Chapter 193 - Gates of Ashes (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Heh heh, now you know…” Perhaps it was because Moradin hadn’t spoken to anyone for a long time, but it seemed very excited at present. After triumphantly showing off, he began to engage in a talk with Lin Li. “Oh, yes, how did you get the Brand Of Dusk?”

“Brand Of Dusk?” Lin Li paused, looking bewildered. “What is that?”

“b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, you don’t have the Brand Of Dusk?” Moradin cursed, sounding exasperated. “Then how did you get past the Gates of Ashes?”

“What is the Gates of Ashes…” Lin Li scratched his head. He was in confusion when he suddenly recalled the moment when he’d pa.s.sed through the colorful spectrum, and his expression froze. He raised his right hand unbelievably and flashed the Torrent of Elements Ring that was s.h.i.+ning with a faint light. “The… The Brand Of Dusk you mean, is this…?”

“Yes, yes…” Moradin uttered a cry of alarm as soon as the Torrent of Elements Ring was flashed. For a moment, even his words were incoherent. “It’s really with you; the Brand Of Dusk is really with you. Heavens… I am saved, I am saved at last…”

“This thing is important to you?” Lin Li looked at Moradin strangely. The bizarre hammer was trembling slightly because it was too excited.

“Too important!” After a long silence, Moradin suddenly said, “Lad, let’s do a deal!”

“What deal?”

“The Brand Of Dusk is very important to me. I need to borrow it. Rest a.s.sured, you won’t be lending it in vain. In exchange, I can help you get powerful magical equipment.” At this point, Moradin asked casually, “By the way, you should be a warrior, right?”

Lin Li took a glance at the Fire Salamandrid armor he was wearing, and nodded without a change in countenance. “That’s right.”

“Well, if you will lend me the Brand Of Dusk, I’ll get you a weapon forged by the Dark Iron Dwarves.”

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“This…” Lin Li hesitated. It was not that he refused to lend it, but he could not figure out what Moradin wanted to do.

Moradin was somewhat anxious seeing Lin Li had kept silent for long. “Two magical equipment pieces—one weapon and one armor. This should do now, right?”

“Let me think about it…”

Half an hour pa.s.sed; Lin Li was still deliberating.

Moradin was getting impatient. “Hey, have you thought about it?

“Don’t rush. This is a big matter, I have to think it through…” Lin Li had not thought it through, indeed. If it was in the past, he’d have lent the Brand Of Dusk without a second word. It was only a loan, and he did not stand to lose, anyway. In return, he could receive two magical equipment pieces forged by the Dark Iron Dwarves. Such a cost-effective deal wouldn’t always happen.

However, this time, Lin Li was really hesitant about it.

The day’s encounter was too strange; whether it was the colorful spectrum or the floating palace in the sky, everything was shrouded in a peculiar aura. Lin Li had to be extra cautious when making decisions like that.

“Oh, right. Moradin, have you been here for 1,200 years?”

“Mhm, that’s right…” When Moradin finished, it suddenly exclaimed, “Wait, what did you say just now? 1,200 years? You mean, 1,200 years have pa.s.sed?”

“Yes, it’s been 1,200 years since the Dark Ages. Why, don’t you know?”

“h.e.l.l… It’s been such a long time.” After grumbling for a while, Moradin asked Lin Li curiously, “Is the war over?”

“It’s long over. All the High Elves, including Osric, are gone. Now humans rule the world of Anril.”

“Then, what about the Dark Iron Dwarves?”

“There are no Dark Iron Dwarves…” Lin Li shook his head, and told Moradin everything he saw in the books. “The Dark Iron Dwarves were exterminated right at the beginning of the war. In Anril, there has not been a living Dark Iron Dwarf for 1,200 years.”

“Strange, before the Magic Legion came, didn’t a group of Dark Iron Dwarves escape? Did Osric also…” Moradin’s words sounded like a soliloquy.

“I’m afraid this group of Dark Iron Dwarves did not escape from the Magic Legion…” Lin Li had not spoken without thinking.

Everyone knew that the Dark Iron Dwarves were born blacksmiths. They had an innate talent for forging. Almost every adult Dark Iron Dwarf could attain a higher tier of mastery in forging. If they really did escape, how could there be no rumors about them in Anril for 1,200 years?

Even if the talent of these Dark Iron Dwarves were any worse, shouldn’t there be at least dozens of Smithing Masters in these 1,200 years?

Once there was a blacksmith of the mastery level, unless they had been isolated from the world for 1,200 years, it was impossible to have no hearsay about them at all. Look at the present Alanna and you’d know—how did the Sword Sage of the Storm get his fame in Felan? In addition to his own strength, it was largely due to him being a Smithing Master.

If there were really such a group of Dark Iron Dwarves, when would it be the Marathon Family’s turn to be so arrogant? They’d be crushed by the big group of Smithing Masters long ago.

“That’s really strange. I clearly remembered they escaped…”

“Maybe they were found later…” Lin Li had little interest in the life and death of the Dark Iron Dwarves, and did not want to go on at it any longer. After a casual mention, he took the topic elsewhere.

Perhaps it was because Moradin had something to ask from Lin Li, but it had answered all the questions the latter had. Whatever Lin Li asked, as long as Moradin knew the answer, it would give a satisfactory one almost all the time.

From the conquest of the Dark Iron Dwarves to the establishment of the Eternal Furnace, Lin Li had read most of the stories in books, but how could it compare to hearing from Moradin in person? It was all its personal experience; regardless of the details or the degree of authenticity of the stories, it was far beyond what the books could match.

Lin Li’s jaw dropped at the mention of all the details from behind the scenes.