The sky was filled with dark clouds and soon it started to clear. Tarex and Kojirou managed to arrive at the Forge.

"Say are we there yet?"

"We arrived."

"Please tell me you are joking... There is nothing here!"

"The Forge exists outside this realm. Let me just..."

Tarex made a circle with his hands and then slowly extended them. As he moved his hands to open the portal you could catch a glimpse from the other side. A grand city illuminated with warm colors. In the distance the sound of metal clashing echoed and in the middle you could see him. A titan working on something. Smithing, striking the metal again and again. It felt like he would never stop.

The city around him seemed like a nest of ants in comparison. That was only from distance as the city itself was just as large. Much larger than Sillacet or Molk. It resembled a whole kingdom in shape of an anvil.

"And... we are going through the southern part right...?"

"Yes."

"You got the money, right?"

"Oh, you bet I have the money."

"Let’s do this."

The two of them entered through the portal and as soon as they entered it closed. They moved through darkness for a few minutes, shadows stalking them and in the end light illuminated the two.

A guard noticed them. He was wearing chainmail and held a spear in his left hand.

"What is your purpose here strangers?"

"We came to meet the forge master."

"Nobody meets Hephaestus anymore. He refuses to see any visitors. Anyway, how did you arrive here. There is only one entrance to the forge and It was sealed looong ago."

"I made a new one. Let us in, we want some... Other things as well."

"Tell me why should I let you in?"

"Alright, alright… We are here for the fourth district."

"... Open the gates!"

The two of them entered and the guards came down.

"Because you are new here let us give you some advice. Don't go to that woman Nova. She is one merciless bitch."

"Oh, but for her I came. Last time I was here oh boy, it was... Wait no, you said Nova? Who in their right mind would choose that one... Sheesh, I nearly lost a life after I went to her."

"As long as you know, have fun boys."

The two of them left the guards behind and walked towards the district. They were surrounded by beautiful women each of them seemingly unfazed by their strange appearance.

"Ok so let me instruct you. If you choose a succubus you might die, depends on which one you get, here are the names of a few you should avoid. The serpents are the best, they are into some strange stuff but hey you can get on with it no problem. Now that woman Nova is a satyr, do not, I repeat DO NOT go anywhere near her. They might get you in some kind of ritual or something and trust me is not pleasant… It’s… It’s just not pleasant at all.."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"And the human ones? Please do tell me there are humans as well..."

"Well yeah, but why wouldn't you try something different? I mean come on, there are lamias, harpies, werewolves, nagas and many more… Oh so much more."

"Because I value my life? I DON'T KNOW? How would you like to die on a woman that's sucking out your soul?"

"Done that, ain't too nice indeed. Well the harpies and the humans are pretty normal. There are some you should avoid as well but you know... Small chance to meet them."

"Alright then give me..."

"Hello Tarex..."

"Ah a familiar figure, who might you... be...?"

"Uh... Is that... one from the list, and that one... oH SHIT!"

Tarex slowly turned his head to Kojirou. He looked him in the eyes and you could see what was on his mind.

"SAVE ME KOJIROU!"

"Owww, come on Tarex why do you hate us so much. Last time you didn't yell like this, it was much more... Interestiting so to say."

Nova could also read his mind from time to time. The women he was talking about took Tarex away.

"It seems I'm alone... And free of danger. OH YES!"

Thus the two 'heroes' proceeded to indulge in their lust. A few days later Kojirou began to search for Tarex. After a few hours of intense search and drinking he finally found him.

"What happened?"

"...I don’t want to talk about it…”

"Oh my, they seem to like you quite a lot."

"What can you do when you are as gorgeous as me?"

"Tarex... I have never seen you once without your armor and helmet. Trying to brag like that is plain stupid... At least to me."

"Oh right... Fair enough, at least I gave this city a few days of freedom. Also, listen here you little shit, I am gorgeous!"

"Yeah... a true hero... And a humble one at that."

"Please, because of those women I lost every ounce of innocence I still had."

"I got what I wanted, let’s find that forge master now. Get up, come on."

He helped Tarex to get up and the two of them headed towards the Forge.

As they moved forward the bright city began to fade and seemed to be gloomier and gloomier as they proceeded. The sound of metal striking metal began to intensify. Soon they saw the giant titan smithing."

"It's been a long time forge master."

"Oh... It's you."

"I came to recover that key."

"You know very well only the king is allowed to use it. "

"I am the king!"

The giant stopped his smithing. The whole city could hear it, the silence, and everyone knew one thing. The moment that sound stops something bad must have happened.

The titan took a closer look at Tarex and seemed confused.

"You are not the boy I knew... What do you want shadow, trying to play pranks on this old titan?"

"Ah... Let us be frank. You will give me the key. It is for a greater cause... We need the Armada. "

"That voice irritates me. I will give you the key as I don't know what it might open. But let me be clear. My armor, my helmet, my steel can not be shattered. You might threaten me, you might try to even kill me. Yet I won't die for I am cursed. Just like you."

"We just need that. No threats old one."

"It was just an advice. The old King came and said to never give this key to anyone... That was a long time ago. I made no such promise and you will pester me until I'll give it to you."

"That is pretty right. Sooooo, can we have it?"

"Yes, but you have to help me as well."

"Just tell us."

"Many beings gathered here during the past thousands of years. They build this city, they keep it together somehow. I began to enjoy having them around. There are some people around that started making trouble. End them."

"If that's all you need. Just tell me where do I start."

"Talk with Nova. She knows the city better than me."

"Please... Not her..."

"Oh, it seems you know her, even better. Before you leave, I'll grant you this."

The titan struck his anvil and from it golden energy began to emerge. It made a circle around Tarex and began to pour into his armor.

"Nothing should be able to shatter your armor now."

Not a moment passed and the energy disappeared and the armor returned to its former state.

"I'm sorry. This armor is different than what you smith. It can't be enhanced, enchanted or improved in any form or shape. It also can't be shattered. If you remember it."

...The curse of perpetual agony…