Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Captain Ehrlich saw nothing, but she understood what had happened.

Because she saw the army marching along the path she had come from, cheering in unison, the roar surging from their chests like waves. She knew that from that angle, she could see what she couldn't see from her current position.

If I'm right...

The dragon is dead.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but grin, her smile like ripples spread by cheers.

"Anything happy?"

She whirled her head toward the direction the voice came from. The speaker was a captain, not in her fifty-man squad, but she knew him; they were both under the same centurion. He casually offered her a cigarette, which she took, then leaned in and lit.

"Yes, something happy." She took a deep drag, the smoke swirling in her lungs before slowly exhaling from between her lips. Her lips parted wider, as if she were about to laugh out loud.

The male captain exhaled a puff of smoke, looked up at the sky, and after a moment, he also smiled.

"You're also in the reserve team?"

"Yes." The female captain nodded, her tone light and cheerful.

"Um...me too." The male captain sighed, as if exhaling the smoke he had just inhaled, and then couldn't help but ask, "Just now..."

"Professional, but not professional enough." The female captain shook her head, her eyes deep in thought.

The male captain remained silent for a moment, then turned to look at the corpse in the distance, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. He nodded, said nothing more, and simply lowered his head to silently smoke.

As he finished his cigarette, he and the female captain looked up almost simultaneously, gazing at the other end. Shouts of battle erupted from there, initially echoing in the distance, but quickly closing in like a tidal wave.

"It's starting," the male captain whispered.

“No, I don’t think so. Just like when we dined at the Tide Embrace in Krakarond, the appetizers there were delicious,” the female captain replied with a light laugh, gesturing in front of her chest as if she were actually unfolding a napkin.

The male captain, understanding the other's meaning, couldn't help but laugh, laughing so hard that he coughed. Smoke billowed from his mouth and nostrils, blurring the lines of his face. He shook his head, threw away the cigarette butt, and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, in the distance, a new killing is brewing.

The Val's Anvil, located in Ulthuan, sits quietly on a secluded island in the southern foothills of the Dragonspine Mountains.

Not long after the Old Ones created Ulthuan, an unprecedented eruption occurred here. The eruption was so violent that it tore the sky apart, and massive amounts of volcanic ash and pumice spewed out like apocalyptic rain, blotting out the sun and turning day into night. Ultimately, the vast underground magma chamber was massively emptied, as if the heart of the earth had been ripped out.

Without the support below, the ground finally could not withstand the pressure and collapsed, forming a huge bowl-shaped depression—the caldera.

The volcanic island's edge is surrounded by towering craters, forming an insurmountable barrier. While some areas inside are relatively flat, they are already covered by thick layers of volcanic ash and recent eruptions.

It was a deathly blackness, covering all life.

The continuous eruptions hurled countless volcanic ash and slag into the air, only to have them settle again, year after year. Eventually, the interior of the caldera was covered with a unique and desolate black wasteland landscape.

And that's not all.

Due to the rampant eruption of lava, some areas were transformed into rugged and grotesque landscapes by the solidified lava. The dark lava folds, like the twisted remains of a giant beast, lie dormant on the surface.

However, what is even more shocking on this black wasteland are the volcanic cones scattered throughout it. One after another, some high and some low, they look like an endless series of grave mounds standing silently on this dead land.

These volcanic cones were formed later, like... a regular, fixed refresh, like some kind of law that transcends the laws of nature is written deep in the earth. When the minerals are almost insufficient, a new volcanic cone will be refreshed, forcibly pushing the rare minerals buried deep underground, which originally required countless geological movements to be unearthed, to the surface or even exposing them.

It's like a resource point that refreshes at a fixed location in a game, except here it's not virtual pixels, but scorching hot magma pushing and shaping it, with nature's most primal and cruel forces acting as the programmers.

Of course, there could be another situation.

In some underground areas, lava flows that have cooled on the surface but are still slowly flowing inside will gradually carve out hollow lava tube tunnels. The temperature inside these tunnels is extremely high, the air is filled with the smell of sulfur and scorching heat, and semi-solidified blackish-red magma will constantly seep from the rock walls, as if the blood of the earth has not yet dried.

If someone were to stray into these tunnels, they would hear the gurgling sound of flowing lava, like the earth breathing softly. These tunnels are both natural traps and peculiar paths later used by the elves—serving as refuges and for transportation, as if they were secret networks unintentionally bestowed by the volcano.

As for the volcano where the Vale Anvil is located... it is a typical complex volcano, or stratovolcano.

Specifically, it is a perpetually active complex volcano, constantly accumulating power in the shadows.

