Just being a dark elf in Warhammer

"come here!"

The situation became worse, but Alaric showed no fear. He would make his father's sacrifice count. When he ensured that the women and children were safe, he would avenge his father. He ran to the woman who came to him. shouted.

The frightened woman saw the dwarf and ran towards Alaric, dragging her skirts, struggling through the mud.

After Alaric staggered away from the woman, he swung the raised ax to the corpse's head. The sound of metal hitting the dead flesh and then the bones exploding followed. This terrifying blow split the corpse's head open, and the Tianling Gai flew towards He looked up at the sky, his jaw drooped loosely, and his broken teeth were like tombstones. Immediately afterwards, he punched the corpse's head again, and the blow was so hard that his gauntlet penetrated the other part of the corpse's head that had not yet come out. However, in the face of this attack, the corpse did not slow down. The pace of progress.

It is neither the darkness of night nor the brightness of day, but something in between. The dim lights merged, casting white shadows across the horrific scene, and Alaric felt like he was trapped in a strange scene.

"Is there anyone else inside?" Alaric asked quickly after the body fell.

The frightened woman was still immersed in fear. Her eyes were wide open due to fear, and her pupils dilated to the limit, almost swallowing the entire eyeball. Her face was covered with fine beads of sweat, like crystal dewdrops, shining faintly in the dim light. Her lips quivered and she let out a small sob, as if mourning the horrific scene she had just experienced. Her whole body was trembling, as if she might collapse at any time, and her hands held the edge of her skirt tightly, as if looking for some comfort and support.

"Is there anyone else inside?"

The woman nodded.

"I mean people who are still alive, not monsters." Alaric opened the door and stuck his head in. After taking a look, he closed the door again. He leaned against the door and looked at the woman and said bitterly.

"Okay, what's your name, little girl?" Alaric complained and then stopped. He could feel the woman's emotions. Questioning and scolding are useless at this time, and may even ignite a woman's emotions. He tried to comfort her, just like he comforted Amy before.

"Okay, Annie, do you see the little girl over there? Her name is Amy. Now, you and her go find some kindling."

"But...but..." Although the dwarves said that Anne was a little girl, she was not young anymore. According to human age classification, she had already reached the stage of marriage. She stammered, although she was frightened, but she was not stupid, otherwise she would not have escaped. She understood what the dwarf meant the moment he said it, and her frightened eyes revealed madness and surprise. In her opinion, the dwarf in front of her was more terrifying than the monster. The dwarf actually wanted to burn down the temple.

Alaric's actions just now finally attracted the attention of the dead. The corpses rushed towards the door. He could clearly hear scratching and cracking sounds from behind the door, and the door continued to tremble during the impact. His shoulder was pressed against the door, pushing back the crack of the door that the deceased had forced open. Finally, he used all his strength to push the deceased back.

"Hurry up!" Alaric, who was holding the door tightly, became a little angry and roared.

Annie glanced at Amy, who was already approaching. After seeing Amy looking at her, she pointed in a direction, and then ran towards the place where the supplies were stored.

Alaric twisted his body, supporting the huge wooden door with his back, and then pressed his toes on the bulge of the steps. He tried to look around, but he only saw the firelight in the distance and the lantern in Amy's hand. He didn't see anything he expected to see. He thought of his father, maybe his father was still fighting at this moment, Like the incarnation of the immortal Grimnir. He thought again of his father's words and the message spread by humans before, that according to Sigmar's will, the elves would save Altdorf.

Thinking of this, Alaric laughed hysterically, as if he had thought of some particularly funny joke, his laughter was bitter, and the bitterness gradually turned into sobs. He had seen those pointy-eared ones without beards, more than once, but he had never dealt with pointy-eared ones, and maybe his father was right. Those pointed ears were unreliable. At least he didn't see the pointed ears saving Altdorf. Altdorf was falling and Altdorf was being destroyed. But he would not fail, he owed his father so much to get the women and children of Altdorf to safety.

Blocked by the living, the dead knock on the door of the temple desperately. They are eager for freedom and to get rid of the shackles of death. Their roars echoed inside the temple, filled with endless despair and longing.

