Mother knows best, p.17
Hero of Midgard 2: A LitRPG Adventure, page 17
“Warning: Only divine-blooded or chosen souls may awaken the Forgemind. Attempting activation under curse conditions may result in spiritual degradation.”
Do you wish to proceed? [Y/N]
Karl opened his mouth to stop her. He could have used his Alpha Command. One word from him, and she would’ve been forced to step back.
But he didn’t.
He couldn’t.
Kara’s jaw was set in that same stubborn way that always made him want to protect her and let her break things at the same time.
“Yes,” she said.
Her clawed hand touched the anvil. The runes flared molten-red.
Karl tensed. The heat surged outward in waves that smelled like burning metal and old blood.
System Message: “Attempting Valkyric Override… Error: Divinity Corrupted.”
Kara stumbled backward, her claws scraping against the stone. The light from the forge cast her face in deep shadow, but Karl didn’t need to see her eyes to know what was in them.
She had been rejected—again.
He stepped forward before she could speak, placing his palm flat on the anvil beside hers.
System Message: “New Input Source Detected — Alpha Essence: Fenrir Lineage. Divinity Threshold Reached. Awakening Sequence Commencing.”
The smile Kara gave him then was soft and strange, glowing faintly in the red haze. It made him forget how stupid this probably was.
You still are stupid, Fenrir rumbled inside his skull.
Karl’s retort died on his tongue when the forge trembled.
The automaton’s massive eyes blazed open, twin furnaces roaring to life. Steam blasted from the pipework along its face, and the molten pool around it rippled like liquid fire. With a grinding bellow, the creature began to rise. Lava cascaded from its shoulders in glowing sheets as it lifted itself to full height, towering dozens of meters above them.
Its head brushed the ceiling.
Its right arm ended in a hammer the size of a mead hall, runes crawling across its surface in blinding gold. The weapon dripped molten metal, every drop hissing against the stone.
Karl’s stomach dropped. “I really hope that wasn’t a mistake,” he muttered, though the awe in his voice betrayed him.
The fear came, but so did something else. The Alpha Essence inside him stirred hot and alive. It filled his limbs with clarity, every muscle thrumming with anticipation.
Yes, Fenrir whispered. Prove yourself, little wolf.
Brokk said nothing. He didn’t have to.
The automaton’s bronze eyes narrowed, focusing on them with terrifying precision. He drew his hammer back, the air screaming around it, and swung.
Karl didn’t think as he snatched up a loose stone on the ground.
“Hold on!”
He grabbed Kara and triggered Elf Leap after throwing the rock. They reappeared across the lava pool just as the hammer came crashing down.
The impact shook the entire forge, the stone cracking where they just were while causing rivers of molten rock to splatter upward in fiery arcs. If they’d been even a heartbeat slower, there wouldn’t have been enough left of them to bury.
The moment their feet touched solid ground, Karl’s instincts took over. He activated his Pack Link so Kara could read his intentions directly, no words wasted.
She sprinted left while he charged forward.
Ullr’s Blessing flared in his veins, flooding him with speed and strength. His next leap carried him higher than he’d ever jumped—straight toward Brokk’s chest.
Midair, he summoned his Blóðruna Coating. It instantly burned across his claws, coating them in slick, shimmering poison.
He hit the automaton’s chest with a metallic clang, claws sparking as they tore into the glowing plates. His Moonfang Strike ignited—silver light bursting from his hands, merging with the poison’s toxic green glow.
Karl carved deep, ripping open a line of pipes beneath the armor. Pressurized gas exploded outward in a shriek of steam. Brokk’s roar thundered through the chamber, vibrating the air itself.
The automaton twisted, swinging his colossal hammer behind him to crush the parasite clinging to his chest.
Karl felt the shift in wind pressure and kicked off the armor just as the hammer hit.
The impact struck where he’d been a second earlier, sending a burst of molten metal outward. The shockwave hurled him across the chamber. He landed hard on a platform, claws scraping sparks as he caught himself.