Its structure consists of alternating layers of lava flows, volcanic ash, volcanic slag, volcanic gravel and other volcanic debris, just like a history book built by the hands of heaven and earth. Every eruption and every collapse leaves a heavy chapter on the mountain.

This structure makes the volcano's slope moderately steep, not a gentle hill that you can walk on leisurely, but a cliff where every step feels cramped and dangerous.

The crater in the volcanic cone contains a molten lava pool that has remained molten for a long time. The crimson liquid lava is constantly churning, like a furnace left behind by the gods, ready to spew out destructive flames at any moment. And the Val's Anvil is located in it.

This volcanic cone itself is not very high, unlike those towering volcanoes that are over 4,000 meters high and can be seen from afar, with their peaks covered in snow. This volcano is completely invisible from the sea, as it is obscured by the huge crater surrounding the volcanic island.

Although it is called a volcanic island, it is not completely isolated. It has a unique connection with the mainland, allowing passage for vehicles and horses without the interference of tides or the blockage of storms and ocean currents.

The passage here clearly cannot be explained by natural conditions, but involves immense power. Because it was necessary to transport large quantities of minerals and supplies into the island, and because it was necessary to transport meticulously crafted weapons and armor outwards, such a road appeared illogically.

In fact, the emergence and formation of this volcanic island has been closely related to Weili from the very beginning.

It was almost entirely manufactured.

The volcanic island was created from nothing, rising from the silent sea to form a complex volcanic landscape, all in a very short time before the elves discovered it.

According to natural laws, it would take at least tens of thousands, or even millions of years of geological evolution to create such a landscape.

Here, however, everything was catalyzed by the ancient saints and the Sran priests working overtime, creating a miracle that should have taken countless epochs to form.

In addition to great power, this also involves prophecy, or seeing the future through technology.

Particles, spacetime, time...

This volcanic island played an irreplaceable role in the elves' long war against the demon invasion. The Sunfire Sword was forged here, and the Dragon Armor was crafted here.

Even when the earth was collapsing and the sky was splitting, this place remained as solid as ever. When the tsunami struck, the mountains here stood firm and were not swallowed by the waves, like the earth's own fortress.

This is extremely strange in itself.

It's important to understand that the areas with the most frequent volcanic activity often overlap with the areas with the most active seismic activity, almost entirely concentrated at plate boundaries, especially at convergent and divergent plate junctions. Logically, such locations should be extremely unstable, yet they exist, and remain steadfast regardless of external disturbances.

Ultimately, the volcanic island held on until its very end, until the entire continent of Ulthuan sank into the vast ocean, leaving only churning eddies and crumbling debris on the surface, at which point the volcanic island completely disappeared.

Its brilliance and incredible nature, like a final ember burning to its last, became the last miracle and witness before the world came to an end.

But this doesn't stop the volcanic island from still being called a "rotten land," at least that's what Duruci and his ilk think.

The reason for choosing to land here is because there is a naturally formed path here—a path that is two hundred meters long.

Like a scar, it runs through the crater, connecting the outer outpost to the wilderness inside. The path is narrow and winding, with the narrowest point only wide enough for five people to pass side by side. Any slight disturbance will cause congestion, making it a natural treacherous route.

Now, Duruci and Asur are clashing here again.

Unfortunately, the arriving Asur troops were too slow, failing to seal off the narrowest point of the path in time to buy precious time for the main force to follow. Instead, the attacking Durucci forces, taking advantage of the initiative, seized this advantageous position that should have belonged to the defenders.

On the surface, this was a mistake by Asur, and even seemed somewhat shaky.

But upon closer examination, this is actually quite normal.

After all, the defense system of Val's Anvil was already closely related to the terrain and environment.

The garrison's primary duty was to be stationed around the anvil, guarding that sacred furnace land, rather than scattering troops to defend all sides.

Outposts were merely surveillance points, not true defensive strongholds.

In fact, they didn't need to build many outposts here at all. Asur's patrols were always active in the wasteland, protecting the safety of the Val priests who were searching for minerals.

As for the coastal waters, they are the defense zone of the Asur Navy, with extremely high patrol density, forming an almost impenetrable net. The importance of this volcanic island is beyond doubt.

This is true not only for the Kingdom of Caledor, but also for the entirety of Ulthuan. Controlling the Vaal Anvil is tantamount to holding the deepest pulse of elven civilization in one's grasp.

In the past, if Duruci had dared to launch a large-scale attack, they would have first had to break through the navy. If they had sent small detachments to land, they would have only encountered the Asur garrison on the wasteland, and would inevitably have been cut off in half, a pure suicide mission.

Such a cost is completely disproportionate to the risks.

