Void Lord: My Revenge Is My Harem

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A few moments later…

John sat at his forge well past midnight. The glow of the temple's discovery still clung to his thoughts like a fog he couldn't shake. The crystal box rested on the workbench beside him, pulsing softly with a faint blue hue. It was strange. Calming. Dangerous.

Fizz lay upside-down on a nearby shelf, snoring with his mouth open and tongue dangling like a ribbon. Occasionally he twitched and mumbled things like mushrooms and duck shit flavored pillows for John.

John shook his head. "I should have chosen the mount. Fizz is too much to handle."

He turned back to his forge table. The surface was still warm from earlier use. He opened the crystal box with care, and inside lay a small, shimmering scroll no longer than his forearm. Its edges were etched with a faint glow and strange geometric symbols that rearranged themselves every few seconds.

As soon as he picked it up a cold tingle passed through his palm. The system stirred.

[Ding. Ancient Forge Module Detected. Integrate into Forge Table to unlock Custom Elemental Imprint Slot and Blueprint Memory option. Compatible with current forge. Proceed with installation. 

Yes or No ? ]

John whispered to himself. "Blueprint memory system. That's huge. I don't need to redraw designs anymore."

He selected yes without hesitation. The scroll lights up and sinks into the forge table like water soaking into dry earth. Blue veins of light flickered across the edges and a new symbol etched itself near the center. It was a swirling spiral with seven lines orbiting around it.

Fizz snorted in his sleep. "Mushroom pancakes. No anchovies."

John ignored him and pressed the new symbol.

The forge hummed. A new interface appeared in his vision. Dozens of blueprints, blades, armor, trinkets, even tools, all danced across the menu like floating cards. Most were grayed out but five flickered brightly.

[ New options Unlocked:

— Basic Iron Dagger

— Reinforced Pickaxe

— Flame Dagger

— Light Armor Frame

— Small storage ring ]

John blinked. "Small storage Ring?"

Fizz flopped off the shelf. "You rang?"

"You were asleep just now. When did you wake up?"

"I felt a disturbance in my dreams." He stretched mid air like a sleepy cat. "What did you do now?"

"I upgraded the forge. We can store blueprints and replicate the design now."

Fizz's eyes widened. "You mean I can have identical pants every day?"

"You don't wear pants."

"I could start. Today I felt naked."

"You got fluffy furs to cover your body."

John smirked and turned back to the glowing forge. His hands moved over the surface as he reorganized the blueprint list, categorizing the ones that required elemental cores. The memory system could save five at a time. Enough for now.

He stood and glanced toward the window. Dawn was starting to smear pink across the sky.

Fizz floated beside him yawning. "Alright. You finished. Now can I go chew on something expensive? Like this one."

"No. But I need to give this to Sera." He held up the second item from the crystal shelf. It was a small silver disc engraved with the same Nexus spiral. "I think this is a key for the next Node. Or a location token. Either way, she should have it."

Fizz twirled in place. "Are you giving it to her because she's smart or because she's pretty and you want to make out with her?"

John gave him a look.

Fizz cackled. "Got it. Both. My master is a pervert."

They walked across the field outside John's house. The mist still clung low over the grass but the sun was starting to peek above the horizon. Birds chirped somewhere in the trees and one of the miners was already yawning outside his tent.

Sera was at the edge of the village temple, finishing a morning prayer in front of the restored goddess statue. Her spear rested beside her and her white cloak fluttered slightly in the breeze.

John approached quietly and placed the silver disc beside her on the stone base.

She opened her eyes. "You came early."

"Didn't sleep much."

She looked at the disc. "That from the Nexus chamber?"

"Yes. I believe it might connect to another Node. Or contain a map."

Sera studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I will take care of it. But you should be careful when talking with Elara. Don't lie in front of her."

"I will. When I understand more."

Fizz landed on the goddess statue's head. "This lady is getting worshiped. When will I get my worship?"

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Don't stand on the goddess statue. It's very disrespectful."

John added quickly. "He means no harm. I am sorry. He is just a spiritual beast child."

Sera sighed. "That somehow makes it worse. Spiritual contact is supposed to respect the goddess and worship her. But Fizz's expression looks like he is equal or above the goddess."

John turned to leave. " I am sorry, I will teach him some manners. Come on, Fizz, get down. Before you chip a holy forehead."

As he stepped away the system chimed again.

[Ding. System Notification: System Sync Complete with the history body. A mission had been issued.

Mission 0.1 : Unsealed or unlocked the primary Skill. Black Hole Core (Sealed).

Objective: Absorb Three Mana Particles from Natural Sources.

Reward: Gain Access to Mana Veins. Begin Circle One Mage Path. ]

John stopped in his tracks. His breath caught.

Fizz peeked at his expression. "Uh oh. What now?"

John's fingers twitched. "Nothing. I just want to learn magic. Come on, let's go."

Fizz did a flip in the air. "Are you finally going to learn magic like everyone else? I can teach you."

"Not just magic. I need to learn how to control a Black Hole."

Fizz's wings froze mid-beat. "Wait. What."

John's hand clenched. "My real power is black hole magic."

The breeze shifted as if the world had exhaled. Above them the sun finally rose. "Even with my help, it will be difficult for you."

(End of chapter two)