Lina suddenly shot up toward Alex, her golden eyes blazing like molten suns. "Is that funny to you? Do you think it was all a joke?"

Her voice cracked the air, sharp and furious, almost vibrating with raw emotion.

Alex met her glare head-on. His easy smirk was gone. His own expression sharpened, cutting like a blade. For the first time, Lina faltered—her chest tightened under the sheer weight of his gaze.

"I don't ask about things I think are a waste of time," Alex said flatly, each word slow and precise. "So when I ask nicely, it'd be good for you to keep your voice down."

The silence that followed was heavy.

Lina's cheeks flushed crimson, her hands balling into trembling fists. Her jaw worked as if she had a thousand retorts, but before she could fire back, Hephaestus's deep voice rolled over them like thunder.

"Kid," the god said, his tone low and heavy, "this has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business."

Alex turned his head toward him, his lips curling into a bitter smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "Well, you're right about that." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "So let's just get this over with. Give me the weapon we talked about and I'll leave. I'm not interested in what's happening here anymore. If you want to keep it a secret, fine. I was just trying to—"

He cut himself off with a shake of his head. "Never mind. Forget it. It's none of my business anyway."

The god studied him, molten eyes narrowing. Then he exhaled, the sound heavy, almost weary. "I know you're trying to be considerate. But believe me when I say—it's better if you don't know about it."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Alex replied dismissively. His voice was calm, but his clenched fists betrayed his irritation. "Just give me the weapon, and I'll go my own way."

"Perhaps you're right," Hephaestus muttered after a pause. His expression hardened, glowing cracks forming across his stony skin as his power stirred. "Let's get this over with."

But his next words were grave. "Remember what I told you—the weapon must choose you. If it doesn't, it will destroy you. And don't expect me to save you."

Alex chuckled, though his eyes glinted dangerously. "Don't worry. It's my concern whether it chooses me or I force it to. Now, please—lead the way."

From the side, Lina snapped, venom dripping from every syllable. "I hope it rejects you."

Alex's mouth twitched into a grin, playful and cruel. "I'm not you, potato face."

The words hit like a hammer.

Lina froze. Her eyes widened, golden irises trembling. "What… what did you just call me?"

"You heard me," Alex said calmly, savoring her reaction. "Potato face."

Her face turned crimson, her teeth grinding audibly. She was about to lunge at him, rage shaking her frame—when Hephaestus raised his massive hand, silencing them both.

"That's enough," the god commanded, his voice echoing with finality. "Let's go."

---

They followed in silence.

The halls twisted like veins of iron and fire, leading deeper into the god's sanctum. Finally, they reached a massive set of gates carved from obsidian and brimstone. The moment Hephaestus flicked his finger, the colossal doors groaned open with a thunderous boom, releasing a rush of scorching air that smelled of metal, ozone, and death.

The instant Alex stepped inside, a suffocating pressure slammed into him.

'This… feels like I just walked into a predator's den,' he thought, spine tingling. His instincts screamed danger. The entire hall pulsed with killing intent—directed at him and Lina, but not at Hephaestus.

His eyes swept the chamber, and his breath caught.

Rows upon rows of weapons stretched endlessly, glimmering in the dim light. There weren't dozens. Not hundreds. Thousands.

Each one radiated an aura so fierce it seemed alive.

A colossal battle-axe shimmered with eternal flames, its head heavy enough to cleave reality itself.

A sleek black bow hummed with arcs of lightning, its taut string vibrating with the promise of annihilation.

An ivory spear glowed faintly, radiating purity strong enough to burn darkness to ash.

Blades lined the walls—curved, straight, massive, needle-thin—all whispering, all hungry, all alive. Their edges gleamed with power sharp enough to slice through dimensions.

Every weapon carried its own will, its own thirst, its own killing intent.

Alex's pulse quickened. His skin prickled under their collective malice.

Hephaestus chuckled, proud. "What do you think, pretty boy? Do you like it?"

Alex let out a low whistle. "Gotta say… this place is amazing."

"Of course it is," Hephaestus said, his chest swelling. "This is my life's work. Centuries of forging. Every single weapon here is divine-tier, with its own soul."

But then the god's grin faded, replaced by grim reverence. "What I'm about to show you, however… is deadlier and more powerful than all the rest combined. Get ready."

