Chapter Text
Quiet. When did it get so quiet? Karl’s only thought was focused on it as snow fell over the village, over him.. “Wait!” He screamed as he jolted up, snow falling away from his body as he felt the pain in his chest and shoulders rocket up his spine and throb in his head. Doubling over from it, black sludge falling from him and tainting the now white ground.
He remembered the battle with Ethan, how hard he tried to keep the man from following him, stopping him, getting in his way. Throwing him down to the depths of his factory, sure he’d be out of his way. Then his anger at seeing him again outside the factory. Then such pain, horrible, burning, blinding, pain as he heard his own voice angrily plead to the sky to see Miranda dead. To see his hands killing her.
Karl shook his head with a pained mumble, pushing himself up onto his feet, and looking out over the village. His breath being pulled from his lungs at the sight. “Holy shit..” He muttered under his breath, his feet moving on their own accord as he saw the megamycete looming over the village. And then shouting, gunfire, roaring. But not the lycan’s roaring, this was a different creature’s snarl entirely. One that felt almost familiar and had Karl moving in it’s direction fast, despite the ache in his entire body trying to slow him down.
What was that ache? That pain? He glanced down as he ran, seeing skin slowly stitching itself back together like liquid metal over bones and muscles. Oh. He had died hadn’t he? Truly dead. Then how was he alive now?
“Ah, Lord Heisenberg! How good to see you up and about after your untimely respite.” A familiar voice called as the Duke sat in his carriage, smoking on a cigar and puffing out the smoke with a satisfied groan. Karl turned, limping over and propping himself up against the carriage with a strangled string of pain filled curses.
“DAMN! Fucking shit! What happened?! Why does everything hurt?! FUCK FUCK FUCK!!” Karl ranted, not really knowing how else to express how angry and confused he was. And scared. The gunfire and animalistic sounds still echoing over the snow covered rooftops. “How.. Am I alive?” The iron lord asked, finally looking at the Duke. His eyes filled with desperation.
“That is the question of the hour, isn’t it!” The Duke clapped his hands together gleefully before turning in his seat. Grunting as he dug with large hands around the stock he carried in the back of his traveling store. “It seems the megamycete is reviving its strongest hosts to protect it! Ethan was up in no time! Didn’t even need those expensive guns anymore. Always sad to see a customer move on. As for you, however…” He trailed off, the tone of his voice taking on an edge, before presenting Karl’s massive hammer in pristine condition with what looked like modifications. The very idea of someone modifying his creation made his blood boil until he saw in the Duke’s other hand, his hat and glasses. A small sentimental gift that he recognized immediately for what it was. A kind gesture in a cruel place. “For my most loyal patron over the years. I believe these to be yours. This will be my last sale after all.”
Karl snatched the hat and glasses and put them on immediately, his hand calling his hammer to him and bringing a smile to his face. The weight of it was right in his hands. A comfort to him. Slinging it over his shoulders with a satisfied hum. “Slow your roll, big man! It’s not the last sale you’ll make!” He barked as he dug through his pockets and eventually found what he was after, pulling out the last of his lei in a pouch and dropping it on the seat next to the Duke. “What happened to Ethan! Mother Miranda? What’s happening?!” He shot off his questions as his body continued to repair itself.
“Ahh, a sound proposal. Information is so valuable after all.” The Duke reasoned as he pocketed the lei before leaning forward to speak to Karl, face to face. “Ethan was confronted by Miranda shortly after your death. She then proceeded to tear out his heart, leaving him dead while she went to initiate the ceremony.” He explained and paused to take a puff of his cigar, making Karl restless with the continuing sound of gunfire in the distance. “He came back of course, he is certainly a unique man after all! But.. I fear he came back a bit changed. A creature made of megamycete with one goal in mind.”
“Save Rose.” Karl finished for the Duke and let out a growl of his own. What had Ethan done? Did he succeed?
“Yes, but it seems it’s become a bit complicated. Americans, you see. They have attached powerful explosives to the megamycete that will level the village. And-”
“Us along with it! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!” Karl ranted as he began to take off in the direction of the village, to the gunshots and roaring.
“Pleasure doing business, Lord Heisenberg!”