I Became A Zompirewolf

"What did he do..."

Those were Ashton's first words as his ship landed on Euphoria. The once hustling and bustling planet had now been reduced to the shadow of its former glory, and Kro'Han did it all in a few months.

Following their master, the guardians walked out of the ship, carrying forging items that Ashton had requested from his extraterrestrial friends.

While he was there to work and nothing else, the state of the place still caused him a bit of discomfort. After all, Euphoria was his father's dream world, and it was no more.

The lush vegetation that had once adorned the landscape was now reduced to ashes, a reminder of the devastation Kro'Han had unleashed in the short time he was alive.

The absence of any signs of life further added to the sad atmosphere. The once-thriving communities, bustling with activity, were now reduced to eerie silence.

The ghosts of a once-vibrant society lingered in the air, speaking the tales of lives destroyed for no reason other than the whims of a ruthless conqueror.

Stopping at what used to be the heart of the planetary civilisation, Ashton gazed at the remnants of structures that once stood tall. But even his eyes betrayed him because all he saw was a massive throne made of skulls of the Euphorians.

"...Let's find the forge," Ashton instructed the Guardians, who promptly went to execute his orders.

With his summons gone, Ashton could no longer roam as freely as he wanted, especially since he didn't know when he could be attacked.

While usual enemies posed no threat to him, it was a different case when it came to other Precursors. That's why he was always accompanied by at least two guardians whenever he left Earth.

"Besides, it gives Anna peace of mind, so there's that." Ashton smiled wanly before taking a stroll on the planet, which now officially belonged to him.

Planet Euphoria originally belonged to the Xyrans before Kro'Han seized it as his base of operations. Now that he was gone, Ashton expected the Xyrans would want their planet back.

However, to Ashton's surprise, Ibis presented him with an unexpected offer. The new council under Ibis's leadership, having witnessed Ashton's strength and acknowledging the historical wrongs committed by their elders, decided to relinquish the rights to Euphoria as a gesture of peace to him.

Since Euphoria still had a lot of Precursor tech and Artifacts scattered all around, Ashton graciously accepted the gift, which sparked the beginning of their alliance.

Casually strolling around, he recalled the time he arrived on the planet for the first time. His heart got heavy as the memories of the flourishing planet flooded his mind.

The echoes of yelling, fighting and cheering were long gone, and the vibrant colours of diverse flora had been replaced by a haunting silence and the barren, frozen ground.

Even though it was his third time visiting the planet, it held a close spot in his heart. It was the place where he poured his heart out to Anna, thanks to Astaroth's trickery.

It was also where he met his father through his thoughts after killing the remaining part of him stuck in the land of the undead.

But it was also a place that reminded him of his masters. Vulcan and Flintmace... without their guidance and ultimate sacrifice, he won't be there remembering the past.

Ashton felt a tear drop rolling down his cheeks, bringing him back to the present. He couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if he somehow managed to kill Kro'Han in their first meeting.

Ashton shook his head. It wasn't the time for wishful thinking. Not one another Kro'Han-like threat was heading their way.

Seeing Euphoria in such a devastated state reminded Ashton. He was determined to prevent any other Precursor from laying destructive hands on another world.

Just then, his earpiece rang, and one of the Guardians informed Ashton that they had found the forge. They were fast, but it wasn't surprising.

According to what Ashton had learned from the robots, they were created by the Precursors to guard the planet and hence knew every corner of the place like the back of their hands.

"I'll be there shortly..." Ashton replied before heading towards somewhere else.

Ashton's steps led him to the spot where his masters had bravely faced Kro'Han to save his life. He could still hear their parting words alongside the echoes of the battle between them.

Searching the area, Ashton hoped to find some trace of his masters but couldn't find any remains of them. Even though that was one of his goals, he was glad he didn't find their remains. Otherwise, the sight would have turned him into a mess.

Instead, he stumbled upon their discarded weapons—two swords and a massive war hammer, neglected and rusted from years of abandonment.

With a gentle touch, Ashton picked up the weathered weapons. The rust-covered blades and the worn handle of the war hammer were all marred with blood.

It was enough for Ashton to know what kind of hell his masters had gone through to protect him and countless others at the cost of their own.

Finding a suitable spot, Ashton cleared a space and carefully placed the weapons on the ground before using Seraph's crystal to shape them into a gravestone.

It was Ashton's way to honour the memories of those who had stood by him in his darkest moments. With that done, he bowed his head, struggling to keep the tears at bay while thanking his masters for their sacrifice and the lessons they had imparted to him.

"Thank you, both of you," Ashton whispered, his voice barely audible over the quiet hum of the wind. "For everything you have done for me, for saving my life, and for showing me what true bravery is."

Bidding farewell to his master's graves, he headed towards the ancient forge. The place where he could forge a weapon capable of facing any Precursor.

Ashton had a specific reason for making the weapon on Euphoria. He needed the essence of death to create the weapon he wanted, and what better place for that essence than a dead planet?