**Mans's Report and Fa's Arrival**
The border fortress of the Fierce Claw Empire stood towering over the desolate plain, its iron-stone walls casting long shadows in the setting sun. The fortress was heavily guarded and steeped in military atmosphere, its walls carved with runes of beastman wolf heads. After five grueling days of travel, Fa and her party—Arya, Salsa, and Kayla—finally reached this frontier. Dust-covered and exhausted, yet with resolute light in their eyes, their goal was to find General Ironwall Balge and expose the conspiracy of Grum and Rock.
Mans Giantaxe, the hulking beastman general, strode heavily into General Balge's command center. His armor still bore the dust of the conquest, his battle axe slung across his back and radiating a cold gleam. In the air of the command center hovered a holographic full map projecting the strategic layout of the border region, while the console emitted faint magical light. General Balge, a grizzled old beastman with eyes sharp as tempered steel, sat solemnly behind a crystal table. His presence commanded awe; his heavy armor was engraved with runes pulsing with protective energy.
"General," Mans saluted, his voice deep and powerful. "The land acquisition has been temporarily halted. The villagers of Ironclaw Village were agitated. After speaking with a group of travelers, I decided to pacify them first and await your further orders."
Balge looked up, his gaze piercing. "You did well, Mans. The Empire's glory should not be built on the suffering of its people. But who were these travelers that convinced you?"
Mans hesitated, then described in detail his encounter with Fa's group. "They are outsiders, yet their words and demeanor were full of wisdom and goodwill. One of them, with resolute eyes and earnest speech, reminded me of something you once said: 'A soldier's duty is to protect the people, not oppress them.' Those words made me rethink our actions."
Balge nodded slightly, interest flickering in his eyes. "Interesting. Such travelers are rare. Where are they now?"
"They continued toward the border," Mans replied. "I suspect they have a greater purpose."
Balge pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. "Monitor their movements closely, but do not act rashly. Perhaps they will bring us something unexpected."
Meanwhile, Fa's party finally reached the border fortress. The massive gate, forged of titanium alloy and magical runes, loomed before them. Ten beastman guards stood before it, wielding long spears whose tips crackled with blue plasma—these weapons fused laser technology with magic infusion. Their sharp eyes scanned the newcomers.
Fa took a deep breath and led her team toward the gate.
"Halt! No unauthorized persons may enter!" the ten beastman guards barked, leveling their spears.
Fa stopped and said politely, "We have critical intelligence to report to General Balge. Please make an exception."
The guards sneered. "Critical intelligence? From the likes of you? Get lost, or don't blame us for being rough!"
Kayla gripped her Thunderclaw, ready to fight, but Fa held her hand and whispered, "Stay calm. We cannot afford conflict here. We'll move at night."
The party withdrew into the nearby woods to wait for nightfall. As darkness deepened and moonlight bathed the fortress in eerie silence, Salsa's mechanical cat shell emitted a faint blue glow. Her soul form slowly emerged, ready for the infiltration mission.
"Be careful, Salsa," Fa cautioned. "Once you locate Balge's command center, return immediately to inform us."
Salsa nodded. Her soul form turned into a wisp of black smoke and silently slipped through the trees into the fortress.
**Night Infiltration and Misunderstanding**
Using dark magic, Salsa passed through walls, deftly weaving between patrols and avoiding detection. Sensing magical fluctuations, she finally located a tall tent bearing the Fierce Claw Empire's banner. She quickly returned to report.
"I'm certain—Balge is in there," she told Fa, her voice steady and urgent.
Guided by Salsa's intelligence, the four infiltrated under cover of night. Kayla's claws glowed dimly, Arya's wind magic muffled their footsteps, Fa's earth magic softened the ground beneath them. Yet, unfamiliar with the military fortress, they were still discovered.
"Who's there!" roared bearman Deputy General Bakuv, gripping an energy whip. His massive frame loomed, dark-red fur bristling with killing intent. The whip, made of flexible nano-fibers with a pulsating ruby tip—cracked like thunder as he swung it, unleashing a wave of crimson energy. The party barely dodged.
"You spies have some nerve coming here!" Bakuv bellowed.
Soon, beastman soldiers swarmed and surrounded them. Bakuv lashed his whip. "Take them alive! They're enemy spies!"
"We are not spies!" Fa shouted. "We have critical intelligence for General Balge!"
Bakuv sneered. "Intelligence? We'll beat it out of you after we capture you!"
