When morning arose, Samael found himself making his way towards the exterior of the great wall. As he made his way through the encampment, the soldiers present couldn't help but stare at him, tearing holes at his back as cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Many of them muttered to themselves, their voices interchanging in the air.

"So he's the Samael?"

"He's so young but already so capable."

"To think he's capable of closing the rifts changes everything!"

Samael released a sigh as he hastened his pace, making his way through the camp in no time as he found himself crossing the dessert.

After some time walking, he eventually spotted a wall in the distance. It was Ishkar's village.

Entering the village, he was greeted by the people there as he asked. "Where's Ishkar?"

"Ishkar? The chief must be north from here, near the blood lake," a young warrior answered.

Giving his thanks, Samael left the place as he made his way towards the blood lake. As he approached his destination, he felt two presences in the place.

It was Ajax and Ishkar. Although it seems they've already finished their discussion.

Giving Ajax a nod, Samuel inched closer to Ishkar as he spoke. "We'll be leaving soon."

Ishkar turned to Samael as he stopped watching the sun rise. "Yes, I heard from Ajax. What's your next destination?"

Thinking back to Icarius's words, Samael replied. "Erdun, the city of arms."

"Ah! So you will meet with the steel bastard," Ishkar said as he laughed violently.

"Do the two of you have a grudge?" Samuel asked.

"No, no, he's simply too... What's the word? Ah! Serious," Ishkar said. "But you will learn much from him."

"Is he that great?" Samael enquired.

"In combat? I'm better. But in weapons and smithing? He is powerful beyond everyone," Ishkar said.

"How about Aphemis?" Samael asked as the image of the small demon popped in his mind. Just how was she doing now?

"Aphemis? Lady Demon, scary," Ishkar said.

If that's the case, then I suppose she'll be alright, Samael thought.

"Well, we'll go now. Icarius is waiting for us," Samuel said.

"Go, you're bothering me," Ishkar said.

Before they left, Samael turned to the man for the final time as his fist touched his palm. "I will remember your teachings. Thank you."

With appreciation, Samael bowed along with Ajax.

Ishkar's lips formed an imperceptible smile as he raised his hand. "Good luck."

After some more formalities and goodbyes, they swiftly head out. Like usual, they found themselves inside a carriage on their way to Erdun.

The ride was silent as all three of them were absorbed in their own thoughts. Not only about what lay ahead but what had transpired.

But now that Samael's presence has gone and spread, especially with his newfound ability to shatter rifts, he will be the centre of all conflicts that will unfold.

He will witness the horrors of war and atrocities this world has yet to see. He will have a chance to grow, but whether he will or will not will all be up to him.

Looking ahead at the setting sun, Samael steeled his resolve. This was but the beginning.

***

The journey to Erdun was arduous and long, for the portal in Servan was destroyed in the sudden attack. Because of this, they're forced to travel by foot or by carriage.

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Due to this, they had to first enter Erudicio and use the portal there towards Erdun.

As the walls of the fortress peeked over the horizon, Samael rolled down the window as he stuck his head out.

The fortress was vast, with walls as dark as the night and roaring ballistas mounted in each crevice of the area. There were also plenty of machines he had not seen before.

Expanding his Void compass forward, he was able to sense dozens of warriors guarding the perimeter.

It all made sense considering this place was a humanities arms depot where everything they use comes from. Without it, there won't even be any war to fight.

As the carriage approached the gates, multiple guards adorned in heavy armour raised their hands as the cannons mounted above the gate began to crank in their direction.

"Halt! State your identities and purpose!" The guard roared.

Icarius shot a glance as he stepped out. Seeing him, the guard approached carefully before taking a look at the badge.

Upon witnessing the engravings, his face paled. "H-high table!" he blurted out.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, sir!" he apologised.

"It's alright, may we enter now?" Icarius asked.

"Yes, please!" The guard said as he waved at the cannons, opting for them to return to their neutral positions.

Upon entering the gigantic fortress, Samael swiftly felt the shift in temperature. Comparing it outside, the interior of the sanctuary was hot. However, the people living there seem unbothered.

Noticing his expression, he spoke. "That's understandable. This place is naturally hot due to the sheer amount of forges in this sanctuary."

Samael nodded as the carriage stopped.

"We're here," Icarius said as he stepped out where two humanoid creatures stood, their bodies silver in colour with plaques of metal layering their skin.

"We greet the esteemed Icarius," the two said in unison.

"They're our escort," Icarius said. "Mellaguns sent by him."

