God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Cain stood a few paces from the Rift, its black gash bleeding a faint crimson light that licked at the surrounding grit.

Even without touching it, he could still feel the hum of strangeness radiating outward, the kind that set the goosebumps crawling and kept the stomach on edge.

His gaze slid toward the cavern walls, toward the mana stone veins stretching jaggedly along the rock. The Rift pulsed faintly in rhythm with the faint shimmer of the stones.

His expression changed.

Rifts, for the most part, opened up alongside the presence of a Celestial. However, that was not always the case.

In some cases, like what had happened that time, it could simply be a random coincidence.

Or it could be as a result of energy of any nature powerful enough to tear a whole through from one side to the other.

Generally, since Aether Beasts were confined to the Aether unless pulled forth by something else, they had no reason to try to jump between realms.

However...

'System,' he murmured with narrowed eyes, keeping his eyes on the distortion. 'What is going on?'

The familiar, toneless voice replied instantly.

{Replying to Host: An energy signature has been detected. A non-aether presence has been detected in the Rift}.

Cain's brows drew together. Could it be the gods of bad luck and ill fortune were looking his way? Just when he thought of one of the terrible things that could happen, the system almost seemed to confirm his fears.

He took a step backwards and summoned his weapon with a frown on his face.

The Rift let out another undulation that made the world tremble.

And then...

The crimson rim of the Rift flickered and pulsed behind them like a wound in the world, the black gash in reality slowly widening even further with a faint, unnatural blend of melting sounds.

When the bleeding light seemed to reach a crescendo, five figures suddenly appeared between Cain and the abyssal void.

Cain gripped his weapon even tighter as his chest tightened.

Slowly, their form was revealed...

The tension in the air was instantly replaced with confusion.

Cain grimaced.

Standing in front of him were squat, broad-shouldered creatures clad in worn mining gear hardened by soot and flames.

'What the hell?'

"Grimdor, this place smells like Buermole shit!"

'Eh?'

These creatures were... far less intimidating than he had imagined.

Mostly because of their rather small frames.

One of the gruffy looking humanoid creatures stepped forward, a mountain of a dwarf whose braided beard was streaked with soot and sparks of kindling embers curled along the edges of his gauntlets. His axe, a crude but brutal weapon, hung at his side, the haft wrapped with strips of scorched leather.

He stared at Cain, the gaze in his dark eyes a mix of suspicion and disbelief, nostrils flaring as if smelling a foul odor in the stale air.

"What hell's this place?" His voice was low and gravelly, like stones grinding against one another.

He took another deep whiff of the air.

"And why in the great Fuji is a highlander standing here before me?! Grimdor!"

The largest of the dwarves walked forward,

"Yes, boss Beorstone!"

This Dwarf had a large warhammer in his hands, a horned helm on his head, and a large scruffy beard that reached his large belly.

"Smash the darned highlander's skull in!"

"With pleasure, boss!"

'System, what the hell is going on?!'

{Replying to Host: These creatures are called Black-Hearth Dwarves. The ancestors of the Black-Hearth Dwarves fought in the Celestial-Devil war, aligning briefly with Celestial forces and then swearing fealty to the Black Stone Turtle and the Vermillion Flame Eagle. Following the sealing of the Aether Beasts, they entered the Aether Realm voluntarily. Unlike Aether Beasts, they are not bound by summoning restrictions and can traverse Rifts without summoning spells and binding rituals}.

Cain's lips thinned. 'You can't be serious... Right?'

There was a lot of information to unpack.

'There are other creatures in the Aether besides the Aether Beasts?!'

He thought about it for a moment, then found it wasn't to unreasonable.

After all, Stingè had not been a creature of Aether.

{Replying to Host: They are also an elite forgemaster caste, born with innate affinity to the elements of darkness, earth, metal, and fire. Because of this, they were granted by the two Great Suns, the power to wield the Flame of Darkness}.

{Their notable traits are; Highly skilled in metallurgy and resource acquisition. Very likely to kill to obtain desired materials. Very aggressive and likely to commit murder in cold blood}.

Cain's eyes widened,

'They can use the {Flame of Darkness} as well?!"

He frowned as he replayed the words of the system again.

His expression slowly changed.

What do you mean, 'likely to commit murder in cold blood'?!

Even though they said that, it was very hard to believe it.

The Dwarves were rather short, the tallest amongst them reaching his waist.

However, they were rather buff, with large muscles and bulky frames.

And currently, one of them was approaching him with menacing eyes.

'Great,' Cain muttered. 'Short, mean, and probably harder to handle than they look. This is insane.'

The {Black-Hearth Dwarf} called Beorstone took a slow step forward with eyes narrowed,

"You, Highlander. Speak before I decide you're not worth the air you're breathin'. What sorcery have you used? I can sense that we are no longer in the mountains."

Cain's gaze flicked between them. "You're the ones who came through the Rift. Why don't you tell me what you're doing here?"

Beorstone's lip curled. "We were in the great mines. Then..." he jabbed a thick finger toward the Rift,

"This thing dragged us out without so much as a damned knock. It is obviously your highland sorcery at hand!"

Another one of the dwarves suddenly spoke up,

"Boss Beorstone, there is no meaning in talking with the highlander. It might place a curse on us, or afflict us with some strange illness. Look how pale it looks."

Cain's brows twitched, 'Aren't you the dirty ones here?'

Grimdor snorted, "Just watch me do him in, boss!" The dwarf said as he hefted his hammer back and swung at Cain.

Jumping back, Cain deftly dodged the attack.

The hammer smashed into the ground.

And instantly, the floor of the entire chamber caved in like it had been struck by an enormous meteor.

Cain's eyes widened as he exclaimed, "What the hell?!"

"Shut it, Grimdor," Beorstone growled. "We won't be able to get any information from him if he's dead."

Grimdor froze for a moment,

"But boss, you—"

Beorstone waved his grimy hand then turned to Cain,

"Highlander, explain yourself, or you'll be turned into red sludge and fed to the Iron Dirtworms."

Cain's clicked his tongue,

"Unfortunately, I'm in the same predicament as you are."

He shrugged, "I have no idea what is going on as well."

A tense silence settled. The other dwarves shifted, knuckles cracking, weapons flexing in calloused grips.

Beorstone's eyes narrowed further, the weight of his stare pressing like stone. "Careful, highlander. I know the stench of lies. Those who lie to me end up in very difficult situations."

Cain raised a brow, "Is that a threat?"

Beorstone sneered, "Of course it is! Unlike you long-legged wretches, my people do not mince their words."

Cain's fingers brushed the hilt of his weapon. "I see..."

No one moved. The Rift's faint glow lit their faces in crimson.

The next words spoken could very well decide if steel would sing.