Chapter 1960: The Dream Forge
-----
After obtaining a new Cultivation Method from Erebus Junior, Elayne quickly grasped its principles and came to understand what these techniques truly were.
"Once you learn it all, the knowledge will become imprinted upon your body as you practice it. This way, your power will rise," said the Fragment of the Great Being. "Cultivation Methods can also develop on their own and grow stronger the more you practice them."
"I understand now. Thank you," Elayne nodded, absorbing the scroll’s contents. "It’s quite simple, yet also complex."
The Dual Dream Nightmare Heart Essence Circulation Method consisted of three steps, which Elayne had already begun to imitate.
The first step involved absorbing Dream and Nightmare Energies in equal measures through a specific breathing pattern.
The second step required guiding this energy in tandem—using both the breathing pattern and a special rune drawn within the body—so the energies converged into a pink-purple essence known as Dream-Nightmare, which then merged with her circulatory system.
The third step circulated this essence through her Spiritual Soul, Core, Body, and Dual Dream Nightmare Heart, slowly accumulating power and permanently strengthening the heart and everything connected to it.
The method was uniquely tailored for her; not even Erebus Junior could replicate it. Elayne mastered it in a single instant.
The moment she fully internalized it, the Dream Stones and Nightmare Cores surrounding her dissolved into swirling pink and black energies. They flowed into her body, merged, and formed the vibrant pink-purple essence.
This essence surged through her rapidly. Enhancing it with her innate talents, Elayne cultivated her Dual Dream Nightmare Heart at astonishing speed, consuming hundreds of Dream Stones and Nightmare Cores in the process.
"W-Wow! You need that many?!" Erebus Junior staggered in disbelief. "Perhaps because your heart is so unique and your talent so immense, the threshold has increased... Well, whatever the case, well done!"
Elayne’s eyes snapped open. Pink and purple lightning crackled within them as her aura overflowed with Dream-Nightmare Essence, warping the space around her.
Her Dual Dream Nightmare Heart had ranked up to Tier 2!
Ding!
[You have successfully learned the Cultivation Method: [Dual Dream Nightmare Heart Essence Circulation Method – Initial Stage]!]
[You have instantly mastered the Cultivation Method: [Dual Dream Nightmare Heart Essence Circulation Method] into Grand Perfection!]
[You have successfully refined hundreds of Dream Stones and Nightmare Cores, forging your Dual Dream-Nightmare Heart.]
[The Talent: [Dual Dream-Nightmare Heart – Tier 1 (SS)] has Ranked Up to Tier 2 – SS+ Rank!]
[Your Mana has increased by +100,000]
[Your Magic has increased by +15,000]
[Your Luck has increased by +5,000]
[Your Charm has increased by +5,000]
[The Skill: [Dual Dream-Nightmare Weapon Summon – Tier 1: Level 2/10] has Leveled Up to Level 10/10 and Ranked Up to Tier 2!]
[You can now Evolve your Existing Dream Weapon to Tier 2.]
[By Using Dream Stones and Nightmare Cores, and other compatible materials, you can summon a new Dream Weapon.]
"Incredible... I can really do such a thing?" Elayne murmured in amazement. "Alright! Paintbrush! Let’s evolve you... Erm, how do I do that? Do I just forcefully merge the materials? Synthesis? Alchemy? Right, I haven’t tried that yet."
"Alchemy could work," said Erebus Junior. "But don’t worry, Master. I am here, after all! You should feel grateful and lucky to have me as your Familiar—and please never consider eating me again once you see what I can do!"
FLUOSH!
Erebus Junior suddenly dissolved into a massive swirl of black fog and pink light, reforming into a giant crystalline forge made of dream stones and nightmare crystals. A blazing pink-and-black flame roared within it.
"This is the Dream Forge!" he declared. "Or rather, my stomach. I have reshaped myself into your ideal forge for upgrading and creating Dream Weapons from now on. Your Natal Dream Weapon may remain as it is, but from the second weapon onward, you can craft them yourself instead of leaving it to destiny. That is why having a Dream Forge is so important. Don’t worry—I will become your Dream Forge! See? I am useful! Definitely not worth your wrath, right? And I don’t even look tasty!"
Erebus Junior was still anxious that Elayne might eventually eat him once he stopped being useful. He genuinely feared her immense power, yet he had also grown slightly fond of her—drawn to how deep and different she was from most Dreamers.
"Pygu?" Obsidian looked surprised and confused by Erebus Junior’s concerns. "Pyguuu! Pygyyy!" He assured the fragment that he had nothing to worry about, because Master was a very kind woman.
"Speak for yourself, slime!" Erebus Junior hissed back. "A-Anyway! Master, do you like this form?"
"Hmm, that’s certainly very unique!" Elayne said with an approving nod. "I could probably replicate it with my ability to build Dream Constructs..."
"E-Eh?! Ah!" Erebus Junior gasped, suddenly remembering that Elayne’s Dual Dream Nightmare Heart talent allowed her to create Dream Constructs. She could technically make her own forge. "T-That may be true, but you’re still a novice, right? I am facilitating this for you!"
"Yeah, I guess you’re right," Elayne nodded. "Thank you, Junior. Now, can you guide me?"
Erebus Junior beamed with delight at being acknowledged as useful. "Of course! Okay, let’s do this! Uhhh... sit there and... let’s begin."
He felt a little awkward at first, having never truly taught someone before. Yet in the end, it worked out beautifully. Elayne learned how to wield the Dream Nightmare Forge Flames to rapidly transform and reinforce her Dream Weapon with the available materials.
The flames burned with greater intensity when fed the corpses of nightmares or nightmare monsters, granting the weapon special properties. As she worked, Elayne also drew upon the blacksmithing skills she had learned in Arcadia.
Memories of the Luminous Kingdom flooded her mind—the grumpy blacksmith Ambil, the inheritance of Hephaestus, the Fragment of the Past where she had made dear friends, the Adventurer Guild, the Druid Guild, Goddess Verdant, the Queen and King, their son, David the Paladin, the Crafting Contest, and so many more. Even the hardships they had faced and their fierce battle against Merlinus resurfaced.
Overwhelmed by the flood of cherished memories and the ache of missing those she had lost, Elayne poured every ounce of her dream power and soul into the forging and evolution of her weapon. Tears streamed down her face as the flames roared higher.
-----