33: With coordinated efforts from within and without, the final assault has begun (Part 2)

The internal rebellion was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely shattering the already crumbling defenses and morale of the Furnace Fortress garrison!

The battle at the city gate instantly became even more chaotic. The rebelling soldiers clashed with the garrison loyal to Grak, significantly weakening the gate's defenses. Outside the city, the assault force led by Bronzebeard seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

"The gate is about to break! Bash it open for me!" Bronzebeard roared, personally hoisting a massive, improvised battering ram. Together with the other Dwarf Rune Iron Guards, he launched a final charge against the cracked black iron city gate!

"One, two, ram!"

"Boom!!!"

Accompanied by a deafening roar and flying sparks, the heavy black iron gate finally succumbed. With a bone-chilling sound of twisting metal, it crashed inward, sending up a cloud of dust!

The city gate has fallen!

"Charge in!" Bronzebeard led the way, wielding his rune battle-axe like a tiger descending from the mountains as he charged into the corridor behind the gate! Any Gray Dwarves defenders who dared to stand in his way were easily cleaved apart by his violent strength and axe!

The Dwarf Rune Iron Guards and the elite warriors of the Blackrock Clan followed closely behind, pouring into the interior of Furnace Fortress like a torrent of steel! Merging with the rebelling soldiers, they attacked from both inside and out, quickly clearing the resistance in the gate area.

"Second wave, follow up! Occupy the walls and control the main thoroughfares!" Seeing the gate wide open, Clan Chief Brook was so moved that tears filled his eyes. Wielding his battle-axe, he led the second wave of troops inside. The Law Fishmen executed their Orders coldly, maintaining the Order of the entering ranks and beginning to take over prisoners and key facilities.

The third wave commanded by Elwin moved forward rapidly. The elves ascended the partially occupied walls, raining down arrows from above into the castle's interior, precisely picking off any Furnace Fortress officers and Rune Priests attempting to organize a counterattack. Ballistae were also pushed closer, beginning to bombard key buildings within the castle, such as barracks and workshops.

The Stalkers of the Underground Gnomes emerged like bamboo shoots after a rain from sewers, vents, and even abandoned mine shafts throughout the castle. Utilizing their familiarity with the terrain, they sabotaged everywhere, creating chaos, ambushing isolated defenders, and guiding the main allied forces toward the core area.

The defeat was like a mountain collapsing!

Under the pincer attack from both inside and out, the defenses of Furnace Fortress completely collapsed. Large numbers of Gray Dwarves soldiers lost their will to fight, surrendering in droves. Only Grak's most direct subordinates, guarding the Central Spire and the core furnace area, were still putting up a desperate resistance.

"No! I will not lose! I am Grak Moltencore! The master of Furnace Fortress!" From within the spire came Grak's roar, like that of a trapped beast. He could feel his power crumbling and the castle changing hands. Extreme anger, resentment, and the fear of failure drove him into utter madness!

"Since you want destruction, then let us all be destroyed together! By my soul, I invoke the Core of the Furnace... Ultimate Combustion!" Grak's voice became shrill and distorted, filled with a madness that sought to destroy everything!

A heart-palpitating, terrifying energy fluctuation, far exceeding anything before, suddenly erupted from the base of the spire where the [core furnace] was located! The dark red light was no longer a shield but had transformed into a torrent of destruction, beginning to surge outward uncontrollably! Countless cracks appeared on the spire itself, as if it could explode at any moment!

He actually intended to detonate the core furnace, taking the entire Furnace Fortress and part of the allied forces down with him!

"Not good! He's going to self-destruct the core!" Bronzebeard, who had just charged into the castle, sensed the destructive energy, and his face changed drastically.

"Stop him, quickly!" Clan Chief Brook also paled in horror.

Even Elwin, commanding from a distance, instantly felt her heartstrings tighten! Once the core furnace exploded, its power would be enough to wipe most of Furnace Fortress off the map! The main allied forces that had charged into the city would likely suffer near-total casualties!

At the critical moment, Lin Zhou's Divine Thought transmitted into the minds of Elwin and Bronzebeard like a stabilizing pillar: "Though the core furnace's energy is rampaging, its structure must have a 'Pivot.' Grak has lost his mind; in his forced detonation, there must be a flaw at the 'Pivot'! Bronzebeard, Brook, you two immediately lead the strongest squad and head straight for the core furnace! Elwin, mobilize all long-range forces to suppress the spire area and create an opportunity for them! Underground Gnomes, try to approach from underground to see if you can stabilize or divert the energy from the outside!"

In the moment of crisis, Lin Zhou remained absolutely calm, quickly analyzing the key points and issuing the most correct commands!

"Follow me!" Without the slightest hesitation, Bronzebeard called upon five of the strongest Dwarf Rune Iron Guards, Clan Chief Brook, and several volunteers from the Blackrock Clan. Like arrows released from a bow, they braved the increasingly violent energy turbulence and charged toward the Core Furnace Chamber at the base of the spire, where the energy fluctuations were most intense!

Elwin ordered all elves and Ballistae to pour fire onto the spire area regardless of the cost. Although they couldn't directly stop the self-destruction, they successfully suppressed the guards outside the furnace chamber and slightly interfered with the gathering of energy.

Glick also received the Order and immediately led the Gnome Engineers he could still contact, attempting to approach the base of the furnace chamber from underground to see if technical intervention was possible.

This was a dash in a race against death!

Bronzebeard and the others broke through layers of obstacles and finally arrived before the incredibly heavy metal doors of the Core Furnace Chamber. The doors had already been deformed and turned glowing red by the terrifying internal energy, and a searing heat wave rushed toward them!

"Open up for me!" Bronzebeard and several Rune Iron Guards pooled their strength, exerting every ounce of effort to force open the twisted doors!

The sight behind the doors made everyone gasp in shock!

A colossal furnace, like a miniature volcanic crater, was roaring madly in the center of the room. Dark red magma churned and boiled within it, emitting destructive light and heat! Above the furnace, the figure of Grak Moltencore hovered in mid-air. His body had partially elementalized, merging with the furnace below as he frantically drew out the last of its power. In his eyes, there was only pure desire for destruction!

"Stop him!" Bronzebeard roared, charging in first, his battle-axe carrying an unstoppable Aura as he swung at Grak! Brook and the other warriors followed closely behind, launching a desperate attack!

At the same time, the Underground Gnome Glick finally dug a tunnel leading directly to the vicinity of the furnace chamber's base. He stared in terror at the energy that was nearly out of control and screamed, "No! The energy is too strong! We can't stabilize it from the outside! We can only try to forcibly divert a portion of it, but it's extremely dangerous and might cause an even more violent explosion!"

Should they risk diverting the energy and take a gamble? Or should they attack Grak with everything they have, attempting to kill him before he completes the self-destruction?

It was a critical moment hanging by a thread!