The Forgotten Forge trembled violently.
Golden flames and crimson flames intertwined as Ignis continued pouring his memories into Astrax.
Ancient memories.
Memories of brotherhood.
Memories of laughter.
Memories of the days when the forge still lived.
For a brief moment—
The corruption receded.
Astrax's crimson eyes cleared.
The dark flames surrounding his body weakened.
The giant guardian slowly looked at Ignis.
"...Brother."
Ignis nodded.
"Welcome back."
Astrax's body trembled.
Golden light slowly spread across the cracks in his ruined armor.
The purification had begun.
A system notification floated before Renzo.
Purification Progress: 12%
Kensei-Ryu smiled.
"Looks like this might actually work."
Renzo allowed himself a small sigh of relief.
Maybe they could save Astrax after all.
Maybe—
"NO."
The voice exploded throughout the entire Forgotten Forge.
The world froze.
The temperature plummeted.
Every flame inside the sanctuary dimmed.
Golden.
Crimson.
Even the molten rivers beneath the forge began cooling.
Silence descended.
An unnatural silence.
Then—
Astrax screamed.
The giant guardian collapsed to his knees.
Dark energy erupted from every crack in his body.
The purification progress immediately stopped.
Purification Interrupted
Renzo's expression changed.
"What's happening?"
Astrax roared in agony.
"No...!"
"Get out...!"
Dark tendrils burst from his body.
Thousands of them.
Like living shadows.
Ignis immediately stepped forward.
"ASTRAX!"
But before the guardian could reach him—
BOOM!
An explosion of darkness threw Ignis backward.
The giant guardian crashed through three ancient furnaces before finally stopping.
The entire forge shook.
Renzo immediately drew Ogre Fang Katana.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Astrax's body slowly rose into the air.
The corruption pouring from him gathered above the forge.
More.
And more.
And more.
Until it formed a gigantic sphere of darkness.
The sphere pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It split open.
A hand emerged.
A massive hand formed entirely from darkness.
Then another.
A head.
A torso.
Legs.
Slowly—
A colossal humanoid figure descended into the forge.
The being towered over everything.
Twenty meters tall.
Its body resembled living darkness.
Countless red eyes covered its surface.
Chains of black energy wrapped around its limbs.
And at the center of its chest—
A massive crimson eye slowly opened.
A system notification immediately appeared.
Unknown Entity Detected
Name: Corvus, Devourer of Divine Flames
Classification: Corruption Entity
Rank: ???
Threat Level: Catastrophic
Question marks.
Again.
But this time—
Renzo felt true fear.
His instincts screamed.
Run.
Escape.
Survive.
The pressure radiating from the creature was overwhelming.
Kensei-Ryu was silent.
Completely silent.
Even Vulcanos didn't speak.
Corvus slowly looked down at the forge.
Then—
It smiled.
The sight made Renzo's blood run cold.
"At last."
Its voice echoed directly inside Renzo's mind.
"After thousands of years..."
The creature looked toward Vulcanos' projection.
All of its countless eyes narrowed.
"We meet again, Star-Forge Sovereign."
Vulcanos slowly stepped forward.
Golden flames erupted around him.
His expression had become cold.
Colder than Renzo had ever seen.
"You."
Corvus laughed.
The entire forge trembled.
"Did you truly believe sealing this place would stop us?"
"We consumed your pantheon."
"We devoured your worlds."
"And now—"
The creature looked toward Renzo.
Every eye focused on him.
"Your successor shall join them."
Renzo immediately felt an immense killing intent lock onto him.
Kensei-Ryu finally spoke.
His voice was grim.
"Renzo."
"Do not let that thing touch you."
Renzo nodded slowly.
He wasn't planning to.
Corvus raised one hand.
Dark energy gathered.
The entire forge began collapsing.
Ancient pillars shattered.
The ceiling cracked.
The Forgotten Forge itself was dying.
Vulcanos raised his hand.
Golden flames exploded outward.
The two forces collided.
BOOOOOOM!
The resulting shockwave nearly destroyed the entire sanctuary.
Renzo was thrown backward.
Even Ignis and Astrax struggled to remain standing.
The sheer power involved was beyond anything Renzo had ever witnessed.
Kensei-Ryu muttered.
"Those two..."
"They're monsters."
Vulcanos looked toward Renzo.
For the first time—
The forge god seemed urgent.
"Renzo."
"You must restore the Final Anvil."
Renzo blinked.
"Now?"
"Immediately."
Vulcanos continued holding back Corvus.
Golden flames surged around him.
"I can only contain it temporarily."
Corvus laughed.
"Contain me?"
The creature's countless eyes glowed.
"You could not defeat us before."
"What makes you believe you can now?"
Vulcanos ignored him.
Instead, he looked directly at Renzo.
"The Final Anvil is the heart of this sanctuary."
"Restore it."
"Only then can the inheritance awaken."
Renzo tightened his grip on his sword.
The Final Anvil.
Everything depended on it.
Corvus noticed.
The creature smiled once more.
Then pointed at Renzo.
The darkness around the forge exploded.
Hundreds of shadow creatures emerged.
Each one radiating immense power.
Corrupted Wraiths Summoned
Quantity: 500
Objective:
Eliminate the Successor
Kensei-Ryu laughed.
Despite the situation.
Despite the danger.
He laughed.
"Looks like things just got interesting."
Renzo slowly raised Ogre Fang Katana.
Golden flames ignited around the blade.
Five hundred enemies.
A collapsing forge.
An ancient corruption entity.
And the fate of the Divine Forge resting on his shoulders.
Renzo smiled.
"Let's get started."
The final battle for the Forgotten Forge had begun.