The thick night mist was torn apart by countless lights.
The rich soil of the Fertile Plains was now soaked in blood and oil; behind the retreating Golden Tooth Alchemy Legion, steel tracks ground out deep furrows, like bleeding wounds on the earth.
The Goblins retreated in panic.
Hunger caused their pointed ears to droop listlessly, and their once-shiny goggles were now clouded with a film of despair.
Ahead were the undulating Border Mountains, where jagged rocks pierced the night like the fangs of giant beasts, looking dangerous and awe-inspiring.
That was the direction of the Goblins' escape, and it was also the slaughterhouse carefully selected by the Molten Iron Tribe, who had specifically driven the Alchemy Legion toward it.
The moment the Alchemy Legion set foot on the border, a low vibration like rolling thunder came from behind.
It was not the heavy footsteps of golems, but the frantic beat of countless hooves and claws striking rock.
Then, the war songs of the Molten Iron Tribe were no longer a vague wave of sound; every syllable carried a bloody longing, crashing down like an overwhelming mountain wave.
The monsters began a charge that left no room for mercy.
Centaur knights slammed their spears into the ground, metal clashing; Ogres beat their chests wildly with iron-clad palms, sparks flying; Trolls roared in unison, their strides crushing the earth; Wyvern Swarms dove and shrieked, tearing through the air.
Meanwhile...
It was as if the mountains themselves had come to life!
On the steep eastern slopes, over a hundred massive shadows tumbled down like collapsing boulders—it was Gluttony Demon Karu and a group of Ogre elites!
While the Goblins were still feeling smug about the weakening intensity of the Molten Iron Tribe's counterattack...
Gluttony Demon Karu and Dragon Vein Werewolf Russell had already led their elites into ambush.
The Ogres didn't even deign to take a circuitous route; their massive bodies curled into balls, relying on their Physique, heavy armor, and terrifying weight to forcefully crush their way across the rugged slopes, aiming directly at the chaotic middle section of the Alchemy Legion.
"Hold steady! Turn around! Acid Cannons, fire at will!"
A Goblin leader's scream was drowned out by the terrifying roar of giant objects crashing to the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Like falling boulders from the heavens!
The Gluttonous Ogre smashed violently into the midst of several Flesh Tearers moving side-by-side.
The immense impact caused the golems' steel joints to emit ear-piercing metallic groans, their bodies twisting and breaking.
The Gluttonous Ogre rose with a roar, his fan-like hands swinging left and right, grabbing the golems' heads and shoulders, his ten fingers digging deep into the gaps in their armor.
Knotted muscles bulged beneath his scales, and with the tooth-aching sound of twisting metal, he actually tore the upper body off a golem by force!
Broken lines sprayed sparks and thick black oil, drenching the Gluttonous Ogre's head and face.
Whoosh—the black oil ignited into a blazing fire, enveloping the Gluttonous Ogre, yet only adding to his ferocity.
A Gluttonous Ogre transformed by the Red Dragon Bloodline did not fear fire.
Awoooo—!
A wolf-like war cry tore through the night sky as dense grey shadows poured down from the relatively gentle western slope like a burst dam.
It was the Grey-mane Werewolves led by Russell.
These warriors, somewhere between humans and true wolves, possessed more cunning minds and more coordinated group combat abilities.
They lacked the overwhelming strength of giants, but were as swift and deadly as ghosts; in mid-run, each one transformed into a lithe giant wolf, eyes flashing with bloodthirsty and violent light.
They didn't clash head-on with the massive golems at all, but instead acted like lethal iron-grey whirlwinds, skillfully slipping into the gaps of the golem array to pounce on the supporting Goblin infantry and the relatively fragile engineering units.
"Stop them! Fire! Fire!"
The Goblin infantry formation instantly fell into chaos, their Alchemy muskets spitting out dense volleys of bullets, drawing countless orange-red lines of death in the night.
However, the giant wolves were too fast, possessing both the ferocity of beasts and humanoid intelligence.
