burning edge of the Flame Hammer and struck it lightly like a flint and steel.

[Ignite] This is the power of the Flame Hammer, the king's hammer of the dwarves, an artifact bestowed upon the Molten Dwarves by the red dragon. The flames of the Flame Hammer can intensify the weapon and the wielder's full power, maintaining them at their peak.

The world is really about to change; the Flame Hammer is going to become just a foil to his hammer one day.

A smile appeared on Visselg Firehammer's lips beneath his beard.

Let me ignite that spark of change.

"what!!!!"

With the dwarf king's roar, two burning divine warhammers collided overhead. The force of the impact erupted between the two hammers, and the burning flames illuminated the entire bronze palace.

The Red Dragon Hammer is intact.

Flame Hammer +1.

Chapter 630 Immelt, the Life Overseer

"Was it successful?"

"Has the Flame Hammer been enhanced, Your Majesty?"

All the dwarven councilors eagerly awaited the outcome, but for the artifact itself, the enhanced light was not dazzling. They could not perceive the effect from a distance; only the artifact's master, the wielder of the Fiery Hammer for many years, the dwarven king Vyselger, could know the true result.

Visselg raised the flames on his left and right, which radiated warmth in his palms, as always, yet with a different feel. The dwarf king loosened his cloak, removed his shirt, and exposed his bare skin, which steamed from his rock-like muscles as the power within his body was fully ignited.

"It has indeed become stronger, by about one-fifth."

The dwarves were ecstatic. That was one-fifth of the artifact's power.

The councilors jumped from their seats, hooking their arms around each other's shoulders and leaping onto the platform, dancing comically. More people cheered loudly, turning the highest dwarven authority into a celebration. The most abundant sound was applause; the flushed yet rational dwarven councilors channeled their pent-up emotions into thunderous applause for the red dragon.

A jubilation.

Except for one person.

"Do you think that's enough?" Lyle crossed his arms, his slightly narrowed eyes as if trying to hide his gaze, but all the dwarves could sense the depravity in his mockery, like the sweet and rotten blood gushing from the wounds of prey.

Visselg sensed something was wrong, but like all dwarves, the series of surprises had already numbed their tense nerves. Everyone was drunk, unconsciously anticipating what the demon would say next.

"What else, Mr. Lyle!"

Feeling the dwarf's gaze, the red dragon Immelt panicked, finding solace only in standing beside Lyle. Besides, given their current height difference, clinging to the dragon priest's robes didn't seem out of place at all.

Lyle rubbed the red dragon dwarf's head, his shadow already touching the emblem representing the Council of Craftsmen above the Bronze Hall in the firelight.

"The third manifestation of the power of the Red Dragon, Mackenbert's dwarves, what do you think life is? A living being with a soul and free will."

"The power of the Red Dragon has the power to forge life."

"That's right, its [repair] and [strengthening] effects are equally effective on living things!"

"You like steel, so would you like to try turning yourself into steel?"

"In this era, there exists a perfect power called Holy Light. It can not only transform into flames to punish enemies, but also into light to warm allies. Wounds heal, bodies repair, flesh regenerate, bones heal... and even, resist death."

"The power of the Red Dragon can do the same thing, as long as you try."

The dwarves' medical skills were not advanced; their primary profession was blacksmithing. Although MacKembert certainly had other spellcasting professions, their expertise in this area meant their medical skills were not particularly sophisticated. MacKembert's most distinctive treatment was fire therapy.

As their name suggests, dwarves' distinctive healing methods involve fire and heat. They use high temperatures to sterilize wounds and cauterize them with scalding hot iron to stop the bleeding. These treatments are usually very painful, and it's fair to say that dwarven warriors have all survived to this age through sheer toughness.

Now, they will be able to access new medical treatments.

"Is this what you planned, Lyle?" Wiselger gripped the Red Dragon Hammer in his hand; the king's wisdom had already anticipated Lyle's plan.

“Your Majesty Visselg, this is a new experiment, and life cannot be taken lightly. And I happen to know of a group of dwarves who can perfectly demonstrate the power of the red dragon…”

"Melting slag in a furnace."

Those warriors who, with humble bodies, gazed upon the world, and with feeble strength, resisted evil gods. They were the embers of MacKenzie's glory, flames waiting to be rekindled. Shunned by their own people, they hid in dimly lit corners, preserving their sparks, lying dormant under the oppression of reality. But now, it is time to rise up.

“You should have told me, Lyle. You have no idea how worried I’ve been these past few days,” Wiselger said with a smile, his eyes conveying a slight complaint.

"Until I demonstrate the first two abilities of this red dragon's power, would you believe the miracles I speak of, wise dwarf king?" Lyle spread his palms. "Truly rational leaders have their own insights; they are not easily swayed. Rather than trying to persuade someone, I prefer to present the facts before them and let them experience it for themselves..."

Lyle, his face grim, added another sentence.