Riftside - Chapter 45

“Roq!” I mentally clutched at the familiar presence like a drowning man on a lifeline. “Help me!”

“Ash? How come I can hear you from the spatial storage? And… what's going on with your mind? It's fracturing… breaking apart and reforming? How fascinating! Let me see that a bit closer.”

Another wave of molten agony crashed through me, my muscles locked tight, cramping up. 

“Class gem,” I managed to think through the haze of pain. “Transformation. Edwin said... it’s changing me.”

“Ah! Your breakthrough to the warrior's path.” Roq's presence grew stronger, more focused. “Tell me everything. What does it feel like? Where does it hurt most?”

The gem pulsated against my forehead, sending fresh lightning bolts of torment down my spine. My thoughts scattered like sparks from a hammer strike.

“Everywhere! I'm being torn apart! From the inside. Can't... hard to think straight.”

“Fascinating!” Roq's excitement bubbled through our connection. “Your body IS being torn apart! I can sense it through our bond. The class gem is literally rebuilding you from the inside out! But…” His tone shifted, becoming analytical. “Hmm…the way it’s done is quite inefficient. Slow. Like trying to forge steel with a candle flame.”

“What... what do you mean?”

“This is soul forging!” Roq declared. “Just like what you and Pa did to me, except YOU are both the hammer AND the material being worked on. All that stored energy from the mind gems is reshaping you, but it's super clumsy. Unguided. Feels like the damn gem is walking around in the dark, stumbling along until it finds something to change.”

Spittle bubbled from my lips as I spasmed, the ropes biting into my flesh.

“I wonder,” Roq mused. “My healing ability might be able to interact with this process. Maybe even direct and improve it.”

“What?” The word came out as a mental whimper.

“Think about it!” Roq's excitement mounted. “We have three monster carcasses in storage. I could use Blood Forge to heal specific areas. Maybe it would direct more energy there and speed up the changes, though—” He hesitated. “It might be unpleasant.”

“Worse?”

“Why not try a bit and see if it works? Who knows. Maybe it will hurt less?”

I managed a mental nod.

“Brace yourself.”

A new sensation joined the burning. Where Roq's healing usually felt warm and comfortable, now it felt like dipping my hand in a forge’s coals, escalating the pain beyond anything I'd thought possible. A silent scream tore through my mind and for a moment I thought I was about to lose it.

“Stopping!” Roq's presence withdrew slightly. “That was more intense than expected. But it worked! The transformation accelerated. A lot.” He paused. “What do you want to do?”

The normal pain, if anything about this could be called normal, continued its relentless assault. I struggled to think through the fog of agony.

“Consider the possibilities,” Roq urged. “We could forge you into something extraordinary! Strengthen muscles and enhancing your reflexes. Maybe even unlock abilities no one has seen before! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ash. We could make you truly worthy of wielding me!”

“Risks?”

“I... have no idea. Who knows? But I believe in our combined ability for you to endure physical pain and me in making solid decisions. This might be what's required to make you strong enough to protect our family.”

I thought back to the monsters we'd fought and the House Domitius. And they were just the tip of the iceberg.

“Remember what we saw in that cavern?”

The crystalline king on its throne.

“What happens when something like that decides to pay us a visit? Could Sentinel Station stop it? Or would the monster break through and breach First Steel?”

What if it really did happen and an army of monsters descended on Sentinel Station? What would happen to Ma and Pa?

And those noble bastards... they wouldn't stop. They'd keep coming, keep threatening everything and everyone I loved. I needed to be stronger. Not just for myself, but for all of them.

“Do it. Use it all. Make me strong enough to protect them.”

“Now THAT'S what I wanted to hear!” Roq's presence expanded, filling my awareness. “Let's forge you into a TRUE warrior!”

Agony thumped through me from my forehead as the class gem continued its work.

“Let's start small,” Roq said. “Your right arm. Ready?”

I managed a mental nod.

“Brace yourself. Using Blood Forge in three... two... one...”

Pain surged through me as the class gem's transformation and Roq's power collided, intensifying each other many times over. My arm felt like it was being broken down into components and then reforged all at the same time.