They stayed low, running on all fours, weaving and jumping between the steel legs of the golems; most bullets hit empty air or the golems' armor, clinking harmlessly.
The Dragon Vein Werewolves, covered in steel-like dragon scales, leaped into the air, avoiding the sweeping chainsaw swords.
Russell accurately pounced on a Goblin engineer who was urgently infusing a golem with black oil.
Sharp wolf claws easily tore through the Goblin's crude leather armor, ripping out a still-beating heart.
As the Goblins tried to surround and kill these attackers, the tremors from the ground grew closer—the main force of the Molten Iron Tribe had arrived. More Centaurs, Ogres, and countless Gnolls, Kobolds, and Lizardfolk surged forward like a tide, their flesh and blood overwhelming the steel.
The Goblin Alchemists chanted rapidly.
Their Demonic Energy was like lightning, weaving through broken parts, making those components fly and spin, combining with each other, causing the fallen Alchemy Golems to start moving again.
Boom—!
An Explosive Magic Arrow pierced the air, penetrating the defensive items carried by an Alchemist and blowing him into shredded meat.
The half-blood Centaur Elvie was in the sky, her slender palms blurring as she fired Explosive Magic Arrows comparable to ballistae, acting like a Centaur-shaped turret.
"For the Dragon Lord! Tear them apart!"
The Wyverns let out roars.
The Wyvern Swarm, which had been circling above the Alchemy Legion for a long time, dove down like vultures smelling blood at the moment the war song was loudest.
Their objective was extremely clear—the Mechanical Beasts equipped with Heavy Alchemy Cannons.
"Anti-air Power Grid, maximum power! Fast!"
The Goblin operator screamed in terror.
Deep blue arcane energy surged on the spire-like Alchemy machines, and lethal Chain Lightning quickly took shape, attempting to weave into an intercepting power grid.
However, the Wyvern Swarm's attack method was extremely cunning.
Some of them suddenly spread their wings halfway through their dive, using the kinetic energy built up from the descent to fiercely hurl the objects held in their claws.
Those were not boulders, but bright red beads.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
High-Explosive Flame Beads erupted with thick flames and shockwaves; the solid energy shields activated but were immediately covered in cracks, teetering and letting out overburdened groans. The Mechanical Beasts also nearly toppled under the impact, making it difficult for the Heavy Alchemy Cannons to aim.
At the moment the defenses were disrupted by the physical impact...
Another group of true killers arrived—the physically strongest Wyverns, carrying the bravest warriors, dove straight down through the defensive gaps exposed by the Flame Bead bombardment.
"Stop them! Ah—!"
The operator's scream came to an abrupt end.
Ogre Ugo leaped down from the back of a Wyvern; he was Karu's brother and the strongest Ogre leader besides Karu.
Ugo ignored the stray lightning bolts passing him by; his heavy battle-axe, carrying the massive force of his fall, slammed into a Heavy Alchemy Cannon, turning the precision muzzle into twisted, cracked scrap metal.
Immediately after, more elites leaped down from the Wyverns' backs.
The Wyverns attacked frantically, crashing, clawing, or spitting corrosive acid.
The chaos and collapse of the Goblin legion was like the sweetest bait, drawing the Dragons circling in the sky.
Red Dragon Samantha, White Dragon Tereshi, and Iron Dragon Sorog all joined the fray, attempting to kill the Grand Artificer. But before they could get close, the Grand Artificer pointed his arm, and the surrounding Heavy Alchemy Cannons immediately shifted direction. Under the operation of Advanced Alchemists, they fired with a power far exceeding other heavy cannons, forcing the Dragons to scatter, unable to approach.
Until a thunderous roar came from the horizon.
The clouds, originally shrouded in smoke and night, were suddenly ignited by a rapidly expanding crimson light!
That was not the morning glow, but sparks generated by the extreme friction between a steel dragon body and the air, the trailing comet-like flame behind the Red-Iron Dragon.
