Chapter 52: A Hammer

After a meal that could have been breakfast or dinner, dawn had already broken.

In his room.

"Vespera’s meal cost a fortune in rare ingredients. But Liana’s reaction was priceless."

Theo lay on his bed. He took a rare inventory of his wealth.

Eight arcane crystals.

Gold? It surpassed ten thousand pieces.

Silver notes. He couldn’t be bothered to count. There was too much, making it mind-numbingly tedious.

Then there were the assorted treasures.

Six-mark elixirs, rare ores, exotic herbs.

"Toxin-Cleansing Pill. Neutralizes a hundred poisons."

"Wind and Rain Talisman. Causes three days of heavy rain. Useless for now."

"Ancient Pine Ring. Looks elegant and imposing. Good for boosting presence."

After half an hour.

Theo finally sorted through his miscellaneous items.

Then he entered the World Seed.

The space had changed slightly since his last visit. It seemed a few meters larger.

Before the chessboard in the clearing, the Crucible of Genesis rested in silence.

Not far from it, the Crimson Edge cowered in a corner. It did not dare approach.

Buzz.

Sensing Theo’s arrival, the Crucible vibrated faintly.

Its weaponized gravity remained. But it no longer exerted any pressure on Theo.

After all, he was the master here.

"Limitless strength."

Theo murmured inwardly.

He walked over, gripped the Crucible’s handle, and lifted it effortlessly.

As if it weighed nothing.

Were it not for the artifact’s joyful resonance, one might suspect it had been swapped for a counterfeit.

Whoosh.

Theo swung it a couple of times.

Instantly, the Crucible’s murderous aura stirred the miniature world. It was as if the heavens themselves were enraged.

A single strike carried the force of a falling meteor. It was capable of shattering the earth.

In that moment, he felt like a deity who could rend the skies with a mere gesture.

In Theo’s current understanding, Silas was among the strongest he knew.

Yet he had a hunch. Even the faintest ripple from this artifact’s power would be beyond what Silas could withstand.

"Now this is a true origin artifact."

"This must be its real power."

Theo exhaled deeply.

The Crucible buzzed excitedly. It was thrilled to finally be unleashed to its full potential.

"Want... out..."

Faintly. Theo seemed to hear a childlike intent.

He looked down, confirming the source.

"Smash..."

He understood. The Crucible wanted to smash something. Be it beasts or boulders. It wanted anything but being used to forge other weapons.

Theo: "..."

I would love to. But I am not strong enough yet.

Buzz.

The Crucible sulked. Its nascent sentience couldn’t grasp complex reasoning.

Why was its master sometimes strong, sometimes weak? Why could he wield its full power inside, yet refuse to take it out for fun?

"When the time is right, I will let you shine."

Theo reassured it softly.

After calming the origin artifact, he pondered seriously.

"Now that I have a hammer..."

"Shouldn’t I find a blunt-force technique to match?"

Having tasted the Crucible’s might, Theo felt a growing desire.

A tactical rogue learning hammer techniques. Surely that wasn’t too strange?

But none of the feedback from his investments included blunt-force martial arts.

"Ah, right."

"The top scorer in the sect trials gets to pick a technique from the Grand Library."

"I might as well check it out."

With that thought.

Theo restored the chaotic state of the small world. He beckoned to the Crimson Edge not far away.

"Come here."

Hum.

The moment he spoke, the Crucible trembled twice. It was like a father disciplining a mischievous child.

Only then did the Crimson Edge slowly descend into his palm.

With the blade in hand, Theo withdrew from the World Seed.

After exchanging a brief greeting with the drowsy Vespera, he headed out toward the Grand Library...