Star Forge Titan

Oops, in this atmosphere, it seems even more inappropriate to express my previous guess...

Alvin only felt a faint trace of cold sweat sliding down his forehead. Although it was definitely an illusion, he did feel the pressure.

"We are about to enter an uninhabited area. Non-combatants below level three, please be sure to take precautions against thermal radiation. I repeat, non-combatants below level three, please be sure to take precautions against thermal radiation."

The dwarf's loud voice echoed throughout the entire vehicle's cabin along the pure copper voice tube. Alvin could even hear the busy dwarf's running footsteps and the various noises of clanging as various items were taken away through the metal plates.

Even the vague emotions were clearly evident in his perception of entering the perfect realm, just like a low drumbeat or a scent of bitter coffee, allowing the young Titan bloodline to more clearly feel the increasing solemnity of the overall atmosphere.

Now, I can't say that guess anymore...

In such a conflicted mood, the mobile refinery slowly slowed down its speed until it came to a complete stop.

"Everyone, get ready to leave the cabin. The time limit is thirty minutes." Oriogo released the joystick and spoke in a deep voice to everyone present.

"Yes!" The dwarves responded loudly, and then trotted forward to complete their respective tasks.

As a high-level warrior, Oriogo didn't need to make much preparation, so he had time to continue chatting with Ivan about the World Forging Furnace.

"If we want to restart the furnace, we must first solve a major premise, which is how to enter the deep area."

"Our ancestors, the Earth People of the past, although fortunate enough to become the followers of the Giant God, were never able to enter the deep areas inside the furnace due to the distribution of work functions. For so many years, they could only maintain the outer areas according to the detailed steps recorded in the golden scroll." Looking at the young descendant of the Giant God in front of him, the Dwarf King suddenly sighed deeply.

"It's a bit ridiculous. Even after thousands of years of developing their own civilization, the dwarves haven't found a way to circumvent those ancient gates."

"So, you think I am hope." There was no obvious change in Ivan's expression, and there was no fluctuation in his heart.

He felt that it was absolutely not the fault of the generations of dwarves for not working hard. There was almost no comparison between a native civilization that had not yet left its home planet and a cosmic civilization that was so advanced that it was unknown how advanced it was.

"Well, with your identity, you can definitely enter the depths of the furnace. Only when we get there can we restart the entire furnace. Or, find the cause of the abnormality that caused the furnace to shut down." Oriogo was very straightforward, without any intention of hiding anything.

"Looking at it this way, it suddenly seems that things are not too difficult." Alvin wanted to liven up the atmosphere.

"I hope so." Oriogo forced himself to pull the corners of his mouth but still couldn't really smile.

Half an hour passed quickly, and the elite troops, selected from across the Lonely Mountain Kingdom, were fully prepared. Even the spellcasters wore fully enclosed armor, constructed from a lightweight, yet extremely expensive mithril alloy. They were even equipped with oxygen cylinders for internal recirculation. They looked like metal statues carrying cylinders, imposing a sense of weight.

"Your Majesty, the 56th Furnace Area Deep Exploration Team has been assembled. Thirty people were expected, and thirty are present."

Even the eyes were covered by reinforced crystal goggles in the helmet, and the voice of Prime Minister Docot was heard.

"My know-it-all, you have to stay." Oriogo frowned.

"Your Majesty, but..." The Prime Minister was about to refuse when he was interrupted by the Dwarf King's wave of his hand.

"Listen to me, if something goes wrong in this operation, you will be responsible for leading the others back to the royal court and implementing the final evacuation plan." Oriogo patted his old friend's shoulder vigorously, his tone heavier than ever before.

"We have to prepare for the worst."

At this moment, Alvin couldn't help but look at Afrediya beside him. The young girl had completely entered the state of the ruling demon king. Her expression was solemn and dignified, without any of her usual cuteness.

Swallowing quietly, the black-haired boy felt that he urgently needed to find a reason to say something.

Because, uh, his spiritual terminal just rang.

