Seeing no trace of joy on Gandalf's face, Kael knew the outcome.

"But it wasn't successful?"

Gandalf nodded, sighing gravely with a heavy expression.

"The Dunlendings have historical grievances and land disputes with the Rohirrim. Now, after that person's constant secret instigation, the Dunlendings hate the Rohirrim even more and are filled with prejudice. They've already allied with that person, trying to reclaim their lands."

"I tried convincing the Dunlending chieftain to set aside hatred and went to Rohan to persuade the king to grant land as Dunlending territory. But the Dunlendings have been deceived by that person. They're no longer satisfied with just returning to their homeland but want to seize all of Rohan."

"Moreover, the Dunlendings view me as a Rohirrim spy and nearly imprisoned me. I only managed to escape Dunland thanks to the flying broomstick you gave me!"

Kael showed a worried expression.

"Won't the Dunlendings inform that person about you? If it arouses his vigilance, it might cause complications!"

Gandalf smiled relaxedly and shook his head.

"Don't worry. Long ago I also visited Dunland, trying to convince Dunlendings and Rohirrim to make peace and jointly oppose dark forces.

So even if that person knows I went to Dunland, he'll only think I'm doing the same as before. He might even mock me for doing futile work."

Kael immediately felt relieved.

Beside them, Balin was somewhat curious about "that person" they mentioned, but wisely didn't ask.

After finishing with Gandalf, Kael turned to Balin and began asking about the expedition.

"Balin, how many dwarves have you organized this time? Do you have any plans?"

Balin, wearing armor and full of confidence, patted the iron chest in his hands.

"I've brought a thousand elite dwarf warriors this time, all well-equipped and fully armed, all packed into the magically enhanced chest you made before."

Gandalf also added, "We plan to attack Moria from the western main gate through the Misty Mountains, forming a pincer movement with Lórien Elves at the eastern back door. We'll first clear out the Orcs inside without alerting the Balrog, then concentrate on dealing with the Balrog."

Though only a thousand dwarf warriors, opening the chest revealed all dwarves wearing carefully crafted hard armor, armed to the teeth.

Each held hammers, swords, and other weapons like war machines. Even facing ten times their number in Orcs wouldn't worry them.

Among them were two familiar faces to Kael: Óin and Ori, both members of the previous Lonely Mountain expedition.

They had also chosen to follow Balin on this Moria expedition.

Since everyone was assembled, Kael didn't delay.

He immediately awakened the dragon Smaug from the cellar treasury.

Smaug was initially reluctant to wake, but hearing about treasures in Moria rivaling the Lonely Mountain's, he immediately became excited.

Even learning about the Balrog's presence, he felt it worth the risk. At worst, if they couldn't win, they'd flee, but at least they'd grab some gold coins.

Then Kael went to the secret chamber and awakened the basilisk Herpo.

Seeing Herpo's size, even Kael was very surprised.

Herpo was now 50 feet long, having shed several skins in just one year to reach adult basilisk proportions.

This was thanks to Herpo's continuous supply of giant spider food, especially after eating Spider Queen Shelob. Herpo underwent qualitative change, his dark magical power surging, his deadly eyes becoming more dangerous, and his venom more potent.

Kael packed the basilisk into a spatial chest and brought it out.

Seeing the chest in Kael's hands, Gandalf said in surprise, "Looks like you're well prepared!"

Kael shrugged. Facing a Balrog, he naturally had to prepare thoroughly and bring all his resources.

Then Kael, Gandalf, and Balin, carrying the chest with a thousand dwarf warriors, all mounted on the dragon Smaug, flying directly southeast.

Great eagle Thorondor also followed alongside. Though young and not main force material, he was primarily responsible for aerial surveillance, monitoring Moria's surroundings and timely messaging the Elves guarding the back door on the other side of the Misty Mountains.

The dragon carried everyone, flying over the South Downs, crossing the Mitheithel River, and reaching the skies above Eregion.

Eregion bordered Moria (Khazad-dûm) and was once an Elven kingdom.

After the War of Wrath at the First Age's end, surviving Noldorin Elves, displaced by Beleriand's destruction, migrated east to establish Eregion at the Misty Mountains' foot.

Neighboring Moria (Khazad-dûm), Eregion's Elven craftsmen traded closely with Moria's dwarves. Dwarves mined mithril while Elves crafted exquisite works, maintaining good relations.

Here too, Sauron disguised as Annatar the Gift-giver taught Elven craftsmen ring-forging techniques, ultimately creating the three Elven Rings, seven Dwarf Rings, and nine Rings for Men—nineteen rings in total.

Later Sauron warred against Elves, conquering Eregion. Ring-forger Celebrimbor was killed, Sauron seized the Dwarf and Men's Rings, and Eregion was completely destroyed.