Lina smirked at Alex, unable to resist. "You'll lose that smug smile soon, smug face."

"We'll see, potato face," Alex shot back instantly.

Her jaw clenched so hard it looked painful, but she swallowed her fury, grinding her teeth audibly.

---

Hephaestus led them deeper into the sanctum. They reached another set of doors, massive and sealed with glowing runes. He pressed his burning palm against the surface. The runes flared, the doors shuddered, and slowly, they opened.

The moment the crack appeared, a wave of killing intent far heavier than before crashed over them. The air turned into molten lead. Alex staggered but forced his legs to stay firm. Lina gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her temple.

Inside, chained to a stone pedestal, rested twin longswords.

Their blades gleamed with impossible beauty, one side flickering with searing light, the other shadowed by endless darkness. Together, they radiated a paradox—creation and destruction, birth and death, locked in eternal struggle. The thick chains binding them glowed red, as if straining to hold back a cataclysm.

Hephaestus's voice dropped to a reverent whisper. "These… are my greatest creations. They surpass every weapon forged across the cosmos. Even gods would hesitate before them."

Alex's eyes locked onto them, unwavering. "I'll see that for myself."

"Don't be reckless!" Hephaestus barked, genuine anger and concern breaking through his mask. "Arrogance will kill you. These swords don't bow easily."

But Alex didn't slow. His steps echoed in the chamber, steady and defiant.

The instant he drew near, the swords reacted.

The chains rattled violently, their killing intent spiking and focusing solely on him. The pressure grew unbearable, threatening to crush his bones, his spirit, his very soul.

But the mark on the back of his hand flared—a cosmic symbol radiating with otherworldly light. The aura around the swords faltered, dispersing like smoke caught in a gale.

He glanced at Hephaestus. "Put a barrier around us."

The god scowled. "Fine. But don't expect it to save you."

"Yeah, yeah," Alex muttered, eyes fixed forward.

His fingers curled around the chains. He pulled.

With a sound like thunder splitting the heavens, the chains shattered.

The twin swords roared, lunging at him like enraged beasts freed from cages. Their killing intent ignited the air, lightning tearing through the chamber.

But Alex moved faster.

He caught them both, one in each hand.

The hall quaked. Storms of light and shadow collided, blasting the chamber apart. Lightning arcs shredded stone pillars. Fire and void clashed, fracturing reality itself.

Alex's palms seared, skin peeling as divine metal tried to devour him alive. But instead of screaming, he smiled.

'Partner,' he called inwardly. 'Use Cosmic Essence. Convert it into death energy. Pour the rest into me.'

The system's cold reply echoed in his mind.

[ Using Cosmic Essence to create Death Energy… ]

[ Allocating remaining 70% to host… ]

A torrent of black energy surged into him, swirling around his frame like a storm of annihilation.

The swords froze. Their murderous rage faltered, quivering, as if they recognized the abyss staring back at them.

Alex's lips curled into a cold smile. "So now you're tamed, huh? But here's the thing… I don't like you guys."

Without hesitation, he raised one sword and slammed it against the other.

The result was apocalyptic.

An explosion detonated, shaking the entire realm. Darkness and lightning intertwined, consuming everything. The ground split apart. The walls cracked like fragile glass. The ceiling disintegrated.

The chorus of thousands of divine weapons screamed as their souls unraveled. One by one, they shattered—swords, spears, bows, axes—dissolving into nothing. Centuries of craftsmanship obliterated in a single instant.

The twin swords shrieked, their forms cracking, splintering, and finally shattering into countless shards that dissolved into dust.

When the storm subsided, silence fell.

The once-grand hall was gone. Only ruins remained, smoldering with lingering death energy that wrapped around Alex like a cloak.

He stood tall amidst the destruction, chest rising and falling, eyes gleaming with a terrifying calm.

Hephaestus was frozen, his face a mask of disbelief. His lips trembled, words refusing to form. His life's work—thousands of years of forging—erased in a single strike.

Lina's face had gone pale. Her hands trembled at her sides, nails digging into her palms until blood dripped. Her golden eyes were wide, staring at Alex not with anger now—but with dread.

The silence was deafening.

Finally, both god and warrior whispered the same word, their voices weak, disbelieving.

"Impossible…"

-----

A/N:

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