Brokk staggered, molten blood dripping from the wound Karl had opened. The air filled with the hiss of venting steam and the low, grinding sound of something ancient coming fully awake.
Thanks to Karl’s timing—and the wordless synchronization he shared with Kara—the blow landed perfectly.
As soon as he hit it, Kara unleashed her sunlight beam, which struck the back of Brokk’s bronze head in a blinding arc, the light cutting through the pulpy steam of the chamber. The impact sounded like a grenade explosion. Molten light flashed across the chamber as the automaton reeled, venting steam through the pipes in its shoulders. Its massive eyes flared hotter, glowing with fury.
Enraged, Brokk plunged his enormous hand into the lava pool beside him. The molten sea swelled like a living thing. Then he swung his arm upward, hurling a tidal wave of liquid fire straight toward Kara.
She barely had time to scream.
A radiant dome burst into existence around her as she summoned her Shield of Light. The lava crashed down on it with a deafening roar, flames swallowing her whole. For a second, Karl thought she’d made it. But the shield faltered, its edges splintering as the lava’s force tore through it. The explosion of heat threw her backward, body wreathed in fire.
“Kara!” Karl’s voice cracked as he sprinted forward.
He leapt across the glowing floor, claws striking molten rock that instantly froze under his feet thanks to Ullr’s blessings. Frost bloomed outward in his wake as his ice magic locked the spreading lava into black glass. When he reached her, she was writhing in agony, her fur burned away in patches. Through the Pack Link, he felt the sharp echo of her pain and the hollowing weakness that came with being seconds from death.
Behind him, Brokk’s hammer rose again, massive as a mountain. The air trembled beneath its weight.
Karl reached into his inventory and yanked free two crystalline unicorn hearts, their surfaces glimmering faintly with golden veins and filling his mouth with saliva at the thought of consuming them.
Item: Heart of the Sparkling Unicorn x2 (Epic) — Restores 50% Health instantly. Grants +15% Movement Speed for 30 seconds when consumed under moonlight.
He pressed them to her lips. The hearts dissolved into shimmering mist as she inhaled, light flooding her veins. Kara gasped, her Health bar shooting upward.
Karl scooped her up in one motion and hurled her across the stone toward safety. She hit the far side hard but alive.
The hammer came down, but he didn’t have any time to dodge. The world slowed to a crawl as Karl triggered Urðr’s Vision. For five seconds, time itself froze, making the lava hang in midair. Even Brokk’s descending hammer halted centimeters above his skull, trembling in place.
Too close, Karl thought, trying not to imagine what that would have looked or felt like had he been a microsecond too late.
He turned and pulled the rune from his belt—a dark slab carved with frost symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Item: Hungering Freeze Rune (Legendary) — Freeze an enemy solid for 5 seconds, dealing 50 frost damage. If they survive, they remain slowed by 50% for 10 seconds. If the frozen enemy dies while under the effect, the wielder instantly regains 50% missing Health. Cooldown: 3 minutes. Glory Cost: 270 Glory per use.
He spent the Glory without hesitation.
Glory (–270): 780
He slammed the rune into the hammer’s head. Ice exploded outward, climbing up the shaft in jagged vines. Then he leapt onto the weapon, claws scraping against its molten surface as he scrambled up Brokk’s colossal arm.
When time snapped back into motion, the rune detonated. A blizzard roared through the forge, swallowing Brokk, who became frozen solid.
Karl didn’t waste it.
His Stamina burned to ash from the effort, but he downed two Skyberry Tarts without chewing, swallowing the frosted pastries whole. The instant sugar rush hit like lightning.
“Let’s finish this,” he growled.
His Moonfang Strike flared, claws igniting in silver light. He lunged, bounding up the frozen automaton’s chest. His claws found purchase in the cracked bronze, each strike sending sparks and shards flying. He slashed through pipes, ripped open glowing seams, and drove his claws deep into the furnace that served as Brokk’s heart.
