Chapter 688: Forges (1/2)

Chapter 688 Forges

A group of five impressive looking war machines crouched over a downed Soul Warden, discussing the steel and make.

“Can we sign up for the Dome with you lads?” Ilea asked them.

One glanced up. “We’re busy. Leave us be, human.”

She wore a set of casual clothes, her usual city exploration attire.

[War Machine Engineer – lvl 230]

Pierce looked at the dwarf and started laughing.

“Anything funny?” he asked, standing up now. His machine reached nearly three meters, the heavy steel dented and cut in a few places, one of the shoulders near fully melted. “We finished this one off, its steel is ours.”

“Keep the steel. Where do I sign up for the Dome?” Pierce demanded.

He huffed and nodded to the right side of the building.

“Appreciate it,” she said in an annoyed voice and walked past, the dwarf giving her a wary eye.

Ilea wondered what they’d even do with the soul warden. The steel itself hadn’t seemed particularly impressive. It was the regenerative qualities and their swords that made them formidable foes, especially for their level.

A small stone shack had been raised in a small yard to the side of the building, several dwarves sorting documents and searching through piles of dust and debris covered furniture. “Ah this won’t do, this won’t do. Why would they aim exactly here…,” the one at the center of it all murmured.

“It’s probably not the best time,” Pierce said. “But I’d like to register for the Forged Dome.”

The dwarf looked up and smiled. “Ah not at all. Registrations can be done at any time. A human, greetings to you all. I’m Marilla Brickhammer, administrator of the Forged Dome.” She wore a set of armored robes, sockets of various colors suggesting it was some kind of suit to be worn below a war machine. Her thick brown hair was braided perfectly, keen green eyes taking in the newcomers.

“Dragonkiller Pierce,” the Elder answered. “And my crew,” she added, gesturing to the others.

Ilea huffed at that and crossed her arms. “Sure,” she mused.

The dwarf raised a brow at the name but didn’t seem to mind terribly. “You’re all rather impressive. I suppose you’d have to be to come here as humans,” the administrator said. “Very well then. How would you like to join? Alone, as a group, against other contestants or against monsters?”

“Alone, against another contestant,” Pierce said.

“Good. Be aware that the fights can end in death, thought it’s generally seen as admirable to end the fight when the other party surrenders or when their war machine is taken out. You do have a war machine I hope?” she said.

“I do. Do I have to use it?” Pierce asked.

“The Forged Dome is to test the strength and power of its contestants, not their ability to avoid a fight and win through attrition. If you are judged to be avoiding a confrontation, you will be disqualified and banned from participating in the Dome. Now I don’t want to assume anything based on your species or preference not to use armored suits, but this isn’t the wilderness. Certain expectations will have to be met,” Marilla explained.

Pierce grinned. “I see. Then there won’t be any issues. I am allowed to continue the battle if my war machine is taken out?”

“Of course,” the dwarf said and smiled. She shook her head lightly and summoned a large tome. Her hands moved to flick it open. “When can you fight?”

“Two days was it?” Pierce asked, looking back at Ilea.

“Yeah,” Ilea mused and addressed the dwarf. “If she’s going to fight a newcomer… how fair is that fight going to be? I don’t think I’ve seen many war machines at level three hundred.”

Marilla allowed herself a slight grin. “I’m the only one who knows the levels, nor are they documented at all. And I… am impartial,” she said, her joyous demeanor making it clear that she must enjoy the obvious imbalances. It would surely make for an entertaining show, especially with boisterous young fighters facing down experienced veterans. “Two days. At the twentieth hour. Dragonkiller Pierce. Or should we announce you in a different manner?”

“Just Dragonkiller is best,” the Elder said with a grin.

“Perfect. That alone will attract hundreds. Just make sure people don’t find out who you are, or you’ll be having assassins on your back soon enough,” Marilla said. “Some powerful… investors, don’t take kindly to outsiders messing with their established champions.”

“You don’t seem too bothered by that,” Ilea said.

