The morning light in Steel Melting City had not yet fully dissipated when Fa and her team bid farewell to King Secret Forge Titan, General Amber, and others outside the palace. After General Grin's state funeral, they prepared to embark on their journey to the Fierce Claw Empire. King Secret Forge Titan stood before the city gates, his gaze deep and resolute, his beard woven with metal rings, and the scepter in his hand emitting a faint blue glow, showing his trust and expectations for this group of young people.
"Fa, thank you for bringing the truth to the Alliance," the king said in a deep voice. "General Grin's sacrifice will not be in vain. Your journey will continue his will. May you find clues to the star shards in the Fierce Claw Empire."
Fa bowed slightly, a flash of silver light in her star eyes: "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will remember your teachings." Her voice was firm, carrying confidence in the future.
General Amber rode forward on her mechanical war bull and patted Tisk on the shoulder: "Kid, your war hammer impressed me. If you get the chance, come back to the Alliance; we have many skills we'd like to pass on to you." A hint of reluctance flashed in her eyes, but more so was her blessing for these young people.
Tisk grinned, his war hammer "Burning Vine" resting on his shoulder: "Thanks, General. I'll consider it!"
General Mias, riding his hell wolf "Wolf Fang," led four hundred elite beastman warriors to escort them, while another hundred warriors and ten investigators stayed in Steel Melting City to assist in investigating the prison massacre. He looked at Fa and the others, saying warmly: "Then let's head back to the Fierce Claw Empire together."
Fa nodded, and the group, along with Mias's team, set off immediately, leaving Steel Melting City and embarking on the five-day journey to the Fierce Claw Empire. Behind them, the iron walls of Steel Melting City gradually blurred in the morning mist, as if foreshadowing the start of a new challenge.
Meanwhile, in a hidden cave outside Steel Melting City, Shadow Wolf stood alone. His figure appeared cold and lonely under the dim light, his black armor emanating a chilling aura. He activated the projection communication magic crystal, and the air in the room trembled as ten projection screens slowly emerged, six of them lighting up to display the core members of the Doomsday Rebirth organization.
On the central screen, the mysterious person sat in the main seat. His left eye was like emerald jade, while his right eye resembled agate soaked in blood. The voice from under the mask was hoarse and low, like sandpaper scraping against rock: "Wolf, report the situation."
Wolf bowed slightly and said in a deep voice: "Grum and Rock have been eliminated as planned, with no survivors in the prison. But for some reason, Fa and her group seem to know our organization's name."
The mysterious person let out a cold laugh, devoid of emotion: "No matter; their knowledge is irrelevant. Shuks, upon learning of Grum's death, has agreed to undergo our transformation for revenge. Dr. Zheng has also completed the transformation of the Jintro leader. The two of them will become our new forces, replacing Grum and Rock."
A sinister smile curved at the corners of his mouth: "Plus our replicated and transformed troops, soon no one will be able to stop our plan to change the Muret Continent."
The others nodded in agreement, their voices cold and sharp: "The world will submit to Doomsday Rebirth."
The mysterious person nodded, his hoarse voice resounding again: "Very well, Wolf. Your mission is not over. Keep an eye on them, especially the girl with the star eyes."
Wolf felt a chill wash over him, but he remained calm: "Understood. I will continue to monitor their movements."
The screens went dark one by one, and the secret room returned to darkness. Wolf stood alone, a complex gleam flashing in his eyes. He knew he could no longer turn back.
Departure and Initial Talks
On the first day, the team crossed a vast plain, with waves of grass undulating in the gentle breeze, the sky a clear blue, occasionally broken by a few birds soaring across the horizon. Fa walked beside Mias, her boots making soft sounds on the soft grass. She gazed at the distant horizon, her mind filled with thoughts of the star shards, deciding to take this opportunity to consult Mias.
"General Mias," Fa spoke softly, her tone gentle yet expectant, "In the scrolls we found in Steel Melting City, the three shards of the Star Heart are located in the Light Feather Dome, the Vortex Tide Sanctuary, and the Fierce Claw Empire. Do you know more about the Light Feather Dome and the Vortex Tide Sanctuary?"
