Hephaestus - Unequal Determination

There were no words to define the current state of the young lad. We were still in the beginning stages of Melting down the material needed. Arsene had finished the abyssal dagger, and we had not suffered any setback aside from the loss of time.

However, his difficulties only got worse when Tang Feng placed the bones and heart of the Eternal Dragon into the flames—pushing more Divinity into the Flames of Hellfire. Arsene's very body began to break down.

Adrienne had said that his body could not take it, but Baphomet simply waved her off, telling us to continue and that he would adapt. I personally did not know either of these two, but Baphomet had made it clear that he was the Master of both Adrienne and Arsene. Not to mention I honestly didn't want to cross this monster.

So we continued pouring Divinity into the flames, and Arsene continued to tremble uncontrollably; however, when he reached his limit, Adrienne would strengthen her hold of time around him. I did not know how much time had passed for this young lad, but it was long. His clothing had long turned to dust, not by his flame, but rather due to the concept of time.

"Are you sure about mixing all the material together?" Tang Feng inquired uncertainly. A little offended, I scuffed, paying close attention to the young lad sweating blood from every pore but never groaning or revealing any signs of pain.

"None of them have fully mixed. Think of it like oil and water. One is on top, and the other is on the bottom, but in the end, they can easily be separated. Right now, we need them to be separate liquids. How are the formations coming along?" I asked not towards Tang Feng but rather Baphomet. Arsene had wished not for the abyssal daggers runes to be the main inscription but rather this so calls Runes of The Nine Hells.

"I need an entire Dao Cycle to create them, but it's coming along soon. I am about a third done. Are you adding them at the beginning?" He asked, intrigued by my art. "I always thought inscriptions were done at the end."

"I do things differently. This spear Arsene wishes for will be different from the standard weapon. The entire blade itself with be a rune. By placing the rune into the fused ingredients, we are fusing two great powers together. The rune and the ingredients. " I carefully explained, feeling a heavy pride within the depts of my soul.

However, that jittery feeling only faded as I gazed upon the Young Lord, coming back to us, "You can increase the heat. I have adapted." He forcefully grunted in a slow, weary manner.

Taking his word, none dared to argue with him. I don't know how this was even possible, but this boy's control regarding the flame was transformed into something on my level. I did not know how he did it, but his flames grew stronger the longer he held the hellish ember, even when we did not add Divinity.

It was mind-boggling, but these flames were different from what I first saw at the beginning so many years ago. While they still remained wild and untamed, it was different. It appeared perfect, almost too perfect. Dao was broken up into many branches that led to many different paths. It was infinity long, housing endless paths to reach a single goal, but his flames seemed to hold them all.

It did not just hold the elements of fire, but water, wind, and various other Dao, one would learn about should they decide to fuse them together. However, such a path was even more complicated than becoming a god.

He was learning, and it was terrifying. Answers that no man nor god had ever seen was within this boy were beginning to appear. Fire and water were working in a symbiotic manner within his hands, which was not simple, if not downright impossible. It must be understood that Fire and Water were opposite, one was not stronger than the other, but they now somehow assisted one another.

"Hephaestus, how much longer?" Adrienne whispered, as not to disturb the young lad.

"Long," I answered back, "Mixing all three materials will be the hardest part. Arsene flames are still weak. Even if they are profound, he is still pathetically weak. However, if his progress remains, this weapons chances of forming are high."

"And what of the actual crafting part?" Baphomet coldly asked, "Believe me when I say all of us will be close to death when that process starts. The Rune Arsene ask me to use is an Origin Rune. Something that should not be used without permission from Asmodeus himself."

"I will handle that, or did you forget. Arsene is a royal? I will call upon the will of Noctem to assist. This should lower the requirements, also adding its own rune into the mix of the Infernal Runes."Adrienne explained, bringing a great shock to the demon by her side.

"You would do that for him? You know the cost, right?"

"Of course, but it will definitely be worth it. He is not a demon or devil anymore. It's only fitting he holds the sigil of Noctem, don't you think?" Adrienne indifferently stated, holding a chilling smile.

Narrowing his crimson eyes, Baphomet snorted, "You seem awfully invested, Witch. What are you hiding in Noctem? Even to this day, you still have not answered me bout who you were in the City of Night."

Arching her lips, she seductively eyed her Master, "Didn't I say I was merely a commoner. Do you not believe me?"

"Believe the words of a witch?" Baphomet sarcastically roared, sending a shiver through Arsene. Getting a chilling glare, he still continued, "Just because you're from Noctem doesn't mean Tenebrae will just give you her grace. I am no fool Adrienne. You are definitely someone there."

"This is not the time, " Tang Feng whispered, pouring a strange liquid upon Arsene's head. Marveling at how his aura began to stabilize, he sighed, "Argue in a mini pocket dimension. But right now, we have work to do. We are reaching the minimum temp that will melt the Eternals bones. I would like to prepare as to what is next. "

"Honestly, I would have liked to know what all you all were adding. Is there anything else?" I adamantly demanded, "I thought it was just Lord Bahomets runes, but now we are adding something from Noctem. I can work with that, but I do not need to be surprised."

"My heart!" Arsene suddenly said, "Take it and use it. My soul is connected to my body, and it needs to be bound to me fully!"

Shocked at his request, everyone froze, understanding what that would do, "Are you sure, if anyone took your spear, then you will be at their mercy." I said in a hesitant manner. No weapon was without its flaw. One can never have it all. Weapons at Godhood were very linear, leaning on one path. And the more you added, the bigger the flaw needed to be.

"I know what I am doing. This is the price of the spear. This weakness, I am sure, will be accepted." he hastily said, entirely determined to go along with that.

Walking towards the boy, Bahopmet met his gaze with his, "Arsene, doing so will be dangerous. You soul benders have a weakness, but I must recommend not having it bound to you like so. I have known many who have gotten to use soul weapons without any issues. This is not necessary. "

"A price must be paid, and this will be it, but you should know nothing is permanent for me." He faintly said, returning into a deep trance.

Turning to Adrienne, he frowned for the first time. "He is playing us. That brat knows something we do not." He coldly said, glaring with burning deceit. "What do you know, witch."

"Nothing, truly master I do not," She fearfully said, displaying a behavior I have never seen before. Tearing his gaze of the woman, Bahopmet turned to Arsene.

"What are you planning with this spear?"