Chapter 278 [Fire Seed] [Warhammer Tribe]


    ?A rush of footsteps broke the silence in the underground cave.


    ?Xia En held the sledgehammer, turned his head, and looked warily towards the direction where the footsteps came from.


    I saw a group of dwarf warriors wearing refined armor walking out of a corridor, looking for something nervously and anxiously.


    The first thing they saw was naturally the huge red lizard and the horrific injuries on its body.


    “It’s the Salamander just now!”


    “It looks like he died not long ago, and there are signs of fighting nearby!”


    “Look around quickly, maybe Bronzebeard is still alive!”


    Hearing these words, Xia En immediately understood that these dwarves came to search and rescue "himself".


    Based on Xia En’s observation just now, it has been basically determined—


    ??Although the fire lizard was killed by a heavy hammer, the "Bronzebeard Warhammer" also suffered irreparable injuries during the battle with it, and eventually died.


    This gave the [Projection Body] the opportunity to occupy this corpse.


    ?Thinking of this, Xia En let out a low groan: "Well..."


    Hearing the sound, the dwarves quickly passed over the body of the Salamander and saw Xia En who seemed to have just woken up from a coma.


    “That’s great, Brother Bronzebeard! It’s great to see you again.”


    ??A bearded dwarf said excitedly: "You actually killed this beast alone. You are worthy of being the most heroic warrior in the tribe!"


    Another dwarf also expressed his happiness: "I thought... I would never see you again."


    ?But soon, the dwarves noticed that Xia En looked a little confused, as if he didn''t understand what was happening.


    “Bronzebeard, are you okay?”


    With vigilance in his eyes, Xia En said hoarsely: "Who are you...?"


    “Hmm? What’s going on?”


    Hearing this, the dwarves'' faces changed slightly and they said in surprise: "You, don''t you recognize us?"


    ?Xia En didn’t speak, but looked at them suspiciously and warily.


    The dwarf doctor in the team carefully observed Shane''s condition and speculated: "His head seems to have been hit hard by the Salamander. This kind of injury may cause temporary amnesia."


    “Hiss…amnesia…”


    Hearing this judgment, the dwarves looked a little sad.


    At first, the bearded dwarf even apologized: "It''s all my fault. If only I could come back with help as soon as possible..."


    In fact, Bronzebeard was not the only one who encountered the Fire Lizard before.


    It''s just that the strength of these companions is far inferior to Bronzebeard, and remaining will only become a drag.


    In order to cut off their rear, Bronzebeard took the initiative to stay and fight the Salamander.


    “Don’t be so pessimistic.”


    The dwarf doctor said: "No matter what, Bronzebeard is still alive, he just lost his memory temporarily."


    “In the future, there will be a chance to recover the memory.”


    “There may be other fire species’ lairs nearby, so we’d better go home as soon as possible.”


    The words of the dwarf doctor immediately attracted the recognition of others, so they carried the body of the fire lizard, took Xia En with them, and walked towards the way they came.


    —Such a fire lizard is a very valuable trophy for the Warhammer tribe.


    ??Dwarves certainly have no reason to waste.


    ?Perhaps out of apology or concern, the bearded dwarf followed Xia En and took the initiative to speak.


    “Let me introduce myself, I am Kull, and I was your good brother before you lost your memory.”


    “If you want to know anything, you can ask me.”


    As he spoke, Kull patted Shane on the shoulder, with a hint of guilt still in his eyes.


    Hearing this, Xia En’s eyes lit up slightly.


    The theory of "amnesia" was of course made up by him to deal with the dwarves. This is also the best strategy at the moment.


    After all, he inherited Bronzebeard''s body, but not the dwarf''s memory. If he communicated normally with the dwarves, the secret would be exposed soon.


    I have to say that although this routine is very old, it is more effective than it is!


    At this time, Kuhl is undoubtedly a good source of intelligence.


    Not long after, Shane asked Kuer several questions.


    ??Kul also answered with great patience.


    ?According to Kuhl, Shane learned that this group of dwarves had been living in this strange underground cave since birth.


    ?Countless complex and ancient tunnels, caves excavated at unknown times, and naturally formed caves... together constitute this huge underground world.


    In the mouths of the dwarves, this underground world is called...


