“We were merely trying to safeguard ourselves... and we never intended to pose any threat to your Dragon's Lair Tribe...”

  “Why...” The dwarf leader, his neck pierced, spoke in a hoarse voice. With each word, a copious amount of blood gushed out.

  “You exploited our Dragon's Lair Tribe to overrun the Hot Sand Consortium, resolving your own crisis and amassing a fortune in resources. Did you offer us any compensation?”

  Under the dual blessings, Gorgin's injuries were healing at a rapid pace.

  He reached out and gave the dwarf leader's helmet a condescending pat on the side of the face, a gesture rife with insult.

  The dwarf leader's two personal guards attempted to come to his rescue but were each blocked by ogres, unable to break free.

  “Furthermore, as the ruler of a city, don't you find it laughable to pose such a question?” Gorgin sneered.

  “We... we're willing to make amends... and pay for our previous actions... What do you say?” The dwarf leader could already feel the onset of darkness before his eyes.

  “It makes no difference.”

  Gorgin regarded him impassively, grasped his head, and turned it to face the Giant Sand City behind.

  “The city walls have been breached, and my tribesmen have already entered. I can take whatever I desire. You're talking about making amends now? It's far too late!”

  The dwarf leader gazed in despair at the horde of slaves from various races charging into the city behind the ogres.

  A profound sense of powerlessness and intense indignation welled up within him.

  Once street - fighting erupted, the dwarves of Giant Sand City were doomed to a tragic fate.

  Despite the city's population nearing ten thousand, it included the elderly, the infirm, women, and children.

  Only a third were actual able - bodied warriors.

  And he had seen these slaves— all were robust and muscular males. Coupled with those ogres, who were like human - shaped tanks...

  “Ah!!!” The dwarf leader let out a heart - rending wail.

  “What do you gain from destroying Giant Sand City? Do you lack an oasis?”

  Gorgin shook his head.

  “No, I don't.”

  “Then why must you annihilate us?”

  “I feel like it.”

  “Pfft!” A large mouthful of blood spurted from the dwarf leader's mouth, and his heart sank into utter despair.

  “You're a butcher... an executioner...”

  “Thank you.” Gorgin was cold and unyielding, impervious to sentiment.

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  “I beg you... spare my tribesmen. It was my idea to take advantage of you. They are innocent!!”

  The entire army of the Dragon's Lair Tribe surged into Giant Sand City. The dwarf leader's wails filled the air.

  His two personal guards, who could also activate the Dwarven Divine Transformation, had already fallen.

  The most arduous part of the siege was over, and in street - battles, the ogres were invincible.

  “Sigh~~~ Alas~~~”

  Gorgin let out a long, drawn - out sigh.

  “It's not impossible to spare you.”

  The dwarf leader's eyes, which had been dull with despair, suddenly glimmered with hope.

  “From this day forward, this is no longer Giant Sand City, and you are no longer the dwarves of Giant Sand City. ”

  “You are now the dwarves of the Dragon's Lair Tribe. Your elders, children, women, and the infirm may continue to live, while your young and strong warriors will become slaves.”

  “ Either accept these terms and order the dwarves within to lay down their arms and kneel in surrender, or reject them and watch as I massacre your city. ”

  “As long as there's an oasis, a large number of people will gather here within a year. Whether you dwarves survive or not is of little consequence.”

  Gorgin was brutal, yet he offered the dwarf leader a glimmer of hope.

  In fact, Gorgin was almost moved to tears by his own “mercy.”

  “Alright!!! I accept!!! Order your tribesmen to stop!!”

  The dwarf leader gritted his teeth and pleaded.

  “Tsk~~” Gorgin clicked his tongue in annoyance.

  “I'm pleased with your decision, but your tone irks me. So, I've decided to have them halt their attacks in ten minutes.”

  “No!! Please, no!!!”

  “Forgive me, forgive me! Great Chief Gorgin, we're defeated. Please!! Please order your tribesmen to stop!”

  The dwarf leader completely broke down, wailing with a mix of blood and tears on his face.

  “Hmph.” Gorgin scoffed.

  “It would have been better if you'd shown this humility earlier. When you surrender, you should assume the demeanor of a vanquished foe. Who do you think you are, acting so arrogantly?”

  “Forgive me, Chief Gorgin. I was wrong. I was terribly wrong!!” The dwarf leader shifted from kneeling on one knee to both knees, imploring the ogre before him.

  “That's more like it. This is the proper attitude for a loser. Mom, go and tell those brutes to stop. Now, Giant Sand City is our property. ”

  “I won't have them ruin it. Also, tend to this fellow. He has decent combat skills. We don't want him to die.”

  Horne's left head: “Not kill them all?”

  Horne's right head: “Best to eliminate the root of the problem.”

  The dwarf leader pleaded for mercy profusely.

  “No, I'll never dare again. You have my word. We've truly surrendered!”

  Gorgin nodded. “Don't worry, Mom. I have a plan.”

  Horne's left head: “Very well. You've always been full of schemes.”

  Horne's right head: “I'll go and make them stop.”

  With a casual blessing bestowed upon the dwarf leader, Horne dismounted the kodo beast and strode towards the city.

  Under the influence of the blessing, the dwarf leader's wounds began to mend. While a full recovery was out of the question, at least his life was no longer in immediate danger.

  The effect of the Dwarven Divine Transformation wore off, and he reverted to his normal dwarf stature.

  “That's quite a useful skill.” Gorgin couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

  Damn it, he was a chief, yet he couldn't use a single skill.

  Even Karin knew three! It was infuriating. First, the system had “abandoned” him, and now he was skill - less. The world truly seemed unfair.

  Gorgin seethed inwardly.

  “Don't lie there feigning death. Go and tell your tribesmen to put down their weapons and kneel in submission! If even one dwarf resists, I'll massacre the entire city. ”

  “This is your one and only chance, and ogres always keep their word!” Gorgin gave the dwarf leader a forceful kick and said icily.

  “Don't worry, Chief Gorgin...” The dwarf leader scrambled to his feet and sprinted towards the city. Every second he was delayed meant more of his tribesmen would perish.

  “Chief, won't keeping them pose a future threat?” Karin asked, hesitant.

  “It's of no concern. Later, we'll relocate all the elderly, infirm, women, and children to our settlement. Then these dwarves won't be able to stir up trouble.”

  “ Also, make it clear to them that if one person rebels, the entire clan will be punished. It's only fair.”

  Gorgin slumped to the ground and massaged his belly.

  The two hammer blows earlier still left a lingering ache. Seeing this, Karin quickly moved to assist, but Gorgin pushed her roughly to her knees.

  Karin, understanding her place, obediently lifted the tattered cloth that served as the chief's sole garment.

  “Whoosh!”

  Gorgin exhaled a long breath.