Conflict erupted amid the misunderstanding. Kayla stepped forward, cloak still on. "Enough!" she roared. Thunderclaw exploded with purple lightning. Her power unmatched, she partially transformed—claws lengthening, eyes flashing with feral light. The transformation amplified her weapon; electric arcs spiraled wildly.
Bakuv swung his whip; energy tore through the air. Kayla countered, claws slashing upward to intercept it, sparks exploding in sparks. The ruby tip detonated in the shockwave, yet she pressed forward, leaping with superhuman speed and slamming Bakuv back. His armor hissed where lightning struck.
Fa joined the fight, driving her short blade into the ground. Earth magic surged, raising jagged stone spikes that deflected the guards' plasma fire. Arya's bowstring sang; wind-blade arrows streaked past, each tipped with light magic that burst into blinding flashes on impact. Salsa summoned ten shadow wolf knights that tore into the guards like phantoms.
Bakuv rallied, weaving his whip into an energy net. Kayla ducked and closed the distance. "You'll get hurt!" she roared, slamming both claws into the ground. A thunderous pulse radiated outward, cratering the earth and hurling Bakuv against a wall. His whip fell limp, the ruby flickering weakly.
At that moment, Mans arrived at the commotion. Recognizing Fa's group, he shouted, "Stop! They are not enemies!"
Bakuv turned, confused. "Mans, they trespassed into the border fortress with unknown intent—they must be interrogated!"
Mans stepped forward. "These are the travelers I mentioned earlier. Let them speak."
Fa, breathing heavily, said, "We came to seek General Balge's help. Generals Grum of the Fierce Claw Empire and Rock of the Steel Forge Alliance are colluding with foreign enemies, smuggling crystal core ore and enslaving innocents. We have proof."
Bakuv's eyes flickered with hesitation but he held firm. "These are grave accusations. Without evidence, I cannot trust you."
**Kayla's Identity Revealed**
Kayla finally threw off her cloak, revealing silver ear tips and the battle scar on her forehead. "I am Kayla, Fifth General of the Fierce Claw Empire! I did not die—I came to expose Grum's conspiracy!"
Everyone stared in shock. Bakuv gaped. "You… you're General Kayla? But it was officially announced that you…"
Kayla gave a cold laugh. "That was General Mias's plan to protect me. I need to see General Balge. It is urgent."
Bakuv wavered. Mans stepped closer and whispered, "Let them see the general. If what they say is true, it is vital to the Empire."
Bakuv shook his head. "No. Without the general's order, I cannot allow it. If you insist on forcing your way in, I will act."
Fury flashed in Kayla's eyes; Thunderclaw hummed ominously. Fa tried to de-escalate. "We have no wish for conflict—only to speak with the general once."
But Bakuv was resolute. He signaled more guards to prepare suppression.
The fighting roused the entire fortress. General Balge finally emerged from the command center in rune armor, wielding a warhammer forged of purple magic ore and alloy that glowed with violet light. His presence was mountainous.
"Everyone stand down!" he roared.
The guards froze. Bakuv stepped aside and bowed in apology. Balge's gaze swept the battlefield and settled on Kayla. Seeing Thunderclaw and her familiar face, surprise and joy flashed in his eyes.
"Kayla! Is it really you?" He strode forward, voice thick with emotion. "Child, you're alive!"
Kayla dropped to one knee and presented her father's personal insignia—a copper badge of crossed battle axe and spear, its edges scarred by war. "Uncle Balge, it's been too long. I came to expose Grum and Rock's conspiracy—they betrayed the Empire, betrayed you and my father's trust."
Balge took the badge, overcome. "This was your father's heirloom; he never parted with it. Ten years… I never thought I'd see you grown." Tears glinted in his eyes as he raised her. "You've suffered these years. Tell me everything."
He turned to Fa's group with solemn gratitude. "Thank you for protecting Kayla and bringing this vital intelligence." He ordered the guards, "Seal all news of tonight—no one speaks of this. We go to the command center to talk."
**Balge's Recognition and Secret Council**
The party followed Balge into the secure command center. Maps and weapons lined the walls; magical communication devices sat on the table. Balge sat and gestured for Fa to begin.
Fa recounted everything from the Mo Erosion Mountains: the secret mine, Durin's sacrifice, Grum's collusion with the blood elf Syst and the soul entity Cthulhu, Rock's betrayal. "We have proof of their crimes, but we need your help to make it public."
Kayla added, "Grum is not only colluding with foreign enemies and enslaving innocents—he's smuggling crystal core ore to research unknown dangers."
Balge's face darkened. "I long suspected something off about Grum's actions, but never imagined he had fallen this far." He gripped his warhammer. "We must stop them. Kayla, your father was my closest friend—I stand with you."
