The echo of footsteps resounded through the ancient halls of the fortress, mingling with the distant cries of battle. Lu Ming led his draconic troops into the enemy stronghold, determination etched on his face. At his side, **Eternal Shadow**, the Draconic Priest, kept his gaze fixed, ready to unleash his dark magic against any obstacle that presented itself.
As they advanced, the walls narrowed and the atmosphere grew denser. The elven and dwarven defenders had not given up. In front of every bend and passage, magical traps activated with deadly precision. Enchanted arrows shot out from the walls, their edges glowing with arcane energy. The ground beneath their feet trembled, hiding traps that promised to throw the invaders into unknown depths.
**"Stop,"** Lu Ming ordered, raising a hand. **Eternal Shadow** stepped forward, his eyes flashing with a dark light. With a wave of his staff, the draconic priest summoned a shield of shadows that absorbed a volley of magical arrows heading their way.
**"The traps are designed with ancient magic, but they are not undetectable,"** **Eternal Shadow** explained. His eyes turned a deep black, and small shadows began to snake along the ground, searching for hidden runes and traps. One by one, the traps were revealed and deactivated. Lu Ming's troops advanced more confidently, but still cautiously.
After what seemed like hours of marching, they arrived at a vast vaulted hall: the **Hall of Champions**. In the center of the hall, an ethereal light bathed the most formidable warriors of the elven and dwarven kingdom. With gleaming armor and enchanted weapons, the elven and dwarven champions lined up, ready for the final fight. Their eyes were filled with determination and rage; they knew this was their last chance to defend their home.
"For the glory of the ancestors!" one of the dwarven champions shouted, charging forward with an enchanted hammer that radiated a blinding glow. The **Draconian Super Soldiers** advanced to meet them, their weapons ready and their claws sharp. The clash was brutal and immediate.
Each blow rumbled like thunder. The draconian swords clashed against the elven enchanted shields, while the dwarven hammers slammed against the draconian scale armor. One of the elven champions cast a fire spell, but **Eternal Shadow** countered it with a torrent of dark water, extinguishing the flames instantly.
**"Don't give an inch!"** Lu Ming roared, in his 50-meter draconic form, his voice echoing throughout the room. With a flap of his massive wings, he launched himself into the center of the battle, his massive form laying waste to any champions who dared to come too close.
Amidst the chaos, Lu Ming noticed something strange. Far away, in a dark corner of the room, the **Elf King** and **Dwarf King** were retreating through a hidden passage. He sensed a buildup of magic power coming from the direction they had disappeared. **Eternal Shadow** felt the same, and his gaze turned to Lu Ming, nodding in understanding.
**"They are preparing something powerful, master. We must stop them before it is too late,"** **Eternal Shadow** urged.
**"Soldiers, hold this position,"** Lu Ming ordered. **"We will take care of the kings."**
With a small elite team, Lu Ming and **Eternal Shadow** passed through the secret passage. The magical energy grew more intense with each step, the atmosphere becoming more oppressive. Finally, they arrived at a hidden chamber, where a bright light illuminated a large keystone, on which the kings were performing an ancient ritual.
**"Stop them!"** Lu Ming roared.
But before he could charge, the **Elf King** raised an ancient staff and channeled a beam of energy straight towards Lu Ming. **Eternal Shadow** reacted quickly, raising a shadow shield to deflect the attack. However, the intensity of the spell was such that the shield shattered.
Lu Ming lunged forward, transforming into his full dragon form. His gigantic claws slashed through the air, knocking down the **Dwarf King** who was trying to summon a defensive barrier. **Eternal Shadow** summoned serpentine shadows that coiled around the **Elf King**, preventing him from completing the ritual.
The chamber rumbled with the power released by the interruption of the ritual. A blast of magical energy filled the room, sending debris flying everywhere. Lu Ming, using his draconic form, shielded **Eternal Shadow** and his elites from the blast.
When the light finally faded, the ritual had been interrupted. The relic the kings had been using was broken, its power scattered. The two relics were now in full swing.They lay on the ground, weakened but alive. Lu Ming approached them, his eyes burning with an inhuman intensity.
"Your time is up," Lu Ming declared, his deep voice echoing in the chamber. "Surrender, and I will grant you a swift death."
The kings, looking around, saw the inevitability of their defeat reflected in the eyes of their enemies. The fortress had fallen, its defenders defeated, and their last hope had vanished.
But before they could respond, a tremor ran through the fortress. Something deeper, darker, stirred in the bowels of the earth, awakened by the interruption of the ritual. Lu Ming and Eternal Shadow exchanged worried glances.
"This isn't over yet," Lu Ming muttered, looking down at the vibrating ground. **"Something else is awakening…"**
**End of Chapter 39.**
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