The poison from his Blóðruna Coating burned through the metal as if it were acid.
The automaton’s roar became a shriek of twisting metal. Frost spread faster, and the molten glow inside its chest dimmed to dull red.
Karl howled and tore the creature’s head apart, shredding gears with feral precision.
The light in Brokk’s eyes flickered once, then twice, before dying.
The giant staggered backward, each step shaking the ground. Karl clung to its face, claws buried in the collapsing metal, as Brokk fell.
The impact boomed through the forge, sending lava surging against the walls.
When the dust settled, Brokk lay still, his body half on the stone, half submerged in molten rock.
Karl stood atop the automaton’s ruined face, panting hard, steam rising from his fur. His body shook from exhaustion, but he didn’t fall.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring down at the broken god-machine he’d slain.
Well, Fenrir rumbled in his mind, sounding somewhat pleased. You’ve done the impossible again.
Karl gave a ragged laugh, chest heaving. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Let’s hope it was worth it.”
Quest Completed: Hammer Time
“Two overheated werewolves, one billion-gold doorbell, and a resurrected forge-god later—congratulations! The System regrets to inform you that none of this was OSHA compliant.”
Primary Objectives:
Survive dungeon traps (3/3)
Find the dungeon key to escape (1/1)
Bonus Objective:
Awaken and slay the Dvergr Metal God known as Brokk-Prime (1/1)
Rewards (Settlement Rewards Added to Visby):
Item: Brokk’s Spare Hammer (Epic) — A forge tool that doubles as a weapon. +25% crafting speed, +15% blunt damage, and smells faintly of singed beard.
Item: Dvergr Iron ×100
Item: Rune-Carved Stone ×150
Item: Moltenplate Blueprint (Rare) — Unlocks craftable armor set resistant to Fire and Stupidity.
Settlement Upgrade: Masonry Hall (Unlocked) — Allows construction of advanced stoneworks, reinforced palisades, and smug architectural bragging rights.
Bonus Rewards:
Item: Brokk’s Memory Core (Legendary) — A pulsing sphere of molten runes that remembers every blueprint ever forged. Try not to let it design your love life.
+250 Reiði
As a result of his extra Reiði points, which gave him more Glory on top of what he received from completing the dungeon quest, his powers in both his human and werewolf forms increased.
Wealth (+1): 5,656 Gold
Alpha Path (+2): lvl 7 (20/170 Reiði)
Reiði Points (+2): 3
Intelligence (+10): lvl 3 (30/40)
Glory (+260): 1,040
Level (+1): 30 (80/310)
Skill Points (+1): 5
The glow of the notification flickered across him as the Brokk’s Memory Core materialized in his palm.
It pulsed just like a heart, though it didn’t make him salivate like a real one would. Runes crawled across its surface like fireflies caught in amber, patterns rearranging in real time. He could feel the hum of power inside it, deep and ancient, vibrating against his fur as if the forge-god’s dying breath still lingered within.
But before he could study it or the temptation to claim its power could root itself deeper, something else caught his attention.
Kara stood at the far end of the chamber near the tall bronze-framed windows, her silhouette lit by the dull red glow of lava behind them. Her fur was matted with soot, even smoking faintly from the fight, yet she looked… quiet. Still.
Karl’s instincts softened.
He felt the last of his adrenaline taper into warmth as the Alpha energy within him steadied his heart. He wanted to walk over there—to pull her close, to forget for one blissful moment how close they’d come to dying. His mind even flickered with the memory of the Unicorn slaughter: the closeness of her body to his, the way her laughter had sounded when the danger had finally passed.
He took a step toward her.
Then he saw what she was looking at.
Through the massive windows, the twilight sky stretched over Gotland. Smoke rose from the forests below—thick columns that glowed orange and red against the fading light, coming from the village they had seen earlier.
The entire village that Harald’s gang and Karl’s friends went to was on fire.
