Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1463 - 1462 - Touch of Origin

Lind had been in seclusion since his recovery. His next contest was Forging but it had been extended a bit so he did not emerge until the token flared up.

He moved through the halls but did not rush. He did not even try to tear through space. He was much better but there was no reason to risk damage directly before a contest.

Sadly, he had a battle round after the current contest but it was not against someone he worried about. In fact, after his bout with Ethry, he had heard many did not want to even remotely fight him.

Still, he had been injured and his recovery was not affecting the timing of his fight. Either he would be recovered, or he would not.

He emerged to a blistering stage and smiled as he saw 6 slots facing inward. It seemed it would be a contest of creation of a different sort this time.

Rather than a duel or similar act, he wondered how it would work instead.

He took up the space his token resonated with as 5 others entered. They all seemed as surprised as he was. Some looked to him for clues but to keep it honest, he really had been kept in the dark on the format.

Other Forgers, retired or simply unable to progress any further in their path, had been consulted and used to plan out the contests. Lind had built the foundational facilities or some things at request but nothing that would clue him in on the contests.

The furnace and ores did not give him any clue as ores could be used in a myriad ways together in varying percentages to make different kinds of alloys.

[The next Forger round will be a group contest. The most difficult creations can not be made alone. Unlike refining, Forgers must work to align their intents to succeed. Grading will be done on cooperation and success of the object.]

Lind's eyes narrowed. So, in reality, they were doing mass elimination rather than duels. Groups would pass but some individuals could still stand out based on the wording.

The 5 pairs of eyes swiveled to him but he frowned. It might make sense to look to him as the leader but that was not the winning condition. It was not about aiding an expert, but cooperation.

He stayed silent, as the contest had not yet begun.

[Your goal is to create a set of armor or weapons for a single individual based on the jade slips that will be issued. All relevant information has been given. The contest will begin after 3 incense sticks have burned.]

A display appeared showing exactly that. A flash also had a large jade slip appear. The group approached and scanned it.

{Nightshade Immortal Beast}

{Snake bloodline nearing lesser drake}

{Female}

{3 Primary elements: Fire, Darkness, Air}

{Main Art: Shadow Stalker Art}

{Cultivation Technique dictated by bloodline to the Shard Tier (current)}

{One deep injury remains from tribulation ascension to Immortality but has an elixir to resolve it}

{Weapons preferred: Daggers, throwing knives/axes, or needles}

{Armor preferred: Flexible like leather or chainmail but able to blend into the shadows with their Art}

Lind found nothing too odd but he did think it unlikely a snake bloodline was just handed to his group. He was a dragon no matter what else, thus any derivation of dragons would be known to him.

It was not mentioned in the slip but the Nightshade Immortal was the lowest form of the Dark Star Ryu Clan. She could be a normal black snake in appearance or even a python depending on how close she was to being a lesser drake.

"Senior Frey–" An older man began to speak but Lind held up his hand and pointed at the burning incense sticks.

"Focus on raw ideas for now. We will discuss once we begin." They all nodded. Lind felt a long list of possibilities came up but he frowned once more.

Nothing in the slip made him think anyone had to work together. What was he missing? He looked over the information and the 2nd line stood out to him.

Understanding came to him. They were given such specific information that assumptions were going to be made on the earlier information. Becoming a lesser drake would trigger physical transformations not only in her natural state but in humanoid form as well.

Her natural state might have limbs but he doubted it. Also, making weapons for a drake required a lot of flexibility if one did not know the final shape of it.

Her humanoid shape could become vastly different from its current state as well. He had once been a relatively average human when he started his journey but as he progressed his dragon soul, his human body had become far taller and more muscular than any human ever could.

It made his previous list invalid. He saw some of his group realized the problem and the true challenge came into focus. A single Forger could not cover all possibilities. A group, however, could create something more interesting.

It was clever.

The time finally came as a horn blared.

[Begin]

The voice boomed and an isolation ward sprang up. Understanding flared on all faces at his previous reluctance to speak. It was highly unlikely to be overheard but being unprofessional enough to speak openly without wards would have worked against them!

Lind sighed and spoke.

"I will not lead. I cannot make anything alone, even with your help, for our 'client.' There are too many unknowns but I believe we can work together to decide and make something for this aspiring Immortal beast." There were 2 of the group that instantly understood but the other 3 looked confused.

The older man was among the 3.

"But senior, your skill is long acknowledged. Even I, despite my fierce pride in my work, can accept I am not on par with you. How could we not be more than an aid for you passing?" The other 2 nodded but Lind sighed.

"There was not a single instruction stating to choose a leader, but more than that, we are Forgers. Forging is about imbuing our intent and desire into our creations. It allows more flexibility than inscribing but here is where we can truly shine!" Lind stepped forward and did not notice his aura had changed.

It was subtle but it was like the Forgers felt their dantians stir specifically in regard to their profession.

"Refiners have to inscribe to imbue effects into their artifacts or items. Inscription is dictated by the rules of array masters and has limits on itself as well as the materials used. Where the 2 meet is their success but we can bypass that limitation and focus on the limits of the materials themselves!" His impassioned speech made some begin to tear up unexpectedly.

He conjured a simple ore and Forged a flying knife. It was a simple blade with the best aerodynamic body to change direction while maintaining lethality. It was elegant but that was not what drew their hearts.

They saw that his process was the same as theirs!

"For all my recognition, we are the same. I use the same steps, only imagination might separate me from others. I was forced to overcome the limitations of my 6 elemental state so I have a broad foundation to pull on. Still, the process did not change for me. I can do this alone but tell me, what could you do?" He turned to the older man who stiffened but examined the knife.

He slowly became surprised and then smiled.

"You are good at grasping flight and rending flesh but the knife will strain under the power unless you increase its endurance. I could–" The man froze but Lind smiled and nodded.

"I rarely make flying knives. The very reason you have pointed out is that. I struggle with such things." Shock appeared in the group but then the aura shifted as the knife was reduced to slag and remade into an orb.

It now emitted all 18 elements! It actually made all their dantians shiver in desire to hold it!

"Cultivation, however, is my specialty. Anything related to that I excel at making. My ships that are so desirable are many artifacts connected to make a single vessel, so they are not as complex as you think." Understanding came to them but Lind then destroyed his creation which made them sad.

"In the end, Forgers are about imbuing their intent. We work together and nothing is beyond us. Our strengths can be increased and our weaknesses compensated for. We will learn from each other and benefit in our cooperation. Now, will you help me by working as my equals." He held out his hand and the aura peaked.

All 5 felt it then. Their bottlenecks in production fell away as something brushed their minds and hearts. What was it? None of them had ever heard of a Maester having such an effect.

Lind was unaware of what was happening but his survival against the Flame of Origin had changed him. He was able to call on the spark under very specific conditions. He would never be able to use it like Ethry but it was not needed.

He was a Triple Maester. His mind held the spark and those 3 fields benefited from it. Now, it helped his team progress with none the wiser. Only the judges looking on were shocked at what the displays were telling them.

Yet, the group finally took his hand and began to get to work. They had to decide what to make and how to create whatever they chose to accommodate the future change soon upon their client.

The touch of Origin went unnoticed by them at that moment, but the steps to come would reveal its effects. Dramatically.