461 The Exodus from the Night Highland (1/2)
”The Almighty God of Steam, the Lord of Life and Death. Your devout servant, Augustus, prays to you.”
”… Under your lead, we have spread out your grace across the land of Vlad, into all the middle-rank vampires' castles. Now, we have twenty-three thousand seven hundred and eighty-six dwarf brothers and sisters praying in your name and following your words…”
”… Two thousand six hundred and nine brothers and sisters of us have devoted their lives to the fight against vampires and blood servants. The attention of the senior-rank vampires has been attracted. Our actions are getting increasingly dangerous…”
”I beg your guidance. I beg your mercy on all devout dwarves. I beg for help to break the chains and for new lives away from the Night Highland…”
”Steam Above.”
The holy statue in front of Augustus looked very strange. In the shape of a round, tower-like cone, it was engraved with countless unique patterns — The dwarves made the statue based on the beyond destructive weapon they saw in Atlantis.
In Lucien's eyes, they were praying to a nuclear bomb.
Prostrate on the ground, Augustus was praying with all his heart. It had been three years, and the God of Steam never gave them any guidance again. But his belief was still solid. Augustus regarded this as their trial.
This did not mean that he was not worried. Several years ago, before their troop expanded, because Madam Tess had died and Count Vlad had fallen asleep, the Dwarf Rebellion grew fast with ease.They had the knowledge and had won the control of some mines and forges, thus their weapons and armors had been greatly improved — High-pressure steam rifles, vampire-killing bullets, mythril-mixed chain mails which were effective against the claws of vampires. And they were finally able to fight back.
However, as they started having more followers, and when they had reached the territory of the middle-rank vampires nearby, the situation suddenly became intense. It would cost the lives of over a hundred dwarves to hurt and back off a middle-rank vampire. Even the explosive bullets they invented later whose power did not differentiate vampires from dwarves did not work very well.
According to Harold and Aquinas, their only hope was to remake the huge warship from the ancient Steam Civilization, which could probably be very efficient for killing middle-rank vampires.
”But based on what we have — the knowledge and the techniques — there's no chance for us to build such a thing…” said Aquinas, the leader of the Dwarf Rebellion, a bit desperately over the meeting.
Augustus, the leader, said with even greater worry, ”now we're only fighting against the middle-ranks. If the senior-ranks wake up, if Count Vlad wakes up… even the warship will become useless, unless…”
Augustus did not finish his words, but his listeners all understood. What Augustus was indicating was the ultimate weapon they saw in Atlantis, the one whose power was enough to temporarily create a new Sun and destroy the entire Night Highland.
Thinking of this, Augustus's prayers became even more sincere. Their God was testing them, Augustus believed.
”You dominate everything, Life and Death. You're the King of the kings, the God above all gods.”
Finishing his prayers, Augustus was about to stand up when suddenly heard a remote, powerful voice in his brain,
”The future has arrived. Take your staff, and guide your people to the new life.”
His eyes suddenly opened wide. Out of the ecstasy, Augustus trembled when he hurriedly mumbled the words. ”In your name. As you command.”
He saw bright light blooming before his eyes, lighting up the entire underground cave. The light was an illusion resulted from his ecstasy.
After calming down a bit, Augustus asked very humbly, ”Almighty God of Steam, how shall I guide them out of Night Highland?”
Although the tales passed on for generations said that the ancestors of the dwarves were from another place, Augustus had no idea how to leave the Night Highland.
”Do as I say. Do not ask why.”
”We shall sing forth the honor of your name. May we get out of the pain and sufferings under your blessing and glory,” said Augustus, his head lowering deeply.
Then he walked out of the altar and opened the gate in extremely high spirit. Full of confidence, he exclaimed in front of the dwarves,
”Command to you all! And all dwarves devoted to the God of Steam. We shall gather in three days! The Almighty, the God of Steam, has given us words — WE SHALL LEAVE THE NIGHT HIGHLAND!”
After a short silence, under the lead of the young dwarf lady Myrna, all of them present cried out loud.
”Steam Above!”
Joyful tears ran across their faces.
...
Three days later.
In the huge underground cave located within the territory of Count Vlad, close to twenty-one thousand dwarves were gathering here.
Some of them were carrying high-pressure steam backpacks and holding big steam rifles, guarding the entrance of the underground caves connecting to each other, while some wore only ragged cloth bags and their bodies were covered with wounds left by whipping. However, they had one thing in common — Their eyes were shining with bright hope.
”It's the time. I'm very encouraged by the fact that we have all of us here. Your devotion deserves the blessing.” Augustus walked across the crowd, wearing the dwarf robe and holding a missile-shaped staff. ”and I, Augustus, the Speaker of God on the ground, will lead you forward.
”On our way out, we shall have no fear and no hesitation, no matter what is waiting for us in the front. Because, we are blessed!”
”It's time to hit the road!”
”Steam Above!” the dwarves cried out loud together.
Joining the teams they belonged to, the dwarves followed the instruction in the book, Military Training, which was left to them by the God of Steam, and walked in the underground caves quietly.
They all understood it. Staying here on the Night Highland only meant death and shame. The landing of the God of Steam gave them the only belief in the boundless darkness. Death, or fight. They chose to fight, although they were afraid.
Going through the caves, the path elevated, and countless tombstones appeared beside.