Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race Chapter 362 - The Advancement of Time and Eras

Within a Forge Mountain located in the Dwarf Territory of the Kingdom of Gaia, a ferocious battle between two gods raged with intense ferocity.

Forge Mountains were a unique concept conceived by Rygar. Essentially, these mountains possessed internal volcanic veins that could be deliberately activated.

Upon activation, the entire interior of the mountain transformed into a colossal forge, capable of maintaining extreme temperatures for extended durations without structural compromise.

Naturally, the description of this "brutal clash between gods" was somewhat subjective.

It was, in essence, as intense as two robust dwarves could make it, exchanging punches, hammer blows, axe swings, and heated insults with utmost sincerity.

"YOU DROOLING OLD BASTARD! DIE IN A DARK DITCH!"

A hammer connected with the Ore God's face with crushing force, sending Godbard hurtling through the air before he crashed against a wall of heat-scorched rock.

Yet, he remained unyielding.

With a bellow akin to an enraged bull, Godbard sprang back up immediately, spat to the side, bared his teeth, and launched an axe at his adversary while roaring:

"YOU COCKY LITTLE BRAT, WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE AS A DWARVEN BLACKSMITH?! DID YOU DROP IT WHILE GRAZING IN THE CAPITAL?!"

The axe sliced through the air in a direct path, spinning with a sharp whistle.

Rufus, the Earth God, evaded it at the last possible second, using his own hammer to deflect the blade's trajectory just before it could cleave his forehead.

The axe ricocheted sideways, embedding itself halfway into a pillar of black stone.

The two combatants reassumed their stances.

Both grunting with fierce determination.

Rufus retorted loudly:

"YOU DON’T SEE THE FUTURE, OLD MAN! THE FUTURE ISN’T JUST SWORDS AND AXES! A TRUE MASTERPIECE HAS TO BE MORE THAN A TOOL OF EXECUTION!"

Godbard shot back, striking the ground with such force that cracks spiderwebbed beneath his boots.

"BULLSHIT! A TRUE DWARVEN BLACKSMITH FORGES THE BEST WEAPON! WEAPONS SHAPE ENTIRE ERAS! THEY ALWAYS HAVE AND THEY ALWAYS WILL! JUST LOOK AT THE BEAST GOD’S DOOMSDAY SWORD, YOU STUPID BRAT!"

"WHAT A NARROW-MINDED VIEW, OLD MAN! SO NOW HE HAS A SWORD, AND THEN WHAT?! WHEN THERE ARE NO MORE BATTLES, WEAPONS WILL BECOME USELESS!"

"THERE WILL NEVER STOP BEING BATTLES!"

"THAT ONLY PROVES YOU CAN’T THINK BEYOND YOUR OWN BEARD!"

The argument escalated, mirroring the tempo of the punches, hammer blows, elbow strikes, and axe swings.

Neither seemed inclined to yield to the other's point, yet both were completely resolved to dominate the discourse as much as the fight.

Or perhaps, fighting over the argument.

It could well have been both.

Meanwhile, an observer to this entire spectacle was Pursena Adoldia, one of the Beast Princesses of the Kingdom of Gaia and Kilian's companion.

She sat in a cross-legged posture, savoring a golden chicken drumstick, seemingly unfazed by the cacophony, the insults, or the flying debris.

Such brawls were not uncommon among dwarves, particularly between Rufus and Godbard. Occasionally, Brightstone would intervene in their disputes, but this was less frequent than with these two particular combatants.

In fact, it appeared the conflict between them had intensified as Rufus's skills honed over the years.

He had gradually begun to express dissent regarding Godbard's leadership of dwarven civilization.

However, a deeper understanding of this contention required some contextual background.

In reality, Rufus was already the designated successor Godbard had groomed for eventual leadership.

Together—Godbard, with his vast experience and genius in forging, and Rufus, with his masterful command of Earth Magic and evident smithing talent—they had been responsible for the creation of the vast majority of implements utilized by the elite echelons of the current Kingdom of Gaia.

