The orc tribe's bonfires were built into a massive ring, flames leaping high, casting the silver-and-brown skeleton of the Emberstrider in a grand, flickering light. The Volcanic Ore crystals set within the frame refracted the firelight like stars embedded in the night sky. The tribespeople stood solemnly outside the ring of fire, holding simple weapons or chunks of ore, chanting an ancient orc hymn in low, resonant voices—
"Forged in iron bone, sworn by fire's light,
Through life and death, we stand and fight,
To shatter the long and endless night."
The song was bleak yet powerful, each line a testament to the orcs' steadfast faith and unyielding courage. It echoed through the valley, filled with reverence for strength and respect for binding oaths.
Liam and Elara listened quietly, feeling themselves become part of this serene night, part of this vibrant orc tribe.
Liam stood at the center of the fires, clad in his fully repaired Boiling One armor. Its reddish-gold metal surface gleamed softly, the Volcanic Ore crystal on his chest emitting a steady silver light, firmly suppressing the Rust-Corrosion markings within his body. Beside him stood Elara, draped in a silver fur cloak. Her injuries had mostly healed, and her damaged Beast Spirit had largely recovered thanks to the tribe's potent medicines. Her silver eyes were exceptionally clear in the firelight, though they held a trace of well-concealed uncertainty.
Elara's fingers unconsciously traced the shortsword at her waist, its blade still marked with Ragnarok's dried blood. She remembered her desperate decision to give Liam her blood in the cavern, their seamless cooperation fighting off pursuers at the volcano, his tireless vigil by the forge during the construction of the Emberstrider... This man, burdened by a curse yet unyieldingly resilient, was no longer just an ally. He was someone she was willing to entrust with her life.
Elara had made up her mind. They would watch each other's backs. This was a person she trusted!
The impetus to formally renew their Knight's Pact came from the orc chieftain, who told them that forging a tribal pact could help suppress the curse's power.
Liam didn't object. He trusted this woman. After all they'd been through, he knew Elara to be brave, a valiant knight, a loyal companion. So why refuse?
Before the vow, a worry nagged at Elara: would the lingering taint of the curse within her backfire during the ritual, becoming a burden to him?
Sensing her hesitation, Liam turned his head, his voice low and calm. "Still worrying about the curse?"
Elara looked up, meeting his steady gaze, and nodded slightly. "I'm afraid... my Beast Spirit, tainted by the curse... it might affect you, even break the pact."
A faint smile touched Liam's lips. He placed his palm on her shoulder. The coolness of his armor seeped through her cloak, yet it carried a reassuring strength. "Don't be afraid. From the moment you gave me your blood, our fates were already tied. The curse isn't your shackle; it's our common enemy. And I believe in your Beast Spirit. More importantly, I believe in the strength we have when we stand together."
His words weren't flowery, but they were as solid and potent as Volcanic Ore energy, instantly dispelling the shadows in Elara's heart. She took a deep breath, feeling her Silver Wolf Beast Spirit energy stir within her. The hesitation vanished, replaced only by resolve and determination.
The ritual began. Bear-orc chieftain Gareth, holding a staff crafted from the Beast King's shoulder blade and topped with a dark red Boiling Beastblood crystal, stepped before them. His voice boomed like a bell. "Great King of Rust Island! Valiant Silver Wolf Knight! Today, we witness the forging of a sacred pact! The songs of the orc tribe will record this moment, the ores of the volcano will remember this bond! From this day forward, your fates shall be intertwined with Rust Island's, sharing life and death, never to part!"
Elara stepped forward, slowly lowering her hood to reveal hair like moonlight. She dropped to one knee, her right hand over her heart, her left tightly gripping the shortsword that had pierced Ragnarok's horn. Its tip touched the ground with a clear, metallic ring.
"I, Elara Voss, by my name as Commander of the Silver Wolf Knights, by the lingering spirit of my pact-beast, the Silver Wolf, do willingly swear fealty to Liam, King of Rust Island! Henceforth, I shall be the sword in his hand, the shield before him, clearing his path and facing his foes! Should I break this vow, may my Beast Spirit shatter, and may I fall forever into the abyss of Rust-Corrosion!"
Her voice was clear and firm, echoing around the bonfires, each word heavy with promise. Silver Wolf Beast Spirit energy slowly emanated from her, forming a faint, shimmering silver aura around her that intertwined with the red firelight, creating an atmosphere of sacred solemnity.
Liam looked down at the kneeling Elara, a surge of warmth flooding his heart. From their pact at the volcano to her blood donation in the cave, from fighting Ragnarok side-by-side to building the Emberstrider together, this proud and tenacious Silver Wolf Knight had long been a partner he could trust with his life. He raised his hand, palm facing Elara's forehead. The steam joints of his Boiling One armor whirred softly. The Volcanic Ore crystal on his chest blazed with silver light as the energy of his Boiling Beastblood flowed down his arm, gathering in his palm.