The Red-Iron Dragon's magnificent body tore through the clouds and dove down.
His target was extremely clear—among the retreating ranks of the Alchemy Legion, those few largest Mechanical Beasts and Alchemy Golems painted with gear emblems symbolizing a commander's mount.
Those were the command centers of the Alchemy Legion and symbols of morale.
The Grand Artificer was located amidst the cluster of these Alchemy creations.
"All heavy cannons, focus fire."
The Grand Artificer's expression remained unmoved.
The lightning-like Demonic Energy unique to Alchemists left his body, simultaneously covering all the surrounding Mechanical Beasts and golems, concentrating on their mounted muzzles to buff and enhance attributes such as accuracy, power, and damage.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thick barrels spat out scorching metal jets and specially made armor-piercing explosive shells, pouring a dense barrage of fire into the sky.
However,
Garros displayed a chillingly nimble agility that was disproportionate to his massive body.
He suddenly tucked his dragon wings, and his massive body performed a thrilling barrel roll maneuver in mid-air. The scorching metal jets whistled past his belly scales, leaving blinding light trails in the night sky. Several explosive shells detonated beside him, and the violent shockwaves and fragments slammed into his dragon scales with a dull thud like a heavy hammer hitting an anvil, blowing away a few shattered scales and sprays of blood.
"This pain is truly delightful to me."
The Red-Iron Dragon gave a low growl and continued to charge toward the Grand Artificer.
The attacks from the Grand Artificer and several Goblin Elders came again, the cannon fire even denser than before, attempting to force Garros back.
Seeing this, Garros simply stopped dodging.
He protected his vitals and slammed his body directly into the cannon fire.
Boom boom boom!
Flames erupted on the Red-Iron Dragon's body, and one by one, the Frostburn Scales rapidly absorbed heat, their color turning almost entirely into a shining mithril.
Setting aside the Red-Iron Dragon's excessively rugged and powerful Physique, the color of his dragon scales truly resembled a metallic Silver Dragon for a moment, but this state only lasted a few short seconds.
As the Frostburn Scales shattered,
Thermal energy rapidly accumulated and climbed within a short period, nearing its limit.
"It's coming!"
The Red-Iron Dragon raised his head and took a deep breath.
Another shell landed on his chest, shattering the last of the Frostburn Scales and allowing his thermal energy to fully reach its limit.
Sss—almost tangible heat waves could be seen surging out from Garros's body.
His scales turned completely crimson, like red-hot branding irons, and the surrounding scenery distorted unnaturally, as if reality itself were being melted away.
Thermal Enhancement—Destruction Dragon Breath!
"Roar—!"
The dragon flame, accumulated to its absolute limit, finally spewed forth.
It was not a spreading firestorm, but a condensed, nearly liquid torrent of crimson destruction.
The terrifying breath was like a giant sword wielded by a Heavenly God, accurately sweeping across the targeted Alchemy machines.
Under the Grand Artificer's control, countless pieces of metal and steel flew up from the ground, spinning to form a thick barrier in front of him, yet it was still instantly pierced through.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
The metal let out a shrill wail under the unimaginable high temperatures, instantly melting into crimson, viscous molten iron that flowed and dripped like melting candles.
Golem armor was pierced, torn, and vaporized like sheets of paper!
The internal engines, black oil, and energy cores were triggered in a chain explosion by the high heat.
Boom! Boom! Rumble—!
Deafening explosions merged into one, and blinding fireballs soared into the sky, lighting up half the heavens as if it were broad daylight.
Burning steel shards, twisted mechanical wreckage, and the severed limbs of goblins who had no time to escape shot out in all directions like the cruelest of fireworks.
The violent shockwave knocked several smaller golems nearby directly to the ground.
Thick smoke, mixed with the stench of scorched protein, rose into the sky.
Though the commotion was deafening, the entire battlefield fell into a momentary deathly silence because of it; the flames were like a sun rising from the ground, destroying every obstacle in its path.
