Capítulo 34: Crimson Castle

[Island of Bones, Dwarven Mountains Underground Entrance, Crimson Clan Castle (building site)]

Near the highest summit of the dwarven mountain range, a group of acolytes and dwarves were gathered. The sounds of hammers clashing with iron reverberatd in echos, causing montrous birds to escape the inceasing noise.

Because the mountain was filled with iron and tough materials, it was very difficult to dig through, the only path towards the underground being a natural pathway that was solidified and stabilized by the ancestors of dwarves, thousands of years ago. Many factions tried to establish some sort of control outpost in this place in the past, but none succeeded. Threats from the underground like steel-tail scorpions would take too much resources to defend against, while threats from the outside were even more fearsome.

Wandering acolytes, or acolytes from enemy factions would take advantage of those inceasing skirmishes to attack and destroy any attempt at contructing an outpost. Yet, for the first time in History, a small-sized on the verge of becoming a medium-sized clan was betting everything to build one, trying to follow the steps of the Shadow Guild and the Serpent Union, both organizations having successfully established themselves outside of the Magical Court Academy.

Only one month passed, yet the foundation of the Crimson Castle were already finished, the iron bars cemented into the mountain, the clay and obsidian stones giving an eerie aura that befitted the crimson clan to the perfection. Some tents had been set up for the dwarven blacksmiths and acolytes alike, and wooden walls had been erected around the building site to prevent wild beasts from causing accidents or delaying the construction.

Upon returning to the entrance of the dwarven mountains underground, the group of five - now reduced to four, sighed in relief at the same time.

After the intense skirmish, all four acolytes were on guard, afraid of encountering yet another danger. To be fair, it was already bad luck to encounter a terrifying steel-tail scorpion, not to mention getting attacked right after defeating the beast.

Carrying both the raw materials and dragging the body of the steel-tail scorpion had significantly slowed them down, but neither Lewis nor his subordinates were willing to give up the magic crystals it represented.

Breathing in the air of the surface felt great, especially since there was an aura of malice whenever they descended in the darkness of the undeground. Although they possessed torches to illuminate their path, the darkness was omnipresent, getting on one's nerves. Even Raon, who possessed some darkness visibility thanks to his transplanted eyeball, was on the edge.

"Look, it is Lewis' party...They...They managed to hunt a steel-tail scorpion!", a blond-haired acolyte who joined the crimson clan years ago, not believing his eyes. He could not accept the rise of such a talented acolyte within their ranks, "I must really work harder..."

"Look at the size of the carcass...It must weigh hundreds of kilograms...or more", a dwarf working on the finitions of the castle's gate stopped his work to admire the dead body of the monstrous beast that terrorized his kind

"Oh my...Seems like the new recruit got his hands something fancy, hehe", Tyrius, the strongest necromancer and one of the seven elite beginner rank acolyte of the crimson clan smiled in appreciation.

Some body refinement acolyte started to size and examine the body, trembling when thinking about their fate if they encountered such a strong beast. From a distance, Janna Heartsteel squinted before revealing a rare smile on her face.

"Finally, some good news in those times", she spoke, her aide turning his head and tilting his eyes towards the scene that was causing some commotions.