Face the Kolossal Knight

The birth of the Knight of the Inferno had not been written among Helmut Bernstein’s dreams.

Once, he had wished for nothing more than to become a hero worthy of the Crest of Heldenmut.
He had imagined standing beside the kingdom’s finest knights, protecting villages from monsters, inspiring children with tales of courage, impress his beloved Lisbeth and make his family proud, and perhaps, one day, being remembered as someone who had lived an honourable life. Those dreams had died the moment the flames of execution swallowed him whole.

Fate had not granted him death. It had granted him something far stranger.

The inferno still raged around him, but its flames no longer sought to consume him. Instead, they wrapped around his body with almost gentle reverence, as though welcoming a long-awaited sovereign. Helmut looked down in horror as the last fragments of burned flesh crumbled away like black ash carried by the wind. Muscles dissolved into embers, skin scattered into glowing cinders, until nothing remained of the body he had been born with.

Only a skeleton remained.

His bones glowed like molten iron fresh from a forge, every crack radiating an inner blaze that refused to fade. Fire coursed through him in place of blood, gathering around his ribs where his heart had once beaten. It should have been impossible.

Dark flames erupted around him once more, weaving themselves into armour as if guided by an invisible blacksmith. Plates of jet-black steel materialised one after another, locking perfectly around his skeletal frame. The armour was unlike anything forged by mortal hands. Its surface reflected neither light nor flame, appearing almost carved from the night itself, while glowing orange veins spread across every plate like rivers of lava trapped beneath obsidian.

A deep crimson cloak settled around his waist, its edges lined with fiery orange embroidery that shimmered whenever the infernal flames stirred. Finally, a helmet descended upon his head.

A bronze piece of armor. It features a distinct T-shaped eye and nose opening, elegant yet intimidating, concealing everything except the empty sockets where his blazing eyes now burned. Rising proudly from the crest of the helmet was not horsehair, but living fire itself, dancing endlessly without ever being extinguished.

The three Wolf Beastkins watched without speaking.

For the first time since Helmut had met them, even Freyla had lost her playful smile.

Trauna slowly lowered her stuffed wolf and stared in quiet wonder.

Zorna placed a hand over her chest. she whispered.

"The birth of the Knight of the Inferno."

Helmut slowly raised one gauntleted hand before his face.

The metal obeyed every movement as though it had always belonged to him.

"…What happened to me?"

His voice sounded different.

It carried an unnatural resonance, as though distant flames echoed beneath every word he spoke.

Before he could ask another question, the three sisters knelt simultaneously.

Each lowered her head with complete sincerity.

"We pledge ourselves to your service," Zorna declared solemnly.

Freyla smiled "Welcome our new Knight of the Inferno."

Trauna bowed even lower "We shall follow wherever your flames lead."

Helmut instinctively stepped backward.

"W-Wait…you don’t have to kneel, I don’t understand any of this."

Zorna slowly rose.

"You bear the Crest of the Inferno now."

She pointed toward the flaming skull branded into Helmut’s palm.

"When Lady Krone marked you, she chose you as her champion. She foresaw your execution long before it happened. The crown did not save your life, It transformed you."
Helmut looked once more at the burning mark.

"So…I possess her power?"

"You possess two inheritances," Zorna’s voice remained calm. "The divine flames of Hephantion, God of Fire and the Blazing Wrath of Krone herself."

The names meant nothing to Helmut "…Krone,” He quietly repeated it.

"Who is she?"

The three sisters exchanged brief glances.

Finally, Trauna answered in her gentle voice.

"Today, she is your saviour."

Freyla folded her arms behind her head.

"And you’re her favourite hero, she does have good taste, but most importantly you succeeded where countless others failed. The Inferno Crown rejected every previous candidate, but you survived."

Helmut lowered his head.

"I want to speak with her. She owes me answers."

Zorna slowly shook hers.

"Only Lady Krone chooses when she reveals herself. We hear her voice only when she wishes. Sometimes she gives us commands. Sometimes…"

Trauna hugged her doll a little tighter.

"…when we’re sad…she comforts us."

Helmut remained silent. Even after saving him. Krone remained an enigma. Perhaps that was intentional. The three sisters finally stood.

Zorna folded her arms.

"Then let us begin."

Helmut blinked.

"…Begin what?"

"Your first mission."

The words lingered in the air.

The First mission…

His thoughts instinctively drifted toward a single face.

Luger.

"I always loathed you, brother."

Helmut unconsciously clenched his fist.

"…There’s someone I must meet."

Freyla tilted her head.

"Oho? Planning revenge already?"

Before Helmut could answer, Zorna interrupted.

"That comes later."

She looked directly into his burning eyes.

"Before facing your enemies, you must learn what it truly means to be the Knight of the Inferno."

"And that is?"

"Necromancy."

Helmut stared.

"…Necromancy?"

She nodded without hesitation.

"The dead answer your flames. Those whose souls have long since vanished may rise once more beneath your command."

The idea unsettled him.

