Chapter 615 - 330: Saint and Divinity
And while the flames of war raged in the Northern Continent.
The capital of the Urein Empire, located in the central continent, remained bustling and peaceful.
Empire General Staff Headquarters.
"Interesting." An old man with meticulously combed graying hair and a pipe in his mouth smiled as he looked at a stack of intelligence reports in front of him.
If anyone were nearby at this moment, they would see that the reports detailed Raine’s exploits, such as slaying the Green Dragon Lestrick, the Blue Dragon Kazrian, and recently, the suspected killing of the Wandering Eye Tyrant, ’Zergelos’.
As for the matter of the Giant-eyed Tyrant ’Hillarack’ being killed, it was not mentioned.
The final commentary from the intelligence analysis department was: "Power increasing rapidly, numerous Magic Immunities, highly suspected Divine Favored, possibly even a Saint, specific deity unknown."
"Divine Favored, Saint?"
"I didn’t expect such a small kingdom like Soladin to produce a Divine Favored."
Divine Favored is actually a general term, roughly divided into three levels: the third tier or most basic are ordinary Divine Favored, generally granted by a Divine Spirit with a special ability such as Flame Immunity, excess spellcasting, or immense Power.
The second tier are known as Saints, typically possessing multiple special abilities and mastering a holy Spellcasting, with a trace of Divinity.
As for the first tier, they are The Chosen of God, typically chosen only once by Divine Beings across the entire continent, for they are infused with a considerable degree of Divinity, something not even Divine Beings would waste wantonly.
The old man gently shook a brass bell nearby.
Soon, a female officer in a major’s uniform entered, respectfully acknowledging, "Chief of Staff."
"Summon Black Pardon Squad Captain Aston Monroe."
"Yes, sir."
Shortly after.
A middle-aged man with golden hair, noble hunter’s attire, and a handsome appearance, smirking with a carefree demeanor, knocked before stepping in without waiting for the old man’s permission.
"Old man, what’s up?"
"Here, take a look at these files." Chief of Staff Russell Summers maintained his smile despite Aston’s impudence.
"An unknown deity’s young Divine Favored, a Saint? Classes Level nine to ten, perhaps?" Aston glossed over the documents carelessly. "Barely worthy of a secondary target."
"But old man, our squad’s main target is that Dark Maiden’s Legendary Divine Favored, Drow Elf Ilgerina. Why not send the Emperor’s Fall Squad for such trivial matters instead?"
"I heard they’re idle now, and often visit the monastery at the Dawn Church for sightseeing."
"The Emperor’s Fall Squad has more important matters; they’re keeping watch on the ascetic monk Sengus, a Divine Favored of the Dawn God."
"Hmm? A Legendary Divine Favored of the Dawn God? Alright~" Aston shrugged.
Though he was unaware of where the Empire got such precise information, their previous actions proved it true.
Logically, this kind of information should remain top secret, belonging to the main church factions.
Additionally, the Dawn God’s faithful on the Valzeg Continent number in the hundreds of thousands, and once exposed, the Empire would never admit it, making the task challenging.
Initially thinking the Emperor’s Fall Squad lacked tasks, it now seemed they had a daunting mission at hand, making it hard to decline his own task.
"No matter, your primary mission remains to seize the Divinity from Ilgerina. As for Raine of Soladin Kingdom, that can wait."
If Meredith were present, she would surely know who the mentioned Ilgerina was, her predecessor, a Drow Elf also devoted to the Dark Maiden Elise.
The other had an even more Legendary background.
"Alright then, a Saint not even Transcendent, even if possessing Divinity, it’s just a tiny bit." Setting the file dismissively on the table, Aston stood up, "Still, even a mosquito’s leg is meat, for His Majesty’s grand vision. Rest easy, old man, I’ve got this."
...
Above the Durem region.
A large Blue Dragon and a slightly smaller Green Dragon circled the sky, continually spewing breath downward.
"(Dragon Language) Valaurgh, look at those scurrying dwarves below, pathetic ants indeed."
After releasing a Lightning breath, Orosantor scoffed at the panicking dwarves below.
It had conducted similar attacks more than a dozen times recently.
Below, there were giant Crossbow Arrows and heavy Golems sometimes threatening them, but before a counterattack ensued, they and Valaurgh would leave, only to return for more attacks later.
Thus far, the dwarves remained helpless against them.
"(Dragon Language) These ants need our chastisement; once they recognize their mistake, they’ll grovel and plead before us." The Green Dragon Valaurgh nodded confidently, a smirk of triumph and ease on its face.
Suddenly, Orosantor sensed something rapidly approaching from above, and, meters away, the enormous dragon eyes of its companion Valaurgh revealed rare fear.
"(Dragon Language) Orosantor, quick..."
Before Valaurgh could finish its sentence.
The mature Blue Dragon Orosantor felt a surge of pain in its spine, its massive body plummeting rapidly downward, like a kite with its string severed.
It then realized the attacker was a dwarf, crowned and imposingly regal, hovering mid-air.
"It’s Brute Hammer the Second!"
It whipped its slender neck around in terror, spotting a significant chunk missing from the base of its wings, exposing raw muscle.
This was the Hammer of Shattering’s exaggerated wound.
"Damn, I must report to the leader at once!" Nearby, Green Dragon Valaurgh didn’t hesitate, fleeing in a panic to the other side, while urgently contacting the dragon horde leader Aisores.
It knew full well it was no match for the Dwarf King.
....
Pillar of Thunder.
Inside the largest ice cavern at the top.
About to move towards the Iron Hills, Aisores felt its communication scales trembling wildly, leading to its puzzlement; who was contacting it so urgently?
"(Dragon Language) Leader, Brute Hammer the Second is attacking us!"
"We’re at Durem!"
"Orosantor is severely injured, damn! Leader, they’re coming to kill me!"
The communication cut off!
"Brute Hammer the Second recovered? How can it be so much faster than me?" Aisores’s massive blue dragon head turned grim.
Orosantor was his strongest offspring. Damn dwarves....
Beside him, Gaoxi, fluent in the Dragon Language and wielding a white crystal Magic Staff, smiled faintly, "Brute Hammer the Second showed up? Isn’t that perfect?"
Mere moments ago, they and the dragon deliberated on how to draw him out of the Iron Hills, unexpectedly, he surfaced first.
Though the rapid recovery of Brute Hammer the Second surprised him, dwarves inherently possessed robust Constitution, especially a Dwarf King’s rapid recovery with some unique qualities wasn’t unheard of.
"Aren’t you worried about it being a deliberate trap?" Aisores hesitated.
"Lord Aisores, do you think Brute Hammer the Second would anticipate Duke Grobas and I appearing with you?"