Lindon had kept his perception extended for dream tablets or guide constructs that Dross could absorb to understand more of the research, but he’d found nothing.
Yerin stood before the blood-colored tank, looking disgusted. “Feels like rubbing mud in your face.”
The sensation the four tanks gave off was nauseating, and to Lindon’s intrigue, it was more than spiritual. They radiated not just the power of madra and aura, but an ancient authority that he recognized.
Eithan danced closer, then rapped his knuckles on the solid base of one of the tanks. “It’s not the whole tank, I’d say.”
At Eithan’s knocking, a tray slid open in the tank’s base.
Within was a…Lindon didn’t know what to call it. It looked like a bone, twisted into a shape that resembled a ring. It contained a smooth ruby that had once given off a powerful blood aura, but instead of strengthening over time, it had emanated its power with nothing to replenish it. Now, the once-strong natural treasure only gave off a tiny radiance of red aura.
But it felt heavy to Lindon. He was reminded of the pearl necklace and the other items he’d taken from Ozriel’s room, but this was in a higher realm entirely. To his senses, it felt as if the weight of this bone ring could warp the world.
He didn’t want to touch it—as Yerin had said, this gave off the disgusting impression of the Bleeding Phoenix—but he wasn’t going to leave a treasure like this behind.
Ziel and Mercy had pried open the purple-and-white tank belonging to the Silent King, and the treasure they recovered resembled a twisted thighbone with an amethyst randomly fused into it. It gave off a weak wisp of dream aura, but it carried a powerful hunger to dominate.
[A noble artifact,] Dross said. [I will accept it as tribute.]
Lindon was briefly excited at the idea. If he could imbue this level of significance into Dross, how much stronger could the spirit get?
But he discarded the idea immediately. It would only take him further away from his goal of getting the real Dross back, and it wasn’t as though such power could be as easily transferred as aura.
Though that thought brought him inevitably to the Soulforge.
Eithan handed the device to him, and Lindon opened the portal to the Soulforge right in front of the tanks. Space groaned as the portal opened, and only a breath later, Lindon forced his personal void key open.
The sound that accompanied the portal’s sluggish opening was…concerning. He was certain that his key wouldn’t last much longer. But this was worth it, even if the key broke.
He walked out with the broken fragments of Reigan Shen’s death-aspected trident, three broken hammers that he’d scavenged, one of his bundles of Soulsmithing tools, and the box containing the Tomb Hydra’s binding.
“I look forward to seeing if the Soulforge lives up to its reputation,” Lindon said, hiding his excitement.
Orthos spoke from Yerin’s shoulder. “How long until the exit opens?”
“Should have a few minutes!” Eithan called back.
Lindon had reached for the case containing Subject One’s hand, but he stopped when Eithan spoke. “Are you sure?”
“If I weren’t, I would still say this is a risk worth taking. Or would you rather confront Reigan Shen again with the same weapons we used last time?”
Without another word, Lindon headed into the starry world of the Soulforge. He strode out onto the platform, and the others filed in after him.
The blue fire blazed in the altar at the center of the stones, and Lindon sensed that he shouldn’t have to fuel it for at least one project. Without consulting with Eithan, he threw the broken hammers onto the center of the altar.
Immediately, the physical wood of the broken hammers’ hilts caught fire. Lindon controlled the fire aura to smother the flame, but he shot a startled look at Eithan.
The Archlord gave him a shooing motion. “It’s more about the idea of the hammer than the physical form. Natural part of the process!”
If Lindon wanted to complete a project like repairing and empowering a weapon of Reigan Shen’s, he wanted every advantage he could. And Eithan and Ozriel had both emphasized the use of a hammer, so he’d start using one.
Or at least repairing the ones he had.
[Focus as I guide you,] Dross said arrogantly. [I will not steer you wrong.]
Lindon didn’t fully trust Dross’ new personality, but he certainly had Ozriel’s dream tablets. He focused on the power on the altar, letting Dross feed the memories of other Soulsmiths into the back of his mind.
Lindon imagined a hammer in his mind. Not its form, but its purpose. He needed a tool to deliver his will, to shape the material in front of him. One that wouldn’t lose out to Reigan Shen’s weapons, and wouldn’t deform in his hands.
His will started unopposed…then he felt stiff opposition, like he had suddenly tried to lift a heavy weight.
The flames surrounding the broken hammers turned blue, and the material began to rise slowly into the air.
Lindon fixed his concentration, pushing his willpower into the project as he had when he’d torn open space. He could feel the broken hammers; they had once been used to craft masterpieces. He treated that as though it were a new aspect of madra, weaving it into his ultimate design.
The blue light started to congeal into the vague outline of a hammer.
This wasn’t enough, and Lindon felt instinctively what he had to do next. Part of that was the intuition he’d inherited from the memories of other Soulsmiths, but part was his own experience.
He needed to invest power of his own into this project. Lindon poured pure madra into the hammer, visualizing as he did the purpose of pure madra in Soulsmithing: its universal compatibility and its ability to purify.
But before the hammer congealed around the pure madra, he stopped. And he switched his cores.
He wanted this hammer to represent his power at its most complete state, so he poured Blackflame into the hammer. Blackflame added deadly force and destructive intention to weapons, and it too could be used to burn away materials and impurities.
When he had added an equal amount of Blackflame, he stopped pouring in madra and began using his will to guide the forces together. He intended to blend them, but Dross stopped him.
[Stop, you fool! Can’t you see they’ve achieved a balance already?]
At the heart of the blue outline that only vaguely resembled a hammer, two powers swirled: one bright and blue-white, and another darkness outlined in red. They swam around one another like twin fish, and they did indeed feel perfectly in balance.
That was where Lindon’s experience failed him. His will trembled as he held the hammer half-manifested.
What do I do now? Lindon asked. He vaguely assumed it had something to do with soulfire.
Just when he was prepared to brute force it, Eithan leaned forward. “Now, bring it forth. It isn’t real enough yet, like a Jade Remnant that has just manifested. Pull it out until it becomes reality.”
Lindon’s voice was strained with the effort of keeping the hammer half-existing. “What about soulfire?”
“What do you think that is?” Eithan pointed down to the blue flame in the center of the altar.
Aside from the fact that they were both in the form of fire, the flame in this altar had very little resemblance to soulfire. Especially since Archlord soulfire was its highest level, and that looked like quicksilver. Even Ghostwater had been formed with Archlord soulfire, not this…blue kind.
But Lindon’s will was at its limit, so he couldn’t wait to debate. He pushed one more time, shoving the hammer into reality.
As he did, he had one strange thought: he was pulling something into existence, and out of nothingness. That resonated with the Void Icon, but he wasn’t sure exactly how yet. It was worth examining later.