“Fascinating!” Roq's excitement cut through the fog of pain. “The muscle fibers are rebuilding much faster now, and... oh! They're much denser, too! The transformation is using my healing energy as a catalyst! Now this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing, and I thank you for giving me the honor of—”

“Shut up! Tell... tell me  what you see?”

“It's incredible!” Roq said. “Your nerves seem to be reconfiguring for faster response time, better and stronger connections. The tendons are strengthening, becoming more elastic yet remarkably tough. And the muscle structure... it's reorganizing into a more efficient pattern. Like someone took apart a poorly-made sword and reforged it properly!”

Another wave of agony crashed through me, but I focused on his voice.

“Keep... keep talking. Helps.”

“The changes are spreading up your shoulder now,” Roq said. “Your body is learning from what we did to the arm. It's... adapting the pattern. Should we try the other arm? We could establish symmetry, build a foundation for further improvements.”

“Wait. Need... need a system. Warning first. Then... then I prepare.”

“Agreed. A methodical approach. Like proper forging!” Roq said. “Left arm next? I'll count down.”

We developed a rhythm. Roq would announce the target area, count down, then flood it with healing energy while describing the changes in detail. I'd grit through the enhanced agony, focusing on his commentary to keep myself from losing my mind.

“Your endurance is remarkable!” Roq said as we finished my arms and shoulders. “You're embracing the forge! Maybe you will even become as worthy to wield me as that barbarian you keep around.”

“What's... next?”

“Core muscles,” Roq said. “Critical for combat. Then we can—” He broke off suddenly. “Wait. Something's happening in your chest.”

A new sensation bloomed beneath my sternum. It was- not quite pain, but a strange pressure, like a huge bout of indigestion.

“A… hole is forming? Wait! Energy is trickling into it! It must be the core for your combat energy! It's... hold on... we might be able to influence this, too.”

“How?”

“Focus with me. Direct your attention to that sensation. Yes, like that!”

Roq's healing power surged through my chest. The pressure exploded into white-hot agony as the transformation accelerated.

“YES!” Roq said. “Look at that! We're not just rebuilding you, we're burning away the impurities! Like folding steel to remove the weakness!”

Through my torment, I found a pearl of joy. I was pushing beyond any normal limits, and was forged into something new.

“Ash,” Roq said suddenly, his tone serious. “We're running low on both carcasses and healing energy. Maybe eight or ten major changes left before we're done. We need to choose carefully.”

“Suggestions?”

“We could go for overall enhancement by spreading the remaining energy across your whole body. Or—” He paused. “We could focus on specialized improvements. What makes YOU unique as a warrior?”

I tried to think about my fighting style through the pain, and how I wielded Roq. It always came down to one thing, and that was hitting hard enough to end threats quickly.

“Or, I could try to add some spikes? A nice one on your forehead might be useful?”

“Suck monster balls!”

“I'm joking! Humor to keep your mind from shattering!”

“Go with strength. Pure striking power.”

“Now THAT'S what I wanted to hear!” Roq said. “Let's make you strong enough to crack mountains! Ready to begin?”

“Do it.”

“Three... two... one...”

The pain built as Roq concentrated his healing energy.

“Careful now,” Roq said. “We're pushing everything into your core muscle groups. This will hurt more than anything yet, but it'll be worth it.”

A new wave of pain exploded through me, as if a million burning needles stabbed into every fiber of my being and my muscles felt like they were being unraveled strand by strand, then woven back together with metallic threads. My body arched against the ropes, my jaw locked so tight I thought my teeth would shatter, my heart beating so fast I couldn't separate the beats.

“Steady, Ash!” Roq said. “Think about why we're doing this. Who we're protecting.”

Ma's face flashed through my mind, and her proud smile when I showed my first forged knife. Pa working at the anvil, teaching me the secrets of steel. The look in Eryn's eyes as I told her I loved her and even more when she returned it. Knut, a new brother I never thought I needed.

“That's it!” Roq encouraged. “Channel that feeling! Let it guide you through the pain!”

I clung to those images as the pain continued. Every moment of torment meant being better able to keep them safe.

“I'm working on your skeletal structure now,” Roq said. “Reinforcing bone density, strengthening attachment points.”

My clothes were soaked through with sweat from my body's violent reconstruction, and in all honesty, for a moment I thought I was just about to die. The pain became so strong that I couldn’t even breathe.