16
A FAMILIAR, UGLY FACE
Karl sprinted across the intricately carved mosaic floor, his claws clattering against it. Kara stood before the tall, blackened windows, her fur rimmed by the red glare outside. Through the smoke-fogged glass, the world below burned.
The smell of charred timber spiked into his muzzle the closer he got. His stomach turned as he got closer. The village was ablaze across the valley, the flames licking high enough to paint the night sky orange. It wasn’t Visby—thank the gods—but his friends must have ridden straight into that settlement not long before he and Kara entered the forge.
“I can’t see them,” Kara murmured, her voice rough through her snout as she leaned closer to the glass.
Karl’s pulse hammered. If I’d been there… The bitter thought clawed at him. He’d spent hours exploring the dungeon, chasing relics, enjoying the thrill of it—and now, while he played at being an adventurer, his friends might be dying, along with whoever lived in the village.
“We’re going down,” he said, already pulling the Dwarven key from his belt.
Kara started to nod, but then caught his wrist with a claw. “Wait.” She gestured to the massive treasure chest behind them, its lid yawning open. “You might want to take this first.”
He hesitated, torn between duty and greed, but his lunar sight flared instinctively. The inside of the chest shimmered with loot that would be desperately needed. All right. Ten seconds. He lunged forward and began pulling items free.
Item: Rune of Overpressure Leap Mk II 3/3 (Legendary) — Vent volcanic steam from your legs to catapult forward or upward by 80 meters, leaving a molten trail that deals 60 Fire DMG/sec for 8 s. Cooldown: 3 min. Glory Cost: 200.
Karl’s eyes widened. “That’s insane,” he muttered. He could already picture it—combining this with Elf Leap to chain mid-air teleportation. The maneuverability alone could win battles or escape certain death.
He kept digging.
Wealth (+1,000): 6,656 Gold
Item: Dwarven Metal Bag 0/30 Inventory (Epic)
Karl laughed under his breath. “Finally. A bag that can keep up.” He slung it across his back, feeling its strange weight vanish into his werewolf form as it synced with his inventory.
A sudden flash of gold light pulsed across his vision.
Title: Protector of Visby, Expert Chef, Mythological Serial Killer, Viking Raider, Troll Hunter, Dwarf Exterminator, Unicorn Slayer, Brokkenator
Visual: Your weapons emit a spice-scented golden aura and drip with glowing red ichor that moves towards targets like a compass. Weapons now marked with glowing golden symbols of your conquests. When killing a Dwarf or machine, receive a satisfying ka-ching sound.
Effect: +10% Stealth in dark areas or forests. Each kill results in 15% Satiation and adds +2% Health Regen per second for 5 seconds. Animals and lesser monsters won’t attack unless provoked or under magical influence. Chance to find +10% extra gold from humanoid corpses, and receive 1 Gold for every kill. Reduced prices for goods and services in Visby by 50%, improved reputation. 10% chance to vomit a stream of rainbow sparkles after any meal. Dwarves and machines drop 1-2 ingots per kill.
“Nice catch,” Karl said, glancing at Kara.
She grinned and pressed her muzzle against his cheek in a quick, bristly kiss. “You’re welcome, Alpha.”
Together, they crossed to the window. The Dwarven key fit perfectly into the carved slot at its center. When Karl twisted it, the window swung open weightlessly, despite being several tons of bronze and glass. A freezing gust slammed into them, carrying snow and the acrid sting of burning pitch from the village below.
Kara crouched beside him, fur rippling in the wind. “Ready?”
“Always.” Karl picked up a hunk of molten scrap from Brokk’s corpse and hurled it out into the storm. It vanished instantly in the whiteout.
The two Elf Leaped into the night.
Their teleportation landed them in a spray of snow at the edge of a frozen field, the air crackling from residual magic. Karl twisted to look back—expecting to see the Dwarven fortress towering behind them.
There was nothing. Only the empty, Northern Lights sky.
