Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

--Delta--

The bar was filled with adventurers from all around the district. It was a bar close to the emergency shelters for the people of Sigma. Many of the people present belonged to prominent guilds and businesses and were sent to work as guards until the refugees settled in.

"Puha!" someone exclaimed after taking a big swig of beer.

"I'm telling you, it's those bastards from Minas Mar. Every time something happens, they are thriving. Behind they shiny facade, they have to be rotten to the core," he talked to his buddy.

"We are dying out there like flies and who is just fine, hmm? Right, it's those Oathguard-guys. What epic armor? I bet they work together with those terrorists and they just don't hit them too hard," he spouted with a slight slur.

Although nobody cheered in agreement, some nodded with a dark expression. They had a lost quite few comrades and frustration was growing among the people sent as guards. Obviously, they were not the strongest among the people of their guilds, but they had not been sent here to be cannon fodder.

They simply needed a scapegoat they could dumb their feeling and frustrations on.

"And why would they do that?" a young man asked.

Against the overall atmosphere, he dared to voice his doubts. This seemed to have provoked the talkative drunkard as he answered even louder.

"Hah! I will tell you why!" he rose from his seat and stepped to the table where the young man and his friends were sitting.

"Didn't you notice something, ever since the guards became sparse? Huh? More and more of those damn refugees start taking drugs and go crazy."

The room murmured in agreement. It were no longer the random terrorist attacks on them that made their job harder. They now had to be wary of people of Sigma, as they could turn into a rampaging beast at any moment.

One would think only the some of the few adventurers among them would fall for the temptation of the Divine Strength drug. However, more and more often, it were ordinary citizens that would turn into raging maniacs because of the side effects.

Even with their originally low level, they posed a risk after consuming the drug for a while.

"I bet they are working with the scum that is distributing those drugs. Maybe they are even the ones producing it? Who know what they are up to. Didn't you also have friend? Astro? Astor- Erm?"

"Aster."

"Yeah, Aster! Didn't he go crazy and attacked your caster because he took that drug?Why would you stand up for people like that?"

"Because I have met the Tower Master of Minas before. He even gave us an epic sword in exchange for a mere lv. 50 dungeon boss. They have no need to do this kind of shady shit to get money," Marco argued against the drunkard.

"Oh really? Then why aren't they doing anything? Lately they even started wearing fake beards and mustaches, calling them detection equipment. Do they think this is a joke?"

His words riled up the crowd. He was not the only one feeling offended by it. While their comrades were dying helplessly to invisible enemies, the Oathguard started wearing funny mustaches,calling them equipment.

Although it was true that they fought better against the invisible enemy, there were no major changes to the situation.

"Despite their oh-so-great equipment, they still fail to do anything. I won't believe this bullshit, that somebody's robe would strangulate them. They are getting rid of evidence!"

Marco was taking breath to argue back, but a hand grabbing his arm stopped him. Paolo only shook his had. His expression was just as depressed as Marco felt frustrated with the situation. The problem was, that they knew this was not the only place that was like this.

People all over the cities kept talking about this topic, the drunkard was just someone too drunk to do it in a hushed voice. Even if they argued here, nothing would change. At best, they would get in a fight without helping the situation.

Paolo's actions signaled Marco not to act rashly. Even if they sympathized with Minas Mar, they were in a shrinking minority currently. If they started anything here, they might be jumped by the whole pub.

"Haha, are you backing down now? You know I'm right!"

"No, you are not. But beating the shit out of a braggart like you won't changing anybody's mind." Paolo suddenly said dryly.

"Didn't you buy those rings in the Copper Anvil? Weren't you originally from the region Minas Mar protected during the time when the shields failed? When even someone who owes Minas Mar this much can turn into such an ungrateful piece of trash, there is no need to argue with the other wastes in this place. Let's leave."

With a scoff, Paolo and Pia stood up, too. Slightly unwilling, Marco also turned around, to leave with the other two.

The moment he showed his back, a blade flashed behind them. However, even faster than the drunkard, Marco had unsheathed his sword and slashed out. The jingle if metal could be heard. The eyes in the room followed the sound and saw a piece of a blade on the ground.

Only then they realized what had happened. The young man just split the dagger of his attacker with one strike of his sword.

Marco did not spare them any more attention and left after sheathing his sword again.

"What kind of sword is that...?" someone mumbled.

"Didn't he say it was given to him by the Tower Master of Minas Mar?"

"Say what you may about Minas Mar, they really sell quality products."

"Stop speculating, you guys. We have no idea what rating the dagger had."

…

"Hehe, funny kids." James said after taking a swig from his tankard.

"We should look into them, They might be good recruits for the Oathguard," Jess added with a small smile.

Unlike the easily recognizable Oathguard, the two were wearing their casual clothes and had been drinking after a day's work.

"What do you think of these rumors?" Jess asked while taking a sip of her drink.

"It's not that weird that people would feel resentment, when others do better. But this scale seems suspiciously deliberate. Also, there is a pretty obvious perpetrator. Whoever sent those attacker probably has something against Minas Mar."

"Are you sure it's that obvious?" Jess asked. "This could also be a third party stirring up a mess. W are not exactly enemy less. Not to mention our competitors. The tower master has offended quite a lot of foreign merchants with the new jewelry business.

"Now that you mention it, there might be more figure hidden in Delta..."

"But we are certain it's someone sowing those rumors. Should we talk to the Lords about it?"

" We should talk to leader Lydia and let her decide about that."

Jess nodded. It was better if they left this to their superior. In case it went bad they wouldn't have to take any blame. They had not experienced any unfair treatment in Minas Mar, but it was a habit they picked up during their more desperate years.

"I'm done drinking. Let's go."

"Yeah, lets."

---Lambda---

Lines of text keep flashing on the computer screen inside the otherwise dark laboratory. Heavy steps can be heard. It's a slow shuffle, with feet scraping over the floor in an irregular rhythm. Accompanied by laboured breaths, a dark figure entered the scenes .

Staring at the flashing screen, it let itself fall onto the chair at the desk with a heavy thump. The chair creaks under the sudden weight.

"The human body is too weak... but soon, maybe with the new materials from Theta we will..." it mumbled to itself before being interrupted by a fit of heavy coughing.

Suddenly the lines on the screen stop.

--23:22: Genome Sequencing Progress 100%--

A small window opened with rows and rows of data.

"Just in time."

Deformed fingers started moving across the keyboard. Starting several programs and initiating a row of new tasks. The dark laboratory slowly came to life.

The figure stood up ad tried to walk to a different console, when a heavy thud was heard.

"I have to hurry," it said after fixating the limb that had fallen to the ground.