With the flamethrower armor as a prototype, Richard didn't take long to create the dwarf version of the flamethrower magic equipment.
The dwarf version of the flamethrower magic equipment still consisted of two parts: the flamethrower and the energy pack. However, due to the dwarves' size, Richard made some adjustments to the energy pack, adding a mithril conduit between it and the flamethrower.
This allowed the energy pack to be carried directly on the dwarf's back, rather than being connected to the flamethrower like in the Wizard Hunting squad.
Additionally, Richard planned to further refine the dwarves' armor.
The dwarves also practiced basic alchemy, but their alchemy was far too crude compared to Richard's.
As an Alchemist Wizard, watching the dwarves use their rudimentary alchemy to process materials worth a fortune in the Wizard World made Richard feel his blood pressure rising.
Richard decided to optimize and upgrade their existing armor.
He made the armor lighter and improved its defensive capabilities.
At the very least, he ensured the materials were used to their full potential.
...
"Try it on. See if it feels lighter."
In Richard's temporary residence, the dwarf Baan took the armor Richard handed him and punched his right chest with his left fist.
"Thank you, sir. The dwarves will never forget your kindness."
Richard waved his hand, signaling Baan to stop the small talk and quickly put on the armor.
Dwarven armor was quite different from human armor.
Dwarves were short in stature but had broad and thick bodies. As a result, the breastplate of their armor was particularly large.
Moreover, dwarves had thick arms that were even longer than their short legs. To human eyes, their arm guards looked more like leg guards.
Since dwarves spent most of their time mining underground, they had highly developed hearing.
Therefore, Richard designed their helmets based on the human frog-mouth helmet, with the entire helmet almost fully enclosed, leaving only a narrow slit as a viewing port.
After putting on the armor, Baan moved around, feeling that his body wasn't too constrained. His agility wasn't significantly affected either.
The once heavy metal armor, after Richard's modifications, felt as light as leather armor.
For the strong and sturdy dwarves, this armor could be described as "light as air."
"How does it feel?" Richard asked.
Baan looked at Richard solemnly and said, "Sir, your craftsmanship is nothing short of miraculous. With this armor, I feel that even without your direct intervention, we could slay that fiend."
Richard ignored Baan's praise and handed him the hammer and flamethrower magic equipment.
"Broot will teach you how to use these. Now, go out and call the next one in."
Outside the temporary residence, a dozen dwarves who had earned the title of warrior in their clan were waiting in line.
These dwarves, usually as steady as mountains, were now unusually restless. They kept glancing at the door of the temporary residence, waiting for the dwarf inside to come out.
Rumble...
The stone door of the residence opened, and Baan, clad in gold-lined armor, walked out carrying a pile of equipment.
Under the envious gazes of the others, Baan smiled slightly and shouted:
"Next!"
...
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, the day of the hunt arrived.
On the eighth day, the High Priest stood in the cave area with twelve golden-armored dwarves and thirty-six dwarf warriors, quietly waiting for Richard's arrival.
Six of the twelve golden-armored dwarves were level three beings, and each of the thirty-six dwarf warriors was a level two being.
Moreover, all their armor had been upgraded by Richard, and they were equipped with flamethrower magic equipment and alchemical war hammers.
In essence, this was the strongest force the dwarves had assembled in nearly three thousand years.
It was more than enough to kill the fiend Bruno.
If it weren't for the prophecy that Richard was the one to kill the fiend Bruno, the High Priest wouldn't even have wanted Richard to join the battle.
When it came to revenge, the dwarves preferred to handle it themselves.
Soon, Richard, clad in black robes, slowly flew over to join the dwarven force.
The High Priest glanced behind Richard and asked curiously:
"Hmm? Master, you didn't bring any attendants?"
Richard pointed to the pouch at his waist and said with a hint of helplessness:
"I did. But your mining tunnels are too narrow, so I had to keep them in the pouch for now. I'll let them out when we reach our destination."
The tunnels dug by the dwarves were spacious enough for them, but for the Wizard Hunting squad members, who stood over three meters tall and looked like walls when upright, the tunnels were no better than dog holes.
Fortunately, according to the dwarves, the so-called "bottom of the mountains" was a terrain similar to an abyss, and the space there would be wide enough.
Otherwise, Richard's Wizard Hunting squad would have had a hard time fighting.
The High Priest was momentarily stunned, then also showed a wry smile.
Richard's attendants indeed weren't suited for the tunnels.
Richard waved his hand: "Is everyone here? If so, let's head down.
I'm quite curious to see what kind of abilities this fiend has, allowing him to revive time and time again."
The High Priest waved his hand, and a golden-armored dwarf took out a horn and blew it at the entrance of the cave.
Ooooh—
As the horn sounded, a responding horn echoed from within the tunnel.
Hearing the horn, the golden-armored dwarves led the rest of the dwarves into six teams, each consisting of two golden-armored dwarves and six dwarf warriors.
