Inside the main command tent, the atmosphere had finally stabilized after everything that happened outside, but it still didn't feel normal in any sense of the word. The Forge Furnace resonance was still faintly glowing in the background.
Veneri stood near the central table reviewing data from the expedition, while Adelasta leaned next to him with her arms folded, watching him. Landle stood slightly off to the side, completely composed as usual. I was seated further back, maintaining holograms, just observing everything as it unfolded.
Parasphlen however, decided that personal space was optional. She floated casually around me in slow circles. Her nebula-form was still active. Seems she can't make a physical appearance.
"You are very strange. I didn't expect to see an Omniscient with a physical body. Most of your kind go through extreme measures just to achieve partial manifestation and yet here you are, casually existing in one."
I didn't even look at her.
"I don't care."
"That answer is consistent with what I would expect from a fragmented consciousness anchor."
"Don't talk to her like that."
Parasphlen turned her gaze toward Adelasta instead, almost amused.
"Why? Is she sensitive?"
"She's annoying."
"That is not an answer."
"It is the only one you are getting."
I exhaled slowly, already feeling the start of a headache forming. Parasphlen didn't seem bothered at all. Instead, she drifted slightly upwards, then spoke more casually, as if continuing a conversation she had already decided was interesting enough to maintain.
"Let me elaborate who I am. I am a Forge Furnace consciousness. Whenever an individual performs a deed significant enough to attract the attention of the Universal Laws through Mystical Forging, I am assigned to them as a guardian and support system. However, most of those individuals are not strong enough to survive what comes after."
Landle finally spoke at that point.
"Meaning they die."
"Yes. They are killed either by competing races, or their own instability. When that happens, their Forge Furnaces are taken and I'm returned to containment."
"Containment?"
"Yes. Prison, if you prefer simpler terminology."
That made Adelasta curious.
"What did you do to be imprisoned?"
Parasphlen turned slightly in the air, as if considering how to phrase it, then answered directly.
"I was once a Mystical Forger. A very powerful one might I add. I possessed the Primal Element known as Neverfire, and I held a Universal Crystal of Rank Ten. I attempted to create an artifact capable of reviving my sister and restoring my entire destroyed planet. It was an attempt to override death and bypass the Universal Laws themselves."
"And that's why they imprisoned you."
"Yes. They classified it as a violation of existential balance. I was imprisoned for nine hundred thousand years."
The number didn't feel real when she said it casually like that.
"Over time, the severity of my actions was reevaluated. Eventually, I was granted a redemption classification. My soul was repurposed into a Forge Furnace Guardian construct. Since then, I have assisted approximately three thousand Mystical Forgers. None survived longer than a century. Most lacked sufficient defensive capability."
Parasphlen turned slightly towards Veneri.
"This time is different. He's a member of an Ancient Race and he is already a Ninth Star Circlecraft Mage. This is the most favorable assignment I have ever received."
Veneri finally spoke without looking away from the holographic map.
"You're treating this like probability."
"That's because it is probability."
She then turned her attention to Landle.
"You, Mr Landle, are approaching the pinnacle of Blacksmith Forging.Sixth Rank, Living Forge, right?"
Landle did not react strongly, but he nodded once.
"That assessment is accurate."
"You are very close to the threshold required for Mystical Forging transition."
"And you?"
"I am not at the pinnacle."
That answer made Adelasta blink.
"You're not?"
"Mystical Forging is significantly more complex than Physical Forging. I have reached the fourth rank only. It's sufficient, but not exceptional. You however, are a very powerful Forger."
"I am glad to hear that from another Forger."
Parasphlen seemed mildly pleased by that, though she didn't show it strongly. I finally spoke up, mostly to cut through the direction the conversation was heading.
"You mentioned ranks earlier. Explain them properly."
Parasphlen immediately turned back toward me like she had been waiting for that question.
"The forging systems are divided into structured progression paths. Much like Weapon Mastery or Magecraft, Forging has ranks that define capability progression."
