Lord Malice led Flawless out of the training grounds passing by some rather daunting figures who now had a hint of respect in their eyes. Stopping at the entrance Lord Malice turned to address the training crowds, “By the way my friends, this is the new Lord, Flawless”

The hint of respect turned to dumbfounded expressions as if the largest bombshell had just dropped on their heads. Whispers instantly began to spread throughout the hellspawn and dead as the duo headed out the door.

“New lord?... what-what the hell, since when are their new lords!?”

“How did someone with barely any combat experience become a lord, I mean sure his technique was near perfection but with only one move many of us could beat him.”

“Did you not see his speed with his blade though, like sure he is inexperienced but with that amount of raw power I don’t think I’d be a match at least.”

“But to be a lord with such limited battle prowess… what secrets could he be hiding, surely he hs something else up his sleeves, after all, all the lords have unique methods of dealing with people in combat.”

“Maybe you are right,, perhaps he has golems like Lord Malice or a set of special armor like Lord Artisan, but I bet he has some kind of Speed related ability given his attack style, perhaps he didn’t go all out with Lord Malice.”

“I didn’t even think of that maybe he was just giving us a glimpse of his power.”

Oblivious to the misconceptions going on in the training ground, the two lords continued to walk toward a new room, this one radiating intense heat and made of even darker ice than the rest of the sanctuary.

The entrance to the Forge of Malice was an awe-inspiring fusion of ice and fire. A towering archway carved from the special Black Ice stood twenty-five meters high, its surface glistening with an eerie, crystalline sheen. Despite the intense heat emanating from within, the ice valiantly resisted melting, creating a surreal contrast. Flanked by demonic statues with glowing crimson eyes, the archway was adorned with ancient runes pulsing with dark energy. Massive black steel doors, etched with intricate battle scenes and blazing runes, barred entry. As Flawless approached and placed his hand on the snarling demon-shaped handle, the doors groaned open, releasing a wave of searing heat and light, revealing the blazing heart of the Forge of Malice.

The heart of the Forge of Malice was a spectacle of infernal magnificence, dominated by the presence of the Infurnal Gem, a massive and resplendent red crystal. This gem, embedded at the center of the forge, pulsed with an otherworldly energy, casting an ominous crimson glow that bathed the entire chamber in a sinister light.

Around the gem, the forge's machinery was a marvel of dark engineering. Intricate metal arms and gears, forged from the strongest Infernum, moved with a precise, almost organic fluidity, channeling the gem's immense power into the various forging stations scattered throughout the room. The air was thick with the acrid scent of molten metal and the constant roar of the forge's fires, punctuated by the rhythmic hammering of Hellspawn artisans at work. Each station was equipped with anvils and furnaces, the flames of which danced in a spectrum of hellish hues, fed by the unending energy of the Infurnal Gem.

The floor of the forge was a mosaic of scorched earth and cracked stone, interspersed with glowing veins of molten lava that snaked their way towards the central gem. These veins pulsed in time with the gem, as if the entire room was a living entity, breathing in rhythm with the heart of the forge. The oppressive heat, combined with the mesmerizing glow of the Infernal Gem, created an environment that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a true testament to the raw power and dark artistry that defined the Sanctuary of Malice. Here, weapons of unparalleled power were forged, each one a masterpiece imbued with the essence of the infernal gem, ready to shape the fate of those who wielded them.

“This is where the magic happens, where all the artillery and ammunition for them are crafted, not only do I have a few of you old master’s disciples working here, I also have Infernal Engines that automatically smelt the ores down to the exact temperature for either molding or forging. They can also craft the more mundane Items themselves such as the bolts for my grand Ballistas scattered across my great walls.”

Clear pride was flooding form Lord Malice as he described his forge, but what caught Flawless’ attention was that his own peers were working here.

Walking over to one of the craftsmen Lord Malice introduced Flawless.

“Machina, this is Lord Flawless, Artisan’s most recent disciple and the one he has passed his title as lord.”

His hammer froze mid-swing as the words registered in his mind, he slowly looked up at Flawless studying him closely.

Machina was a striking figure, his appearance reflecting both his infernal heritage and his mechanical genius. He stood tall and lean, his frame wiry yet strong, with sinewy muscles honed by years of labor in the forge. His skin was a pale, almost metallic gray, a testament to the countless hours spent in the presence of molten metals and dark magic.

Machina's eyes were his most captivating feature, glowing with a bright, eerie blue light that hinted at his deep connection to the arcane energies he wielded. They were often hidden behind a pair of intricate goggles, adorned with various lenses and arcane symbols that allowed him to see the finest details of his creations. His hair was short and jet-black, streaked with silver from the sparks and soot of his trade, giving him an ageless, almost otherworldly appearance.

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He wore a long, dark leather apron, reinforced with strips of Infernum metal, over a tunic and trousers made of a heat-resistant material. The apron was covered in pockets and loops, each holding an array of specialized tools and small, arcane devices. Around his wrists were metal bracers inscribed with glowing runes, which helped him channel and control the energies required for his creations. His hands were calloused and scarred, but they moved with a dexterity and precision that belied their rough appearance.

