Chapter 285: Good words can't persuade the damned, let's play a big game
"Thorin, I truly understand you," Aaron advised earnestly, "But you are the King. Think of your people. At a time like this, you absolutely cannot put yourself in danger."
Thorin turned his head, his expression blank but with a determined glint in his eyes. "Precisely because I am the King, I cannot remain indifferent.
Azog's insult is not just to me, but to the Durin folk, to the entire Dwarf race."
"The bigger picture is more important!" Aaron said with a dark expression. "Anyone with eyes can see this is a trap, and you—no, all of you—are foolishly walking right into it.
Once Borg's Orc army arrives, then…"
"Then we will kill that Demon King before they arrive," Thorin said resolutely.
"Leave the other Orcs to us," Dwalin promised, patting his chest, vowing not to let other Orcs disturb Thorin, while Filiand Kili also tacitly drew their weapons.
Aaron took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart. "The courage of Dwarves truly amazes me, but have you ever considered what would happen if you failed?
The King beheaded by Orcs, Dwarf morale plummeting, and then all of them slaughtered.
Thorin, Moria is a cautionary tale. Don't tell me you're going to repeat history."
Thorin paused slightly, glanced at Azog, who was sneering, and then sighed: "Sometimes, sacrifice holds a greater meaning. Dáin and his Ironfoot Army will fight with all their might to avenge the King.
Gaius, I ask one thing of you, as a friend.
If I die, you must take Fili and Kili away. Fili will be the next Dwarf King."
"Uncle, I…"
"Silence," Thorin sternly stared at his two nephews. "This is the King's command. I can die here, but you two must return alive."
"Heartfelt," Aaron silently drew his magic wand. "Stupefy."
Just as the spell was about to hit Thorin, Dwalin pulled him aside and then glared at Aaron, "What are you doing?"
Damn it!
Aaron was on the verge of tears. Are you a traitor? Can't you see I'm saving him?
"Uh… actually, it's a misunderstanding. I just wanted to knock him out and then take him away safely."
"Gaius, thank you for your kindness, but if you still consider me a friend, do not stop me," Thorin smiled. "This is for the glory of the Durin folk. Even if I die, I will defend it to the end."
Aaron: …I'm tired. Let it all be destroyed!
…Meanwhile, in Riverrun.
The thought form, who was fighting alongside Gandalf and others, suddenly received memories from his main body.
"Motherf***er!"
The thought form felt the main body's anger and helplessness, his eyes blazing with fire, and a chilling aura emanating from him that warned people to stay away.
Just then, a giant beast appeared before him. The thought form looked at this ready-made punching bag, balled his fists, and began to vent his fury.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The thought form's punches were like the wind, making the giant beast foam at the mouth, retreating from the alley entrance to the alley end.
As it retreated to the end of the alley, on the verge of losing its last consciousness, a ball of flame ignited on the thought form's right fist. "Dragon's… Iron Fist."
Boom!
The huge figure let out its final shriek, rising into the sky with a burst of flames, and then crashing down heavily.
"Gandalf, who exactly is this guy?" Legolas asked in astonishment. "Are you sure he's a Wizard?"
"Are you sure he's a clone?" Tauriel was also a little shocked.
"I didn't know he could fight giant beasts hand-to-hand either!" Gandalf said sheepishly. In truth, this was no longer hand-to-hand combat; it was outright slaughter.
The few Wizards among them were not weaker than top warriors, but they still fell within the human scope. However, Aaron was an anomaly through and through. Both his magic power and combat prowess were outrageously exaggerated, almost as if he wasn't from this world.
Gandalf suddenly realized something, his expression subtly changing, and an almost impossible truth surfaced in his mind.
"Uh… are you alright!" Bilbo walked over, asking with concern.
"No, I'm not. Something big, something very big, has happened," the thought form said angrily. "Thorin plans to stay at Ravenhill and fight Azog to the death."
"What?!" Gandalf exclaimed in shock, almost stumbling and falling to the ground. "Is he mad? Didn't you tell him about the Gundabad Orcs army?"
"What do you think?" the thought form rolled his eyes. "I made it very clear, even told him the consequences of failure, but it was useless.
Azog brought up his grandfather and father, tarnishing the face of the Durin royal family and the dignity of the Dwarf race to worthlessness. Do you think he could tolerate that?"
"Didn't you try to knock him out?" Bilbo asked with some urgency.
"Heh heh!" the thought form covered his face with a bitter smile. "That unlucky Dwalin pulled Thorin aside at the critical moment, avoiding my Stupefy spell. In that situation, I couldn't really cast another spell."
"What about the others?" Tauriel asked. "What are the others thinking?"
