We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 465 The God of War and Ghana

Shane was not surprised by the dwarves' doubts; in fact, he understood them quite well.

After all, they didn't know that this "Lord of the Rhine" was actually Shain himself.

Of course, Shane couldn't possibly point this out.

Xia En surveyed the crowd with a calm gaze and said slowly, "I understand your concerns."

"But for now, we have no other choice."

"Those of your kind who are willing to believe in the Lord of the Rhine may come with me to the altar, where I will guide you into the Rhine Realm."

"And for those of my people who choose to go to [Molten City], I will lead you safely to the Holy City."

The dwarves began to whisper among themselves, and the tribe split into two factions.

A group of dwarves stood behind Shane and said firmly, "Lord Bronzebeard, we trust your judgment!"

The other group hesitated, saying, "We still want to go to the Holy City and join up with the other tribes."

Xia En nodded: "Okay, then it's decided."

He first led the first group of dwarves to the ancient altar deep within the tribe.

This altar was crafted from lava ore and its surface was covered with mysterious runes. It was the teleportation node that Shane had secretly set up beforehand.

"Stand in the center of the altar."

"Shane gave the order in a deep voice."

After the dwarves stood still, Shane pretended to chant incantations, but actually secretly activated the power of the [Secret Realm Teleportation Ritual].

A pale blue light rose from the altar, enveloping the dwarves.

"This is……"

The dwarves watched in astonishment as their bodies gradually became transparent.

"Don't resist, relax your mind and body."

Shaen reassured them, "The Lord of the Rhine is guiding you."

With a flash of light, the dwarves on the altar vanished instantly.

The remaining dwarves witnessed this scene and were both shocked and in awe.

"Really... they've been teleported away?"

"Lord Copperbeard has indeed been blessed by the gods!"

In fact, thanks to Shane's overt and covert promotion, quite a few dwarves have already traveled to the [Rhine Realm] via the teleportation system.

Therefore, the dwarves did not have a strong resistance to this matter.

However, this is the first time such a large-scale teleportation has been carried out.

This inevitably inspires awe in them.

Shaun wasted no time and turned to the remaining dwarves.

"Now, let's set off for Molten City."

The team quickly got ready and set off.

Because of the increasingly frequent rumbling sounds, the dwarves had long considered seeking refuge elsewhere.

Therefore, packing did not take too much time.

Shain walked at the front, followed by dozens of dwarf warriors and their families.

They proceeded along the winding underground tunnel, the glow of the [Lava Mine] on the rock walls flickering in the darkness.

Along the way, Shane noticed that the cracks on the tunnel walls were increasing, and some places had even collapsed, forcing him to take a detour.

"The damage caused by the [Rumbling] is getting more and more serious."

"A dwarf said with a worried expression."

Xia En did not answer, but his heart was equally heavy.

Suddenly, an unprecedentedly violent tremor came from underground!

"Rumble--"

The entire tunnel shook violently, and loose rocks fell from the top like raindrops.

"careful!"

With a loud shout, Shane quickly erected a magical barrier to protect the dwarves behind him.

The tremors lasted for a full minute before gradually subsiding.

When the dust settled, everyone was horrified to discover that the tunnel ahead had completely collapsed!

“The road is blocked!”

"what should we do?"

The dwarves panicked.

As Shane frowned and pondered a solution, he suddenly noticed that the tremors had torn a huge crack in the side of the tunnel.

Deep within the crack, a narrow passage leading underground can be vaguely seen.

"That is……"

As Xia En approached the crack, he sensed an unusual fluctuation of mysterious power emanating from the depths of the passage.

"Bronzebeard, what do we do now?"

Chief Hope walked to Shane's side and said solemnly.

"There seems to be something extremely terrifying in this passage..."

Xia En stared into the deep passage, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"How about this, you all wait here while I go inside and scout ahead."

Hope nodded and said, "Understood!"

So, Shane entered the narrow passage alone.

The temperature inside the tunnel was extremely high, and the air was filled with the smell of sulfur.

As they went deeper, the surrounding rock walls gradually turned dark red, as if they had been smelted by high temperatures.

Strangely, the lava minerals in the rock wall were extremely dark.

This is undoubtedly very unusual.

These [Lava Minerals] are the cores that [Fire Seeds] transformed into after their death, and they passively absorb the secret power from the underground rock walls.

Under such conditions, the lava ore should be even more refined and pure.

