Dungeon of Niflheim

The degree of work involved in creating the catacombs was staggering. Icethorne's residents weren't Gods nor were they like Frost who could utilise creation/divine energy to manipulate land and space in whatever manner they saw fit, no they had to rely on mortal means. Physical effort, tools and a great deal of magic over a period of decades perhaps even centuries to finally complete their secret, underground highway system.

"These catacombs are a result of many years of painstaking effort, a hidden highway that allows our forces to travel through the nearby mountains unseen and unheard." Casper spoke with an air of pride. Icethorne's catacombs were a great source of confidence and reassurance for the military, allowing them to engage in devilish warfare and even provide them with a means of escape in the most dire of moments.

Though they were under siege the War Ursa Battalion was not trapped.

The catacombs spread throughout the city and beyond, splintering off into dozens perhaps even hundreds of different paths. It may be commonly referred to as an underground highway system, but it was much more than that. Large chambers had been dug out to allow for defensive warfare, containing sturdy barriers, military supplies and even a few war machines while other areas served as storage vaults, alchemy rooms, training venues and even monster stables. It was hard to board thousands of large bear monsters within the city after all.

Rather than catacombs, underground metropolis may be a more apt description.

"We were teleported weren't we?" Frost asked, recognising the familiar pull upon his body.

"Yes but not far." Casper leaned down from his battle mount Alaran to speak. "The outer layer of the mountain, several metres worth is completely untouched by our excavation so as to increase the hidden aspect of the catacombs. There is no breach on the city side and therefore no entrance to find and exploit." The two men and monsters continued to lightly trot forward so as to not cause a blockage.

"To enter the catacombs the soldiers on guard must activate one of the spatial doors, magical devices that fold space and link two nearby coordinates. Without them we would actually crash into a solid surface so they're quite important." Casper's mind drifted off for a second, remembering a time or two when these so called spatial doors actually failed….a lot of jaws were broken and teeth lost that day.

"25 maybe 30 metres give or take yeah that's about right." Said Casper after internally calculating and or remembering the distance.

The spatial doors leading to areas 4, 5 and 6 on the western side weren't all that far from where they had grouped up.

"Amazing." Frost was quite shocked by this reveal. The idea may be quite simple in theory, but the application was pure genius. A hidden underground city with no visible entrance, how many fortresses could claim to have such an ideal system.

Of course to power such a system the spatial magic devices were integral and thankfully Icethorne not only had many, but they also had the knowhow to produce more.

Such devices would make a real killing on the open market but unfortunately for others the spatial doors were a military secret of the highest order. Only a very select few knew of their inner workings, even the Northrend empire was in the dark about this technology.

"You can look as much as you want as long as you don't fall behind." Casper admired Frost's interest in their catacombs and allowed him to peruse to his heart's content as long as he kept up with the group. If he wanted a full tour however he'd need the War Marshall's permission.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Understood Colonel." Frost wasn't polite and immediately started analysing every nook and cranny as they charged along.

'The wall are so dense, perhaps they're reinforced with magic….are they using magic crystal lamps and luminescent plants to keep the place alight….was that a supply depot we just passed….it reminds me of home a little.' Frost found the idea of an underground city similar in nature to his Dungeon. So much activity happened underneath the city. much of it actually supplying the surface.

Currently there was also a high speed highway hidden within the Dungeon that some of his monsters used to travel between floors unnoticed.

Though there was no need for such a system in the shadow of the surface city yet there would be in the future and likely sooner than expected if the place continued to develop at its current rate.

'I could establish a neutral floor, one which is excluded from the Dungeon wars and connected to the bottom of the city.' The surface of the city was already a part of the Dungeon for DP collection so why not the ground directly underneath.

'With such a system we could transport materials to each workshop, forge, tannery, tailor and who knows what else without disturbing the streets.' Kranor had a similar set up that allowed the produce from the mines, quarries and fields to easily make its way to the upper floors.

Frost's mind churned and churned, fostering a strong desire to return home and get to work unfortunately now was not the best time.

He was brought out of his reverie by the loud booming voice of Colonel Casper who had made his way to the forefront of the pack.

"Exit's in sight men, clench your thighs and ready yourselves for battle!!" The tunnel ahead seemed to be blocked, a dead end but shortly after Casper approached the number five painted on the end wall glowed bright and the next second the wall started to shake and recede. Soon a sturdy ramp was revealed along with a great deal of natural light.

With quickened pace Frost's group of soldiers charged out of the mountain to find themselves beyond the Northern wall. Directly ahead, less than a kilometre in the distance was the alliance's forces. They were preoccupied with the assault on the frontline, so they hadn't noticed them as of yet.

"Group up into the arrow formation and charge!" Casper drew his spear and raised it high in the air as the rest of the left wing came out of exits 4 and 6.

The time it took them all to shuffle out and quickly enter an arrow formation was quite short, no more than 40 seconds. Your next read is at empire

Frost as previously instructed glued himself to Casper and awaited the order to kill. His wayward thoughts of home were completely extinguished the moment he saw the enemy in the distance. His heartbeat thumped away in his chest as a crooked smile appeared upon his lips revealing his sharp white teeth.

His hands, one holding the shaft of his glaive, the other holding the saddle resting on Kiba's back tightened to the point of loudly cracking as he entered battle mode.

Such actions were mirrored by the many men and women standing by his side, the stench of blood and war excited them greatly.

"Cavalry corps left wing! ALL AHEAD CHARGE!!" Seeing everyone in position or at least the majority Colonel Casper loudly roared.

"Urah!"

"Urah!" hundreds of cavalrymen grunted and roared at maximum volume as the mass contingent of 8000 men and women starting charging at the enemy in their sights. Their eyes turning red from the promise of carnage.

Don! Don! Don!

The audible thumps as bear paws crashed upon the ice and snow, along with the howls and roars of bloodthirsty soldiers couldn't be ignored.

"Shit! It's an ambush, anti-cavalry teams to the right!" A high ranked officer who was part of enemy's rearguard loudly hollered, causing many monsters to turn their heads in fear.

"Wait there's another group from the left! Fuck it's the War Ursa's cavalry corps!" Another officer noticed the right wing at almost the exact same moment. At this rate both flanks would be under their assault in 30 seconds.

"Sound the alarm, call back the rest of the anti-cavalry!!!"

Wooo! Wooo! Wooo!

A high pitched alarm went off a couple second later.

Time to impact 27 seconds.

"Colonel Casper and Colonel Ridge." General Vash uttered the names of the wing leaders.

"Should I have a contingent of anti-cavalry report to the rear?" One of his direct subordinates asked.

"No there's no time….they got us good haaaaa. Order the rear to fall back, have the flanks brace themselves and summon our heavy cavalry monsters, they'll move faster than our infantry and should help better delay them" Vash was almost unmoved by the sudden ambush despite the lethality of it.

"Let them have their fill of blood…for the moment." A vicious smile then appeared upon his lips followed by an eerie laughter escaping his throat.

A great danger loomed upon the horizon, a danger which the cavalry corps knew nothing of as they charged headfirst into the enemy lines.

Time until impact 15 seconds.

By this time most of army in the flanks and rear knew of the impending assault, soldiers looked to their officers for guidance, to their comrades for support and the rear for signs of an escape.

The onslaught of 16,000 heavy shock cavalrymen was something that would cause even the most battle hardened soldiers to tremble in their boots.

Despite this malevolent force charging towards them and their likely inevitable death these monsters gathered their courage and braced themselves against the tide.

Time until impact 10 seconds.