The Fusion Reactor Core, now the power source for the entire hidden base, pulsed with a steady, deep hum. But for the next fifteen seconds, Dr. Seraphina Voss was preparing to turn that stability into controlled chaos.
"The Jade Claw's jammer is disrupting all Tier-2 and lower digital comms in the sector," Anya stated, her voice tight with focused tension. "We need a Tier 3 weapon to cut through the noise, and the Core is the only source of pure, raw fusion data we can use as the matrix."
Kai stood before the massive Core, the newly forged Celestial Forge Blade hilt ready in his hand. The risk was monumental: destabilize the Core too much, and they would be incinerated by a spiritual-thermal explosion.
"I will stabilize the spiritual anchor during the disruption," Kai confirmed. "Doctor Voss, begin the isolation sequence. Fifteen seconds. Anya, you will direct the data extraction using your Qi Symbiont link."
Dr. Voss initiated the sequence. With a series of precise magnetic pulses, she isolated the Fusion Core's primary containment field, creating a volatile fracture point.
ZZZZZT-CRACKLE!
The Core roared. Raw, high-frequency fusion data—pure energy and light—flew out of the fracture point, overwhelming the lab's sensors.
[WARNING! RAW FUSION DATA LEAK DETECTED. TIME TO CONTAINMENT FAILURE: 15 SECONDS!]
The Extraction
Kai acted instantly. He didn't use the Forge; he used his Qi Condensation Domain to physically draw the escaping data stream.
He extended his left hand, focusing his pure Essence. The chaotic fusion data condensed into a shimmering, volatile stream of silver light, pulled directly into his palm.
"Nine seconds!" Anya shouted, her eyes fixed on the timer.
The pressure of the raw fusion data was immense. It was physical and spiritual, burning his palm.
[HOST SUSTAINING RAW DATA DAMAGE. HEALTH: 80% -> 70% -> 60%.]
"I have the data!" Kai grit out, forcing the stream into the Celestial Forge Blade hilt. The legendary artifact immediately began the purification process, stabilizing the raw fusion energy.
"Three seconds! Containment failure imminent!" Voss screamed.
Kai severed the data stream with a sharp blast of his Qi. He then turned to the Core, channeling his full Qi Condensation power into the Fusion Core's Harmonic Suppression Net.
> EXECUTE ACTION: QI CONDENSATION DOMAIN – HARMONIC RE-INTEGRATION.
He forced his pure, clean Essence into the fracture point, sealing the magnetic containment field instantly. The Core subsided, stabilizing with a deep, relieved hum.
[FUSION CORE STABILIZED. RAW FUSION DATA EXTRACTED AND PURIFIED.]
[HOST SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. E-PT COST: 10 E-PTs (Emergency Healing).]
Dr. Voss collapsed against the console, breathing heavily. "Perfect synchronization. The Forge is ready for the data. You now hold the matrix for a Tier 3 digital weapon."
The Forging of the Digital Scythe
Kai immediately channeled the purified Fusion Data, now a stable, shimmering silver liquid, into the Tier 3 Forge matrix. Anya stood beside him, holding out her silver Qi Symbiont Ring.
"Forge it onto the Ring, Kai," Anya commanded. "It will act as the power source and the interface."
[FORGE (TIER 3) ABILITY ACTIVATED – TIER 3 STRATEGIC WEAPON.]
[TARGET: DIGITAL SCYTHE (TIER 3 – ARTIFACT).]
[COST: 50 E-PTs + PURE FUSION DATA MATRIX (REQUIRED) + QI SYMBIONT RING (INTERFACE).]
Kai released 50 E-PTs. The silver Fusion Data flowed from his hand, wrapping around Anya's ring. The Forge shaped the data, not into a physical blade, but into a sleek, retractable forearm device—a digital scythe composed entirely of stable, programmable light.
[FORGE COMPLETE: DIGITAL SCYTHE (TIER 3) CREATED.]
[HAREM MEMBER #1 (ANYA) STATUS UPDATE:]
Weapon: Digital Scythe (Tier 3) acquired.
Effect 1: Data Scythe – Can cut through Tier 4 and lower digital encryption/jammers.
Effect 2: Qi Tracing Enhancement – Drastically improves the Qi Symbiont Ring's ability to map enemy Dantian structures upon physical contact.
Anya stared at the newly forged weapon—a piece of brilliant digital light now retractable onto her Symbiont Ring.
"Incredible," Anya murmured, flexing her forearm. "A digital weapon forged from a fusion reactor core, powered by your Qi. The Jade Claw's jammer won't even slow me down."
The Strategic Plan
With the weapon forged, the final plan for the Jade Claw confrontation could be executed.
"Doctor Voss, your analysis," Kai commanded.
Voss, now fully energized by the success, brought up the tactical schematics. "The Jade Claw's jammer creates a perfect, circular security blanket 500 meters wide. They are likely using a central hub—a Tier-5 mobile array—to broadcast the disruption."
"Anya, your job is clear," Kai stated. "You bypass the digital jammer with the Digital Scythe and locate that central hub. You must disrupt the broadcast before the Jade Claw initiates the attack."
"And your job?" Anya countered, her blue eyes sharp.
"The Jade Claw will be using the jammer to isolate and corner me. If you take out the hub, the jammer will fail, and his Qi signature will be fully exposed. At that moment, I will use my Celestial Forge Blade to end the fight and ascend to the next realm."
Anya nodded, slipping the Digital Scythe interface into place. "Understood. The digital war is mine; the spiritual war is yours. We move in one hour."
The Final Contact
Kai used the remaining hour to connect back to the Outer Sector. He needed to ensure his family's motivation was intact before risking his life against the Peak-Stage threat.
He established a single, ultra-secure, ephemeral comms link to Ellie's terminal.
Ellie's face appeared—tired, but calm. "Kai! We saw the news. They're calling the chaos in the Mid-Sector a terrorist attack. Are you truly safe?"
"Safer than ever, love," Kai assured her, his voice imbued with the authority of his new realm. "The threat has been localized and is about to be eliminated. We're fighting for the future, Ellie. And I'm forging a world where they can study their blueprints and play their games without fear."
He focused his Qi Condensation Essence, sending a silent, low-frequency wave of pure, stabilizing energy through the comms line. It was an undetectable act of spiritual comfort.
[SLICE OF LIFE: FAMILY REASSURANCE SUCCESSFUL]
Reward: HOST QI STABILITY BOOST (Moderate). Core Motivation locked.
He saw the lines of worry smooth around Ellie's eyes. "Then hurry back, Kai. We miss you."
He terminated the link. His core motivation was reinforced. He looked at the Celestial Forge Blade—the ultimate weapon forged from vengeance and purity. He was ready for the Jade Claw. He was ready for the Qi Condensation breakthrough.