Chapter 212 Steel Fortress

The ancient mountains stand on the ground like silent giants, and the interlaced mountain ridges stretch to the horizon.

The barren mountains and desolate cliffs are the primitive beauty carefully carved by nature.

North of the northern border of Orland is also north of the Hektova wilderness.

This is the edge of the Western Continent.

It's like the end of the world.

The gravel rolled down the slope of the mountainside and fell into the deep canyon, breaking the silence here.

Short footsteps, one after another, stepped over this mountain road that no one has set foot on for thousands of years.

Several prospectors carrying bags, with three steel feet greased with grease, clicked and followed the masters in front to cross the mountains.

More than forty short and thick figures, the wind blowing in the mountain stream blew their cloaks.

They carried round shields and weapons, held short sticks and marched in silence, like a group of stubborn stones moving their bodies unswervingly.

Climbing to the top of the mountain, Hem scratched his beard and looked at the Black Ridge Volcano in the distance.

Although a thousand years is long, it is not enough to completely change the eternal landform.

With the active volcano in the distance as a landmark, the captain of the furnace guard can always find the right path and direction.

The proud son of Omros will not get lost in the mountains.

Hem turned his head and looked at the dozens of companions who crossed the mountain around him, checking whether anyone accidentally fell behind, and by the way, looking at the prospecting machinery behind.

These things were not so precious in the past, but now one broken is one less.

After carefully counting the number of people in the team and the complete machines, he continued to move forward.

Since crossing thousands of miles and leaving the border of the Feru Kingdom behind, which is called "Orland" by the people of today, Hem sent back the guide who helped them lead the way.

Considering that the accompanying carriages and horses could no longer be brought into the mountains, he simply gave the horse frames he bought with his craftsmanship on the way to the other party as a thank you for the help of these Feru people along the way.

Starting the prospector to replace the carriage to carry the luggage and food, he continued to lead his companions deep into the north to search for the traces of his compatriots.

It has been several days since they crossed the mountains and ridges, but it is a pity that the several strongholds in their memory have long been transformed into wind-eroded ruins, and there is no trace of the tribesmen living there.

What they saw in the Feru society and saw the abandoned fortress of their own tribesmen with their own eyes made everyone in the team feel inevitably lost.

In the bustling world, there was no trace of their tribesmen. They felt like a group of remnants abandoned by time and had no place to go.

But Hem did not give up, and the team did not waver in their faith.

Although the compatriots were no longer seen on the surface, that did not mean that there were no compatriots underground.

Perhaps the tribesmen were tired of the fireworks of the surface world and all went underground to live.

Hem knew that even if they were cut off from the world above ground, their race could survive and reproduce in a self-sufficient manner underground by relying on the underground agriculture and mushroom gardens cultivated by their tribe.

Those people on the surface would not know how huge and complex the tunnel network under the continent was after the excavation and construction of the Helan people for thousands of years.

Hem and his party turned back from the dead end road that was weathered and collapsed due to no maintenance for the countless times they trudged through the road. They gradually moved towards the location of the "Steelforge", the largest Helan city in their memory.

Fortunately, apart from the steep mountain road, for the sons of the earth, there was only a wild manticore that mistook everyone for a herd of goats, which could be considered dangerous.

Hem was surprised that this beast living in the wilderness of the mountains was so stupid that it dared to treat a group of Helan people traveling together as prey after only a thousand years of absence.

Seeing the danger coming, the dwarves naturally raised their molten fire pistols and opened fire without hesitation.

Blood splattered, and after being hit by several bullets, the painful Scorpion Tailed Lion flapped its bat wings in fear and retreated, turning away from those strange "goats" that could spit fire and howl.

".This blind bastard, if it's not that I don't have time, I will raid your nest and cook you."

Hem put the hand gun back into his belt, carried the battle axe and spit at the fleeing Scorpion Tailed Lion.

Continuing on the road, the group finally arrived at the ancient city of Heraen the next day, where the ancient magnificent structure can still be seen.

Looking around the desolate city area that makes people sigh at the changes of time, the dwarves entered the ruins. With previous experience, they did not waste time and went straight through the avenue to the ancient giant door embedded in the mountain leading to the underground.

But halfway through the journey, everyone made an exciting discovery.

All of them were craftsmen with meticulous hands and eyes. The dwarves had extremely sharp observation skills. Seeing the collapsed statues that had obviously been cleaned and moved to the side and the traces of traffic remaining on the avenue, Hem and others were overjoyed.

