Grimoire of Cultivation

Chapter 58: Adapting

The All-Room shifted seamlessly, its bare stone walls melting away to reveal the inner workings of a fully equipped smithy. Darius watched as the space transformed, each piece of equipment materializing with a whisper of mana.

At the heart of the room stood the forge, its structure designed to harness the energy of crystals rather than traditional coal or wood. Currently inactive, it waited silently for the vibrant crystals that would ignite its magical fires. Next to it, the anvil, a solid block of steel, stood ready.

An array of hammers, each crafted from different metals, some glowing, hung neatly on magnetic racks along the walls. Beside them, tongs, chisels, punches, and various other hand tools lay organized.

Workbenches and tool racks filled out the remaining space, each surface bare and waiting.

As Darius scanned the newly formed smithy, he paused, his gaze landing on an empty corner. "Leather working table."

In response, the air shimmered briefly before materializing a robust leather working table. The table, equipped with a smooth, sturdy surface, appeared adorned with an array of leather crafting tools: knives, awls, and burnishers lay neatly aligned, each reflecting the dim light of the workspace. This addition completed the smithy's ensemble, integrating seamlessly into the magical and practical harmony of the room.

"That should do it," Darius murmured, his gaze shifting to the anvil positioned near the forge. "Just one last thing."

Darius strode across the now cluttered floor of the All-Room, his boots echoing slightly against the stone as he approached and entered the fourth door.

As Darius stepped into the armory, a wave of familiar scents enveloped him—the musk of oiled leather, the sharp tang of greased metal, and the subtle undertone of wood polish.

The armory itself stretched out before him, a long, narrow hall that seemed to extend endlessly. Each wall was lined meticulously with various pieces of armor, from gleaming chainmail to ornate plate armor, each set displayed with care.

Before these walls of armor stood open display cases, each housing an assortment of weapons. Swords with handles wrapped in glowing leather, axes with runed blades, and spears with tips that caught the light, all arranged to be easily accessible while showcasing their craftsmanship.

Walking down the narrow hall of the armory, Darius's fingertips lightly grazed the handles of various weapons.

"Alaric," he said as his hand brushed against a finely crafted broadsword, its blade etched with ancient runes.

Next his fingers trailed over a pair of daggers, "Elise," he whispered, noting the delicate balance perfect for a skilled assassin.

Further along, he paused at a massive war hammer, its handle worn from use, "Gareth," he said, feeling the residual energy of battles long past.

Each name evoked a sense of history and duty, binding Darius to his familial legacy as he moved deeper into the armory.

Darius had developed a quiet ritual over the past four years: whenever he entered this armory, he would murmur the names of the weapon's former owners. It was his way of paying respect to the lineage of warriors from which his new body descended, acknowledging their past presence with a whispered greeting as he brushed his fingers across the cold metal.

He had never taken a weapon from the armory to use himself, aside from the common chestplate he currently wore. Despite the vast array of armaments at his disposal, Darius preferred to rely on his fists and the martial techniques he had mastered. More than just preference, there was a twinge of shame that crept up on him whenever he considered arming himself with one of these weapons.

As he traversed the narrow corridor, Darius's thoughts weighed heavily on him. Eventually, he let out a deep sigh and quickened his pace. He passed hundreds of weapons and suits of armor, each echoing the glory and valor of the Valdene lineage. Finally, he reached the end of the hall.

There, adorning the stone wall, hung a grand silver banner bearing the crest of the Valdenes—a howling wolf's head above a broken crown, the symbol of his heritage and the responsibilities it entailed. Below the banner, set strangely out of place, was an anvil.

In the armory, amidst the well-documented relics, this particular anvil stood out, lacking any story or owner. It had piqued Darius’s curiosity on more than one occasion, though he had never found a practical use for it—until now.

"Whoever placed this here must have had a reason. It might be sentiment, but I suspect there’s more to it than that." He bent down to lift the anvil, expecting little resistance given his strength. Yet, as he grasped it, a sharp surge shot through his back when he tried to lift it, caught off guard by its weight.

"Now I'm even more certain this anvil is special. What could it possibly be made of?"

Darius activated his Arcane Gaze. Instantly, his vision was awash in a spectacle of light. Hundreds of arrays, previously unseen, now blazed vividly along the walls, ceiling, and floors of the Armory. Adding to the display, every weapon and piece of armor emanated its own stunning aura, painting the room with a kaleidoscope of color. But amidst this brilliance, the anvil stood out—a void of utter blackness, absorbing any light that touched it.