"I, Liam, by my name as King of Rust Island, by the power of the Boiling Beast Spirit, accept your oath! Henceforth, I shall keep you safe, fight the curse with you, stand in battle with you! Should I break this vow, may my armor shatter, the curse consume my heart, and my path end in oblivion!"
The moment Liam's palm touched Elara's forehead, their energies erupted. The Boiling Beastblood energy within Liam, hot as magma, met the Silver Wolf Beast Spirit energy within Elara, cool as moonlight. Heat and cold, strength and resilience, intertwined between them, forming a brilliant pillar of energy that shot into the sky. The bonfire flames, disturbed by the power, flared higher. The surrounding orc hymns grew more fervent.
This was the ancient orc ritual of "Beast Spirit Resonance," meant to connect the spirits of the sworn and the ruler through the pact, enhancing both their combat power and creating an intangible bond, allowing them to sense each other's state. But just as the two energies were about to fully merge, a sudden change occurred.
The Silver Wolf energy within Elara turned violent. The once-cool silver aura was instantly marred by patches of dark, rusty brown. The energy fluctuations became chaotic, as if corrupted by some vile force. Her face paled drastically, her body trembled uncontrollably, her silver eyes became bloodshot, and a suppressed roar tore from her throat, as if she was enduring immense agony. "No... my Beast Spirit... it's corrupted!"
Liam's heart clenched. He immediately sensed the wrongness—that dark brown rust was the power of the Rust-Corrosion! Clearly, when Elara had given him her blood, the curse's power had invaded her body through it. Her Beast Spirit had suppressed it until now, but the resonance ritual's intense energy fluctuations had allowed the curse to erupt, trying to devour her spirit.
"Hold on!" Liam growled, urgently channeling more Volcanic Ore energy and Boiling Beastblood energy, increasing the output to suppress the curse within Elara. The silver and red-gold energies intertwined more tightly, forming a solid barrier around Elara's body. But the curse was stubborn. The dark rust spread across the barrier like a spiderweb, constantly eroding its defense.
Elara's trembling intensified. The roar of the Silver Wolf spirit sounded from within her, filled with despair and defiance. She could feel her Beast Spirit being slowly consumed by the rusting force. Her consciousness began to blur, her energy raging out of control, lashing back towards Liam. "Let... let go! If this continues, you'll be corrupted too!"
"I won't let go!" Liam's gaze was steely, not a hint of retreat in him. He could feel it clearly—the curse power within Elara was of the same origin as his own. If her Beast Spirit was devoured, his own curse would be violently agitated, erupting again. Not only would Elara be lost, but the entire tribe might be destroyed by the rampaging energy.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed the energy from the Volcanic Ore crystal on his chest to its limit. The silver light nearly enveloped him completely. Just as he felt his strength failing, images flashed through his mind — Elara cutting her wrist without hesitation to offer her blood in the cavern, the two of them fighting back-to-back against pursuers at the volcano's rim, her focused profile as she worked through the night drafting plans for the Emberstrider. These memories coalesced into a surge of powerful will, fueling him to keep pushing energy forward.
"Elara, remember your Silver Wolf! Remember your Knights! Remember our vow!" Liam's voice was hoarse but forceful. "Your Beast Spirit is pure and strong! It won't be defeated by this filthy curse! Find your courage! Fight it with me!"
Hearing Liam's voice in the chaos was like a beam of light in the darkness. Elara remembered the days and nights fighting alongside her Silver Wolf, the smiling faces of her Silver Wolf Knights, her burning hatred for Elias, the vow she and Liam had made at the volcano. A surge of defiant strength rose within her. Gritting her teeth, she forcibly marshaled the last vestiges of her pure Beast Spirit energy, combining it with Liam's power to launch a counterattack against the curse.
The silver Beast Spirit energy coalesced within her once more, like the dawn's first light, driving back the dark rust. Pressed from within and without, the curse's erosion slowed. The dark brown patches began to recede.
Feeling the shift in Elara's energy, Liam's heart leapt with hope. He increased his output further, pushing the suppressing power of the Volcanic Ore crystal to its peak. At the same time, he channeled his Boiling Beastblood energy into the core of Elara's Beast Spirit, helping to repair the damage.
Time passed. The bonfires dimmed. The orc hymns fell silent. The tribespeople watched the pair in the center with tense anxiety. Gareth gripped his staff, ready to rally the tribe's energy to aid them, but dared not intervene for fear of disrupting the resonance.
Finally, through their combined effort, the curse power within Elara was fully suppressed. The dark rust faded away. Her silver Beast Spirit energy became pure and stable again, forming a soft, glowing aura around her. The resonance ritual was complete. The two energies fully merged, forming a silver-and-red energy tether connecting Liam and Elara, allowing them to clearly sense each other's presence and state.
Liam released his hand, staggering back a few steps to lean against the Emberstrider's skeleton, breathing heavily. His face was as pale as paper. Though the rust patterns on his face had receded, they left faint brown stains. The skin on his left arm was severely cracked, revealing rust-tinged muscle beneath. The Boiling One armor was covered in rust and cracks, the Volcanic Ore crystal on his chest dimmed, its energy nearly spent.