In contrast, sneaking into the Dragonspine Mountains through the territory of the Saln family to steal dragon eggs or mine rare ores offers far greater potential and rewards than a direct assault on the Vaal Anvil.

The Dragonspine Mountains are vast and deep, like a giant dragon lying on the surface of Ulthuan. Though dangerous, they also hold countless opportunities. As long as you're not extremely unlucky, and as long as you have enough strength and cunning, you'll always gain something.

However, everything is different now.

With the Asur Navy assembling and heading to Anaheim for operations, everything changed...

Astarion, responsible for the defense of the area, had no choice but to make temporary adjustments, deploying surveillance forces in the surrounding area to replace the vanished or defected navy. As for the rest...

Half an hour later, when Aredel arrived at the outpost, he paused for a moment, quietly surveying his surroundings. The air was thick with the pungent smell of volcanic sulfur, mixed with the tang of blood and iron.

The path was narrow, and the black rocks were as sharp as knife blades.

He stared for a long time, a shadow gradually forming between his brows. Finally, he sighed and shook his head at Dess standing beside him.

After a moment of silence, he added in a low voice.

"We'll have to stay here for a while."

As always, Daisy remained calm and turned to the side, responding in a slightly persuasive tone.

“It’s better to be steady. There’s no need to rush. They’re safe. Just go at your pace. Don’t force yourself to disrupt your rhythm.” Dess remained calm and composed, turning to the side and responding in a slightly reassuring tone.

Upon hearing this, Aradel gazed at Des for a moment, a hint of relief in his eyes, before finally bowing to Des. Then, he turned and left, his steps shifting from hesitant to resolute.

Not far away, the staff officers had already begun setting up a temporary command post. He collected his thoughts, stepped inside, and prepared to immerse himself in the actual command and control of the operation.

On the other side, the garrison of Caledo arrived. They had marched quickly from their encampment, their footsteps shaking the wasteland. Their armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight. However, the disadvantageous terrain weighed heavily on their minds like a boulder, and they were to launch an uphill attack.

Despite the various disadvantages, the defending troops launched an unwavering charge. The dragon prince leading the charge had a burning blaze in his eyes. He believed that as long as they could trap Duruchi in this narrow path, Death Fang could launch a dive and engulf the enemy in a sea of ​​fire with its scorching dragon breath.

The toxic dragon breath would quickly transform into a layer of miasma that enveloped the path, causing the Duruchis to die in suffocation and fear.

The situation will be reversed as a result, and in an instant, it will turn from a passive position to one that is advantageous to Caledo.

If they can hold out until today, and if the reinforcements who arrived last night recover their strength, the situation will be more favorable for Caledo.

According to Total War, Asaniel, as a general, initiated a forced march on the world map, leading his troops day and night to arrive last night.

The price they paid was that their physical strength was already exhausted.

Condition: Slightly tired.

Therefore, the original garrison is under tremendous pressure today, but as long as they grit their teeth and get through today, as long as they prevent Duruci from deploying a complete formation on the wasteland, there is still room for maneuver, and everything... there is still a chance for a turnaround.

However, the Evil Guards, eager for battle, gave Asul no such opportunity. Just as the garrison was about to charge and their fighting spirit reached its peak, the Evil Guards who had been blocking the path suddenly spread out. The next instant, the four Reaper Ballistae hidden behind them emitted a deep roar, their strings vibrated, and their steel arms burst forth like ferocious beasts.

The Pale Queen's hand affectionately stroked the faces of the Asur.

With nowhere to hide, the Asur were simply unable to withstand the barrage of split arrows. Like infantrymen being hit by cannon fire at close range, the arrows pierced through the air, shattering their shields. Rows upon rows of Asur fell amidst screams and blood, their formation torn open with horrifying gaps.

Worse still, the disadvantages of attacking from below immediately became apparent.

The corpses lying dead on the slope and the agonizing cries of the wounded became living obstacles, blocking the advance of the following troops. In an instant, the attacking force, composed of three hundred-man spearmen, was completely disrupted, unable to advance or retreat, suffocating as if trapped in a swamp.

As the ballistae rained down their arrows, the Evil Guards at the forefront were not idle either. They raised their shields high, enduring the torrential downpour of arrows from the archers on either side, and forcefully formed a battle line on the slope. The heavy metal shields reflected the sunlight, resembling an impregnable black wall.

As they formed their ranks, the Reaper Ballistae continued to roar, and through the narrow gaps left by the cannons, more Dire Guards, shields raised, surged out like a tide, quickly connecting with the Dire Guards on the slope to form a larger and more solid defensive formation.

In an instant, this seemingly small-scale confrontation suddenly erupted into a climax.