    【Ghana】!


    means a space that is always hot and exists underground.


    ??The "Warhammer" tribe where Bronzebeard and Kull belong is only one of many dwarf tribes, and they are among the weaker ones.


    So the area where I live is relatively remote.


    It is said that those truly powerful and prosperous dwarf tribes have established real cities underground!


    “Goooo!”


    ??Just when Shane was asking for information from Kuhl, a dull roar suddenly came from the tunnel not far away.


    Hearing this sound, the dwarves couldn''t help but change their expressions. They quickly put down the body of the Salamander and hid in the corner of the cave.


    ??Kul also took Xia En and hid aside.


    All the dwarves held their breath, not even daring to take a breath.


    Obviously, they were very afraid of the roaring presence in the tunnel, as if they had encountered a natural enemy.


    Soon, the vague feeling of pressure and heaviness began to dissipate, the air became extremely hot, and the body temperature increased several degrees.


    Even with the physique of the dwarves adapted to the [Furnace Secret Realm], sweat could not help but drip from their bodies, and their backs were covered with sweat.


    Fortunately, this heavy pressure did not last long.


    For a moment, the being hidden in the tunnel seemed to have turned away from the cave and gradually moved away.


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and started to act again.


    ??Kul also took a long breath and said to himself: "It was so dangerous...I almost hit another Agni."


    “Fire type?”


    ?Xia En asked curiously.


    ? He ??remembered that in the [Possible Loot] column of [The Furnace Secret Realm], "Fire Seed" appeared.


    ??Moreover, the lizard that Bronzebeard killed earlier also had a simple and crude name like "Salamander".


    “Brother Bronzebeard, you have even forgotten this...”


    ??Kul glanced at Shane sympathetically, but still explained: "In this underground world, dwarves have never been the real masters."


    “Fire is the favorite of [Ghana].”


    “They are born with strong bodies, hard scales, and can directly control fire. Only a team of dwarves can kill a Salamander like before.”


    Speaking of this, the guilt in Kull’s eyes became even greater.


    "Brother Bronzebeard, if you hadn''t lost your memory, your victory over the Fire Lizard alone would rank among the top five in our clan." Hearing this, Xia En suddenly understood.


    He was a little surprised before. With the strength displayed by these dwarves, they did not seem to be very dangerous to the [Projection Body].


    ?Now that I think about it, the real danger is not necessarily the dwarves, but the fire seeds hidden deep in the caves.


    ?That is the real strong man in [The Furnace Secret Realm].


    ?However, Xia En couldn''t help but think of another question.


    ??These dwarves, in terms of racial characteristics, are no different from the dwarves in the [Seven Seas World].


    It can even be said that they are the same species!


    ?So, why do dwarves live in the [Forge Secret Realm]?


    ??Moreover, from Kuhl’s description, they have lived here for at least hundreds of years?


    ?Xia En had a bold guess in his heart.


    Perhaps, the ancestors of these dwarves came from the [Secret Sea World]!


    They came to the [Secret Realm of the Furnace] through some special method and settled here, continuing the race to this day.


    So, the Agni people are the original inhabitants of the [Furnace Secret Realm].


    The dwarves are just a group of outsiders!


    This can also explain why [The Furnace Secret Realm] has a high degree of correlation with [Seven Seas World].


    Why the Agni species naturally have great advantages in [The Furnace Secret Realm].


    The reason why Xia En came up with this guess was because he recalled the original [Blood Moon Secret Realm].


    Hundreds of years ago, when the first great flood came.


    Since those despicable vampires can choose to sacrifice the residents of a city, let the [Blood Moon Secret Realm] break away from the [Seven Seas World] and sink into the [Secret Sea], thereby avoiding the disaster of annihilation.


    ?Then, dwarves may also have the ability to hide in other [secret realms].


    ?Although this is just a guess, Xia En is already 70% to 80% sure.


    …


    …


    There is no sunlight in caves located underground.


    But in the walls of the tunnel, a red crystal can occasionally be seen, emitting a faint but firm light.


    ?Looking from a distance, it looks like there is a fire burning deep in the rock wall.


    ?Kool explained to Shane that it was a specialty of [Ghana] - lava mine.


    Not only can it play a lighting role, as a fuel for "mining lamps", it is also widely used in the forging of various equipment and weapons.


