The Forgotten Forge shook violently.
Golden flames and crimson flames collided in the center of the cavern, creating shockwaves powerful enough to shatter stone pillars hundreds of meters away.
Renzo stood near the First Ancient Anvil, watching in silence.
Before him stood two giants.
Two brothers.
Two guardians forged by the same creator.
Yet now—
They stood on opposite sides of the battlefield.
Ignis slowly raised his colossal hammer.
Golden runes ignited across his metallic body.
Opposite him, Astrax tightened his grip on his shattered hammer.
Dark crimson flames leaked from every crack in his ruined armor.
For several long seconds—
Neither moved.
Then Astrax spoke.
"Brother."
His voice no longer contained hatred.
Only sorrow.
"Must we truly fight?"
Ignis remained silent.
The golden flames within his eyes flickered.
Finally, he answered.
"I do not wish to fight you."
Astrax lowered his head.
"Neither do I."
Silence descended.
Even the forge itself seemed to hold its breath.
Then Astrax looked toward Renzo.
"The corruption consumes me."
Dark flames exploded from his body.
The entire chamber trembled.
"I can no longer distinguish friend from enemy."
Astrax slowly raised his broken hammer.
"Therefore..."
He assumed a battle stance.
"...stop me."
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath Astrax's feet.
The corrupted guardian charged.
Ignis immediately moved.
The two giants collided.
CRAAAAASH!
The impact shook the entire Forgotten Forge.
A shockwave erupted outward, throwing Renzo backward.
He quickly regained his footing.
The battle had begun.
Ignis swung first.
His giant hammer descended like a falling mountain.
Astrax blocked.
BOOM!
The two weapons collided.
Golden and crimson flames erupted everywhere.
The cavern ceiling cracked.
Molten rivers surged violently.
Ignis pushed forward.
Golden chains erupted from the ground.
The same chains he had used against the Flame Tyrant.
But Astrax merely roared.
Dark flames exploded outward.
The chains shattered instantly.
Kensei-Ryu spoke quietly.
"He's stronger than Ignis."
Renzo nodded.
He could see it.
Although Astrax's body was damaged, the corruption continuously strengthened him.
Each passing second made him more powerful.
Astrax retaliated.
His broken hammer slammed into Ignis' chest.
CRACK!
Deep fractures spread across Ignis' armor.
The guardian staggered backward.
Astrax froze.
His burning eyes widened.
"...Brother."
For a moment—
The corruption weakened.
Regret filled Astrax's expression.
But then the dark flames surged again.
The hesitation vanished.
Astrax attacked once more.
BOOM!
Ignis was launched across the forge.
The giant guardian crashed into an ancient furnace.
Stone exploded everywhere.
Renzo immediately began running.
"Ignis!"
But before he could reach him—
A wall of dark flames appeared.
Astrax stood between them.
His body trembled violently.
"Stay back, Successor."
Dark flames leaked from his eyes.
"The corruption..."
He gritted his teeth.
"...is awakening."
A system notification suddenly appeared.
Warning
Corruption Level: 72%
At 100%, purification becomes impossible.
Renzo's expression darkened.
Impossible.
If the corruption reached one hundred percent—
Astrax would be lost forever.
Ignis slowly stood.
Cracks covered nearly half of his body.
Yet despite the damage—
The guardian remained standing.
He looked toward Astrax.
Then slowly lowered his hammer.
Renzo blinked.
"Ignis?"
The guardian ignored him.
Instead, Ignis walked forward.
One step.
Then another.
Astrax roared.
"STOP!"
Dark flames gathered around his hammer.
Ignis continued walking.
"Do not come closer!"
The flames intensified.
Still—
Ignis walked.
Finally, Astrax attacked.
His hammer descended.
Yet Ignis made no attempt to dodge.
BOOM!
The strike landed directly on Ignis' shoulder.
Metal shattered.
Ignis lost an arm.
The giant limb crashed onto the forge floor.
Renzo's eyes widened.
"Ignis!"
But Ignis simply looked at his brother.
Golden flames flickered softly within his eyes.
"I remember."
Astrax froze.
Ignis continued.
"The day Sovereign created us."
Another step.
"The day we forged our first weapon."
Another.
"The day we promised to protect this forge together."
Dark flames surrounding Astrax began trembling.
The corrupted guardian took a step backward.
"No..."
Ignis stopped directly before him.
Only a few meters separated the brothers.
"You are my brother."
"You always will be."
Silence.
Astrax's entire body shook.
Memories surfaced.
Ancient memories.
Two newly forged guardians learning together.
Training together.
Laughing together.
Protecting the forge together.
Thousands of years spent side by side.
Dark flames erupted wildly.
The corruption resisted.
Astrax screamed.
The sound echoed throughout the entire sanctuary.
"I DON'T WANT TO FORGET!"
The corruption surged.
Ninety percent.
Ninety-two percent.
Ninety-five percent.
Renzo clenched his fists.
At this rate—
Astrax would be consumed.
Completely.
Then—
Ignis did something unexpected.
The guardian placed his remaining hand on Astrax's chest.
Golden flames slowly flowed into the corrupted guardian.
"Then remember."
The entire Forgotten Forge fell silent.
Golden and crimson flames intertwined.
Memories.
Friendship.
Brotherhood.
All of it flowed between the two guardians.
The corruption trembled.
For the first time—
It began weakening.
A system notification appeared.
Purification Progress Initiated
Current Progress: 12%
Renzo stared.
Kensei-Ryu softly laughed.
"Looks like even gods aren't the only ones capable of miracles."
But suddenly—
The entire forge shook violently.
The corruption erupted.
A gigantic shadow emerged behind Astrax.
A voice filled with malice echoed throughout the sanctuary.
"NO."
Renzo's eyes widened.
That voice—
It wasn't Astrax's.
The true source of the corruption had finally awakened.