Mias turned to look at Fa, stroking Wolf Fang's mane, a hint of contemplation in his eyes. He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice low and steady: "Fa, these two places are extremely mysterious, and I don't know much. The Light Feather Dome is on a large island in the northwest of the continent, where there's the 'Hurricane Cliff,' the territory of the Wing Clan. They possess powerful flight abilities and wind, light, thunder, and dark elemental magic, and they are extremely exclusive to outsiders, even hostile. The Vortex Tide Sanctuary is in the 'Shadowy Sea Domain' to the southeast, the domain of the Sea Clan. They live in the deep sea, skilled in water magic and controlling marine creatures, and they also do not welcome outsiders."
Fa nodded, a silver light flashing in her star eyes as she listened attentively. Arya stepped forward and interjected softly: "Then, how should we approach these two nations? Is there any way to gain their trust?"
Mias shook his head, pointing southeast, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "It's difficult. The Wing Clan and Sea Clan are both extremely closed off, their attitude toward the outside world full of hostility. However, I've heard that in the southeast, there's a seaside port city called 'Abyss Crystal City,' the largest seaport trading city on the entire continent, where merchants and travelers gather. If anyone knows how to approach the Sea Clan or Wing Clan, perhaps we can start from there."
"Abyss Crystal City?" Fa repeated the name softly, committing it to memory. She turned to her teammates, seeing them nod in agreement. "Thank you, General Mias. We'll head to Abyss Crystal City at the appropriate time."
Arya stepped forward and said warmly: "Thank you, General Mias. This is an important clue for us." Her longbow slung over her shoulder, the five-element crystals emitting a faint glow, showing her anticipation for this journey.
As night fell, the team set up camp on a plain. The bonfire was lit, its light illuminating everyone's faces. Tisk sat by the fire, rubbing his "Burning Vine" war hammer, whispering to Rex: "We should use these few days to think about how to incorporate Kayla's frost iron ore into his thunder claw."
Rex nodded, his mechanical eye flickering: "I'm also studying the design of the 'Perpetual Hub.' Maybe we can find more materials in Abyss Crystal City."
Salsa's mechanical cat body curled up at Fa's feet, her soul form floating in the air, saying softly: "I'll keep watch to ensure safety."
Kayla sat nearby, her thunder claw on her lap, her gaze firm: "I need to find my father's whereabouts. This journey is a beginning."
Fa looked at her teammates and said softly: "We'll find the answers together."
Discussions in the Forest
On the second day, the team entered a dense forest. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves to cast dappled shadows, the air filled with the fresh scent of soil and resin. Occasionally, bird calls and insect chirps added a touch of vitality to the forest. The tree trunks were wrapped with magic energy conduits, emitting a faint blue light, transmitting magic to distant villages to provide lighting and power for the residents.
Tisk walked in the middle of the team, his "Burning Vine" war hammer lightly tapping against the tree trunks, producing crisp sounds. He curiously observed the conduits, whispering to Rex: "These conduits are really ingenious, seamlessly combining magic and machinery. Rex, what do you think of the Fierce Claw Empire's technology level? Is there anything worth learning?"
Rex's mechanical eye flickered with blue light as he responded calmly: "According to my database, the Fierce Claw Empire has unique developments in combat technology. They excel at combining weapons with machinery to create powerful war machines and defensive facilities. I think we'll see many astonishing inventions there." His nano flyers hovered overhead, scanning the conduit structures, seemingly recording data.
Salsa's soul form floated out from her mechanical cat body, her ethereal blue glow illuminating her figure. She sat cross-legged in mid-air, saying softly: "Perhaps we can gather more intelligence on the 'Doomsday Rebirth' organization in the Fierce Claw Empire."
Fa nodded, a flash of determination in her star eyes: "Yes, we must stay vigilant. The prison massacre makes me uneasy; I believe there's a larger conspiracy behind it."
That evening, the team camped in a forest clearing. By the bonfire, Arya used "Iron Heart Therapy" to repair a beastman warrior's damaged armor. She infused natural magic into the cracks, and the iron surface gradually healed, blooming with tiny vine crystals, making the armor as good as new. The warrior was amazed and thanked Arya repeatedly. Arya smiled in response: "This is a new technique I learned; glad it helped."
