The palace’s strategic command center had been hastily converted into a crisis managent facility, its walls lined with holographic displays that showed satellite feeds from the impact site. The Infernal Armis rested at the center of a massive crater that extended far beyond the border of the Western continent into the land of the Savage Communion, its presence bending space-ti around it like a predator coiling its claws around its prey, in this case, reality.
"Seriously, what the hell is that thing?" Kali demanded, her dark eyes fixed on the main display where distorted space rippled in impossible patterns around the artifact. Her usual composure had given way to obvious unease at the sheer wrongness of what they were observing.
"A Mythical-grade artifact," I replied grimly, studying the way reality seed to bend and flex around the fallen object. "One of seven that swim through space-ti itself, appearing wherever the barriers between worlds grow thin enough to permit their passage."
Mythical-grade artifacts weren’t created nor limited to one world like lower-grade artifacts. They were on another level entirely.
Jin stepped closer to the display, his analytical mind clearly working through the implications. "The energy readings are beyond anything our sensors can properly asure. It’s as though the artifact exists partially outside normal dinsional space."
"That’s because it does," I confird, noting how even the advanced magical technology struggled to process readings that defied conventional understanding. "The Infernal Armis doesn’t just possess power—it fundantally alters the laws of magic in its imdiate vicinity, sothing like a Gift but on a larger scale."
Rin, who had been quietly observing from beside her parents, spoke up with careful curiosity. "Is it dangerous to approach?"
"Extrely," I said, my enhanced senses detecting the way the artifact’s influence was already spreading outward from the impact site. "But not in the way you might expect. The Infernal Armis isn’t actively hostile—it’s selective. It will test anyone who attempts to claim it, and those tests will be designed to kill anyone it deems unworthy."
ilyn frowned as she processed the tactical implications. "What kind of tests are we talking about? Military challenges? Combat trials?"
’The artifact of carnage,’ Luna’s voice whispered through our ntal link, her ancient knowledge providing context that made my blood run cold. ’Its trials will reflect its nature—brutality, endurance, the willingness to destroy anything that stands in your way.’
Before I could relay Luna’s warning to the others, sothing fundantal shifted in the energy patterns surrounding the distant artifact. Through my enhanced perception, I felt a sudden spike of activity as the Infernal Armis’s selective process reached so kind of conclusion.
"No," I breathed, the realization hitting like a physical blow. "It’s choosing soone."
"What do you an?" Valen demanded, his grey eyes sharpening with imdiate alarm.
"The artifact has found a candidate it considers worthy," I explained, my voice growing more urgent as I felt the distant energy signature beginning to stabilize around a single focal point. "Soone is being granted access to its trials right now."
Through our ntal connection, Luna’s warning struck my consciousness with devastating clarity. ’Arthur, I’m detecting sothing else. The Heavenly Demon’s power signature—it’s reerging. Stronger than before.’
The implications crashed over like a tidal wave of dread. If the Heavenly Demon’s influence was sohow connected to whoever was approaching the Infernal Armis, then we weren’t just looking at the birth of a new artifact wielder. We were witnessing the ergence of what would beco known as the Second Calamity.
"We need to move," Valen said with the kind of decisive authority that had made him an effective ruler. "Strike teams, imdiate deploynt. If we can reach the artifact before—"
"No," I interrupted, shaking my head as I processed the tactical realities of what we were facing. "We can’t break through the protective shell that forms around a Mythical-grade artifact during its selection process. Our combined power isn’t sufficient to breach that kind of defense."
"Then what do you suggest?" Kali asked, frustration bleeding through her controlled deanor. "We just sit here and watch while soone claims an artifact that could reshape the continental balance of power?"
I closed my eyes, feeling the weight of decisions that would affect millions of lives pressing down on my shoulders. My original plan had been to leave the cleanup of the Savage Communion to the Ashbluff family while I returned ho with Stella. But the arrival of the Infernal Armis had fundantally changed the equation.
This wasn’t sothing I could delegate to others, no matter how capable they might be. And if the Heavenly Demon’s power was sohow involved, then this situation had implications that went far beyond regional politics.
’I haven’t even reached Radiant-rank yet,’ I thought with growing concern, my enhanced senses cataloging the imnse energies swirling around the distant artifact. ’If whoever claims the Infernal Armis gains demigod-level capabilities, can I really face them with my current strength?’
But even as doubt crept into my mind, I knew there was no choice. The responsibility had fallen to , regardless of whether I felt ready for it.
"I need to make so calls," I said finally, reaching for the communication crystal that would connect to my most trusted allies. "This isn’t sothing the Western Continent can handle alone."
"Who are you calling?" ilyn asked with obvious curiosity.
"The people I trust most in this world," I replied, channeling mana into the crystal while preparing to send ssages across continental distances. "Five won who have stood with through impossible odds and whose strength I know absolutely."
The first connection established quickly, Cecilia’s familiar presence filtering through the magical link with warm recognition. "Arthur? What’s wrong? I can feel your tension from here."
"I need you in the Western Continent," I said without preamble. "Mythical-grade artifact, potential Calamity-level threat, and not enough ti to explain properly. Can you co?"
"Already packing," she replied with the kind of imdiate trust that reminded why I valued her so highly. "How urgent are we talking?"
"Drop everything and co now," I said grimly. "Bring whatever you think might help against sothing that operates beyond normal power classifications."
The second connection linked to Rachel, whose sharp intelligence imdiately picked up on the gravity in my voice. "Arthur? Please tell this isn’t about another impossible situation that sohow fell into your lap."
"Worse," I admitted. "I think we’re about to face the ergence of the Second Calamity. I need your tactical analysis and fire magic. Are you available?"
"For you? Always," she replied without hesitation. "Coordinates?"
The remaining connections proceeded similarly—Seraphina responding with calm professionalism, Reika offering gentle but absolute support, and Rose providing business-like efficiency that cut straight to the practical details of rapid deploynt.
As I finished the last call, I found the others watching with expressions that ranged from curiosity to growing alarm.
"Five of them?" Jin asked with sothing approaching awe. "Just how strong are your allies?"
"Strong enough that I trust them with my life," I replied simply. "And more importantly, strong enough that together we might be able to handle whatever erges from that artifact’s selection process."
Rin stepped forward, her newly stabilized power creating subtle ripples in the ambient mana around her. "What about us? Surely we can contribute sothing to whatever plan you’re developing."
I studied her for a mont, noting how her recent transformation had left her with capabilities that rivaled most legendary combatants despite her lack of practical experience. "You’ll stay here with your family and help coordinate the defense of the continent. If we fail to contain whatever erges from the Infernal Armis, the Western Continent will need every advantage it can get."
Through the command center’s displays, we could see energy patterns around the distant crater beginning to shift and intensify. The selection process was accelerating, and soon we would know exactly what kind of threat had been unleashed upon the world.
"How long until your allies arrive?" ilyn asked with the kind of tactical thinking that had made her an effective military commander.
"Hours," I replied, checking the various magical signatures that were already moving in our direction at trendous speed. "But I’m not sure we have that long. The artifact’s trials might conclude at any mont."
Kali’s expression grew more determined as she processed the implications. "Then we prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It’s not like we have any other choice."
As if summoned by her words, a new surge of energy erupted from the crater, visible even at this distance as a pillar of otherworldly light that pierced the sky like a beacon calling to every power-hungry individual on the continent.
"The trials have begun in earnest," I said quietly, feeling the artifact’s influence spreading outward like ripples on a pond. "Whatever happens next, the world is about to change forever."
The birth of the Second Calamity was underway, and we could only watch and prepare for whatever erged from that crucible of impossible power.
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