??Quick Fact:

  Ironclave

  Ironclave is a dark and gloomy village on the edge of the earth. It is surrounded by a mist known as Black Veil, which is said to have misled people to their deaths. According to the elder of Ironclave, Black Veil is a test for people who want to take the trial of the temples of nature.

  In the last chapter, Mister Ryu and Ember visit the village elder, Mister Gurusei, with the help of the village head, Mister Koji. They learned about the village’s history and the mysterious Black Veil there. After conversing with the village elder, Ember and Mister Ryu headed to their shed to prepare for the adventure. While Mister Ryu was getting the supplies from the dark forest near the village, Ember made a breakthrough in her body refinement stage to perfection level and started advancing to the blood refinement.

  As we were about to exit the village, we were interrupted by Mister Gurusei and Mister Koji.

  “Where are you guys planning on going this early in the morning?” asked Mister Koji.

  “We were just about to visit you to give our greetings before we left the village,” said Mister Ryu.

  “Looking at your expression, I think you won’t be backing out even if we try to convince you,” said Mister Gurusei.

  “We haven’t traveled this far just to turn around without gaining anything,” said Mister Ryu.

  “Yes, we have come so far for this; we can’t turn back, so don’t try to stop us,” I said.

  “I wish I could persuade you, but I know you can’t be persuaded anymore, so just for my sake, can you please take this with you,” said Mister Gurusei while handing a key-like item to me.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “I believe this will help you on your journey. It is said that one of the elders who went traversing in the mist a few decades ago found it; no one knows what it does. We named it the ‘Key to Ironheart’ because it has an iron crest,” said Mister Gurusei.

  “Thank You so much, Mister Gurusei; I believe this will be very helpful,” I said.

  “I hope so, too,” he said.

  “Then I guess we are prepared more than ever, and it's time we take our leave,” said Mister Ryu.

  We said our regards to Mister Koji and Mister Gurusei at the village entrance and started walking in the direction of the mist.

  “Mister Ryu, I believe before we enter the mist, we take some precautions; since we don’t know what waits ahead, I believe I should take the lead, and you stay right behind me,” I said.

  “You can take the lead, Miss Ember, and focus on what’s ahead since I have my ways to protect myself,” as Mister Ryu said this, he removed a talisman necklace from his huge backpack.

  “This will protect me by creating a ray of protection barrier around me,” he said.

  “Wow, Mister Ryu, you are always a step ahead, right? But why didn’t you get me one?” I asked.

  “Oh, Miss Ember, I wish I could, but these talismans are very rare and expensive. I tried searching for one more, but I didn’t have any luck. After that I thought that whatever dangers are ahead of us will help you train and get better, don’t you agree?” said Mister Ryu.

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  “So thoughtful of you, Mister Ryu, for caring so much about me. I’ll take care of myself so follow me from behind,” I said.

  We entered the mist layer and continued the path that the ancient map of Mister Ryu told us. It was so quiet that we could hear the howl of beasts and birds chirping from the direction we were walking towards. As we went deeper, I saw that the mist turned thicker and a lousy smell rot the mist.

  “Mister Ryu, be careful; poison is mixed in the mist. This poison can help me with my cultivation method, but it might harm you,” I said, turning around to look at Mister Ryu.

  When I turned around, I saw Mister Ryu drinking something from a cloth bag. It smelt like wine of high quality.

  “Mister Ryu, is this the time to enjoy wine?” I asked curiously.

  “Miss Ember, you misunderstood; this is not wine; these are medicinal herbs that will help me resist the poison,” he said.

  “But it smells like wine to me,” I said.

  “Miss Ember, I hate the taste of medicinal herbs alone, so I mixed wine so that I can enjoy it,” said Mister Ryu with a smile.

  “I guess if you are fine, then it’s all right,” I said.

  As we were walking through the mist, we started to smell a typical scent of rusted iron, avoiding that odor, we walked to the point marked on the ancient map which was with Mister Ryu.

  “I think that we have reached the point marked on the map, Miss Ember,” said Mister Ryu.

  “But I don’t see any changes in the mist other than getting thicker and heavier”

  “We might as well wait here for a moment,” said Mister Ryu while taking a sip of that wine

  “Mister Ryu, can I have a sip of that wine mixed with the herbs...” I said embarrassingly

  “Sure, why not, but it's not your everyday wine, it is specially made by yours truly before coming on this adventure.”

  While taking a sip of Mister Ryu’s wine, I realized that the wine was strong and heavy, it was so rich in energy that it helped me grasp a hint of spirituality. Looking at this situation, Mister Ryu became even more mysterious. While taking another sip of wine we saw an observed change in the environment, we saw the purple mist turn red and the poison dispersing. As we came out of the mist, what we saw was something out of this world. The gigantic mountains that stretch through the entire plains. The mountains were so huge and tall that the top was not visible from below.

  “Miss Ember, we have reached the first destination of our journey, 'The Mountains of Iron Maiden’,” said Mister Ryu with a smile on his face.

  “It seems we have, but now what are we supposed to do, mine the iron ores,” I said sarcastically.

  While saying that the ancient map started to change, the scripture in the map started to move and change itself to another scripture. The map then showed us the way to the Iron Temple in the tallest mountain of the Iron Mountain ranges.

  “Looking at the map now, it shows us the location of the tallest mountain, but it isn't showing where the temple is located,” I said

  “I think that as we move forward, we gain new information about the temple,” said Mister Ryu.

  Not wasting any time, Mister Ryu and I started to walk alongside the mountain ranges and entered a forest with trees withered. Looking at the forest the map again changed its scriptures and spelled ‘The Forest of Autumn.’ As we move further, we notice that this may be related to the nature in the riddle that located the Trinity temple.

  “Miss Ember, the map is changing again,” said Mister Ryu

  “What again, what does it say now” I said with frustration.

  “The scripture now says that we have entered the territory of the Iron Claw Clan”

  Hearing Mister Ryu say those words I suddenly realized that we were being watched the other party seemed to be emitting a lot of killing intent.

  “Mister Ryu, you should get ready for the battle, it seems that we are not alone here, we are being watched,” I said worriedly.

  Getting his huge backpack down Mister Ryu started to find something, after a sudden rush Mister Ryu took out a shield made of metal and a staff that had a gem on its crown.

  “What are you doing Mister Ryu, are you planning to fight too,” I said

  Right after a movement, Ember noticed that the killing intent got stronger and a pack of wolves came out of the shadows. The wolves were emitting a huge amount of bloodlust and were ready to tear anything apart.

  “So, this is what it meant by the territory of the Iron Claw Clan,” said Mister Ryu.

  “The number of the wolfs was in 30’s and we are in a deadlock situation,” said Ember

  “Miss Ember, you don’t need to worry about me, I can handle these canines with ease so you can take the ones on your right, and I will be taking the ones on the left side”

  While Mister Ryu and I started to march forward, we heard a huge howl from far away followed by a huge tremor.

  …....to be continued