[Dear Omega-class warrior, the planetary geothermal fully automatic portable melting machine has completed its scheduled plan 32.785 sidereal time ago. Please remove the contents as soon as possible.]

[…Planetary geothermal fully automatic portable melting and casting machine…Please remove the contents as soon as possible.]

【Dear... Please remove the contents as soon as possible. 】

【Please remove the contents as soon as possible. 】

Please hurry up...

【…quick…】

Oops! Oops! Oops!

At this point, why do I feel like I can't say something as simple as "the solution to the problem has been found"?

Chapter 70: The Outskirts of the Furnace

Alvin watched silently as the dwarves completed their preparations for departure in an orderly manner.

After some thought, he decided not to tell everyone the truth in public, as that would undoubtedly destroy the dwarves' united atmosphere and even make them feel disillusioned.

But these diligent maintenance personnel at least have the right to know, so Alvin chose to discuss the relevant matters privately with the Dwarf King Oriogo.

At this time, the latter was wearing a set of super-heavy armor weighing nearly two tons. The weight of that thing was almost equivalent to that of a family car. The thickness of the armor could make the wearer appear dozens of centimeters taller in the air. There was no gap in the whole body, and even the eyes were inlaid with brown reinforcement crystals.

This is the most traditional high-level warrior equipment from the Classical Palladian period. Even without considering enchantments and rare materials, the sheer sheen of the materials alone can achieve a strength that would make ordinary armies and even low-level transcendents despair. Only those who have reached the level of a Crowned One possess the strength and stamina to wear this equipment. Without strength, one cannot carry the armor, and without stamina, one cannot wear it for extended periods of time. Both are indispensable.

Originally, donning super-heavy armor often required the assistance of several servants, but the dwarves' ingenious design allowed the user to complete the process independently.

The main armor plates are connected and fixed to a specially designed bracket. The user simply puts on the steel boots and shin armor, then stretches his arms and leans back to put on the rest of the half-body armor as easily as putting on a coat. The only thing left is the simple step of putting on the helmet.

Seeing Ivan approaching, the dwarves immediately saluted respectfully. Oriogo also seemed to realize something and raised his hand to dismiss the attendants on his left and right.

To be honest, Alvin was not used to the overly respectful behavior of these descendants of the Earth People. Instead, he felt more comfortable with the equal attitude of the Dwarf King Oriogo.

"Excuse me, sir, what may I do for you?"

"Time is limited, so I'll try to be brief." Alvin didn't waste any words and went straight to the point with a question that sounded very sharp.

"If the dwarves completely lose the influence of the World Forge, do you think it would be a good thing or a bad thing?"

"..." Oriogo stopped putting on his armor immediately, and deep wrinkles appeared between his brows.

After pondering for a long time, he slowly spoke:

"That's not entirely a bad thing, I guess."

"Indeed, the dwarves have been accustomed to living with the World Forge for thousands of years. While we need to perform the corresponding maintenance tasks, we have also received a lot of help from it that others cannot imagine."

Oriogo's eyes swept over the armor on his body. Whether it was the alloy formula or the armor structure, many of the technologies used came from years of accumulation, and those accumulations were mostly with the help of the power of the Forging Furnace, even if it was just the special environment formed after the furnace discharged the waste heat.

"In a sense, the furnace is like a cradle. While it provides help and shelter to the dwarves, it also limits the possibilities of our race."

"A true adult cannot be born in a safe and comfortable cradle. It may sound ungrateful, but the furnace may be the starting point of the dwarves, but it should not be the end point."

"The above are just my humble opinions." After saying this, the Dwarf King Oriogo donned his heavy helmet, completely concealing his gaze and expression behind the armor. Clearly, he wasn't as calm as he appeared.

After hearing this, Alvin felt touched.

Yes, the cradle belongs to babies, and only the wider outside world is the new world that adults should go to.

clap clap.

The black-haired boy clapped his hands softly, selectively speaking the truth he had just learned.

"It's so simple!" Even with the helmet blocking his voice, the astonishment in Oriogo's voice was so obvious.

Then he couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"The difference between us and the ancient giants is truly like dust and the Lonely Mountain."

