The roar rolled beneath the village like distant thunder.
Every person inside the workshop instinctively looked toward the floor.
The sound did not resemble the cry of an ordinary beast.
Nor did it resemble the failed creations Drake had encountered beneath the Origin Forge.
It was older.
Deeper.
The kind of sound that awakened instincts buried inside blood itself.
Granite, the massive stone ape, slowly backed away from the broken floor.
Its powerful arms trembled.
The two-headed wolf flattened both ears.
The crystal-feathered bird folded its wings tightly against its body.
Even Ember, who until now had faced every enemy with reckless courage, pressed itself closer against Drake’s neck.
Fear flowed through their bond.
Not panic.
Recognition.
As though something ancient inside the little dragon remembered that roar.
Captain Veller lowered his sword completely.
For the first time since entering the Ashford workshop, he was no longer watching Drake.
He was watching the mountain.
Another tremor followed.
The wooden walls groaned.
Outside, frightened voices echoed through the village.
“What was that?” “The mountain’s shaking!” “Everyone outside!” More bells began ringing.
Not one.
Not two.
Nearly every bell tower in Blackstone answered the disturbance.
Drake tightened his grip on the Origin Hammer.
“Grandfather…” Gareth slowly pushed himself upright with the help of the old anvil.
His breathing remained labored, yet his eyes had become strangely calm.
“It has awakened.” Drake looked toward him.
“What has?” The old blacksmith stared toward the hidden staircase beneath the broken floor.
“The First Failure.” Silence followed.
Even Captain Veller seemed unwilling to interrupt.
Drake frowned.
“You mean the first failed beast?” Gareth slowly nodded.
“No.” “The first failed creation.” “There is a difference.” Before Drake could ask what he meant, another voice echoed through the workshop.
“Forge Warden Gareth Ashford.” The deep metallic tone belonged to Vulcan.
The ancient guardian emerged from the darkness beneath the broken floor.
Each heavy step caused the old wooden planks to creak beneath his immense weight.
Several guild soldiers instinctively raised their weapons.
Granite immediately stepped between Vulcan and Drake.
The guardian stopped.
His pale blue eyes examined the stone ape.
Then, surprisingly…
He lowered his hammer.
“Creature identified.” “Designation: Granite.” “Temperament: Protective.” “Threat assessment: None.” Granite slowly relaxed.
Drake blinked.
“You know him?” Vulcan turned his helmet toward the ape.
“I forged his ancestor.” The workshop fell completely silent.
Granite stared at the guardian.
Slowly…
The enormous beast lowered itself onto one knee.
Then both.
It bowed.
Not because anyone commanded it.
Because it chose to.
Captain Veller whispered, “Impossible…” Drake stared at Vulcan.
“You forged…” “…the ancestor of every Granite Ape?” “Correct.” The guardian answered without pride.
“As did many Beast Blacksmiths before the Fall.” Drake suddenly realized something.
Every legendary magical beast recorded throughout history…
Had they truly evolved naturally?
Or…
Had someone forged them?
The realization sent chills through him.
Captain Veller’s expression darkened.
“If the Guild learns this…” “They already suspect it.” Gareth interrupted.
“But suspicion and proof are very different things.” Vulcan slowly turned toward Gareth.
“The prison weakens.” “I know.” “Containment estimated at thirteen minutes.” Drake’s head snapped toward them.
“Thirteen minutes until what?” The guardian answered immediately.
“The First Failure escapes.” Drake felt Ember’s heartbeat quicken.
Through their bond came an image.
Darkness.
Chains.
One enormous golden eye opening.
The hatchling had not seen it.
The image had come from somewhere else.
Some instinct buried inside its newly forged soul.
Drake gently touched Ember’s head.
“It’s all right.” The hatchling didn’t seem convinced.
Captain Veller finally stepped forward again.
“Explain.” Gareth looked toward him.
“I owe you nothing.” “You owe this kingdom everything if that monster escapes.” The old blacksmith sighed.
“You still don’t understand.” “The prison was never built to protect humanity.” “It was built…” “…to protect the creature.” Everyone stared at him.
Drake frowned.
“What does that mean?” Gareth walked slowly toward the broken floor.
His steps were unsteady.
Yet every word remained firm.
“The First Beast Blacksmith.” “He wished to create life.” “But he lacked one thing.” “A Heart Rune.” Drake’s eyes widened.
Just like Ember.
“No Heart Rune…” “…means no identity.” “No compassion.” “No purpose.” Vulcan completed the explanation.
“The first creation possessed unlimited potential.” “It evolved without limit.” “It learned without restraint.” “It felt neither love nor hatred.” “It only desired.” Drake’s stomach tightened.
“What did it desire?” Vulcan answered.
“To become complete.” A heavy silence settled across the room.
Captain Veller slowly understood.
“It consumed other beasts.” “Correct.” “It absorbed their bloodlines.” “Correct.” “It evolved endlessly.” “Correct.” Drake felt cold.