“Almost there!” Roq said. “The changes are flowing beautifully! Your energy core is expanding, creating new channels throughout your body. This is beyond anything we've forged so far! Even the rare Scuttler armor!”

My vision swam as the transformation reached its peak.

“Wait...” Roq's tone shifted. “The mind gem energy is fading.”

“What... what's left?”

“Final adjustments to neural pathways,” Roq said. “Enhancing reaction speed, improving coordination. Then one last push to ensure everything integrates properly. Ready?”

I gave a mental nod, but it didn’t really matter as I was barely hanging on.

“Three... two... one...”

The remaining energy surged through my system like lightning in one fell swoop, burning like an explosion.

“Perfect!” Roq crowed. “You should see this, Ash! The improvements we've made... I've forged you into something outstanding! You, Ash, are the first human to ever receive this treatment, I am sure! You are the one and only, original Hammerlord!”

The pain ebbed as the last of the mind gem energy dispersed.

“Want to hear the full list?” Roq asked, pride evident in his voice. “Enhanced strength in arms, shoulders, and core. Reinforced skeletal structure. Improved neural responses. Expanded combat energy capacity. Elastic yet incredibly tough connective tissue. Even your skin…”

Roq's voice faded as the pain disappeared, and I gasped for air. Tears streamed down my face as my body shuddered with relief, alone with the silence and the memory of what I’d just gone through. Whatever Roq had done to me, it was far from an ordinary class upgrade. Where others would have to suffer in darkness, hoping for improvements and to not lose their minds, I had no doubt him guiding the process had turned me into something special.

A laugh bubbled up from my chest. It was part hysteria, part triumph, part simple joy at still being alive and sane. No wonder they kept this secret. If people knew the true cost of becoming classed, the agony involved and the real possibility of dying, we’d see far fewer adventurers.

From below I heard Edwin telling my parents to be quiet.

The ropes still held me firmly against the cot, but I didn't mind. I welcomed a moment just to breathe, to process what had happened. 

My body burned with power, like a freshly quenched blade waiting to be tested. Soon I'd see exactly what he’d forged me into. But for now, I simply breathed, savoring each painless inhalation.

After a few moments, I tried to move, but Edwin had tied the ropes well, with professional knots that bit into my skin whenever I shifted.

I opened my mouth to let them know I was finished and to get help with the ropes, then hesitated. 

How strong am I? 

I drew a deep breath and tensed my muscles, pushing my arms out against the ropes. Where before the coarse fibers would have left me helpless, now they felt... restrictive but not impossible.

I gritted my teeth and strained harder. The ropes tightened and groaned as my enhanced muscles bunched and flexed. With a sharp crack, the rope snapped.

“Portal piss!” Edwin's curse echoed up from below. “Get behind me, all of you! Now!”

I chuckled to myself and swiped Roq from storage.

“Well, well, look who's up and about!” Roq said. “How are you feeling, oh mighty Hammer Lord?”

“Thank you for helping, Roq, but that absolutely, completely, and utterly sucked monster balls.”

“You're most welcome!” Roq preened. “Now check your stats already! I'm figuratively dying to see the changes!”

Touching my left wrist, I called up my soul chart. The familiar interface appeared, but what it showed made my jaw drop.

NAME: Ash Aldrich

CLASS: Hammerlord

LEVEL: 9 (10/10)

STRENGTH: 35

AGILITY: 22

VITALITY: 28 

MIND: 16

TOTAL STATS: 101

MANA: 14/45

ABILITIES:

1. NAME: Hammer Mastery

TYPE: Passive

DESCRIPTION: Hammers deal 15% increased damage. Other weapons deal 25% reduced damage.

2. NAME: Stagger

TYPE: Passive

DESCRIPTION: Hammers have a 10% chance to stagger targets on a successful hit, slowing their target's movement speed for 30 seconds and lower defense parameters by 10%. 

NOTE: Each stack reduces chance by 2%.

3. NAME: Smash

TYPE: Active / Attack

DESCRIPTION: Channel energy into your hammer, causing it to deal extra damage on hit. 

NOTE: Every activation costs 10 mana.

I couldn't help myself and laughed out loud. I'd never imagined anything like this happening. We all heard stories about people getting their classes and some of the upgrades, but this was truly something special.