After passing through this narrow tunnel, the view suddenly opened up.

Xia En's pupils contracted slightly.

At the end of the passage was a huge underground cavity.

In the center of the hollow, a colossal beast, as large as a small mountain, lay prostrate!

Its entire body is covered in lava-like armor, and it exhales scorching heat with each breath.

Each heartbeat caused a slight tremor in the surrounding rock walls.

What's most chilling is that the back of this behemoth is connected to countless thick, blood vessel-like tissues.

It is deeply embedded in the surrounding rock walls, as if it has become one with the entire underground world!
Xia En held his breath and quietly observed the sleeping behemoth.

Its appearance is completely different from that of ordinary [Fire Seed] - the raised carapace on its back is covered with mysterious patterns, like some kind of ancient script.

Six thick, sharp claws were deeply embedded in the rock, their tips gleaming with a metallic sheen.

Most striking is a rhombus-shaped crystal in the center of its forehead, which flickers with its breath.

"It is absorbing the secret power within the [Lava Ore]."

Shane noticed that the "blood vessels" connecting the rock walls were pulsating rhythmically, continuously supplying energy from the surrounding ore into the giant beast's body.

This explains why the nearby lava deposits are so dark.

Xia En frowned and prepared to retreat.

After all, he had no reason to risk fighting such a powerful [Fire Seed].

But that's it.

The crystal on the giant beast's forehead suddenly lit up with a blinding red light!

"We've been discovered!"

Xia En's heart tightened, and he immediately retreated.

But it was too late -

"roar--!!!"

With a deafening roar, the giant beast suddenly raised its head, and its six scarlet eyes locked onto Shane at the same time.

Its back's "blood vessels" ruptured one after another, spurting out lava-like blood, but the wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Peak of the eighth rank."

Feeling the overwhelming pressure, Shane immediately went into battle mode.

Bronzebeard Warhammer's body swelled up as it was infused with secret power, and his crimson beard moved without wind.

The behemoth gave Xia En no time to think; it opened its blood-red maw, and a blazing white pillar of fire erupted forth! "Boom!"

Xia En dodged to the side, and the rock where he had been standing instantly vaporized.

The high temperature distorted the air, and even though he avoided a direct impact, the residual heat still burned Shane's left arm.

"Such a powerful flame!"

Xia En dared not be negligent. He made a grasping motion with his right hand, and a jet-black warhammer materialized under the gathering of secret power—

It's a replica of the [War God's Hammer]!
The moment the warhammer appeared, the behemoth suddenly froze.

Its six eyes were fixed on the warhammer, and it let out a low growl that was a mixture of anger and fear.

The crystal on her forehead flashed wildly, projecting a fragmented image:

In the endless sea of ​​fire, a towering giant, wielding a warhammer, smashed a mountain-sized beast into the ground.
"Is this... Ghana's memory?"

Xia En instantly realized that the giant beast before him possessed the bloodline of Ghana and even carried a portion of the ancient will!
The replica of the Hammer of War awakened the fear and hatred for its nemesis within its bloodline.

"Roar!"

The behemoth went completely berserk!

It frantically tore at the surrounding rock walls, causing the entire underground space to tremble violently.

Countless pebbles fell from the top, striking its surface and creating wounds, which were then quickly repaired by the surging lava.

Knowing there was no way out, Xia En raised his warhammer high, his entire body surging with secret power.

"Come and fight!"

"boom!"

The behemoth struck first, its thick tail sweeping across, causing rock walls to collapse in its wake.

Shaen leaped into the air, his warhammer whistling through the air as it crashed down on the giant beast's head.

"boom!"

The hammerhead struck the carapace, producing a deafening roar.

The recoil caused Shane's tiger's mouth to crack, and a crack also appeared in the crystal on the giant beast's forehead.

The behemoth, in pain, suddenly curled into a ball and crashed down on Xia En like a burning meteorite.

Xia En hurriedly erected a barrier of secret power.

"Crack!"

The barrier shattered instantly, and Xia En was sent flying dozens of meters before crashing heavily into the rock wall.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, only to see the giant beast opening its blood-red maw and lunging at him!
At the critical moment, Shane hurled his warhammer.

The hammer spun in the air and struck the crystal on the giant beast's forehead with pinpoint accuracy.

"Boom!"

Amidst the cracking sound of shattering crystals, the behemoth let out a mournful howl.

