Heavy Metal

"I can feel it. Time is up."

Rusty looked around the forge with a hammer in his hand. Ever since his adventure in the summoner mission had ended, he had spent weeks working in the soul forge. During that time, he managed to remake many of his weapons and armor pieces using a new and improved high-steel alloy, complete with several added enchantments.

His blacksmithing skills had grown dramatically, and he had even been fortunate enough to recreate the lightning enchantment he once used on his old halberd and helmet. The soul forge provided the elemental materials he needed, and now his entire body was protected from the weakness that had troubled him for so long.

From what he could tell, as long as he received an elemental talisman from a summoning chamber mission, the soul forge would provide the materials needed to recreate it. Since he possessed both the lesser flame and lightning enchantments, he was supplied with everything required to reproduce them. Because of this, he was able to forge weapons that carried both elements at once.

From time to time, he sparred with the mercenary leader in the training facility, studying his patterns and even facing multiple opponents at once to sharpen his tactics. After completing his summoning chamber mission, he was also permitted to challenge people like Bartholomew. He spent long hours in the library as well, steadily expanding his knowledge.

Yet the summoning chamber remained silent after a single attempt, just as it had before. The lack of response was disheartening. It was the only feature that granted him direct rewards through the talismans, while everything else demanded massive amounts of time and effort.

"It is time to go."

Rusty left the smithing area and entered the central heart of the soul forge. Alexander and Aburdon were already waiting to send him off.

"See you on the other side."

Alexander said.

"Do not forget to summon me first and give me my new body. You promised it."

Aburdon added, though Rusty recognized the lie.

"I never promised anything like that."

He shook his head and moved toward the middle armor. As before, a strange force pulled him in, and the world faded to nothing.

Everything seems in order. Rusty appeared in the hidden compartment of his smithy. He did not know how much time had passed in this world, but his life detection skill assured him that everything was fine. Gleam was nearby, and so were the children. This gave him a moment to check his system.