After a while, Anne came back with Amy. They found the fire oil in the pile of supplies. Under her leadership, the strong Amy sprinkled the fire oil in the clay pot along the perimeter of the temple. After doing everything, she nodded to the dwarf standing in front of the door. Without hesitation or questioning, she used a flint to ignite the fire oil. However, her hands kept shaking, and the flint was still unable to ignite the kerosene. In the end, Amy put down the lantern she had been carrying and took the flint.

Amy ignited the fire oil, and the flames ravaged the temple like a raging beast, and the wooden structure made sharp cracks and crackles. In an instant, the flames licked the structure of the temple, burning the wooden beams and altar, reducing everything to ashes. As the fire spread, the air outside the temple became hot and muggy. The burning wood and cloth emitted bursts of black smoke. The blazing flames reflected the entire night sky red, shrouding everything in a hazy gray darkness.

The heat of the fire and the roar of the flames were frightening, as if this was no longer the blazing flames of the human world, but the furious devouring of the abyss of hell. Screams and crashes came one after another in the sea of ​​​​fire, accompanied by screams and calls, shrouding the temple in the shadow of death. The heat of the fire made Alaric leave the door. Under the light of the fire, the dead poured out of the temple door like ghosts and poured into the outside world.

Alaric roared hysterically as he stood there driving the dead back into the flames with his axe, swinging the ax mercilessly as he roared at the top of his lungs. His forehead was smeared with soot, his beard stained with liquid, his breathing became ragged, and the flames burned his lungs, but he kept fighting.

"Now, let's get out of here."

After resisting the attack of the dead, Alaric got a chance to breathe. As the fire gradually expanded and he was out of the range of the gate, he shouted.

The flames formed a beautiful and terrifying arc at the top of the Shalia Temple, swallowing up the entire wooden structure of the temple. The wooden beams and roofs burned in the raging fire, making a loud collapse sound, making the flames shine brighter and more dazzlingly. However, the flames did not spread out around the temple, but formed a strange barrier around the temple, as if the temple was wrapped in a huge fireball. This seemed to be Salia's mercy, and also It may be that there were no connected buildings around the temple so that the fire could not spread.

The dead scrambled to try to cross the burning wall, but they were still unable to break through the flames. Finally, they died in pain in the sea of ​​​​fire and turned into ashes. Devoured by the flames, their wails and calls gradually disappeared, leaving only the blazing flames and the remains of the collapsed wooden structure.

Alaric was walking on the street with Amy and Annie. He was going to South City. He believed that only South City was safe now, and he knew a way out. However, what he didn't know was that the gate of Nancheng District was the first to be breached, and the weak guards could not stop the army of the dead pouring in like a tide.

The free people active on the streets collapsed, and the flames spread along the roofs, raging in the East City District. The dead did not destroy the city, but the living destroyed the city.

The road leading to the bridge was not as smooth as Alaric thought. The freedmen who had previously participated in fighting the fire knocked down crumbling buildings to serve as temporary fire walls. After turning back several times, just as he was about to break through the street, the building not far in front of him collapsed under the fire, and the street was blocked. He could only lead the two human girls back. However, his luck seemed to have run out. The moment he turned around, the building behind him also collapsed, and he and the two human girls were blocked on the street. , trapped in the fire.

Alaric was anxiously thinking about countermeasures. He could not give up, let alone risk rushing through the fire. He ran quickly to the side of the street decisively, hoping to find other escape routes. However, his hopes were soon dashed as the other side of the street was also blocked by fire. Seeing the fire spreading, he didn't hesitate at all. He turned and ran towards the other side of the street. He saw a shop with a broken window. Through the window, he could see the mess inside.

The items in the store had been looted. Alaric raised his head and took a look. It was a bakery. The most important thing for him now is to find a way to escape the fire and leave the street, not to find something to eat. He turned around and looked at Amy and Annie who were following him. After nodding to the two little human girls, he went straight into the shop through the display window.

