Chapter 3 – The Corpse Walks

The amphibious aquatic vessel reaches the tall rocky cliffs of the shoreline of Continent Svartálfheim.
Much like Continent Asgard, the shoreline is lacking beachheads that create a clean transition from ocean to land.
“Wow! Those are some big mountains!”
As Ástríðr states the majority of Continent Svartálfheim consists of numerous mountains.
“That’s what those are called? I only saw the ones when I lived in the forest from very far away.”
“Yeah, they look small from far away but they can look so beautiful that way.”
“I just see lots of rocks and snow.”
“I hate to interrupt but I will begin ascending so that we can make landfall.”
“Oh!” Ástríðr exclaims as she holds Fenris with one hand and part of the amphibious aquatic vessel with her remaining hand.
I proceed to increase the power to create thrust enabling the amphibious aquatic vessel to traverse the large cliffs and land onto solid ground in front a set of doors.
“Those are…not as big as I expected.”
“The Dark Elves are short of stature and as such only need doors that accommodate them and the common visitors to their realm.”
“Yeah, I know. I don’t know why I was expecting the Gates of Moria though. I guess I had too many memories come out from the books Michiru read when I heard we were coming here.”
“If it will assuage your feelings, the doors are decorated rather ornately.”
“Yeah, they are very pretty just not what I remember.”
“Your memories are still fragmented from all four of your consciences.”
“I guess so. It’s still hard to focus on any others than those from Michiru. I do get some from the others from time to time like when I helped Thordis with her sickness.”
“You, much like Fenris, are unique entities formed by your circumstances here on Planet Midengard.”
“You’re right. I guess I have to hope things get better.”
“Indeed. It is up you to decide how you want to integrate the others’ lives into yours.”
“Thank you very much Mr. Ninety. I’ll do my best.”
“Now then, let us begin our investigation to determine why computer was unable to find a Tornado of Souls for the Dark Elves.”
I analyze the door and locate a locking mechanism and extend my fingers out to force a bit of power to it.
The door begins to hum to life and then open.
“Well, that seemed easy.”
“The artifacts here have been dormant since the Midengardians fled so the power supplies were long since depleted. All that was needed was to supply a minimal amount to bring it back online temporarily.”
“I see. Good thing the equipment was still in working order.”
“The engineering prowess of the Dark Elves is very well documented. Also, the lack of outside elemental influence contributed to its preservation.”
“Yesh, even though it always looks like it’s rainy I never saw it rain except when you made it rain on the farms.”
“Well, let us enter now.”
“Okay.”
“I smell something weird coming from there.”
Fenris points at the opened entrance.
“My olfactory sensors do not detect anything.”
“It’s a familiar smell but not something I smelled recently.”
“Let us investigate this anomaly then but, let us be cautious.”
“Right. Totally cautious.”
The three of us enter the darkened entrance and proceed as the lights on Ástríðr and Fenris’ helmets begin to glow to reveal the tunnel before us.
After a short time Fenris pauses.
“I remember this smell now. It is rotting flesh!”
“No way. I mean whoever was here has to be dead for over two thousand years.”
“I must concur with Ástríðr. The Dark Elves would not have survived the all-encompassing draining of life of The Raganrog even deep in the tunnels here.”
“You’re right but I know this smell very well. We would smell it on our hunts.”
“Let me adjust my olfactory sensor to confirm your findings.”
“Okay, leader.”
“Computer, adjust olfactory sensor to wide input array.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
As soon as the adjustment is complete the stench is immediately captured.
“It is as Fenris states. There is something rotting in here.”
“Really? I just smell a musty old cave.”
“Fenris’ senses are more sensitive than yours as she is descended from wolves. Of note is her highly sensitive olfactory and auditory abilities.”
“Yeah, I remember how she figured out Thordis was pregnant just by her scent.”
“Indeed, that would be within her olfactory sensitivity.”
“So, what do you think is down here?”
“I do not have enough data to extrapolate a conclusion but, as our previous encounters were no doubt due to this Lækni X, it would not be improper to assume it is their work.”
“Yeah, you’re right. But why rotting flesh?”
“Again, there is not enough data…”
“I get it. I guess all we can do is keep going. Should Fenris lead us to whatever it is?”
“I would trust her ability to decern the direction to proceed.”
“Right, which way should we go Fenris?”
“The smell is the strongest this way.”
Fenris points to the center pathway of the three in front of us.
“Interesting. That pathway leads toward the main settlement area.”
Before we enter the center pathway Fenris stops.
“Wait! There’s a big sound coming from the left.”
“Oh, yeah I can hear it too!”
No sooner than Ástríðr finishes her statement a large burst of wind heads toward us.
I grab the two by their clothing picking them off the ground and rush forward deeper into the middle pathway.
The wind rushes by from the left pathway to the right pathway.
I notice some souls within the winds as well.
“It seems we have found the souls of the Dark Elves.”
“That’s great and all but can you put us down now.”
“My apologies.”
As I release my grip, Ástríðr and Fenris fall to the ground.
“Ooof.” Ástríðr lets out as she falls to the ground.
“Waaa!” Fenris exclaims as she falls.
“Computer, track the wind burst and alert me to any potential changes in direction that may coincide with our location.”
