The manufactoria hub groaned like a dying beast.
Once, it had hammered out weapons for a hundred regiments.
Now, its furnaces belched black smoke, its gantries sagged under the weight of rust, and the Rustbound infection throbbed in every machine-vein.
Black File advanced into the vast chamber. Their boots clanged on grated walkways, echoes carrying into the dark. Somewhere below, gears turned with wet sounds, grinding flesh and steel into one.
Volst's voice snapped over the comm. "Sweep pattern Delta. Keep tight."
The first wave struck from the rafters.
Servitors dropped on rusted chains, claws screeching, augmetic jaws gnashing.
Malk's bolter thundered, each shot exploding servitors into bursts of gore and shrapnel. Lirae pivoted smoothly, her plasma pistol hissing as it cored through skulls. Volst led with precision fire, every shot clean, every movement efficient.
But the Rustbound didn't stop. They poured in from vents, from crawlspaces, from shattered pipes, their vox-speakers screaming in unison:
"Flesh is weakness. Rust will reign."
Elias moved.
Chakra surged in his feet, carrying him up a support pillar like it was a road. Rustbound claws scraped below as he vaulted overhead.
His fingers snapped through seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three Elias's burst into being, each blazing with the faint flicker of orange eyes. They plunged into the swarm, fists and fire striking as one. One clone locked a servitor in a chokehold before erupting into flame, immolating it. Another drew fire, bolts sparking off its body before it dispelled in a burst of ash.
"Saint's bones—!" Malk spat, ducking behind a railing. "Tell me again he's not a freak?"
Elias landed hard, fists blazing. He swung, and flame erupted uncontrolled, washing too wide. Steel beams warped under the heat, molten slag dripping. Volst cursed as she pulled back to avoid the blaze.
"Keep it tight, Mercer! You'll bury us before they do!"
Then the ground trembled.
From the center of the manufactoria, a massive Rustbound construct dragged itself forward. Once, it might have been an industrial loader. Now its frame was swollen with infected steel, multiple arms ending in chain-blades and drills, its vox-speaker screaming binary rage.
"Target acquired. Purge flesh. Purge error."
It charged, shaking the walkways with each thunderous step.
Volst and Malk opened fire, rounds sparking uselessly off its armor. Lirae's plasma shot hissed, burning a glowing scar into its chest, but it kept coming.
Then...
> Fire Release: Ash Bullet Barrage
> Chakra Cost: 30%
> Effect: Exhale high-velocity ash projectiles, igniting on impact.
> Warning: Collateral Risk – Extreme (Insufficient Control)
The construct reared back, drills screaming. Volst braced herself, rifle rising, teeth clenched.
Elias chose.
He inhaled. The air tasted of rust and oil. His lungs filled, heavy with ash.
He exhaled.
The ash burst from his mouth in a torrent — thousands of fragments, glowing orange at their edges. They screamed through the air like a storm of burning bullets, tearing through the Rustbound ranks in seconds. Servitors exploded into fire and shards, their bodies shredded, ignited, obliterated.
The barrage hammered the construct full-on. Its drills shattered. Its torso ruptured. Fire bloomed from its seams as it staggered, then collapsed, its voice shrieking static before silence claimed it.
The manufactoria itself groaned. Walkways collapsed where the barrage had punched through supports. Sparks rained like burning snow. The chamber smelled of molten metal and charred flesh.
Silence followed.
The Black File stared at Elias. Volst's face was pale, streaked with sweat and ash.
"You're not a soldier," she whispered. "You're a weapon of mass destruction."
Malk spat on the floor. "One day, Mercer, your fire's gonna burn us too."
"And if you don't shut up. You're ass is going to burn first" he smirked
Well that was quite shocking, it was the first time Elias retorted and that too this directly..
Malk, Volst both were shell shocked. ".." jaws hanging low.
Malk instinctively grabbed his ass, he knew Elias wasn't joking at all.
Only Lirae's gaze lingered, sharp and unreadable. Well that was her usual reaction.
But from the shadows at the edge of the chamber, eyes watched.
Kairon had placed Ashen Circle observers there, hidden among the broken machinery. They saw Elias standing with eyes burning, fire still flickering on his skin. They fell to their knees, whispering reverence.
"The prophecy breathes. The Flame scatters the ash."
Elias heard their whispers faintly, carried on the echoing chamber. He closed his eyes.
Well it is what it is. I have already chose my path... let's walk through it
> Ashen Circle Influence: Expanding
Elias opened his eyes.
it was choosing targets for him.
[END OF PART 3: Trial by Fire]