Things began to develop out of control. The back door of the bakery was blocked, with fallen beams lying across it like a mountain, and gravel and bricks blocking the gap. Just as Alaric was staring at the obstacle, the ceiling in the shop hall began to groan. He decisively smashed the tomahawk into the debris. He kept chopping, trying to clear the way forward.

Amy looked above her head. She could hear the ceiling making a harsh cracking sound. She knew that in a moment, the ceiling would collapse, trapping them in the burning shop. She turned her head to look at the dwarf uncle who was constantly cursing, and looked at the blocked back door. She knew that this was their only hope of escape. Thinking of this, she put down the lantern and began to do what she could. Her actions inspired Anne, and even more inspired Alaric, who kept digging out a way out of the debris.

Alaric was like crazy, he didn't want to die here, where he couldn't explain to his father, couldn't have dinner with his ancestors, couldn't share the story of bravery with his great-grandfather. Instead of saving hundreds of lives, he led two human girls into a desperate situation and were buried in the rubble. He stopped thinking, and he gradually became frantic with the axe. If he couldn't open the passage, the thick black smoke would suffocate them before the ceiling came down.

"Grimnir!"

"Cover your mouth and crawl out." As Alaric shouted, a passage appeared in the messy rubble. He picked up his ax and kicked the beam across it. He tried to wipe it with his hand. His eyes were a little painful from the smoke, and then he said.

The smoke from the bakery grew thicker and thicker, threatening to engulf dwarves and humans alike. Ceilings began to crumble and the structure of the house collapsed. As the house collapsed, Amy climbed out of the passage dragging the lantern. She coughed, retched, and lay on the ground twitching. Fortunately, she crawled out.

Alaric, who was the first to crawl out, glanced at the safe girls and then struggled to stand up. Although he escaped from the bakery, the next situation was not optimistic. He was now in a garden surrounded by buildings. It was more like a vegetable garden and a place for placing sundries. The sundries were ignited by the spreading fire.

Alaric knew that his next choice would be crucial. If he made the right choice, he would cross the garden, enter the building, and pass through the building to the safety of the street. But there are many conditions. If the building is impassable and the spreading fire blocks the escape route. If the building is passable but the fire spreads on the street, it is tantamount to going from one dangerous situation to another.

The air was exhaled from Alaric's burned lungs, and he knew that he had to choose quickly, and that the respite the garden could provide would not last long compared to what he faced next. However, he was so short that he couldn't see around him, and all he could do was pray to Valaya, and eventually he chose to look in one direction.

"follow me."

Valaya seemed to answer Alaric's prayer, and after walking through the garden, he pushed open the back door. He found that this seemed to be a shop selling tools. Wherever he looked, there were various tools serving the butcher shops and tanneries in Dongcheng District. But these were also unimportant to him. What was important was that he saw through the window that there was no fire on the street opposite.

Houses and buildings temporarily blocked the fire. Alaric walked through the streets with two little human girls, and finally came to a stronghold. He knew that this was where the provincial soldiers were stationed. Now, there may not be soldiers here, but there must be old men and women. He walked across the square where provincial soldiers usually lined up and trained, and knocked on the door with the handle of his axe. After a moment, the observation hole on the door opened. After another moment, the door was opened, and a boy with a frightened expression stuck his head out to look at him.

The boy, who was only eight or nine years old, had a smile on his face. With the arrival of the dwarves, he thought that the battle seemed to be over. He stuck the wooden sword in his belt and opened the door.

"Thank you, young man," Alaric said, admiring the boy's courage and optimism.

"Did the fairies save us?" After hearing the dwarf's thanks, the boy smiled at the dwarf, with a trace of pride and determination in his eyes. After opening the door, he asked curiously.

"It's almost here, but before that, let's take the old man and the woman out of here, okay? It's no longer safe here." Alaric's hand that was about to hit the boy froze in mid-air. He knew what the boy mentioned. What the immortals were referring to were those treacherous and unreliable elves. After adjusting his mood, he put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said with a smile.