Sights in the Mountains
On the third day, the team traversed a rugged mountain range. The mountain paths were steep, lined with massive boulders, the air filled with the scent of ore. Along the way, they saw the Fierce Claw Empire's magic machinery—mechanical carriages racing on the mountain roads, their wheels embedded with magic crystals, emitting a faint blue glow, light and swift. This filled the team with anticipation for the Fierce Claw Empire's technology.
At noon, the team rested by a cliff. General Mias pointed to a distant village and introduced it to Fa: "That's a border village of the Fierce Claw Empire. Look, the streets are lit with magic lamps, the houses built of stone and metal, sturdy and practical. This is our beastman clan's style—rugged yet refined."
Fa gazed at the village and nodded: "Indeed, it's unique. This rugged yet refined style makes life more exciting."
Kayla stood beside Fa, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes: "When I was young, I often played in such villages with Kate. Father told me that the Fierce Claw Empire's strength lies not only in battle but in how we protect our homes."
Tisk, hearing this, patted his war hammer: "I like this style! When we reach the Fierce Claw Empire, I must study their forging techniques thoroughly."
That evening, the team camped in a cave in the mountains. The cave was dry and spacious, the bonfire's light illuminating the stone walls. Fa continued talking with Mias, trying to dig for more clues. After pondering for a moment, Mias said: "When we reach the Fierce Claw Empire, if you have any questions, you can ask King Nuti Ursa."
Kayla nodded, saying softly: "Thank you, Uncle Mias. I believe everything will be answered in the Fierce Claw Empire."
Exchanges on the Grasslands
On the fourth day, the team arrived at a vast grassland. The sea of grass stretched endlessly, the gentle breeze bringing a fresh grassy scent. In the distance, several mechanical war wolves ran across the grassland, their bodies made of metal and magic, incredibly fast, showcasing the Fierce Claw Empire's military technology prowess.
Fa and her teammates sat around a large boulder during a break, exchanging insights. Rex released his nano flyers to scan the surrounding terrain while analyzing: "This grassland is a natural barrier for the Fierce Claw Empire, with open terrain suitable for deploying mechanical troops. I suspect their capital must be even more magnificent."
Tisk nodded, rubbing his war hammer: "If I can incorporate the Fierce Claw Empire's technology into my war hammer, it would be perfect!"
Arya chuckled: "Tisk, you're such a forging fanatic. But I'm also looking forward to seeing the Fierce Claw Empire's cities; I hear the architecture there is very grand."
Salsa's soul form floated in the air, saying softly: "I sense faint magic fluctuations on this grassland; perhaps it's the Fierce Claw Empire's defensive barrier. We shouldn't be far from the capital."
Fa nodded, gazing into the distance: "Tomorrow, we'll reach the Fierce Claw Empire's capital—Ash Moon City. I have a feeling that it will be a new starting point for our adventure."
Arrival at Ash Moon City
On the morning of the fifth day, the Fierce Claw Empire's capital, Ash Moon City, finally appeared on the horizon. The city gates were designed like a beast's gaping maw, with sharp teeth and a ferocious roar seemingly emanating from it, inspiring awe and fear. The walls towered high, built of hard rock and metal, exuding a chilling aura.
"This is Ash Moon City," Mias said in a deep voice, "the heart of the Fierce Claw Empire."
Fa gazed at the sight before her, a surge of awe and anticipation welling up in her heart. She knew this place would be key to unraveling the secrets of the star shards.
The team slowly approached the gates, where security was tight, beastman warriors clad in heavy armor, holding magic weapons, their sharp gazes scanning every entrant. General Mias stepped forward, showing the Fierce Claw Empire's emblem, and the guards respectfully allowed passage.
General Mias led the team through the gates into Ash Moon City. The streets were wide and clean, lined with tall buildings that blended the beastman clan's ruggedness with refinement—majestic stone carvings and ornate metal decorations. The air was filled with the scents of hides and metal. The streets bustled with people: beastmen, dwarves, humans, and other races living harmoniously. Mechanical carriages flowed endlessly on the ground, magic lamps illuminating the entire city, showcasing the Fierce Claw Empire's inclusivity and prosperity.
"We need to meet the king," Fa said in a deep voice. "The clues to the star shards are here."
Mias nodded: "I'll arrange it. But tonight, you can rest at my mansion first."
Everyone nodded in agreement, deciding to head to Mias's mansion to settle down and prepare for tomorrow's challenges.