We finally open our eyes as the bright light looses its effect. The curtains start coming down. But stop before fully coming down it looses its power.
“Come on Ronin” Warzheil says as he gets on my back again “We need to get off this bridge. Before both the colossus collapse under the bridge.”
“What is this colossus you are talking about?” I ask
“I will tell you as you run, we still have some way to go before we get off this bridge” he replies when suddenly the bridge trembles and a booming sound resonates in the surrounding.
“Start running Ronin lad!” he shouts as he bonks my heads.
“Fine, why are you getting so restless?. Although even I know a booming sound so loud and the bridge trembling can never be good.” I say as I have an Idea of what’s happening.
“I will guess, something was holding up this bridge and now that the bridge no longer has power, its collapsing?” I ask
“That saves me a lot of explanation lad, yes, now listen closely, there are 2 to 4 colossi under that bridge, giant and more sturdier versions of Dratnir soldiers. They are the redeemers of the bridge.” Warzheil says
“Hmm?” I ask with a grunt as I run.
“Hmm” he gives back a short grunts as an approval “Normally, if someone succeeds in destroying the 4 Dratnir Soldiers on the bridge, which have weakened over time, the colossus under the bridge will awaken and track the one who destroyed them and hunt them, destroying the bridge in the process.”
he says
“I would not sleep for days if something that big came for me. Wait don’t tell me that it’s going to chase us!” I ask in a voice full of fear, although that’s highly unlikely, but I don’t want to die just yet.
“I don’t think it will chase us because the bridge has lost all its power.” He replies and continues
"Bridges are sacred, lad. No one's dumb enough to break them. Unless you’ve got wings, a warship, or a death wish, you’re not crossing these rivers. Although boats are only a one way travel.”
A one way travel huh? The current of this river did seemed powerful even though that gap near the supply station.
We have been running for hours now and now, finally, I feel like I can sleep soon.
“Oh! There the exit, finally! I feel very hungry.” Warzheil says as I hear a grumbling of his stomach.
“Oldman did you fart on me!?” I ask enraged
“Hey, I can’t help it you know, don’t you feel the nature’s call too?” he says
“You going to eat food or answer the nature’s call? Do one at a time, Well now that you mention it, I also need to take a break, but first lets set up camp.” I say on which Warzheil agrees.
We both get off the bridge and a few minutes after we witness such a massive bridge get swept by the fast flow of the Kobe river. The walls on its borders breaking, even though we are almost 2 kilometres away from the other end of the bridge I can still see it, the dine pavement age against test of time twist as the structure under it is swept away forcibly
“First we need to do something about Drax. We can’t just take him with us, from this point forth it’s the demon lord’s area. And my forge is also there.” Warzheil says
“How about we cremate him? Although on Earth, that is supposed to be the child’s right,” I suggest.
“Yes, Drax has a daughter. And although this is supposed to be a secret only I and Drax knew, since you are his god, I will let you in on it.” he replies.
“What Secret? Spill it, I am not the one for cliffhangers.” I say very much interested in secret of his, expecting to get some wisdom that will help me to move forward in this world.
Warzheil sighed. "That girl doesn’t know the truth. She thinks her mother was human."
Ronin raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Before Warzheil could finish, his mouth snapped shut. Like some unseen force had sealed it.
“I am guessing too much but … its Ethis right?” I say
Warzheil nods with an angry expression, current rising on his hands.
“Yes, it seems like she doesn’t want you to know.” he says when suddenly the flow of wind feels different.
We turn our heads towards the woods where a light starts to form into humanoid shape.
“You broke your promise Warzheil!” the light speaks in a voice with a mix of distress and frustration.
“Someone told me not too long ago that she had more pressing matters than to accept my request, a mortal’s request.” I say with sarcasm
“Do not be mistaken Ronin, I came here because this dwarf broke his promise.” Ethis says
“Goddess Ethis here fell in love with Drax. They named their child Gloria and I was there, it was a secret affair that only few knew, including Zamaba.” Warzheil says but the goddess doesn’t looks pleased.
