The sound of bubbling filled the air, and immediately—
The surface of the liquid rippled as a head burst out from within the waters, the sound of a deep gasp echoing through the area.
The figure was none other than Ryuk himself, now floating—coming to flow to the rythym of the sea as he took repeated deep breaths before his heart finally settled.
Looking around him, his eyes flashed when he saw he was currently floating in a blue sea that seemingly had no end, and there was nothing more except for the cloudless blue sky above him.
"Where... Where am I?" he mused to himself as he scanned the entire area before him and sensed no alarming ripples, showing he was probably alone in this.
And immediately, Ryuk lifted himself up from the sea, coming to hover on top of it.
Now he felt more secure.
And that was when he noticed something abnormal about the sea's surface—but then, the system notification flashed diverting his attention.
[Congratulations on completing the second floor of the Gate of Soulles Ruin.]
[Host has acquired the rewards:]
Possession of the Techno Forge Ruin.
A New Techno Ability.
The system flashed as Ryuk's eyes furrowed confusedly.
"I got the reward? But if I heard correctly the last time, it was said that I didn't qualify for it, didn't it?" Ryuk voiced out his suspicion but after not being able to think of anything else and the system keeping quiet, he could only shrug it off.
"Seems like the realm changed its mind."
"What's the skill though?" he couldn't help but ask, and immediately, the notification flashed before his gaze:
[Skills and Abilities]
[Sub-Group: Techno Forge Authority]
[Sub-Group: Techno Sovereignty]
[Skill: Sovereign of the Techno Forge (Lv. 1)]
Description: A unique skill bestowed upon the accomplished Trial Taker of one of the pieces of the ancient Techno Forge Ruin. Grants control over forge-based creations, blueprint manipulation, and legacy artifact reconstruction.
Allows user access into the Techno Forge Ruin.
Summon mobile Techno Forge Warriors that follow every command.
[Additional Skill: Techno Forge Ruin Panel Overlook:]
{Grants ability to regulate the Techno Forge Realm, including but not limited to material synthesis, blueprint memory bank access, and artifact evolution engine.}
The system notification blinked in and out as Ryuk calmly read through, comprehending each piece—but not completely.
So in the end, he decided to make things simper: experience things firsthand.
"Activate Sovereign of Techno Forge," he uttered.
In the next instant, something opened right above Ryuk's head.
As he turned his head up toward it, he saw the sight of a gigantic vortex spiraling from the point above him, quickly expanding until it reached about five meters in diameter.
Ryuk floated upward, disappearing into the vortex, which closed back.
When he opened his eyes, he opened them to the sight of a familiar place.
The same broken realm with debris of floating buildings and destabilized gravity—but what was clear to Ryuk now were the Techno Forge Warriors that were glitching in and out of existence.
He was more than surprised when he found one standing before the rest.
It was none other than Ascendant General Oblivor, whom he had defeated and almost destroyed—now standing before him, although his form was more glitched out than the rest.
[Techno Ruin Panel Overlook system has been activated]
[Ruin Panel: Techno Forge System Overview.]
Ruin Classification: Sovereign-Class Construct Bastion
Status: Partially Reactivated
Energy Core Integrity: 25%
Access Granted to: Ryuk I Status: Bound Sovereign
"So, I truly have obtained the ability to be in charge of the Techno Forge Realm, huh."
"Nice, but it seems the energy core of it is very low right now."
"Perhaps that is why all of these Techno Warriors are glitching and unstable?"
"The realm's energy is too low to sustain their forms," Ryuk muttered, looking at various Techno Forge warriors who were unresponsive.
"Perhaps I just need to find a way to increase the energy level..." he uttered before focusing his attention back to the panel.
[Core Functions available at Current Level: 1]
Access to Ruin Interior
Awakened Soldier Command
Basic Blueprint Archives (Locked)
New Construct Designs (Locked)
"Right now, the Techno Forge Realm is at Level 1. Makes sense for its low energy core then."
"But it seems the majority of its effects are locked up."
"The only thing I'm capable of right now is the ability to enter the Techno Forge Ruin itself, and the Awakened Soldier Command—which means all the current glitching Nano Force soldiers should be able to be controlled by me..." Ryuk muttered, and he blinked right then and there, appearing before a random Techno Forge warrior.
One that seemed like a huge tiger—and Ryuk's hand stretched downward as it landed on its head.
Immediately, the word entered his lips as he unconsciously muttered:
Immediately, a ripple spread out from Ryuk's hands toward the glitching Techno constructs, and the watched as the gllitching energy quickly coiled tighter before the tiger beast Construct's two eyes flashed a bright blue, settling on Ryuk himself before—
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAARRRR!!!
It raised up its head and loudly roared into the sky, as if declaring its awakening before coming to stand directly behind Ryuk.
"So I can awaken them. Most likely all of them—and they follow my basic command."
"The basic blueprint archives are locked. I don't know what that means, but then the construct creation system is also closed."
"Could that mean... I could create more of these guys?" he muttered, looking at glitching Techno warriors.
"Also, new construct designs are also locked."
"That means there must be new designs to be used in the created constructs. Right now, there are beasts, humanoid warriors, and even man-beasts."
"Perhaps there are even more—and once I level up this Techno Forge Realm higher, I should be able to get them all," Ryuk muttered to himself before he continued reading the panel.
The next few words were the ones that really shook his heart as he felt it loudly thumping in his chest.
[Current Awakened Techno Forge Soldiers: 200]
[Potential Capability:...]