Pantheon Online-Chapter 185: What Humans Have Forgotten...

A sword swung through the air, only to bounce off Exile's tower shield as he thrust his spear forward. The player groaned as the system performed the check against the player's Authority level.

[You have dealt 30 points of damage against Ioja...]

Ioja looked shocked at the massive damage from a single blow as she quickly retreated from Exile's reach. Exile smirked at her confusion. 'I have to give it to the Dwarves. This equipment is amazing!' He quickly checked his stats to remind himself of what they were sitting at now.

[Name: Exile]

[Pantheon: Ragnarok]

[Title: King of the Gods (Ragnarok), God of Lightning (Incomplete: 1/3)]

[Race: Elemental Royal Deity (Custom Race)]

[Tier: 1]

[Level: 3]

[HP: 275/275 (150+125)]

[DP: 50/70 (28+42)]

[Strength: 19]f𝔯ee𝘸𝘦𝚋𝒏oѵ𝐞l.c𝒐𝓂

[Endurance: 55 (30+25)]

[Speed: 25 (18+7)]

[Authority: 70 (28+42)]

Equipment:

[Dwarven Royal Armour Set]

[+8 Endurance, +7 Speed]

[Skourj Greatcoat]

[+10 Endurance, +4 Authority]

[Dwarven Royal Spear]

[+7 Authority]

[Dwarven Tower Shield]

[+7 Endurance, +7 Authority]

'It's a shame I couldn't use my half-cloak with the Skourj Greatcoat.' Exile sighed. But he was still happy with the stats that came with his new equipment. His Strength and Speed were falling behind now, but the Rocksteady Trait of his custom race would help fix his Strength problem as he killed players.

Ioja seemed to be hesitating as she glanced around. Clearly trying to decide if she would receive any help. To her dismay, her allies appeared to be pinned down by their own opponents. With no end in sight to their battles. A resigned look crossed her face as her eyes turned back to Exile. She was no fool and knew that this fight would lead to a death for her. But she could at least by time for her allies!

She dashed forward, casting wind based divine spells as she went. These were just to boost her Speed as she knew direct attacks would fail with her lower Authority score. Exile's eyebrows rose as he recognised the threat she now posed. His own Speed was quite low, so there was a chance she could deal some serious damage.

'Lesser Blessing!' Exile's Speed rose by 10 points the moment he activated his Divine Spell. 'It's not enough to match her, but it'll take some of the bite out of her attacks!'

He dashed forward with his shield raised, causing Ioja to curse. She noticed that his Speed had increased as well and now she was being forced into close combat with him. Their weapons flourished at high speed as they did all they cold to avoid taking a direct blow from each other.

[-15 HP]

[-15 HP]

Exile sneered as Ioja landed two quick blows against him. It was barely a scratch compared to his health pool, but every point of HP mattered in a war like this. As she stepped in close to slide around his Tower Shield to strike his exposed flank, she noticed a grin appearing on Exile's face.

'Lesser Grace!' Exile's grin widened as his Divine spell activated the offensive lightning aura around his body!

Ioja yelped as a thin bolt of lightning leapt from Exile's body to strike her. Dealing another 30 points of damage. Her expression turned grim as she flicked her pink ponytail away from her plain looking face. The sudden spell had caused her attack to miss as Exile's shield slammed into her and knocked her away.

Her eyes went wide in horror as she spotted the damage she had received from that blow. '35? How?' It took her a moment to notice that there had been an Endurance check when he struck her. But that only caused her to tremble as she climbed back to her feet. 'He's a monster...'

She wanted to scream in frustration, but Exile did not give her a chance to recover. He chased after her the moment he knocked her away. All she saw was a bright flash as another lightning bolt leapt from his aura and struck her. Regret filled her mind as her body turned to motes of light and her orb dropped to the ground. Exile wasted no time in scooping it up and absorbing its power right there.

[You have absorbed Ioja's Divinity! You have permanently received +7 Strength and +4 Endurance.]

[Congratulations! More than 100 points of Divinity detected! You have reached Tier 1 Level 4!]

Exile nodded happily at the system message. This war with the Mirage Pantheon was his best chance to level up right now. 'Everyone seems to have a handle on things...' He hummed as he glanced at the other battles happening nearby. However, his attention was drawn to a change on the enemy side.

The enemy reserve formation was marching on Bjorn's position! Exile cursed as he hoped that Clay and those over there could do something about it. 'Wait! Where's Parthus?' Exile's eyes narrowed as he noticed several auras still standing where the reserves had been. 'Why?'

But the answer soon came. Horns sounded from their location, and were answered by others in the mountains. Exile felt his blood turn cold at that sound. 'They still had more troops hidden up there! If they join the battle...'

He shook his head as he glanced towards the horizon behind him. There was still no sign of any of the alliance or royal faction's players with their forces. 'Can we even hold them until they arrive?'

Meanwhile, in the mountains near Eraldsfen...

"Your Majesty! Our scouts have reported that the Skardian armies have left their strongholds nearby. They appear to be headed in the direction of Lord Exile's battlefield against the Sommerdan invasion!" A young Dwarf hastily reported as he bowed before King Bargrux.

The old Dwarf King stroked his long, grey beard as his golden armour shone in the sun. 'It seems that Exile's plan is working.'

"How long ago was this?" King Bargrux demanded as he stared at the pale light of the sun hiding behind the clouds.

"A few days ago. With their current speed, they should reach the battlefield by nightfall tonight!"

"Hm, ready the army! We march within the hour. Remember to capture as many humans alive as possible. We must discover who their Oracles are!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The young Dwarf replied enthusiastically as he scurried off. Leaving his King alone.

Bargrux's gaze was drawn to his shield and one-handed hammer. In Dwarvish, his shield was known as The Face of the Mountain. While his hammer was known as Gods Bane. They were relics left behind by his father, who led a rebellion against their God during his lifetime. Bargrux shook his head as he stared at them.

"My father was a fool... I won't make the same mistakes he did..." Bargrux spoke aloud to himself as he paced towards them. Within moments he had strapped the shield to his left arm, and the hammer hung from his belt. f𝘳𝚎𝑒𝚠𝑒𝚋𝘯o𝘃eƖ.co𝓂

Loud cheering suddenly erupted from nearby, causing him to smile. 'It's been a long time since a true Dwarven army was seen above ground. I bet the humans have all but almost forgotten about us by now. Let's see if twenty thousand Dwarves marching through Skardia is enough to make them remember!'