[ENG] Last Reader Standing

Chapter 48: The Forge of Heroes and the First Riddles

After thwarting the immediate plans of the Güldenstern Order, Jun, Calla, Miranda, Sora, Miiko, and their new ally Liora knew they had to strike an even more decisive blow to destabilize their enemies. Elias, the leader of the Resistance, had informed them of a legendary Forge of Heroes, a place where magical weapons could be created and strengthened. This forge was located in the Shadow Mountains, a perilous and almost inaccessible place.

« We need these weapons to face the Knights of the Apocalypse, » declared Jun during their planning meeting. « These weapons could tip the balance in our favor. »

Miranda nodded, her gaze determined. « And they could also provide us with clues about the true intentions of the Grand Sage of the Order. »

The group quickly prepared for this new expedition, knowing that time was against them. The journey to the Shadow Mountains was long and dangerous, filled with wild creatures and natural traps. But they were ready to face these dangers to achieve their goal.

After several days of traveling through rocky and steep terrain, they finally reached the entrance to the mountains. The sharp peaks seemed to pierce the sky, and a dark and oppressive atmosphere hung over the region.

« We must stay on our guard, » murmured Calla, examining the surroundings. « These mountains are known for their unpredictable dangers. »

Guided by Liora, who was familiar with the local legends, they cautiously advanced through narrow paths and dark caves. Sora's detection skills and Miiko's illusions helped them avoid several ambushes by hostile creatures.

After several hours of walking, they finally reached a vast cavern illuminated by glowing crystals. At the center of the cavern was an immense stone furnace, surrounded by ancient forging tools. This was the Forge of Heroes.

« We made it, » announced Jun, awed by the grandeur of the place. « Now we need to figure out how to activate this forge and create the weapons we need. »

Miranda, examining the inscriptions engraved on the walls, found a series of ancient riddles and rituals. « These inscriptions explain how to activate the forge. We need to combine our powers and use specific magical materials to light the furnace. »

The group set to work, searching the cavern for the necessary materials. Miiko found magical crystals, while Sora unearthed rare metals buried in the ground. Calla and Liora prepared the tools, following Miranda's instructions.

Once all the materials were gathered, they began the activation ritual. Jun used his grimoire to channel magical energy, while Miranda recited the ancient incantations. The furnace began to glow, and an intense heat emanated from the forge.

« It's working, » murmured Miiko, impressed by the power being released.

Together, they began to forge the weapons. Jun created a sword imbued with the light of the Chronicles of the Immortal, Calla crafted invisible daggers, Sora forged an axe capable of channeling the brute force of his transformations, Miranda enchanted a spear, and Miiko fashioned sharp daggers, perfect for her quick and deadly attacks.

As they worked, a dull noise echoed in the cavern. Members of the Güldenstern Order, alerted by the activation of the forge, burst in, determined to prevent the heroes from completing their work.

« We must repel them ! » shouted Jun, grabbing his newly forged sword.

The battle erupted in the cavern. Jun and his friends, using their new weapons, fought with renewed strength. The members of the Order, though formidable, could not match the power of the magical weapons. Calla moved through the shadows, striking with deadly precision, while Sora, in his wolf form, unleashed his rage on the enemies. Miranda and Miiko, with their enchanted weapons, sowed confusion and destruction among the enemy ranks.

Liora, with her enchanted dagger, fought with impressive agility and precision, effectively supporting her new allies. After an intense battle, they managed to drive the Order's members out of the cavern.

« We did it, » panted Jun, exhausted but victorious. « These weapons will make a difference. »

With the new weapons in their possession, the group left the Forge of Heroes, their hearts filled with hope and determination. They knew they now had a major advantage in their fight against the Güldenstern Order.

On the way back to the Resistance base, the group made an unexpected discovery. While passing through an ancient temple buried in the mountain, Miranda noticed mysterious inscriptions carved into the stone, symbols she had never seen before.

« Look at this, » she said, fascinated. « These inscriptions resemble the legends I've read about the Poneglyphs. »

Jun, intrigued, approached to examine the symbols. « Do you think these inscriptions could be linked to the ancient secrets we're searching for ? »

Miranda nodded. « Yes. The Poneglyphs are said to contain crucial information about the world's history and hidden powers. If we can decipher them, it could give us a significant advantage. »

Miiko, curious, asked, « But how can we read them ? This language seems to have been lost for centuries. »

« We will have to find someone who can decipher them, or discover a way to understand them ourselves, » replied Miranda. « It's a secondary quest, but it could be crucial to our victory. »

The group decided to note the inscriptions and search for other Poneglyphs during their travels. While their main objective remained to defeat the Güldenstern Order, this new quest could reveal valuable secrets and help them in their struggle.

Back at the Resistance base, Elias greeted them with a smile. « You did an incredible job. These weapons will give us a real chance to defeat the Order. »

Jun and his friends rested briefly, regaining their strength for the next stage of their quest. They knew the road would be long and filled with obstacles, but they were ready to face all the challenges that lay ahead.

As night fell, they prepared to continue their fight against the Güldenstern Order. Their determination was unwavering, and they knew that each victory brought them a little closer to the peace and justice they sought. Together, they were ready to face all the challenges to come.