The Phoenix Territory had always been a testament to grandeur sun drenched towers of alabaster and flame, floating gardens suspended by magical updrafts, and streets paved with obsidian glass that shimmered in the eternal daylight of the underworld. But nestled into the edge of a volcanic cliff, a new monument was rising one forged not from noble leisure, but from ambition, steel, and fire.
Kaijin's Forge.
It wasn't just another estate. It was a cathedral to creation.
From a high balcony overlooking the site, Riser Phenex stood in silence, arms crossed, golden eyes burning with quiet intensity. Below, teams of skilled common devils, golems, and magically augmented low class devils worked tirelessly under Kaijin's precise and loud directions. Runes were being etched into stone elemental pipelines were being connected to geothermal veins the massive chimney meant to release and redirect divine heat was halfway complete.
Merlin floated beside Riser, sipping tea from a porcelain cup hovering midair. "Most would settle for inherited power and noble luxury. But here you are, building a forge."
"I'm not most," Riser replied. "Power inherited is power unearned. I need to build something that no one can deny was mine."
Merlin smiled, brushing a strand of Black hair behind her ear. "Good answer. Dangerous answer. But good."
At the heart of the construction, Kaijin himself hammered away at a glowing slab of ore. Despite being surrounded by arcane tools and ancient machinery, the dwarf blacksmith seemed to need only his hammer, his fire, and his focus.
"MOVE IT, YOU SORRY SACKS OF FLAMELESS MUD!" Kaijin barked at a trio of devil workers carrying a load of Skyiron. "If I see even a scratch on that ore, I'll turn your bodies into coat hangers!"
One of the workers stumbled. Kaijin muttered a curse in Dwarvish, stomped over, and took the heavy crate himself, hefting it onto a reinforced bench as though it weighed nothing.
Riser descended into the forge's main chamber, the scent of hot metal and old magic washing over him like a new memory be forged. Kaijin noticed him and gave a curt nod.
"Place is almost operational," the dwarf grunted. "Not bad for three weeks of work. I could've done it in two if your builders weren't so concerned about 'aesthetics.'"
"It has to be worthy of your craft," Riser said. "And of the future we're building."
Kaijin snorted but didn't disagree.
The chamber's centerpiece was already complete three enormous stone platforms, reinforced with underworld basalt and carved with glowing golden runes. Spread across them were three different blueprints, pulsing with infernal energy.
Kaijin motioned Riser over. "Let's talk weapons."
He smacked the first design with his palm. "Thalia. Daughter of the storm god himself. That one's easy."
The design shimmered, revealing a long spear with crackling energy dancing across its edges.
"Skyiron shaft, ten feet long. The head is shaped like a jagged thunderbolt, made from Olympus forged crystal alloy. Inlaid with lightning absorption runes, so it builds charge as she fights. She throws it, it explodes. She spins it, it calls the storm. She names it, it obeys."
Riser studied the blade. "What do you call it?"
Kaijin grinned. "Astrapí. 'Lightning Strike.'"
Riser nodded approvingly. "She'll use it well."
The dwarf moved to the next blueprint. "Now this one gave me pause."
The glowing outline of a sword emerged sleek, deadly, and wrapped in a coiling aura of darkness and violet flame.
"Excalibur Morgan," Kaijin said reverently. "Not a copy. A rebirth. It'll be forged with soulsteel alloy and enchanted with abyssal runes. She won't wield the sword of light, but the blade of night."
Riser's voice lowered. "She's already chosen her path. I just want her to have a weapon worthy of her strength."
Kaijin gave a rare, thoughtful nod. "She'll be a queen of battle with this in hand."
Then he moved to the final blueprint bigger, more intricate, and humming with phoenix flame.
"And for you, lad."
The weapon was a titanic axe sword hybrid. The edge glowed like the sun. The hilt resembled a pillar of flame.
"I know the legend of Rita," Kaijin said, rubbing his thick fingers over the design. "This won't be that. But it'll be its heir. Forged from Solar Gold metal found only in the corona of stars. Enchanted with flame adaptive runes. As you grow stronger, so will it."
"What's its name?" Riser asked, stepping closer.
Kaijin exhaled like a priest giving a sermon.
"Rita Ignis Regum. 'The Fire of Kings.' When you wield it nations will bow or burn."
A long silence passed as Riser stared at his future blade.
"I'll use it to claim more than land," he said. "I'll use it to claim destiny."
Later that night, the forge's interior glowed like the heart of a dragon. The runes on the walls pulsed with fiery rhythm. It was no longer a construction site it was a sanctum.
Thalia stormed into the chamber, sparks dancing in her hair. "Kaijin! You better not make me look weak. I want a spear that can crack Olympus."
Kaijin scoffed. "You couldn't crack an egg if I didn't forge the damn thing for you right."
She grinned. "Then we're in business."
Artoria followed, regal and calm, dressed in deep black armor that reflected the forge's glow. Her gaze locked onto the design of Excalibur Morgan.
"It's beautiful," she said quietly.
"It's terrifying," Kaijin corrected.
"Good," Artoria replied.
Merlin floated in next, flipping through a tome. "Where's my staff, dwarf? I want something silver, tall, and suitably dramatic."
Kaijin groaned. "You people are insatiable."
"Correct," she said, smiling. "And magical."
At last, Ravel entered with a flutter of her wings, eyes wide.
"Big brother" she breathed. "You've made something amazing."
Riser bent down, pulling her into a hug.
"This is the start, Ravel. Our legacy begins here."
Kaijin tapped his hammer against a nearby anvil. "One week until the weapons are ready. Then I collapse."
"After that," Riser said, "we march towards our destiny."
Thalia smirked. "You planning on starting a war?"
"I'm planning on winning one if ever started," he answered.
Artoria's eyes flashed. "We follow you."
Merlin raised her cup. "To fire, steel, and ambition."
Kaijin lifted his hammer. "To the King's Forge."
The forge roared.
The future burned bright.