"They're staying to defend the dignity of the Dwarf race with their King," the thought form said with a mix of grief and indignation, his face also bearing a desolate smile amidst his vexation. "I've been living a carefree life for fourteen years, and other than being beaten up by the Klein family's elder sister when I was six, I've never lost.
But today I lost, defeated by the Dwarves' stubbornness, utterly and completely defeated."
"Uh…" Gandalf looked at Aaron with a hint of pity. "I know you must not be feeling well right now, but the bigger picture is important."
"Don't talk to me about the bigger picture," the thought form interrupted him. "I've had enough, I really have. You should go talk about the bigger picture with those damned Dwarves."
"But we can't just leave him on Ravenhill, can we?" Bilbosaid. "Borg's Orc army will be here any moment."
"So Thorin has already made arrangements for his aftermath; Fili will be the next Dwarf King," the thought form waved his hand helplessly. "Such a resolve to face death, even the heavens would have to yield. What can I do?"
Hearing this, Bilbo was silent for a moment, then said: "I still think we should support him. We might not be able to help much, but at least we can buy Thorin more time."
"I'll go too," Tauriel immediately declared. Kili was also on Ravenhill, and she was truly worried.
"It's too late," Legolas said. "There will be many obstacles along the way. By the time we get there, they would have already finished fighting."
"That's usually the case, but we have an unusual Wizard," Gandalf said, giving the thought form a meaningful look.
The thought form chuckled, turned his face away, not wanting to bother with him.
A few Dwarves were already enough trouble for him; were a few more going to make him even more tired?
Moreover, although Thorin's attitude made him quite angry, giving him a sense of déjà vu that good advice is lost on the doomed, they were friends after all. If it came down to it, his main body could lead them to break through the encirclement.
"Do you really have a way to get us there?" Tauriel asked, looking at the thought form with eager eyes.
"No."
"You must," Legolas asserted. "Since you've decided to stay and fight, that means you don't want to lose this war.
Now, if you get us there to help Thorin Oakenshield kill Azog, this war is half won."
Hearing this, the thought form fell silent.
He had to admit, he was tempted.
The battle situation was still fluid, and things would become even more complicated once reinforcements arrived for both sides.
In this situation, Ravenhill was key to the battle. For the massive sum of two thousand magic points to be successfully credited, Azog had to die, and Borg and his Gundabad Orcs could not live either.
"Alright, I'll take you there."
"Excellent!" Bilbo immediately walked up to Aaron. "Let's go, I'm ready."
"Wait a moment," a glint flashed in the thought form's eyes. "Since we're going, let's go big."
"What do you mean?"
The thought form did not answer, but instead jumped to the top of the tower, looking at the various fires in Riverrun and waving his magic wand.
The next moment, all the flames in Riverrun transformed into crimson streams of light, converging towards the tower and being completely absorbed into the thought form's mouth.
The few onlookers watched this scene dumbfounded, utterly shocked, but unable to find any words to describe it.
Burp~
The thought form let out a satisfied burp, and casually commented: "Tastes good, just a little burnt."
"You ate the flames?" Bilbo said incoherently.
"Calm down, I'm a Wizard. This is just a normal operation to restore stamina."
Hearing this, the three of them simultaneously turned their gaze to Gandalf, as if asking: Is he telling the truth?
Gandalf: …"Nonsense, no one can devour flames except Balrogs."
"Now you have."
"Who exactly are you?"
"I recall telling you the answer to that question," the thought form said indifferently. "Do you need me to repeat it?"
Gandalf's eye twitched. Thinking of Aaron's previous self-introduction, he had a swear word in his heart that he didn't know whether to utter.
"Business first, quickly take us there."
"Alrighty!"
The thought form quickly took out his magic carpet. Bilbocouldn't help but frown, worried: "With so many of us, can the magic carpet carry us?"
"What are you thinking? This is for you," the thought formsolemnly placed the magic carpet in Bilbo's hand. "If I run out of energy later, you'll have to be responsible for getting me away."
Although Bilbo was puzzled, he still nodded.
The thought form then had the few people grab his arms and Apparated to Ravenhill.
"How marvelous, we're already at Ravenhill?" Tauriel was utterly shocked. This method of instantaneous teleportation completely refreshed her worldview.
Legolas was also surprised and uncertain. Elves also knew some magic, but they had never seen this kind of magicbefore.
"Where are Thorin and the others?" Gandalf asked.
The thought form pointed to the frozen lake behind them. Thorin was fiercely battling Azog on the lake surface. Perhaps due to a burst of rage, he was fighting Azog to a standstill, even gaining a slight advantage. As for the others, they were helping him block the remaining Orcs, with a very clear division of labor.