Heavy Metal

"I can actually identify these now?"

Rusty scratched his metallic head while murmuring to himself. Before him stood three armor types: two ranked D-minus and one E-plus. The two on the sides were far more eye-catching than the one in the middle, which appeared to be a modest upgrade from his current iron body. Though the middle armor was crafted from a new Twilight Steel alloy that would likely improve his defenses, it seemed underwhelming compared to the others.

'Twilight Steel Armor… that reminds me, didn't I unlock a new skill at level fifteen?'

Rusty's thoughts raced as he considered his recent evolution. Reaching the threshold had opened up new opportunities, but the potential threats in the area had kept him from checking his system screen until now. Finally, with time and safety on his side, he decided to take a closer look. Usually, the skills he gained during each evolution were tied to his elemental affinities, and this time seemed no different.

At first glance, the skill didn't seem particularly powerful. Its description reminded him of the Fury skill, which boosted his physical stats. However, the mention of "twilight energies" and the vague phrasing hinted that it might do more than just enhance his physical abilities. He wouldn't know for sure until he tested it.

'Should I head to the training room to try it? Or perhaps…'

Rusty's thoughts drifted back to the decision at hand. The new skill was intriguing, but the armor options also needed careful consideration. Since acquiring his Iron Body, he had resolved to improve himself using his own crafting skills. With access to new metals and alloys, he might be able to forge something superior - perhaps even using the materials from the black or silvery-white armor, rather than settling for the Twilight Steel in the middle piece.

Then there was the mysterious new chamber that had appeared after his evolution. That, too, demanded investigation. One problem he noted with the armor choices was the materials. Each piece was distinct: the middle armor retained both elemental affinities, while the ones on the sides seemed to favor one element at the cost of rejecting the other. Choosing either of the side options could force him to specialize, potentially losing the ability to wield both elements.

"...And that is why this glorious demonic shell is the best option!"

Aburdon declared as his shouts filled the soul forge main chamber.

"No human - or any of those puny other races - will be able to stand before the darkness!"

"Hah! And what good will that darkness be against undead monsters like the ones we encountered? Light has always been better against such creatures!"

Alexander retorted, bringing up issues with monsters. Their bickering snapped Rusty out of his thoughts. It was clear both guides had strong opinions and were determined to sway him toward the elemental armors tied to their respective elements. Still, Rusty hesitated. He liked the flexibility of using both light and dark elements - a capability he might lose if he followed their advice.

The middle armor suddenly seemed more appealing. It might lack the raw power or specialization of the other two, but it maintained his dual elemental affinities.

'I can always reach D-rank later, and if I get better at crafting, couldn't I just make one of these specialized bodies myself?'

Rusty was a living armor monster, a unique being who could craft his own shells. In a way, he wasn't bound by the world's strange system or its rigid classifications. He could be the architect of his own evolution, shaping his destiny rather than being forced into one of the predefined paths laid before him.

At first glance, it seemed like he had three choices here. But the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that the middle option was the right one. While it might lack the dramatic flair of the others, it offered the flexibility he valued. He could forge his own parts, and perhaps, in the future, even create specialized variants that enhanced specific elements.

A lot of this, of course, hinged on the materials at his disposal. If he could craft a body using an alloy that amplified dark energies, he could emulate the other armors' unique strengths without sacrificing his dual elemental affinity.

'Why didn't I think of it sooner, why not use both if I can!'

Rusty decided to sneak away to the workshop area first, intending to explore it before venturing into the new chamber. Upon arrival, he quickly noticed that the space had changed to accommodate his recent evolution.

The iron bars he had used to craft his previous body were now replaced with Twilight Steel. The forge had been upgraded as well, and all the smithing tools had been enhanced, gleaming with the same steel. It was a promising setup, but as Rusty examined the materials more closely, he realized there were no elemental metals available. At least for now, he wouldn't be able to recreate the two stunning, elementally attuned bodies he had seen earlier.

'Could it be because they're D-rank, and I'm still just E-rank?'