"I refuse to believe I can't lift this." He centered himself, feeling the hum of his bones. With a deep breath, he began drawing earth mana from his crystalline skeleton, feeling it surge through his meridians like a relentless quake.

The energy flowed through the yellow and amber earth tattoo under his chest, the intricate design coming alive with pulsing light. His lean teenage frame transformed before the anvil, muscles bulging and expanding with raw, hulking strength.

Gritting his teeth, Darius reached down and gripped the anvil once more, his hands steady and his arms trembling with the force of the earth itself.

"Using my mana to push my body, I can wield up to sixty Cauldrons. If this doesn't work, I doubt even Haku could move it."

Darius planted his feet firmly, the rough stone floor beneath him barely containing the force he was about to exert. With a deep inhale, he clasped the anvil, his arms straining under the immense weight.

Initially, the anvil resisted, as unyielding as the earth itself. But Darius's determination was immense, his muscles tensing and veins bulging as he drew upon every ounce of his strength.

Slowly, the anvil began to budge. A slight shift at first, then inch by grueling inch, he lifted it from its resting place. His skin flushed a deep crimson from the exertion, sweat streaming down his face.

He heaved the anvil up and staggered forward, every step a monumental effort. His grunts and groans filled the hall, echoing off the ancient stone walls. Each movement was labored, his breathing heavy and uneven as he maneuvered the cumbersome weight down the long corridor and eventually through the doorway of the armory.

'Glad I left this open,' he thought with a grimace, thankful for the small blessing as he shuffled into the All-Room.

Approaching the designated spot next to the room's original anvil, Darius gathered the last of his waning strength. With a final Herculean effort, he took the final steps and dropped the anvil beside its counterpart.

The sound was like thunder, a deep boom that echoed through the chamber. Darius stepped back, chest heaving, a mix of pride and relief washing over him.

"I thought...I was going...to shit myself! Whew!" Darius panted, regaining his composure. He dropped onto the anvil, taking a moment to rest. As his breath slowed, he rubbed his sore thighs and arms, "Now that I'm set, I should check on Haku before I start."

Darius pushed himself up from the anvil, his muscles still aching from his efforts. Stepping through the 6th door, he entered the Beast-Farm. The vast open fields under the high sun stretched before him. He made his way towards the hatchery, his boots crunching softly on the grass.

As he approached, his eyes caught sight of the pile of eggs neatly arranged at the water’s edge, their mottled surfaces gleaming faintly in the sunlight. However, Haku was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly an explosion of movement shattered the stillness. Haku, in his normal ember-fox form, burst from the water with a triumphant splash, an egg clenched carefully in his mouth.

In a fluid motion, he spun in the air, delivering a swift kick to the Swamp-Roach that had surfaced beside him. The force of the kick sent the roach tumbling backward into the water with a loud splash.

Still airborne, Haku expertly spat the egg towards the pile on the shore. It arced through the air and landed neatly with the others. "You're too slow, little brother! Too weak!" he laughed boisterously. With those words still hanging in the air, Haku executed a graceful dive back into the pond, slipping beneath the surface with barely a ripple, his laughter mingling with the gentle lapping of the water.

Surprise flickered across Darius's face as he watched Haku's aerial display. "Guess the training's going well." He strolled over to the pile of eggs and settled onto the ground, his gaze lingering on the gentle ripples where Haku had vanished. Leaning back, Darius stretched out, propping himself on his elbows.

"We can't keep babysitting this beast, pulling eggs out every time it spawns."

He picked up one of the eggs lying beside him, rotating it in his hands, scrutinizing its texture. "Preferably, I'd like to keep them alive if possible."

Setting the egg aside, Darius delved into his memory for everything he knew about Swamp-Roaches.

After a few minutes, he nodded decisively. "I'll freeze them."

Darius's fingers danced through the air, sketching arrays that flickered with potential energy. He swiped away each design as he refined his thoughts, starting over with each new idea.

His concentration broke as Haku erupted from the water, alone this time, but again with an egg securely held in his mouth.

Haku spat out the egg, a grin spreading across his face as he noticed Darius sitting by the pile. "Big Brother! Come swimming!" he called, his voice buoyant. With a splash, he fell back in, his movements fish-like and swift. He surged from the water and landed neatly before Darius.

"Don't!"

