After returning from the labyrinth, Rei made his way back to Midgard, his traveling cart and now temporary home. The day had been fruitful, but his mind was still sharp, still working. The moment he entered the small room he had built inside the cart, he walked to a metal-reinforced box and unlatched it. Inside were three incomplete scepters, each bearing the traces of careful craftsmanship, intricate design, and months of thought.
Rei held one up, the partially assembled piece humming faintly with residual Qi. "Tenko," he said with a small smile, glancing at the fox-like creature lounging nearby, "Tomorrow, I'm going to finish your scepter, okay?"
Tenko perked up and barked happily, his tails swishing in excitement. He had been waiting patiently for this day, always watching Rei tinker with bits of Qi-conductive metal and stones, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
That night, Rei cross-referenced the map he had received from the mysterious man in the labyrinth with his own. He laid the two side by side, his brows furrowed. Every corridor, chamber, and notation was examined meticulously. Any discrepancy, even a minor one, could be fatal. But nothing stood out. Not yet. He decided he'd remain vigilant.
The next morning, Rei visited a blacksmith on the city's edge. There, amidst the roaring fire and rhythmic clanging of hammer on metal, he worked inside the craftsman's workshop to bring his creations to life. First was Tenko's scepter.
It resembled a locket, intricately designed with twisting patterns that mimicked the flow of Qi veins. At its center was a grey Qi stone, pulsing gently as if breathing. Built with rare metals and Qi-conducting wood, it was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and function. The metal parts increased durability, while Rei's own design allowed Tenko to channel Qi as efficiently as breathing.
Then came the other two: Kaiser's scepter, more akin to a sword in size and feel, with a thin blade at the corner to act as a sword and a scepter, along with a heavy core built for battle. It was brutal, functional, and imposing. Luster's was a sleek, elegant wand. All three shared Rei's original design —metal reinforcements in the handle of the scepter, Qi veins using Qi conducting metals, and durability using small shards of Qi conducting metals that exceeded his own poorly made chaos scepter.
When they were done, Rei wrapped them carefully and placed them inside Midgard.
That evening, under the glow of a dim lantern, he held Tenko's scepter out. "This is yours, Tenko. I name it the Nyx Scepter."
Tenko barked once, hopping up and sniffing the artifact before giving Rei an appreciative nuzzle. Rei said, "As for Kaiser and Luster, I'll let them name theirs."
The following days were spent in exhaustive research. Rei returned to the Hunter's Tower, where he dug through reports, archives, and spoke with everyone he could about the route detailed in the map. He gathered every piece of information—monster activity, weather patterns, hunter casualties, even folk rumors.
He learned that the area they were heading into had recently seen shifts in monster behavior. The presence of wind-based monsters had increased, and strange gusts of wind were reported even deep underground.
Rei adapted accordingly. He purchased new armor, a helmet designed to protect against blunt strikes and minor elemental damage. Then he built a wooden box, large and sturdy. Into it, he placed all the ore he had collected—real and decoy alike.
But it was more than just a storage unit.
He installed a mechanism within it: a simple but deadly trap. If someone tried to force it open, a volley of arrows would fire from hidden ports. It was both bait and test—a way to see if the man from before was eyeing his possessions more than he let on.
Rei then hid his Chaos Scepter and a variety of daggers within the folds of his Whispering Cloak with clever design. When the week finally passed, he returned to the labyrinth. To all appearances, he was simply a cautious adventurer. His visible gear consisted of a sword, a quiver, a crossbow at his hip, and the large wooden box strapped to his back.
The man was already waiting.
He looked at the box curiously. "What's in there?"
Rei answered smoothly, "My food and all the ores I've collected over my lifetime."
The man raised a brow. "All your ores? Isn't that dangerous to bring them here?"
"Yes," Rei agreed, "but if I left them back at the house, they might get stolen. I live in area 12, and recently there have been lots of thieves showing up."
The man gave a small chuckle. "Fair point. Well, let's get going. I'll show you the way."
As they ventured upward, the air grew lighter. The passage narrowed and twisted. The stones beneath their feet turned from gray to pale blue, and the occasional gust of wind began to whistle through unseen cracks.
Monsters appeared sporadically—lithe creatures with razor limbs, or large hulking beasts that blocked their path. Rei fought with brutal efficiency, his sword flashing and crossbow bolts thudding into targets with surgical precision. The man used a long sword, his style more brute force than finesse, but effective nonetheless.
Then, the wind intensified.
It wasn't natural. It howled from a narrow crack in the wall, chilled and whispering like it carried voices.
Rei stopped. "What's that?"
The man peered into the dark crevice. "Places like this often hide Krystallites. Let's dig."
Working together, they unearthed a glowing grey stone the size of a fist. It shimmered like crystal, and the air around it danced.
"A wind Krystallite," the man said, offering it to Rei. "You take it. I already have one."
Rei accepted it with a polite nod. "Thanks."
But inside, his thoughts churned.
Too generous, he mused. Too easy. Either he wants something from me, or he's setting a trap. No one gives away a Krystallite just like that.
Tenko glanced up at Rei, sensing the tension, but remained quiet. The scepter hanging on his neck pulsed once, like a quiet reassurance.
Rei tucked the Krystallite away and followed the man further into the winding labyrinth.