"Before there was chakra, there was the spark. Before there was life, there was the forge."
[Scene: The Eastern Frontier – Two Weeks Later]
The sky burned orange as Taiki crossed the valley of winds, his cart clattering behind him, laden with new ores and the two sleeping fragments of the Ember Core.Each night he felt them whisper—tiny heartbeats echoing through his soul.
Tetsujin's faint form floated beside him.
"The wind carries words again, Master. The monks spoke of ruins older than the Flame."
Taiki's eyes stayed on the horizon. "Ruins older than me…? That's a thought."
[Scene: The Ruins of Kagutsuchi]
Hidden in a canyon of obsidian lay what once was a colossal forge: pillars melted to glass, runes eroded by time.At the center rose a shattered statue of a god-smith holding a star-hammer toward the heavens.
[System Log:]Detected: Pre-Chakra Metallurgical Residue.Energy Signature—Matching First Smith Records (0.7%).
Taiki ran his hand across the melted floor. "This isn't battle damage… this is birth heat."
He closed his eyes and saw faint visions: beings of flame shaping the first chakra conduits, not as jutsu—but as artistry.
[Scene: The Memory Echo]
The Ember Fragments pulsed together, projecting a translucent memory.A vast hall appeared in light: hundreds of god-smiths forging constellations like weapons.At their center stood the First Smith, face hidden by a mask of white iron.
"Creation is suffering refined into beauty," the echo spoke. "And the gods who forget that… turn to ash."
The vision darkened, showing the same hall collapsing, the First Smith turning toward the viewer—eyes blazing with regret.
"The Flame must be scattered… before they consume it."
The image shattered.
Taiki staggered back, gripping his hammer. "They… destroyed themselves to protect it."
[System Update:]Lore Unlocked: The Fall of the Star Forges.Quest Trigger: Recover the Star-Anvil Blueprint.
[Scene: Beneath the Obsidian Floor]
A faint ringing sound drew Taiki deeper underground.He followed it to a buried chamber where molten light bled through cracks.Within, embedded in stone, lay a single anvil—half-buried, half-alive.
As he approached, the System flared.
Warning: Divine Residue Detected. Handle with caution.
He smiled faintly. "When have I ever listened to that advice?"He placed his palm on the anvil.
The ground trembled.Ghostly figures appeared—shapes of long-dead god-smiths watching him.Their voices merged into one:
"You bear our remnant flame. Will you complete what we could not?"
Taiki straightened. "I will forge until the stars themselves remember their purpose."
The anvil blazed, searing his mark into its face—and from its heart, a fragment of starlight lifted into the air.
[System Log:]Item Acquired: Star-Anvil Core (Prototype).New Skill: "Celestial Forging" — Allows fusion of cosmic and chakra energies in metalwork.
[Scene: The Awakening Beneath]
But the forging energy stirred something else.The floor cracked open, revealing a pit of living magma—eyes forming within the fire.From it rose a colossal figure of molten armor—the Guardian of Ash, one of the god-smiths who refused to die.
"Thief of my kin's legacy," it roared. "Return the spark or burn with it!"
Taiki tightened his grip on the hammer. "You've been asleep too long. Let me remind you how steel sings."
The ensuing clash shook the canyon.Hammer met molten fists; starlight clashed with divine fire.Tetsujin appeared, channeling frost to keep the temperature from consuming his master.
[System Alert:]Divine Resonance Combat Initiated.
Each strike Taiki delivered cooled the Guardian's fury, shaping its body into metal instead of fire.Finally, with a single downward blow, he quenched it completely—and the Guardian knelt, solidified into a massive statue.
A final ember floated from its chest into Taiki's hand.
[System Log:]Divine Residue Purified.Material Unlocked: "Ash-Steel Alloy."
[Scene: Aftermath]
Night fell as Taiki sat beside the cooled anvil, exhaustion pulling at his limbs.The stars above mirrored the glow of his forge.Tetsujin stood silently beside him.
"Master," the spirit said quietly, "if the gods themselves fell to their creations… will we be any different?"
Taiki smiled faintly, staring into the sky."That's why we keep forging, Tetsujin. To remember why the flame exists."
The anvil pulsed once more, as if in agreement.
[System Update:]Ember Fragment 3 of 7 Recovered.Star-Anvil Core Integrated.Forge Level Advanced → Tier II: Divine Chakra Synthesis Unlocked.
Taiki stood, gathering his tools."The gods left ashes," he murmured. "Let's see if we can turn them into something better."
End of Chapter 10 – "Ashes of the Old Gods"