Alaric, who was walking in the passage, looked around. He felt that things were not as he thought before. He was very unfamiliar with Dongcheng District as he usually lived in Beicheng District. This place did not seem to be the stronghold of provincial soldiers, but The stronghold of the Cheetah Knights. He saw that the walls were decorated with huge tapestries, yellow and black, with cheetahs painted on them. There are also various exaggerated weapons with no actual combat value hung on the walls. Although they are just decoration, they show the majesty of the Cheetah Knights.

The corridor leads to a hall where frightened old and weak people huddle, hiding in dark and shadowed corners. Alaric stood there stunned. He didn't know what to say for a moment, especially when facing those eyes with hope and desire. After a long time, he sighed.

"I know you want to hear good news, but the fact is... there isn't!" Alaric said slowly.

As Alaric expected, there was an uproar in the hall, and expressions of disappointment and despair immediately appeared on people's faces. Some held their heads in their hands, tears falling silently, while others murmured to comfort each other. The last straw that people had placed their hope on seemed to be shattered before their eyes. There was chaos in the hall, people's emotions were uncontrollable, and then there were sobbing. The rescue they originally hoped for seems to be becoming more and more distant, and the cruelty of reality is ruthlessly placed in front of everyone.

"So do we still have hope? Can we still survive?" An old man stood up tremblingly. His eyes lost their former glory, leaving only endless sadness and despair. he asked in a shaky voice, his voice filled with unease.

"The elves who saved Altdorf did not appear. Altdorf fell. Altdorf will soon be in ruins. Your brothers and husbands are either dead or dying." Alaric did not choose to hide, and he would not lie. In his opinion, it is better to tell people to know the truth and know what to face next than to live in confusion and false hope.

As Alaric finished speaking, the hall fell silent again. The boy who brought him in looked at him with a shocked expression. People's eyes were full of despair and pain, but some people were no longer confused and showed strength. will.

"Dead people are coming in droves, fires are spreading wantonly, your loved ones are giving you opportunities to survive, you should seize it..."

"If they're dying, why are you still here? You should be with them!"

"You are right, I should be with them and fight until the last moment, but I didn't because there are still people who need me. I am here to try to make their death meaningful, and I will try my best to protect you until the last moment. "

Alaric's words were interrupted when a woman stood up from the corner and asked. He was not startled by the sudden questioning. He acted calmly. He understood the woman's anger and despair, which are emotions that everyone may experience. He turned around slowly, facing the questioning woman, and looked at her firmly, his voice full of firmness and determination.

"We cannot give up, we must unite and find a way to survive. Even if Altdorf has fallen, we cannot sit back and die. We must fight for a chance of survival for ourselves and our families."

The woman's gaze paused on Alaric's face. She seemed to see the firmness and determination in the dwarf's eyes. Her anger gradually dissipated and was replaced by understanding. She said in a firm voice with determination shining in her eyes.

"We can fight alongside our men!"

"Yes, die with them!"

These words ignited the hope and courage of many people present. They began to encourage each other, and more women stood up and spoke. After finishing speaking, they began to take the weapons that were only for decoration. Although the weapons looked a little funny in their hands, their eyes were unambiguous, full of seriousness and determination. The woman wielding a huge two-handed sword, although she was almost struggling, her expression revealed her determination to fight against death; the woman wearing a gorgeous breastplate, although the breastplate was too bulky for her, she showed a Courage without flinching; and the woman who picked up the flail showed a desire to fight.

Alaric was shocked. In his opinion, human women who were usually regarded as weak actually showed shocking perseverance and determination at this moment. Women were joining the struggle for survival in their own way.

"You...you..."

"Our lives, our houses, our families have been destroyed by this war, let us decide for ourselves whether we run away or stand up with our men and face More's trial, as for us There is a choice.”

"Stop discussing! This is not a game! Altdorf is burning, and if we stand here like idiots arguing about choices, we will all be dead here in a few minutes. Look at that little girl, what are you going to say to her? Death? Does she know what death is? Your men gave their lives, don't you know they were saving your lives by doing so?

enough! Stop arguing, let's get out of here, let's go to Nancheng District! There are caves there that lead to the outside of Altdorf, and the dead won't follow us there! Now! Let's get going! Alaric shook his head at first. Although the women were very determined, some things were not that simple. He looked at the chaos in the hall and finally roared.