Machina's overall demeanor was one of intense focus and quiet confidence, his presence commanding respect among his peers and subordinates. Despite his formidable appearance, there was a hint of warmth in his smile, a rare and fleeting expression that revealed a deeper, more compassionate side to the master automaton creator.

“Machina is the one who has created the infernal engines that automate the most tedious processes, he alone has sped up the entire forge by ruffly forty percent. Machina I’d like you to show Lord Flawless around the forge and give him any ingredients he asks for, his clearance is the same as mine so do not hold back.”

“B-but he just got here shouldn’t his clearance be at least a little below yours, I mean what if he asks for…”

“Machina, please still your tongue, this is one of the three lords just as I am, though he is new, the protocol is the same for all lords, he is above even you so treat him with the same respect you do me.”

“...Yes my lord. Come then Lord Flawless I will show you to the best spot we have, well actually that depends on the type of forging you wish to do, so what is your specialty, the good ol’ anvil, making molds, or perhaps my own workbench would be to your liking, it is speacialized in both miniature smithing and runesmithing.”

“I-I left my tools at my old workshop, so I’d like to make a new set first, could I borrow a set from you while I make my own.”

A hint of disapproval slowly spread across Machina’s face but he did not let it show in his voice. “Of course though I don’t see why any smith would leave home without their tools, I’d be happy to lend a set to you, come”

Leading Flawless over to a box of old smithing tools he proudly presented him the worst and most flawed hammer and tongs of the bunch.

“Are you testing me? Please, just let me pick my own.”

“Ah so you have an eye for quality, good, I’m sorry for the little test but here let me get the good stuff.” He walked over to a sealed cabinet and opened it showing a plethora of fine smithing tools, though they were all covered in flaws they were many times better than the other bunch.

Walking over he picked up not the best but the most familiar hammer to him Flawless chose a hammer that stood out with its robust yet elegant design. The handle was crafted from darkened oak, reinforced with bands of Infernum metal, providing a perfect balance of weight and strength. The head of the hammer was made of gleaming obsidian, etched with intricate runes that pulsed with faint, dark energy. Despite its apparent age and wear, the hammer radiated a sense of reliability and precision, making it the ideal tool for Flawless to begin his new journey in the Forge of Malice.

The second hammer Flawless chose was a masterpiece of infernal craftsmanship, exuding both power and sophistication. Its handle was forged from a rare, dark ironstone, known for its unyielding strength and resilience, and was intricately inlaid with silver filigree that spiraled up to the head. The head itself was a block of polished Infernum, heavy and indomitable, its surface adorned with finely carved sigils that glowed with an inner, hellish light. This hammer, with its perfect balance and formidable presence, was not just a tool but a weapon, imbued with the essence of the Forge of Malice, ready to shape the most challenging of materials into works of dark art.

Flawless was accustomed to using two hammers in his craft while maneuvering the piece he was working on with his lower hands.

“These will actually do just fine for me if that’s alright with you, I don’t feel the need to make my own if that’s alright.”

A hint of indignation showed on Machina’s face but before he could respond Lord Malice beat him to it. “That would be most fine, I’m glad I have something to your liking.”

Moving over to an anvil that showed few flaws he was about to reach for a set of tongs when an idea suddenly struck him. Placing his hand on his chest he allowed the armor to overtake his body and simply reached into the furnace and extracted a piece of Infernum. With his own Inernum-covered gauntlets he could easily resist the heat and easily place the ingot onto the anvil, holding the ingot steady with his lower hands he could now strike with much more power than he was used to without the ingot bouncing away.

He first began hammering with the heavy hammer, quickly shaping the ingot into the general shape of a one-meter-long sword, though to his massive frame, it looked more like a dagger. When the shape was close enough he began to use both hammers in unison, the larger hammer striking with the smaller hammer then striking the exact same spot. After many more striked the larger hammer was set aside and the smaller one began to work on the edges of the weapon. As he finished he looked at the newly created bastard sword and laughed at how flawed it was, though far from as flawed as many of the swords he had seen in the armory it was still miles away from being flawless. Though rough around the edges and far from perfect, the sword radiated raw power, hinting at its potential despite its imperfections.

Machina’s eyes were wide he was clearly impressed with the less-than-stellar blade. Moving over to the runesmithing bench he awkwardly asked Machina how it was done.

“I’ve uhh… never actually used runes before do you think you could show me the ropes on this? If you could I’d like to make the blade quiet rather than sharp.”

“Quiet… no wait, you just made an impeccable blade in les than an hour, not even my machines can do that let alone with this level of quality.”

“This… is actually rather poor especially compared to this.” He pulled his odachi from it’s sheath causing Machina to fall from his chair.

“T-t-that… That blade did-did you make it? I’ve only ever seen this quality from Lord Artisan… I-it’s perfect, though different from his works it still has the same aura.”

“This is my first flawless blade, it has absolutely no imperfections whatsoever.” Pride filled his voice as he described his masterpiece.

Molten metal sings,

Infernal forge shapes power,

Flawless crafts his blade.