"The Magic Network... truly is the foundation of everything. To control it is to control the overall situation."

When Linde regained consciousness, he understood.

This invisible "magic map" will become one of the most crucial trump cards in his future plans.

The journey continues with Gimli's story and Lind's exploration of the magic web.

The majestic silhouette of Hongshan Mountain drew ever closer, and the sense of oppression grew stronger.

When the group finally arrived at the foot of the Red Mountain ridge and prepared to begin climbing the winding mountain paths carved into the steep cliffs leading to the entrance to the Dwarf King's Court, the "little trouble" that Gimli had mentioned indeed arrived.

"hold head high--!"

Several sharp, piercing, and ferocious hisses came from the cliff above! Five or six "Scaled Claw Dragon Beasts," resembling giant lizards with wingspans exceeding three meters, covered in dark red scales and possessing sharp claws and teeth, swooped down from the misty cliffs like diving bombers! Their targets were clearly the relatively smaller pack animals and the seemingly weaker-protected carriage in the caravan! They obviously regarded this caravan as prey delivered right to their doorstep.

"Enemy attack! It's a Scaleclaw Dragon Beast! Prepare for battle!" Gimli reacted extremely quickly, roaring as he leaped off the back of the ibex, his heavy warhammer already in hand, his small body exuding an astonishing aura.

The dwarf guards behind him quickly drew their weapons and formed a defensive formation.

Aster's eyes sharpened, and without needing a command, his hand was already on the hilt of his sword.

The Rock Guard soldiers moved in perfect unison. With a clang, their uniquely shaped, long-handled crystal battle blades were simultaneously drawn. The cold blades gleamed with a ghostly blue light in the thin mountain sunlight. The twenty men instantly spread out, protecting Linde and the others' carriage in the center. Their battle blades pointed diagonally to the sky, forming an impenetrable steel hedgehog formation.

The most ferocious dragon leader, with the deepest scales, seemed to have identified the magnificent carriage where Linde was as its "leader." It let out an even louder hiss, flapped its wings, and charged forward like an arrow, bringing with it a foul stench! Its sharp claws gleamed coldly, its target the top of the carriage, clearly intending to smash through it in one blow!

Gimli roared, trying to intercept, but was too far away. The dwarven guards had just nocked their crossbow bolts.

In the blink of an eye!

A corner of the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a slender, well-defined hand.

Linde didn't even get up; he simply glanced calmly through the gap at the ferocious-looking dragon beast leader who was so close at hand.

In the depths of his purple eyes, a golden light, like a pebble thrown into an ancient well, suddenly shone brightly, then vanished in an instant.

【Deconstructing the Halo】—Target locked, core structural weaknesses analyzed.

Driven by mental power—miniature crystalline fragments condensed and attached to the fingertips.

"call out!"

A faint, almost imperceptible, blue light, like the tongue of a venomous snake, silently flicked from Lind's fingertip!

The light was incredibly fast, shooting precisely into the dragon beast leader's gaping maw as it roared, instantly piercing its relatively soft palate and penetrating directly into the core of its brain!

"puff!"

A barely audible muffled thud.

The ferocious dragon leader's swooping motion abruptly halted! The fierce light in its eyes was instantly replaced by a deathly gray and blank stare! Its massive body, like a kite with a broken string, slammed against the edge of the carriage with tremendous momentum, crashing heavily against the nearby rocks with a loud thud. It twitched a few times and then lay completely still. Dark red blood slowly seeped from its mouth and nose.

The whole process was breathtakingly fast!

From the moment Linde lifted the curtain to the moment the dragon beast fell to its death, only a breath had passed!

Gimli and his dwarven guards, who were preparing for a desperate fight, were stunned, frozen in place in their battle stances. Even the soldiers of the Rock Guard, though still maintaining their formation, had a barely perceptible look of shock in their eyes.

They knew the lord was powerful, but such a casual, precise, and outrageously instantaneous kill was still beyond their imagination.

The remaining dragon beasts were clearly stunned by their leader's sudden death; their diving momentum faltered, and they let out terrified howls.

"snort!"

Astaire snorted coldly, seizing the momentary opening.

He stomped his foot, unleashing the powerful battle aura of a bronze-level warrior, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

"drink!"

With a low growl, Astaire engaged his core muscles, pivoting on himself, his arm muscles bulging, and a signature silver light appeared.

Waaah—!

A dazzling silver light tore through the air, accompanied by a terrifying whistling sound, transforming into a deadly arc of light that swept across the dragon beasts in the air, whose movements were slowed by terror!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Several teeth-grinding slicing sounds rang out! In an instant, like a hot knife through butter, the three dragon beasts that couldn't dodge in time were cleaved into several pieces in mid-air! Limbs and broken wings mixed with blood rained down.

The remaining two dragon beasts let out mournful and desperate cries, no longer daring to linger. They flapped their wings desperately and staggered into the clouds high in the sky, disappearing from sight.

The battle ended within a few breaths of its start.

On the mountain path, only the strong smell of blood, the remains of the dragon beast, and a deathly silence remained.

Gimli and his dwarf guards stared dumbfounded at the corpse of the chief dragon beast on the ground, then at the pieces of the severed dragon beast's body, and finally their complicated gazes fell on Lind's carriage as the curtains were slowly lowered.

The expressions on their faces quickly shifted from initial astonishment to indescribable shock, and finally to a mixture of awe and... fervent inquiry.

Dwarves revere strength, but they revere skill even more! Lind's silent, precise, and deadly "finger strike" demonstrated a power and exquisite skill that surpassed their imagination!

Linde's methods were definitely not any kind of magic or combat technique they knew!

“Lord Lind…” Gimli’s voice was a little hoarse. He put away his warhammer, walked to Lind’s carriage, and his attitude was more respectful than before, even with a hint of solemnity that he would show when facing a dwarven grandmaster. “What…what did you just use?”

Linde's calm, unwavering voice came from inside the carriage, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust:

"Just a little trick. Envoy Gimli, the dragon's harassment is over, let's continue on our way. Don't keep the Mountain King waiting."

Gimli took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and nodded vigorously:

"Yes, Your Excellency! Please follow me! The 'Giant Tooth Pass' is not far ahead. Beyond that lies the passage to the inner palace of the royal court!"

The team set off again. The Rock Guard silently cleared away the debris on the road, their movements efficient and cold.

The stench of blood that filled the air was gradually dissipated by the mountain wind, but the shock brought about by the thunderous methods displayed by Linde and the Rock Guard was deeply imprinted in the hearts of every dwarf.

Lyra Ryan's pen flew across the sketchbook. She drew the moment the dragon was killed, the heroic figure of Astaire, and focused on depicting Lind's deep, calm, purple eyes that seemed to contain the stars and the sea behind the drawn curtain.

She knew that this scene would become one of the most memorable chapters in her future songs.

The convoy continued its ascent along the treacherous plank road.

Ahead, a magnificent pass, like the fangs of a giant beast, deeply embedded in the main peak of Red Mountain, gradually revealed its cold, solid, and fortified outline amidst the year-round clouds and biting mountain winds—Giant Tooth Pass. The true gateway to the Dwarven Royal Court was right before them.