Chapter 243: Bone and Iron PT 1

They spotted the fortress from two miles away.

It stood in the middle of the Southern Wastes, towering above the endless red dunes. Even from that distance, Holden could tell there was something terribly wrong with the structure. It looked nothing like an ordinary castle. In fact, the longer he stared at it, the more it resembled the remains of some enormous creature.

The walls were made entirely of bones.

Not small bones arranged over a stone foundation, but massive rib bones taken from creatures that must have been enormous when they were alive. They had been fitted together to form walls nearly thirty feet high, with dark red iron filling the gaps between them.

Even stranger, the iron appeared to be alive.

It ran through the bones in thick lines, spreading across the walls like veins. A faint red glow pulsed within the metal, making the entire structure look as though something inside it was still breathing.

Three towers rose above the fortress, each made from huge spinal bones stacked on top of one another. Dark iron held the pieces together, while a strange membrane stretched across the gaps. At the top of each tower sat the skull of a giant beast, its empty eye sockets large enough for a person to walk through.

The entrance was just as disturbing.

Instead of an ordinary gate, a massive jawbone had been fitted into the front wall. Its long, pointed teeth were locked together, completely blocking the entrance.

Renna stared at the structure from the dune where the team had stopped.

"Please tell me that’s not where we’re going."

Holden glanced at her.

"Unfortunately, it is."

"Of course it is. Why would we ever visit a normal castle when we can visit one made from dead animals?"

Emric adjusted his glasses, studying the fortress.

"I don’t think those bones came from ordinary animals."

"That makes it so much better. Thank you, Emric."

Holden smiled faintly before turning his attention toward the objects surrounding the fortress.

Twelve strange machines had been placed around its outer walls.

Each was roughly the size of a car, built from dark metal with large glass chambers fixed to the sides. Thick tubes extended from the machines into the sand, while others connected directly to the fortress walls.

Inside the glass chambers, dark red liquid flowed continuously.

Holden narrowed his eyes.

Blood.

His enhanced senses picked up the energy moving through the machines. Whatever they were doing, they were feeding power into the fortress.

"Maeve," he said, touching his earpiece. "We’ve reached Draven’s stronghold. There are twelve machines around the walls. Can you tell what they’re for?"

"Give me a second."

A brief silence followed as Maeve examined the satellite feed.

"Found them. Those are blood-pumps," she answered. "They’re Rank 4 enchanted devices, and they’re drawing energy from creatures buried beneath the sand."

Holden looked at the nearest machine.

"So those things are pumping blood into the fortress?"

"Exactly. The blood is being used to power its defenses. All twelve pumps are connected, and together they’re maintaining a powerful barrier around the main tower."

"How powerful?"

"Rank 4. Anything below that level would have a hard time breaking through it."

Holden studied the fortress again.

"Then we destroy the pumps."

"That’s what I was about to say," Maeve replied. "The enchantments are Rank 4, but the machines themselves aren’t particularly durable. A solid Rank 3 attack should be enough to destroy one."

"Any guards?"

"Plenty. I’m picking up small groups around each pump. Mostly Rank 2 signatures, although there could be stronger enemies nearby. Some Blood-Ghouls are also moving beneath the sand."

Holden nodded.

"All right. Keep monitoring the area and let us know if anything changes."

"Will do. And Holden, be careful. The energy readings inside that fortress are much stronger than what we encountered outside."

"Understood."

He ended the communication and turned toward his companions.

Emric, Renna, Lyra, Cora, and Sera stood nearby, waiting for instructions. After crossing the Southern Wastes and dealing with the Blood-Ghoul horde, they had finally reached their destination.

Now came the difficult part.

"We’re splitting up," Holden announced.

Renna immediately looked at him.

"Please don’t tell me you’re planning to fight another army by yourself."

"Not an army this time."

"That doesn’t make me feel better."

Holden chuckled before pointing toward the machines surrounding the fortress.

"Those are blood-pumps. They’re powering a Rank 4 barrier around the main tower. We need to destroy all twelve before we can reach Draven."

Emric opened the map on his tablet.

"I can see them. They’re spread around the outer wall."

"Exactly. I want you to lead the others around the perimeter and disable them. Start from the southeast and work your way around."

Emric studied the map for a moment.