“Command confirmed, master However some of the deeper caverns are impeding my sensors.”
“Understood. Track it the best you can to extrapolate possible trajectories upon reentry.”
“Command confirmed.”
“Now then, let us continue.”
“But what are you going to do about the wind bursts?”
“I have computer tracking the trajectory to ensure we will receive ample time react to it.”
“I hope so. I wouldn’t want to be swept away by that. I get dizzy just thinking about it.”
“Indeed. However, our path should be away from the gusts.”
“So where are we going?”
“It seems that one of my tertiary objectives has been accomplished.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“To find what happened to the Tornado of Souls of the Dark Elves.”
“Well, we found them but what now? There’s no village here so far.”
“There is but not here. We will have to continue further along the center route.”
“Alright let’s go then. But, isn’t that also where you both smelled the rotting flesh?”
“Indeed. It is interesting that the smell would be emanating from that direction. I will switch to a defensive posture so if you could, Fenris, please direct us toward the olfactory anomaly.”
“Okay, leader. It’s strongest this way.”
Fenris leads us further down the passage until she suddenly stops.
“What is the matter, Fenris?”
“The smell is very strong and I see something.”
“Uhg, I can smell something really bad too. It’s so gross my stomach is starting to get upset.”
I prepare a small syringe in my first finger on my right hand.
“Here, a mild antinausea medicine should help you feel better.”
“Wow! Yeah, I feel a lot better but what is that smell?”
“It’s from that pile.”
Fenris points to what appears to be a collapsed body.
“Th~e living. Li~fe is wa~sted on the li~ving.”
“IT TALKED!” Ástríðr exclaims.
“Indeed. We must keep our distance at this time.”
“Y…yeah.”
The body starts to stand up and slowly walk toward us.
“It’s a zombie…but it doesn’t look like a dark elf zombie. If anything, it looks more human.”
“You know of this creature then Ástríðr.”
“I mean I never really saw one in real life just in movies and games. That was all make believe.”
“I see. What would this fictional creature do to attack?”
“Usually, most times they’re slow and want to eat your brains and such.”
I ready my main weapon and prepare my aim.
“The slow movement does not seem to be a cause for concern.”
“Well, yeah, when it’s just one they aren’t very scarry. Some movies have them move faster. The real danger from them usually came fro…m them…attacking…in packs. KIYAAAAA!”
No sooner does Ástríðr start her panic screaming a large amount of her so-called “zombies” start coming into view from further along the passageway.
I count twenty-seven of them including the one from earlier.
They continue their chanting like that of the first one.
“Th~e li~vi~ng. Li~fe is wa~sted on the li~ving. W~e mu~st cla~im yo~ur li~fe fo~r u~s.”
“So Ástríðr, what is considered the prototypical way of disposing of them?”
“Mostly anything that involves them having their head destroyed. Usually, you see use bullets but you can use fire to just get rid of the whole body.”
“That is good intel you have provided. It would probably be best if you and Fenris stand behind me.”
“O…okay. Come on Fenris. Huh?”
“Grrrrrrrrr!”
Fenris is in a combative posture on all four of her appendages releasing an animalistic voice.
“Ástríðr, please take Fenris behind me. I will be deploying a flame to keep them at bay and then follow up with shots from my main weapon.”
“Got it. Come on Fenris. It’s going to get dangerous.”
Ástríðr pulls on the top straps of Fenris’s clothing pulling her back into a bipedal stance and then behind me.
As soon as they make a safe distance behind me, I unleash a burst of flaming chemical agents from both of my forearms and toward these zombies.
The zombies pause at the wall of flames and I ready my main weapon taking aim at the nearest head and fire.
It falls forward into the fire with its head gone and a large amount of liquid streaming out.
The fire goes out where the majority of the liquid landed.
I again place more fire at the blank area and note that the body’s flesh is gone revealing a skeleton.
However, the skeleton is that of some sort of metal.
The skeleton even with its head removed comes crawling forward toward us.
I fire a couple of shots at its torso and it comes to a halt.
“Ástríðr, back me up while I take down the others.”
“Got it. What do you need me to do?”
“While your suggestion to attack their head is good, it seems they are still mobile although unable to determine visual confirmation of our position. The heads may also provide some communication to a central hub, as such I will keep attacking the heads. So, the ones that survive my assault, try to fire center mass to terminate their power source.”
“I can’t believe you said that last part unironically but okay I’ll do my best.”
“Your bewilderment at my instructions is puzzling but it seems you understand the plan. Let us begin.”
I begin by firing a shot at the left most target’s head and just after the head leaves its body three shots fired from Ástríðr’s weapon impact on the target’s body terminating it.
The two of us continue this barrage of one to the head and three to the torso as we make our way from left to right and all targets before us are seemingly terminated.
Due to our attacks the same liquid as before shoots out and douses the majority of the flames.
I douse the remaining flames with a blast of suppressant from my fore arms.
“It seems the threat is neutralized.”
“Yeah, that was really intense keeping up with you.”
“You did a commendable job keeping up with my timing.”
“So, what are you gonna do now? There’s probably more of them further down.”
“I concur with your assessment. Let us recall our repair assistance vehicles so we can be ready if your assessment is correct.”
“R…right. Let’s go Fenris.”