Chapter 73: Chapter 73
As Atlas charged forward, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination, the ground trembled beneath his feet with each thunderous step of the iron statue of Hashut. With every swing of its colossal fists, the earth shook violently, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and crushing anything unfortunate enough to be caught in its path.
Dodging and weaving with uncanny agility, Atlas narrowly evaded the crushing blows, his senses honed to a razor's edge as he sought to find an opening in the statue's formidable defences. With each passing moment, he could feel the oppressive weight of Hashut's divine power bearing down upon him, threatening to overwhelm him with its sheer magnitude.
But Atlas refused to yield to despair. Gripping the enchanted axe tightly in his hands, he focused his willpower, channelling his magic into the ancient weapon with a fierce intensity. As the axe cleaved through the air, it seemed to pulse with otherworldly energy, its edges glowing with an ethereal light that cut through the darkness like a beacon of hope.
With a mighty swing, Atlas brought the axe crashing down upon the towering form of Hashut, aiming for the vulnerable point where the statue's horn met its iron skull. As the blade made contact, a deafening roar echoed across the battlefield, drowning out the sounds of battle as Hashut screamed in pain and fury.
But it was not just physical pain that wracked the god's form. As the magic of the axe bit deep into its metal flesh, it also severed the divine energies that bound Hashut to the mortal realm, weakening its hold on reality with each successive blow. For the first time in millennia, the mighty god of the Chaos Dwarfs found itself vulnerable, its invincibility shattered by the power of Atlas's enchanted weapon.
As Hashut unleashed torrents of searing flames upon the battlefield, Atlas gritted his teeth against the intense heat, his skin prickling with discomfort as the edges of his clothes began to smoulder. Muttering an incantation under his breath, he summoned a protective barrier of magic to shield himself from the worst of the inferno, though even still, he could feel the blistering heat licking at his skin.
With nimble reflexes honed by centuries of combat, Atlas danced away from Hashut's relentless assault, his eyes scanning the battlefield for a means to turn the tide of battle in his favour. It was then that his gaze fell upon the imposing walls of the Chaos Dwarf city, towering high and fortified with powerful enchantments.
Realization dawned upon him like a bolt of lightning. If he could lure Hashut towards the city, perhaps its solid defences could provide the leverage he needed to strike a decisive blow against the god.
Positioning himself squarely in front of the city gates, Atlas taunted Hashut, goading the enraged deity into charging towards him with all its fury. With a thunderous roar, Hashut barreled forward, its massive form hurtling towards Atlas with unstoppable force.
At the last possible moment, Atlas dodged aside, allowing Hashut to crash headlong into the unyielding walls of the city with a deafening impact that reverberated across the battlefield. Stunned by the collision, the god shook its head dazedly, momentarily disoriented by the force of its own charge.
Seizing the opportunity, Atlas lunged forward, his enchanted axe gleaming in the sunlight as he aimed a devastating blow at Hashut's exposed flank. With a mighty swing, the blade bit deep into the god's flesh, slicing through metal sinew and bones with a sickening crunch as Atlas unleashed the full force of his fury upon his divine adversary.
With Hashut toppled to the ground, Atlas wasted no time in seizing the opportunity presented before him. As the cloud of dust settled around the fallen god, he could sense the divine energy leaking from its wounds, a sure sign of its weakening state.
Drawing upon the ancient and formidable powers at his command, Atlas began to weave the intricate patterns of his banishment spell, his voice resonating with authority as he uttered the ancient words of power that had been passed down through generations.
Arcane runes danced and shimmered in the air around him, glowing with ethereal light as the Winds of Magic responded to his call. Like a serpent coiling around its prey, tendrils of magical energy encircled the godly statue of Hashut, wrapping around it like chains and slowly constricting its divine essence.
With a howl of defiance that echoed across the battlefield, Hashut struggled against the bonds of magic that ensnared it, its glowing eyes flaring with renewed fury. But it was too late—the god had expended too much of its energy in the battle, and its strength was waning.