“Stop! Stop at once Dwarf” she says in a threatening voice
“Gloria thinks her mother was human and died when she was born.” Warzheil continues as if unbothered by Ethis’s presence.
“That is enough, Mortal!” This time she seem pissed off as she summons a spear of light and throws it on Warzheil.
I can’t just let the Dwarf die. The divine spear hiss through the air, heat radiating like a dying star. The unseen barrier around me flared in the slightest, devouring its glow before it completely vanishes just like it appeared from Ethis’ hand.
“What was that lad?” Warzheil says in wonder “I thought I was seeing things earlier but I got to ask, how did you do that?”
“Anomaly, do not stand in my way, unless you want to make enemy of us gods!” she says, her anger palpable.
“Calm down both of you, Ethis, I did not expect gods to have such lack of patience, and Oldman, stop pushing your luck. What are you both? Enemies?” I ask
“You don’t know anything yet, lad, she was watching! She saw that Drax was weak, and instead of trying to save her husband, she just watched! How can I ever forgive her!” he yells at Ethis.
The very air trembles as Ethis opposes with her voice going from low to a loud one, stirring the very wind and the ground trembles as the pebbles jump.
“Don’t speak as if you know anything!”
She says then pauses as If forcing a breath.
Ethis clenched her fists. "You think I didn’t try?" Her voice wavered, barely above a whisper. "I… I did. But I was bound. Chained by the King of the Heavens.”
“He had plotted with Zamba, and by aiding him from the shadows, he got rid of the greatest threat to his throne. And I could do was watch."
Ethis’ voice wavered, strained as if she were holding back tears. A cold wind swept through the clearing, rustling the trees like whispered judgment. She lowered her gaze, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"I... I couldn’t do anything."
Even gods fight in this accursed world huh?
“That’s some seriously messed-up family dynamics,” I say “A daughter not knowing her mother, a father that believed in some god even though he is one and that too faith in someone who might not even exist, and a mother and wife who is bound by world’s laws while her husband wasn’t?, and above all, gods who sound like they would come crying out of the skies if I started roasting them.” I ask
There is a silence, Ethis doesn’t say anything on my last comment.
“Drax was a mortal, hundreds of thousands of years ago. He achieved godhood by his devotion to the god he believed in so that god cannot be fake.” Ethis says.
“What? You are telling me that god is real?” Warzheil shot back in surprise.
“I cannot answer that further, I have their eyes on me now. All I ask is the right to cremate my husband and see him off one last time.” She says turning to me.
“What do I get by letting you, who ditched my devotee of whom I am supposed to be god of?” I ask
“I-Right, I will tell you when your sister or her family is in danger.” She says
“You know trade. What do you say Oldman?” I ask Warzheil
“Suit yourselves, I am in foul mood.” He says
We decide to cremate Drax’s body in a secluded place, I could see many bright energies leaving the skeleton of this dead god who considered me his god, the simple place around him becomes full of flora as the skeleton turns into ashes.
Carefully, we gather the ashes and place them in a cloth, Ethis tries to take it but Warzheil snatches and stows it in his small space pocket.
“This is for Gloria not you.” He says, on which Ethis steps back under her veil of light and nods as she disappears.
The air felt heavier after Ethis left.
Warzheil didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
There was nothing left to say. We set up camp in silence, the river’s roar the only sound between us. Then, the old dwarf stood up, rubbing his gut.
“Right. Nature calls.” He says as he walks towards the woods.
I waved him off, leaning back against a rock. Finally, a moment to breathe. Or so I thought—until the trees shook.
“Hey! At least leave the pocket with the things in it.” I say
Warzheil throws the pocket at me, which I almost drop but manage to catch it.
Minutes pass as I grow more and more concerned, Warzheil isn’t back. I was about to get up to find him but I notice the trees shake as it something was coming out of it, so I ready my spear, but instead Warzheil comes running.
