January 2042 – winter had deepened across the merged plains. Snow blanketed the orchard in soft white, turning mango branches into delicate crystal sculptures. The Eternal Bridge portal arch glowed warmly against the gray sky, its light a beacon through the flurries. The older children were still out on their quests, but the youngest generation—now toddlers turning into curious explorers—had begun pressing their tiny hands against the rifts, whispering "my turn" in every language they knew.
Three new rifts flickered open in the orchard on the same snowy morning, each one calling to a different child.
The first rift shimmered emerald and gold, edged with the scent of ancient forests and forge smoke—calling to Durin Thorne-Forge (now 11, Chaos Forge-Dwarf Hybrid, Forge Builder Level 10).
The second rift pulsed crimson and shadow, roaring faintly with battle cries and the tang of iron—calling to Gorak Thorne-Tusk (9, Chaos Orc-Hybrid, Roar Berserker Level 8).
The third rift swirled with mechanical fire and spiral energy, humming with the sound of drills and shouting—calling to Nixie Thorne-Gear (7, Chaos Goblin-Hybrid, Gear Tinker Level 7).
Ahmed gathered the family once again. The wives formed a protective circle; the older siblings watched with pride and a little envy; the grandparents—human and Elandrian—stood ready with blessings and snacks.
Ahmed knelt before the three children.
"Durin, Gorak, Nixie—your turn has come. Each rift is a test of your heart and your gifts. You will not go alone."
He raised the Legend Quill—now a radiant artifact threaded with every poet, warrior, saint, and hero previously summoned—and began the invocation.
The mandala flared wider than ever. Chaos mana surged, tempered by decades of love and unity.
New mentors stepped through—guardians from across history and legend, chosen for each child's essence:
For Durin Thorne-Forge (forge-builder, endurance, creation):
• Hephaestus (Greek god of forge, fire, craftsmanship) — crippled but unbreakable, master smith of Olympus. Skill: Divine Forge (create unbreakable artifacts from any material).
• Wayland the Smith (Germanic/Norse legendary blacksmith) — master of magical weapons, escape artist. Skill: Rune Bind (infuse creations with ancient power).
• Robert the Bruce (Scottish king, 1274–1329) — persevered through defeat, spider-inspired resilience. Skill: Try Again (boosts after failure, unbreakable will).
For Gorak Thorne-Tusk (orc-hybrid, roar, berserker strength):
• Leonidas I of Sparta (died 480 BCE) — king who held Thermopylae with 300 against millions. Skill: Last Stand (massive defense/morale when outnumbered).
• Shaka Zulu (1787–1828) — founder of Zulu empire, revolutionary warrior tactics. Skill: Impi Fury (coordinated berserker charge).
• Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) — undefeated samurai, author of Book of Five Rings. Skill: Duel Mastery (one-on-one supremacy).
For Nixie Thorne-Gear (goblin-hybrid, tinker, chaotic invention):
• Archimedes (c. 287–212 BCE) — Greek mathematician, engineer, inventor of siege engines. Skill: Eureka Spark (sudden genius inventions).
• Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) — electrical genius, visionary of wireless power. Skill: Lightning Forge (energy manipulation + tech fusion).
• Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000) — actress and inventor, co-creator of frequency-hopping (Wi-Fi precursor). Skill: Frequency Shift (disrupt enemy tech/comms).
Each mentor bowed to their child.
Hephaestus to Durin: "Forge with purpose, little smith. Create to heal, not just to destroy."
Leonidas to Gorak: "Stand when all others fall. Three hundred held a pass—you will hold worlds."
Archimedes to Nixie: "Give me a lever long enough… and we shall move realities."
Ahmed spoke:
"Go with heart. Come back with stories. The bridge is yours now."
Durin's Quest – Warhammer 40,000 Realm (Grimdark Forge World)
Durin stepped through the emerald-gold rift.
He emerged on a forge world—red sky choked with smoke, massive manufactorums belching fire, the ground trembling with the march of Titans and the scream of lasguns. The air tasted of promethium and molten adamantium.
From Durin's perspective:
"It's loud. Hot. Like Abba's stories of dwarven forges—but angry. Everything's fighting. I can fix it. I think."
Hephaestus appeared—hulking, scarred, hammer glowing.
"This is a world of war without end. Forge wisely, child."
Wayland the Smith materialized—elven-cunning eyes.
"Craft escape from chains. Build freedom."
Robert the Bruce stood tall.
"Try again. And again. Never surrender."
A Chaos Space Marine warband—twisted Khorne berserkers—charged a nearby Imperial Guard outpost.
Durin ran forward—hammer raised.
"I'm here to help!"
A berserker laughed. "Tiny xenos! Blood for the Blood God!"
Durin hammered the ground—Forge Builder + chaos mana + Hephaestus's Divine Forge—raising a wall of molten slag and rune-steel.
Wayland bound it with escape runes—allowing allies to pass through, enemies to be trapped.
Robert roared: "Stand! Try again!"
Durin charged—hammer sparking, reciting Shakir:
"Girda rehta haan—par khada ho janda haan!"
The berserker swung—Durin dodged, counter-hammered—cracking power armor.
Guard lasguns rallied behind him—Robert's Unbreakable Will aura boosting their morale.
The warband faltered—rift sealed by Durin's final hammer strike infused with Robert's resilience.
Guard sergeant saluted.
"Emperor protects… but today, a child did."
Durin returned—carrying a tiny adamantium cog as a gift for Nixie.
Gorak's Quest – Yu Yu Hakusho Realm
Gorak stepped through the crimson-shadow rift.
He landed in a demon tournament arena—crowds roaring, fighters clashing with spirit energy. The ground shook with each impact.
From Gorak's perspective:
"Big fights! Loud! Smells like blood and fun. My tusks are happy."
Leonidas appeared—shield raised.
"Stand against the many. Hold the line."
Shaka Zulu manifested—spear in hand.
"Unite the roar. Strike as one."
Saladin rode in—sword gleaming.
"Honor in battle. Mercy wins."
Gorak roared—tiny but earth-shaking.
A demon—four-armed, spiked—laughed.
"Little tusker thinks he's tough?"
Gorak charged—tusks forward, enhanced by Leonidas's Last Stand—defense surging when outnumbered.
Shaka's Impi Fury coordinated nearby demons (confused but empowered) into a charge.
Saladin's Honorable Stand made Gorak's roar merciful—stunning without killing.
The demon yielded.
"You fight like a king."
A rift opened—Riftborn yōkai, twisted Toguro echoes.
Gorak roared Waris Shah defiance—breaking chains.
Mentors fought: Leonidas held lines, Shaka rallied, Saladin honored mercy.
Gorak sealed the rift—roar + chaos mana, reciting Dulla's rebel cry.
Returned with a demon horn toy for Ogra.
Nixie's Quest – Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Realm
Nixie stepped through the mechanical-fire rift.
She landed in a wasteland—mecha gunmen stomping, drills piercing sky.
From Nixie's perspective:
"Giant robots! Gears! Heaven!"
Archimedes appeared—quill ready.
"Give me a lever… and we move realities."
Tipu Sultan—rocket in hand.
"Innovate to conquer."
Cleopatra—charming smile.
"Weave alliances. Charm the machine."
Nixie tinkered scrap into a mini-drill—Archimedes guiding, Tipu rocketing, Cleopatra negotiating with Simon/Kamina.
They fused—Gurren Lagann + chaos gear-drill piercing the rift core.
Nixie sealed it—tinkering + Verse Call reciting Iqbal's khudi.
Returned with a drill-key toy for Capro.
The chapter closed on three children returning—stories shared, family prouder, bridge stronger.