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*****
Because the Dwarven race was so small in number and tended to be reclusive, many throughout the universe believed Nidavellir to be a myth—a place of legend said to forge weapons of unimaginable power and terrifying might.
As a masterpiece of the Dwarf King, this magic staff was naturally more than just an accessory.
In truth, the genuine friendship of a Dwarf was far more precious than Fenyx had initially imagined. To craft this staff for him, Eitri had personally contributed a vast array of supplementary materials from his own collection. Consequently, while the staff hadn't quite reached the tier of a "Divine Artifact," it was undoubtedly a rare, high-quality weapon.
"The White Dragon Wand!?"
Fenyx ran his hand over the textured, lightweight staff. He felt the name was a bit lacking. After thinking hard for a moment, he looked at Eitri and asked, "How about 'White Dragon's Breath'?"
"Is there a meaning behind it?" Eitri asked, curious.
"Not really. I just think it sounds a bit cooler!" Fenyx shook his head. He had also considered names like 'White Dragon's Flame' or 'The Explosion Staff.'
"..."
Eitri wasn't quite sure how to respond, so he simply began introducing the features of the 'Yet-to-be-Named' staff.
"While this staff may not be my absolute finest work, it ranks among the most outstanding weapons I have ever forged."
Eitri took a moment to indulge in some well-earned pride before continuing: "Aside from the Vibranium you provided, I incorporated some of Asgard's Uru metal and several other alloys renowned for their durability."
"In terms of hardness, it is nearly on par with Thor's Mjolnir. It's a pity we didn't have the core of a dying star; otherwise, it's not impossible that its durability could have surpassed the hammer itself!"
Eitri spoke with a hint of regret, but Fenyx's jaw dropped in surprise.
Originally, Fenyx had only wanted a weapon to serve as a symbol of his identity. He hadn't expected the Dwarves to craft something so formidable. This outcome was entirely beyond his expectations.
He had thought that allowing the Dwarves to study 'Incursio' in exchange for a Vibranium weapon was a fair trade. But now that Eitri had made the staff so magnificent, Fenyx felt like he was getting away with a massive steal.
"It is engraved with a 'Power Gathering' array, which allows it to fire energy blasts. I also mixed in some dust from the golden branches of Alfheim, which should provide a boost to your mental focus."
"There is also a 'Recall' enchantment. Within a fifty-meter range, you can summon it back to your hand at any time. It's a shame you insisted the tip be shaped like the Blue-Eyes White Dragon; that made it impossible to carve certain other magical arrays onto it."
Hearing about the recall function, Fenyx's mind immediately drifted to Captain America's shield. He began to wonder if Tony's father, Howard, had coincidentally carved a similar array into the shield when he made it. Otherwise, how else could Cap throw that shield in total defiance of the laws of physics and have it return to him?
As Eitri continued the introduction, Fenyx felt increasingly uneasy about accepting the weapon so easily.
Before the forging began, he had only specified the style and size. He hadn't said a word about power or extra features. All these rare materials had been added by Eitri on his own initiative.
Fenyx valued friendship deeply. If someone treated him well, he felt a strong urge to reciprocate. For instance, even though his relationship with Tony had started off rocky, as they grew closer, Fenyx had been willing to consider using 'Dalet' (the Fourth Bullet) to help Tony with his surgery, even if it meant consuming his own precious time.
Regardless of whether Eitri acted out of pure friendship or some other motive, Fenyx didn't want to accept such a massive favor for nothing.
"To be honest, saying I'm 'satisfied' with it would be an understatement," Fenyx said slowly, looking at the self-satisfied Eitri. "However, Eitri... it's actually too good. It makes it hard for me to just take it."
Eitri looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't charge me a single coin for the labor, and now you've poured all these precious materials into it. I truly don't know how to compensate you."
Fenyx studied Eitri. After spending the last few days together, he believed the Dwarf King simply wanted to forge a great weapon for its own sake.
Eitri blinked, then waved a massive hand dismissively. "It's no matter. Those were my own materials to use as I saw fit."
"That's exactly why I feel so bad about it!" Fenyx sighed. His expression turned solemn as he looked at the Dwarf King. "While I don't have anything tangible to give you as compensation right now, I can share a piece of information that is vital to your future."
Fenyx thought it over and realized that, aside from a lifetime supply of fried chicken rolls, the only thing of real value he could offer Eitri was 'intel' regarding the future. With his own interference in the timeline, who knew if Thanos would wait to collect most of the stones before forging the Gauntlet? He might decide to start early.
"Information!?" Eitri asked, perplexed.
Fenyx pulled 'White Dragon's Nourishment' from his robes, opened it, and showed Eitri the Space Stone within. "Are you familiar with this?"
Eitri crouched down, staring in astonishment at the gem in Fenyx's hand. "An Infinity Stone!? How did you come to possess such a thing?"
"A stroke of luck," Fenyx said, stowing the stone away. He looked Eitri in the eye. "As I understand it, you are capable of forging a device that can harness the combined power of the stones—an Infinity Gauntlet. Is that correct?"
Eitri's shock hadn't even faded before he nodded again. This was supposed to be an extremely well-guarded secret; he was baffled as to how Fenyx knew.
"There is a being in the universe named Thanos. He has been hunting for the power of the Infinity Stones for a long time. Given his physiology, even he would struggle to control the power of all the stones at once. Therefore, a Gauntlet will eventually be one of his primary objectives."
"Thanos..." Eitri felt like he had heard the name somewhere, but as someone who cared for nothing but ale and the forge, the memory was fuzzy. "Are you saying he will come to me to forge it?"
Eitri shook his head. "The Infinity Stones have almost never been gathered by a single person. Even if he wants a gauntlet, it would be useless. Besides, I have no intention of ever forging such a thing again."
"That is exactly what I wanted to warn you about. He is a brutal man and incredibly powerful. He will not hesitate to use the lives of your people to threaten you into compliance."
Upon hearing this, Eitri actually laughed. He offered Fenyx a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, no one can threaten us. Asgard protects Nidavellir, and the strength of the All-Father, Odin, is beyond your imagination."
"But Odin is old. He cannot protect you forever."
Fenyx looked at the indifferent Eitri and said in a heavy voice, "Ragnarok could arrive at any moment. When that time comes, Asgard might struggle just to save itself. How will it protect you then!?"
Seeing the gravity in Fenyx's gaze, Eitri's smile faded. He frowned and replied, "Then I suppose I would just forge it for him."
"And what if he wants to ensure that no one else can ever obtain a gauntlet after him!?"
Fenyx watched Eitri's face darken as the implication sank in. "This is the warning I have for you: if the day ever comes that he seeks you out, you must be extremely, extremely careful."
(End of Chapter)