The Power Leaders of Martial Citadel didn’t know how to react.

Despite the lengthy time it took to make the batch, the process was actually relatively easy.

It was only a matter of gathering certain special ingredients, and paying attention to certain nuances, but in the end they all felt like they could easily replicate the feat.

Still they recognized the ingenuity in finding such a simple solution to such a big problem, no one looked down on Guso’s method, as it was not something any Practitioner Expert in the history of Martial Citadel had managed to discover.

The only problem they saw with the method, was that the source of Inner Energy was actually the Practitioners themselves, and therefore in a way Focus Shard crafting was limited to how many dedicated and able Practitioners each Organization could muster.

But that issue could be worked around and compensated for, for now they were jovial and satisfied, the creation method, and the Focus Shard itself truly was everything they had dreamed of.

The time for a new Age had arrived.

Guso, finding he had no more interest in the matter, settled his business with the important men, and refocused his mind and future efforts on the upcoming Ranker event.

Despite some work that needed to be done, Guso looked forward to spending his final months in Martial Citadel in a more relaxed manner.

But that definitely wasn’t the case for the City itself.

***

Although the chaos and turmoil experienced by the Citizens on the first few days of the Crystal reveal had died down, a new wave of shocking news and events took place in its aftermath, which shook many City residents to the core.

The Mayor, after acquiring the knowledge to make Focus Shards, immediately instructed his City Treasury and other relevant government departments to start making and ammassing as many of the Shards as possible.

Having quickly already discovered many uses for the Shard in regards to application for the City, Lofen in conjunction with all the City’s relevant departments and governances, set out on a path of renovation and revitalization.

He did what he could with his executive authority, and what he couldn’t set up immediately, he urgently set a process in motion with the City’s lawmakers and leadership.

The things that were coming to light, even to the average clueless citizen, were so astounding they weren’t sure if what they were seeing was reality, or the maddening whims of a frustrated Mayor living in his own fantasy.

A new City wide currency had emerged; it was called the Focus Shard.

It was revealed that the value of the Focus Shard was equivalent to 500 gold coins or half a platinum coin, but the strangeness didn’t end there.

Soon flyers and propaganda papers started to be posted up all around the Citadel promoting the new form of currency, encouraging its use in trade and economic activity, and revealing the many astounding uses of such an item.

One Focus Shard crystal when used with the appropriate, also novel, Adapter, could power a home's warmth and energy needs for an entire year.

It was many times better than Coal, Petrol, Gas, Diesel, Ethanol, and any Battery Technology they had available by an order of magnitudes.

Other things that were being spread, were that the Focus Shard could promote good health and mental clarity just by having it around, improve items with certain methods, and be a source of strength for the whole Citadel.

People only started to believe it once the Focus Shards, Special Adapters, and Focus Shard Health Guides started to appear throughout the City; even in the most mundane and lowly markets.

Despite its high value, the Shard was easily attainable much more than a Platinum Coin.

There were even rumors that certain citizens were getting gifts of Focus Shards from the City through the mail.

People's morale and excitement was through the roof.

It had never been so exciting to be a resident of Martial Citadel.

In a matter of weeks Lofen prepared the most, and also the biggest, Pure Glass Crystals he could find; which wasn’t too hard as they were scattered all throughout Potestera, after which he quickly prepared them after the manner Guso had shown him.

Lofen quickly found out that the size of the Pure Glass, exponentially increased the amount of energy and time needed to create a Focus Shard.

Nonetheless Lofen managed to succeed, and by consequence became the owner of the biggest Focus Shards in all of Potestera, and of the biggest reserve of Inner Energy in the City.

With the energy he had, he started to power many of the Cities vital infrastructure, which had been suffering for quite a while.

With the right set up, wheels on many generators and engines started to spin once again.

The City Mayor had thought of many ways to farm Inner Energy for the City's needs.

One way, was very peculiar, but turned out to be quite successful.

Lofen had discovered the Focus Shard Crystals recharging capabilities and so had been inspired.

Underground, many vital points were chosen within the City, in which Lofen placed Focus Shards that had been drained of their energy, and attached to them was a massive rod that went up and protruded through many squares.

Through signs it was explained to the City residents that those Practitioners who had Inner Energy to spare, needed to get rid of Inner Energy for safety reasons, or just wanted to contribute, could do so by injecting their Inner Energy into the Rod, and after doing so getting a token showing a value in points, that citizens could exchange for a variety of different benefits, favors, or even money from Banks, certain Government offices, or the Energy Union.

After the first wave of the Mayor’s initiatives, the dynamics within the City started to improve dramatically.

Soon Rapid change could be visibly seen around the Citadel at breakneck speeds.

New constructions started, new Organizations and Businesses, new consumer goods, the likes of which most people had never heard of before, new classes in the Citadels public University and its subsidiaries, new Martial Arts groups and Institutions, a sudden increase in Practitioners, and weapons and armors that the Experts in Martial Citadel were seething at the mouth for.

***

Dirgen was cackling in euphoria, he was living in his version of heaven.

He felt like he had kickstarted, and was currently helming, the rise of his Clan into a generational dynasty akin to those seen in the UKM.