"There's no time, don't pack it up, let's go! Forget those things, those things are not worth your lives!" Alaric's words successfully encouraged the humans. People stood up and tried to take away their own things. Put it away, and when he saw this, he shook his head and said.

There was no argument. The humans who came out of the stronghold looked at the dwarves, as if Alaric was the one sent by Sigmar to save them, not the fairy people as rumored.

What followed went smoothly, even though the streets were burning, but the women were different from Alaric, who rarely came to Dongcheng District, and also different from Amy and Anne. Under their guidance, the team passed through burning streets one after another. Although the team's pace was difficult, it was firm and orderly. In the raging environment of flames, women armed with weapons remained vigilant, looking for a way to pass safely. The blazing flames distorted the surrounding scene, and the smoke filled the air, making it difficult to breathe, but they did not stop.

On the way to the bridge leading to the southern city, the team faced not only burning buildings, but also countless obstacles and traps. Collapsed walls, collapsing streets, piles of rocks, every step is full of uncertainty and danger. Sometimes, they had to take a detour, and other times, they needed strong will and teamwork to overcome the obstacles ahead.

Faced with all kinds of dangers and challenges, the team never gave up because they believed in the dwarf's words. As long as the team successfully crossed the sea of ​​fire and stepped onto the bridge leading to the southern city, they would be safe.

However, the following reality cruelly broke the team's fantasy. The bridge that was once far away in the horizon now became close at hand, but it seemed to be separated by an insurmountable abyss. Nancheng District fell. Endless burning and panic enveloped the entire Nancheng District. Boundless black smoke filled the air, exuding a terrifying atmosphere. Sparse refugees poured in along the bridge towards Dongcheng District where the team was located.

Every member of the team was knocked down by this sudden blow. They faced unprecedented despair and helplessness. The women were disheartened, the children cried, and Amy and Anne's eyes were filled with confusion and confusion. Fear, while Alaric stared silently at the fire in the distance, endless anger and disappointment surging deep in his heart.

Alaric knew what the fall of the Southern City District meant. It meant that the team was once again in danger and lost hope and goals for progress. Faced with this cruel reality, he fell into silence and was immersed in an atmosphere of despair. The road to Nancheng District was blocked, and the spreading fire blocked the way back. He didn't know where to go next. Countless emotions were surging deep in his heart. He knew that he had led the team to death. He didn't know how to face the humans who had placed their hope on him. He didn't know how to face it after his death. His own father.

"Don't blame yourself, dwarf. You've done a great job. Thank you for your efforts." The old man in the team walked out of the crowd and came to Alaric's side to comfort him.

"But we are now in trouble, with no way forward and no hope." The old man's words rang in Alaric's ears, and his mood seemed to be touched by a touch of warmth and comfort. He raised his head and looked at the man standing The old man beside him responded softly, with heavy helplessness and sadness in his voice.

"Maybe this is Sigma's will, and we can only accept it." There was a hint of heaviness and helplessness in the old man's voice.

Just when the team fell into silence and panic, a group of soldiers appeared on the bridge. The mixed team of provincial soldiers and free people looked very embarrassed. Under the light of the fire, their clothes were ragged and their formation was irregular. After crossing the center of the arch bridge, they were stunned. They saw the scene in Dongcheng District, and they felt extremely anxious and helpless. They once vowed to defend the city, but now they are in a desperate situation, leaving them feeling embarrassed and confused.

The officer in the team stood in the middle of the bridge, frowning. He looked at the army of the dead coming from behind, and then looked at the situation in Dongcheng District. He saw the difficulties he had faced when covering the civilians before, and a feeling surged in his heart. Furious and determined, he knew now was not the time to retreat and there was no way out now.

"Stop!" the officer's voice spread across the bridge.

The soldiers obeyed the officers' orders, and the atmosphere on the bridge became heavy and depressing. Everyone was immersed in their own thoughts, and everything in front of them made them feel discouraged. However, they still chose to stand there firmly. They knew what they would face next, but even if they faced absolute death, they would not give in. They know this is their last stand and they are determined to defend their city, even if it costs their lives.

