Episode 138

The standoff dragged on. Drowning in the suffocating silence, Taehyun let out a long yawn. "When the hell are they coming out? Do they have no sense of urgency?"

"Ah, my Lord! He has returned," Jighart announced.

Finally, their meeting had concluded. Tuperus reappeared on the temple ramparts.

"Do not underestimate the will of the Rough Rock Tribe!" he bellowed. "Did you truly think we would falter over a single hostage?"

"…I can see your warriors sneaking into position on both flanks," Taehyun called back dryly.

"Wh-What nonsense! Your eyes deceive you!" Tuperus sputtered, his panic obvious. It was too late for denials; Taehyun's scouts had already spotted the armed dwarves moving into place. They were clearly planning to rescue Roland.

Giving the chieftain a look of profound pity, Taehyun gestured to Raviz.

[A-rank Named Guardian Raviz casts Gravity Control.]

[Dominates gravity within a designated area.]

Instantly, the dwarves on the left flank were crushed by an invisible weight, their movements slowing to a crawl. Taehyun ordered the Catapult Drakes to open fire while the Harpies descended upon them. The dwarven warriors took immediate damage, but their resistance was surprisingly fierce, their superior equipment absorbing much of the impact.

[B-rank Guardian, Red Anvil Chieftain Gagaan's halberd severs a Harpy's leg.]

[C-rank Red Anvil Warrior Leon's armor reduces damage from the bombardment.]

[C-rank Red Anvil Warrior Goman's artifact has been activated.]

Led by their chieftain, Gagaan, the Red Anvil warriors demonstrated the true value of their master-crafted gear. Taehyun commanded his archers to provide covering fire as he dispatched Jighart and the Gargoyles to handle the right flank.

"I will show these Blue Anvil warriors the true power of Balak, my Lord!" Jighart roared.

"Just shut up and hold the line," Taehyun ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

Buffs from the personal fairies washed over the assault squad. Jighart and his Gargoyles slammed into the Blue Anvil dwarves.

"The Gargoyles are charging! Hold them back!" a dwarf shouted.

They hastily formed a shield wall, but it was futile. Jighart had already used White Giant's Myth to push the Gargoyles' morale to its absolute peak. With a deafening crash, the shield wall shattered. The Blue Anvil warriors were sent flying as the Gargoyles pressed their advantage. Just then, the Blue Anvil Chieftain, Ddudmel, unleashed a skill.

[B-rank Guardian, Blue Anvil Chieftain Ddudmel casts Whirlwind.]

[Deals continuous damage to nearby enemies for a set duration.]

A vortex of crimson energy erupted in their midst. Jighart immediately activated Shield of the Giant, mitigating the damage to his troops. Taehyun, observing the battlefield, sent the Imps to support the right flank while his own shieldbearers advanced on the left.

Seeing that Roland was with the left-wing forces, Tuperus ordered his cannons to fire on Jighart's position. Dozens of cannonballs screamed through the air. But Jighart was ready, deploying another skill to protect the entire army.

[B-rank Hero Keeper, White Giant's Shield Soldier Jighart casts Protection of the Giant.]

[A barrier of the giant envelops all of Balak's forces.]

[Giant's Barrier Damage Rate: 14%]

The massive barrier shimmered into existence, absorbing the cannon fire.

"Impossible!" Tuperus cried out in disbelief.

'Did you really think I'd divide my forces without a plan?' Taehyun thought with a smirk. The barrier's integrity was falling, but it would hold long enough for him to crush the Red Anvil warriors. He pushed his shieldbearers forward, relentlessly pressuring the dwarven line.

[A-rank Named Guardian Raviz casts Spatial Bind.]

[The space occupied by B-rank Guardian, Red Anvil Chieftain Gagaan, is temporarily bound.]

With their chieftain locked in place, the Red Anvil flank crumbled. Taehyun seized the moment, his commands snapping through the air. "Shieldbearers, close the distance! Harpies, take out their crossbowmen! Catapult Drakes, concentrate fire on Gagaan's position! Warriors, advance with the shieldbearers and eliminate their front line! Imps, widen your angle and maintain mobile casting!"

