The Void Core

The quiet hum of arcane machinery filled the dimly lit chamber. Ubel stood before a long table, scattered with blueprints, aged tomes, and alchemical instruments, each tool meticulously placed in preparation for the task ahead. Across from him, Ren leaned against the table, arms crossed, his gaze sharp with curiosity.

"Are you familiar with the Void Core?" Ubel's voice broke the silence, his tone casual, yet layered with unmistakable intrigue.

Ren frowned slightly. "Void Core? Can't say I've heard of it."

A smirk tugged at Ubel's lips. "I'm not surprised. It's not exactly common knowledge." He tapped a finger against an open tome, its pages inscribed with intricate, ancient script. "According to the Arcana of Luminous, which I had the pleasure of deciphering—since I can read Old Etrean—it details an expedition undertaken by Reinhard Rest and his party into the Voidseyrie Watchtower. There, they uncovered an artifact—an artifact created by Luminous himself."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "Luminous…? You're telling me the god of everything created something like this? What did it do?"

Ubel's smirk widened. "Not what. What it was capable of." He turned a page, revealing an aged illustration—a complex structure encasing an orb of shifting darkness. "This artifact had the power to seal any being into a dimension devoid of direction, cause, or effect—a realm detached from all concepts and laws of this world."

Ren's expression shifted, the weight of such a revelation sinking in. "...That kind of power is insane."

"Insane enough that even Luminous himself had to split it into two components," Ubel continued, flipping the page. "The base, which contained the sealing function, and the key, which was required to activate it. And even then, it was only able to seal one target at a time. That level of control… it was too much for a single entity to possess unchecked."

Ren exhaled sharply. "So what happened to it?"

"After the expedition, Reinhard Rest and the great beyonder Orthis tasked the Edenkite god, Wallachia, with safeguarding the key atop the Voidseyrie Watchtower while they took the artifact itself and hid it away." Ubel leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Which brings us to the present."

Ren crossed his arms tighter. "You wouldn't be telling me all this if you didn't have something planned. What are you thinking?"

Ubel chuckled. "Sharp as ever, Ren. I want to replicate it."

Ren's breath hitched. "...You want to recreate an artifact crafted by Luminous?"

"Not an exact copy," Ubel admitted, raising a finger. "Even I wouldn't dream of matching the work of a divine. But a functional replica? Something close enough to seal away someone dangerous? I believe it's possible."

Ren scoffed. "And who exactly do you plan on sealing away?"

"Duke Erisia." Ubel's smile vanished, his tone shifting into something far more serious. "He's a key figure in everything that's been happening. If we can capture him, we can extract valuable information—particularly regarding how he got his hands on the Forge of Sin."

Ren remained silent for a moment before sighing. "And this is where I come in, huh?"

Ubel nodded. "I need your expertise in chemical reactions and solid constructions to develop the foundation of the artifact. I'll handle the power source."

Ren ran a hand through his hair. "You do realize this is borderline madness, right?"

"Madness is just another word for ambition," Ubel countered. "Besides, I've been granted full access to Etrean supplies. We have everything we need."

Ren let out a dry laugh. "Of course you have. Well… I guess that means we better get to work."

Ubel's smirk returned. "That's the spirit."