He pondered over the thought while surveying the workshop. Everything here seemed designed to let him reconstruct his shell using the improved Twilight Steel. The furnace, forge, and smelter looked more robust and ready for days of crafting. Satisfied for now, Rusty left the workshop and made his way to the new chamber. Hovering before it were his two guides, already waiting for him and arguing again.

"So, you truly don't know what's in there?"

The black wisp asked, hovering impatiently in front of the summoning chamber.

"How many times do I have to tell you? This wasn't in my soul forge"

The white wisp shot back, drifting closer as if to inspect the chamber more thoroughly. Alexander had been the original owner - or at least the previous user of the soul forge. During the bonding process with Rusty and Aburdon, his gift had somehow been transferred and altered, reshaping into this new soul forge. Its current form, resembling a towering castle, was as much a mystery to him as it was to the others. This chamber before them was entirely new, and none of them knew what awaited inside.

"Stop bickering, you two. Let's just go in and find out"

Rusty said, cutting through their argument as he stepped forward. Without hesitation, he pushed the door aside, ready to uncover whatever secrets lay within. The Summoning Hall was vast, its design a stark contrast to the rest of the Soul Forge. Where the forge was practical, this chamber exuded an aura of ancient arcane power. High vaulted ceilings stretched into the dim glow of arcane light, with intricate carvings etched into every surface. These carvings depicted scenes of summoning rituals: mages surrounded by swirling glyphs, various creatures emerging from enchanted circles, and battles taking place in strange environments.

At the center of the room lay an enormous summoning circle, etched into the black stone floor with glowing inlays of silver and gold. The patterns pulsed faintly, as though alive, synchronized with some unseen heartbeat. Around the circle stood towering statues of robed figures holding staves, their faces obscured by hoods. Each staff radiated a faint light - some cold and blue, others warm and golden, mirroring the twilight that ran through Rusty's essence.

Suspended above the circle was a crystalline orb, slowly rotating in midair. It illuminated this whole vast closed-chamber with a serene, shifting light that alternated between hues of deep purple and fiery yellow, reminiscent of the twilight sky.

"Remarkable"

Aburdon murmured, his usual arrogance giving way to genuine admiration.

"This chamber holds power. I can feel the echoes of countless summoning rituals within these walls."

"This… is incredible!"

Rusty muttered as he slowly approached the central summoning circle. His life had been short, and sights like this were entirely new to him. The intricate arcane symbols carved into the walls radiated an otherworldly glow, their meanings utterly foreign to him. Yet, even without understanding, he could feel the immense concentration of magical energy condensed in the chamber, particularly at its heart.

Despite the awe-inspiring presence of the room, Rusty was still unsure of its purpose. Fortunately, he wasn't alone. His guides, as always, were there to assist, and Alexander's words suggested he had noticed something.

"Hmm… there seems to be a console over there."

"Console?"

For a moment Rusty wasn't sure what he meant but Alexander instead of explaining floated towards something that resembled a magical control panel. There was a large orb in the middle with many strange glyphs made of silver and gold. After approaching it he noticed that the surrounding symbols started shimmering as if reacting to his presence.

"What is this used for? How do I use it?"

At first, he thought it resembled some of the mechanisms the Thieves Guild used for opening secret passages, but this was far more intricate. It pulsed with mana, and there were no switches to pull, levers to toggle, or slots to insert anything - only a large orb at its center.

"Hm, could you try placing your hand on the central orb there, Rusty?"

Alexander's suggestion was clear, and Rusty saw no reason to refuse. Nevertheless, he hesitated for a moment, his metal hand catching the light as he reached toward the orb. Thanks to one of his skills, he could sense the dense surge of magical energy emanating from the device. Yet, he also understood that this soul forge posed no threat to him.

His metallic fingers trembled slightly before he steeled himself, lowering his hand to make contact. The moment his fingertips touched the orb, the entire panel came alive. Glyphs etched into its surface began to pulse in a strange, rhythmic pattern. For a brief moment, he considered pulling his hand back. But Alexander, observing calmly, didn't seem alarmed. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Then, suddenly, all the flickering symbols stopped. Before him, a large rectangular screen materialized, seemingly woven from pure magical energy and sightly transparent.