"…Who would I even raise?"

Zorna slowly pointed deeper into the volcanic caverns.

"The Kolossal Knight. We stand beneath the ancient Dungeon of Wachterian. The deepest chambers are filled with equally dangerous and forgotten guardians."

Her eyes gleamed.

"And loyal servants waiting for their rightful master."

Freyla sighed dramatically.

"Seriously? You’re adding more people already?"

She walked around Helmut before placing both hands behind her back.

"I thought it’d be nice if it were just the four of us."

She leaned closer.

"Or maybe…just you and me."

Her golden eyes sparkled with unmistakable mischief.

Zorna sighed.

"Enough, Freyla."

She looked back at Helmut.

"So? What do you think… Knight of the Inferno?"

Helmut scratched the back of his helmet awkwardly.

"…Could you just call me Helmut? My name hasn’t changed."

Zorna nodded thoughtfully.

"I understand."

She smiled politely.

"Very well…Sir Helmut, Knight of the Inferno."

Helmut sighed.

"…That’s not exactly what I meant."

"What?"

Freyla innocently blinked.

"I think it sounds righteously romantic."

Trauna quietly interrupted before another argument could begin.

"…We should leave."

Her wolf ears twitched.

"The monsters are sleeping, It’ll be easier now."

Without another word, the sisters pulled crimson hoods over their heads.

Each carried an elegant crescent-shaped sword at her hip alongside a curved dagger strapped to her thigh.

Helmut followed.

As they explore deeper through the ancient dungeon, Helmut immediately recognized the hallway where he had first encountered the mysterious hooded creatures. His gaze instinctively searched the floor for hidden trapdoors.

Nothing.

Only cold stone.

Almost as though the dungeon itself had erased every trace of his earlier fall.

They walked for what felt like hours.

The silence remained surprisingly comfortable.

Eventually Helmut spoke.

"You mentioned wanting more companions. So…The Kolossal Knight isn’t the only one?"

Zorna nodded.

"Far from it."

She continued walking without slowing.

"Today we are four, but one day you may command an army."
Helmut looked at her in surprise.

"There are others?"

"The Kolossal Knight. The Eisen Golem. The Grün Lindworm. They all slumber beneath this dungeon. Each possesses power capable of changing battles."
Helmut couldn’t help smiling nervously.

"…Those don’t sound easy to recruit."
Freyla laughed "They aren’t, but don’t worry, darling."
She casually wrapped an arm around Helmut’s shoulder before Zorna silently pulled her away.

"You’ve got us, we may be three beautiful women…and your future wives."

Zorna immediately struck Freyla lightly on the forehead.

"Ow!"

"Stop telling him that."

"But it’s true."

"It absolutely isn’t."

Freyla pouted dramatically.

"I’ve already decided. The next person chosen by the Inferno Crown is obviously destined to marry me."

Helmut slowly leaned toward Zorna.

"…Does she always act like this?"

Without changing expression, Zorna answered quietly,

"Unfortunately."

Trauna giggled so softly it was almost inaudible.

Suddenly, she stopped walking. Her ears stood upright. Her expression changed completely.

"…They’re close."

The others immediately fell silent.

Following Trauna’s exceptional hearing, they carefully advanced through increasingly ornate corridors. The cracked stone walls slowly disappeared, replaced by polished pillars decorated with ancient golden carvings. Massive chandeliers hung from ceilings that somehow remained untouched by time.

Eventually they reached enormous golden doors standing partially open.

Beyond them lay a chamber unlike anything Helmut had imagined.

Mountains of gold coins glittered beneath countless jewels.

Ancient weapons rested upon piles of treasure.

Relics filled the immense hall until the riches resembled miniature mountains.

At its very centre, theres a colossal armoured knight knelt in absolute silence.

Its sword, nearly twice Helmut’s height, remained embedded point-first into the marble floor.

"That’s the Kolossal Knight," Zorna whispered.

Before Helmut could respond…

His eyes noticed someone else.

Lying unconscious upon one of the treasure piles.

Was a young woman with crimson hair.

The Rothaarig girl.

The same silent contestant who had watched him inside the dungeon.

"…She’s alive."

Without thinking, Helmut stepped forward.

The instant his foot touched the marble floor.

A deep metallic sound echoed throughout the chamber.

The enormous knight slowly rose.

Dust cascaded from its ancient armour.

Its sword slid free from the stone with a deafening scrape that shook the treasure hall itself.

Two brilliant blue lights ignited within its helmet.

The giant looked down upon the intruders.

Its voice thundered like an ancient bell.

"Who dares disturb my eternal slumber?"

Its burning gaze settled first upon the Wolf Beastkins.

Then upon Helmut.

Silence lingered for only a heartbeat.

Then the giant lowered its colossal blade.

"Intruders."

Its voice became colder than steel.

"You have trespassed within the sanctuary of the Kolossal Knight."

A faint golden aura erupted around its armour.

The blade rose high above its head.
"Your punishment shall be death."