He frowned, tossing another shard of scrap metal toward where the mountain should have been. The metal sailed through open air and vanished into the mist.
Do you wish to proceed? [Y/N]
Karl opened his mouth to stop her. He could have used his Alpha Command. One word from him, and she would’ve been forced to step back.
But he didn’t.
He couldn’t.
Kara’s jaw was set in that same stubborn way that always made him want to protect her and let her break things at the same time.
“Yes,” she said.
Her clawed hand touched the anvil. The runes flared molten-red.
Karl tensed. The heat surged outward in waves that smelled like burning metal and old blood.
System Message: “Attempting Valkyric Override… Error: Divinity Corrupted.”
Kara stumbled backward, her claws scraping against the stone. The light from the forge cast her face in deep shadow, but Karl didn’t need to see her eyes to know what was in them.
She had been rejected—again.
He stepped forward before she could speak, placing his palm flat on the anvil beside hers.
System Message: “New Input Source Detected — Alpha Essence: Fenrir Lineage. Divinity Threshold Reached. Awakening Sequence Commencing.”
The smile Kara gave him then was soft and strange, glowing faintly in the red haze. It made him forget how stupid this probably was.
You still are stupid, Fenrir rumbled inside his skull.
Karl’s retort died on his tongue when the forge trembled.
The automaton’s massive eyes blazed open, twin furnaces roaring to life. Steam blasted from the pipework along its face, and the molten pool around it rippled like liquid fire. With a grinding bellow, the creature began to rise. Lava cascaded from its shoulders in glowing sheets as it lifted itself to full height, towering dozens of meters above them.
Its head brushed the ceiling.
Its right arm ended in a hammer the size of a mead hall, runes crawling across its surface in blinding gold. The weapon dripped molten metal, every drop hissing against the stone.
Karl’s stomach dropped. “I really hope that wasn’t a mistake,” he muttered, though the awe in his voice betrayed him.
The fear came, but so did something else. The Alpha Essence inside him stirred hot and alive. It filled his limbs with clarity, every muscle thrumming with anticipation.
Yes, Fenrir whispered. Prove yourself, little wolf.
Brokk said nothing. He didn’t have to.
The automaton’s bronze eyes narrowed, focusing on them with terrifying precision. He drew his hammer back, the air screaming around it, and swung.
Karl didn’t think as he snatched up a loose stone on the ground.
“Hold on!”
He grabbed Kara and triggered Elf Leap after throwing the rock. They reappeared across the lava pool just as the hammer came crashing down.
The impact shook the entire forge, the stone cracking where they just were while causing rivers of molten rock to splatter upward in fiery arcs. If they’d been even a heartbeat slower, there wouldn’t have been enough left of them to bury.
The moment their feet touched solid ground, Karl’s instincts took over. He activated his Pack Link so Kara could read his intentions directly, no words wasted.
She sprinted left while he charged forward.
Ullr’s Blessing flared in his veins, flooding him with speed and strength. His next leap carried him higher than he’d ever jumped—straight toward Brokk’s chest.
Midair, he summoned his Blóðruna Coating. It instantly burned across his claws, coating them in slick, shimmering poison.
He hit the automaton’s chest with a metallic clang, claws sparking as they tore into the glowing plates. His Moonfang Strike ignited—silver light bursting from his hands, merging with the poison’s toxic green glow.
Karl carved deep, ripping open a line of pipes beneath the armor. Pressurized gas exploded outward in a shriek of steam. Brokk’s roar thundered through the chamber, vibrating the air itself.
The automaton twisted, swinging his colossal hammer behind him to crush the parasite clinging to his chest.
Karl felt the shift in wind pressure and kicked off the armor just as the hammer hit.
The impact struck where he’d been a second earlier, sending a burst of molten metal outward. The shockwave hurled him across the chamber. He landed hard on a platform, claws scraping sparks as he caught himself.