“Well would you look at that!” Roq said and gave a whistle. “Now THAT'S what an adventurer is supposed to look like!”

“Get a runner!” Edwin's voice carried up down below. “Send for adventurers! Now!”

“What's going on?” Ma demanded. “What's happening with our boy?”

I couldn't stop laughing as I scrolled through the details of my soul chart. The numbers were insane - far beyond what should be possible for a newly classed adventurer. I'd been told to expect up to 20 or 30% increase in stats, not…fifty percent!

“And look at those abilities!” Roq said. “With Hammer Mastery and Stagger, we'll be unstoppable!” He broke off and went silent for a few seconds. “I do hope you'll let me level up now after all I’ve done for you.”

“Roq… What did you do to my class? Why does it say Hammerlord instead of Warrior?” I asked, ignoring his plea for leveling up.

“Well,” Roq said, radiating smug satisfaction, “You're not going to use any other weapon besides me, right? Anything else would be laughably subpar compared to wielding yours truly. Therefore,” he said, pausing dramatically. “You are THE Hammerlord!”

I scratched the back of my head. 

“How in all the bells am I supposed to explain this when people see my soul chart? And—no wait! You just decided for me that I can never use another weapon again unless I want to have a 25% penalty! Roq!”

“Edwin!” Eryn's voice rang out. “Tell us what's wrong with Ash! Is he alright?”

I sighed.

“Hold on. Let me tell them I'm fine first. But we are not done with this conversation.”

I walked to the trapdoor and released the catch. The retractable stairs lowered with a soft creak. The voices below cut off abruptly and I could feel everyone’s eyes staring up at me.

I descended, Edwin standing with his flaming sword drawn and tower shield raised, holding back Ma, Pa, and Eryn who peered around him with wide eyes.

“Is everything alright?” I asked slowly, taking in their shocked expressions.

Edwin's face scrunched up as he stared at me. 

“Ash, is that... really you?”

“Of course it's me. Who else would it be?”

Edwin opened and closed his mouth several times, seemingly unable to form words. Neither of the others could, too.

“Can I come down now?” I asked. “Is something wrong?”

“Do you... do you know who we are?” Edwin asked carefully.

“What? Of course I do! Ma, Pa, Eryn, and you are Commander Edwin. Why are you all acting so strange? Am I dead or something? Have I turned into a monster?” I looked down at my body theatrically.

Edwin slowly lowered his sword, stuttering incoherently.

“Ash?” Eryn's eyes were wide as she stepped past Edwin's shield. “Are you alright? You look… different?”

“Try massive!” Pa boomed. “Boy, what the hell happened up there? Did you eat a monster or something?”

I chuckled, finding my voice sounding a bit different than usual. Deeper.

“I'm fine. And no, I didn’t do such thing, Pa. I just finished breaking through. The process kind of sucked, but the reward,” I said, flexing my enhanced muscles. “Definitely worth it.”

“But—” Edwin started.

Pa slammed a hand down on Edwin's shoulder, making the veteran warrior flinch. 

“What in the rift is going on?”

“It's supposed to take a full day! Or even two!” Edwin blurted. “It's barely been an hour!”

“The worst hour of my life,” I muttered. “Hurt like a bastard, let me tell you that.”

“Of course it was faster!” Roq declared proudly. “Everything's better with me involved. Faster, stronger, superior in every way! You're welcome!”

  *

“I can't believe it,” Edwin muttered, taking another sip of Pa's best whiskey. His hands trembled slightly as he set the glass down. “An hour. One rift rotting hour. And just look at him. He’s as big as Knut.”

I settled onto my usual stool at the counter while Ma, Pa, and Eryn crowded around Edwin. The shop's familiar smells helped ground me after the intense transformation, and by the bells, I could use it.

Everything felt the same yet so different. Heightened even.

“Surely the process takes different amounts of time for different people?” I said, watching Edwin's face closely. “Maybe I'm just... efficient?”

Edwin barked out a laugh, but there was an edge of hysteria to it.

“Efficient? Ash, you don't understand. The shortest transformation I've ever witnessed took eighteen hours. Most take a full day. Some stretch to thirty-six hours or more.” He took another shaky sip. “But one hour? It's impossible. You need to tell me what just happened. We won’t be able to keep this hidden. Word will get out.”