[Command skill is activated.]

[Soldiers' reaction speed continuously increases.]

[Effect of Affinity skill is activated.]

[Soldiers begin to comprehend Taehyun's commands.]

[Effect of Seira's Baton is activated.]

[Soldiers begin to quickly execute Taehyun's commands.]

Amplified by Seira's Baton, his commands took immediate effect. The Orc warriors, empowered by the Indomitable Warrior's Spirit, grew stronger with every dwarf they cut down.

"Th-They're getting stronger!" a dwarf yelled in terror.

"Chwiiik!" an orc bellowed, cleaving through a shield.

"Gah!"

The empowered orcs, fighting alongside the shieldbearers, shattered the dwarven front. High above, the harpies swooped down, plucking crossbowmen from the ranks and crippling their ranged support. This gave the Imps the space they needed to unleash a devastating barrage of spells.

'Boom! Bang!'

Finally, the Catapult Drakes' payload rained down on the immobilized Gagaan. He could do nothing but endure the onslaught. In moments, half of the Red Anvil dwarves were dead, and the rest were captured.

[B-rank Guardian, Red Anvil Chieftain Gagaan, has been captured.]

[154 C-rank Red Anvil Dwarves have been captured.]

Taehyun ordered the prisoners to be bound before turning his attention to helping Jighart mop up the remaining forces.

---

"The Blue Anvil Chieftain, Ddudmel, has been captured!"

"Not only that, over four hundred of our Red and Blue Anvil warriors are prisoners!"

"Even the great Gagaan has fallen! This is a disaster! A disaster!"

The rescue mission had been a catastrophic failure. They had been utterly defeated, and in their attempt to save one hostage, they had lost hundreds more. Tuperus stared in horror at the sea of captured warriors. His finest soldiers, clad in their best armor, had been broken by a single demon's command.

"Now then," Taehyun's mocking voice drifted up from below. "What's your next move? Looks like you have a few more hostages to worry about."

With over four hundred of his people held captive, ordering another bombardment was impossible. The temple's barrier was still active, but the entire tribe was now at risk. Wiping a sheen of cold sweat from his brow, Tuperus made his decision.

"W-Wait a moment!" he yelled down.

"What?! You insane dwarves, what more could you possibly need to wait for!" Taehyun's enraged voice shot back.

"It will only take a moment!"

"Aaargh! You damn stout bastards!"

Ignoring the demon's fury, Tuperus rushed back to the meeting hall. This time, only seven chieftains returned to the table, their faces grim.

"We are in dire straits," one began. "Both the Red and Blue Anvil warriors have been defeated. With two chieftains captured, we cannot risk opening fire."

"We now have to rescue four hundred of our kin. Is there any way?"

"Perhaps… it is time we used 'that'," another chieftain suggested.

All eyes turned to the Green Anvil Chieftain, Rodudu, who looked as if he held a final, desperate trump card.

"What are you talking about?"

"Have you forgotten?" Rodudu said, his eyes gleaming. "The neutralization artifact we built for intruders!"

"Of course! That's it! Brilliant, Rodudu!"

The chieftains had finally remembered their secret weapon. Tuperus nodded decisively and slammed his hammer down. "Then it is decided! We will use the neutralization artifact to incapacitate their army and rescue our people in one swift stroke. The four chieftains will prepare their warriors and stand by. If all four anvils unite, we cannot fail!"

"Ooooooh!"

"Whoaaaa!"

"Tuperus! Tuperus! Tuperus! Tuperus!"

The cheers were noticeably quieter this time, but Tuperus rose from his seat, satisfied. "For the Rough Rock Tribe! Forever!"

"Forever!" they echoed. "Forever!"

And so, the united operation of the four tribes began.

---

More time passed. This was the second long wait, and Taehyun's patience had worn paper-thin.

"Master, he has appeared," Raviz reported.

"Phew. Good," Taehyun exhaled slowly. "What is it this time? What could possibly have taken so long?"

He glared up at Tuperus, who cleared his throat dramatically before shouting, "Activate the neutralization artifact!"

"What?!"

