Chapter 510 - 509: Implementation of the Plan

Chapter 510: Chapter 509: Implementation of the Plan

After a brief rest, the thirty-odd Dwarves stayed behind in the assembly hall while Colin, Donkexes, and the others were led by Dorn to a different room.

In the middle of this room was a large, square pit, with a block of iron suspended above, perfectly sized to cover the entire opening.

Each of the room’s four walls connected to a corridor just wide enough for four people to pass through, perfectly suiting the requirements of their plan.

"What’s this thing for?" Colin asked, pointing to the iron block above.

"It’s for compacting trash. This place is basically a garbage disposal facility," Dorn said.

"By the way, how did you guys figure out the location of this room?" Colin asked. "Even if you say this place is your home, you’ve never actually been to this specific area, have you?"

"Each clan has its own customs and codes for architecture, like ’the garbage pit must be five corridors from the assembly hall,’ for example. Based on rules like that, we can determine a room’s exact location," Langgrin explained. "In other words, a Dwarf can’t get lost inside his own clan’s fortress."

"So these rules haven’t changed for thousands of years?" Colin exclaimed. "It seems what the books say about Dwarves following rules that are centuries old is quite an understatement."

Dorn pointed to one of the corridors and said, "Let’s get back on track. That way is toward the temple, which is where the Gray Dwarves are located.

Our two squads and the other thirty men can each hold a corridor. It’ll take the Gray Dwarves a significant amount of time to get around us. That should give me enough time to get past them and activate the Golem Guards at the temple entrance."

"Miss, you can use Daylight, can’t you?" Langgrin asked, pointing at the garbage pit in the middle of the room. "We can carve a hole in the pit wall for you to hide in. You can jump out mid-battle and hit them hard."

"If there’s any trouble, I’ll use Magic to bring you back," Donkexes added.

"Okay, I can do it!" Orelia clenched her fist to show her determination.

"Then that’s the plan," Colin said. "Can you guys also rig up a hiding spot in the corridor we’re guarding? I want to take care of those Gray Dwarves that use Invisibility."

Donkexes sighed. "Might as well do one more."

Afterward, Donkexes and Langgrin removed some bricks, then used the Tier Four Magic, Stone Shape, to carve out a small cubic space in the pit wall, one and a half meters on each side.

A space like this was more than enough for a Dwarf, and Orelia could just barely stand up straight inside. Ale, however, would have to crouch a bit.

Once preparations were complete, the group rested for a while longer.

Only after Donkexes and the others had fully recovered their Magic did they lead the other Dwarves to the area around the garbage disposal pit. Colin’s squad, Durkin’s squad, and the other thirty Dwarves each took up positions guarding one of the corridors.

As planned, Orelia hid in the hole in the garbage pit’s wall, while Ale concealed herself at the rear of the corridor Colin’s group was defending.

Colin, meanwhile, used the Disguise Technique to transform himself into the classic image of a Mage, holding a long staff and wearing robes.

Once everyone was ready, Donkexes went over to Kase. "You’re the fastest one we have. I’m going to cast a spell on you called Longstrider. You go and lure the Gray Dwarves over."

"I’ve been itching to do this. Those shorties can’t run fast with their stubby legs." Sensing a look from Donkexes, Kase quickly wiped the smile from his face. "Go on, cast the spell on me."

"They have slaves, you know. It’s not just Gray Dwarves."

After this reminder, Donkexes took out his Spellbook and began Casting. A gray Spiritual Light, representing Transmutation Magic, enveloped Kase’s legs.

Longstrider, a Tier One Magic. The caster touches a creature, increasing its Speed by thirty-three meters per minute.

After the Magic was cast, Kase gently kicked the ground. ℴ

He took off his Giant Axe and giant shield, leaning them against the corridor wall.

He then drew his Longbow and started running forward with Dorn. After just two steps, Kase ignored Dorn’s struggling, hoisted the Dwarf onto his shoulder, and took off, disappearing down the far end of the corridor in no time.

Colin stood his ground, quietly waiting for the enemy to arrive.

First, he took out his Spellbook, turned to the page for See Invisibility, and began the Spellcasting process to apply the Magic to himself. ’As usual, there’s no discernible effect after casting. It’s a little unnerving.’

Once he finished reciting the Spell, Colin turned his Spellbook to the page for Intelligent Barrier.

He slowly recited the new Spell, beginning to cast it on himself.

Colin had carefully reviewed this spell during their rest, so casting it was now second nature.

By now, he had mastered a great deal of Magic, but even with his Intelligence at seventeen, he couldn’t perfectly memorize every spell. He still needed to review the less-frequently cast ones a few times beforehand.

This couldn’t be helped; after all, even the most powerful Mage in the world couldn’t possibly memorize hundreds of spells for use at a moment’s notice—unless she were the Magic Goddess herself.

As he recited the Spell, Colin suddenly felt a sense of relaxation wash over him.

The sensation was similar to waking up in the early morning, when his mind was at its clearest.

With Intelligent Barrier active, Colin would be able to face even the Gray Dwarves skilled in Spiritual Energy with a bit more confidence.

When all this was done, Colin let out a long breath.

’Now, I’m truly ready.’

To be honest, if their only goal was to win, they wouldn’t have needed to go to such lengths. But Colin and his group were aiming for victory with zero casualties, which made all these advance preparations necessary.

Time ticked by, second by second.

After what felt like an eternity, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the far end of the corridor, followed by the clatter of armor.

The sound grew louder and louder, and then Kase’s figure burst around the corner at the end of the corridor.

He gripped his Longbow, and as he sprinted, he plucked a leaf from the bow itself. The leaf immediately transformed into an Arrow in the Half-Orc’s hand.

The next moment, a large pack of bizarre-looking creatures came pouring out from the same corner.

A large number of them were Fishmen. Calling them Fishmen was accurate—the creatures truly looked like Ordinary fish that had sprouted four limbs and learned to walk on their hind legs. The only real differences were their lack of tails and the way their heads drooped so they could look forward.

A smaller group consisted of some very strange-looking humans.

These humanoids had grayish-white skin and grotesquely disproportioned limbs, making them look like a subspecies that had not fully evolved. They had no eyes—only empty, gaping sockets where eyes should have been.

These Fishmen and primitives held crude weapons in their hands, desperately chasing the enemy ahead of them.