"Is it over? Destruction Dragon Breath is even stronger than I imagined."
Garros slowly exhaled a breath of scorching gas, feeling like he hadn't quite had his fill.
With a single Destruction Dragon Breath, he had nearly wiped out the Grand Artificer, the Goblin Elders, and the core Alchemy machines, yet the Destruction Dragon Breath didn't consume much of Garros's own energy.
The red-hot color on his body faded, and his scales returned to their normal blackish-red hue.
Garros was still full of energy, his physical stamina nearly at its peak.
"I'll kill the remaining resistors and end this battle completely," he thought to himself.
Suddenly, from the ground where the flames had not yet fully extinguished, a blinding golden light erupted.
It wasn't the fire of an explosion, but a highly concentrated stream of energy jetting out from countless pieces of twisted scrap metal.
Above the ruins where the Alchemy machines had turned to molten iron, lightning-like Demonic Energy wove into a massive net, absorbing all the surrounding steel, metal, and black oil, swirling and constructing like a storm.
In the blink of an eye, a giant golem far exceeding conventional size appeared.
It wasn't clumsy and heavy like other golems; its overall silhouette more closely resembled a goblin magnified a hundred times, with lean and smooth lines. Its entire body was covered in dark-gold alloy armor, its surface etched with dense Alchemy Runes.
In the center of its head was embedded a large, cold, one-eyed Alchemical Prosthetic Eye that emitted a faint blue light.
How did this guy survive my Destruction Dragon Breath?
Garros was somewhat puzzled.
"Ignorant beast, did you think you won? You know nothing of the limits of Alchemy."
Amplified by machinery, a cold voice devoid of any emotion rang across the battlefield.
In the next second, it moved, faster than anyone could imagine.
Its massive body didn't rely on treads or joints to walk; instead, a circular energy shockwave instantly erupted beneath its feet, propelling it like a cannonball through the air, straight toward the Red-Iron Dragon who had just finished his breath and was still adjusting his posture.
A giant metallic palm opened; in the center was not a cannon muzzle, but a rapidly spinning vortex of tearing energy.
At the same time, its back armor opened, and large spikes gleaming with metallic cold—Air-Piercing Cones—were launched as if by an invisible giant crossbow. With a shrill whistling sound, they shot toward Garros's eyes, throat, heart, and other vital points at supersonic speeds.
"You know nothing of evolution."
Garros temporarily pushed his doubts to the back of his mind.
Facing the attack of the Alchemy Colossus, the Red-Iron Dragon bit open and drank a barrel of black oil taken from his spatial ring.
Simultaneously, he raised his head and let out a long dragon roar.
With the sound of shrill, intense electrical currents, dense and shining golden lightning emerged from the gaps in his scales. His muscles swelled further, and his body expanded several sizes again, looking more like a terrifying weapon of war than the Alchemy Golem.
With a sweep of his dragon wings, the Red-Iron Dragon turned into a golden flash.
He flickered in zigzags, his burly body displaying terrifying speed as he evaded the Air-Piercing Cones and arrived before the Alchemy Colossus with incredible swiftness.
Level 3 Dragon Qi rotation!
Flame-Thunder Attachment!
Flaming Dragon Claw!
Enhanced Claw Strike!
Black-Red Dragon Qi, crimson-gold flame-thunder, and bright red flames. They all coiled around Garros's surging claws simultaneously, forming the strongest claw strike this body could currently unleash.
Ripp—Boom!
The seemingly indestructible armor on the Alchemy Colossus's head actually sank deep and tore open under the attack of Garros's burning dragon claws, just like butter being cut by a hot knife. Countless precise Alchemy Runes were instantly extinguished and collapsed.
That giant Alchemical Prosthetic Eye let out an overburdened cracking sound.
The colossus's head caved in with a bang, and more than half its face shattered.
Zzt zzt zzt. Lightning-like Demonic Energy surged, trying to pull these parts back together to reform and recover.