“You sure took your time!” I shout but he doesn’t look very happy as right behind him, a giant T-rex tears through the forest into the clearing near the shore of the river.
“Is that a freaking Tyrannosaurus?” I ask as my expression distorts into the same as Warzheil.
But this one seems different then what I know, it has armour like things all around its body except some parts.
“It has Earth element, my lighting only tickles it, sick lizard ambushed me just when I finished my stuff together!” he says
I almost burst into a laugh at Warzheil, but I try to control it and throw my spear, this time with its plasma tip on. It did little as it deflects from the armour around its eye, its smart, it knew where I would aim and dodged it.
It's eyes glow as it makes a sound as if a giant eagle was trying to compete with a lion’s roar, my ears feel itchy from its sound.
Suddenly the ground erupts as a pillar made of soil hits me, I imagined I would go flying but instead end up staggering. Surprisingly I don’t feel much impact from it, in fact I left a big dents on the place I stomped.
Seeing such progressions in my strength I feel compelled to try out my power, so I sprint, and the beast takes notice of me, trying to stomp me as I try to get my spear back, but it fails, I take the spear and try cutting through it but the heat is not enough to cleave its flesh deeply.
The beast tries to stomp me again but Warzheil throws his hammer which staggers the beast.
I use the chance go for its eye again. Using my agility I climb the giant beast and impale its left eye. The plasma spear does its job as fire erupts from its eye and the beast is felled.
Bull’s eye, no, Dino’s eye.
“You knew eye was its weak spot?” Warzheil heil says as he approach me.
I stare at Warzheil at first, then as he gets closer I cannot control and burst into laugh.
“Hey lad, listen…”
I start laughing “So, A beast fell for you just by watching you take a dump?!” I say. Only after processing the joke for a second, Warzheil starts laughing too.
“*laughs* I need to note that down. *Laugh*, its been a while since I heard a good old joke.” he says laughing
I prepare the fire again which was extinguished by the T-rex’s movements “Now you know I wasn’t lying when I said I am old.”
I had already prepared the space by making it’s ground soft using my spear’s knob and also set up the fire using its plasma, But Warzheil takes out a small tent-like thing form his pocket.
“How did you even fit things in that small space?” I ask
“Hey, you might not know it but, these pockets are so rare I could make a new hammer out of the metals I would get out of selling even one of these” He says almost flexing something I don’t understand.
“You do realise I have no idea of how that’s supposed to tell me its worth right?” I say giving him a stare.
“*Sigh* So now I need to teach you the basics too. Fine, listen to me….” Warzheil goes on to explain the trade and commerce of this world.
According to what I understand, this world have abundance of gold, It’s almost like dirt here, so much so that if I were to filter the water of Kobe river, I would fill up a 1 litre bottle full of gold scrapes in 5 hours.
Platinum is where the normal trading starts, and silver is rarer than platinum here. The most Rich people store riches in the banks here known as Commerce guild, store riches in Adamantium, orichalcum and Uru, I find it hard that the metals from myths on Earth are real here.
“So your hammer is made of….” I ask but Warzheil almost immediately replies as if proud of his hammers.
“They are made from dark Uru, A metal so rare that if someone knew that my hammer is made of them, entire kingdoms would come after me.” Warzheil says.
“So you are a rich Dwarf?” I ask almost drooling.
“So, if I were to sell one of my pockets, I would get 2 Dark Uru ingots for them.” He says
“That’s crazy.” I say
“Well your weapon is not bad as well, I think it’s made of Collosium? I can smell it.” He says
“It’s called Titanium and wait You can smell metals?” I ask with skepticism.
“I am a blacksmith, of course I can smell metal. So anything else?” He asks
“Wait, what about diamonds?” I ask.
“Oh those? They are used to make mirrors, ornaments, tools, mage’s staffs and many other things.” He says as if it’s normal.
“Not in trade?” I ask, confusion evident.