    —The so-called "mining lamp" is the weird lamp that Shane saw before. It is also one of the necessary equipment for every dwarf to travel.


    ?However, even if the lava mines were so useful, the dwarves would not dig out the lava mines in every rock wall.


    Instead, they will deliberately leave some lava mines for lighting in important passages.


    Because in this world, darkness is a very terrifying existence.


    ??If a dwarf is in a dark environment, he will start to murmur meaninglessly within a day, and his rationality will gradually slip towards madness.


    The longer the time goes on, the more unstable the mind will become.


    Even if they return to the light after this, they will leave indelible mental scars.


    No dwarf can last three days in the absence of light.


    Because once the three days are up, the dwarf will mysteriously disappear and never be seen again, as if... he was completely swallowed by some existence in the darkness.


    Because of these complex reasons, the closer we get to the Warhammer tribe, the more lava minerals contained in the rock walls increase.


    The passage also looks brighter and brighter.


    At the same time, the temperature in the air is gradually heating up, and there is a slight burning feeling on the surface of the body.


    ?However, the dwarves such as Kuhl are very adaptable to the temperature here, with a relaxed smile on their faces.


    Obviously, in the long process of survival and evolution, the dwarves have also evolved a physique adapted to the [Forge Secret Realm].


    After passing through a slightly lengthy tunnel.


    Xia En''s vision suddenly broadened.


    What appeared in front of us was a spacious space like an underground hall.


    ??In the central rock formation above this underground space, there is a huge red crystal, like a small sun, providing light to the entire space.


    On the surrounding rock walls, there are scattered caves embedded in them—these are the residences of each dwarf.


    ?Although it may seem a bit sloppy, this kind of collective settlement can greatly protect the safety of ordinary dwarves.


    In the center of the entire space, there stands a huge furnace.


    Something seems to be being forged in the furnace.


    Around the furnace, several strong dwarves were beating a red metal block with hammers larger than their bodies.


    Dang! clang! clang!


    With a sonorous and powerful knocking sound, the metal block gradually took shape, and many small scale-like lines appeared on the surface.


    At this time, one of the dwarves with white beard and hair poured a basin of thick blood onto the metal block.


    With a "chi" sound, blood-colored steam steamed up.


    The unique secret power in the blood is integrated into the metal block in a wonderful way, giving it a magical luster.


    Xia En watched this scene intently, and couldn''t help but feel a little amazed in his heart.


    ?He has long heard that the dwarves'' forging skills are extremely excellent, and when he saw it today, it was indeed well-deserved.


    But then again, as far as Xia En knows...


    The dwarves of the Seven Seas seem to have lost some important inheritance, causing the forged equipment to lose its soul and deteriorate in quality.


    Now, Xia En was able to witness a lost skill, and he was inevitably shocked.


    At this time, the forging of the dwarves seemed to have come to an end temporarily.


    ??The dwarf with a white beard and bare arms also noticed the return of Xia En and others, and stretched out his hand to greet them.


    “Bronzebeard, Kull, are you back?”


    “That’s good, I even brought back a fire lizard. I’m worried that the blood of the fire lizard is not enough!”


    ??Kul was about to speak but stopped: "Master Patriarch..."


    "Um?"


    ??The patriarch named Hope has a straightforward personality and couldn''t stand Kull''s hesitant attitude, so he asked.


    “If you have something to say, just say it, if you have something to say, let it go!”


    “What does it look like?”


    Hearing this, Kull had no choice but to say: "Brother Bronzebeard seemed to have injured his brain during the battle with the Salamander and temporarily lost his memory."


    As soon as these words came out, all the dwarves were shocked and looked at Xia En with surprised eyes.


    ?Xia En also noticed something was wrong at this time.


    Under normal circumstances, this kind of amnesia should not be publicized in such a big way.


    Or does Cool have other purposes?


    ?Hope glanced at Kull with a hint of meaning, then turned to look at Shane and asked: "Bronzebeard, is that so?"


    ?Shane nodded "confused" and "innocently", playing the state of an amnesia patient very well.


    ??Hope said calmly: "Okay, Bronzebeard, you go back to your cave to rest first."


    “I’ll come find you later.”


    (End of this chapter)