Chapter 12: The Offensive

Perhaps fortune truly favored Li Mingxing, for before the apprentice hero of the Light Alliance could make his escape, Li Mingxing’s dwarf troops returned. Not only did the original twenty-two gray dwarves under his command come back, but five sturdier gray dwarves appeared as well—clearly the reward sent by the gray dwarf clan.

At first, seeing only five, Li Mingxing was prepared to be angry. However, after hearing the gray dwarves’ explanation, he took a closer look at these new arrivals. What he saw was quite remarkable. If the dwarf Sappers and Dwarf Bombardiers were like living bombs, ready to explode at a moment’s notice, these five were as immovable as stone—especially the last one, who stood as solid and unyielding as a slab of granite.

According to the gray dwarves, these five belonged to an exclusive unit of their clan—no other dwarves, even gray dwarves elsewhere, possessed such warriors. If Li Mingxing had not delivered forty hill dwarf heads and the head of a Hill King, they would never have sent these soldiers to him.

The first four were called Graystone Warriors. Though they carried no shields, their defenses far exceeded those of ordinary shield-bearers. The gray dwarves explained that these warriors trained by burying themselves near volcanic magma, absorbing the metals within to harden their bodies. Of every ten who underwent this trial, only one might survive and advance—a feat considered extraordinary. Those who succeeded became immune to piercing and slashing attacks.

Once their defenses were honed against impacts as well, they had ample time to master their martial skills. Thus, among the gray dwarves, they became weapon masters, possessing formidable offensive might.

The last of the five was a Blackstone Champion, sent in gratitude for the Hill King’s head. Only three such warriors existed in the entire Black Fury Clan. Each was promoted from among the Graystone Warriors and, in addition to immunity to cutting and piercing, they could resist over sixty percent of impact attacks. As a result, they wore no armor, increasing their agility and attack speed.

Moreover, to become a Blackstone Champion, one needed to master a weapon at the fourth, or master, level. The one before Li Mingxing had mastered the battle-axe. Though he was as motionless as granite, when he attacked, he was as unstoppable as a tank—few could withstand his assault.

The arrival of these five brought Li Mingxing great joy. Previously, he had been preoccupied with how to detain the apprentice hero from the Light Alliance, but now, with these reinforcements, he no longer worried about the enemy’s elven archers. If they could break into the enemy’s formation, he was confident he could prevent their escape.

With this in mind, Li Mingxing immediately shared his plan with the dwarves. They merely glanced at him; only the Blackstone Champion spoke, his voice slow and deep: “Whatever you want, just give the order. But if there’s undue risk, we won’t participate.”

Li Mingxing could hardly object. His imperial command only influenced those below the second tier, while these warriors’ strength was at least third-tier elite, perhaps even fourth-tier. That he could command them at all was already an honor.

He wasted no words and pointed at those near the teleportation portal. “You see those people? I want you to go over there—two of you break the elven archers’ formation, one hold back the immobile treants, and two capture that so-called paladin. Hold them until our main force arrives.”

The Graystone Warriors remained silent, but the Blackstone Champion glanced toward the portal and asked, “What about the healing tent? Shouldn’t we deal with it?”

Li Mingxing hesitated, then admitted, “Actually, I want it for myself.”

The Blackstone Champion was surprised by his answer, then smiled. “Honestly, if you hadn’t considered that, I would have asked you to seize it. With it, our survival chances increase significantly. I must say, you’re a good leader.”

With that, the Blackstone Champion hefted his battle-axe and led the four Graystone Warriors forward. Watching them go, Li Mingxing quietly asked, “What do you think of them?”

“They’re formidable, and from how the Graystone Warriors respond to their leader, I suspect he’s an excellent commander. Perhaps you could one day make him a follower,” Yin Haitao replied.

“Get ready. You and your five elite thieves follow behind the Dwarf Sappers. If possible, try to intercept the enemy apprentice hero. For some reason, I have the feeling he might escape,” Li Mingxing instructed.

Yin Haitao nodded, leading his team after the Sappers. Thirty meters after the Graystone Warriors charged out, Li Mingxing roared, signaling the Sappers to rush forward as well.

When the Graystone Warriors first charged, the elven archers quickly noticed them. As soon as the dwarves entered bow range, the archers unleashed a volley. Yet their famed archery proved useless; every arrow bounced harmlessly off the Graystone Warriors, unable to inflict the slightest harm.

While the archers scrambled for other tactics, the Graystone Warriors had already closed the distance.

Upon reaching the elven archers, the Graystone Warriors did not hesitate—two plunged directly into the arrow formation, while the Blackstone Champion sought out the rooted treants. With a single swing of his axe, he cleaved a treant in half.

The apprentice hero from the Light Alliance was beset by two Graystone Warriors. Wielding a warhammer, he could inflict some damage—the hammer’s attacks were of the impact type, against which Graystone Warriors were not fully immune—so the two dwarves held back, not unleashing their full strength.

Still, it was enough. The apprentice hero watched as his followers were felled one by one—the Blackstone Champion dispatched them as easily as chopping wood, and his elven archers fell to the dwarves’ onslaught.

Seeing a wave of dwarves charging his way, the apprentice hero’s courage deserted him. All he wanted was to flee with his remaining forces.

But Li Mingxing would not let him go so easily. Sensing his intent to escape, Li Mingxing dashed forward with astonishing speed, closing the distance in a flash and appearing right behind the apprentice hero.

The apprentice hero, seeing Li Mingxing, shouted “Manticores!” and charged with his warhammer in desperation. It was clear he recognized Li Mingxing and knew that his only hope for survival was to kill him quickly.

But Li Mingxing was well prepared. As the apprentice hero lunged, Li Mingxing let out a roar and spun behind him, striking with his tail stinger at the hero’s neck.

Li Mingxing knew there was no poison in his stinger, but even so, a well-placed jab could disrupt the opponent’s nervous system.

The apprentice hero, unfamiliar with Li Mingxing’s attack method, froze in confusion. At that moment, gunshots rang out, and his remaining elven archers were blasted to pieces. Terror-stricken, he abandoned his followers and dove into the teleportation portal.

His sudden flight startled Li Mingxing, who considered chasing but decided against it—his men were still fighting, and the battlefield was not yet secure. He turned instead to help the Blackstone Champion deal with the enemy’s followers.

By the time Li Mingxing’s forces arrived, the battle was all but over. Li Mingxing stood inspecting a white diamond formed from the remains of an enemy follower, while the Graystone Warriors helped clear the field. The Blackstone Champion remained by the teleportation portal, lost in thought.