Swords. Armor. Magical artifacts. Specialized equipment. Bespoke creations.

Virtually every significant item had, in some capacity, passed through the hands of one of them.

And when Rufus eventually ascended to the status of an Earth God through his magical prowess, his standing among countless dwarves grew immeasurably, solidifying his position as the natural successor to the title of Ore God.

Yet, as his expertise expanded, Rufus also delved into numerous other ambitious projects.

He played a crucial role in the development of a magically powered vessel, capable of independent navigation without reliance on wind or sea, a venture that proved to be a resounding success.

Furthermore, he engineered colossal structures and formidable fortresses using his Earth Magic, significantly reinforcing the Kingdom of Gaia at particularly vulnerable points, rendering any invasion by land or sea strategically suicidal.

He even experimented with even more outlandish creations.

Magically propelled trains.

Constructs bearing a striking resemblance to balloons, although his ultimate objective was the creation of an airship.

Many of these innovative concepts were, demonstrably, inspired by the narratives and tales Rygar had shared with him during his youth and even afterward.

Rufus, drawing upon his innate skill and cleverness, adapted these concepts, striving to actualize them to the best of his ability. His innovations, consequently, significantly improved daily life within the Kingdom of Gaia. Rygar offered continuous encouragement, even contributing novel ideas and actively participating in the development of numerous creations. Consequently, Rufus earned the moniker 'God of Craftsmanship' in many circles. However, this very approach ignited fierce contention, not only with Godbard but also with a considerable number of dwarves who adhered to a more traditional philosophy of forging. In their eyes, the ultimate successor to their race should embody the very essence of the forge as it had existed for millennia. While dwarves were universally recognized for their exceptional craftsmanship, forging had always occupied the central, most distinctive position in their identity. When one spoke of the dwarf race, blades, armor, and all manner of forge-related armaments invariably came to mind. This, they believed, was how things should remain, at least for the traditionalists. The disputes between the factions became so frequent that most eventually ceased intervening. In a peculiar way, this very dwarven tenacity contributed to their mastery in their craft. Thus, Pursena was contentedly enjoying her meal while observing Godbard and Rufus engage in their dispute. This changed when Rufus began employing magic to ensnare Godbard’s feet, causing him to gradually sink into the heated earthen floor. Pursena let out a languid sigh and declared, "That’s enough, Rufus!" She raised her hand, applying the familiar Disturb Magic just before Godbard was fully submerged. Even with his lower body trapped, he continued to curse, "WEAK BRAT! USING MAGIC IS EASY! JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET OUT OF HERE!" Rufus glanced at Pursena and scoffed, "Ha! Good luck doing that on your own!" He then stormed off, visibly seething. Pursena leaped up and gave chase, naturally taking the remaining chicken drumsticks on a plate with her. As she passed by, she casually waved a hand, dispersing the earth surrounding Godbard. Despite her relaxed and indolent demeanor, Pursena had achieved the rank of Water King-level swordswoman the previous year. Combined with her King-level Magic, Chantless Magic, Disturb, and Howling Magic, she stood as one of the most formidable warriors in the Kingdom. However, she had never harbored any desire to join the ranks of the Twelve Kings. Pursena and Rufus proceeded through the mountain's interior until they reached a device resembling a magical elevator, one of Rufus’s many inventions. The mountain's interior was a volcanic region, placing them deep underground. As they ascended, the red-haired dwarf’s expression shifted to one of slight bewilderment. He cast furtive glances at Pursena, as if trying to recall something crucial that had completely slipped his mind. He then finally inquired, "Aaah... what was it again? I wasn’t paying attention!" Pursena finished a drumstick, nonchalantly discarded the bone, and, after wiping her mouth, stated, "Uh-huh! You’ve been summoned by the Acting Regent of the Kingdom of Gaia as a National Defense Force Measure! Miss Aisha will be launching a military campaign toward the Begaritt Continent soon, and you are to remain on standby in case of an invasion!" Rufus appeared perplexed. "War? But Rygar isn’t even around! Why would she do that?" Pursena shrugged, replying, "I don’t ponder these matters deeply; I’m merely relaying orders, man, don’t take me too seriously." She then resumed her meal, seemingly unconcerned. Rufus observed this with a hint of disdain. Who would have imagined that this woman was once seriously considered a potential ruler of the Kingdom... Well, at least she possessed considerable strength. Rufus retrieved his communicator and began reviewing his messages. It hadn’t been long since he had modified Aisha’s new sword, Undertow. The sword possessed a rather unique inherent ability: it could influence the ambient mana. It was also due to this capability that the Water God Reida Lia had managed to devise her signature technique—though this was primarily a testament to her own exceptional talent, the initial catalyst had been that golden blade now wielded by Aisha. The adjustments Aisha requested were all focused on enhancing this ability and broadening its practical applications. In any event, over the preceding days, he had been engrossed in forging and had consequently missed numerous messages, many of which were likely from Aisha, possibly warning him about the current wartime situation. The thought of facing reprimand brought a slight headache, but he soon felt a measure of relief. It was not an order for War Mobilization, but rather for National Defense. Despite his considerable power, Rufus was not the type of individual who relished confronting perilous adversaries.