“As I said, I am impartial. Or as close to that ideal as I can be. Which is why I’m still here. And have been for centuries,” the dwarf said. “Now if that is all, I’d like to return to the cleanup. That cannon really did a number on our archive.”

“Of course,” Ilea said and stepped away, the others joining her as they walked back towards Bralin’s workplace. “Your fight is just an hour before mine,” she said to Pierce.

“And I expect you lot to cheer me on,” the woman said. “I want to have a moment of glory before this ash monster takes the stage and upsets everything beyond anything believable.”

Ilea smiled at her. “You give me too much credit, it’s not like I just finished off an ancient threat to this settlement on my own.”

“Keep gloating. Overconfidence doesn’t suit the living,” Pierce said.

“Hmm, you’re not wrong. But I don’t feel too bad acting like this in your presence,” Ilea said.

“Her arrogance is well founded,” one of the Shades said.

“Indeed. She is beyond all sapient beings we have met,” the other added.

“Not beyond the ones we met,” Verena said.

“Not even close,” Ilea confirmed.

The shades communicated with each other with exciting gestures. “We would very much like to meet said beings, should that be a possibility in the future.”

“Much can be learned from those of power, old and young,” the other one added.

“I’m sure there will be a way,” Ilea said. She wondered if the Meadow would become some kind of pilgrimage destination in the future. Just that well, it wouldn’t be a pilgrimage but a teleportation trip to the north. Visit the ancient tree and receive its guidance! Only fifty pieces of gold.

She assumed it would actually work. Her reputation as Lilith would already allow her to form a money sucking cult. Not that she ever planned to do something like that. Compared to her however, the Meadow didn’t exactly have a way to leave its domain. And yet nobody would be able to enter it either. Not against its will.

“How far away is the Soul Forge from the Shining Caves?” Ilea asked as they neared their destination.

“It should not be far,” one said.

“The being of mind would not have had the same impact,” the other added.

“Good, then let’s pick up your armor and leave,” she said, glancing at Pierce.

“Perfect. I’ll need every minute to train with that machine,” the Elder said.

Is she actually excited about this? Definitely sounds like it. Ilea hoped the woman would win her battles, she really wanted them to meet in the Forged Dome. The fated battle between the two emerging champions.

“Already back?” Bralin asked when they entered the extensive hall.

Pierce’s war machine looked a little different now. The helmet was thinner, the visor slit at a higher position. The entire plating had a blue sheen to it now. Moreover there were a few tubes added to the major joints at the elbows, shoulders, knees, and boots.

The woman whistled. She appeared close to the armor and admired it. “Yes… I like this very much,” she whispered.

“It does look quite impressive,” Ilea admitted.

“Shouldn’t be recognizable to anybody other than the maker and even they would have to get a very close look. Just don’t try to sell it and you should be golden,” he said, tapping the machine’s arm with his. “Now those are the shades you mentioned, I see. Greetings.”

“Greetings, maker,” they whispered in sync.

“Shadow touched. Rare to see your kind these days,” he said.

“We were freed,” one of them said.

“By the bearer of the white flame,” the other added.

“Oh, that’s a good title,” Ilea said with a smile.

“Careful, or it will stick,” Verena warned.

“Plenty do already, what’s one more?” Ilea said. “We’re looking to get to the Soul Forge before anybody else reaches it, and certainly before our battles. You wanted to join us?”

“Of course. Officially, I’m to search the pit for more of the Soul Warden swords,” Bralin said.

“I’m sure we’ll find a few more on the way,” Ilea said. “Ready to leave then? Or do you need to prepare things?”

“I’ve got everything in my storage amulet,” he said and tapped the massive steel chest of his war machine.

“Same,” Ilea said and glanced at the Elders and Shades.

“We may leave, when it pleases the ash touched,” one of them said.

“Do you guys have names by the way?” Ilea asked.

“Shadow Touched don’t claim names I believe,” Bralin said. “If I remember correctly.”

One of them floated a little bit closer. “Indeed not. We are but children.”