“No, they are like stones lying everywhere in dungeons, mines and mountains.” He says.
We rest for half of the day, I try to process the ridiculousness of this world.
It is almost everything that Earth isn’t, full of resources, flora and fauna.
I remember about the book I found in the forest when I woke up and search for it but can’t find it so I ask Warzheil about it, thankfully he saw it coming out of my torn suit when I was asleep on other side of the river so he hands me the book with a curious look, but suppresses the urge to ask about it.
I open the book and this time it lets me open new pages, and it seems like I have missed some of its page.
I read it for a while and realise that it’s the outline of my journey so far, to clear my suspicion I turn another page but the blur effect occurs again, I sense it more clearly now, but this time instead of going back to the previous page again, some text appears on the page.
“The night fall will deem the owl worthy, its prey will have no path to escape, but the night houses many threats, beware beyonder.” Is what the text says on the book.
I rub my eyes as I turn the book into a head rest and sleep, I don’t have the mood to translate some encrypted riddle. Maybe my Sanskrit has dulled over time. What does and owl have to do with being worth of night.
I think as I let my tiredness take over me.
The next sun rises, Warzheil tries to wake me up, but I feel like a sloth, and in my laziness half of that day pass, heat on its peak as the sun hangs high in the sky, I finally wake up from sweating. I may need to find a place to take a bath soon.
“Oh, finally awake, huh?” Warzheil says as I get out of the small tent.
“*Yawn* so, what did I miss?”
“The plan to get into my forge, that’s what you missed.” He says as he hits on a very good looking Talwar on his makeshift force area. But then he cools down the sword and puts out the fire by pouring water in it from a bucket near him. The fire makes a hissing sound as it dies.
Warzheil starts to put some of those things back in his pocket.
“I can’t believe it no matter how many times I see it, no wonder it’s so expensive. How about you sell one of those and make me a dark Uru weapon too?” I ask
“You should quite talking small when you are in presence of THE legendary blacksmith, lad. How do you think I got to know Drax? I am the best blacksmith of this era. Drax also had to admit when he lost to me in weapon forging duel. I have 7 ingots of Dark Uru ingots, dozens of Uru and few hundreds of orichalcum and adamantium ingots in my forge. I may look like a smelly old dwarf but I can buy kingdoms if I want to.” Warzheil says
“Thats one way to flex your wealth I guess.” I say, In a flat voice.
“You are boring you know that, Lad, At least act to be excited. I worked my ass of to get them. Don’t you want to be rich? If it were someone else they would be out for my blood right now” Warzheil says in a plain voice too as he unfolds a big map.
“Don’t get me wrong, I have always liked money, it makes life much easier. Maybe I should earn lot of money and then retire somewhere peaceful? But you and I both know I can’t, not right now at least. I have 2 contracts to fulfil, one is Geolard’s and another is Drax’s.” I say
“So, even my riches cannot bring out your greedy side huh?” he says
“Nice try, Oldman, but you don’t know me enough just yet, I wouldn’t be THE legendary Hitman on Earth if I succumbed to greed. Smart people die winning, wise are those who win against life’s baffling choices.” I say
“Ok, enough philosophy, now look here.” Warzheil says pointing in the map.
“This right here is the Northern Kobe Forest” he says pointing to the top centre of the map with a sketch of a forest.
“We are now in the southern Kobe Forest, where the Demon Lord have Goblins as their allied forces.” He says sliding his finger to the right of the map across the sketch of the river into another forest on the other side of the map and stops his finger on some kind of hammer and anvil that is drawn over the map manually.
“And this right here is my old forge, not many days ago I was almost captured by the goblins.” He said
“Why?” I ask
“That’s what they are, wandering tribes of ever polluting green shits. The demon lord wanted me to work under him to make weapons for his generals and armies, but thanks to Drax’s letter I prepared to leave just when the goblins started their capture on my forge, maybe he knew it was going to happen so he sent me the letter on the right time. But I ended up screwing up big time and the goblins chased me for days.” Warzheil explains.
