Renzo stood before the fractured space.
The crack in reality floated silently in the air, radiating an ancient pressure that made the surrounding atmosphere heavy.
The golden light inside the fracture pulsed softly.
Waiting.
Calling.
Kensei-Ryu spoke in a serious tone.
"Last chance to turn around."
Renzo adjusted his grip on Ogre Fang Katana.
"I'm not walking away from a hidden opportunity."
The sword god sighed.
"Of course not."
Vulcanos remained silent.
But Renzo could feel something from the forge god.
Anticipation.
Almost nostalgia.
Without hesitation, Renzo stepped forward.
The moment his body touched the fracture—
The world vanished.
Renzo felt weightless.
Space twisted around him.
Golden light swallowed his vision.
Then—
His feet touched solid ground.
Renzo immediately lowered his stance, katana ready.
His eyes rapidly scanned the surroundings.
Silence.
Complete silence.
He slowly straightened.
"...What is this place?"
He stood inside an enormous cavern.
The ceiling stretched hundreds of meters overhead.
Ancient stone pillars lined the vast chamber.
Rivers of glowing molten metal flowed across the ground like streams of lava.
Massive anvils, some as large as buildings, stood silently throughout the cavern.
Broken weapons littered the ground.
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Thousands upon thousands of ruined weapons.
All of them ancient.
All of them abandoned.
Vulcanos suddenly spoke.
His normally calm voice trembled slightly.
"...Impossible."
Renzo blinked.
"You know this place?"
Several seconds passed.
Then Vulcanos answered.
"Yes."
"This is one of my old sanctuaries."
Renzo froze.
"Your sanctuary?"
Kensei-Ryu sounded equally shocked.
"I thought all of them were destroyed during the Divine War."
Vulcanos remained silent.
Renzo looked around again.
An abandoned forge belonging to a god.
No wonder the Divine Inventory had reacted.
Suddenly—
A blue system window appeared.
Unique Dungeon Fragment Entered
Location: The Forgotten Forge
Difficulty: Hidden
Objective:
Restore the Ancient Forge.
Progress: 0 / 3
Reward:
Inheritance of the Star-Forge Sovereign
Failure:
Expulsion
Renzo's eyes widened.
"Inheritance?"
Even Kensei-Ryu sounded surprised.
"Now that's a reward."
Before Renzo could respond—
CLANG.
A metallic sound echoed throughout the cavern.
Renzo immediately turned.
CLANG.
Another sound.
Then another.
The broken weapons scattered across the ground began shaking.
One by one—
They rose into the air.
Hundreds of shattered blades floated above the cavern floor.
Golden flames ignited within their cracked metal.
A system notification appeared.
Guardian Activated
Enemy: Forged Wraiths
Quantity: 100
Kensei-Ryu laughed.
"Looks like the welcoming committee has arrived."
The floating weapons suddenly rushed toward Renzo.
Like a storm of steel.
Renzo's eyes sharpened.
He drew Ogre Fang Katana.
SHING.
The blade gleamed brightly beneath the golden light of the forge.
Renzo smiled.
For the first time since regressing—
He finally felt excited.
Because this place...
Was made for him.
The storm of blades descended.
And Renzo stepped forward.
The trial of the Forgotten Forge had begun.