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Brunhild carefully explained to her family and friends everything she knew about the threat lurking beneath the dungeon's lower floors. She also shared her firm decision regarding the one responsible for the vampire infestation that had been spreading in the shadows.
"So you're saying that the damn Lich you mentioned before, the bastard who sent those bone wyverns after us, then tried to destroy your soul, and is now sending the orcs our way, is actually here?!" her father demanded, his voice rising with disbelief and anger. "Hah… No fucking way I'm leaving now! I'm going to beat the shit out of him!"
"Wait, so is he here for certain, or…?" Magnus asked, frowning as he tried to process the news.
"I'm not completely sure he is here in person," Brunhild admitted. "He could have simply sent someone else in his place, but… yeah. He's almost certainly planning something with the dungeon. Maybe he intends to take over its core, if that's even possible. I never considered that idea before."
"Take over a dungeon core?" her mother raised an eyebrow, concern clear in her expression. "So the vampire you fought earlier was only a lackey?"
"There's at least one more," Brunhild confirmed. "And a few other monstrously strong beings working with them. It's dangerous, far too dangerous. But if we all just escape, once he gets what he wants he will likely chase after us. He might find a clear path to the village instead of simply guessing, and he could even send a huge wave of monsters against us. Who knows what else he might do?"
"So we can't escape…" Astrid said quietly, her shoulders tensing.
"I mean, we could try," Brunhild replied. "But once we leave we would need to go elsewhere, and in the middle of winter that is almost impossible."
"Fuck…" Magnus sighed heavily, massaging his face with both hands. "I guess we're doing this. There is no other way."
"If we work together, it is possible, right?" Ragnar asked, his voice steady with determination. "We've already overcome terrible things together. We're a strong family, and we stick together until the end!"
"Hm…" Frigga rubbed her chin thoughtfully while looking at Ulf, Kara, and Sigrid. "You kids should return home and notify the villagers about what is happening. If we don't make it back… know that we couldn't defeat what we're about to face, and that we had to escape."
"W-What?!" Ulf stared at her in shock.
"We're not leaving!" Kara declared stubbornly, crossing her arms.
"Me neither!" Sigrid added with a firm nod.
"You're just kids! Go away and don't risk your lives!" Frigga insisted, her voice sharpening.
"Brunhild is a kid too!" Ulf shot back. "And she's sticking around?!"
"You insolent little…!" Frigga's anger flared, but her daughter's hand settled gently on her shoulder and stopped her from saying more.
"We cannot talk them out of this, Mom," Brunhild said calmly. "They're going to follow us anyway. The only option left is to win. We cannot consider losing. That is simply not allowed anymore."
"And is there a sure way to win?!" Frigga demanded. "The monster you fought earlier almost killed you! We're facing beings that can even match or overcome your divinely gifted power!"
"We still can do something," Brunhild answered, narrowing her eyes with quiet resolve. "I gathered a whole damn lot of souls… And if we cut enough lumber and gather enough stones… it should be possible."
"Wait, what are you considering?" her father asked, raising an eyebrow. "D-Don't tell me…!"
"It is possible. It should be," Brunhild said with growing confidence. "I can bring Sylvanus with us anyway, so my power will extend through him. He seems like a walking territory, and I could build structures around him… a Summoning Sanctuary, Barracks… that is all we need. It should be built in an instant. Then… I bring out the largest army I can afford!"
Everyone fell silent for a moment. That idea was certainly a real possibility!
However…
"But wouldn't you be wasting all the resources we came looking for if they all die?" Astrid asked, worry flickering in her voice.
"Baby, there is no other option," Frigga replied firmly. "And honestly, it is better than dying."
"Whatever happens later, we'll deal with it on our own," Brunhild said. "Until then, we just have to survive and stop this threat!"
She wasn't wrong, and they all knew it.
They had to prioritize ending this threat before the Lich could discover they were living nearby.
They could not allow the Lich to take over the dungeon either, or it would be completely over for them.
Brunhild's plan to create their own army was perhaps the only realistic path forward now.
"Fine," Magnus nodded at last. "No other way, right?"
"I agree," Ragnar grinned, fire lighting in his eyes. "It's time for war."
"And we're not going to die!" Astrid declared. "We survived this far together… we've gotten stronger too. I can feel it…!"
"Alright then," Frigga said, turning to her daughter. "Dear, how much lumber and stone do you need?"
"A sizable quantity," Brunhild answered.
"We'll go find it for you!" Ragnar declared.
"Yeah, we'll cut every damn tree we can find and smash every useful stone," Magnus added with a determined nod.
"You just stay here preparing with the rest," Ragnar told them.
"Is it okay if you two go alone?" Astrid asked. "I can help too! Let me go with you."
"No, you stay," her father said firmly. "Astrid, you've got an amazing talent for leatherworking and crafting. Use it with the materials we already have and make something great with your mom and your sister."
"But…" Astrid looked a little annoyed. "Ugh, fine!"
After they agreed on the plan, Astrid walked over to join her mother and sister. Meanwhile the two men began cutting down as many trees as they could with axes formed from Ragnar's hemokinesis.
Brunhild had already mapped parts of the dungeon, and she knew there were large hills to the southwest filled with hard, durable stone perfect for the structures she needed to build.
With that decided, Brunhild turned her full attention to checking the new pieces of equipment and using the souls and materials she possessed to create something truly useful.
After all, she possessed the [Soul Spirit Forge (S)] Talent.
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[Soul Spirit Forge (S)]
Your soul has become a Soul Spirit Forge, capable of absorbing souls and spirits to create powerful weapons, accessories, items, and relics. You may combine them with additional materials or existing equipment for greater results. Enchantments can grant special effects, abilities, or skills drawn from the spirits and souls used. The more you forge and enchant, the stronger and more powerful your own soul grows.
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With this talent, there was almost nothing Brunhild could not accomplish now. She had already repaired, evolved, and reconstructed Atlas into an even stronger form by fusing him with the broken pieces of everything they had recovered.
Now she had the souls, the materials, and the limited time remaining to equip her family with the best gear she could offer.
She was not alone in this effort. Her mother and sister were both highly skilled in leatherworking and crafting, and they had recently begun delving into alchemy and forging as well.
In addition, Ulf and Kara possessed the strongest flames among them, while Sigrid was also proficient in alchemy.
"Alright, while we still have time…" Brunhild said, determination clear in her voice. "Let's build everyone some proper armor and equipment!"
"Time for my skills to shine then," Astrid smiled, rolling up her sleeves. "Mom, don't slack off either!"
"Heh, who are you talking to, young girl?" Frigga replied with a proud smile. "Since I was a child I have made my own clothes, armor, and weapons out of leather and bones!"
"Let's see what we can do…"
Brunhild opened her inventory and dropped a large pile of materials onto the ground: Blood Cores, Blood Thrall and Dhampir bones, the remaining Alistair Blood Metal Exoskeleton that had been left behind after he was almost completely consumed, as well as the scales, bones, fangs, and claws of the Hydra Boss she had fought earlier. She also added the Mithril Claws from the Mithril Moles and the Spirit Mercury collected from the Mercury Slimes.
"There's plenty of ingredients here…!" Astrid said, her eyes lighting up. "Oh yeah, I can already feel the ideas flooding my mind."
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