Chapter 1893 - 1892 - Falling Short

Lind's group lost a large portion after Shoti and Fey split off. The inner area was larger than they could cover in a short time.

He had hoped they could rejoin but things did not go as hoped. His rapid progress was brought to a halt by pure materials. There was no trace of Fiend Qi so he had to find a normal way in.

It was a bright violet metal he recognized as a variation of Demonic Heart Steel. It was not known to him at the Eternal Realm so it had to have come from somewhere else. A demon hold that had a blacksmith or other refiner.

It was clearly stolen and adapted to the fortress and he found other natural materials blocking the way. As a final safeguard against his harmony, it was a good plan.

He could not breakthrough easily and Forging was too great a risk. If he tried, he likely would find the Bastard waiting to connect to him and absorb him.

Annabelle and Qing quickly organized a search.

Shattering Fist Eternal, Goldthorn, and Violet Cloud had stayed with him as main combatants.

"This has been a dark road, darker than we imagined it to be." The old ape was somber. He was not reveling in battle anymore. Too many had been taken in horrific ways and Goldthorn's current attitude seemed to have broken his mania.

Lind suspected he too would give up if they won. Living forever was not a blessing to all. It seemed wonderful but to have lived through such horrors can be far heavier than death.

He believed many would get their affairs in order and end their lives willingly. It was a sobering realization for him.

He was about to speak when his eyes narrowed.

He looked to his right and summoned his staff once more. He also conjured weapons to use his Battle Aura. His actions were not missed and the others prepared.

Yet, the figure that eventually appeared was not their enemy. It was a young man, human, with refined features. He looked tired and pale. His dark eyes were exhausted but Lind did not lower his guard.

"It has been some time, Older Twin." The instant Lind identified him, the others were confused. They had seen the Twins for a long time and neither looked like that. The Younger Twin had been flush with life and whole but the Older Twin was injured.

He had been carrying many scars from battles that never fully healed. Yet, the human before them smiled at Lind's words.

"So, you have seen this version of me. You know what I am now, right?" Lind nodded as he was actively scanning around them. The young man sighed. "He really wants to hurt you. You have no idea how far he has gone in that pursuit."

Lind did not need that explanation. He was about ready to attack but his instincts screamed at him not to.

If it was his Master, he would be confident in walking away but Older Twin was a craftsman that was a legend among legends. His arena chose Divine Lords, after all, and who knew what other legacies he had left behind that would shame all other Inheritances.

The one he and his brother left behind was fantastical enough as well.

The ability of the fortress to thwart him suddenly made horrifying sense and the final defense was not made by Fiends at all but by the thrall before them. Older Twin was a thrall without doubt.

The genius refiner had been enslaved many times for all he knew or only until he ascended again. Either way, billions of years would pass that he put the knowledge to use!

"My brother has always had bright disciples. My recent memories show I had a rougher go of it this time. Maybe I knew I would not make it but all this time revision really was a hassle." Talking was bad. Talking was a delay tactic and delay could only be to set up an attack.

Lind waited no longer. He attacked the room around him rather than the figure ahead. His weapons hit something.

Various floating cubes were revealed but unlike when they came out of the Myriad Maze, they were able to deflect or withstand his assault with ease! The cubes glowed and then twisted open.

"MOVE!" It was all he had time to say before Eternal Realm attacks came at them! The Older Twin also moved right at Lind.

A warhammer was in his hands but it was insanely massive. There was no way it could be swung so fast with a single hand!

Lind used his staff and Battle Aura to try and keep it away but he may as well have held up a sheet of paper! It smashed through and broke his arm instantly! The pain was pushed down and he kept moving.

He summoned his tail and used it to change direction at the last moment and finally caught Older Twin off guard.

His own staff slammed into the man's ribs and sent him flying. Lind frowned. He was too light!

He then rolled to his left just as a warhammer shattered the metal floor.

"Good instinct. You noticed my solid projection right away too." Older Twin was not smiling but his praise seemed sincere. Lind knew the man was not an ally of the Bastard but he was compelled.