"I see," Ajax said.

Without further delay, they followed the two Mellaguns as they arrived at a large gate. With a wave of their hand, the large metal gates began to creak as they opened, revealing fumes of hot air that blasted them straight in the face.

"I always hated that," Icarus said as he went straight in.

"Your dislikes are none of my worries," a voice replied from within. The voice was rather monotonous.

"Olaf, we have come," Icarius said.

"You are wasting your time. This meeting is of no business of mine," Olaf said as he walked from behind a gigantic pit of pure molten lava.

Olaf appeared like any other Mellagun, with his silver skin and plaques of metal sticking out his body. However, his left eye and jaw were covered by a mechanical item, and he seemed to have a beard made of steel as well.

"You haven't even seen their talents," Icarius said.

"I don't need to. One of them is a Shadow user, and the other you can't even tell me. They are unworthy," Olaf said.

"Elements are not everything to a person," Icarius said.

"In my art, it is of vital importance," Olaf fired back. "I am not discriminating, Icarius. I am looking at potential results, and I see none."

"Then do it for me," Icarius said.

"No, even if we have gone way back, I cannot disgrace my art," Olaf said as he turned towards the pit.

"Three days!"

Olaf halted his steps as he turned around.

"Give me three days," Samael said.

Olaf stared at Samael straight in the eyes. "And what do you believe you can accomplish in such short periods of time?"

"I don't believe I'll be able to create anything," Samael said. "But I will prove you wrong."

Olaf's eyes narrowed for a moment as he turned to look at the pit. "Very well."

Icarius released a sigh of relief. Even if Ajax wasn't included, at least Samael was. In the first place, Ajax was not included in persuading Olaf to teach him. Icarius planned for him to focus on Mendez's teachings since it suited him better.

Shit, even getting Samael was already a big enough bonus as Olaf is known for not taking a disciple.

Now, it was up to Samael to see if he'd earn this bastard's acknowledgement.

"When do we begin?" Samael asked.

Reaching towards the furnace, Olaf spoke.

"It begins now."

With a downward motion, the forge ignited as the entire place glew bright, hot air blowing outwards and striking Samael straight in the face.

Ajax groaned as he involuntarily took a step back, the heat slowly melting his armor. Icarius clicked his tongue as he deployed a barrier between them.

The forges here in Erdun were not normal. The flames here came from the Mellaguns themselves and were amplified by a hell core, which mixes hellfire and Mellagun flames to produce a heat that forges legendary weapons.

By activating it, Samael's test had begun.

"Your test; survive this."

Olaf's eyes widened as he watched Samael stand there, tanking all the heat as he stood steadfast, his jaw clenched and nerves carving lines on his face.

Staring straight at Olaf's face, Samael took a step forward.

He did not endure the heat of his trial just to be denied without seeing his worth. He faced far worse; something like this is nothing to him.

As the metal on his armour began to sear his skin, Samael did not even flinch as he came even closer, the intensity of the heat tripling.

Seeing the flames burning in his eyes, Olaf's lips began to curve.

Not only did he not back down, but he was challenging him.

That flame in his eyes was something he had not seen in anyone else. A flame so bright it dwarves the very forges they craft their weapons in.

Perhaps he can do it.

"You have intrigued me. How well will you do with this?" Olaf said as he maximised the output.

"Shit!" Icarius roared as he doubled the barrier.

As the forge opened fully, the flames rose high in the sky as the hellish heat smashed against Samael, completely melting his armour and fusing it with his skin.

However, for the man bearing the Indomitable fighting spirit, this was far from enough.

Biting his lip as the blood trailing down began to evaporate, Samael slammed his foot forward as he dragged himself forward.

Olaf's lips curled up as a laugh escaped his mouth, startling Icarius.

"Very well! I see your resolve now!" Olaf roared.

Taking another step, Samael faced the flames of the forge as he stood before the grandmaster blacksmith.

"Is that all?"

"That is more than enough," Olaf said as the forge died.

Samael exhaled as oxygen finally entered his lungs, causing him to take a knee.

With a wave of his hand, the metal fused with the boy's skin was liquidised as it floated in front of Olaf.

Seeing this, Samael collapsed, the darkness cradling him as he fell unconscious.

It didn't even take him 3 days. No, it did not.

"3 minutes," Olaf said. "You've gone beyond."

"Still unwilling to teach him?" Icarius taunted.

"No, you should be afraid," Olaf said. "Because now I'm willing to teach him."