"Oh… what is this? It resembles the world window... but what's that white arrow in the middle?"

The screen was mostly blank, save for a few strange icons and accompanying words. One icon resembled the summoning circle at the center of the room, labeled 'Summoning.' Another depicted an open book, with the words 'User Manual.'

"User Manual?"

"Hah, this looks like…"

Alexander trailed off, but it was clear he had some understanding of what the screen represented. Aburdon, on the other hand, hovered closer, his ethereal form circling the screen as if trying to unravel its secrets.

"How fascinating, what kind of Arch-mage designed this object? It radiates high-tier arcane power…"

Rusty wasn't sure what to do, but after a moment's hesitation, he decided to remove his hand from the orb. As he did, something unexpected happened - the white arrow in the center of the screen shifted to one side.

He froze, watching the screen intently, wondering if the arrow would move again, but it remained still. The mystery deepened. Rusty still had no clear idea what this place was or what purpose it served. His eyes lingered on the User Manual icon. It seemed like the obvious place to start, yet when he reached out and tapped the screen experimentally, nothing happened and his iron finger just phased through it.

"Ha ha… Rusty, place your finger on the orb and just do as I say."

Alexander chuckled after seeing it and it seemed that he had noticed something.

"Oh, do you know what I should do?"

"Probably. This looks like something from my old world…"

"Old world?"

"That doesn't matter, just place your finger back on the orb and then slowly slide it to the left side."

"Um… okay?"

He wasn't sure what was supposed to happen but he followed the instructions. His metal finger was placed down on the orb and slid to one side while still touching it. The moment he did, he could see the white arrow sliding along with his finger movement.

"Ah, it started moving?"

The screen responded to Rusty's movements, the white arrow gliding across its surface with a surprising smoothness. He paused for a moment to see how it would react, and sure enough, the arrow halted, waiting patiently for further input.

His curiosity grew, and he began rolling his finger lightly across the orb, watching as the arrow moved in sync with his motions. For a moment, he was captivated by the responsiveness, marveling at the subtle control he seemed to wield.

Eventually, he caught himself. This was no time for idle experimentation—he still had no clear understanding of what this summoning chamber was all about.

"Had enough fun Rusty? Sometimes I forget that you're not even a year old…"

"What do you mean? I'm an adult! I'm already an E rank!"

"Sure… now then, just place the arrow over that book icon."

"I know!"

Rusty replied, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance at how Alexander seemed to treat him like a child. Without waiting for further explanation, he guided the magical arrow onto the icon displayed on the screen. It seemed obvious to him - if he touched the icon with the arrow, something should happen. Yet, when he did, the screen remained unresponsive.

"..."

"What am I doing wrong? Why isn't this working?"

He muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

"You probably need to tap the orb now.

"Tap it?"

Rusty repeated as he did not really understand the full logic behind this device. Still, he followed the advice and gave the orb a tap, but the screen remained unchanged.

"No… I mean, tap it twice in quick succession"

"Tap it twice… quickly?"

This magical device was utterly baffling. Rusty couldn't fathom why he needed to move his finger over the orb and poke it in such a specific way. Wouldn't it be far simpler if he could just touch the icon directly on the panel?

"Like that?"

He asked, glancing at Alexander.

"Almost. Do it a bit faster, and make sure the cursor stays on the icon"

Rusty sighed but tried again. His first attempt failed as he tapped too slowly. On his second try, he tapped quickly but let his finger slide off the orb, causing the arrow to veer away from the icon at the last moment.

Finally, on his third attempt, everything clicked. The arrow stayed steady, and the screen responded instantly. The white arrow transformed into a spinning hourglass, and after a brief pause, text began to appear on the display. He leaned in, reading carefully. It was a manual - a guide detailing how to use the summoning chamber and what benefits it could offer.