Chapter 55: The Arcanist
Liam strode boldly through the sunlit streets, the morning light bathing his scarred face in a warm glow. Whispers and wary glances followed him like shadows, but he moved with the effortless confidence of one who had long since stopped caring for the opinions of the world.
A rare, genuine smile tugged at his lips. "I deserve a feast after all my accomplishments," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, he turned toward the Devil's Blade Inn.
Inside his mind, Anki's voice cut through the quiet satisfaction. "Liam, now that your mind has stabilized… don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
Liam paused mid-step, then threw his head back and laughed, a rich, unrestrained sound that made nearby onlookers flinch and scatter.
The vibration of it carried both madness and liberation.
He entered the inn and claimed a secluded table. "Oh, Anki," he said aloud, his tone playful yet laced with affection, "why do you act as though you don't already know?" The sentient blade trembled against his side in evident confusion. "Fine. Call out my stats and Talents."
A cascade of ethereal chimes rang within Liam's consciousness:
Race: Bottomless Pit (Wrath Stage)
Rank: Mid Silver
Stamina: 70 (+30)
Compression: 140 (+20)
Strength: 80 (+50)
Mana: 30 (+40)
Aura: 100 (Infinity State)
Senses: 120 (+30)
Talents: Abyssal Call, Over-Regeneration, Albain Fire, Clone Talent, Lightning Physic, Body Hardening.
Anki's presence surged with raw emotion, shock rippling first, then a deep, almost paternal pride. "Wrath Stage… Your rage has grown so profound it reshaped your very existence. These additional stats… your body is administering them on its own?" The blade's voice trembled with genuine awe and joy.
"The speed of your growth, child… it defies everything I have witnessed across centuries. I am both terrified and delighted by what you are becoming."
Liam leaned back, a wicked yet content smile playing on his lips. He reached into the shadows pooling at his feet and withdrew a massive, glowing pink core, placing it on the table with a heavy thunk. "And this… I claimed from Zoran's golem."
Anki let out a sound that was half-scream, half-laughter. "No way! you are truly insane. I hadn't even fully registered how many talents and physiques you've absorbed. Lastly that golem heart it's definitely Ancient ."
"I didn't consume them all directly," Liam replied with a low chuckle. "They conceded to me." His laughter turned darker, sharper, full of abyssal hunger.
Sharp eyes turned toward him across the inn. "Isn't that the Blind Devil… the one rumored to have faced a demon lord?" The whispers spread, but no one dared approach.
Until one young man did.
"Haha! Oh, blind friend, why do you sit alone?" A confident male voice rang out. Liam turned his bandaged gaze toward the newcomer, curiosity sparking in the void where his eyes once were.
"Someone actually approached me," Liam thought with inner amusement. "This one from the Morgan family greets you," the youth said, analyzing Liam openly from head to toe with sharp, appraising eyes.
"Sit," Liam gestured to the opposite chair, his tone calm and commanding.
A broad, genuine smile broke across the young man's face as he took the seat. "I do not care about your family crest. What is your name?" Liam asked directly.
The youth's eyes widened in authentic surprise at the lack of deference to his lineage. "Haha… you are deserving of such arrogance." He leaned forward slightly.
"Daniel. Daniel of the Morgan family, the foremost crafters on the Demon Continent."
Liam's empty sockets seemed to gleam with sudden joy.
"A craftsman. Excellent."
Daniel pointed at the pink core on the table. "Do you know what that is in your grasp, friend?"
Liam smiled, leaning in with genuine interest. "Enlighten me Friend."
The three simple words, "Enlighten me, Friend",sent a ripple of disbelief through the hall. "Did the Blind Devil just call him friend?" The bond formed instantly, forged in mutual recognition of strength rather than fear or status.
Two sharp blades testing one another, each appreciating the other's edge.
Daniel studied Liam for a long moment, then spoke with the measured cadence of a true expert. "This is a Golem Heart, a highly prized material sought by nearly every race. It can be refined into empowerment crystals or, in skilled hands, powerful relic stones."
Liam's interest sharpened. "Fascinating. And you… you're an Arcanist, aren't you?" Anki observed silently, impressed by the boy's composure.
Daniel's eyes widened at the accurate deduction.
Liam gave him an approving smile "fine I need your to craft something peculiar for me" Liam leaned in as he spoke in Daniel's ears.
"A very strange request you're building toward," he replied after Liam whispered his proposal. "This will cost well over 200 gold coins."
Liam laughed, unashamed. "You damn thief. I see you came to rob me blind."
Daniel joined in the laughter, the sound easy and genuine. "The way you speak, I doubt you have a single coin to your name."
"You're right, I'm flat broke." Almost on cue, a lavish spread of dishes arrived at their table. "It's on me, friend," Daniel said warmly.
As they ate, their conversation flowed effortlessly, smart, probing, and laced with the respect of equals. They discussed world currencies, soul stones (also called demon souls), and the deeper mechanics of relic crafting.
Daniel's insights were precise and worldly; Liam's questions cut straight to the heart of value and potential, revealing a mind as hungry for knowledge as it was for power. Sword sharpening sword, each word honing the other's understanding.
"My friend," Daniel eventually asked, "with the remaining stones from the Golem Heart what would you like done with them?"
Anki noted quietly, "This guy is skilled at socializing." Liam fell silent, for a rare moment, almost normal.
"I don't fully know their value," Liam admitted candidly, "but I believe they will be put to far better use in your hands."
Daniel paused, then offered a gentle smile that carried a flicker of seriousness. "Do you act this carefree because you believe you could kill me if needed… or is this genuine?"
Liam's laughter rang out, bright and unforced.
"Hahaha! If it were the former, I would have claimed your life long ago."
The two burst into shared laughter, the tension dissolving into the foundation of a true, immediate friendship.
"Fine, then." Daniel slid a heavy pouch across the table. "This is a down payment for the other half of the Golem Heart, 300 gold upfront."
Liam accepted it without hesitation, tucking the pouch away with a nod of respect. "We meet again at this same spot on the night of the fifth day."
As Daniel rose to leave, Liam watched him with a small, satisfied smile. "Such an interesting lad."
He took a slow sip from his cup, then spoke calmly into the space beside him. "Emily… why do you still hide from me?"
A silver-haired girl materialized in the adjacent seat, her presence as quiet as a secret finally acknowledged.