Chapter 10: The Aetherium Armoury: Vault of the Proven
Lei Feng stood among the bustling crowd of the Tech Haven, a place that gleamed with steel and glass, screens flickering with holograms, and sleek drones zipping through the air like digital fireflies.
His phone tucked safely in his pocket, he tapped his Corelink Bracelet. A soft beep sounded, and a small interface lit up on his wrist.
> 132,000 credits debited from your account.
Balance: 368,000
Status: Registered
Bank: Celestial Credit Union
"Hmm... 132,000 credits gone just like that," Lei Feng sighed, shoulders slackening slightly. "I underestimated the cost of things in this world."
He glanced around the Tech Haven, observing the orderly chaos of neon-lit stalls and hovering automatons, each assisting customers with quiet mechanical precision. No humans manned the booths—just smooth-talking bots with synthetic charm and glowing visors.
"Looks like the Tech Haven is basically run by robots," he muttered as he approached a hovering assistant—a small orb-shaped bot with three spindly arms and a rotating lens for an eye.
"Where can I get magic weapons?" he asked.
The robot let out a mechanical whir-click before responding in a filtered voice that buzzed slightly like static.
> "THE THIRD FLOOR — AETHERIUM ARMOURY."
Then, without another word, it hovered away, merging into the crowd like a fish in a school of light.
"Aether—what now?" Lei Feng arched an eyebrow. "Third floor, huh."
He made his way to the ascending lift, a shimmering tube of light that whisked him up in a soundless flash.
---
The moment Lei Feng stepped off the platform, it felt like he had crossed into a different dimension.
The air was denser—thick with invisible currents of mana that tingled on the skin like static before a lightning storm. The sterile, futuristic hum of the Tech Haven below was replaced by a deep, resonant thrum—almost musical in nature.
Soft torch-like lights hovered mid-air, casting a warm golden glow, as if the very floor had been plucked from a medieval fantasy realm and hung in the sky. Stone archways carved with glowing runes lined the perimeter. The ceiling soared above, painted with a magically shifting night sky, constellations moving slowly across it in real-time.
The stalls here were carved from darkwood and ancient stones, each one brimming with weapons resting on crimson velvet or glowing softly within enchanted glass cases. Swords pulsed faintly with internal energy; their edges shimmered like heat mirages. Spears with spiraling runes leaned against glowing racks. Massive greathammers sparked with controlled bursts of fire. Even delicate crystal orbs and ornate staves hummed like living creatures.
The smell of polished steel, incense, and something ancient—like forgotten magic—filled the air.
But what truly caught Lei Feng's eye were the attendants.
Dwarves.
Not just short men—but powerfully built, broad-shouldered, with braided beards and thick, rune-stitched tunics. Some had goggles perched on their foreheads, others wore leather aprons burned from the forge. Their eyes gleamed like gems—amber, emerald, and sapphire—each filled with centuries of craft.
One dwarf with a silver beard and arms like tree trunks barked at another across the room in a deep, gravelly voice.
"That's not a Stormfang, you daft rockhugger, that's a Fireweaver! You want to burn their hand off?"
Another laughed, slamming a mug of ale on a counter beside a rack of enchanted gauntlets.
The floor was smaller than the Tech Haven, but the energy was more intense—focused. Here, you didn't browse. You sought. You found. Or you got overwhelmed by the sheer force of power lying dormant in the air.
Lei Feng exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the floor.
"This place… it's on a whole different level."
His gaze darted from one weapon to the next—an obsidian-hilted saber crackling with electric arcs, a lance enshrined in ice within a glass case, a twin-bladed dagger levitating in place, humming with restless energy.
"Unreal…" he whispered, eyes wide with wonder. "Each one of these probably holds enough power to flatten a building."
He reached out, fingers nearly grazing a curved sword that shimmered with blue runes etched along its edge—
"Oi! Ye touch it, ye buy it, laddie!"
Startled, Lei Feng spun around to find a grumpy dwarf glaring up at him from beneath a thick, braided beard the color of soot. The dwarf's face was square, with a broad nose and eyes like polished hematite. His muscular arms were crossed over a runed leather apron, and a blacksmith's hammer was strapped to his belt.
"Don't come in here oglin' and droolin' like a fool! This ain't no museum. Now, spit it out. What d'ye want?"
Lei Feng blinked, still adjusting to the dwarf's sheer presence.
"I… I'm looking to buy a sword."
The dwarf grunted and rolled his eyes as if Lei Feng had just asked for directions to the sky.
"Course ye are. Everyone wants a bloody sword. The real question is — how much can ye afford?"
"I was actually wondering," Lei Feng said, raising his Corelink slightly, "what's the price range for your swords? Like... by rank?"
The dwarf squinted at him, then sighed loudly and began listing as though he'd done it a thousand times and hated every second of it.
---
"Listen well, lad. I don't repeat myself twice."
Iron Rank Swords – 250,000 credits
Steel Rank Swords – 500,000 credits
Bronze Rank Swords – 1,000,000 credits
Silver Rank Swords – 2,000,000 credits
Gold Rank Swords – 5,000,000 credits
Platinum Rank Swords – 10,000,000 credits
---
Lei Feng's jaw almost dropped. He gulped.
"Ten… million? Just for a sword?"
He didn't dare say it aloud, but the thought echoed in his head like a bell tolling doom.
"What kind of sword could possibly cost more than a luxury apartment block?!"
The dwarf narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Quit gawkin', boy. Ye here to buy or to waste my time?"
Shaking himself out of the shock, Lei Feng quickly flicked open his Corelink interface, eyes landing on the cold number.
> Balance: 368,000 credits
"Well, that rules out anything above Iron," he thought grimly. "But maybe I could push it just a little…"
He hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded with reluctant acceptance.
"I'll take a Iron Rank Sword."
The dwarf sneered, then a slow grin tugged at the edge of his beard—though it vanished just as quickly.
"Hmmph. Brave move, boy. Come on then—follow me."
---
The dwarf turned with a grunt, stomping off into the deeper part of the floor. Lei Feng followed closely behind, boots echoing softly on the polished obsidian stone. The air grew warmer with every step, and the magical presence thickened like mist clinging to skin.
They passed rows of racks and cases before the dwarf stopped in front of an arched gateway framed in shimmering runes. Above it, a bronze plaque read:
> "Vault of the Proven."
Inside was a wide chamber lit by floating flame-orbs, their light reflecting off polished, enchanted bronze. Unlike the chaotic sprawl of the floor outside, this space was more orderly—almost reverent.
Weapons were carefully mounted along walls or placed on raised pedestals, each housed within protective energy fields. Each sword within shimmered with quiet power—not blinding like the Silver or Gold ranks, but steady and alive. Some had arcane symbols embedded in their hilts; others bore ancient script carved deep into their blades.
"This here," the dwarf said with something close to pride in his voice, "this is the best you can choose from as a beginner Adventurer."
He gestured toward the display with a thick hand.
"Pick wisely. These Iron Rank swords'll serve ye in more ways than one—if ye treat 'em right."
Lei Feng stepped forward, heart racing.
"Time to see which one of you… calls to me."