The moving city of Burkin maintained its steady northward march toward Rünhaven, poised to arrive at the capital soon. With this milestone on the horizon, the group could embark on their mission of recruitment. Kazuka cautioned Menelik that the outcome would be uncertain; while many harbored disdain for Dohon and his tyranny over Ayce, few would be willing to commit to the perils of war against him.
Menelik grappled with conflicting emotions, his mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. The abduction of his friends left him feeling helpless, powerless to intervene alone. Contemplating whether he would have ventured forth to rescue them had he retained his mana, he found himself at a loss. Kazuka's revelation of Dohon's impending execution of his comrades stirred something within him, yet action remained elusive. It wasn't solely Kazuka's words that held him back, but rather the stark realization of his own vulnerabilities. Stripped of mana and weaponry, the odds stacked against him, Menelik hesitated, pondering what Idris and Taharqa would do in his stead.
"Why did you agree to come with me?" Menelik asked, his voice probing.
"Huh?" Kazuka responded, slightly puzzled. "I have a rental here, but I'm honestly just passing through."
"I wasn’t talking to you," Menelik boasted. "I was talking to Elsa."
"Oh, uh, well, when you said you could take me to Tzang, it kind of overrode everything else, so I jumped in," Elsa confessed, her excitement bubbling over. "Plus, the shop wasn't doing the best. I could have put some more effort in, but why bother when the entire island is falling apart?" Her enthusiasm waned. "I really don’t want to be here if Dohon is killed."
"Yeah..." Kazuka's tone softened, carrying a hint of resignation. "The Yetis will go on a rampage until all of them are dead or they are the only things left on the island." He turned to Menelik, a sense of somber understanding in his gaze. "Dohon is crazy, but he keeps them in somewhat of an order."
As much as Dohon has caused a stir and shattered the established hierarchy and social norms of Ayce, he has instilled order in the Yetis and transformed them into formidable warriors. There are moments when one might question whether this new order is truly preferable, but those who witnessed the savagery of an ununited Yeti culture are quick to recall that even the monsters from Dungeon Breaks weren’t as uncivilized.
Kazuka was just about to make another comment when the Frost Giant carrying the city let out an enormous roar, capturing everyone’s attention, especially Menelik's.
"Whaat the fuuuck?" Menelik exclaimed. "Why's’he yelling?"
Kazuka stifled a laugh. "That, my new friend, is the call of the capital." He nudged Menelik. "Since you've never seen this before, hold on tight. It's absolutely incredible."
Menelik gripped the railing of the balcony and watched in awe as Rünhaven emerged in the distance. To his astonishment, the city was suspended in the sky, perched atop the largest glacier he had ever laid eyes on. Three more Frost Giants of the Maru Tribe supported it, each as colossal as the one carrying Burkin. As they drew closer, the intricate details of the cities strapped onto their chests came into view—Yorkin, Guyoona, and Ohando—each constructed in a similar fashion to Burkin, blending stone, ice, and wood. Menelik finally understood where the wood came from; Rünhaven itself was abundant with it. The city's heart was lush with greenery, surrounded by breathtaking architecture. Structures soared into the sky, allowing rays of sunlight to filter gently through the ice, casting a soft hue over the forest below. The buildings, a testament to engineering prowess, bore the unmistakable mark of Dwarven craftsmanship from eras past. Stone seamlessly integrated with ice formed a unified structure encircling the forest. While appearing haphazard at first glance, a closer inspection revealed meticulous organization and refinement.
As they drew nearer, the Frost Giant they rode on extended its hands, gripping the bottom of the glacier like its counterparts. The entire city quaked as it settled into place, emitting another resounding roar. In response, the adjacent Frost Giant removed its arms, signaling the commencement of the docking process. Menelik watched in silence as the colossal creature turned and trudged into the blizzard, leaving him in awe of the spectacle unfolding before him. Kazuka's assessment rang true—it was truly breathtaking.
Menelik's gaze shifted upward to the glacier, where Frost Elves descended from the hands and arms, gliding effortlessly toward the city. At intervals, they paused to craft intricate magic circles, infusing the air with mystical energy. Upon reaching the city's shoulders, the final Frost Elf clapped its hands together, igniting all twenty-six magic circles along the Frost Giant's arms with a brilliant blue light that gradually faded into a soft icy hue. Magic surged, bridging the gap between the arms and forming an immense staircase that cascaded to a dock near the Frost Giant's abdomen. In mere moments, Menelik watched in wonder as crowds began to ascend the stairs, making their way toward the capital.