“I am starting to understand your struggle now. So, what’s your plan?” I ask
“You said you were an assassin didn’t you? Make a plan, Unless you suggest going with me, head-on against hundreds of goblins, mage goblins, hob goblins, champions and their King. Who knows, maybe even the lich is there.” He says
“Speak of the devil.” I say as I see the lich approach on a smaller dragon, a wyvern to be exact.
The lich sees Ronin and Warzheil “I feel like ripping the very flesh off their face, but that damned Dratnir soldier was Insanely strong, so much so that it destroyed my army, even wounding my mana core with his light and cosmic attacks, I tried to claim it as my own minion, it exploded, I am in no shape to fight these two monster, especially this Dwarf, he is cunning fox, hiding his powers of lighting authority.” Lich thinks
“I must alert the goblins of their arrival.” As he passes near ronin and Warzheil he gives them a menacing look. Which doesn’t bother them in the slightest
“Hey, Bone head, what happened to all that confidence? Fear we may kick your ass without the help of your army huh? Or did that Dratnir Soldier do it for us?” Warzheil says
“It won’t be long before your head hangs on my dragon’s tail, mortals, we will meet soon.” The lich replies in a domineering voice, but we both know he is just scared.
“The Dratnir must have given him a run for his money, I guess he had to abandon his army on the bridge to find a wyvern in the forest to fly all the way back here.” I say
“Or maybe that wasn’t his complete army.” Warzheil speculates which raises more questions in my mind.
“You said that the goblins are under the demon lord, which means….” It clicks in both our minds at the same time.
“Shit!, he is going to alert those green vessels of filth.” Warzheil says with impatience evident in his expressions as his eyebrows curl inward, tensed.
“Do you have any other way we can get inside the forge?” I ask Warzheil
“The owl… the owl is worthy of night.” I say as a though drifts into my mind. Maybe that riddle has something to do with our next step.
“What do you mean by owl? We don’t have time for this Ronin, take this seriously.” Warzheil says
I run back into the tent and bring out the book, tossing it on the table, opening the page that contains the text.
“See here” I slide my finger over the text “The night fall will deem the owl worthy--its prey will have no path to escape--but the night houses many threats--beware beyonder” I say which confuses Warzheil.
“Owl worthy of night, which means that an owl can only hunt at night.” I say
“Well, you aren’t wrong, goblins see less at night, if that’s what you are implementing.” Warzheil explains.
“That’s great…now” I slide my finger further on the text in the page “The night houses threats--beware beyonder. Which means it’s referring to me, as I am beyond this world. And the night houses threats, which means that even though night is our chance to strike, it might still be risky.”
“W-wait, I don’t understand. What you say makes some sense but, why are you sliding your finger on an empty page? Is this a habit of yours I should be aware of?” Warzheil says, which turns my excited expression to a confused expression.
I close my left eye and then the text starts to disappear from the page as my right eye focuses.
“This book is not normal.” I say as I slowly let this discovery settle. “Or maybe I am not normal.”
“Lets get you examined later, but first, I have an idea.” Warzheil continues
“There is a secret passage under my forge” Warzheil continues “Its gates are made of adamantium, it can only be unlocked from inside. but I think your spear can melt it in a few minutes, we can carve a way in. but we need to start now as at night your blade will be visible.” Warzheil says.
“That’s the best plan I have heard in a while.” I say “Why stand here then? We have riches to retrieve, lets go.”
“Ok, I will do this, whatever you find there, you can keep it, I don’t plan to come back here anyway.” Warzheil says
“You speak as if we will go our separate ways after that.” I ask
“It’s your loss if you don’t want that stuff, I have a strong feeling that we will not be going our own ways anytime soon.”
And so We prepare to infiltrate the forge.
We move through the forest after finishing packing our camp. As we go deeper, a fog starts blocking our vision.