Richard frowned slightly: "You're splitting up the forces?"
In his opinion, dividing the forces wasn't a good strategy.
The High Priest explained: "Master, there's no need to worry. The tunnels are narrow, and having too many people inside would only get in the way.
The fiend has been suppressed by us at the bottom of the mountains for years. Although our suppression has been somewhat lax recently, at most, we'll encounter some of his minions along the way.
The horn just now also told me that there's nothing unusual down there."
Richard said nothing more and nodded, joining one of the dwarf teams.
This team included Broot, which would make communication easier later on.
"Let's head down, then."
...
The tunnel leading to the bottom of the mountains wasn't particularly narrow, at least Richard could stand upright in it.
According to the dwarves' records, many aberrants hadn't been completely eliminated in the past.
After the fiend Bruno was driven to the bottom of the mountains, these aberrants followed him there.
Some of these dwarves even retained their intelligence and wisdom. At the bottom of the mountains, they fused with the fiend's flesh and forged one blasphemous weapon after another.
To deal with these aberrants armed with blasphemous weapons, the dwarves often used siege weapons as personal arms in the early days.
So, the tunnels leading to the bottom of the mountains weren't as narrow as the usual dwarf tunnels.
Of course, for the Wizard Hunting squad, these tunnels were still just slightly larger dog holes.
Inside the tunnel, the dwarf teams formed an inverted V formation.
Two golden-armored dwarves took the lead, with six dwarf warriors protecting the flanks.
Richard stood in the middle, observing the ancient tunnels that had stood for thousands of years with great interest.
The tunnel walls were embedded with glowstones, which provided faint light in the darkness.
But for the dwarves, who had spent their lives mining underground, this light was sufficient.
Drip, drip...
Meltwater from the mountain top seeped through cracks in the tunnel, dripping steadily. In the silent tunnel, the "drip, drip" sound was particularly noticeable.
"You could actually move a bit faster."
The dwarf team stopped, and the two leading golden-armored dwarves looked at Richard in confusion.
"Sir, you may not fully understand how cunning the fiend's minions are," one of the golden-armored dwarves said. "Some of them are excellent at mimicry. At times, they can even disguise themselves as ordinary rocks to ambush us.
If we move too quickly, we could easily fall into their traps."
"Mimicry, you say?"
Richard raised an eyebrow and suddenly appeared at the front of the team.
"Then these things probably aren't traps you set up."
With that, Richard's adamantine staff stabbed into the ground.
The seemingly ordinary ground churned violently, and a gray-skinned mimicry creature shed its disguise, transforming into a twisted flesh monster.
The two leading golden-armored dwarves broke out in a cold sweat. They hadn't noticed the mimicry monster at all.
If they had taken just two more steps, they would have walked straight into its maw.
The mimicry monster's mouth was filled with teeth capable of shredding steel and digestive fluids that could corrode adamantine.
Even with their upgraded armor, falling into it would still result in serious injuries from the digestive fluids.
Moreover, these mimicry monsters could relay information to the fiend Bruno at the bottom of the mountains. If they fell into the trap, the fiend would immediately notice the difference in taste, which could cause many complications for their upcoming mission.
Thinking of this, the dwarves felt a sense of relief.
Thankfully, the Wizard was with them.
Richard paid no attention to the dwarves. He was now deeply intrigued by the mimicry monster under his staff.
He bent down and tore off a layer of the mimicry monster's skin, keeping it as a specimen.
This mimicry skin could change its color and texture according to the environment, making it a perfect natural camouflage.
If he could figure out how it worked, it would undoubtedly be of great use in the future.
The mimicry monster's struggles gradually weakened. The lower half of Richard's adamantine staff was engraved with a Life Drain glyph, which was now continuously absorbing the monster's life force.
These resilient aberrant creatures were like natural blood bags for Life Drain.
Feeling the endless life force flowing into his staff, Richard slapped his forehead and took out two metal ingots from his pouch. Using alchemy, he crafted several daggers engraved with the Life Drain glyph.
"I can't believe I forgot about this. My mind must be slipping."
Richard chuckled and handed the daggers to the dwarves, instructing them to test the daggers' effects.
Broot was the first to step forward. He stabbed the dagger into the nearly lifeless mimicry monster.
In the next moment, Broot's eyes widened, and he called out to his teammates: "Come here!"
The other dwarves followed, each taking a stab at the mimicry monster.
Feeling the surge of life force from the daggers, the dwarves' eyes widened in amazement.
These daggers were incredibly useful for them.
With these daggers, they could use the weaker aberrant creatures as blood bags.
"Are they useful?" Richard asked.
The dwarves nodded like pounding garlic. These things were amazing.
"Good."
Richard floated slightly and pulled his adamantine staff out of the now desiccated mimicry monster, replacing it with a mithril staff.
"Tell me the route ahead. I'll take the lead from here."
(End of Chapter)