"Get ready to fight!" The officer's voice was hoarse and firm. He no longer needed to shout and turn around, because the soldiers who followed him and fought and retreated along the way had already changed direction.

"For Sigma!"

"For Altdorf!"

The team composed of provincial soldiers and free people were arranged in scattered formations under the command of the officers, with the spears raised, the shields raised, and the officers shouted. The soldiers shouted slogans, and their shouts surged on the bridge like thunder, shaking the surrounding air, conveying their unyielding will and courage.

Facing the army of the dead rushing towards the bridge, the soldiers did not flinch. Instead, they faced the enemy and launched the final charge without fear. They know that the sun cannot rise in time to save them, they know that this is the last battle, and they will die like the enemy, but they are willing to use their lives to defend their homeland and protect the dignity and glory of the city. No matter what kind of enemy is ahead, they will Keep moving forward until the very end.

Alaric looked at the human soldiers lining up to fight. He failed. He failed. He failed to complete the task assigned to him by his father. He failed to ensure the safety of women and children. All his previous efforts had turned into a joke, but he could not give up. He still has to do something, and he will fight until the last moment, because he is a dwarf, and he is the mountains.

Smoke, flames and sadness stung Alaric's eyes. He turned his head and looked at Amy, who was walking with him. He raised his fist to Amy with an encouraging and apologetic smile on his face, and then picked up the axe. , crying and rushing towards the bridge without looking back.

The women comforted their children. Although they were filled with fear and despair, they tried their best to stay calm and tried to give the children a sense of comfort and courage. In their gentle voices, they tell the children that everything will be fine. As the dwarf rushed towards the bridge, their hearts were heavy and complicated. They did not blame the dwarf, as the dwarf said, if they had not left the stronghold, they would be dead now. They knew that this might be the last time they would see the children. They hugged the children tightly, said their final goodbyes, and then resolutely rushed to the bridge, joined the ranks of the soldiers, and launched a final fight against the army of the dead. , just to get that glimmer of hope.

Amy looked at the boy who was about the same age as her and followed the women towards the bridge with a wooden sword in his hand. After the boy disappeared from her sight, she sat on the hot ground. She felt very tired and could no longer run. She put the lantern beside her, hugged her legs, and curled up together. Listening to the shouts of death, she looked at the wound on her knee and thought a lot. Her father, her mother, the dwarf uncle, The grandfather who handed her the lantern.

"Verena." Amy said dreamily as she raised her head and looked at the starless night sky.

Amy thought about her grandma who had passed away for a long time. When her grandma was still alive, she asked her what she wanted to do when she became an adult. She remembered what she looked like at that time. She jumped up and down and said that she would become a believer of the goddess of wisdom in the future. , became a scholar, but her grandma just smiled and did not agree with her words. As she grew older, she realized that becoming a follower of the Goddess of Wisdom seemed like an unattainable dream, like crossing the bridge in front of her to reach a safe place.

Thoughts kept flashing through Amy's mind, maybe she might never become a believer of the goddess of wisdom in her life, after all, she didn't even know the word. Perhaps the lantern with the emblem of the Goddess of Wisdom beside her is the moment when she is closest to the Goddess of Wisdom. Thinking of this, she suddenly realized that the old man who handed her the lantern might be related to Altdorf University. When her father was on vacation, he took her to Altdorf University once, and she saw the clothes worn by those scholars.

Amy picked up the lantern and put it in her arms. The flames in the lamp had already become weak, and the base was no longer hot. She raised the lantern with both hands and raised it high. She looked at the faint flame in the lampshade and at the dark night sky behind the lampshade.

"If it could illuminate..."

Amy suddenly froze mid-sentence. She felt like she was dazzled or hallucinating. She put the lantern in her arms and shook her head to try to dispel the hallucination in her mind, but the scene in front of her was so real. Then she wiped her red and swollen eyes with both hands, which had long been unable to cry, but the scene in front of her was still so real.

A faint dawn appeared in the originally dark sky. It was a sun very close at hand, just above Altdorf, as if you could easily touch it with your hand. (End of chapter)