Despite his extremely complicated mood, as an excellent king, Oriogo quickly adjusted his mentality.

"Sir, the interior of the World Forging Furnace is extremely complex. Even just to enter, I believe you will need a guide who is familiar with the terrain."

"In addition, according to the relatively complete records in the Dwarven calendar, the World Forge underwent significant changes a thousand years ago. It was also from that time that the Dwarves began to utilize the unique environment beneath the Lonely Mountain to build various steel mills."

"You mean, the World Forging Furnace was started thousands of years ago. At this point in time..." Alvin seemed to be grabbing a thread in a maze, but he didn't know whether the end of the thread was connected to the exit or another larger maze.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's roughly it." Oriogo nodded.

"...Let's go. No matter what, we have to solve the problem of rising magma first." Although he had some guesses in his mind, Alvin didn't say much. Instead, he focused on what he was doing.

Since there was no real problem with the furnace itself, there was no need for all technicians such as the Rune Blacksmith to be involved.

Thus, with the exception of Oriogo, Ivan, and Afrediya, the team heading into the depths of the furnace was further reduced. If it had been anyone else, the cabinet ministers might have had concerns. But Oriogo himself was a powerful high-level warrior, and the remaining two were no cause for concern, so they ultimately chose silence and trust.

In this way, the limited expedition team finally set off.

The main entrance and exit at the rear of the mobile refinery opened, and as the armored door specially used for the entry and exit of minerals slowly rose, an extremely exaggerated heat wave immediately hit us in the face.

Alvin saw with his own eyes that the tips of the dwarf's armor were slightly deformed due to the high temperature, and even the moisture in the air became extremely scarce, making people feel extremely dry.

Beside him, Afrediya had already activated her ancient dragon bloodline. Her eyes had transformed into vertical pupils, and gradient golden-brown scales appeared at the corners of her eyes, on her cheeks, and elsewhere. The dragon horns on her head also emitted waves of magical energy. For them, the ancient dragon horns were natural magical equipment, capable of amplifying their innate abilities and strengthening their own qualities.

As he walked out of the mobile refinery, he heard the dull sound of the hatch closing behind him, but Alvin's attention was now completely attracted by the World Forging Furnace right in front of him.

As he approached, Tang stood beneath the World Forge and gazed upward, realizing even more profoundly the immensity of the Taita creation before him. Its sheer size was so immense that even the most outrageous skyscrapers of his past couldn't match it. Perhaps only man-made wonders like the orbital elevator could rival it.

The dwarves silently made prayer gestures. Although the World Forge was not a god they believed in, the dwarves still respected this creation very much.

After a brief prayer, the expedition team continued to move forward on the still weathered and shattered rock debris.

Soon, even the sky above their heads was covered with intricate cables, pipes, and various mechanical structures. Everyone felt like they were entering the belly of a giant steel beast. Everywhere they looked, they saw heavy, solid metal.

The rune blacksmith walking at the front of the team stopped and held up a metal plate on which the surrounding terrain was recorded in extremely detailed carvings.

If it were ordinary paper, it would have spontaneously combusted due to the ambient temperature. Only a 'map' made of this material can be guaranteed to be used normally.

After briefly assessing the location, the Rune Blacksmith inserted the metal plate into the slot carved into the front of his chestplate, then pulled out another map of the following area and continued browsing. He carried at least six or seven such metal plates, each quite heavy. Besides serving as a map of the terrain, they also doubled as bulletproof shields.

"That's a replica of the Golden Scroll. The internal environment of the World Forge is so complex that even the most experienced Rune Blacksmith can't remember it completely, so we have to bring a replica like this with us every time." Oriogo took the initiative to explain.

In the entire team, only Ivan and Afrediya were still wearing casual clothes. The other members were all wearing heavy protective suits that looked like armor. Combined with the height of the dwarves, from a distance they looked like a group of weights moving forward.

Afrediya noticed this, and the corners of her previously serious face began to twitch uncontrollably. Ivan hadn't had time to tell her the truth yet, so the Demon King struggled to suppress his smile.