“Don’t worry about me, I know all corners of this forest, I have been here for a while.” Warzheil said
“Thankfully I won’t need to hold hands with you since I can see the path with my left eye.” I say
My eye is very convenient, although it feels very uncomfortable seeing things I don’t want to, the wobbly energies in the air makes me feel nauseous, but I need to get used to it soon. I can see the outlines of everything in my line of sight even in this fog. I was seeing normally when we were not in the forest, which must mean I only see different according to situations and see mana when it is dense or unless I want to see it. I don’t understand how this even works but as long it keeps me alive, its an ability.
Nestled into the side of a rocky hill is Warzheil’s forge. The building is surrounded by goblins and hobgoblins.
“Hey, won’t they detect your mana?” I ask Warzheil
“Don’t underestimate me, lad. Only the Demon Lord can detect me no as I have supressed my mana.” He says
“That’s reassuring….hmm” I say but I make a questioning face as I think about possible scenarios where the plan can break down, or succeed. Thank fully Warzheil also had a map of his forge so I have a raw Idea of what I can do once we are in. spear won’t be an option in there.
We talk amidst the guttural voices of goblin-kind carrying faintly through the air. Fires burn in large pits outside, with goblins working tirelessly on crude weapons and Armor.
But that’s not all, I see some skeletons as well, which means that they are alert now. But something feels off, the security should be tighter, then why isn’t.
“Hey, Is the Goblin King friends with the Lich?” I ask Warzheil as we are in the bushes.
“As far as I know, the demon lord’s generals don’t get along with the lich, he is like an outcast to them, even though he is the most loyal to the Demon Lord” Warzheil says
“That must be it. I don’t see any prominent figure here. Which must mean that the king with his champions must be in an argument with the lich. I have seen this happen in my field a lot, even when I disguised myself.” I say “Even if that’s not the case, we cannot afford loosing sunlight, we need a way in by night.”
“You are right. Lets go, there’s our ticket in.” He points to a large pipe beneath the forge, its bars glinting faintly in the sunlight. “It’s a water outlet I built as an escape route, but like I said, it opens only from the inside. Let’s hope your spear can cut through the bars.”
We approach the gate but suddenly I see 2 goblins coming our way so I yank Warzheil against the wall.
Warzheil looks like he would cuss me out anytime but I signal him to keep it down. I pick up a pebble slowly and throw it in the opposite direction of the goblins over their head which distracts them.
It’s a good thing that goblins are idiots. I take the chance and kill both the Goblins using my plasma spear which cuts though their tiny necks, is it me or do the spear feel small in my hands? I normally don’t miss with my spear but even back when I fought the T-rex, it felt uncomfortable. It looks like I have grown in size too.
“Idiot, we need to get those two into the sewer too, the goblins may detect their blood.” Warzheil says.
I kneel by the pipe as I put the goblins near me, and activate the plasma blade of my spear. The bars are tougher than I expect, made from a mixture of copper and adamantite. It takes a few minutes to cut through them.
“Hard, isn’t it?” Warzheil says with a smirk. “I debated using adamantite for a water outlet, but it’s proven useful.”
“Just keep quiet, old man. You’ll get us caught,” I hiss as we slip into the dark, narrow tunnel.
“Don’t boss me around like my mom. Show some respect for your elders,” he retorts in a low whisper.
I roll my eyes. “Did you finally go senile?”
“You little—”
“Shhh…” I cut him off as we hear faint footsteps echoing through the tunnel. We finally got in, I put the goblin’s body in the sewer water and slowly head toward the voice that’s getting louder.
Two goblins appear, their torches casting flickering shadows on the walls. Moving swiftly, I dart ahead, my spear slicing through the air. The goblins barely have time to react before they collapse, lifeless.
“You really are an assassin through and through, huh?” Warzheil asks under his breath, impressed but unnerved.
“This is the most crude I can be as an assassin. You haven’t seen me in action just yet oldman.” I say, trying to flex
“Hoo? I will be watching then.” he says with sarcasm.