Year 9 – Late Autumn, Crimson Haven Outskirts
The air shimmered with the hum of astral energy. Ketsuraku sat cross-legged in his meditation chamber, surrounded by the soft pulse of red spider lilies. The candles burned in rhythm with his heartbeat; their flames twisted into the shape of a scythe.
He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. The Red Code Dragon's voice echoed through his mind.
"You've reached the limit of your astral division. Any further and your soul will fray."Ketsuraku smiled faintly. "Then I'll reinforce it with blood."
A circle of crimson runes formed beneath him. His veins glowed, threads of Blood Qi and Void Qi weaving together. The first clone, already active, was distilling potions in the Alchemy Hall; the second hunted beasts for resources across the forests of Nihil. Now a third figure began to rise from the circle — transparent at first, then slowly solidifying into an astral reflection of himself.
When it opened its eyes, they burned with red code.
"Designation?" the clone asked."You're Forge Three," Ketsuraku replied. "Your mission—build a home for flame."
The clone bowed, then dissolved into a stream of symbols and vanished through the mirror gate.
Hours later, that same clone emerged in the lower Astral Realm — a wasteland of molten rivers and drifting isles of black stone. Lava rained like blood from the sky, and ancient anvils floated within the magma currents. This place was known as The Molten Vein, a forbidden zone where the remnants of divine forges still slept.
The clone extended its hand. Blood Qi spiraled outward, merging with the ambient flame.
"Here," it murmured, "we'll build the Iron Haven."
He began constructing the foundation using red iron ore mined by his hunting clone and infused with Blood Qi. Every strike of the astral hammer echoed through the realm, resonating with the pulse of his true body in the Mirage.
Back in the real world, Luminous and Rosa observed the ritual from the control mirror.Rosa folded her arms. "Three astrals at once. That's not sane."Luminous replied, "He's not mortal anymore."
Beneath their feet, the mirrors flickered — the clones syncing through the Blood River network.
Days passed in trance.Through the link, Ketsuraku saw his other selves working simultaneously:
• Clone One — tending bubbling cauldrons, mixing potions of stability and binding essence for trade.
• Clone Two — hunting beasts across crimson forests, extracting monster cores, gathering herbs for alchemy, and mining rare ores from the veins of the Blood River.
• Clone Three — hammering soul-steel beneath waterfalls of magma, shaping the first blade of Iron Haven.
The hammer blows resonated through his veins. Sparks flew as the molten ore cooled under Void Qi pressure.
When the blade finally took shape, the Red Code Dragon's reflection appeared above it.
"You've tempered metal with death itself.""Then it won't break until I do," the clone said.
When Ketsuraku awoke from meditation, the blade was lying before him — real, solid, and warm. The system chimed softly inside his mind.
[System Update]
New Facility Built – Iron Haven (Tier I)
Description: A forge city in the lower Astral Realm where Blood Qi and Void Qi merge into Soul-Steel.
Unlock: Craft Skill – Blacksmithing
Passive Bonus: +15% Craft Success, +10% Material Efficiency
[Skill Progression]
Blacksmithing level 1 – 14% Mastery
Alchemy level 1 – 73% Mastery
Hunting & Gathering level 1 – 42% Mastery
Blood Magic level 1 – 48% Mastery
The sword in his hands pulsed once, linking to his heart.
"You're alive," he whispered."And you are divided," the blade answered softly.
Later that evening, he showed the weapon to Luminous and Rosa in the Mirage's forge hall. The air shimmered with heat; sparks danced along mirrored walls.
"This," Ketsuraku said, "isn't just metal. It's my soul, given shape. From now on, every weapon we forge will level with its wielder."
Luminous examined the runes. "Living weapons. We could sell them as contracts on the Exchange. The value would grow with their victories."Rosa ran her fingers over the edge. "Or we could keep them and arm our own people. Imagine an army whose blades remember every kill."
He looked at them both, then at the reflection of the Red Code Dragon coiling above the forge."Maybe we'll do both."
The dragon's laughter echoed softly.
"Trade, forge, hunt. You've mastered the flow of creation. Only one frontier remains — conquest."
Ketsuraku turned toward the balcony overlooking the crimson horizon. Far below, the Blood River glimmered like liquid fire, stretching into the void."Then we'll build ships," he murmured. "And sail the veins of the world."
[System Update]
Astral Capacity – 3/7
Active Clones: Alchemy (1), Hunting & Gathering (2), Blacksmithing (3)
All clones synchronized with Blood River Core.
[Skill Progression]
Blacksmithing level 1 – 18% Mastery
Alchemy level 1 – 74% Mastery
Hunting & Gathering level 1 – 47% Mastery
Blood Magic level 1 – 49% Mastery
From the depths of Iron Haven, the newly forged blade pulsed once more, sending ripples up the river of blood.A distant echo replied — the sound of waves, of war horns, of ships yet unbuilt.
And for the first time, the world trembled at the thought of a merchant who would soon become a conqueror.