A massive magic circle materialized in the sky above them. An overwhelming surge of power washed down, and before they could react, Balak's forces were paralyzed.

[Balak's forces have been neutralized.]

[Raviz has withstood the neutralization.]

[Jighart has been neutralized.]

Fortunately, Raviz, as an A-rank Guardian, was immune. But the rest of his army was completely helpless.

"Khahahaha!" Tuperus gloated from the ramparts. "Arrogant demon! Savor your regret as you meet your end! Advance!"

Over a thousand dwarves charged from the temple gates, a united force from all four clans. At this rate, his army would be slaughtered. Taehyun's face contorted in a furious scowl. The only one who could still move was Raviz.

"Raviz, get Desh—!"

"Master," she interrupted calmly. "You are moving."

"What?"

"You are moving," she repeated, gesturing stiffly toward his chin as if to demonstrate. The movement was robotic, but her meaning was clear.

Taehyun belatedly realized he wasn't paralyzed. "What the… I am moving."

"Based on the artifact's properties, I surmise it only affects members of the demon tribe and their affiliated soldiers," Raviz explained.

She was right. His B-rank soldiers were frozen solid. As a Dungeon Master, he was technically part of the demon faction and should have been affected. But he was originally human, summoned from another world. An artifact designed exclusively for demons wouldn't work on him.

A wicked grin spread across Taehyun's face as he pulled out a card.

[Effect Reversal Card has been used.]

[The neutralization status of Balak's forces has been reversed.]

The opposite of neutralization was freedom. With a single card, the paralysis was broken.

"N-No! How did they break free?!" Tuperus shrieked.

"You must have had a good laugh, you stout little bastard," Taehyun growled. He activated a series of buff items, and his army's power surged. The charging dwarves skidded to a halt in confusion, but it was far too late.

Taehyun brandished his baton, his voice raw with fury. "Not a single one of you gets away! You're all going to pay, you damn bastards!"

Empowered and enraged, the army of Balak launched their counterattack.

---

"Even with all four anvils united… we failed."

"The four chieftains and eight hundred of our finest warriors have been captured!"

The joint operation had ended in utter disaster. The chieftains of the White, Black, Yellow, and Green Anvil tribes, along with the bulk of their proud warriors, were now prisoners. The number of hostages had swelled to over twelve hundred.

Tuperus, drenched in sweat, shouted down at the demon below. "W-Wait just a moment!"

"You son of a bitch! Get down here! I swear, you get down here right now!" Taehyun screamed back.

"Ahem! It will only take a moment!"

"You crazy son of a bitch! Argh! I'm going to kill you!"

Ignoring the demon's apoplectic rage, Tuperus fled back to the meeting hall. This time, only three dwarves returned to the table, their faces so grim they looked as if they were carved from stone.

"The neutralization artifact didn't affect the demon," one said numbly.

"This is a catastrophe. We have no other options."

"…I will negotiate with him myself," Tuperus declared, his voice heavy. He slammed his hammer down. "If I can settle this one-on-one, I can offer a price for our people's return. Trust me!"

"Ooooooh."

"Tuperus. Tuperus. Tuperus!"

The cheers of the two remaining chieftains echoed weakly in the vast hall. Trying to force a smile, Tuperus rose from his seat. "For the Rough Rock Tribe! Forever!"

"Forever!" they replied. "Forever!"

And so, the Rough Rock Tribe's life-or-death negotiation bega—

'BOOM!'

It did not. The entire temple shook violently, and the three dwarves scrambled outside.

"Uwooooooar!"

The demon, having lost all patience, had summoned a colossal mud golem that was now tearing down their barrier.

"R-Rocks are falling from the ceiling!"

"A golem of that size… It's impossible!"

The two chieftains stared in horror as Tuperus desperately tried to get the demon's attention. "Wait! Let's negotiate! Demon, I'll give you whatever you want! Just stop—!"

"Shut up, you damn bastards!" Taehyun's voice boomed, amplified by rage. "There's a limit to my patience! I'm just going to tear this whole temple down!"

His words fell on deaf ears. And so, the Rough Rock Tribe, having lost their fortress and their pride, were all captured by the demon.

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