The Starbite sat gently on landing blocks in the Fanghua square, its hull creaking and whining like a satisfied beast. I whistled sharply. From below deck, the Soul Furnace Mimic chest clambered up onto the main deck, its massive purple tongue lapping at the air like a sentient scarf.
"Time to refine these Dark Stones," I announced, dropping a handful of the jagged black crystals onto its tongue. The Mimic's mouth snapped shut with a wet, echoing gulp. Purple flames erupted from the seams of its treasure chest body, licking the polished deck and illuminating the Starbite's figurehead with an eerie glow.
Felicity leaned on the railing, hair catching the sunlight, smirking. "You get a little dramatic when it's time to cook rocks."
"I call it flare" I replied, climbing down below deck. By the time I returned, I was in a regular Gi, the Ninja Gear armor set folded neatly in hand. I could sense the stones throbbing in the purple fire breath of the Mimic's soul furnace, their edges already glowing faintly as the purple flames danced over them.
I walked slowly around the deck, curious humming escaping my lips. The Soul Furnace Mimic wasn't like any other treasure chest I'd ever encountered, or beast for that matter. Its sheer responsiveness, the way it adjusted flame intensity for each material. It was a living creature but it was more than alive—it was also a forge.
Sliding onto a deck chair, I let my mental energy slip into the Philosophers Stone and immersed myself in its ever-expanding knowledge. Soul Forge. Soul Furnace. The words glowed faintly in the mental library, beckoning me like a riddle I needed to solve.
"Why the special name?" I murmured, eyes tracing the glowing words across phantom pages. Man-made forges operated on grades—sky-grade, mountain-grade, volcano-grade—but the Soul Furnace Mimic-It wasn't just sky-grade. It was above sky-grade. Its very existence bent the usual rules. Flames that should have destroyed lesser mimics didn't even faze it. Metals that resisted any standard forge reshaped themselves under its purple inferno. This was legendary creature territory.
As I skimmed through scrolls and floating tomes within the Philosophers Stone, one particularly spirit volume caught my eye. Its title shimmered faintly: Soul Transmigration.
Curiosity piqued, I opened it. The pages whispered of blacksmiths who had reached Legendary mastery, artisans whose skill with fire and metal had surpassed even the sages' comprehension. The tome hinted at a fate reserved only for the most extraordinary.
' 'On the deathbed of a Legendary Blacksmith, Kagu-tsuchi—the patron god of blacksmiths, ceramic workers, and fire—may appear. With the blessing of divine flame, he would offer the Blacksmith the pleasure of eternal craftsmanship, the chance to forge endlessly, unhindered by mortal limits.' '
The cost was steep however: ' 'the Blacksmith's soul would be encased within a Mimic chest, transformed into a living forge, a being of fire, and purified will.' '
I leaned back, the words sinking in like molten metal. My eyes flicked to the Soul Furnace Mimic, purple flames still curling from its seams. The chest now seemed alive in a way I hadn't fully comprehended before.
"So," I murmured, "you're not just a crazy sentient forge...you were once a person. A Legendary Blacksmith who chose eternity in a chest. And now you craft forever with the hands of a god."
Felicity tilted her head, a teasing smirk playing across her lips. "That explains why you two get along so well, you both like tight little boxes."
I shot her a sideways glance, smirk tugging at my own lips. "Don't worry your pretty little noggin over why we get along so well," Felicity grinned and giggled.
The Mimic shifted slightly, the tongue flicking as if acknowledging the statement, purple flames hissing in appreciation. I crouched near the edge of the deck, letting my senses brush over the refining stones. Already, faint pulses of abyssal qi began to hum through the air, mingling with the Mimic's aura.
Felicity laughed softly, the sound carrying over the Starbite's deck. "Just don't set the ship on fire before breakfast."
I grinned, feeling the heat from the Mimic's purple flames seeping through the deck. "Maybe. But right now, it's about refinement. I want these Dark Stones perfect. If I'm going to evolve the Ninja Gear into Dark Gear, I need them flawless—every edge, every seam, every pulse of abyssal qi."
The flames roared, licking higher as the Mimic's mouth flexed around the stones. They began to glow brighter, veins of shadowed energy twisting within, responding to the Mimic's living intelligence. I could feel it judging, adjusting, perfecting.
Leaning back, I let my mind drift again into the Philosophers Stone. There were still mysteries here—ancient techniques, forgotten elemental interactions, hints of Soul Forge evolution pathways. And the more I read, the more I realized just how extraordinary the tool at my feet truly was.
"Alright," I murmured, rubbing my hands together, "let's see just how far this little god forge can take me."
The purple flames pulsed one final time, then surged in a brilliant flare that made me stumble back slightly. The Dark Stones glowed violently, veins of abyssal qi writhing as the Soul Furnace Mimic's body trembled.
Then—snap, click, hiss—the steel bands around the Mimic's chest shimmered and warped, brightening into a radiant silver that gleamed even in the lantern light.
"Whoa…" I muttered, eyes wide. The chest's seams rippled like liquid metal, as if the entire forge had taken a deep, satisfied breath.
Felicity leaned over the railing, her smirk now tinged with awe. "Looks like your little forge just hit puberty."