Brokk staggered, molten blood dripping from the wound Karl had opened. The air filled with the hiss of venting steam and the low, grinding sound of something ancient coming fully awake.
Thanks to Karl’s timing—and the wordless synchronization he shared with Kara—the blow landed perfectly.
As soon as he hit it, Kara unleashed her sunlight beam, which struck the back of Brokk’s bronze head in a blinding arc, the light cutting through the pulpy steam of the chamber. The impact sounded like a grenade explosion. Molten light flashed across the chamber as the automaton reeled, venting steam through the pipes in its shoulders. Its massive eyes flared hotter, glowing with fury.
Enraged, Brokk plunged his enormous hand into the lava pool beside him. The molten sea swelled like a living thing. Then he swung his arm upward, hurling a tidal wave of liquid fire straight toward Kara.
She barely had time to scream.
A radiant dome burst into existence around her as she summoned her Shield of Light. The lava crashed down on it with a deafening roar, flames swallowing her whole. For a second, Karl thought she’d made it. But the shield faltered, its edges splintering as the lava’s force tore through it. The explosion of heat threw her backward, body wreathed in fire.
“Kara!” Karl’s voice cracked as he sprinted forward.
He leapt across the glowing floor, claws striking molten rock that instantly froze under his feet thanks to Ullr’s blessings. Frost bloomed outward in his wake as his ice magic locked the spreading lava into black glass. When he reached her, she was writhing in agony, her fur burned away in patches. Through the Pack Link, he felt the sharp echo of her pain and the hollowing weakness that came with being seconds from death.
Behind him, Brokk’s hammer rose again, massive as a mountain. The air trembled beneath its weight.
Karl reached into his inventory and yanked free two crystalline unicorn hearts, their surfaces glimmering faintly with golden veins and filling his mouth with saliva at the thought of consuming them.
Item: Heart of the Sparkling Unicorn x2 (Epic) — Restores 50% Health instantly. Grants +15% Movement Speed for 30 seconds when consumed under moonlight.
He pressed them to her lips. The hearts dissolved into shimmering mist as she inhaled, light flooding her veins. Kara gasped, her Health bar shooting upward.
Karl scooped her up in one motion and hurled her across the stone toward safety. She hit the far side hard but alive.
The hammer came down, but he didn’t have any time to dodge. The world slowed to a crawl as Karl triggered Urðr’s Vision. For five seconds, time itself froze, making the lava hang in midair. Even Brokk’s descending hammer halted centimeters above his skull, trembling in place.
Too close, Karl thought, trying not to imagine what that would have looked or felt like had he been a microsecond too late.
He turned and pulled the rune from his belt—a dark slab carved with frost symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Item: Hungering Freeze Rune (Legendary) — Freeze an enemy solid for 5 seconds, dealing 50 frost damage. If they survive, they remain slowed by 50% for 10 seconds. If the frozen enemy dies while under the effect, the wielder instantly regains 50% missing Health. Cooldown: 3 minutes. Glory Cost: 270 Glory per use.
He spent the Glory without hesitation.
Glory (–270): 780
He slammed the rune into the hammer’s head. Ice exploded outward, climbing up the shaft in jagged vines. Then he leapt onto the weapon, claws scraping against its molten surface as he scrambled up Brokk’s colossal arm.
When time snapped back into motion, the rune detonated. A blizzard roared through the forge, swallowing Brokk, who became frozen solid.
Karl didn’t waste it.
His Stamina burned to ash from the effort, but he downed two Skyberry Tarts without chewing, swallowing the frosted pastries whole. The instant sugar rush hit like lightning.
“Let’s finish this,” he growled.
His Moonfang Strike flared, claws igniting in silver light. He lunged, bounding up the frozen automaton’s chest. His claws found purchase in the cracked bronze, each strike sending sparks and shards flying. He slashed through pipes, ripped open glowing seams, and drove his claws deep into the furnace that served as Brokk’s heart.
The poison from his Blóðruna Coating burned through the metal as if it were acid.