A self-satisfied chuckle escaped him, a sound of pure delight at his own thoughts.

"Hehehe!"

Pursena regarded him with a puzzled expression but remained silent.

Upon reaching the mountain’s exit, Rufus stomped his feet with a booming shout:

"San Oiran!"

Dozens of meters below, a colossal blue dragon stirred from its slumber. It slowly lifted its head, fixing Rufus with a displeased gaze before issuing a languid grumble in his direction:

"Rawww!"

Veins throbbed on Rufus’s forehead as he retorted:

"Get over here, you lazy oaf! We’re heading to the capital!"

With a stretch, Pursena declared:

"You go on ahead, I’ll catch up. I have other matters to attend to!"

With that said, she launched herself across the mountains, her movements far swifter than her leisurely speech suggested.

"Hmph! Very well!"

His Blue Dragon showing no inclination to cooperate, Rufus was compelled to descend alone, intending to impart a lesson through his Earth Magic—a method Dragon San Oiran was quite accustomed to.

After a brief struggle, a snapped resistance, and a final huff of irritation, the dragon finally took to the skies, soaring towards Tinaver, the capital of the Kingdom of Gaia.

----

"Moore! Where are we!?"

A demon woman clad in Black Armor, her skin a striking blue and her hair a cascade of long white strands, stood poised atop a mountain summit. Beside her was Moore, a short, stout, middle-aged man also in Black Armor. The wind howled fiercely at this altitude, buffeting their attire, hair, and cloaks relentlessly.

After a thorough survey of their surroundings, the assistant responded:

"We are on a mountain in the southern region of the Central Continent, my Lady."

The Immortal Demon King betrayed no hint of contentment.

"Ah?! Were we not meant to be in Begaritt?! Did you miscalculate the route, Moore?!"

She was already raising her fist to strike, but Moore interjected swiftly:

"No, my Lady, the most direct routes were rendered impassable by the enemy. Our objective here is to secure passage by sea."

From their vantage point high on the mountain, he gestured into the distance.

South of the Central Continent, within the dominion of the Kingdragon Kingdom, lay a vast expanse of ocean separating this region from the Desert Continent of Begaritt.

Only a few years prior, these seas had held little of note.

Now, however, ports and docks had been erected on a monumental scale.

Hundreds of individuals bustled about, transporting goods, ropes, crates, weaponry, and a myriad of other cargo.

Most significantly, a continuous stream of vessels, from grand caravels stretching over five hundred meters to smaller sailing ships, were perpetually anchored and departing, setting course to traverse the perilous waters.

Atoferatofe observed this scene for a moment.

Then, witnessing the sheer scale of the activity, a feral grin bloomed across her face.

"Hohoho! HAHAHAHAHAH!"

The relentless wind whipped around her hair, amplifying her formidable presence and creating an aura of unyielding power.

----

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