Haku shook, his fur sending droplets flying. Darius quickly cycled his fire mana, evaporating the water before it could hit him.

"That was the last egg! Did you see how well I was swimming? Little brother was getting upset, but I convinced him second brother knows best." Haku's grin was wide, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he spoke.

"Second brother?" Darius stood up, dispersing the array in front of him with a flick of his hand. "We discussed this, Haku."

Sitting down, Haku adopted his most endearing look, the one he used as a cub to wheedle treats. "I know, and I've listened. But he’s the first beast we've brought here. He might be a bit dim, but there’s something about him. You even made him a home! I’ve been showing him the pecking order like you wanted. Look, he didn’t even follow me when I snagged the last egg. Before, I had to... let’s say, nudge him a bit, but he’s catching on."

Darius sighed, rubbing his eyes while Haku pleaded his case. 'Is every beast, no matter the world, as stubborn as Wu Chen?' He raised a hand to cut Haku off, "Alright, since you've established the hierarchy, you can help me handle our little sister here."

Haku's brief moment of triumph halted as he tilted his head, puzzled, "Sister?"

Rolling his eyes, Darius conceded with a hint of annoyance, "If you're so set on it, fine, I'll play along. But it lays eggs, so 'sister' it is."

Shaking his head with a smile, Haku gave another quick shake of his fur before asking, "So what do you need my help with? What’s wrong with little sister?"

"Nothing's wrong, exactly. We just need to manage her egg-laying. We can't keep coming back to check; there might be times we're stuck outside the Vault for months." Darius touched his pouch, materializing a piece of paper and a quill.

He also brought out a large, worn book. Placing the paper on the book's cover, he began to sketch an array, the quill's tip flowing with ink that seemed to materialize from thin air.

"I need you to memorize these arrays, then dive down and carve them. Think of it as furthering your study in runic languages, and what better language to use on your first attempt but my own?" Darius finished his instructions and laid the paper before Haku.

Haku eyed the symbols on the page with a mix of awe and confusion. "These are way more complex than the ones in the books. I don’t recognize any of these."

Darius gestured to the first array, tracing a solid circle with five points radiating from it, his finger pausing on the topmost rune. "This is the rune for water, this one for alter, and this for condense," he explained, systematically identifying each of the 126 runes. "This array is designed to freeze everything within a one-meter radius from the bottom of the pit."

Pointing to the second array, an intricate ring of runes, Darius explained each symbol's function. "Position this array two meters up from the bottom, encircling the pit. Ensure the runes are spaced evenly. It will generate a basic force barrier, permitting only objects as small as the roach eggs to pass through."

Haku's eyes shimmered with curiosity as he absorbed the information. "Why are we freezing them?" he asked, his focus sharp on Darius's plan.

Darius's expression was thoughtful as he responded, "I'm preserving them for later use. Ideally, I'd wait until she's in her humanoid form to harvest her eggs, but having more at hand doesn't hurt. Besides, swamp-roach eggs endure freezing temperatures well—they can survive through winters easily."

Haku's gaze was intense, the cogs in his mind visibly turning as he scrutinized the arrays Darius had outlined. "Got it. So, how large should the runes be?" he asked, ready to tackle the task.

Darius nodded, a slight smile crossing his face. "Not bad. Are you sure you've got them memorized correctly? Remember, you'll only find out if you got it right after you're done. If even one rune is slightly off, the array might not work at all, or worse, it could backlash when I activate it."

Haku paused, his expression serious as he pondered Darius's words. After a brief moment of reflection, he turned back to the paper, double-checking his mental notes.

Nodding with approval, Darius moved his gaze into the pit, his eyes scanning the bones scattered below. "Looks like you're ready for another meal."

A few moments later, Haku lifted his head from the paper, took a deep breath, and announced, "I'm ready."

Darius walked over, ruffling Haku's fur affectionately. "Remember, this is to protect our little sister's children, so give it your best," he said, managing to keep his expression serious.

Haku puffed out his chest, his voice full of resolve. "Don't worry, Big Brother. You won't suffer because of me." With that, he dove into the water, the surface barely rippling as he disappeared beneath.

'Once this is sorted, Haku can begin his breakthrough. Meanwhile, I can complete my new creation.' He paused, frowning slightly. 'Artifact? No, that sounds too strange for something I've just crafted.' He mulled over the details of his upcoming project, contemplating both its form and the name it should bear, his footsteps echoing in the quiet of the impending artificial dusk.