The automaton’s roar became a shriek of twisting metal. Frost spread faster, and the molten glow inside its chest dimmed to dull red.
Karl howled and tore the creature’s head apart, shredding gears with feral precision.
The light in Brokk’s eyes flickered once, then twice, before dying.
The giant staggered backward, each step shaking the ground. Karl clung to its face, claws buried in the collapsing metal, as Brokk fell.
The impact boomed through the forge, sending lava surging against the walls.
When the dust settled, Brokk lay still, his body half on the stone, half submerged in molten rock.
Karl stood atop the automaton’s ruined face, panting hard, steam rising from his fur. His body shook from exhaustion, but he didn’t fall.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring down at the broken god-machine he’d slain.
Well, Fenrir rumbled in his mind, sounding somewhat pleased. You’ve done the impossible again.
Karl gave a ragged laugh, chest heaving. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Let’s hope it was worth it.”
Quest Completed: Hammer Time
“Two overheated werewolves, one billion-gold doorbell, and a resurrected forge-god later—congratulations! The System regrets to inform you that none of this was OSHA compliant.”
Primary Objectives:
Survive dungeon traps (3/3)
Find the dungeon key to escape (1/1)
Bonus Objective:
Awaken and slay the Dvergr Metal God known as Brokk-Prime (1/1)
Rewards (Settlement Rewards Added to Visby):
Item: Brokk’s Spare Hammer (Epic) — A forge tool that doubles as a weapon. +25% crafting speed, +15% blunt damage, and smells faintly of singed beard.
Item: Dvergr Iron ×100
Item: Rune-Carved Stone ×150
Item: Moltenplate Blueprint (Rare) — Unlocks craftable armor set resistant to Fire and Stupidity.
Settlement Upgrade: Masonry Hall (Unlocked) — Allows construction of advanced stoneworks, reinforced palisades, and smug architectural bragging rights.
Bonus Rewards:
Item: Brokk’s Memory Core (Legendary) — A pulsing sphere of molten runes that remembers every blueprint ever forged. Try not to let it design your love life.
+250 Reiði
As a result of his extra Reiði points, which gave him more Glory on top of what he received from completing the dungeon quest, his powers in both his human and werewolf forms increased.
Wealth (+1): 5,656 Gold
Alpha Path (+2): lvl 7 (20/170 Reiði)
Reiði Points (+2): 3
Intelligence (+10): lvl 3 (30/40)
Glory (+260): 1,040
Level (+1): 30 (80/310)
Skill Points (+1): 5
The glow of the notification flickered across him as the Brokk’s Memory Core materialized in his palm.
It pulsed just like a heart, though it didn’t make him salivate like a real one would. Runes crawled across its surface like fireflies caught in amber, patterns rearranging in real time. He could feel the hum of power inside it, deep and ancient, vibrating against his fur as if the forge-god’s dying breath still lingered within.
But before he could study it or the temptation to claim its power could root itself deeper, something else caught his attention.
Kara stood at the far end of the chamber near the tall bronze-framed windows, her silhouette lit by the dull red glow of lava behind them. Her fur was matted with soot, even smoking faintly from the fight, yet she looked… quiet. Still.
Karl’s instincts softened.
He felt the last of his adrenaline taper into warmth as the Alpha energy within him steadied his heart. He wanted to walk over there—to pull her close, to forget for one blissful moment how close they’d come to dying. His mind even flickered with the memory of the Unicorn slaughter: the closeness of her body to his, the way her laughter had sounded when the danger had finally passed.
He took a step toward her.
Then he saw what she was looking at.
Through the massive windows, the twilight sky stretched over Gotland. Smoke rose from the forests below—thick columns that glowed orange and red against the fading light, coming from the village they had seen earlier.
The entire village that Harald’s gang and Karl’s friends went to was on fire.
