Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

---A few hours earlier---

Following the skeleton dragon was a long line of undead mounts that cut a clear path across slopes, over passes, and through valleys. Riding in groups of 20 undead beasts, the army of Spatia was traveling into the central mountain range. On the various kinds of undead creatures sat parties of 5-10 soldiers.

Because of the terrain, they were mostly traveling in single file. With the snow and dirt thrown up in the air, it was no wonder they could barely keep track of each other's position. The soldiers just had to trust that their rotting mounts knew the way.

Close to the end of the army, was a huge, half-rotten bear running along, no different than the other servants in the line. On his back were five people from Spatia, wearing the silver armor and crest of their empire. The vibrant colors of the shield split in a red and golden background, showing a star and a gauntlet raised as a fist, standing out in the dark, snowy mountains.

They were also no different from other soldiers. Riding along like everyone else. The only different thing was a sudden cloud of snow that hid them for a split second because the bear rammed into one of the firs on the way.

Suddenly, they were not like everyone else anymore. In fact, they were no more in general. The moment they were hidden from all eyes a translucent, pale blue tentacle shot from a nearby crevasse and pulled them into the depth before anyone could notice.

In the risen dist and snow, with the distance to the comrades and the speed it happened, nobody should have been able to witness this scene, however...

Far away, but not too far, was a group of people following the army of Spatia, keeping an eye on their progress. A huge man, with unnatural proportions holding the magical telescope they used to observe the enemy, suddenly exclaimed in shock: “Shit, what was that?!”

“What happened?” Cromwel asked grumpily, looking up from the tablet display in his hands. He wasn't in the best mood, as the group of undead they had placed in the path of Spatia a day ago had vanished. The tablet in his hand connected to a bunch of golem drones he was using to find where the horde had wandered off to.

“I think I know what happened to the undead....” he said cryptically and explained the scene he just saw. The scientist's face turned grim when he heard what had happened because it meant there was something dangerous in these mountains, they didn't know about.

Although they were running around the place like they owned it, Urth was in fact constantly changing. It may have slowed down after the initial shock of the apocalypse, but their world was constantly filled with new dangers, whether it was creatures that entered from the Pathworks or new monsters being born by the world itself.

“We need more information.”

Cromwel also took out one of the telescopes and started observing the enemy army, to see what his companion saw. It would have been easier to use the golem's eyes, but they could risk getting to close to Spatia with them, as there was a chance they could follow the magical signal of the golem back to them.

Keeping their distance, they kept surveilling the army until Cromwel also had the chance to see what the buff man had described. Knowing what to look out for, he was able to spot a beast carrying 10 people being pulled into the abyss of a cliff.

“Where is Haa'Skon?” Cromwel asked as he quickly returned back to their temporary camp. “We have to contact Minas Mar.” he continued, looking around.

“The knight left a while ago without saying anything, typical.” the too-slim woman, who waited at the camp, answered. “Can't you just contact them without him?” she asked without much care.

“I don't know if I should... Let's wait for the knight...” Cromwel dodged the answer. Although he wouldn't admit it, he was too afraid of Haa'Skon to just do something without the golem's approval. Even when he managed to stabilize his version of the serum, he would survive being turned into black sludge by the death knight.

As such, they waited. It wasn't like they had a choice, as the death knight controlled their mounts, too. An hour went by, two... night fell quickly but the golem didn't return. Did the tentacles get Haa'Skon, too? It was hard to imagine that the golem would fall to something like that. Occupied with idle thoughts, their silence was interrupted.

“Cromwel, come quick! You have to see that!” the buff man called for them. Hurriedly, Cromwel ran back up to their lookout, The slim woman followed, she was bored and curious about the sudden action.

When they reached the peak, they didn't need the magic telescope to see what their comrade was so upset about. There was the skeleton dragon lying beside the camping army and a few miles further away was a mountain moving in the night! A peak not much smaller than the skeleton dragon. could be seen moving in the moonlight.

It was still miles away from Spatia's camp, but it was clearly heading their way. They probably didn't even know what was happening, yet.

“What is that?” Cromwel asked below his breath.

“It's Haa'Skon!” the buff guy called out, waving the telescope in the direction.

---a little earlier---

Natina suddenly felt the flames of many of her undead vanish, as if many had suddenly died at the same time. However, there was nothing happening in the camp... She quickly came to the conclusion that it had to be the undead who had vanished during the journey.

The chosen of Kali grit her teeth. The death of the undead did leave much hope for the vanished soldiers. But why did it happen now all of a sudden? She was distracted when Kalzemir suddenly contacted her telepathically.

In general, the ancient skeleton dragon was not too responsive to her and usually didn't act of its own accord, but this time it took the initiative to warn her. Something was coming. Her eyes followed the direction where the skull of the dragon was pointing.

She stared into the distance. They had set up camp in a valley surrounded by several mountains. Looking through the gap between those mountains, was a horizon of more mountains. Mountains were mostly covered in pine trees and snow. Mountains over mountains as far as the eye could see.

Natina was tired of this view, they had for almost two weeks now, but she stared at it anyway. It took her a while to notice what the dragon was looking at. One tiny mountain among the sea of mountains in the far distance...had it tilted a little? Had it grown a little?

Focusing on the mountain, she was certain. The mountain was moving! After five more minutes, she was sure, it was moving in their direction. A moving mountain? There was no way, it had to be a creature.

During all her journey to find more beasts, it was her first time seeing something comparable in size to the ancient dragon, except the field boss of Y-City, which even she didn't dare to touch randomly. She brought out the appraisal scope, a strategic artifact that mixed the enchantment of Clairvoyance and Appraisal to check enemies in the distance.

Now she could see the small mountain better and appraise what it was...?

<Lou Carcolh lv. --->

....

---Delta---

“Seth, Haa'Skon contacted us. He didn't specify how, but he said he bought us another 2-3 days, but that's it.” Leana's voice announced from the orb in his hands. he looked at the pitch-black leg, oozing with the aura of darkness, and clicked his tongue.

This wasn't enough time. He just started working the mount for Strix and barely finished the second leg. This wouldn't do. Would they have to go with the original plan? Seth was quite confident in the plan, but he wanted to finish the Horsemen of the Apocalypse as reassurance.

“Seth? Did you hear me?” Leana asked, her voice sounding slightly worried.

The blacksmith stared at the leg in his hand as the cogs in his brain rattled. Two or three days, but he couldn't half-ass it... or could he? What if he didn't half-ass it, but used a shortcut? He could make up for it with materials. Yeah.

If it was a couple of days, then yes, maybe he could adjust it, find and refine the soul...

“Seth?”

“I'm here, sorry for not responding. I just had an idea how to finish in time, but tell Karina to prepare for Plan A if it doesn't work,” he said and shared his idea with Leana. He was confident that he could finish in time, but unsure whether the result would fulfill the quest requirement. They had to be prepared for that case.

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