"You were right, that was legit the coolest shit I've ever seen," Menelik stated, his awe evident. He paused as his attention was drawn to the stairs, where the crowd had been halted by a Frost Elf. Their skin held a fascinating quality, a soft blue translucence that almost made them appear ghostly. Intriguingly, one could see through them, revealing a network of white freckles scattered throughout. Unlike their robed counterparts who had built the stairs, this Frost Elf was clad in bulky metal armor, adding to their imposing presence. The armor accentuated their already impressive stature, yet their intimidating demeanor remained unchanged as they addressed the group.
"Who saw what happened?!" they bellowed, their cold, near-lifeless blue eyes scanning the crowd. "WHERE DID THESE TERRORISTS GO?!" Their thick accent grew more pronounced with each word. "Tell me what I want to know." With a swift motion, they conjured a ball of fire in their hand, pointing it menacingly at a young Dark Elf in front of them. "NOW!"
Menelik shook his head in disgust. "Nah," he muttered, then raised his voice. "HEY, FUCKER!" The Frost Elf's attention shifted to Menelik as he made his way to the stairs and pushed his way through the crowd, Elsa and Kazuka hurrying to keep up. Menelik's aggressive apologies filled the air as he reached the front.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" he called out, slapping the Frost Elf's hand down, causing the fireball to dissipate. In response, the Elf seized Menelik by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Long way from home, be a shame if your Yeti fur was to come off."
Menelik retaliated, kicking forward, forcing the Elf to release him. As he rubbed his neck, Menelik softened his tone. "Alright, fucker. I'll play by your rules." Elsa and Kazuka pulled him back.
"Sorry, sir," Kazuka apologized. "He isn't from here."
"Obviously," the Elf retorted.
"Fuck you, buddy," Menelik spat, attempting to push past them. Elsa intervened, blowing a small cloud of magic into Menelik's face, causing him to grow hazy before collapsing into Kazuka's arms, snoring away. She then addressed the Frost Elf.
"The ones you're looking for aren't here. Why don't you tend to the wounded from the explosion and start on repairs instead of threatening your people, Alexander?"
"Don't you fucking call me that, you bitch," the Elf snapped. "You know who I am now."
Elsa rolled her eyes, flashing a fake smile. "Oh, I'm sorry." She curtsied sarcastically as he grabbed her dress. "Go fuck yourself, Your Holiness."
The moving city of Burkin maintained its steady northward march toward Rünhaven, poised to arrive at the capital soon. With this milestone on the horizon, the group could embark on their mission of recruitment. Kazuka cautioned Menelik that the outcome would be uncertain; while many harbored disdain for Dohon and his tyranny over Ayce, few would be willing to commit to the perils of war against him.
Menelik grappled with conflicting emotions, his mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. The abduction of his friends left him feeling helpless, powerless to intervene alone. Contemplating whether he would have ventured forth to rescue them had he retained his mana, he found himself at a loss. Kazuka's revelation of Dohon's impending execution of his comrades stirred something within him, yet action remained elusive. It wasn't solely Kazuka's words that held him back, but rather the stark realization of his own vulnerabilities. Stripped of mana and weaponry, the odds stacked against him, Menelik hesitated, pondering what Idris and Taharqa would do in his stead.
"Why did you agree to come with me?" Menelik asked, his voice probing.
"Huh?" Kazuka responded, slightly puzzled. "I have a rental here, but I'm honestly just passing through."
"I wasn’t talking to you," Menelik boasted. "I was talking to Elsa."
"Oh, uh, well, when you said you could take me to Tzang, it kind of overrode everything else, so I jumped in," Elsa confessed, her excitement bubbling over. "Plus, the shop wasn't doing the best. I could have put some more effort in, but why bother when the entire island is falling apart?" Her enthusiasm waned. "I really don’t want to be here if Dohon is killed."
"Yeah..." Kazuka's tone softened, carrying a hint of resignation. "The Yetis will go on a rampage until all of them are dead or they are the only things left on the island." He turned to Menelik, a sense of somber understanding in his gaze. "Dohon is crazy, but he keeps them in somewhat of an order."
As much as Dohon has caused a stir and shattered the established hierarchy and social norms of Ayce, he has instilled order in the Yetis and transformed them into formidable warriors. There are moments when one might question whether this new order is truly preferable, but those who witnessed the savagery of an ununited Yeti culture are quick to recall that even the monsters from Dungeon Breaks weren’t as uncivilized.
Kazuka was just about to make another comment when the Frost Giant carrying the city let out an enormous roar, capturing everyone’s attention, especially Menelik's.
"Whaat the fuuuck?" Menelik exclaimed. "Why's’he yelling?"
