Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Eight
The temperature in the Forgotten Forge remained scorching, molten metal still pulsing in the channels—but none of that mattered now.
Crow blinked, startled, as the SSSSS-rank hero he had just summoned—Ardyn, the Eternal Blacksmith—materialized fully before him. Gone was the projection; this was the real thing. Towering, broad-shouldered, with armor glowing faintly from residual forge heat, and... surprisingly expressive eyes.
Before Crow could speak, Ardyn stepped forward, eyes locked on him.
"You summoned me," Ardyn rumbled, voice like grinding stone. "You freed me. I owe you everything."
Crow tried to rise—only for Ardyn to abruptly shove him down to the forge floor, his immense strength leaving no room for resistance.
Then, unexpectedly, Ardyn hugged him—a massive, crushing bear hug full of overwhelming gratitude and oddly paternal warmth.
Crow's eyes widened. "...What are you doing?"
"This is how dwarves show eternal loyalty," Ardyn declared with absolute sincerity.
From the top of the spiral staircase leading to the forge, Liana, Valeria, and Sylvanna looked down—each one going still as they saw Crow pinned under the burly blacksmith's embrace.
Sylvanna's eye twitched.
Liana's expression slowly went blank.
Valeria exhaled through her nose like she was preparing for war.
Crow groaned beneath Ardyn's ironclad hug. "This is going to be a problem, isn't it…"
To be continued.