16
A FAMILIAR, UGLY FACE
Karl sprinted across the intricately carved mosaic floor, his claws clattering against it. Kara stood before the tall, blackened windows, her fur rimmed by the red glare outside. Through the smoke-fogged glass, the world below burned.
The smell of charred timber spiked into his muzzle the closer he got. His stomach turned as he got closer. The village was ablaze across the valley, the flames licking high enough to paint the night sky orange. It wasn’t Visby—thank the gods—but his friends must have ridden straight into that settlement not long before he and Kara entered the forge.
“I can’t see them,” Kara murmured, her voice rough through her snout as she leaned closer to the glass.
Karl’s pulse hammered. If I’d been there… The bitter thought clawed at him. He’d spent hours exploring the dungeon, chasing relics, enjoying the thrill of it—and now, while he played at being an adventurer, his friends might be dying, along with whoever lived in the village.
“We’re going down,” he said, already pulling the Dwarven key from his belt.
Kara started to nod, but then caught his wrist with a claw. “Wait.” She gestured to the massive treasure chest behind them, its lid yawning open. “You might want to take this first.”
He hesitated, torn between duty and greed, but his lunar sight flared instinctively. The inside of the chest shimmered with loot that would be desperately needed. All right. Ten seconds. He lunged forward and began pulling items free.
Item: Rune of Overpressure Leap Mk II 3/3 (Legendary) — Vent volcanic steam from your legs to catapult forward or upward by 80 meters, leaving a molten trail that deals 60 Fire DMG/sec for 8 s. Cooldown: 3 min. Glory Cost: 200.
Karl’s eyes widened. “That’s insane,” he muttered. He could already picture it—combining this with Elf Leap to chain mid-air teleportation. The maneuverability alone could win battles or escape certain death.
He kept digging.
Wealth (+1,000): 6,656 Gold
Item: Dwarven Metal Bag 0/30 Inventory (Epic)
Karl laughed under his breath. “Finally. A bag that can keep up.” He slung it across his back, feeling its strange weight vanish into his werewolf form as it synced with his inventory.
A sudden flash of gold light pulsed across his vision.
Title: Protector of Visby, Expert Chef, Mythological Serial Killer, Viking Raider, Troll Hunter, Dwarf Exterminator, Unicorn Slayer, Brokkenator
Visual: Your weapons emit a spice-scented golden aura and drip with glowing red ichor that moves towards targets like a compass. Weapons now marked with glowing golden symbols of your conquests. When killing a Dwarf or machine, receive a satisfying ka-ching sound.
Effect: +10% Stealth in dark areas or forests. Each kill results in 15% Satiation and adds +2% Health Regen per second for 5 seconds. Animals and lesser monsters won’t attack unless provoked or under magical influence. Chance to find +10% extra gold from humanoid corpses, and receive 1 Gold for every kill. Reduced prices for goods and services in Visby by 50%, improved reputation. 10% chance to vomit a stream of rainbow sparkles after any meal. Dwarves and machines drop 1-2 ingots per kill.
“Nice catch,” Karl said, glancing at Kara.
She grinned and pressed her muzzle against his cheek in a quick, bristly kiss. “You’re welcome, Alpha.”
Together, they crossed to the window. The Dwarven key fit perfectly into the carved slot at its center. When Karl twisted it, the window swung open weightlessly, despite being several tons of bronze and glass. A freezing gust slammed into them, carrying snow and the acrid sting of burning pitch from the village below.
Kara crouched beside him, fur rippling in the wind. “Ready?”
“Always.” Karl picked up a hunk of molten scrap from Brokk’s corpse and hurled it out into the storm. It vanished instantly in the whiteout.
The two Elf Leaped into the night.
Their teleportation landed them in a spray of snow at the edge of a frozen field, the air crackling from residual magic. Karl twisted to look back—expecting to see the Dwarven fortress towering behind them.
There was nothing. Only the empty, Northern Lights sky.
He frowned, tossing another shard of scrap metal toward where the mountain should have been. The metal sailed through open air and vanished into the mist.