“Well,” I shifted uncomfortably on my stool. “Maybe the gem was especially potent?”

“Or maybe you had an exceptionally talented soul weapon helping guide the process!” Roq said. “Can’t help but notice you're keeping that part out conveniently.”

“Not now, Roq.”

Edwin drained his glass, grimacing at the burn.

“That makes no sense. But I have to report this to the guild. We have a new member, and an extraordinary one at that.” He glanced at me sideways. “Though perhaps we'll leave out the exact duration in the official record. And you, get cleaned up and stay inside for a few hours at least, for heaven’s sake. Don’t let anyone see you right away.”

“Alright, alright. Thanks, but umm, when can I actually join the guild?” I asked.

“Tomorrow,” Edwin said absently, still staring at his empty glass. “I'll set up the process first thing. Paperwork, orientation, guidelines...” He trailed off, shaking his head again.

Pa refilled Edwin's glass without the man even asking.

“Thank you,” Edwin muttered. He knocked back the whiskey in one go, then pushed himself to his feet. “I should, umm, I need to think about this.”

He walked unsteadily toward the door, then stopped. Turning back, he fixed me with an intense stare.

“One more time,” he said carefully. “You're absolutely certain you're not experiencing any homicidal urges? No sudden desire to harm your family? And I’m being serious Ash, so think for a moment before you reply.”

“Of course not!” I said, appalled. “All I want is to protect them. That's why I did this in the first place.”

Edwin nodded slowly.

“Right. Good. That's... that's good.” He turned and walked out, still shaking his head.

The shop fell silent. Pa collected Edwin's glass while Ma straightened some items on the counter that didn't need straightening. Eryn's eyes never left my face.

“What happened up there?” she finally asked. “What was it really like? Was it… you know who? Did he have anything to do with it?”

I hesitated.

“I'm probably not supposed to tell anyone about the details,” I glanced at my family's concerned faces. “But damn that. You especially need to know what you're getting into before you go through it yourself, Eryn.”

Eryn pulled her stool closer, and Ma and Pa settled in to listen after barring the door.

“It started when I pressed the gem to my forehead.”

The retelling took a few minutes, but once I finished, my hand wrapped around Eryn’s and I gave her a comforting squeeze.

“You look different,” Eryn said. “More... solid somehow. And yes, you’re as big as Knut now. That’s just not normal, Ash.”

I nodded.

“And your mind?” Pa asked carefully. “You're sure you're... you?”

“I'm still me, Pa,” I said. “Just more? The pain was insane, though, but I never lost sight of why I was doing it. Who I was doing it for.”

The shop fell silent again as they absorbed my words.

“I should warn you,” I said to Eryn. “When it's your turn, and you'll face this sooner than later, it won't be exactly the same. I had Roq to help guide the process, to make it more efficient. Without that, I have no idea how efficient your transformation will be and how long it will take.”

“I'll have to do it the normal way,” she finished. “The slow way, but I’ll have you watch over me.”

“The safe way,” I corrected. “What Roq and I did... Edwin's reaction shows how unusual it was. How potentially dangerous. Hell, even now I have no idea if it was the smart thing to do.”

“Dangerous?” Roq scoffed. “We created perfection! Though I suppose not everyone can be trusted with such power.”

“But you're okay?” Ma asked again. “Truly?”

I smiled, reaching across the counter to squeeze her hand.

“I'm more than okay, Ma. I'm becoming exactly what I need to be. A bulwark so the monsters and the noble bastards can’t get to you.” I looked among the three people who mattered the most to me in the world, and then stood. “And tonight we're taking the first step towards safety. Eryn?”

She stood, face turning grim. “Yes?”

“I, umm, need to get cleaned up first and will probably need some new clothes. These are a bit too tight… everywhere.”

The three erupted in laughter at that and Ma launched herself at me, hugging me tightly.

“Let me take your measures quickly, son. Eryn and I will get you something presentable for now and order a bunch of new stuff for tomorrow. Come, dear.”

“Wait, what about that other thing?” Eryn asked as Ma tugged at her arm.

“Tonight we get even,” I said, my voice dropping. “Edwin’s request I stay inside be damned.”

“YES!”