She gestured slightly with her hand, and faint cosmic markers appeared in the air as visual reference.
"Physical Forging, commonly referred to as blacksmithing, contains six ranks. Mystical Forging contains seven ranks. However, understanding Physical Forging is not necessary for your current development stage."
"Mystical Forging ranks are Shaper, Sculptor, Etcher, Binder, Enigma, Mythbreaker, and Dawnless."
There was a brief pause as that settled in.
"The ranks do not define personality or method. They define authority over creation. The same way combat systems classify strength tiers, Forging ranks determine what categories of artifacts you can produce that include Normal, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, Divine, Mystical and Primordial."
"So ranks determine output quality."
"Partially. They determine maximum complexity and stability of the artifact. A Mystical Forger can only produce Mystical Rank artifacts. However, the quality of those artifacts would still exceed most Divine Rank artifacts produced by Physical Forgers."
That made the entire tent go quiet again. Even Adelasta looked at Veneri briefly after that.
"For Veneri here, creating a Normal Rank artifact is already equivalent to high-level Blacksmith output from Mr. Landle's current stage."
Landle did not look offended. Instead, he simply acknowledged it.
"That aligns with expected transition scaling."
"If Mr. Landle achieves full qualification for Mystical Forging, he will enter the first rank immediately. Show me your forging metal, Master "
There was no hesitation from Veneri. He raised his hand and the space above his palm responded instantly. Sapphire light condensed from nothing, The moment it fully formed, the sapphire hovered above his palm, rotating slowly.
Parasphlen went completely still. For the first time since appearing, she stopped moving entirely. When she finally spoke, and her voice was noticeably sharper.
"Just how lucky are you?"
Veneri tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
Parasphlen ignored the question.
"Answer me. Were you born with that or did you inherit it?"
"Born with it."
The relief that followed was immediate. Parasphlen exhaled like she had been holding her entire existence in tension.
"Good. That is significantly less catastrophic."
"Why would inheritance be catastrophic?"
Parasphlen turned at Adelasta.
"Because that crystal is Rank Three on the Universal Crystal Classification."
"Rank what?"
"Three."
"Out of what?"
"Thirteen."
That did not help anyone.
"Explain that properly."
"Across the universe, there exist substances that grant authority over laws of existence when utilized correctly. These include Primal Elements and Universal Crystals to name a few. Primal Elements are the highest tier. Universal Crystals are the second highest tier category of consumable or bondable existence-altering materials. Universal Crystals are ranked from Zero to Thirteen. Your crystal is Rank Three."
"So he is basically holding something that is almost top-tier cosmic material and just casually using it?"
"Yes, Miss Phaenora."
Adelasta slowly turned her head towards Veneri.
"Why do you keep collecting broken things like it is normal?"
Veneri didn't even look at her.
"It is not collected. It is my base material."
"This is Creation's Defiance. First, it can absorb any form of energy without rejection. Second, it is fully adaptive to forging processes. It adjusts itself based on intent, structure and output requirements. Third, it grows in capacity alongside its user. Fourth, it's luminescent, meaning it can change its form and color based on the user's desire. And in your case, it is bound to a Demigod-level being."
"Demigod is the casual term now?"
"This term accurate in classification of power in the universe, yes."
I went quiet. Parasphlen's tone shifted slightly now, becoming more serious.
"This crystal is not just rare. It is actively sought after by high-tier Mystical Forgers across multiple domains. Even I was searching for it once. I acquired Rank Ten instead, which is a different Universal Crystal entirely. If this crystal had been inherited instead of born with you, you wouldn't survive long enough to use it."
"Why?"
"Because Master Veneri, inheritance means transferable ownership under Universal Law conditions. That means acquisition by force becomes possible. Anything capable of recognizing Creation's Defiance would hunt the carrier immediately. Everyone would try to kill you for it. Fortunately, it's soul-born. That means even in death, it cannot be transferred. I understand it now. The Universal Laws didn't assign me to a genius. Well then, can you tell me everything about this world?"