chapter 67

Chapter 106: The Forge of Endless Creation

Reyn wiped the sweat from his brow, the faint glow of the forge casting dancing shadows across the walls of his secret workshop. For the past eight months, this had been his life—hammering, tempering, and imbuing materials into weapons, armors, and artifacts. The air was thick with the scent of molten metal, enchanted smoke, and mana-infused oils.

Reyn had immersed himself in his craft, creating replicas of his favorite fictional weapons from his past life. Every week, Kael would deliver monster materials from his hunts—rare hides, enchanted bones, and elemental crystals. These were paired with the mythril, adamantite, and other magical metals Reyn purchased from the dwarven empire using gold delivered by his bird golems. Each shipment was accompanied by the certificate proving his right to buy materials like mithril and rare elemental materials, ensuring a steady supply for his work.

Amber, his black cat familiar, was never far away. Her jet-black fur shimmered faintly, and her flames pulsed with a life of their own, glowing brighter with each masterpiece Reyn forged. Over time, Reyn had noticed a deepening bond between them. The stronger his craft became, the more vibrant and powerful Amber's fire grew, almost as if they fueled each other.

He paused his work to scratch Amber behind the ears. "You're practically part of the forge now, aren't you?" he said with a grin. Amber purred in response, her flames flickering playfully.

His creations were impressive, even miraculous, yet a some fell short of the grandeur he sought. The Blades of Chaos he'd spent weeks forging were fearsome, their chains imbued with fire magic that could incinerate foes. Yet, no matter how much effort he poured into them, they lacked the raw, divine power to rival the fictional version.

Reyn sighed, staring at the glowing blade on his anvil. "What am I missing?" he muttered. His mind drifted to his old world, to the stories that had inspired him. In those tales, heroes wielded weapons of unimaginable strength, each an extension of their spirit and resolve. Was that the key? Did his creations need more than skill and mana? Did they require purpose?

Before he could lose himself in these thoughts, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Reyn straightened, setting down his hammer. "Who could that be?" he wondered aloud.

Before Reyn could return to his work, a firm knock echoed from the forge door. He frowned—visitors were rare. He wiped his hands on a rag and opened the door to find Alarcus standing there, his expression as cheerful as ever. Beside him was Zetsuei its presence exuded a quiet, commanding aura, and its gemstone eyes seemed to scan the surroundings with a mechanical precision.

"Boss!" Alarcus greeted, grinning widely. "Thanks for all the help. Zetsuei's been amazing out there."

Reyn's eyes flicked to the golem. "So it's been holding up well?"

Alarcus nodded enthusiastically. "More than that. It's a game-changer. The enhancements you added make it practically unstoppable."

Reyn allowed himself a small smile. "Good. Now that you're here, you can help me test some of my new creations. I need reports on how they perform in real-world conditions."

Alarcus chuckled. "Sure, but where are these creations?"

Reyn gestured toward the staircase leading downward. "In the basement vault. Zetsuei might come in handy down there, too—some of the artifacts might react unexpectedly."

Reyn added "Since you're a mage, focus on testing the artifacts, bows, shields, and armor. Your mana control will give me the feedback I need on how they react to spellcasters. I'll leave the swords, spears, and axes to Kael when he gets back from his latest hunt. He's better suited for heavy weaponry."

Alarcus grinned and saluted with a touch of sarcasm. "I'll be thorough."

As Alarcus and Zetsuei moved toward the stairs, Reyn called out, "Amber, go with them. Keep an eye on things."

Amber hopped down from the anvil and padded after them, her flames flaring briefly before settling into a steady glow.

At the bottom of the stairs, they came face-to-face with a thick steel door engraved with intricate magical runes. The door was impenetrable without a special key—an enchanted hammer hanging from the wall nearby. Alarcus glanced at the hammer, his brow furrowing.

"Yes," Reyn's voice came from a magical speaker embedded in the wall. "You'll need to strike the central rune on the door with the hammer to unlock it. Only someone I've granted access can use it."

Alarcus grabbed the hammer, which was heavier than it looked, and positioned it against the central rune. With a sharp clang, the rune lit up, and the door rumbled open, revealing the vast expanse of the vault.

Alarcus and Zetsuei stepped inside, taking in the sight of the immense, otherworldly chamber. Enchanted lights floated above, illuminating rows of weapons, armor, and artifacts displayed on ornate pedestals. The air thrummed with energy—each artifact seemed to radiate its own unique aura, filling the space with a symphony of elemental magic.

"By the gods..." Alarcus whispered, taking a hesitant step forward. Zetsuei flitted off his shoulder, hovering near a spear that buzzed with static energy.

Reyn crossed his arms, watching Alarcus with a hint of satisfaction. "Impressive, huh? But I'm not done yet. Your job is to push these to their limits. Break them if you can. I need to know where they fail."

Alarcus turned to him, eyes gleaming. "With pleasure, Boss. But, uh... are you sure you're not secretly a god yourself? This is insane."

Reyn laughed, a rare, genuine sound. "Hardly. I'm just a man with a hammer, a dream, and too much free time."

As Alarcus began exploring the vault, Reyn returned to his forge above, the sound of his hammer soon echoing once more. Despite his earlier doubts, a small smile tugged at his lips. He may not have matched the legends yet, but he was getting closer.