Eye laughed very hard as Jade convulsed on the ground. He held his stomach and banged the ground as Jade slowly went back to normal. Jade came to himself but he was speechless as he looked at the trident. Eye said “Now do all you possibly can to get the backward Reality Forging”.

Jade stood up, straightened his clothes and said “I apologize for calling your city backwards. I was just teasing”. Eye lightly clapped and said “Don’t worry about it. If you give me something that is worth the knowledge I will not be biased”.

Jade thought ‘No wonder he is so proud. He has reason to be’. Jade said “Can I inspect the Trident of Burden”. Eye said “Ok” and threw the trident to Jade. Jade caught the trident and inspected it.

It looked like a normal trident to him for a while before he saw a story. The merfolk had always feared humans. In the beginning humans were way more powerful physically at first but then they became weaker but they were still superior.

Owning land was always a dream that merfolk would have, but never realize. The blacksmiths of Atlantis were the ones who felt the burden of their race’s weakness the most. They felt they were to blame. The merfolk were physically stronger than humans now but they couldn’t rival them because of their weapons. Weapons the blacksmiths of Atlantis could not surpass.

The blacksmiths made and made weapon after weapon improving their craft but in every generation humans were always ahead. They tried copying gun powder weapons that fell into the sea but they couldn’t create gun powder underwater. So they went back to developing their own original technology. Fewer merfolk joined the blacksmiths and preferred to specialize in physical fighting since they were at least better than humans at that.

Depression was the second name of the blacksmithing sector. The apocalypse came and the blacksmiths were all made to fight since they were of no use making new weapons. They fought and evolved until they met opponents they couldn’t beat with their prowess; Ocean Master and Cthullu.

In search of new ways to handle their problems the blacksmiths were allowed to work in their forges again. The blacksmiths were less than they were before since some of them had died. Their department was not the only one missing members; all the departments had lost people.

The remaining blacksmiths gathered together and focused on one project. It was to be a tribute to the souls lost, a bearer on the grief the civilization felt, and the representation of the burden that the blacksmiths felt but could never be free of; The Trident of Burden.

Tears streamed from Jade’s eyes. He touched the tear in surprise and thought ‘So powerful’. Jade cleaned his tears and asked “Can I use a very invasive method to assess it?”

Eye said “As long as you don’t destroy it”. Jade nodded and opened his Cosmic Eye. Alas the trident remained a mystery even to it. Through the astral plane, he could see that the weapon had a soul that was made of solid light like his own and had a soul glyph. In the physical realm the runes that made up the trident were so tiny and numerous that Jade could barely see them. The trident also had an energy zone but it was compressed inside its body.

Even when he strained to see them he could not understand any of them totally. They only retold a part of the story he had seen in more detail, making him feel a part of the emotions and feelings the blacksmith and surprisingly, the trident felt during the process.

Jade closed his eyes and felt the trident laugh at him. It laughed like a little child that did something mischievous. Jade was surprised and Eye said “Yes, it has a consciousness”. Jade thought ‘A sentient weapon, just like the one I made. Only a few dimensions more powerful’.

Jade asked “What powers does it have?” Eye said “It can emit alpha beams that can completely destroy any physical, soul or mental entity. It has other abilities but I’m not allowed to say more than what I’ve said. Even what I’ve said was only given to me because I need something to brag with. Apart from the alpha beams it has the other capabilities of a Tier 4 and above Armament”.

Jade had a confused expression and Eye slowly said “You have made a Tier 4 Armament right?” Jade was silent for a while before saying “No”. Eye laughed and said “And you were even feeling proud of yourself”. Jade wilted in shame and said “Because I can’t make a Tier 4 now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to make it”.

Eye said “True, but do you have enough knowledge to pay for the technology that made a Tier 5?” Jade knew he would have to give everything to get this technology, any creator worth his salt would do the same. He said “I’ll give you spatial technology, aura technology, my experience as a Soul Glyph and Mandala wielder and hot weapon magic”.

Jade had held back rune technology because he wanted to be ahead of everyone in that field. Eye squinted and said “How many Glyphs and Mandalas do you have?” Jade answered “4 Glyphs and 1 Mandala”. Eye swallowed hard when he heard that and he asked “Are you fine?”

Jade said “Of course I am”. Eye slowly nodded, he knew what it took to get a glyph or Mandala and he knew it was nothing short of madness. He never imagined he would meet someone with more than 1 glyph or Mandala not to mention 4 glyphs.

Eye said “That is quite valuable then. But I don’t really see much value in your spatial technology or in this aura technology or hot weapon magic you speak of”. Jade opened a portal and slowly and carefully pulled out Hak.

A hint of fear reached Eye’s soul as he saw the glaive. Unlike his creations this weapon focused on one aspect only so it was capable of destroying higher tiered weapons that didn’t have the right contingencies for it. Eye said “I see the value of your spatial technology now” and Jade gently put the weapon back. He thought ‘Space technology is my best but it can’t compare to his own. Only aura technology can claim to hold a match to space technology since I improved on it but I used runes to make the best weapon I could out of it for the duel. I don’t want him to be interested in runes’.

Seeing Jade’s hesitation Eye said “If you have better technology, bring them out. They will greatly improve once you have Reality Forging to supplement it”. Eye wanted to sell; he knew that the merfolk would not improve if he selfishly kept Reality Forging. If someone could give something or things of equal value to Reality Forging he would not be foolish enough to reject.

Jade gulped as he contemplated what Eye said. He thought ‘I will be able to make better things. I’m not giving it for charity. I should give other technology that I didn’t make first and sell them the right to sell it too’

Jade said “You will have the right to sell the technology I give to you too. This should affect the price”. Jade then went on to explain the capabilities of spatial technology, aura technology and hot weapon magic.

Eye said “As expected, you are giving me good stuff including the right to sell them but this is Reality Forging we’re talking about. I need something ground breaking. Your space technology is one but it isn’t enough on its own”.

Jade sighed in defeat and said “Ok I have one more… but I can’t give you the right to sell it or teach it freely. You can only teach the basics to people for free and the advanced stuff can only be taught to one person for free. Of course, you are free research it and improve it”.

Eye squinted.