Mainland, Southern Coast – Brinewound Port
A vessel cut through the morning mist like a blade. The roar of the sea was subdued beneath the colossal hull, as though the waves themselves dared not speak in the presence of such an iron leviathan. The deck was alive with motion as Ash Company gathered at the railing, eyes fixed on the dark silhouette rising from the ocean fog.
Brinewound Port, the southern gateway to the mainland, came into view like a scar across the coastline. Jagged jetties extended into the sea like broken fingers, while rusting cranes swung lazily above uneven rows of warehouses, markets, and shipping bays. Smoke mixed with brine in the air, and the stench of oil, salt, and sweat reached even the upper decks.
"So, this is your home?" Roa asked, arms crossed, scanning the coastline with narrowed eyes.
"Hardly," Fornos replied without turning. His eyes were fixed on the distant chaos of the port. "This is just our entryway."
Behind them, Prowler joined the view, folding his gloved hands behind his back. "You surely have a great line of products. If you were to sell them, it would have been good."
Fornos finally turned, his expression unreadable. "Sure, but I need them for another purpose."
As the vessel docked, the deck shifted beneath their feet. The gangplank groaned as it lowered, and the first of Ash Company stepped onto the mainland. The children were kept close to the center, shielded by handlers and engineers. The golems followed in tightly controlled lines, each metal step resonating through the wooden docks like a heartbeat.
The mist receded, revealing Brinewound in full. A chaotic blend of humanity, industry, and relict remnants. Merchant stalls lined the streets, selling everything from rusted mana trinkets to relict bone carvings. Golem chassis dangled from cranes like meat in a butcher's stall. Strange creatures skittered between alleys, some clearly tamed, others less so. Brinewound was a city built on trade and desperation—and it stank of both.
Mark and Park led the handlers in silence, yet every order was somehow perfectly understood. Craterhoof stomped along the cobbled street, causing children and street vendors to scatter. Thornjaw and Kindling kept close to the rear, with Aegis-1 and Aegis-2 flanking the formation protectively.
Peter looked uneasy. "Where's our ride?"
"In the south," Prowler answered, glancing at a pocket chronometer. "Outside the walls. What you asked for was truly ginormous, so it took time."
Martin clicked his tongue as he eyed a row of pickpockets pretending to be vendors. "I don't like this place. Too many eyes."
Fornos gave a small nod. "We're not staying. We don't need to be liked. We need to move."
Outside Brinewound - Golem Engine Platform
Ash Company moved as a unit, bypassing the inner city and cutting through the south gate into the wild edge of Brinewound's outskirts. A ridge of red soil rose over the land like a bruise, overlooking a wide iron platform embedded into the terrain.
Peter slowed as they crested the ridge, his breath catching.
Below them, resting on massive reinforced tracks, was a Golem Engine unlike any he had ever seen.
It was three times the size of any transport engine Peter had worked with, plated with alloy that shimmered faintly with mana conduction runes. Twelve locomotion cores were housed in segmented, armored compartments. Cannons bristled from its side like porcupine quills, and its cargo compartments could swallow small buildings.
"Commander," Peter asked, half whispering. "What the heck is that?"
Fornos stepped forward, the wind tugging at his coat.
"A big invention," he said. "With an even bigger impact."
Ash Company stared in awe. This wasn't just a machine. It was a moving fortress, a symbol of power and defiance. Several dockworkers and engine attendants waited below, holding flags and signal lanterns. The boarding ramp was already being lowered.
As they descended, Martin issued deployment instructions, coordinating handlers and logistics in perfect synchronicity. The golems were loaded into containment bays specifically reinforced to hold their massive forms. Aegis-2 scanned the internal structure and gave a soft confirmation hum—it was impressed.
Children gasped as they explored the interior corridors, guided by engineers and handlers. Sleeping quarters, mess halls, armories, and even a small training dome had been fitted within the compartments.
Mark and Park exchanged silent glances, and the golem-link network activated with subtle pulses of light.
Peter was already at the engine chamber, studying the main core interface. "She's purring. That's not normal for a beast this size."
"She's not just metal," Fornos said, appearing beside him. "Some of the components are prototype. Hybrid work. Don't ask."
Peter gave a reluctant nod. "If it doesn't explode, I won't."
Prowler passed by, giving Peter a slight pat on the shoulder. "We ride in one hour. Make sure your people are ready."
Roa stood on the observation deck above the command cabin, looking out across the open landscape. Relict birds circled far in the sky. Somewhere beyond the trees and dunes, other threats waited.
She didn't smile, but her voice was calm.
"Let's see how far this thing can take us."
As the sun climbed higher over Brinewound Port, Ash Company settled into their new mobile base. Their journey into the mainland would not be easy—but now, they had an armored giant beneath their feet, and Fornos had more than just survival in mind.
He had strategy. He had a plan.
And soon, the world would know it.