Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

172  The creatures

Henry looked down at the Screaming Valley, where the clouds moved like a river, following the contours of the mountains, trying to reach for the peaks and break free from the constraints of the mountains, like great tentacles of a beast. However, no matter how much they tried to reach the skies, the valley always pulled them back, like the current of a great river swallowing everything. "Lead the way." -Henry said, turning his gaze to Leier, briefly glancing at the two hundred barbarians behind her, composed of men and women alike. Unlike normal scouts, these warriors didn't shiver in the cold. Their years in the Frozen Forest toughened them, making them laugh at this mild chill that felt like a summer breeze compared to the icy depths they called home. With Leier leading the way, they descended the mountain swiftly, despite the hefty bags strapped to their backs, brimming with provisions and firewood. Henry ran maintaining a step distance from her. They didn't even stop and jumped right over the crevices that blocked their way.

Suddenly, Leier turned her head - "Draw your weapons for support and stay close together! We are about to reach the clouds. Hold on tight and firm your steps!" - The barbarians, despite having some difficulty with the language, still understood her, and did as ordered. They drew their weapons and moved closer together, forming a single, cohesive unit, like a single entity.

Moments later, they were engulfed in a gray world, the mist so thick they could barely see a few feet ahead. The chaotic wind threatened to push them down the mountainside. Pressing closer together, they used their weapons for stability, leaving tiny scratches on the rocky surface - "Do not stop!" - Despite the howling winds, Leier's shouts kept them moving.

This situation persisted for what felt like an eternity, the mist clinging to them for hundreds of breaths until it suddenly cleared, out of nowhere. It was as if they had crossed from a chaotic realm into one of order, from hell into heaven. The barbarians, breathing heavily, struggled to grasp their weapons with trembling hands. Their furred clothes were tattered from scraping against the rocks. However, they wore a happy smile, seeing that they finally reached the valley.

In contrast, Henry and Leier seemed almost unscathed, their clothes intact and their breaths following a regular rhythm. Henry used his Mana to stand firm against the fierce winds, while Leier had already grown accustomed to the situation after going through it once.

"Is something troubling you, my liege?" - Leier asked, noticing Henry's focused gaze on the cloud layer. Henry didn't respond immediately. He continued to stare at the river of clouds above before finally opening his mouth - "I'm calculating the probabilities of the Snowfire Horses managing to cross this river of clouds"

 At his words, Leier also looked up. Henry added - "While it's unlikely we'll avoid any losses, those horses are native to the Frozen Forest and have likely faced tougher conditions. Their strong legs should help them withstand the wind, just as they do in their lairs."

Despite saying his mind, Leier could see he was still deep in thought - "Are you still worried about something, Your Majesty?"- she asked, unable to hide her curiosity and concern.

"It's not just about the Snowfire Horses making it through the clouds" - Henry said, taking a deep breath - "I'm concerned whether the riders will be able to calm them within the mist and guide them correctly." He shifted his gaze from the clouds. "Anyway, Olaro will handle those challenges. We need to keep moving and scout the way ahead."

They found themselves within the valley, not a sign of the mist that had blocked Leier's view during her brief passage. The Screaming Valley was embraced by mountains on both sides. And, contrary to Henry's expectations of a barren and frozen landscape, he witnessed towering trees in the distance. Their leafless branches stretched out like skeletal fingers against the snowy horizon. Yet, despite their existence, there was an eerie silence; no chirping of insects or rustling of animals, like a forest of death.

Henry scanned the ground nearby, half-expecting to see the remnants of those punished by Rusra's lords. To his surprise, there were none - "Where are the bodies?" - he pondered to himself - "Did the dwarves dispose of them? Or were they consumed by animals?" - Henry couldn't reach a conclusion, nor did he particularly care. These people had not fallen under his throne's rule, so their fate held little concern for him.

Leier shattered Henry's chain of thought and the heavy silence enveloping them with a question - "Should we proceed, Your Majesty?"

Henry tore his gaze away from the landscape and nodded - "Yes, let's proceed. Are you all ready?" - he asked, turning towards the barbarians, who appeared to have regained their breaths. They thumped their chests twice, signaling they were ready to continue with the mission.

Confirming they were ready, Henry took the lead, but with each step, the silence seemed to intensify, enveloping them like a suffocating web. It felt as though hidden threats lurked behind the towering frozen trees - "Stay alert! We don't know if or when the dwarves will attack us" - He warned, prompting the others to grab their weapons firmly.

Henry had never encountered dwarves before, making him stay on high alert as they moved through the valley. From the descriptions within the few books and documents inside his library, they appeared to be both fierce and straightforward, yet their small stature forced them to develop a trickster and sneaky personality. If faced with a battle they couldn't win outright, they might resort to traps and other cunning methods to defeat stronger opponents. This trait allowed great names to surge from their race in the field of blacksmithing.

"There is someone or something watching us" - Henry whispered, his voice barely audible to Leier. There was some kind of instinct, a sixth sense, stirring within him and telling him that they were being observed. He couldn't identify the location, but he was certain of its presence.

At the king's warning, her expression turned grave as she surveyed their surroundings, but found nothing amiss. She couldn't spot any unseen or uninvited watcher. The team pressed on, but suddenly, a low growl reverberated through the trees, sending a shiver down Leier's spine. She swiftly drew both of her daggers, and Henry unsheathed his sword. Their eyes narrowed as they scanned the surroundings. "Get in position!" - Henry growled at the barbarians, who had also raised their weapons. However, unlike his trained army, the barbarians didn't seem to immediately position themselves to defend against the threats.

"There is more than one! Don't let your guard down and be prepared to engage!" - Henry shouted as another growl echoed, clearly distinct from the first. He took a deep breath, preparing to use his strength to confront the adversary. Suddenly, a fearsome and monstrous figure appeared behind the trees, knocking those trees that stood on his way as if they were only toys, which didn't even manage to sustain a single bump from them. Its skin, ashen and pallid, was covered in a thick layer of ice, giving it a terrifying glow in the dim light of the valley. Glacial blue veins seemed to pulse beneath its icy surface, tracing intricate patterns across its monstrous form. It was as if these blue veins were Tribal Tattoos of the Barbarians. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

With each step, the ground trembled beneath the weight of its colossal feet, leaving deep, jagged imprints in the snow. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, gleaming like shards of ice in the darkness.

"What is that?" - Henry asked himself, his eyes scanning the towering figure of the creature. He had never seen or read about such a creature in the books within his library.

Everyone's hearts pounded in their chests. The barbarians exchanged nervous glances; they were not ones to easily feel fear, even in the face of Winter Orcs they would proudly brandish their weapons, but this creature before them seemed three times the size of a Winter Orc. It was as big as Eisenburg's defensive walls.

"Ahhh!"- One of the barbarians, driven either by a desire for battle or the fear of dying helplessly, charged towards the creature, his hatchet raised high. However, the weapon seemed as small as a nail compared to the massive creature before him, like an ant facing an elephant, attempting to strike it down with a bite.

With a swift motion, the creature swung its massive arm, sending the barbarian flying through the air like a ragdoll. He crashed into the mountain's walls with a sickening thud, unmoving. The barbarian didn't even have the time to reach the monster, his life ended with a single and simple attack.

Seeing the image of their dead brother, the barbarians gritted their teeth, their eyes gleaming with fury. They wanted to rush towards the creature and pierce its skin thousands, no, millions of times over. They were about to charge when a sword of fire caught their attention.

"Stop! Hold your ground!"- Henry shouted a command, his sword blazing with purple-tinged fire, causing both creatures to pause for a moment - "I will handle this."