Now Eregion had become an empty, uninhabited area with only old roads and ruins. The former Elven kingdom's scenery barely existed.

Notably, Eregion's original founders were Celeborn and Galadriel.

But after Sauron came disguised as Annatar, under Sauron's influence, Celebrimbor led Jewel-smiths Guild members in rebellion against Celeborn and Galadriel, seizing Eregion's rule.

Galadriel thus left Eregion, passing through Moria (Khazad-dûm) to reach Lórien.

Celeborn, due to Doriath's fall and other reasons, harbored distrust and dislike for dwarves, unwilling to enter Khazad-dûm, so he remained in Eregion until its fall.

Flying over Eregion, Moria's gates were close at hand.

A road from Eregion to Moria still remained.

Under Gandalf's guidance, the dragon brought everyone along the road to the Doors of Durin at the Misty Mountains' foot.

Before the Doors of Durin lay a huge dammed lake.

Everyone dismounted. Balin immediately opened the chest, shouting inside, "Alright, lads, come out! We've reached Moria!"

Dwarf warriors then emerged from the chest one by one.

As dwarves emerged, Kael frowned warily at the lake before them.

Gandalf noticed his expression and asked, "What's wrong, Kael? Have you discovered something?"

Kael pointed at the lake, his voice serious. "I think something dangerous is hidden inside!"

Seeing this lake reminded him of the Fellowship's encounter with the creature called "Watcher in the Water" here.

It had also closed the doors with tentacles after Frodo and others fled inside the Doors of Durin, deliberately collapsing the outside to block retreat, forcing them forward.

Gandalf's attention had been mainly on the Doors of Durin, initially not paying much attention to the lake.

Hearing Kael's words, he immediately became serious and alert, staring intently at the lake surface, trying to see through the murky waters.

Then, as if discovering something, he immediately retreated and shouted loudly to the dwarves, "Don't approach the lake! There's danger inside!"

The dwarves had just all emerged from the chest, complaining about the stuffiness inside and who had been passing gas.

Suddenly hearing Gandalf's loud warning, they were somewhat confused, looking puzzledly at the lake.

Knowing Gandalf's abilities and seeing both he and Kael so alert, Balin immediately commanded loudly, "Guard the lake! Prepare for battle!"

The dwarf warriors immediately dropped their laughing, relaxed expressions, quickly gathering together and raising shields toward the lake surface in an iron wall.

The next second, a massive tentacle emerged from the lake, striking heavily against the shields.

Unable to withstand such tremendous impact, the dwarves were instantly sent flying with their shields.

Simultaneously, another tentacle shot from the water, coiling around dwarf Óin's leg to drag him into the water.

Nearby, Ori quickly raised his axe to sever the tentacle, saving him.

But the next second, over twenty massive tentacles simultaneously emerged from the lake surface, attacking the dwarves and directly coiling around several dwarf warriors, trying to drag them into the water.

"Diffindo!"

Kael quickly cast magic, consecutively severing several tentacles wrapped around dwarves.

Gandalf also reacted swiftly, drawing Glamdring to slash at tentacles, saving the remaining dwarf warriors.

The lake monster seemed enraged.

As the lake waters churned, an enormous giant octopus, island-sized, emerged from the water.

It wielded dozens of thick, long, curled pale-green tentacles, striking at Kael and Gandalf.

"It's the Watcher in the Water!" Gandalf quickly dodged massive incoming tentacles. The tentacle smashed a deep groove in the ground.

Kael waved his wand, directly cutting through tentacles striking at him.

The tentacle was severed completely; a several-meter-long severed piece crashed beside him, writhing frantically like a python.

But this didn't deter the giant octopus's attack. Immediately over ten tentacles overwhelmingly struck at him frantically.

Kael's expression changed as he immediately waved his wand.

"Protego Totalum!"

The next second, over ten thick tentacles struck the invisible barrier, raising tremendous waves.

Gandalf also continuously dodged several tentacles' attacks, wielding Glamdring and constantly slashing tentacles.

Seeing the two attracting the giant octopus's attention, the dwarf warriors didn't just watch.

Some dwarves shot arrows at the octopus, trying to divide the giant octopus's attention, while more dwarves wielded axes, hammers, and swords, charging at tentacles and forcefully chopping and hammering the octopus tentacles.

Then they were sent flying by the giant octopus, crashing to the ground dizzily.

"Confringo!"

Accompanied by a brilliant red light shooting out, the dozen octopus tentacles before Kael were all blown to pieces by the massive explosion, instantly scattering countless flesh fragments.

The octopus emitted painful, ear-splitting screeches, retracting all remaining tentacles.

Just as the dwarves thought victory was near, the giant octopus glowed green all over, and then those severed tentacles rapidly regrew at visible speed!

Everyone present drew sharp breaths.

Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.

No one had told him the "Watcher in the Water" had such abilities!