With a final surge of power, Atlas tightened the magical chains around Hashut's form, his will inexorable as he banished the god from the mortal realm. The statue's once-glowing eyes faded to dull metal, its divine presence extinguished as it returned to inert stillness.
As the dust settled and silence descended upon the battlefield, Atlas stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion but his eyes gleaming with triumph. Hashut, the bull-shaped god of the Chaos Dwarfs, had been vanquished, its threat to the mortal world ended at last.
As the news of Hashut's defeat spread throughout the Chaos Dwarf ranks, a sense of despair gripped their once-indomitable army. The god they had worshipped and relied upon for protection had been banished, leaving them vulnerable and exposed to the relentless onslaught of Atlas's undead forces.
With their morale shattered and their fighting spirit broken, the Chaos Dwarf soldiers found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless tide of death that surged forth from Atlas's army. Every second brought more of their comrades tumbling into the abyss of oblivion, their ranks thinning with each passing moment.
Unable to muster the strength to resist any longer, the Chaos Dwarf empire stood on the brink of collapse. Their once-mighty fortress city of Zharr-Naggrund, with its towering walls and fearsome defences, now seemed like little more than a hollow shell, its inhabitants helpless in the face of the unstoppable force that bore down upon them.
In the end, there was no final stand, no heroic last-ditch effort to turn the tide of battle. The Chaos Dwarfs, defeated and demoralized, could only watch in despair as their empire crumbled around them, their dreams of conquest and domination reduced to ashes by the relentless march of death.
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Astragoth stood atop the towering walls of Zharr-Naggrund, his gaze fixed on the retreating remnants of his once-mighty army. The chaos of battle still echoed in the air, mingling with the acrid scent of smoke and blood.
"You may have bested my troops on the field," Astragoth called out, his voice resonating with a mix of fury and desperation, "but you will never breach the walls of Zharr-Naggrund!"
Atlas, standing amidst his undead army below, surveyed the scene with a cold determination. The Chaos Dwarf's words were laced with defiance, but Atlas knew that victory was within his grasp.
"Your walls may be strong, Astragoth," Atlas replied, his tone dripping with confidence, "but they will crumble before the might of my undead legions."
As if in response, the fallen Dwarf warriors rose from the battlefield, their eyes glowing with an unholy light as they joined the ranks of the undead.
Astragoth's grip tightened on the stone parapet as he watched his former comrades-in-arms rise to serve their new master. His only chance to salvage the situation was to dig in and bombard the undead army with everything he had. If he failed to stop the relentless advance of the undead, Zharr-Naggrund would fall and his empire resigned to the pages of history.
With a defiant snarl, Astragoth gave order from the battlements, as messengers started disappearing into the depths of the city to prepare for the onslaught that was sure to come. But deep down, he knew that no amount of preparation could stop the inevitable march of death that was now descending upon Zharr-Naggrund.
"Astragoth!" Atlas's voice boomed across the battlefield, carrying with it a sense of cold determination. "You may believe your walls and artillery will save you, but you forget one crucial detail."
Astragoth, his eyes wild with desperation, looked down at Atlas from the towering walls of Zharr-Naggrund, his grip tightening on the stone parapet.
"What could you possibly have that would threaten us now?" he shouted back, his voice tinged with defiance.
Atlas's smile widened as he raised his hand, gesturing toward the massive horde of undead that stretched out before him.
"I have the power of death itself," Atlas declared, his voice carrying a note of triumph. "And with it, I will bring your mighty city to its knees."
Astragoth's face contorted with rage. "Your army will never cross these walls." It was a solemn vow, the Chaos Dwarves' greatest strength had always been their war machines and now they were the final bulwark of the Empire.
However the Chaos Dwarf sorcerer-prophet had underestimated the true extent of Atlas's power, and now his arrogance had led him to the brink of destruction.
"My army has no need to pass your wall…" Even from this distance, Atlas could see a trace of confusion on Astragoth's face. Then, the Dwarf's face lost all colour. He had realised his fatal error…
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone