Forge and Steel

*BOOOM*

"Haa... Haa... I'll kill those bastards."

The explosion echoed through the battlefield, shaking the ground as the wall of a residence crumbled.

From within the rubble, Valletta's furious growl rang out. Struggling to stand, she shook the dust from her body. Her eyes locked onto Finn and Hedin, filled with hatred. Though battered, neither appeared seriously injured.

"Stop fighting, Valletta. Just surrender and face judgment for your sins," Finn said firmly, walking toward her with his spear in hand. His tone was calm.

Hearing Finn's words, Valletta sneered mockingly. "Surrender? Keep dreaming, Finn. I won't stop unless you kill me."

With a growl of fury, Valletta charged at Finn, moving with surprising speed, aiming to break through his defenses. But Finn was prepared. With a fluid motion, he raised his spear, blocking her attack and disarming her effortlessly.

"You're only digging yourself deeper with this hatred, Valletta," Finn said, maintaining his stance as Valletta staggered from the counterattack.

Breathing heavily, Valletta tried to regain her balance, but her body was beginning to show signs of fatigue. Hedin, who had remained silent, stepped beside Finn, casting an irritated glance at Valletta.

"Hmph, looks like you still don't understand the situation you're in," Hedin said, his tone dripping with disdain. "We'll capture you and hang you in the center of Orario. It'll send a message to the rats of the Dark Faction."

"Heh, idiot elf, it's you who doesn't understand your situation," Valletta retorted with a wild grin, glaring at Hedin. "The Dark Faction will destroy Orario, free the monsters from the dungeon, and bring about the end of the world!"

"Heh, the words of a cornered rat mean nothing," Hedin scoffed, striding toward Valletta with the intent to finish the fight.

SLASH

CLANG

Before Hedin could reach her, Valletta, in a desperate move, grabbed a rock from the ground and hurled it at him with all her strength.

But her attack was futile. With dangerous calm, Hedin raised the hilt of his sword and struck Valletta's chin with a force that lifted her off the ground. The impact suspended her in the air for a moment, and Finn, leaving his spear aside, seized the opportunity to land a powerful kick to her head.

*PAP*

Valletta crashed back down onto the rubble, her body hitting the ground with a sickening thud, her consciousness slipping from the force of the blows, disoriented and on the brink of unconsciousness.

"I'll immobilize her. Keep an eye on her movements," Finn ordered, glancing at Hedin before moving toward Valletta with a strange device in hand.

Hedin gave a simple nod in response. Finn approached Valletta, preparing to secure her and capture the Dark Faction's key player.

"HAHAHAHA"

But just a few steps away, Valletta's manic laughter halted Finn's movements. He looked at her, confused, as the woman, who had been on the verge of defeat moments ago, now wore a wide, insane grin.

"Hey, Finn, want some really important information?" She lifted her gaze, her blood-stained teeth gleaming as she smiled at him with madness in her eyes.

"What are you talking about, Valletta?" Finn asked, his confusion growing as he decided to play along, curious about the trick she might be planning.

"Do you know the Alecto Familia, Finn?" Valletta asked with an even wider grin, her question laden with mystery.

Finn's eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded. "Naturally. They're on our list for future destruction."

"Heh, then you must know about their captain and vice-captain," Valletta paused for a moment, her eyes gleaming as she enjoyed the moment. "The Dis Sisters."

Finn responded quickly, his expression becoming slightly more serious as he saw where Valletta was going with the conversation.

"Oh, very clever, little Finn! A point for you." Valletta mocked, then continued with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Hey, Finn, don't you wonder where those two abominations are now?"

Neither Finn nor Hedin answered. They simply stared at her, their minds working at full speed.

"Ugh, so boring," Valletta pouted, disappointed by their silence. Then, in the blink of an eye, her grin returned, as if she had been waiting for this moment. "Well, little Finn... I'll tell you this important piece of information just because I like you."

Valletta paused, her eyes glinting with anticipation as she awaited their reaction. She leaned forward, speaking with a twisted excitement.

"Let's just say the Dis Sisters went on a nice little walk... to the residence of the goddess Hefesto."

Valletta waited, watching their faces closely, anticipating panic. But to her confusion, Finn and Hedin didn't show fear. Instead, they exchanged looks of mockery and sympathy.

"What's with those disgusting expressions, bastards?" Valletta snapped, her anger rising as she slammed her arm down onto the rubble beneath her. "Don't you understand what I'm saying? The Dis Sisters and the goddess Alecto snuck into Hefesto's residence. Their goal is to kill that woman! Don't you get it?!"

"Oh, don't get mad, we understand the gravity of the situation," Hedin responded, his voice full of amusement. He chuckled lightly, mocking Valletta. "It's just... honestly, the only thing I feel for those two spawn is pity."

"Pity?" Valletta stared at Hedin, stunned by his response.

"Exactly. You know, it's fine to be a risk-taker, but..." Hedin paused, chuckling again. "I've never seen anyone seek death so eagerly."

Valletta, still struggling to understand, felt an ominous sense of dread creeping in.

Looking at Valletta's confused and worried expression, Finn couldn't help but be entertained. "You see, Valletta, you and your organization made a grave mistake. You sent two of your pillars to their deaths."

"Do you even know how powerful those brats are?" Valletta asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Oh, I'm well aware. If I faced them, I'd probably die," Finn replied with a grin, not denying Valletta's comment. "But the thing is... the power level of those elves doesn't even compare to the ones they'll be facing."

Valletta's mind raced, trying to process Finn's words. A horrifying realization struck her. "Impossible... He must be at the front."

Everyone in the Dark Faction had assumed Pyrion would be leading the charge. Even when Valletta realized that the adventurers had anticipated their attack, she didn't care. After all, their true target had never been the industrial zone; it was always to take down the goddess Hefesto.

"Unfortunately for you, Pyrion is currently with the goddess Hefesto," Finn said, a proud smile spreading across his face as he understood the true objective of the Dark Faction.

The hard truth hit Valletta. Not only had they lost several key players, but she herself had been captured by the adventurers.

Her vision blurred, and the weight of despair, combined with her exhaustion, caused her to lose consciousness.

"Heh, I guess we don't need to immobilize her, Finn." Hedin smirked, looking down at Valletta, who had fainted from the news.

"Right. With her in our hands, we can use a public execution to calm the citizens of Orario," Finn said, approaching Valletta. After confirming she was unconscious, he secured her with a strange device, locking it around her wrists.

"Let's go. If all goes well tonight, we'll have a goddess to condemn too." Finn looked toward Hefesto's residence, a satisfied smile forming on his face. Despite some setbacks, the plans had gone perfectly, and victory was theirs.

...

**Hefesto's Personal Office**

"I'm hungry, Hefesto." Sprawled on one of the office chairs, Pyrion complained as he looked at the goddess, who was reviewing some papers with a serious expression.

"Hmph, I'd make something for you, but since you won't let me leave my office, it's impossible," Hefesto responded without lifting her gaze, her tone filled with boredom.

"Impossible. I already gave in by letting you stay in the mansion. If you dare to leave this office, I'll drag you straight to Babel Tower," Pyrion declared firmly, his voice carrying a serious tone.

"Tsk, who are you planning to drag, brat? Lately, you've been speaking to me in a rather harsh tone. Looks like you need a beating to reflect," Hefesto grumbled, furrowing her brows while pretending to roll up her sleeves. Her expression adopted a 'ferocious' look.

"Hehe, Hefesto, do you still think I'm a little brat? I'm no longer the kid you could slap on the butt whenever you wanted," Pyrion raised his head proudly, looking at her mockingly.

"Oh, really? Brat, let me remind you of something." Hefesto looked at him with a disdainful smile and crossed her arms confidently. "Even if a thousand years pass, I'll still be able to slap your ugly butt whenever I please."

"Ha, you think so?" Pyrion sneered and leaned back further in his chair, giving the goddess a challenging look.

"Are you challenging me?" Hefesto arched an eyebrow with an intriguing smile, letting out a small laugh as she pretended to stand up from her seat.

"Forget it, I don't want to play with you." Pyrion quickly straightened in his seat, stopping his tough act. He knew that if Hefesto truly came to slap him, he wouldn't be able to defend himself.

"Je." A scornful laugh escaped Hefesto's lips, satisfied to have reaffirmed her authority as a mother.

The office fell silent for a moment, though a faint air of camaraderie lingered between them. Pyrion sighed and crossed his arms, looking out the window.

"Then, how much longer must I stay locked up here? I'm not the kind of person who can sit still for that long, Pyr..." Hefesto let out a long sigh, pushing the papers off her desk. She then leaned over it, complaining like a child.

"Long enough to make sure those idiots from the dark faction don't try anything strange," Pyrion answered firmly, shaking his head to reject any negotiation.

"At least take me to my forge room." Hefesto lifted her gaze and looked at him with pleading eyes, her hands together as if praying for a miracle. "Please…"

Seeing his goddess act coquettishly, Pyrion felt his resolve begin to waver. Hefesto was well aware of the effect she had on him and knew exactly how to exploit his weakness.

"Stop doing that…" Pyrion murmured, averting his gaze to avoid those pleading eyes that seemed to pierce his will.

"Do what?" Hefesto asked, with fake innocence, slightly tilting her head and keeping her hands together in a begging gesture.

"You know what," Pyrion replied, struggling to maintain his firm tone. "Acting like that won't change my mind."

"Come on, Pyr," Hefesto insisted in a sweet, almost syrupy tone. "You know I can't stay here doing nothing. I just want to forge. I'm not asking for something impossible."

"It's dangerous, Hefesto." Pyrion tried to regain control of the conversation, but his voice no longer sounded as authoritative as it had at first. "What would you do if something happened? If someone managed to get in…"

"Please…" Hefesto repeated, this time leaning a bit toward him, showing a genuine expression of boredom and frustration.

Pyrion let out a deep sigh and rubbed his forehead, as if gathering the strength needed to resist. "You're impossible…"

"Is that a yes?" Hefesto asked, with a spark of hope in her eyes.

"Fine…" Pyrion murmured, his voice laden with resignation. "But only for a while, and don't make me regret it. If I sense even the slightest risk, I'll drag you back here without hesitation."

"I knew you couldn't resist!" Hefesto exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy as she jumped up from the desk with enthusiasm.

Shaking his head, Pyrion gave a bitter smile. In this life, if you asked him who he loved most, Pyrion wouldn't hesitate to choose Hefesto. It was truly hard for him to resist her pleas.

"What would the other gods say if they knew that the dignified goddess Hefesto actually acts like a spoiled child in front of her children?" Pyrion said with a mocking smile as they walked down the mansion halls.

Hefesto raised an eyebrow, clearly offended by the comment. "Oh, are you going to tell the gods about me?"

"That's not fair," Pyrion responded quickly, letting out an irritated sigh. "You know I could never tarnish your reputation."

"Exactly," Hefesto said with a triumphant smile, walking with a satisfied air. "That proves how much you respect me, right?"

"Respect you? I'd rather say you're manipulative," Pyrion retorted, his tone trying to sound serious, though he couldn't hide the amusement in his voice.

"Manipulative, you say? Let me remind you, brat, that I'm the one who pulled you out of the mud and turned you into who you are now." Hefesto shot him a sharp look, though there was a hint of humor in her words.

"Again with that speech?" Pyrion sighed dramatically. "I got it, Hefesto. You're my savior, my teacher, my goddess, my mother, the light of my life. Happy?"

"Much better," Hefesto replied with a slight blush, hiding it by turning her head forward. (Clarification for all the perverts: this is purely maternal love!)

As they walked down the halls, they soon arrived near Hefesto's workshop. Her eyes lit up as she recognized the place, and without hesitation, she quickened her pace. The idea of using her boredom to forge splendid weapons filled her mind with excitement.

**BANG!**

However, as Hefesto was about to enter her workshop, she was surprised when Pyrion suddenly grabbed her by the waist and, with a swift movement, dragged her inside. He slammed the door shut, leaving the goddess completely stunned.

"What's going on!?" Hefesto exclaimed, still surprised by the unexpected action. She looked at Pyrion with wide eyes, waiting for an explanation.

"Shhh." Pyrion put a finger to her lips, signaling for her to remain silent. His face was tense, his gaze fixed on the door of the workshop. "There are people in the house, Hefesto," he murmured in a low, alert tone.

"People? Who would be stupid enough to infiltrate here?" Hefesto muttered, lowering her voice as she followed Pyrion's example.

"I don't know," he replied, not taking his eyes off the door. "But whoever they are, they don't have good intentions."

Hefesto crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. "We reinforced the security after the last attack. How did they get in?"

"It's not the time for that," Pyrion replied, his voice calm but firm. He took a step toward the door, leaning slightly to listen carefully. "I want you to stay here and make no noise. I'll handle this."

"What!? An intruder comes into my house, and I have to hide here?" Hefesto yelled in a low voice, her face red with frustration as she glared at Pyrion.

Pyrion let out a deep sigh and placed both hands firmly on Hefesto's shoulders, forcing her to look at him directly. "Please, Hefesto, don't make this harder for me," he said, his tone serious with a touch of pleading.

"There's no way I'm letting you go without knowing how dangerous the intruder is," Pyrion declared firmly, his gaze determined, making it clear that he wouldn't accept any argument.

"You…!" Hefesto raised a finger, pointing at him in anger. But after a few seconds, seeing the firmness and resolution in Pyrion's eyes, she lowered her hand with a defeated sigh.

"Five minutes…" Hefesto murmured, though her voice was firm, and no objections were allowed. "If you're not back in five minutes, I'll come out." The threat in her tone left no room for a 'no' answer.

"Alright, five minutes," Pyrion agreed with a slight nod. "But trust me, you won't need to come out."

With a quick tap on one of his rings, Pyrion took his spear in a decisive motion, giving Hefesto one last reassuring look before turning toward the door. "Stay here, Hefesto. No matter what happens."

"You better keep your word," Hefesto murmured as she watched him leave.

In the dark workshop, only Hefesto remained, staring at the door with a worried expression.

...

Phew, almost 3k words, a long chapter, and personally, I liked it a lot.

Thank you for your support, I appreciate the power stones and your reviews.

By the way, I'm thinking about what Pyrion's other three weapons could be. So far, there's a spear and a massive sword like Guts'—whichever gets the most likes will be chosen for the other three rings.