Kazuka stifled a laugh. "That, my new friend, is the call of the capital." He nudged Menelik. "Since you've never seen this before, hold on tight. It's absolutely incredible."
Menelik gripped the railing of the balcony and watched in awe as Rünhaven emerged in the distance. To his astonishment, the city was suspended in the sky, perched atop the largest glacier he had ever laid eyes on. Three more Frost Giants of the Maru Tribe supported it, each as colossal as the one carrying Burkin. As they drew closer, the intricate details of the cities strapped onto their chests came into view—Yorkin, Guyoona, and Ohando—each constructed in a similar fashion to Burkin, blending stone, ice, and wood. Menelik finally understood where the wood came from; Rünhaven itself was abundant with it. The city's heart was lush with greenery, surrounded by breathtaking architecture. Structures soared into the sky, allowing rays of sunlight to filter gently through the ice, casting a soft hue over the forest below. The buildings, a testament to engineering prowess, bore the unmistakable mark of Dwarven craftsmanship from eras past. Stone seamlessly integrated with ice formed a unified structure encircling the forest. While appearing haphazard at first glance, a closer inspection revealed meticulous organization and refinement.
As they drew nearer, the Frost Giant they rode on extended its hands, gripping the bottom of the glacier like its counterparts. The entire city quaked as it settled into place, emitting another resounding roar. In response, the adjacent Frost Giant removed its arms, signaling the commencement of the docking process. Menelik watched in silence as the colossal creature turned and trudged into the blizzard, leaving him in awe of the spectacle unfolding before him. Kazuka's assessment rang true—it was truly breathtaking.
Menelik's gaze shifted upward to the glacier, where Frost Elves descended from the hands and arms, gliding effortlessly toward the city. At intervals, they paused to craft intricate magic circles, infusing the air with mystical energy. Upon reaching the city's shoulders, the final Frost Elf clapped its hands together, igniting all twenty-six magic circles along the Frost Giant's arms with a brilliant blue light that gradually faded into a soft icy hue. Magic surged, bridging the gap between the arms and forming an immense staircase that cascaded to a dock near the Frost Giant's abdomen. In mere moments, Menelik watched in wonder as crowds began to ascend the stairs, making their way toward the capital.
"You were right, that was legit the coolest shit I've ever seen," Menelik stated, his awe evident. He paused as his attention was drawn to the stairs, where the crowd had been halted by a Frost Elf. Their skin held a fascinating quality, a soft blue translucence that almost made them appear ghostly. Intriguingly, one could see through them, revealing a network of white freckles scattered throughout. Unlike their robed counterparts who had built the stairs, this Frost Elf was clad in bulky metal armor, adding to their imposing presence. The armor accentuated their already impressive stature, yet their intimidating demeanor remained unchanged as they addressed the group.
"Who saw what happened?!" they bellowed, their cold, near-lifeless blue eyes scanning the crowd. "WHERE DID THESE TERRORISTS GO?!" Their thick accent grew more pronounced with each word. "Tell me what I want to know." With a swift motion, they conjured a ball of fire in their hand, pointing it menacingly at a young Dark Elf in front of them. "NOW!"
Menelik shook his head in disgust. "Nah," he muttered, then raised his voice. "HEY, FUCKER!" The Frost Elf's attention shifted to Menelik as he made his way to the stairs and pushed his way through the crowd, Elsa and Kazuka hurrying to keep up. Menelik's aggressive apologies filled the air as he reached the front.
"What the fuck are you doing?!" he called out, slapping the Frost Elf's hand down, causing the fireball to dissipate. In response, the Elf seized Menelik by the throat, lifting him off the ground. "Long way from home, be a shame if your Yeti fur was to come off."
Menelik retaliated, kicking forward, forcing the Elf to release him. As he rubbed his neck, Menelik softened his tone. "Alright, fucker. I'll play by your rules." Elsa and Kazuka pulled him back.
"Sorry, sir," Kazuka apologized. "He isn't from here."
"Obviously," the Elf retorted.
"Fuck you, buddy," Menelik spat, attempting to push past them. Elsa intervened, blowing a small cloud of magic into Menelik's face, causing him to grow hazy before collapsing into Kazuka's arms, snoring away. She then addressed the Frost Elf.
"The ones you're looking for aren't here. Why don't you tend to the wounded from the explosion and start on repairs instead of threatening your people, Alexander?"
"Don't you fucking call me that, you bitch," the Elf snapped. "You know who I am now."
Elsa rolled her eyes, flashing a fake smile. "Oh, I'm sorry." She curtsied sarcastically as he grabbed her dress. "Go fuck yourself, Your Holiness."
