19: Upon their arrival in the Astral Plane, the Grey Dwarves' initial onslaught (Part 2)

The Gray Dwarf army surging from the end of the passage numbered over a hundred and twenty. They were well-equipped and their formation was disciplined, worlds apart from the lizardmen encountered previously.

【Gray Dwarf Patrol (Elite)】:

Total Number: Approx. 125

Average Rank: LV 16

Racial Traits:

【Darkvision】: Perfect adaptation to dim environments.

【Stone Tenacity】: Physical defense +20%, high resistance to toxins and illusions.

【Strict Discipline】: Formation is hard to break, strong execution.

【Stubborn Xenophobia】: Naturally hostile to non-gray dwarf units, morale not easily shaken.

Unit Composition:

Gray Dwarf Warriors (LV 14-17, 60%, heavy armor, battle axe/shield)

Gray Dwarf Crossbowman (LV 15-18, 30%, heavy crossbow, long range, high penetration)

Gray Dwarf Rune Priest (LV 17-19, 10%, can cast Earth/Dark support Spells like 【Stoneskin】, 【Darkness Mist】, and 【Morale Boost】)

The leading Gray Dwarf Officer was taller and more burly than his kin, wearing full plate armor inscribed with dark red runes and wielding a giant axe burning with gloomy flames. His Rank had reached a staggering LV 21! His cold gaze swept across the base's defensive line, lingering for a moment on Bronzebeard Stonehammer and the Dwarf Rune Iron Guards with a flash of disgust and contempt.

"Surface scum, and... fallen dwarves who betrayed the Root of the Earth!" The Gray Dwarf Officer's voice sounded like grinding rocks, filled with disdain. "This is Blackrock Clan territory! Hand over all supplies and surrender on your knees, and we might spare your lives to serve as slaves!"

Bronzebeard Stonehammer's beard curled up in anger as he roared, "Bullshit! You black-skinned cowards hiding in the dark, you dare call yourselves Sons of the Earth? Our hammers are the true Soul of Forging!"

"You court death!" The Gray Dwarf Officer was furious, swinging his flaming giant axe. "Crossbowmen! Volley! Cover the cave entrance! Warriors, charge with me and crush them!"

Buzz—!

A scalp-numbing sound of vibrating bowstrings rang out! Over thirty thick, heavy crossbow bolts whistled through the air, shooting toward the base entrance like a swarm of locusts! These bolts were incredibly powerful, enough to pierce through ordinary wooden shields and leather armor!

"Shields up! 【Immovable as a Mountain】!" Bronzebeard Stonehammer bellowed.

The ten Dwarf Rune Iron Guards in the front row slammed their massive rune heavy shields into the ground. Earthen yellow light joined together, forming a solid barrier! Other units behind them also sought cover.

Thud thud thud thud!

The heavy crossbow bolts slammed densely into the shields and rocks with dull thuds! Sparks flew from the rune heavy shields as the runes flashed violently, but they successfully blocked the volley! Only a few bolts slipped through the gaps, causing minor harassment.

However, the Gray Dwarf Crossbowman's attack did not stop; they were well-trained and divided into two groups, firing alternately to maintain continuous fire suppression! Meanwhile, the Gray Dwarf Officer had already led nearly eighty warriors in a fierce charge! Their heavy footsteps made the ground vibrate slightly!

"Ballistae! Target the enemy charging formation! Fire!" Elwin calmly ordered amidst the whistling arrows.

The three already prepared upgraded ballistae let out a roar! Three 【Armor-Piercing Burst Arrows】 trailed red light as they shot into the charging Gray Dwarf Ranks!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The light of explosions and shockwaves bloomed within the Gray Dwarf formation! Instantly, over a dozen Gray Dwarf Warriors were killed or wounded! However, these Gray Dwarf Warriors had extremely high defense and were strictly disciplined; though the explosions caused chaos and casualties, it did not break them. Instead, it incited their ferocity!

"For the Blackrock Clan!" the Gray Dwarf Officer roared. With 【Stoneskin】 cast upon him by a Rune Priest, his defense reached a new level. Braving the rain of arrows and scattered explosions, he was about to reach the dwarf defensive line!

"Ranger! 【Fierce as Fire】! Free fire, suppress enemy crossbowmen, and snipe the priests!" Elwin ordered again.

The Elf Rangers hidden on both sides of the entrance and on the rock walls finally opened fire with full force! With the buff from 【Fierce as Fire】, their arrows were like a torrential gale, accurately shooting toward the Gray Dwarf Crossbowmen and the Rune Priests in the rear!

While a single elf arrow might not be as powerful as a heavy bolt, their fire rate was fast, their precision high, and they were imbued with 【Vast Righteous Qi】 and armor-piercing effects, making them equally effective against Gray Dwarves! Instantly, screams rang out from the Gray Dwarf Crossbowman formation as several crossbowmen and a Rune Priest fell to the ground!

But the Gray Dwarf charge had arrived!

Boom!

The Gray Dwarf Officer's flaming giant axe, carrying the force of ten thousand catties, slammed heavily against Bronzebeard Stonehammer's rune heavy shield! A deafening roar erupted! Firelight and earthen yellow light clashed violently!

