The broken magnetic pillars gave way to a slow, dangerous climb in the direction of the raging clouds. As they advanced to the last levels of the Aethereal Crags the region's defenses changed from geological to entirely elemental. The air itself crackled with leftover energy and felt energized.
Anchor kept up the same leisurely pace his massive body moving through the spaces left by the other magnetic anchors. He minimized the forceful disruption to the cradled Stag by moving with a heavy slow grace. With his strong dependable motion and his Aegis humming with suppressed energy, Vulcan continued to be the steadfast point of defense. The enormous artisan was starting to feel the effects of the journey's extreme physical strain.
Ethan became comfortable with his search routine and took advantage of the high altitude. He would Shadow Blink to a high vantage point map the path using his Perception and Logic Bubble and then come back to give Vulcan advice. A unique time of analysis and investigation was made possible by the absence of active, standard, low-level enemies.
Vulcan paused signifying a quick halt to assess the Stag's thermal stability as they arrived upon a stable ice-sheltered ledge a short natural platform. Vulcan leaned against the chilly rock face with his armored hand on his hammer as Anchor surrounded the Stag in its shield.
Vulcan said "The way you utilized the Stag's essence the anti-magic field to counter the magnetic field" with a voice that cut through the thin air and was surprisingly deep and serious. "It was not combat logic. It was a system builder's reasoning. Tell me Witness where you learned the fundamentals of counter-manipulation and fundamental structural mechanics".
Ethan was aware that Vulcan was not inquiring about his proficiency with Logic Bubble but rather about his actual subconscious understanding of Aethelgard's underlying rules and mechanisms.
Ethan responded "My understanding is driven by the immediate need to survive impossible conditions" concentrating on the in-game consequences of failing. "The system offers tremendous power, but it is constrained by rigid, observable regulations. For the magnetic defense to work it had to be predictable rather than unpredictable. My whole strategy is to identify the great design's predictable fault and it also comes from my class witness and also from the M1 effect where i can some hidden mechanisms which no one else see's"
For a long period Vulcan remained silent gazing down at the energized, chaotic clouds that swirled like a vast furious ocean. His eye reflection was a study of deep concentration.
"You refer to it as design". The great blacksmith answered, "I call it art of your skill and passion" his voice bearing the weight of his life's work. "It's a small but important difference. I have devoted my life to comprehending this world's material truthfulness from the breaking point of refined ore to the heat tolerance of dragon scales. However, the boundaries of the canvas itself are visible to you".
He made a hazy gesture toward the clouds and the surrounding summits. "The majority of elite players view this universe as a violent, disorganized hunting ground. Until they give up they break possessions or items. You approach it as a machine to be adjusted an environment to be precisely controlled. Why is effectiveness more important than force?".
Ethan was aware that the best response would directly address Vulcan's greatest passion which is perfection and creation.
"Because the greatest creations are those that perfectly utilize their environment Master Artisan" Ethan stated in a solid voice. "We are coming to accompany a Sovereign entity to a legendary stronghold. Instead of confusion that task calls for flawless coordination. The Stag in the maze would have been destroyed by brute force. To accomplish an unachievable objective, we must control the environment, the terrain and the enemy's reasoning. Just as your hammer demands perfection from the metal, survival requires flawless relentless precision."
With his head tilted slightly beneath the helmet and the metallic sound barely audible over the wind Vulcan took in this reaction. A common ideology based on accuracy had been fully accepted.
"Efficiency and precision" Vulcan repeated while focusing on his equipment belt. He took out a portable, compact device a high-pressure plasma torch and turned it on. In the thin air, the blue-white flame hissed ferociously. "Then let us improve our efficiency further."
Instead of taking a break the Vulcan was making quick improvements. He placed the perfectly steady Legendary crystal that Anchor had given him, the Sovereign Anti-Magic Shard on a tiny magnetic platform that was balanced against the rock.
"The Core Aegis is perfect but it carries a vulnerability to energy stripping as we saw with the Anti-Magic Cascade" Vulcan said with unwavering concentration. This shard can act as a localized stabilizer because it is a pure stable anti-magic essence. It is the ideal substance for the infusion. For it to be permanent it must fuse directly with the mythic core material of the Aegis".
Using the precision low-intensity plasma torch he started the delicate process of merging the Legendary Shard directly into the major energy seam of the Aegis. This was the high art of field refinement a more riskier and more difficult procedure that required perfect control over the plasma temperature in the bitter cold rather than dealing with the unpredictable raw force of the main forge.
Ethan captured the Mythic artisan's intense focus while filming the entire scene. Vulcan's armored shoulders were tense as the plasma torch's light bounced off the granite walls. Using magnetic tongs to manipulate the shard and fuse it with the purple core of the Aegis Vulcan worked with astounding precision. The intense brilliance from the fusion site briefly overpowered the surrounding light before fading.
[CORE AEGIS MYTHIC EQUIPMENT PERMANENTLY MODIFIED]
[NEW PASSIVE EFFECT: SOVEREIGN STABILITY: The aegis now possesses a permanent passive 10% resistance to all magical energy stripping effects, counteracting the environmental anti-magical fields and the defense is increased.]
Immediate and significant progress was made turning the Aegis from a potent energy protection into a much stronger more complete defense against deep magical interference. Their break had been transformed into a significant narrative boost by the silent painstaking effort.
Vulcan said "The performance of the gear is upgraded" and he put out the plasma torch. He fastened the instrument and examined the seals on the Aegis. "Complete stability against our biggest environmental threat is advantageous".
Ethan came to understand that Vulcan was more than just his business associate he was also his main Mythic supplier continuously refining his equipment. The partnership was an ongoing cycle of issue resolution, and excellence.
Now they had pushed over the Crags' impenetrable line. The terrain was getting more dangerous but the air was cleaner. Now covered in a thin, dangerous layer of ice created by the condensing atmospheric moisture the soft crystalline ground indicated enormous falls and secret chasms.
"We will proceed now" Ethan said while tightening his Shadow-Weave Mantle. "The altitude is very high. The stability of the footing and verticality must now be taken into consideration".
The uncommon trio continued their trip ascending into the flawless high-altitude mist that protected the Prime Elementals' ancient home.