"There are guards stationed at each pump. Mostly Rank 2, from what Maeve said. We can handle them, but moving quietly would be better than fighting every group."

"That’s the idea."

Holden turned toward Lyra.

"Your frost abilities should work well against those machines. If you freeze the blood flowing through them, the pumps should stop working."

Lyra nodded.

"I can do that. But what about you?"

"I’m going through the front gate."

Renna stared at him.

"Of course you are."

Holden continued as though she hadn’t spoken.

"I’ll draw the guards’ attention while you deal with the pumps. If everyone inside thinks they’re under attack from the front, they won’t be paying much attention to what’s happening around the walls."

Emric nodded slowly.

"That could work. But we’ll need to move quickly before they realize what we’re doing."

"How long do you need?"

Emric looked toward the fortress, then back at the map.

"With all five of us working together, maybe thirty minutes. Less if we can avoid most of the guards."

"Good. Thirty minutes, then."

Cora stepped forward.

"Master Voss, are you certain you want to approach the fortress alone?"

"Yes. You’ll be more useful helping the others."

Sera glanced toward the enormous jaw-shaped gate.

"They’ll send their strongest guards after you."

"That’s what I’m counting on."

The Twins exchanged a look before nodding.

"We understand," Cora said.

"We’ll make sure the pumps are destroyed," Sera added.

Lyra, however, still looked unconvinced.

"Holden, I should go with you."

He turned toward her.

"I’ll be fine."

"That’s not what I asked."

"I know."

She folded her arms, clearly waiting for a better answer.

Holden sighed.

"Look, your frost abilities are the easiest way to shut down those pumps without making too much noise. If you come with me, the others might have to destroy them by force, and that’ll attract attention."

Lyra considered his words.

"And you’re sure you can handle whatever’s waiting at the gate?"

Holden smiled.

"After everything we’ve been through, you’re still asking me that?"

"Someone has to."

"Then trust me. I won’t do anything reckless."

Renna coughed.

Everyone turned toward her.

"What?" she asked innocently. "I didn’t say anything."

Holden shook his head.

Lyra finally sighed.

"Fine. Thirty minutes. If something goes wrong, contact us immediately."

"Same goes for you."

She nodded before turning to the others.

"All right, let’s move. Emric, guide us toward the first pump. Renna, watch our backs. Cora and Sera, keep an eye on both sides."

"Got it," Renna replied.

The five of them started down the dune, keeping low as they moved toward the southeastern side of the fortress.

Holden watched them for a moment.

Soon, their figures disappeared behind another stretch of red sand, leaving him alone on the ridge.

He turned toward the fortress.

"Well, time to knock."

Holden made his way toward the front gate.

He didn’t bother hiding or using the Void Mantle. There was no point. His job was to attract attention, and the easiest way to do that was to walk straight up to the entrance.

The wind blew against him, scattering red sand across his boots as he approached.

From this distance, the fortress looked even worse.

The enormous bones making up its walls were covered in cracks and dark stains. The red iron connecting them pulsed slowly. Every few seconds, a faint glow traveled through the metal, disappearing into the ground beneath the structure.

Holden could feel the corrupted energy coming from inside.

It was unpleasant and far stronger than anything he had encountered while crossing the desert.

"So this is what you’ve been building, Draven."

He continued walking until he reached the massive jaw-shaped gate.

Up close, the teeth were enormous, each nearly as tall as a person. Their sharp tips overlapped, creating a solid barrier that completely blocked the entrance.

The bones themselves were old and yellowed, but the dark iron holding them together looked freshly formed.

Holden examined the gate for a moment.

Then he noticed the guards standing in front of it.

Eight of them.

They were arranged in a loose formation, each holding a long sword made from dark red crystal.

But their weapons weren’t the strangest thing about them.

The guards themselves barely looked human.

Their skin was grey and stretched tightly over their bodies. Thick red veins ran beneath it, pulsing with corrupted energy. Dark plates covered their shoulders, arms, and legs, forming armor that seemed to have grown directly from their flesh.

Even their eyes were red.

A faint glow burned inside them as they watched Holden approach.

His senses quickly measured their cultivation.

Rank 3, 2-Star.

All eight of them.

Holden raised an eyebrow.

"Well, at least Draven didn’t leave the front door completely unguarded."