They ran all the way to the giant gate with their short legs, and everyone looked up at the towering mountain gate carved with the ancestors of the dwarves.

The degree of dust was also very different from other places, and the edge of the entrance was still quite worn, indicating that even in the current era, it was still opened back and forth!

"Haha!! There must be people here!"

More than a month of loneliness dissipated, and every dwarf raised his arms and laughed loudly, hugged each other fiercely, and found the sense of belonging of family members filled their hearts.

But after the cheers and celebrations, when the laughter gradually quieted down, they stared at the giant gate with wide eyes, and the big beards on their faces could not hide their embarrassment.

They found it, but what should they do next?

They never thought that after finding the traces of their people, they would have to face the situation of a closed mountain gate.

Under normal circumstances, the entrances and exits connecting the surface city to the underground city and the underground network will not be easily closed unless facing disadvantages in war.

As the second line of defense in the dwarf fortress against surface dangers, no one knows better than themselves how difficult it is to open the Mount Hlaan Gate from the outside when it is closed from the inside.

This thick giant door is like a part of the mountain. Even the Hlaan people's own siege artillery is like tickling it. The anti-magic structure behind the door is also immune to most destructive spells.

Not to mention their miner team consisting of dozens of people, even if a complete army came, they could only leave in despair.

Herm remembered that he used to brag to outsiders like he was playing the accordion when he was drunk.

No one! Beherans! Know more about defense!

Okay, now it's my turn to stare anxiously.

"Camp next to it. We still have enough food and water. Maybe we can wait until someone from Steelforge comes to open the door." He said helplessly as he couldn't think of any other way.

But if they can't wait until the tribesmen go out, they can only try to search nearby to see if there are any uncollapsed mine tunnels, and find a way to Steelforge from the tunnels.

Even if the mountain gate of the underground city is closed, there must be a secret passage leading to the surface for internal investigation of the enemy. But that is the secret of every Hlaan fortress. They, who are from outside the country, will definitely not be able to find the way. Moreover, even if Even if it is found, it cannot be opened from the outside.

"The mountains are really full of rocks. There are no birds on the ground in this mountainous area, and there is no war. Why should we close the mountain gate properly?" Everyone blew their beards and started complaining.

Thousands of years ago where they lived, in their memory, the last time the gates of the fortresses were closed for a long time was when the magic dragon came to the world hundreds of years ago.

However, when everyone was talking and just unloaded the luggage from the prospector body.

The ground suddenly began to tremble, and the huge dwarf mountain door opened inward with a roar.

The dwarves quickly put down their bags and turned their heads. Their eyes and noses exposed outside their beards changed their faces to show enthusiasm.

Herm clapped his hands, grinned widely, and felt enlightened.

It must have been that when they entered the ruins, they were discovered by the secret sentinel in the underground city.

Everyone couldn't wait to walk into the gap between the slowly opening mountain gates, wanting to get together with the clansmen whom they had not seen for a long time in this era.

But when they saw the formation behind the door, they couldn't help but be startled by the sight of the tunnel's torches lighting up.

Indeed, they are their compatriots.

But the posture in front of them to welcome these unknown people was too solemn.

In the huge tunnel behind the door, a cursory look at the Herran military formations lined up on the left and right showed that there were nearly a thousand dwarf warriors wearing stainless steel armor and mane crowns on their heads.

A huge molten flame dragon beast stood in the center of the dwarf army on all four legs. Its terrifying dragon head stared at everyone. Its back was covered with scales, fins and horns. On top of the throne it was carrying, there sat a man dressed like a king. The armored old man Herran.

Helm looked at the other person. Although he recognized the costume of King Herran, he was also convinced that the man on the back of the Molten Dragon was definitely not "Ulfgard".

“Welcome to you, fellow strangers from afar.

I am Gorim Riske, the Barbarian Slayer, the sixth King of Steelforge.

Tell me, where did you come from?

My hateful ‘Barren Mountain’ cousins ​​will definitely not be able to take out the ancestral creations you carry.”

Gorim, who had a loud voice, looked at the three-legged machine reported by the sentry behind the team.

He suppressed his slight excitement, stood up holding on to the handle of the battle axe, and asked majestically yet enthusiastically: "Is there a remnant on the mainland who has not been in contact with us in these hundreds of years?"