If I tell her now, will she be so angry that she will use the Dragon Cart on me?

Even the hottest environment around him didn't make him sweat, but when he thought of this, Alvin couldn't help but feel cold sweat on his forehead.

Suddenly, the dwarf walking in front suddenly stopped.

"Alert, wild elemental life detected!"

"Damn, it's a large one!!!"

Alvin walked forward quickly, very curious about one thing.

Large? How big?

Chapter 71: One-piece Molding

Chirp—oh—

Ahead of the road, a ball of red fire as high as several stories was roaring.

Is it big? It's certainly quite large. For most ordinary people without supernatural powers, the sheer size of this monster alone would be enough to pose a deadly threat. Before crossing over, Ivan would have immediately gone looking for his car keys. A beast this big is no ordinary harmful beast; it would require a heavy punch, a mud truck punch, a chariot cannon punch, or at least a quick sprint.

However, despite their animalistic appearance, elemental life differs from ordinary creatures, its essence closer to an alternative natural phenomenon. They are often the product of the reverberations of past events and the fusion of the magical energy of a dense environment, hence their plant and animal forms. A small number of them also take on bizarre forms like whirlwinds or flowing water.

At this moment, the large elemental life form that was making a strange "ga-ao" sound was a...

"Bear? (●￣(I)￣●)" Afrediya said subconsciously.

"It seems a little different." Alvin shook his head and carefully looked at the specific outline of the elemental life.

This creature has broad, clawed forelimbs, a round head, and a furry appearance. But its prototype is actually...

"Mole." Alvin pointed out the true prototype of this elemental life in surprise.

It's normal to think about it. This place is underground. How could a bear run into such a dark environment, not to mention staying there long enough to leave a deep mark?

Of course, a closer look revealed that the elemental creature before them, despite its furry appearance, only resembled a mole. In reality, its long, curved claws were made of coal, its fur was a vast expanse of flickering flames, and even its cries were mingled with the crackling sound of wood being licked by a bonfire.

"It's not the shape of our ancestors. Oh, then just chase it away." The dwarves had a quick chat, and several members responsible for fighting picked up their weapons and rushed forward.

An ordinary prospecting team or miners would likely be defeated if they encountered an elemental lifeform of this size, but what about this team? Not only were all of them transcendents, but the Dwarf King himself was a warrior of the advanced realm. He could probably overthrow this ordinary large elemental lifeform with a single hand, not to mention the two hidden bosses who were watching from the sidelines.

"Ancestor, isn't that elemental life?" Alvin asked curiously.

"I heard about this when I was studying abroad." Afrediya jumped up to his side and raised her hand to signal.

"Given that the composition of elemental life is often influenced by the imprints of past times, humanoid elemental life often possesses the personality traits of their corresponding race. A very small number of them even retain some memories of the person who left the imprint. In a sense, it's like a reflection in a mirror."

"That's why we call them ancestors." Alvin tapped his palms, a look of sudden enlightenment appearing on his face.

"Well, comparatively speaking, there's no need to think too much about the animal-shaped elemental life forms. Ugh, that looks like it hurts." Before she could finish her words, Afrediya couldn't help but gasp, only to see the dwarf warrior in front of her smashing his war hammer hard on the little toe of the elemental life form's hind legs.

Also because of the influence of the imprint of past time, elemental life often possesses biological characteristics corresponding to its appearance, and pain is undoubtedly the most common one.

Ow—

The elemental life form that looked like a giant mole screamed and jumped three feet high, while desperately waving its narrow and wide claws. However, its purpose was not to hurt people, but to dig a tunnel in the ground to perform physical earth escape.

However, the conditions didn't allow the mole to do so. Even though they were only outside the World Forge, the environment was still filled with numerous metallic mechanical structures. Digging through the ground with a pair of claws would be difficult even for elemental beings inclined toward earth, let alone this large mole with a clear fire elemental inclination.

Just like putting out a forest fire, the elemental creatures were beaten by the dwarves with hammers and axes like iron, and finally they were beaten to the size of a palm.