Imp to Demon King: A Journey of Conquest

Adam's eyes enlarged as he watched the swirling energy and heard Durgrim's determined words. More than shocked, his heart drummed, making his chest rise erratically as his thoughts raced.

'The ring of Draupnir and Mjöllnir! He knows how to create one of Odin's divine artefacts and Thor's hammer!' His eyes narrowed as he remembered the legendary ring's properties. 'Every ninth night, eight more rings will magically appear. It's Odin's unlimited gold glitch and source of wealth!'

His lips twitched and curled upwards to reach his blazing eyes.

'But the real value is in the crafting method, not the ring. What if he used it to create a divine weapon like Mjöllnir that can duplicate itself?'

The idea sent his shoulders into a rocking frenzy as every muscle in his body tensed at the answer.

'I'll have an army fully equipped with terrifying swords! Even the gods would think twice before provoking me again!'

Fists tightly clenched, he observed Durgrim's rising frame and the awed expression veiling his face. But it wasn't time to speak about crafts, not when an empty sleeve replaced the dwarf's right arm.

"Are you alright, old Durgrim? Take a seat before anything. I don't want your health to worsen."

Face flushed red and abundant sweat pearling down his forehead, the dwarf plopped to the ground. His limbs flailed as if a seizure took his body before he screamed.

"By Thor, what did this crazy ancestor of mine design?! What kind of magic is that even? And the materials?"

His eyes rolled in his sockets as images of the legendary dwarf duo flashed in his eyes like a film.

Before the forge's bright flames, shadows danced on their focused faces. The clangor of metal pounding gold echoed with their powerful yet calculated hammering.

By the side, he noticed a bottle of blood as thick as glue. Its color alone sent a wave of dread to crash against him like a tsunami. Even the air seemed to tremble and bow around its golden sheen.

Instinctively, he knew what it was, and the unbelievable idea made him clutch his throat and gasp for air.

Yet, no matter how he refused to believe it, his ancestor's brown hair fluttered as he gripped the vial and spoke.

"I can't believe it, brother. Odin is using his son's blood to create artefacts after his tragic death."

Lips quivering, Brokkr shook his head and refocused on hammering.

"I gave up trying to understand the Aesirs long ago, especially their boss." His voice sharpened, a burst of searing sparks illuminating his solemn face. "These fools will lead us, head first, into Ragnarök by antagonising someone as chaotic as Loki. Focus on arming them instead and pray his bad wolf won't devour Odin."

The rest of the scene unfolded at breakneck speed as Durgrim witnessed how they gave birth to the legendary golden ring.

Before he witnessed the final product, the crackling of fire died down, and the noise of waves rocking against a cliff gradually replaced them. A breeze followed, carrying the smell of salt and humidity of the sea. The forge dissipated into a rain of sparks to let Svartalfheim's darkness, the realm of dark elves and dwarves, engulf his vision.

However, he ignored the change in scenery and the musty scent to focus on the noise of cracking bones that disrupted the place's silence.

He turned his deathly pale face, his trembling eyes landing on his Brokkr, the golden bone he carved, and Sindri's trembling figure.

"After his blood to enchant Draupnir, we're using his bone to create a shaft..." Sindri shuddered, and his voice cracked. "Brother, I'm terrified by what I have to create."

Brokkr held his forehead as his eyes trailed to an item on the nearby table.

Wrapped under a piece of white cloth, each of its rhythmical puls sent a shiver down his spine. Yet, he refocused on grinding the bones as his voice echoed.

"I'm, too, but we can't lose the bet." He gazed at his brother tenderly before continuing. "If we win, we'll take Loki's head and avoid his chaotic influence during the Ragnarök. Let's endure the disgust together to protect the realms."

Upon hearing their ominous words, Durgrim bit his trembling lips. With each step, Sindri took to the item, his eyes enlarged, and his heart pounded louder than a hammer strike against his chest.

When Sindri pinched the fabric and raised it, his eyes rolled, and darkness almost claimed his consciousness. Yet, he bit down hard and drew blood to fight off the horrible shock chilling his soul and whispered under his breath.

"They used the god of light's heart and bones to forge Thor's hammer!" The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as his jaws tensed, and he pierced his lips further. "I know this story, but I never believed they genuinely trusted the chaotic god of trickery's words, nor that they used the materials he had provided in the name of Odin."

Yet, as an experienced jewelsmith, this version of the story resonated with his understanding of the field and the icy dread knocking on his back. After all, it wouldn't make sense for items created using gold or even the magical metal called Uru to birth divine weapons, not when they were far from divine beings. No, they used divine materials to forge them.

That was the hidden secret that had plagued his lineage and the reason every member of his family received a warning.

He repeated it, his voice a low mutter drowned under his beard as he finally understood its meaning as the two items' blueprints branded themselves into his brain.

"Never pledge loyalty or try to inherit your legacy. You'll regret it as a crafter and suffer under the weight of the truth."

As the final words echoed, the image of Sindri manipulating the heart to integrate it with the Uru ore faded like smoke.

Svartalfheim's darkness melted into the warmth of the present and the light of sparkling runes as his mind returned to Luna's living room.

Yet, his emotions ran rampant in his veins as he cried and laughed simultaneously. "The truth that we'll never reach Sindri's level in craftsmanship without access to divine materials."

However, a confident and eager voice suddenly pierced his turmoil and collapsing mind.

"Divine materials? We'll get you abyssal and demonic ones, too."

Adam struck his palm, his eyes narrowing into fiery slits.

Then, he moved aside to let Gork and the item wrapped in white fabric he carried in.

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AN: Sorry guys, my health is worsening but I'll try to write today's second chapter asap.