Since first he grasped his hands upon Yupows Focus Shard secret, everything that had come of it was like receiving a daily diet of Gold Milk and Jewels Laiden Bread in a Platinum platter.

The Focus Shards power was intoxicating.

From its mere existence, even his normal inventory of pre-focus shard Inner Energy Weapons instantly skyrocketed into popularity.

His company had developed an inexpensive Adapter, that could be attached to the weapons, and instantly allowed them to be imbued with the power of Inner Energy from within the Focus Shards, without having to be an Inner Energy Practitioner.

When as before his weapons really only had value to Practitioners, they now were of use to everybody and anybody who wanted a valuable power boost.

And since he had already invented more powerful and transcendent Focus Shard Technology with the help of his Master Crafters, these old weapons were now the most inexpensive weapons Great Inner Fire Company now offered, only further increasing their demand.

Soon his company stock, value, and profit margin was shooting through the roof.

For him it was time for expansion.

And he had just the right product’s to burst into stardom into the Ranker World.

Working off of the success of the Inner Energy Weapons Adapter, he created a new weapon that operated with the Focus Shard in mind.

Within the handle of the weapon type, was a compartment where you could insert a small sized Focus Shard, and fully activate the potential of the weapons.

He decided to call his new invention lineup “Inner Power Weapons”, and already in Martial Citadel they were a resounding success.

The energy to power a home for up to a year, all condensed into weapon form, ready to be unleashed effectively and instantaneously upon your enemies.

Inner Power Blade, Inner Power Spear, Inner Power Staff, Inner Power Chain, Inner Power Shooter, Inner Power Axe and many more.

Soon it was apparent these weapons were an instant fix to a Warriors bane of existence, his Range problem.

When used in a proper manner, and with the right skill, most of them offered powerful range options, in terms of technique potential, or just normal function.

It was a windfall of prosperity, most of the Experts in Martial Citadel being of the Warrior Class became ecstatic, many instantly used their life savings, which they were patiently holding onto in hopes of finding a proper Expert Weapon, to buy an Inner Power Weapon.

It was a no-brainer, their power and quality had already been confirmed, and the best part about it, even though they weren’t cheap, they were still at half the price of other options such as Magic Weapons, powerful Firearms, rare Spirit Weapons, or High-Tech Weapons.

Dirgen had knowledge of these weapons, and so he made his new weapons with a quality and ability that could not be considered worse than any other weapon of the same tier.

And he didn’t stop there, other new products rolled out, his version of Inner Energy Resin that temporarily imbued any weapon with the power of Inner Energy, Special Adapters that powered up high capacity devices, and equipment, armors, and shields all powered by Focus Shard Technology.

Nevertheless all his new productions had a high cost, and so he too engaged in the work of amassing as many Focus Shards as possible, for his Company and Clan.

He had made specific divisions in his company that focused on procuring and creating the ingredients necessary to create the Focus Shard.

An Ingredients Division, An Inner Energy Powder Mix Division, a Ghost Berry Juice Division, an Inner Metal Powder Division, and Inner Rod Division, an Inner Resin Division, an Inner Fat Division.

He wanted the process of creating and accumulating Focus Shards to be as seamless and efficient as possible.

And he wasn’t the only one who had thought of such a method; almost all other individuals who had knowledge of the formula, had implemented a similar structure in the way they made the precious energy source.

Not only was it efficient; by separating the different steps required to make the Focus Shard, they could also keep the secret of the formula safer from unwanted prying eyes.

The desire to keep the formula secret wasn’t just pure greediness on their part,the reality was that the Focus Shard didn’t just belong to them, it was a secret that belonged to the Citadel itself.

The longer they kept it exclusive to the City, the better for its economy and political standing.

But they knew that they wouldn’t be able to do it forever.

Eventually the Country’s powerful Institutions and Organizations would catch wind of their secret, and put pressure on them to spread their wealth for the good of the Nation.

But for now that was yet to come, the time of prosperity was theirs.

***

The Boon in Martial Citadel had begun, and soon rumors of its going abouts and good fortune had reached other Cities around Volunterra.

Suddenly something that hadn’t been seen in Martial Citadel in years had arrived.

Visitors, merchants, and adventurers from afar started to come in numbers that were not small.

Networks, social gatherings, and information pathways had spread the knowledge that there was a treasure trove that had emerged in Martial Citadel, and those who were looking for their big break made haste towards the source of the rumor.

In Potestera, a World driven by the dream to be a Ranker, things like these weren’t kept under wraps for too long, the leadership of the City had long known about it.

Soon after the initial meeting with Yupow, another one was called, this time in the Citadel Mayors Lofens’ Office hall.

All the major power players of the City were invited.

Many who were extremely displeased and frustrated with Lofen, from being left out from the first meeting, came with a mind to make their power and respect be shown, and gain proper compensation.

The ones who were at the head at the meeting, were the same ones who had gotten the secret of the Focus Shard from Guso himself.

Their purpose was to explain the future challenges the City would face, properly divide wealth, roles, and power, and to quell and appease negative feelings, and ultimately, put Martial Citadel under the same encompassing goal and state of mind.

Those who had been invited were eager to finally do away with all rumors and falsehoods, and get to the core of the matter straight from the source.