The impossible bridge of Arcane Ice has become their ground. Vulcan, Anchor, and Ethan stood on the platform the crystalline exterior of the Frozen Citadel towering above them, a permanent fixture in the elemental sky. The air although chilly was now completely stable demonstrating the authority of the Prime Elementals who ruled over this huge high-altitude territory.
Vulcan quickly turned to Ethan his actions filled with the focused intensity of a craftsman who had just acquired the ideal material and workshop.
"The Prime Arcane Ice is magnificent" the master artisan said his armored hand pointing to the gigantic block of ice now resting on the platform. "Its elemental purity is unmatched. We are standing in Aethelgard's largest and most specialized workshop a place of total stability. We must seize this opportunity swiftly. Time here is too valuable to be wasted."
Vulcan's gaze scanned over Ethan's gear examining the complete outfit with the professionalism of a Mythic artisan.
"The escort is complete but the usefulness of the equipment you have is still insufficient for the next phase of this mission" Vulcan informed Ethan. "Your Shadow-Edge Silencer is a Legendary masterpiece but it uses ordinary materials and lacks the Mythic durability required for this location. Your Energy Anchors must be merged with the Sovereign essence to ensure an unbreakable grip on all elemental surfaces".
He proceeded to the core equipment. "And the camera…"
Vulcan paused staring carefully at the M1 Mythic Camera hanging beneath Ethan's mantle. "The equipment is impressive but its capabilities are solely analytical passive data collecting. I can provide its core with a stable charged elemental reservoir sourced directly from the Citadel's heart. It can gain enormous new applications changing it from a recording tool to an active functional instrument."
Ethan knew this was the moment he'd been waiting for throughout the journey. He was giving the most skilled artisan in the realm access to his main equipment in the most powerful forge in existence.
"I agree" Ethan replied. "I am contracting a complete update of all primary gear, including the Mantle (for further refinement), Anchors, Silencer, and Camera. The goal is complete precision and above all secrecy surrounding this facility."
Ethan carefully removed the Shadow-Weave Mantle, Kinetic Anchors, Shadow-Edge Silencer and M1 Mythic Camera and set them on a clear area of Arcane Ice.
"All current footage from the moment we found the Stag until this moment is recorded and secured" Ethan verified putting a rune on his mantle to complete the data transfer. The raw data for the whole SSS-Rank escort was carefully stored within his personal HUDS data capsule. "I will log out immediately to begin editing processing of this content. I must control the narrative in order to defend this location. I will require at least one full day of preparation time to launch the content."
"Understood" Vulcan said, his attention immediately drawn to the Arcane Ice's structural stability. "I need two full days of Aethelgard time to finish the infusion and forging operations. When you return the equipment will be prepared for the next phase.
Vulcan then addressed Anchor who had patiently waited near the Stag. "Guardian your role as Traveling Savior was monumental. I will create a stabilizing piece of equipment for your core. It will be organically produced rather than forged providing a lasting anchor point for your new Prime Stability bonus. You will be my main study model for chaos integration."
With the commission secured Ethan peered over the Citadel one last time, taking in the colossal extent of the situation. He immediately logged out, leaving the fate of his gear in the hands of the Mythic master artisan.
In the blink of an eye, Vulcan was alone on the platform with the Stag and Primes. He did not waste any time.
He secured the large block of Prime Arcane Ice as well as Ethan's equipment at the Citadel's main open-air entrance. The Citadel was more than just a structure it was a massive finely calibrated elemental machine.
Vulcan spent the next twelve hours conducting continuous detailed observations. He went around the Citadel's accessible parts his curiosity outweighing his need to rest. He noticed the huge humming elemental channels the geometric purity of the construction and the consistent flow of primal energies. The Citadel was a live example of Sovereign Integrity the harmonious union of nature and design.
He went to the Prime Elementals and the freshly rebuilt Stag not for socializing but for technical advice.
"The Arcane Ice is cold but it is stable against all forces" Vulcan said pointing toward the Prime of Ice. "How does the structure keep its shape in the face of tremendous energy and temperature variations? I require the structural formula to ensure microscopic stabilization."
The Prime of Ice reacted without words beaming intricate geometric calculations directly into Vulcan's mind the raw unwritten physics of Mythic elemental forms. Vulcan remained still absorbing formulae that fundamentally violated every known rule of current Aethelgard metallurgy and forging.
He questioned the Stag's basic essence. "Does the stability of your Anti-Magic essence depend on external heat removal or on the balance's inherent purity? Specifically how do you avoid chaotic bleeding?".
The Stag flashed images of complicated, intertwined molecular structures, exposing the secret of permanent Anti-Magic stability which Vulcan could immediately apply to his current work and future Mythic creations.
With the core knowledge established and the forging principles known Vulcan began the difficult, multi-day refinement and forging procedure.
He used Prime Arcane Ice and the Citadel's pristine controlled atmosphere to create Ethan's last version of equipment. The job was precise, delicate and hard with the Citadel's massive, structural cold serving as his heat source a significant reversal of usual forging.
He began crafting the dagger, then the anchors and finally the camera core meticulously instilling each piece with the stabilizing force of the Sovereign essence.
He subsequently focused on Anchor. Vulcan created a small geometrically flawless crystalline cage out of purified Anti-Magic essence and small amounts of Arcane Ice. This was the Core Stability Anchor, a mechanism intended to store Anchor's freshly concentrated Chaos Core preventing further energy waste and maximizing its Prime Stability advantage. The equipment was small but its practical value to the Guardian was enormous.
Finally he addressed his personal armor. Vulcan began building a new Mythic-tier hammer using the gigantic block of Prime Arcane Ice into its center. He called the project Sovereign Morality.
Vulcan worked continuously motivated by this rare opportunity. The Citadel had become his personal ideal forge and he was the sole creator of the next generation of Mythic gear. He refused to quit until the commission was completed and maximum effectiveness was reached.