Felix stood at the center of his workshop, arms crossed, the air heavy with the scent of old ink and fresh paper. After two months of recovery and refining his internal flow of essence, he was finally ready to take the next step. His injuries had healed, and though his body bore faint reminders of the ordeal, his spirit burned brighter than ever. He felt stronger, clearer, and more focused.
The Breath of the Mystic Vessel had evolved with him, and within its first stage, Felix had uncovered an incredible ability he called the Essence Condenser. It allowed him to compress the flow of energy into a fine, stable state—making it possible to embed complex effects into his talismans. The process wasn't just about channeling energy anymore—it was about shaping it, molding it, and anchoring it with precision. created by epiphany.
And now, he wanted to test it.
The Fireball Talisman had been his staple. A reliable, mid-tier tool used by soldiers, hunters, and guards alike. But Felix wanted more. He wanted to create something deadlier, more refined. He aimed to take his basic Fireball design and transform it into something new—something with enhanced properties and longer-lasting effects. The Mystic Flame Talisman.
He laid a batch of blank talisman papers on his worktable and rolled up his sleeves. His fingertips tingled with anticipation as he activated the flow of essence within him. The workshop dimmed as his perception shifted. Through the lens of the Breath of the Mystic Vessel, every strand of spiritual energy became visible, each thread glowing with intent and possibility.
"Let's begin."
Experiment One: He started with a basic layering tweak—reinforcing the original array structure to accommodate more compressed energy. The talisman ignited with unstable force, burned too hot, and singed the edges.
Failure.
Experiment Two: He slowed the essence circulation, filtering it through the Essence Condenser. This stabilized the structure but significantly weakened the fireball's impact.
Failure.
Experiment Seven: Felix tried infusing refined ash powder into the ink to improve fire affinity. The result? An explosive ignition that nearly cracked his workbench.
Partial success.
Each research and practice gave him deeper insights. He could now split his focus—run analysis on a failed design while simultaneously preparing the next layout. It was multitasking at a level he hadn't believed possible months ago. The Breath of the Mystic Vessel enhanced not just his crafting but also his ability to learn and adapt.
Experiment Twenty-Nine: This time, he reversed the layering order—starting from the essence trigger node, then spiraling outward to form a containment glyph. The fireball that emerged was compact, burned white-hot, and on detonation, clung to the surface it struck.
Now they were getting somewhere.
He refined this design over another fifty trials.
He changed inks, added crushed fire essence cores, tested runic flow rates, adjusted condensation pressure using the Essence Condenser. Each micro-adjustment brought him closer.
By Experiment Ninety-Two, Felix stood holding a newly finished talisman.
"Mystic Flame," he whispered.
He activated it in the containment circle at the rear of his shop. The talisman ignited on contact, burst into a spiraling flame, and when it struck the test dummy, the flame wrapped around it like a hungry serpent. The dummy continued to burn long after the initial blast, the fire resisting extinguishing spells for almost fifteen minutes before it faded.
Even non-living targets now felt the cruel grip of the talisman. Living creatures would fare worse—the flame would stick, corrode, and devour. It wasn't just fire. It was infused intent.
The final design came with a significant requirement, though: a stronger material foundation. His old talisman papers couldn't handle the structure's pressure. The weave weakened after each test, and several designs combusted due to instability.
He needed better materials.
Felix packed his bag with silver coins—everything he had left from recent commissions—and made his way toward the eastern market.
The market square buzzed with life. Vendors shouted deals, hawkers waved rare items, and the aroma of street food drifted between the crowd. Felix weaved through the masses until he spotted a modest wooden stall tucked between two larger merchants.
The sign read: Rare Materials for Talismans.
Not flashy and not overly decorated. Just practical.
The vendor, a balding man in a loose beige robe, looked up as Felix approached. His hands were stained with powdered jade and ink—a sign of someone who dealt with real stock, not fakes.
"Looking for something, friend?" the vendor asked with a practiced, neutral smile.
Felix nodded. "I need materials suitable for a high-output fire-type talisman. Something uncommon. It needs to handle compressed energy and high heat without degrading."
The vendor tilted his head slightly. "You sound like someone pushing the boundaries."
Felix didn't confirm or deny. "I need paper stock or an equivalent base that won't crumble under essence density."
"Mm." The vendor turned, rummaged through several boxes, and pulled out three neatly bundled sets. "Take a look. These are uncommon-grade talisman sheets. Fire-resistant, soaked in essence-neutral resin, and reinforced with beast tendon weave."
Felix picked one up. Immediately, he sensed its durability. Not perfect—but leagues above the cheap stock he had been using.
"This will hold?"
"For most mid-tier constructs. If you're going higher than that, you'll need to do your own reinforcement layering. But it won't combust on its own."
Felix nodded. "I'll take all three bundles."
The vendor whistled. "Big spender. That'll be 190 silver."
Felix winced inwardly. He reached into his pouch and handed over the coins. That left him with just 50 silver. Again.
But it was worth it.
He returned to his workshop by late afternoon. The new materials responded well under his touch. No cracks, no warping under pressure, and the energy lines drawn across them glowed evenly—an indicator of excellent compatibility.
The next talisman he crafted—the one he believed would become the final version of the Mystic Flame—took him six hours of focused work. Every line mattered. Every breath aligned with the pulse of his cultivation method.
When it was done, he activated it in the test circle.
The flame erupted, spiraling outward like a living creature. It struck the reinforced dummy, clung, and began to corrode through the layers of treated hide and bone. The fire danced, licked, and refused to die.
Twenty minutes later, the last ember faded.
Felix sat down, chest heaving.
"It's done."
The Mystic Flame Talisman had been born.
More than a weapon—it was proof of what he could achieve. Proof that his path, though unconventional, was viable. And with only 50 silver left in his pouch, he grinned.
Poverty was temporary. Mastery was forever.