Warhammer Divine Throne

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The underground tunnels are a masterpiece of the Dwarves, tracing back to over a thousand years ago. During the Dwarves’ heyday, the Emperor of the Human Empire, Charlemagne, and the Dwarf Supreme King, Kazadni, agreed that the plains and hills on the Continent would belong to humans, while the mountains, wastelands, plateaus, and all the terrains unsuitable for human habitation would belong to the Dwarves. The relationship between humans and Dwarves was close; any human visiting the Dwarf nation would receive a warm welcome, and Dwarves visiting the Human Empire would be hosted by the local nobility.

During that time of prosperity, the Dwarves constructed a massive project, creating numerous underground tunnels to link the majority of mountain ranges worldwide. Thanks to this extensive network, the Dwarves’ footprints spread across the world, forging a brilliant and glorious civilization.

Until the appearance of the Green Skins.

The emergence of the Green Skins brought a heavy disaster to the Dwarves, resulting in centuries of war that drove the Dwarves back to the World’s Roof Mountain Range. Even the Dwarf Royal Court’s Eternal Peak fell into the hands of the Green Skins. The once convenient underground tunnels became exploited by the Green Skins, causing countless suffering for both Dwarves and humans. Now, the tunnels are filled with many Green Skins, some hiding within and expanding them into cities, along with Dark Elves, while the Dwarf Expeditionary Army attempts to reclaim and reuse parts of the tunnels.

Who knows if what emerges from this big pit will be friendly Dwarf friends, hateful Dark Elves, or damnable Green Skins? Laine can’t take that risk.

”I will notify the Nord Royal Court later to send someone to use gunpowder to collapse this opening. For now, let’s go upstairs and take a look,” Laine left a bloody basement behind him.

As the two climbed the stone stairs, Laine suddenly asked with interest, ”Estelle, don’t you folks like melee combat?”

”Because melee combat is inherently a wicked way, a symbol of barbarism and violence. A duel truly filled with honor should be with a bow and a quiver, fully showcasing one’s skill and speed, right?” Estelle complained, ”Using melee weapons is really a rude and barbaric method and can easily lead to casualties.”

”Hey, hey, hey, standing in front of you is a White Wolf Knight...” Black lines appeared on Laine’s forehead. The White Wolf War God, Yurik, hated ranged weapons and advocated that real men should engage in melee combat. Hence, the White Wolf Knights always avoided using ranged weapons to avoid displeasing Yurik, even Laine only occasionally threw a dagger or something.

Saying such things would make you considered a heretic in our White Wolf Knight Order.

”So does that mean in the forest you don’t have any melee troops? All ranged? Impossible, right? Is the Woodland Guard entirely made up of Archers?” Laine was a bit puzzled, knowing Estelle was born in the Wood Elves’ territory, which was very mysterious, but even thinking with his knee he knew that an army consisting solely of ranged troops in war is courting death.

”The Woodland Guard is indeed composed of Archers. As for the melee warriors, they’re called the Eternal Guard, who wield giant shields, long spears, and scimitars, yet each is also proficient with a bow and arrow.” Estelle shrugged, following closely behind Laine. The gray stone walls beside him were dilapidated from years of neglect, and the cold wind blowing through firing slits made the Half-Elf shrink his neck: ”Beyond this, I can’t say much more. Just know that the Eternal Guards, albeit being melee warriors, are no less skilled with bows than the Woodland Guard.”

”But it takes longer to train an Eternal Guard, right? For instance, if it takes ten years to train a Woodland Guard, then for an Eternal Guard, it might take thirty years? In thirty years, two Beastmen could spawn twenty Beastman Warbands. I now understand why the Wood Elf army, both in number and quality, far surpasses those Beastman Warbands, yet you are still troubled by the Beastmen. It’s because you cannot sustain long-term warfare, am I right?” Laine commented casually, one step at a time.

”...As you said, despite the forests achieving victories in the filthy wars for decades, our population and army numbers are declining, and... the corruption facing the Tree-men has become more severe these years. I can hardly envision the ferocious Tree-man Elders as the wise and kind sages of fairy tales.” Estelle shook his head in disappointment, ”We have to form more Forest Patrol and Eternal Guard units to make up for the loss of combat strength.”

Laine nodded silently, understanding the Tree-men’s importance for the Wood Elves. Thunderous Tree-men are several meters tall, with the towering Ancient Tree-men standing dozens of meters high. A casual swing of their arms could send multiple human soldiers flying. Their magical and rune-fortified bodies are not so easily threatened by firearms and arrows; they are the backbone of the Wood Elf army.

The conversation ceased as they reached their destination.

Or rather, it was not because they reached their destination, but because there was no road ahead. The tower stairs were severely damaged, with a gap of seven to eight steps between the broken stairs, where a solitary wooden door appeared before them.