It frantically scratched its bleeding forehead, its movements gradually slowing down.

Xia En seized the opportunity, his hands forming claws, and dark void rifts spread from his fingertips.

"it's over!"

“Hiss—”

Five blades of void clashed and slashed across, and the giant beast's massive body crashed to the ground.

Its shell began to crack, and lava-like blood gushed from the cracks, quickly forming a pool of hot blood.

And just as he was dying...

The [Fire Seed] suddenly unleashed a burst of mental energy.

Xia En immediately grasped its intent.

【go home……】

Xia En stared at the gradually cooling corpse of the giant beast, his mind churning with thoughts.

"go home……"

This dying thought reminded him of his previous guesses.

In many ways, Ghana and the Fire Seed share similarities with the ancient dragon race of the Seven Seas World.

In addition, the memory images that surfaced when the behemoth was stimulated by the replica of the [War God's Hammer]...

As various clues connected in Xia En's mind, a startling hypothesis gradually took shape—

"Could it be that [Ghana], like the God of War, also comes from the [Seven Seas World]?"

Xia En recalled the description of the ancient war between the gods in the String Song.

In that war that swept across the entire world, many ancient dragons and gods fought each other, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction.

And how similar are the characteristics of Ghana to those of the legendary ancient dragon?
"If [Gana] is indeed an ancient dragon, then its accidental arrival at the [Forge Realm] during its fierce battle with the God of War would explain why the dwarves and the [Fireseeds] have coexisted in this world for thousands of years."

The more Xia En thought about it, the more reasonable his guess seemed.

The God of War protected the dwarves, and [Gana] gave rise to [Fire Seed].

Two ancient beings continue their ancient feud in this closed world.

"But now is not the time to delve into it."

Shaun shook his head, turning his attention back to reality.

He approached the giant beast's corpse and discovered that several glowing fragments were gradually emerging from its breastplate—these were the [Ancestral Totem Fragments]!
These fragments were larger than any Shane had seen before, and their patterns were more complex.

When Shane touched them, a surge of scorching energy flowed up his arm, and fragmented images immediately flashed through his mind:

—Above the dome, an ancient dragon that blots out the sky roars;
—On the boiling lava-covered land, the God of War raised his warhammer and fought a desperate battle with the ancient dragon;

—Two figures fell together from the shattered void rift.
“It is indeed so!”

Xia En carefully put the fragments away.

These fragments not only confirmed his conjecture, but more importantly, the inherited information contained within them might help Grom complete the [Ancestral Totem].

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from deep within the tunnel.

"Lord Copperbeard! Are you alright?"

Hope arrived hastily with a squad of dwarf warriors.

When they saw the giant beast's carcass in the center of the cave, they all gasped in horror.

"This is……"

"A high-ranking [Fire Seed]."

Shane explained briefly, "It blocked the way, but now the problem is solved."

Hope looked at Shane with awe: "Bronzebeard, your strength has improved again."

Xia En didn't say much, only stating, "I found this on it."

He displayed the fragments of the ancestral totem.

"This is... a sacred relic!"

Hope and the dwarves immediately knelt on one knee, their expressions pious.

Shaun continued, "We must get to Molten City as soon as possible; these relics might help the dwarves overcome this crisis."

"Yes!"

With a clear objective, the team's marching speed increased significantly.

Shane led the group around the collapsed tunnel and found the main road leading to Molten City again.

However, the sights along the way weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

The cracks on the tunnel walls are shocking; in some places, the cracks are several meters wide and bottomless.

The air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur, and occasionally the roar of the [Fire Seed] could be heard from afar.

"The situation is worse than we imagined."

Hope said worriedly, "If even the main road is so badly damaged, the other branch lines are probably..."

Xia En nodded: "Speed ​​up. I have a feeling the real crisis is about to begin."

As if to confirm his words, the ground suddenly shook violently!
"Rumble--"

Another violent rumbling sound erupted from the ground.

Large chunks of rock have broken off from the top of the tunnel, and the rock walls on both sides undulate like waves.

"careful!"

Shain erected a magical barrier to protect the dwarves behind him.

The tremors lasted for a full three minutes before gradually subsiding.

When the dust settled, the sight before them left everyone speechless—

In the middle of the main road, a huge, bottomless chasm runs across, completely blocking the way!

Scorching hot air was billowing from the fissure, and the surging lava at the bottom could be vaguely seen.

(End of this chapter)