I hear my name echoing all around me, the voice speaking to me in a commanding tone that sends a jolt through my body. It seems to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once, the voice both familiar and unfamiliar. I look around, frantically searching for its source, but it remains a mystery. Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me, my heart racing as the voice grows louder, its tone more urgent. I look over my shoulder and see a shadowy figure standing in the shadows, its voice seeming to come from directly beside me. I cannot tell if the figure is male or female by its silhouette, but the voice is clearly female. My breath catches in my throat as I wait to see what the figure has to say.
"Adam von Yeager!" a voice said before it felt like my mind was being torn across the universe in every direction.
The scene unfolding around me morphs into a white nothingness. For a moment, I find myself standing in a vast expanding void. It is a strange and unnerving experience, my thoughts seemingly lost in the vastness of this place. The light expands in all directions and is all-encompassing, with no hint of darkness. I feel like I am floating, with nothing stable or accurate surrounding me. I feel trapped in a white hole with nothingness as I float motionless. There is an emptiness around me, but I remain calm and serene despite the emptiness surrounding me.
My mind races with questions, but before I can understand it all, the moment passes, and I am back in the lab. It felt like the briefest of moments but profoundly affected me nonetheless, leaving me feeling disoriented and anxious. I take a deep breath to collect myself and take stock of the situation. The laboratory is in shambles, the floor littered with debris and smoke filling the air. The machine is whirring loudly, but I remain cautiously optimistic that the experiment is over; it appears to have done whatever it aims to achieve. I take another look at the machine and its surroundings.
I had no idea to whom the voice belonged, but its gentle tones were calming and soothing. Like a cool breeze caressing my skin, the voice was both familiar and yet unknown at the same time. I wanted to find out who she was but as I tried to make sense of my surroundings, my mind began to slip away. I was losing focus, the voice becoming a distant memory as I began to fade back into the shadows. Only one thought remained: to find her, no matter what it took. 'Who was she and why was she calling my name?'
"System restriction and requirements reached!" that same voice said.
I had no idea who the voice belonged to but her voice was calming. I wanted to find out who she was, but my mind was slipping away, fading back.
The next thing I knew, Elara and Evander were helping me off the floor. I groggily try to regain my vision, but I see smoke everywhere when I do. My eyes water as I take in the destruction around me. My feet slip on ash-covered floors, and I quickly regain my balance, looking at the machine in horror. After inspection, I found that the frame of the great forge is completely damaged. Its metal chassis and internal parts are completely melted into a heap of molten slag and remains a pile of smoke that continually billows from the machine. The whole lab is in ruins, with debris and ash covering everything. It was clear that something had gone terribly wrong. The heat is almost unbearable, and my clothes stick to my skin with sweat. My heartbeats quickened, my throat raw from the heat and smoke. I try to stand, barely able to keep myself up from the weakness that swept through my legs. With Elara and Evander's help, I manage to stand, feeling as weak as a newborn rabbit.
The blast of the machine leaves everything in its wake in shambles and me shaken to the core. I felt almost like a rag doll, my head was still foggy, and my ears rang. However, I'm slowly beginning to process what has happened as I take in the destruction around me. An unmeasurable force blew off the protective shield that covered the furnace across the lab in a violent explosion. As a result of the damage, there was further damage to the machine. With the protective covering having been destroyed, the forge itself now bears the scars of this disaster. Its exterior is covered in soot and ash, the mechanisms exposed to the air. But despite the extent of the damage, the light coming from the machine is still bright, its hum still filling the lab with its presence. The scope of damage looks as if a bomb has gone off inside the laboratory, as smoke and ash fill the entire area as if a bomb has gone off in the building.
Evander and Elara are helping me to my feet as I cough and choke on the haze filling the room. The light shines in from the ceiling, the sound of the great hammer that forged the weapons of Elara and Evander echoing throughout the lab as if it had been launched into the heavens by a terrible explosion. The force of the blast is apparent, even in its aftermath, with smoke and ash hanging heavy in the air, the machine covered in soot. I take a deep breath, my ears ringing and my vision blurred as I try to make sense of the damage around me. 'How could something like this have happened?' How did I survive as I was directly in front of the machine? I can only conclude an unseen force protected me, as well as everyone else, from such a destructive event,
"Yes… I told you… Yes… He is the one!" Dr. Aleena Walker said, coughing as she dusted dirt and grime off her clothes. "Well, is everyone okay? The secondary barrier should have protected us from the explosion. Otherwise, we'd all be dead!" she said with a slight chuckle.
"What the hell happened!" Evander shouted.
"My… My… My… Only the evolution of one Adam von Yeager into eternal history! The first to possess all twelve mana-types! Now, take your weapon, young Yeager of history!" Aleena said, holding her arms out wide.
My attent turns to the hulking forge and I can see a bright light shining within. Suddenly, the feminine voice echoed through the laboratory.
"Attention, Adam von Yeager, analysis complete. Please take possession of your new Excalibur-Type-type Exorcist Great Longsword of the Holy State Imperial Order! B-rank, BB-rank, BBB-rank, A-rank, AA-rank, AAA-rank, S-rank, SS-rank, SSS-rank, and G-rank, multiple sentient light weapon of legend, 'Jormungandr.' Furthermore, 'Jormungandr' possesses three unknown rank class abilities," the feminine voice said.
The weapon, 'Jormungandr,' floats from the forge and into my hands. It is a beautiful great longsword, typically seen in medieval times, with a blade made of shimming multi-colored light itself. It was somehow different from the weapons made for Evander and Elara. The blade shimmers with every color of the rainbow with a pulsating beat. Almost like a heartbeat, as if it is breathing. With a shimmering luminescence that almost appears to glow, one can feel the divine energy swirling about it, the sword itself imbued with many unknown powers that surpasses the ordinary. The blade's edges seem impossibly sharp, allowing it to cut through even the heaviest armor with little effort. The pommel and crossguard are crafted of gold or silver and seem almost angelic in their beauty. Such a weapon is truly a rare and precious treasure. The blade light appears like a crystal-like material that shines brilliantly like starlight.
Its construction exemplifies the quality and skill of the blacksmith who forged it, creating a deadly instrument worthy of any soldier or knight. The handle is made of fine cherry wood, and its construction and design are both solid and comfortable, providing a secure grip even in the heat of battle. The pommel is decorated with intricate carvings, adding weight to the sword's momentum and power. The weapon's balance is superb, allowing for agile maneuvers while wielding the weapon; its lightness makes it a favorite among those seeking to maximize speed in combat. Like Evander and Elara, the blade of light vanishes soon after I take possession of the weapon.
I am handed a beautifully designed sheath by the lab assistant from before that matches the beauty of my new Exorcist weapon. The leather is soft and supple, its intricate designs and patterns carved into the surface creating a stunning adornment. The whole sheath is decorated with symbols and hieroglyphs; its meaning is lost on me. The opening is perfectly molded to fit the sword, allowing it to slide in and out of its hold easily. I can feel the weight and power in every stroke of the blade, its strength enough to shatter souls and drive away evil spirits. I knew now that I had the power to fight the monsters that plague our world and a means to aid in my quest to find a cure for my Mother. But now, I had the chance to save others like my mother and I give Ms. Aleena Walker a solemn gaze.
"Thank you… You've given me the path I need, Dr. Aleena Walker," I said as a tear came down my cheek.