He turned to Mans. "Summon the officers. We formulate a plan."
**Undercurrents in the Mo Erosion Mountains**
Meanwhile, deep in the Mo Erosion Mountains, Rex and TISK moved urgently. Rex's mechanical eye scanned every corner of the mine; nano-drones hovered, detecting enemy movements. He discovered that the blood elf Syst and the soul entity Cthulhu had left the mine—a rare opportunity.
"TISK, we must hurry. While they're gone, we gather evidence quickly," Rex said coldly.
TISK nodded, warhammer ready. "General Amber is stalling Rock—we act fast."
They reached Grum's mine chamber. It appeared ordinary—a stone room chiseled by beastman hands, walls etched with ancestral battle scars—yet Rex's infrared scan detected anomalous magnetic fluctuations. In one seemingly random fang pattern, the third "canine tooth" had 17% higher density and faint magical fingerprints.
"TISK, here." Rex's mechanical finger hovered over the mark, visor glowing blue with analysis. "Dwarf mithril powder mixed in—magnetic signature matches the miners' chains." He pressed the fang tip; translucent digital runes emerged—three totems representing "Blood Moon," "Beastman," and "Fierce Claw Empire" flashing in Grum's personal rhythm.
TISK struck the corresponding scars with his hammer. Metal magic flowed through the wall; three dull thuds later, the entire wall split open like a beast's maw, revealing a curse-covered secret door. Rex's shield activated in time to block the corrosive mist. "Without close inspection, no one would ever find it."
Inside, the chamber contrasted sharply with the outer ruggedness: dwarf mechanisms lined the walls, ten beastman and dwarf slave corpses pinned to glowing crystal core panels by enchanted iron chains bearing Rock's legion runes. TISK smashed open a hidden floor chest; sacks of crystal core ore spilled out. Rex's scan locked on a magical memory crystal in the corner, his voice unusually sharp: "Transaction records show Grum personally signed agreements selling beastman territory crystal veins to foreign enemies under 'allied support' for ten whole years—almost exactly when Kayla's father vanished."
Elsewhere, General Amber stalled Rock in camp, asking pointed questions to buy time.
"General Rock, what is your view on Durin's cause of death?" Amber asked calmly, eyes sharp.
Rock sneered. "Durin was killed by those outsiders—an indisputable fact. We must hunt the murderers and avenge him."
Amber smiled inwardly but remained composed. "Yet I heard witnesses say Durin died in conflict with Grum's subordinates."
Rock's expression flickered. "Rumors! Grum is a loyal servant of the Fierce Claw Empire and our ally—how could he do such a thing?"
At that moment, Grum's beastman transport army returned to the Mo Erosion Mountains. His deputy Evilblade Shukes rode a mechanical warhorse, ears twitching as he scanned the dwarf forces with a mocking grin. "The dwarf legion sent so many—planning an armor exhibition in the Mo Erosion Mountains?"
The dwarf warriors trembled with rage. Amber restrained their axe hands.
Grum's beastman face twisted into a war mask of ferocity. He cracked his whip at Shukes. "Silence! When we fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the dwarves, you were still nursing at your mother's teat!" Turning to Amber, his pupils flashed with beastman-only perceptible triumph—this provocation was deliberately permitted to test dwarf limits while displaying his own "justice."
Shukes shrugged and fell silent. Amber suppressed her fury, waiting for the right moment.
Deep in the mine, TISK and the scouts finally secured critical evidence—smuggled crystal core ore, slave chains stained with blood. TISK sensed the runes on the chains with metal magic. "These are definitely proof of Rock and company's treasonous smuggling."
Rex recorded everything with nano-drones. "This footage will stand in court. We succeeded."
Victory gleamed in TISK's eyes. "Now we leave quickly and rendezvous with Fa and the others."
Rex nodded. "Time is critical—we move."
In the border command center, Fa's group and General Balge planned the next steps. Balge said gravely, "We must contact reliable allies in the Steel Forge Alliance and mobilize forces against Grum."
Kayla clenched Thunderclaw. "Thank you, Uncle Balge. Together we'll expose Grum's true face."
Fa nodded. "My teammates are gathering evidence in the Mo Erosion Mountains. Once we regroup, we act."
Meanwhile, Rex and TISK withdrew from the mine with the evidence, heading to meet Fa's group at the border. Dark currents stirred in the Mo Erosion Mountains as Grum and Rock's conspiracy gradually surfaced, and tension reached its peak.