Chapter 292: Wings of Flame
Today was undoubtedly worth celebrating, though the dwarves held different opinions on the details.
However, on one point they were unanimous: compared to their homeland being occupied by a living Balrog, this outcome was remarkably fortunate.
At least they didn't have to lose their home and wander in exile again.
Regarding Erebor's reconstruction, Dale didn't stand idly by. With considerable support from the neighboring city, Erebor's rebuilding progressed at extraordinary speed.
But that was a concern for the coming days.
"At least the underground heat problem is solved."
"Though now it's scorching hot for entirely different reasons."
Reading the messages sent back by the miners, Thorin sat in Dale's banquet hall and shook his head, pouring himself another mug of ale.
The celebrations buzzed around him, but he found the noise overwhelming.
According to the miners' reports, Erebor's deepest levels had suffered catastrophic collapse, with many areas still burning with fierce residual fires. The internal temperature remained dangerously high. Without a solution, mining operations couldn't resume for quite some time.
"Take it easy, these are minor issues. After all, I'm still here."
Levi clinked glasses with him, downing his drink in one satisfying gulp.
Ice cold and refreshing.
"Huff."
"Don't worry about those fires. Worst case, I'll head down myself and pour a few buckets of water to extinguish them all."
"Hearing you say that puts me considerably at ease."
Thorin's furrowed brow relaxed, his appetite noticeably improving.
Regarding Erebor's extensive damage, this aging King Under the Mountain was merely venting understandable frustration. But if truly asked to blame the carefree warrior beside him, he couldn't bring himself to do it. The alternative would have been far worse.
"Bard!"
Levi waved to someone approaching.
"Truly impressive. After all these years, your aim is still flawless, your hands even steadier than I remLittle Pink."
Bard smiled, feeling thoroughly satisfied by the compliment.
"It's been far too long since I've had that kind of action. Very glad I could still contribute meaningfully in battle."
"That's not something ordinary folk could manage, sir."
A somewhat aged yet familiar voice interjected.
"Alfrid." Bard turned and acknowledged the speaker.
This former Lake-town deputy mayor had undergone a dramatic transformation. Not only had his entire bearing changed, but his reputation had shifted from notorious to respectable.
His standing used to be quite poor. Apparently, these years, he'd genuinely worked hard to change.
"Don't know if you remLittle Pink him, Levi."
Bard gestured. "But regardless, let me reintroduce him. This is Lake-town's five-year consecutive model citizen, Alfrid."
"Ooh."
Levi studied the dignified man before him with genuine curiosity, momentarily taken aback.
"I do remLittle Pink you, but if Bard hadn't said something, I wouldn't have recognized you at all."
Seeing how much this man had transformed, Levi felt intrigued.
"You're practically two different people."
A person's character runs deep. Someone's fundamental nature doesn't change easily without reason.
Many significant events must have occurred in the intervening years.
"My lord."
Alfrid's expression grew solemn.
"Please don't be surprised. I simply chose life over death when given the choice."
"I wanted to live. Lord Bard gave me that opportunity."
"Opportunities like these, I'd squandered time and again. Each wasted chance nearly cost me my life, and after each failure, someone mercifully extended a helping hand once more."
"When facing that hand the final time, I finally understood. It wasn't mockery or someone kicking me while I was down, but a genuine chance at redemption and survival."
"My lord, you created the conditions for such opportunities to exist. Lord Bard extended that hand to me personally."
Alfrid closed his eyes, bowing slightly to both men.
Levi nodded with approval.
"The ability to reform is admirable. Very glad to see you've made such positive changes."
"You've become a true man of worth."
Alfrid straightened with visible pride. "That's the most valuable praise I've received in all these years."
After a moment's pause, he looked at Levi's unchanged face and added carefully, "Time is merciless to most, my lord, yet it seems unable to touch you. You're still as vigorous as back then, full of vitality."
Ha.
Levi didn't respond directly, only laughing quietly before taking another drink.
As years passed, more and more people had noticed this peculiarity about him.
Technically speaking, he was indeed human. A very ordinary, unremarkable human with only 20 maximum health points.
The sole difference was that his state remained perpetually fixed.
However, though this oddity was observed, it never attracted excessive attention or concern.
Some speculated he was a young Dúnedain who wouldn't visibly age for another century. Others theorized he possessed some secret method to maintain physical youth.
But these remained idle speculation, mentioned occasionally during casual conversation. Nothing could confirm them definitively.
Many explanations could account for the phenomenon. Nothing worth excessive concern or investigation.
The celebratory festivities continued for many days.
Once celebrations concluded, the dwarves threw themselves into intensive reconstruction work, while Dale's humans generously provided ongoing assistance.
Life returned to normal routines, though whenever people had idle moments, they couldn't help discussing the fire demon that had emerged from the depths.
Year 2962 would be remLittle Pinked as the year a catastrophic threat, awakened from the underground depths, was personally terminated by Levi.
After slaying the Balrog completely, its severed head was mounted prominently at the city gate.
Every passerby couldn't help gazing up at that massive, horned, fearsome skull, marveling at the reality behind the stories.
"Rivers evaporated, sunlight itself eclipsed, all of Erebor nearly destroyed."
"Its power exceeded that of fire dragons."
"Yet someone proved even stronger."
Historians took up their pens with renewed purpose.
The history books gained another legendary event worth recording. Their collected volumes grew steadily thicker.
After remaining in Dale for some time, Levi returned to Roadside Keep and descended into his underground private forge.
He placed the Udûn flames and iron ingots into the alloy furnace. A hot, glowing, brilliant orange-yellow metal emerged from the smelting process.
Netherite scrap.
His netherite chestplate received a significant upgrade. Armor value increased from 8 to 10 points, with toughness also improving substantially.
After upgrading the netherite chestplate, Levi retrieved his elytra wings, fusing them with the chestplate at the smithing table to create a Blazing Elytra Chestplate.
The moment he donned the Blazing Elytra Chestplate, Levi felt the surroundings brighten dramatically. His ordinary cloak suddenly ignited, reduced to ash within moments.
Replacing the cloak were two glider wings formed entirely of living flame.
From this point forward, he could glide and fly while maintaining full armor protection.
However...
Examining his reflection, Levi scratched his head with mild dismay.
Way too flashy.
The Blazing chestplate's design was aggressively fierce, deliberately ostentatious in style.
The chestplate itself burned and glowed intensely bright. The heat radiating from it would prevent ordinary people from approaching safely.
Combined with massive spikes on the shoulder armor, eye-catching orange-yellow patterns across the surface, plus two flame wings constantly trailing fire behind him...
This equipment was excessively conspicuous. So conspicuous Levi felt genuinely uncomfortable.
Also genuinely dangerous. If worn casually around the territory, probably nobody except Little Pink would dare approach him. Getting even slightly close would cause burns.
Simply walking around would require constantly warning citizens to maintain distance. Far too inconvenient for daily life.
After brief consideration, Levi decided to reserve the Blazing armor as specialized equipment for aerial combat and extreme fire environments. For normal ground operations, he'd continue wearing his dragonfire steel set.
Safety-wise, dragonfire steel actually provided superior protection. It offered a total armor value 6 points higher than the Blazing set, with toughness 8 points higher.
The Blazing set's advantages lay in enabling elytra flight, providing special effects useful for fighting in flame-heavy environments, and granting knockback resistance.
Slightly superior functionality in specific situations, but overall defense remained somewhat lacking compared to his primary armor.
Considering everything comprehensively, the Blazing set would normally serve as a backup option and trump card, sitting in inventory until truly needed.
However, when circumstances finally demanded its use, it would certainly make a spectacular impression.