The balance between control and knowledge was delicate. The Bastard was using the powerful Older Twin's experience rather than his own. Lind had no information on the man in battle!

He was being cornered while the artifacts kept his allies at bay!

Qing and Annabelle were likely to return soon and he dared not hope they would survive long in this battle.

His desperation was rising when a silver furred fist slammed into the warhammer handle. Older Twin had deftly moved it to block the attack.

"Old Ape, you should stay out of this." Shattering Fist Eternal snarled but did not speak. His left foot shot out not to hit but to grasp! Older Twin was caught off guard and his weapon was stripped away.

Lind did not dare wait. His Battle Aura locked it down as he summoned metal bars to fuse it to the floor.

It thrashed and tried to escape but he held it in place as he turned back. It was only then he noticed how badly injured the ape was.

"Sigh, you always do insane things like this. I do not want to be the one to kill you, old friend." Lind paused. Old friend? Shattering Fist had never mentioned anything about that!

"You are not my friend. You are just a ghost wearing his face. I will put you to rest!" Shattering Fist suddenly grew in height and his speed increased as well. Lind could barely keep up but Older Twin had 2 golden shields appear.

They took the hits easily as he moved toward the hammer. Lind frowned.

Such a rich refiner should have weapons to spare, why focus on one he lost? Even if the Bastard had not successfully looted everything, he should have had time to make plenty.

Lind looked at those shields and his expert eye finally had time to grasp something. They were not old, they were new!

The warhammer was impressive with his white wood handle and dark metal head but they were no more than a few centuries old at best!

These were made with what was on hand alone!

They were also not made by the Older Twin but by someone else. They could have been disciples or others that inherited his legacy and taken in by the Fiends. There was no way to be sure but the quality was not his!

Lind's desperation fell away as his hands glowed. Older Twin noticed and seemed to panic.

He understood. The thrall was unable to craft more and he was unable to fight back without what he needed! Lind Forged the warhammer right then and there. The mark on it was purged with ease since it was not made by a true living being.

The Bastard had placed a trap in it but Lind scoffed at it. It was meant to trigger when the weapon was used, not remade.

The colors shifted and the warhammer became decorated with profound symbols. He released it and Older Twin froze in place.

Shattering Fist Eternal was also shocked.

"How? How did you do that?" Lind smiled sadly at the confused man. He gave no words as he finished his work. The head was now a large flat edge and a spike on the other side. Its shaft was laced with shimmering lines of power as the counter weight was a blade.

It floated up and Lind felt the nascent spirit inside it understand why it was born. It vanished and the shattering of metal was heard.

The 2 shields were pale imitations to the real thing.

The thrall barely dodged but his left arm was lost!

"I was truly caught off guard. My Master and his brother have a large impact on my life in more ways than one but something the Bastard seems to have missed is where I have been in the Divine Lands. You don't know because the Will is still there, safe and sound." A flicker of understanding went through the dark eyes before a smile tugged on its face.

The silver ape suddenly found the warhammer before him and a profound feeling of connection flowed between the two.

"Lind Frey, for this gift, I thank you." Ape and weapon joined and the 2 moved like a ghost. The artifacts were turned to glittering metal dust as the thrall had its limbs shattered at the same time.

"What–what is its name?" Lind felt like it was truly Older Twin asking yet it was Shattering Fist that answered.

"Oath Keeper." Lind smiled. It was a good name the spirit chose. Older Twin seemed to understand.

"He fell short here, but do not underestimate him. There is nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal. He will burn everything rather than accept his death." Lind knew and said nothing as the hammer lit up with bright flames of gold, crimson, and blue.

The flames of Forging and refining. Older Twin saw it swing down and his body was vaporized into nothing.

Lind felt cold as he understood the final steps would be heavy. He would likely have to sacrifice more friends and family before the day was done. He prayed for the strength to do so but if they were a thrall, nothing would stop him.

He was going to kill the Bastard for everything he had done!