Chronicles of Iron Manchest: Temple of Krugok

Iron Manchest pushed open the broken door and entered the chamber of Strength.

Chapter 3

Blinking his eyes against the sudden harsh light of the sun and stumbling over the low rise of a grassy knoll, the unsubtle titan paused to take stock of his surroundings.

He saw a stand of trees southeast of the knoll, a broad river snaking through the stand and off to the west, three giant Minotaurs bearing massive shields and war axes rapidly approaching him from roughly fifty yards ahead, low mountains topped with snowfall some miles behind the trees and river, a field covered with long green stalks of gra-

He broke off his survey of the field to assess the three Minotaurs.

“What ho, servants of the horned god!” boomed Manchest. “And what knightly endeavor calls you to this corner of the Kingdom?”

The Minotaurs, unfazed by his chivalrous call, stamped their hooves and howled their aggression as they made ready to charge. The shining fighter readily concluded that these beasts did not abide by the standard hailing customs of King Thorg’s Minotaur guard.

After offering a quick prayer for Bababnook to offer him strength and victory over his enemies, Iron Manchest threw the captive priest high into the air with his left hand and descended upon the monsters in swift pursuit of victory.

Catching the first Minotaur off guard with his awe-inspiring speed, the muscled titan quickly ducked under its giant shield and struck the feet out from under it with a leg sweep. As its gargantuan body toppled forward, Manchest caught the snouted beast with a jaw cracking uppercut and then sidestepped the crushing downward blow of the largest Minotaur’s axe from behind. Throwing his mace in a deadly arc that caught the third armored monster squarely in its forehead, the savior of masculinity dodged another swing from the axe of the lead Minotaur and charged its knee with his lowered shoulder.

The behemoth Minotaur dropped into a heavy kneel as its knee was struck to splinters by his righteous charge. Yet before the bullish creature was finished falling, Manchest had already spun quickly around to retrieve his mace from the third Minotaur’s head, and now bounded back to the fore of the battlefield.

Stopping the high priests fall with his left hand and striking a mighty pose, Rokheimen’s just crusader raised aloft his gory mace and let it down to finally vanquish the weakened beast.

The landscape rapidly faded to black.

...........

Iron Manchest opened his eyes and found himself standing in a bare stone chamber. Turning around slowly, he glimpsed the first hall of inner worship and Gestahp Dahl through the broken remains of the chamber door.

Manchest walked triumphantly back into the hall, sheathing his mace and then readjusting his headlock on the captive high priest.

“Can Mantorok’s blade really be housed in this temple?” roared the giant. “The first test to achieve it seems too paltry to deter even a suckling babe!”

Dahl remained silent to this mockery and extended his arm towards the second door, opening his fist wide. The handle turned and the door swung inward to reveal a starry night sky.

“It is true that your natural abilities are perfectly suited to the challenge found in the test of strength. Sadly, raw physical power and deadly intent are not the only virtues necessary in qualifying for Mantorok’s blade. Enter the chamber for the test of knowledge”, commanded Dahl, coldly.

The exceptional warrior bristled at the idea of a test based on his limited understanding of the world. Determined to overpower the perils of the chamber with his peerless brawn, however, Iron Manchest strode confidently into the second chamber.

Quickly enveloped by the room’s black horizon, Manchest took one look at his new surroundings before feeling an unfamiliar sensation creep up his spine.

Fear.

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What nefarious scenario could have raised our heroes awe-inspiring hackles? And what means will he have to combat this new danger? Tune in next time for the answers.

Published Tue May 10, 07:45 AM | Article Archive