Bear School Astartes

”Sorlin! My cousin!”

Ironfoot Dain had just smashed a Beastman with a hammer and turned to shout at Sorlin, who held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

”Why did you arrive so late?!”

”I was delayed inside!”

Sorlin easily sliced through the knees of three approaching Beastmen with his Beastbite Sword, laughing as he responded to Dain.

As the clouds above dispersed, the Elves, Humans, and Dwarves began to recover, while the previously relentless momentum of the Beastmen, like a tidal wave, started to vanish.

However, their numerical advantage remained an undeniable reality. Hence, the bloody battle raged on the main battlefield without ceasing.

The two Dwarves meet in the chaos of the battlefield and exchanged a fierce embrace.

”These filthy wretches are too numerous, Sorlin.”

After embracing and greeting each other, Dain immediately began discussing the pressing issue.

”If this continues, our casualties will rise! We need to come up with a plan!”

The oppressive force brought by evil seemed to be gradually dissipating, and their side, inspired by Sorlin and the Lonely Mountain, was gaining momentum.

However, in the early stages of the war, the Beastmen had already accumulated significant advantages, gearing up like a rolling snowball.

When the time comes, the victory of the Beastmen would be unstoppable, except for the series of events that now restrained their rising military force.

So even now, they still have a substantial advantage over the Humans, Dwarves, and Elves.

This war is still tough to fight.

”There’s always been a way!” Sorlin’s expression shifted from affable to serious as he looked toward Crow Ridge, not far from the battlefield. ”And it’s always been simple!”

”We’ll catch the leader to defeat the gang!”

”Azog,” Dain uttered the name gravely.

Meanwhile, Sorlin swiftly grabbed a frantically running Dwarf goat from the chaotic battlefield and mounted it.

”Take him down, end the enmity of our bloodline with him, and conclude this war!”

”No, you are our King!”

The two stubborn Dwarves stared at each other until Sorlin spoke solemnly.

”Precisely because of that, I must go.”

At that moment, a dwarf chariot barreled through the chaos, mowing down Beastmen whose legs were severed by the chariot’s blade wheels.

”We’re right behind you!”

Loyal Dwalin, White Beard Balin, and Sorlin’s two nephews, together they steered the chariot and reached Sorlin’s side.

Now, all of them felt a sweeping sense of freedom, unfazed by the gloomy battlefield or the threat within the Lonely Mountain.

It felt like they were back on their journey through the wilds, moving toward the Lonely Mountain and hope.

But Dain still held Sorlin’s shoulder on the goat.

”Maybe you don’t have to go, Sorlin. I saw Elves and a tall Human rush up Crow Ridge. Look at the clear sky; perhaps they’ve succeeded?”

Crow Ridge is indeed not far from the battlefield; Lann and their encounter with the Demon Wolf were clear to see.

”Do we have the luxury to gamble on others’ success, Dain?”

Sorlin shook his head and gently pushed Dain’s hand away.

”Besides, the tall Human you mentioned is also my friend. Should I, Sorlin Oak Shield, let him fight alone?”

There was nothing more to say, and Dain could only wish him well.

”May Durin protect his descendants, and may they return safely!”

-----------------

”Splendid swordsmanship and magic.”

Lann remained kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, but within a few minutes, a noble figure appeared beside him, accompanied by Gandalf from River Valley City.

The Elf with radiant golden hair genuinely praised.

”To kill such a Demon Wolf face-to-face deserves the title of a valiant warrior, even in bygone eras.”

At this moment, the four Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms in the distance had completely frozen, their muscles and skin seemingly turned to stone.

The Elf who shot these giant worms stood beside Lann, patting the enormous, motionless head of Zhao Ge Luyin with deep sentiment.

From his tone, it was as if the heroes of ancient times and fearsome creatures like Zhao Ge Luyin were just as yesterday.

However, Lann was somewhat accustomed to the Elves’ immortal perspectives, where thousands of years felt like yesterday.

Due to the presence of the Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms, the Beastmen dared not send too many troops to this area, fearing the worms might roll over and annihilate them. Therefore, with the Demon Wolf and Giant Worms dead, the surroundings were relatively quiet for a battlefield.

”Well then, Glorfindel.” Gandalf, his face marked by frost and Beastman black blood, pressed forward, relieved after assessing Lann’s condition with a glance and finding his temperature high and breathing labored.

”It seems you’re not critically injured.”

Lann nodded slightly, still gasping: ”I’ll recover after a bit of rest. No need to worry.”

”Very well. Excuse us, Lann, we have urgent matters.” Gandalf stood up beside Lann and swiftly moved, ”Please follow me, Glorfindel.”

”We need to head up Crow Ridge to end this war! Gondarba’s Beastman army will soon arrive, and we need to kill Azog before the forces surrounding him are reinforced!”

”As it should be.”

The Elf beside Gandalf appeared unperturbed in the battlefield, evidently seasoned from previous wars, looking in the direction of Crow Ridge as guided by Gandalf.