Chapter 200: The Vanguard's Rest
The stagnant air deep inside Strata 150 of the Great Iron Labyrinth tasted strongly of rusted copper and burning heavy ozone.
The massive underground dungeon did not ever sleep. The Sovereign had manually entirely altered the ancient digital code. The heavy stone floors now regenerated instantly after taking physical damage.
The brutal nightmare monsters scaled infinitely to match the exact strength of the invaders. We firmly owned the peaceful illuminated surface but the Vanguard entirely owned the violent dark.
Rolf stood proudly at the absolute forefront of the massive Blackhorn battalion. The Silver Colossus swung his heavy double bladed battleaxe with terrifying unmatched kinetic force.
He seamlessly cleaved a towering obsidian golem entirely in half. Thick black fluid sprayed wildly across his heavy silver fur.
"Push the heavy line!" Rolf roared loudly. His deep intimidating voice completely shattered the cavernous echo.
"The Forge does not ever rust!"
Ten thousand modernized horned beastmen marched strictly in perfect rigid formation directly behind him.
They quickly raised their heavy Void Steel kinetic rifles. The unified coordinated volley of Steampunk artillery sounded exactly like continuous deafening localized thunder.
Thousands of hyper dense black iron rounds violently shredded the incoming massive horde of shadow stalkers. The terrifying monsters disintegrated instantly into harmless blowing black smoke.
Ursa the massive Dire-Bear charged aggressively directly into the bloody fray. The towering beast wore custom heavy starmetal plating forged specifically by Nyssa.
He roared fiercely and completely crushed three massive arachnid demons under his thick heavy paws. The infinite Labyrinth provided an endless glorious supply of brutal target practice.
The loyal soldiers bled heavily down here in the freezing dark so the innocent citizens above could live in total unquestionable peace.
"Floor completely cleared Alpha," a highly scarred minotaur lieutenant reported firmly.
"The raw mana crystals are fully harvested."
"Good," Rolf grunted deeply. He wiped thick black monster blood from his sharp silver snout.
"Recall the entire battalion. We march down again tomorrow morning."
The massive heavy iron elevator carried the elite Vanguard rapidly back to the surface.
The heavy thick steel doors slid smoothly open to reveal the bright warm afternoon sun of the Velkrath Capital. The stark undeniable contrast between the violent dark dungeon and the pristine glowing metropolis was completely staggering.
Clean Aetherion airships floated peacefully gracefully overhead. Human children and tiny beastman cubs ran happily together through the safe clean cobblestone streets.
Rolf breathed the clean fresh air incredibly deeply. This pristine flawless safety was the exact glorious prize they fought for every single day.
The Alpha General dismissed his loyal weary troops and walked calmly toward the western military district.
He entered a large sprawling private estate built entirely from thick polished oak and solid river stone. He pushed the heavy wooden front doors open.
"I smell the deep bloody strata on you," a smooth dangerous voice purred softly.
Vanessa stepped gracefully seamlessly into the main hall. The gorgeous female werewolf possessed flawless shining silver fur and fierce bright amber eyes.
She wore relaxed comfortable dark leather clothing. She walked confidently forward and pressed her soft warm face directly against his massive scarred chest.
Rolf dropped his heavy battleaxe loudly onto the smooth stone floor. He wrapped his massive muscular arms tightly around his beautiful fierce mate. He breathed in her familiar incredibly comforting scent.
"The new lower floors are incredibly highly challenging," Rolf murmured happily.
"The Sovereign brilliantly designed a perfect eternal crucible. The Vanguard troops will never ever grow weak."
A sudden loud chaotic crashing sound violently erupted from the adjacent living room.
Three massive silver werewolf pups tumbled wildly aggressively into the wide hallway. They were only a few short months old but they were already the exact size of fully grown human wolves.
They possessed boundless frantic endless energy and thick dense silver fur. They growled playfully and bit aggressively at each other's long fuzzy ears.
"Alpha!" the largest pup yipped loudly happily. He scrambled clumsily rapidly across the smooth stone floor and slammed directly forcefully into Rolf's heavy steel boots.
Rolf laughed a deep booming genuine laugh. The terrifying unmatched general of the Velkrath Imperium dropped happily to his knees. He scooped the heavy squirming pup up easily with one massive furry hand.
The tiny wolf playfully chewed enthusiastically on his thick heavy leather gauntlet. The other two energetic pups quickly aggressively swarmed his thick legs and demanded immediate equal attention.
Vanessa smiled a bright completely warm smile. She knelt gracefully down beside her massive mate and gently scratched the smallest pup behind its pointed silver ears.
"They are growing incredibly undeniably fast," Vanessa noted proudly.
"They will be massive towering warriors long before the decade officially ends."
"They will be the flawless new Vanguard," Rolf agreed deeply. He looked down lovingly at his chaotic beautiful growing family. His fierce glowing amber eyes softened completely entirely.
He remembered the dark miserable desperate days long before the Forge existed. He remembered starving painfully in the freezing cold mud while arrogant human paladins hunted his desperate scattered pack for pure sport. He remembered the constant terrible gnawing fear of total biological extinction.
Grik had promised them a safe flawless unified world. The towering dark green Sovereign had physically violently broken the high heavens to permanently deliver that profound heavy promise.
Rolf gently carefully placed the heavy silver pup back onto the solid stone floor. He stood up incredibly tall and looked out the large clear glass window.
He stared directly intently at the towering majestic Iron Estate resting permanently in the direct center of the sprawling Steampunk capital.
"The entire world is finally completely safe Vanessa," Rolf whispered softly deeply.
"We have unlimited pure food. We have endless warm shelter. The false golden gods are permanently entirely dead."
Vanessa wrapped her strong arm tightly securely around his thick muscular waist. She leaned her beautiful silver head heavily against his broad muscular shoulder.
The three energetic pups wrestled loudly happily in the warm afternoon sunlight streaming brightly through the open window.
"And we will violently ruthlessly defend this perfect peace forever," Rolf vowed fiercely. His bright amber eyes flared with pure unyielding infinite loyalty.
"The Forge always provides."