Bronzebeard Stonehammer let out a muffled groan as the rock beneath his feet cracked, and he was actually pushed back half a step! But he immediately roared, swept his warhammer, and engaged the enemy in combat! The two powerful dwarf heroes began a fierce duel!

Other Gray Dwarf Warriors also crashed like a tide against the Dwarf Rune Iron Guard defensive line! The sounds of battle axes hitting shields and hammerheads, roars, and screams blended together! The defensive line instantly entered the most brutal stage of white-knuckle melee combat!

The Dwarf Rune Iron Guards had high defense and coordinated perfectly, but under the suicidal attacks of the Gray Dwarf Warriors, who were slightly inferior in individual strength but superior in numbers, the defensive line began to fluctuate violently, with dwarves constantly getting injured.

Just then, the previously silent Lawful Merman Enforcers once again proved their value. They did not participate in the frontal meat grinder; instead, like ghosts on the battlefield, they used the gaps between the dwarves and the terrain to specifically ambush Gray Dwarf Warriors who were trying to break through the flank or those who were wounded. Their attacks remained precise and cold, and by coordinating with the dwarves' frontal defense, they effectively eased the pressure on the line.

Su Qingxue and her Human Warriors also wanted to step forward to help, but were stopped by Elwin: "Classmate Su, your group hasn't recovered yet. Just focus on rear support and lookout!" She saw that these Human Warriors were good at frontal combat, but joining the fray now would likely result in even greater losses.

The battle fell into a stalemate. The Gray Dwarves attacked fiercely with their numbers, equipment, and discipline. The Expeditionary Force relied on the geographical advantage, their heroes, exquisite coordination, and higher quality equipment to hold on bitterly.

Lin Zhou hovered in the air, calmly observing the battlefield. He noticed that although the Gray Dwarf formation was tight, that officer seemed to be the core and the morale pillar of the entire team. Furthermore, the Gray Dwarves seemed to rely heavily on their Rune Priests for buffs and support.

"Elwin, Bronzebeard!" Lin Zhou's Divine Thought entered their minds. "Execute the 'Beheading' tactic! Bronzebeard, pin down the enemy officer! Elwin, command the Rangers and all ranged units to prioritize focusing fire on the enemy Rune Priests! Take out their support, and their morale will surely crumble!"

"Understood!" / "Leave it to me!"

Bronzebeard Stonehammer roared and stopped holding back. With 【Rock Toughness】 fully active, his defense soared as he death-gripped the Gray Dwarf Officer, leaving him no room to worry about anything else.

Elwin immediately redeployed all ranged forces: "All Rangers and ballistae! Change targets! Lock onto all enemy Rune Priests! 【Fierce as Fire】 fully open! Focus fire!"

Instantly, all arrows and Ballista bolts seemed to have eyes of their own, abandoning other targets to concentrate on the dozen or so Gray Dwarf Rune Priests hiding behind the warriors!

This move caught the Gray Dwarves completely off guard! The Rune Priests' own defenses weren't particularly high, and under such dense and precise strikes, four or five of them instantly fell screaming! The remaining priests hurriedly cast shield Spells, but they were in total disarray and could no longer effectively support the front line!

Without the Rune Priests' 【Stoneskin】 buff and 【Morale Boost】, the defense and aggression of the front-line Gray Dwarf Warriors dropped significantly! Meanwhile, the dwarf defensive line, led by Bronzebeard, saw its pressure drastically reduced and even began a counter-push!

Seeing the heavy loss of priests and the failure to break through, the Gray Dwarf Officer was both shocked and furious. He realized that this seemingly ragtag group possessed combat power, discipline, and command artistry far beyond expectations.

"Retreat! Cover each other! Fall back to Blackrock Mountain!" the officer roared unwillingly, forcing Bronzebeard Stonehammer back with an axe swing before leading the retreat.

Though the Gray Dwarf soldiers were reluctant, they obeyed orders instantly and began an orderly withdrawal, with crossbowmen providing covering fire.

The Expeditionary Force did not pursue them relentlessly. Their goal was to establish a foothold, not to fight to the death with the local natives.

The Gray Dwarves' first tentative attack ended in failure. But the great strength and discipline they displayed also served as a wake-up call for Lin Zhou and the expeditionary team.

Watching the Gray Dwarves retreat into the depths of the dim passage, Elwin and Bronzebeard both breathed a sigh of relief, but their expressions remained grave.

"These black-skinned dwarves are not easy to deal with." Bronzebeard wiped the sweat and blood from his face.

"They were just a patrol; their real strength is likely much greater," Elwin analyzed. "We need more intelligence regarding their internal structure, their conflicts... Perhaps Classmate Su and the act of saving them could bring some unexpected turning points?"

Lin Zhou's gaze turned westward again, toward the depths of the Blackrock Mountain Range known as the "Furnace Fortress." He knew that the contest with the Gray Dwarves had only just begun. And the Dao of "Vertical and Horizontal" from the Hundred Schools of Thought might find its use here.