Waves of arrows from the Asur archers pounded against Duruchi's shield wall and armor, crackling and popping like the restless beat of drums. However, the Evil Guards, shielded by their shields, merely let out low, mocking laughs, cold and sinister.

The shields they carried were newly made from KIS steel, lightweight yet extremely protective, with a curved design that could easily deflect spears and arrows.

At this distance, arrows fired from a longbow simply cannot pierce the Kiss steel defenses. Even if a few arrows manage to slip through the gaps in the shield, they only produce a cold, clanging sound against the armor.

And then no more.

Like their shields, their armor was also made of the latest Kish steel, its luster and texture, like cold iron, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The helmet and throat guard were complete, and even the smallest gaps had been repeatedly forged and reinforced, leaving almost no opportunity for the enemy's arrows to penetrate.

The sight of someone instantly collapsing to the ground after being shot in the eye or throat is simply not seen in this unit.

These armors were specifically designed to counter the Asur, with every inch of their curvature calculated and tested. Even without shields, the armor's inherent defensive capabilities were sufficient to withstand the cone-shaped armor-piercing arrows fired by longbowmen. Those arrows that once terrified ordinary Durucci soldiers became futile after Durucci ushered in a new era.

In other words, even the most skilled longbowman, even when launching a projectile from the optimal distance and angle, would still be unable to easily penetrate the defenses of the Kiss steel.

This isn't Total War; there's no system where modules have health bars and you lose health whenever you deal damage.

If it were truly possible to weaken the enemy by simply shooting, like in a game, the dwarves would probably have been wiped out by the goblins' arrow rain long ago.

The truth was quite the opposite: those useless goblin archers were utterly insignificant in the face of the dwarven armored onslaught. Their broken bows and tattered arrows could barely tear a dwarf's beard, let alone penetrate thick steel armor and shields.
It's not like playing Mount & Blade without a stamina system; you can't just pick up arrows from the ground and shoot them back after you run out of arrows...

On a real battlefield, archers don't just endlessly draw their bows and release arrows. Every time they draw the bow, it's a drain on their strength and muscles; every time they fully pull the bowstring, it's a battle between their arms and their breath.

Unless the archers use special arrows, or unless they are blessed with magic, the obvious manifestation of which is unlimited stamina, allowing them to shoot indefinitely.

Unless the archers used hunting bows to shoot directly at close range, but that was impossible.

Archers in the Asur army system are positioned to provide ranged firepower to suppress enemy formations, disrupting their ranks and forcing them to expend more energy and strength during advances or charges.

By using probability to find the parts of the enemy's armor that are not adequately protected, they can hit vulnerable joints and exposed gaps, thereby gradually reducing the number of enemy troops.

This attrition and weakening is the primary function of the Asur archer. All other tactics and combat methods are extensions and derivatives of this, whether proactive or reactive.

After five volleys of arrows, the archers stopped wasting arrows on the guards under the Kiss steel armor and decisively turned their attention to the four more threatening ballistae.

Meanwhile, after breaking up the spearmen's charge, the artillery crews, under the officers' command, quickly adjusted their firing direction. The two ballistae on the left slowly rotated their arms, eventually aiming at the hundred archers to the lower left; while the two ballistae on the right coldly locked onto the hundred archers on the right.

Amidst the crackling sounds of arrows striking the shields, the ballistae unleashed a new round of fury.

The split arrows shot out whistlingly, tearing through the air with a sharp, tearing sound, and unleashed a dense and relentless barrage on the archers.

In an instant, screams echoed across the battlefield. The archers, who had almost no protection, fell in large numbers like ears of rice being cut down in a wheat field under the fury of the ballistae. Blood mist mixed with screams, forming a bloody and shocking picture.

After three volleys of fire, the Evil Guards, who had emerged from the path, had formed three smaller but formidable formations. Their movements were swift and methodical, like a surging, man-eating wave, their menacing silhouettes appearing in the center of the battlefield.

As the bugle sounded suddenly, and the squad leaders blew their whistles in unison, the piercing sound seemed to hasten the arrival of doom. The Evil Guards' footsteps were heavy and orderly, like the beat of drums, advancing slowly with an oppressive force, heading straight for the spearmen's square, which had not yet fully regained its footing.

If you look down at the battlefield from high above, the scene at this moment is like a highly skilled archer drawing his bowstring taut, with three arrows already nocked and aimed precisely at three targets.

As that fatal moment erupts, three sharp arrows will be shot out simultaneously, tearing through the enemy formation and bringing destruction.

Further away, when Astaroth witnessed this scene, his face instantly turned ashen, almost black with green. He knew perfectly well what this meant; he knew… (End of Chapter)