Elara slowly rose to her feet. Seeing Liam's battered state, her silver eyes filled with guilt and self-reproach. Tears fell uncontrollably. "I'm sorry... My thirst for revenge was too strong... If not for me, you wouldn't be like this..." She hurried to his side, wanting to support him but afraid to touch him, fearing she might cause more harm.
Liam shook his head, offering a weak smile. "It's not your fault. It was the curse's scheme. We succeeded. The pact is sealed. From now on, our powers will resonate. We won't have to fear the curse erupting suddenly anymore."
"But your curse... it's worse now." Elara's voice was choked with sobs. Through the energy tether, she could clearly feel the curse power within him was stronger than before, only temporarily suppressed by the Volcanic Ore and their merged Beast Spirit energies. "I've burdened you. I shouldn't have... shouldn't have accepted this pact. I shouldn't become your liability."
She stepped back abruptly, raising her hand as if to break her shortsword, her eyes filled with a desperate resolve. "I renounce my Knighthood! I will no longer be your sworn! You... find a stronger partner, one who won't hold you back!"
"Stop!" Liam's sharp command halted her movement. His gaze grew intense. "Elara Voss, do you think this is a burden? Do you think I made this pact just to find a powerful enforcer?"
Leaning heavily on the Emberstrider's frame, he struggled to stand straight. His voice was weak, but brooked no argument. "From the moment you gave me your blood, from the vow we made at the volcano, we have been partners, sharing life and death! The curse is not your fault! The Empire's hunt is not your fault! You don't need to blame yourself for it, and you certainly don't need to abandon who you are!"
"I, Liam, do not run from my responsibilities, and I do not abandon my partners!" He looked straight into her eyes, enunciating each word clearly. "If your Beast Spirit is tainted, I will help you purify it. If my curse is worse, we will find a way to break it together. We are allies. We are bound by pact. We are people who can entrust our lives to one another. From this day forward, no matter the danger, no matter how strong the curse, we face it together, we fight it together! Neither of us gives up!"
Looking into Liam's determined eyes, hearing his resolute words, Elara's tears fell even harder, but now they were tears of relief and profound gratitude, not guilt. She knew she had chosen rightly. This man, though burdened by a curse, possessed a will harder than steel and a heart hotter than the volcano, worthy of her complete devotion.
She tightened her grip on the shortsword and knelt once more, her voice even firmer than before. "I, Elara Voss, heed my King's command! Henceforth, be it through blazing fire or cursed blight, I shall fight by my King's side, sharing life and death, never retreating!"
Liam reached out and helped her up. Their eyes met. The energy tether between them pulsed softly, carrying mutual trust and reliance. The surrounding orc tribe erupted into fervent cheers. The hymns rose again, more passionate than before. The bonfire flames, as if infected, leaped high once more, illuminating the entire settlement.
Gareth stepped forward, a relieved smile on his face. "Congratulations, my King! Congratulations, Lady Elara! The pact is sealed! The strength of Rust Island grows with your union!" He presented a pact insignia crafted from Volcanic Ore and Beast Spirit crystal. One half was a red-gold hammerhead, the other a silver wolf's head—the symbol of the "Pact of Wolf and Hammer." "This specially made insignia will stabilize the energy tether and help jointly suppress the curse's power."
Liam took the insignia, handing one half to Elara. They both fastened them to their chests. The moment the metal touched their skin, the insignia glowed faintly. The energy tether became more distinct, and the curse power within them, sensing the renewed suppression, grew calmer.
Leaning against the Emberstrider's skeleton, looking at Elara beside him and the cheering orcs, Liam felt a sense of solidity he'd never known before. He knew the pact was just a new beginning. Countless challenges awaited—the Imperial fleet's siege, finding a way to break the Rust-Corrosion, Elias's schemes—each step fraught with peril. But he was no longer alone.
With Elara's loyal allegiance, the orc tribe's staunch support, the combat power of the Boiling One, and the impending aerial advantage of the Emberstrider, he felt confident he could survive in this world of iron and blood. He would break the curse's chains, resist the Empire's oppression, and carve a path to freedom and rebirth for himself, for Elara, and for all of Rust Island.
The bonfires gradually died down. The night deepened. The tribespeople dispersed, leaving only a few guards on patrol.
Liam and Elara stood side-by-side beneath the Emberstrider's skeleton, gazing at the stars in a comfortable, understanding silence. The energy tether flowed gently between them, carrying their warmth and resolve. The Pact of Wolf and Hammer shone like the brightest star in the night sky, illuminating Rust Island's future and the shared, blood-soaked path that lay ahead for them both.
Out on the sea, the searchlights of the Imperial fleet still flickered in the thick fog, like a lurking beast awaiting its moment to strike. But there was no trace of fear in Liam and Elara's eyes, only firmness and resolve. They knew a greater storm was coming. But they were ready. As long as they stood together, as long as their pact held, no force could stop their advance.