However, more attacks followed in quick succession.
The Red-Iron Dragon stayed close to the Alchemy Colossus's body; his claws, dragon tail, and wings—all parts of him became lethal weapons, pouring down on the Alchemy Colossus like a torrential rain.
Suddenly.
The Alchemy Colossus's crack-filled eye lit up, releasing a high-frequency shockwave that caused the Red-Iron Dragon's movements to stall.
Its right arm simultaneously rose high, the front of the arm transforming and assembling to instantly extend a giant cleaver over ten meters long, wrapped in violent electrical arcs. Seizing the gap in the Red-Iron Dragon's attack, it slashed down heavily upon him.
Bang!
Dragon blood splattered as the Red-Iron Dragon was sent flying, but before he even hit the ground, he returned at an even faster speed.
A strike that could have split an ordinary young dragon in two only left a wound on him that barely reached the bone. Though large, given a Dragonkin's Physique, it was far from a heavy injury.
The Red-Iron Dragon's body was a few sizes smaller than the Alchemy Colossus.
But his offensive was even more ferocious.
Covered in intense golden lightning, the Red-Iron Dragon pounced onto the Alchemy Colossus. Under his violent attacks, countless parts scattered like severed limbs.
Clang!
The Alchemy Colossus's shoulder was sliced open by a rotating dragon wing, and its arm fell heavily to the ground.
Crack!
The half-shattered head was twisted off and thrown into the sky like a baseball.
Rip!
The chest armor was pierced by the spear-like tail, bringing out many shattered parts.
Garros used his Dragon Qi almost lavishly; in an instant, the Alchemy Colossus was riddled with holes. Meanwhile, the wounds left by its counterattacks only made Garros more excited due to the pain.
Another minute later.
The Red-Iron Dragon suddenly retreated, followed by a beat of his wings. With a surge of thick and powerful aura, he charged forward like a bolt of golden-red lightning at an even higher speed.
Level 3 Dragon Qi rotation!
Dragon Impact!
Just as the Alchemy Colossus's palm pressed against the Red-Iron Dragon, the rotating tearing energy vortex scraped off some dragon scales.
Simultaneously, a clear indentation appeared on its dark-gold chest.
His rugged and thick dragon horns were the first to pierce through the Alchemy Colossus's chest, the friction between scales and steel throwing off countless sparks. Then, his strong dragon body crashed through and shattered the Alchemy Colossus's frame.
Boom!
As if struck by a divine thunderbolt, the Alchemy Colossus collapsed completely.
The Red-Iron Dragon raised his head and spread his wings, bathed in the rain of splattering broken metal parts. The scars and blood on his body were like medals of honor. He looked down and surveyed his surroundings, like a king inspecting his lands and subjects.
"The Grand Artificer... is dead..."
"He was immortal... he was a Legend!"
"No... impossible..."
The goblins witnessing all this felt their last shred of fighting spirit vanish instantly, like a punctured balloon.
Fear, like a cold tide, completely submerged their hearts.
Some goblins slumped to the ground, the stench of incontinence spreading; some threw down their weapons and wailed in mental collapse; others lost their minds entirely, charging madly toward the golem wreckage or the Molten Iron warriors like moths to a flame.
"For the Dragon Lord! Kill—!"
"Those who kneel shall live; those who stand shall die!"
The roars of the Molten Iron Soldiers pierced the clouds as the final charge began.
Having lost their command, their will, and their strongest weapon, the Alchemy Legion became nothing more than lambs for the slaughter.
Though some goblins remained in the southeast, their main legion was completely crushed, their leader dead, and their accumulated foundation destroyed. They had completely lost the ability to contend with the Molten Iron Tribe.
×=×
PS: Requesting Power Stones!
15PS = 1 Extra Chapter. ✓
30PS = 2 Extra Chapters. ✓
50Ps= 3 Extra Chapters.✓
75PS = 4 Extra Chapters. ✓
100Ps = 5 Extra Chapters.