I ignored her teasing, leaning closer to study the transformation. The Soul Furnace Mimic had leveled up. Its very essence had expanded. Where before it could refine raw materials into usable gear, now it could infuse bonus sub-stats, subtle enhancements beyond the basic stats. Minor auras, elemental resistances, enhanced reflex responses, even trace abilities that could nudge the wielder's martial path.
The forge stuck out it's purple tongue, on the tip were a handful of refined Dark Crystals!
I placed a cautious hand on the glowing Dark Crystals still cradled on its tongue. Strangely enough they were completely cool to the touch. I collected them up one by one. In each Dark crystal were intricate runes.
I fed the rest of the Dark Stones to the Mimic, the Mimic gave a wet, echoing gulp.
The Mimic flexed its silver bands, letting out a low, satisfied rumble. Flames curled higher, hotter, but somehow more controlled. It pulsed like a heartbeat, as if letting me know it understood the significance of the moment.
Felicity raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "So...Dark Gear, upgraded Ninja Gear, bonus sub-stats. Are we talking god-tier ninja now?"
I grinned, anticipation buzzing through me like static. "We're talking S-tier. And you—" I pointed at her—"are about to see just how much fun this can be."
"Soul Furnace...you're officially my most overpowered teammate yet."
The Mimic rumbled again, flames licking the deck, its silver bands gleaming like a trophy in the dusk light. I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, little buddy. Let's see what else you can do."
The Starbite's deck glowed under the early evening sky, lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. Felicity leaned against the mast, the wind teasing her braid as she watched the purple flames flicker from the Soul Furnace Mimic's seams.
The Mimic's tongue shot out suddenly, curling into the air and dropping a mound of Dark Crystals at my feet. They gleamed like tiny shards of abyssal night, veins of energy pulsing faintly beneath their surface. I crouched, brushing a hand over them, feeling the smooth coolness of their perfected edges.
"Looks like dinner's served," I muttered, smirking at the Mimic. Felicity giggled, folding her arms and leaning her chin on her hands. "Eater beware" Felicity warned.
I began laying out the Ninja Gear set across the deck. Each piece—the chest plate, the arm guards, the greaves—shimmered faintly in the dying sunlight. Beside them, I placed the refined Dark Crystals in neat alignment, their runes glowing faintly in anticipation.
"Time to see if this forge can really live up to its reputation," I murmured, feeding the Mimic the Ninja Gear piece by piece, followed by the precise amount of Dark Crystals needed. The chest flexed, its purple tongue curling around the armor and crystals, swallowing them with a wet, echoing gulp. Flames hissed along its seams, brighter now, infused with purpose.
"Should take a few hours," I said, leaning back against the mast. Felicity smirked. "Few hours? That's just enough time for a power nap, or for me to get us into trouble."
I chuckled, letting my hand slide down Felicity's back and down to her butt, she pushed her butt into my hand harder. My gaze drifted toward the horizon. The purple glow of the forge pulsed rhythmically, almost like a heartbeat, as it began processing the evolution. I could feel the Soul Furnace Mimic's intelligence at work—judging, adjusting, and binding the abyssal qi into the armor, transforming Ninja Gear into something far more formidable: Dark Gear.
Meanwhile, two miles away, the Poison Lotus Palace was a hive of candlelight and scholarly awe. Ashwin sat at a polished table, his mind tapped into the Philosophers Stone hovering in the spiritual dantian. Marla lounged on pillows nearby, her posture relaxed but her eyes attentive, clearly enjoying the show.
From the throne to the outer balconies, courtiers and scholars had gathered, murmuring quietly, ears straining to catch every word. Ashwin, with a calm smile and subtle hand gestures, had been guiding them through the Philosophers Stone's infinite layers of knowledge all day.
"What is the difference between knowledge and Wisdom'' he began.
He demonstrated forgotten cultivation techniques, extrapolated complex elemental interactions, and even projected visions of legendary artifacts and lost realms. The King's eyes shone with fascination, the court buzzing with a mixture of reverence and envy.
Marla grinned, "MMM my smart cookie" she cooed to herself.
Ashwin only smiled, flicking his hand to display an ethereal blueprint of an ancient weapon. "The Proper application of knowledge is what one calls Wisdom."
As night fell, lanterns were lit across the palace, casting long, warm shadows through the gardens and courtyards. Ashwin's voice still resonated, explaining the subtle mechanics of aura manipulation, the interconnection of celestial ley lines, and the principles behind crafting Soul-infused weapons.
Hours had passed in what felt like moments. The King leaned forward, eyes wide, a rare smile breaking across his face. "I have spent my entire life learning from masters and sages! But I have learned more this day than from a century of study."
Marla chuckled softly, watching the King's enthusiasm. "Your making powerful friends Ashwin" she mused to herself privately.
Ashwin's expression remained serene, though a small glint of pride shone in his eyes. Today was a day that would be remembered for decades in the Poison Lotus Palace.
The contrast was striking: on the Starbite, molten purple flames and mystical refinement; in the Poison Lotus Palace, wisdom flowing like a river through minds eager to drink from it. Both Ashes, each shaping power in their own way, converging toward what was yet to come.