“How did they stop it?” Gareth closed his eyes.
“They couldn’t kill it.” “So they imprisoned it.” “Forever.” Another roar shook the mountain.
This time…
Part of the workshop floor collapsed.
Dust exploded upward.
The hidden staircase became completely visible.
Blue light escaped from below.
Vulcan looked toward Drake.
“Forge Master.” Drake blinked.
“Who?” “You.” The words felt unreal.
“I’m only First Ember.” “You are the highest surviving Beast Blacksmith.” “Therefore…” “…you are Forge Master.” Captain Veller laughed bitterly.
“So the fate of an ancient prison rests upon a village boy.” Drake ignored him.
“What do I do?” Vulcan’s answer came immediately.
“Escape.” Drake stared.
“What?” “The hidden road remains open.” “Travel east.” “Protect the Origin Forge.” “The prison will eventually fail regardless.” Drake looked toward Gareth.
“You agree?” The old man remained silent.
Too silent.
Drake suddenly understood.
“No.” Gareth finally spoke.
“I disagree.” Vulcan slowly turned toward him.
“The probability of survival is below two percent.” “I know.” “The logical action remains retreat.” “I know.” “The Forge Master must survive.” “I know.” Drake looked between them.
“What are you talking about?” Gareth rested one hand upon the old furnace.
“If we leave…” “…Blackstone dies.” Silence.
Outside…
The frightened voices continued.
Children cried.
People called for missing family members.
The villagers knew nothing about ancient prisons.
Nothing about Beast Blacksmiths.
Nothing about the monster sleeping beneath their homes.
They were innocent.
Drake pictured the old baker who always gave him leftover bread.
The widow who sharpened farming tools every spring.
The children who played near the village well.
They would never outrun something capable of shaking a mountain.
Captain Veller looked toward Drake.
“If you remain…” “…you die.” Drake answered quietly.
“If I leave…” “…they die.” No one spoke.
Even Veller remained silent.
Through their bond…
Ember looked toward Drake.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Only one feeling.
Together.
Drake smiled faintly.
“Yeah.” “Together.” Granite slowly stood.
The giant ape stepped beside Drake.
Then…
The two-headed wolf approached.
After several moments of hesitation…
The crystal bird landed upon a broken beam nearby.
One after another…
The freed beasts gathered behind Drake.
Not because of commands.
Not because of contracts.
Because they chose to.
Captain Veller stared.
“They’re…” “They’re following him.” Vulcan’s blue eyes flickered.
“Correction.” “They have acknowledged him.” Drake looked back at the gathered beasts.
He had forged only Ember.
Yet somehow…
The others looked at him as though expecting guidance.
The responsibility felt overwhelming.
Gareth smiled.
“Now…” “…you finally understand.” Drake looked toward him.
“The difference between a Beast Tamer…” “…and a Beast Blacksmith.” Outside…
Another deafening roar echoed across the mountain.
This one much closer.
The ground split open beyond the workshop.
Villagers screamed.
A cloud of birds erupted from the forest.
Captain Veller immediately turned toward the door.
“That wasn’t beneath the forge.” Vulcan answered.
“No.” “The First Failure has already reached the surface.” Drake’s eyes widened.
“How?” “The prison failed earlier than predicted.” The guardian looked toward the broken workshop wall.
“It has learned.” The words chilled everyone present.
“It learned?” “Correct.” “It has been observing.” “It adapted.” “It found another exit.” Granite suddenly beat one massive fist against its chest.
The ape roared toward the village.
The two-headed wolf answered.
The crystal bird spread its wings.
Ember’s tiny blue flames burned brighter than ever.
Drake took one deep breath.
He looked toward Gareth.
His grandfather slowly nodded.
No words were needed.
Drake understood.
The hidden road could wait.
Blackstone could not.
He lifted the Origin Hammer.
Its silver veins blazed with blue fire.
The mark upon his hand pulsed.
Every beast behind him stepped forward.
Captain Veller watched in stunned silence.
“You…” “…intend to fight it?” Drake looked toward the destroyed doorway.
Toward the terrified village.
Toward the mountain that had shaped his entire life.
Then he answered.
“I intend…” “…to protect my home.” At that exact moment— A shadow passed across the moon.
Every person in the workshop looked upward.
Something enormous flew above Blackstone.
It blocked the moonlight for several heartbeats.
Its wings stretched wider than the village itself.
One golden eye opened within the darkness.
Then it looked directly at Drake.
Through the mark on his hand…
Through Ember’s Heart Rune…
Through the Origin Forge…
A single ancient thought echoed inside Drake’s mind.
“…Creator…” The presence vanished into the storm.
No one moved.
Not even Vulcan.
Finally…
The guardian spoke.
His mechanical voice carried something Drake had never heard before.
Fear.
“The First Failure…” “…has found its Forge Master.” — End of Chapter 5