"So after you've taken care of the person you wanted to eliminate, then what?"
I scratched my head.
"Of course, it's to use the weapon to end everything. Didn't Black Moon tell you?"
I shot a sidelong glance at Black Moon, who was standing nearby. He immediately raised his hand and waved.
"You really like to joke, Hell. Do you think ending everything is that simple?"
I grunted in response, but soon let out a sigh and sat down beside Eugene Smithson.
"I won't force you to forge weapons. I need eighteen weapons, but you can take your time. Everything here is at your disposal, and you can craft the weapons however you like."
Eugene Smithson nodded, his gaze somewhat dazed as he looked at the lost souls still fighting.
"Once upon a time, maybe battlefields were just like this. Unfortunately, I've never seen it myself, but what I do know is that the weapons I forge take lives. Yet I keep making them tirelessly. My whole life has been meaningless."
I smiled and nodded.
"Or perhaps your whole life has been defined by a passion for forging, a passion that never falters no matter the era. Yet the tragedy is that you yourself cannot bear to see the weapons you create used in war. Eugene Smithson, maybe it's finally time for you to forge the weapon you truly desire—for yourself."
As I spoke, Pyra Blaze's cold laugh echoed behind me.
"Enough with the speeches. Just give him the Hell Imprint and be done with it."
Black Moon pressed down on Pyra Blaze's shoulder, while Eugene Smithson was still lost in thought.
"Sometimes, even if you do everything in your power, fate remains unchanged. Maybe I've already lost the will to forge any more weapons."
I shook my head and stood up.
"Take your time to think. Whenever you feel ready to forge, just start—I’ll have them assist you."
I decided to leave for now and head into the Mirror World to find Zachary Justice for a proper conversation.
Because John Chou's actions still nagged at me—I had no idea what he was really up to.
I kept my eyes on Eugene Smithson.
As I passed Black Moon, I muttered something under my breath. In an instant, I vanished from sight—when I reappeared, I was standing on a white beach. Zachary Justice was there, gazing quietly out over the sea, his expression perfectly calm.
"What else do you know about John Chou?"
I stared blankly at Zachary Justice as he turned to me with a gentle smile.
"You should know him better than I do."
I shook my head.
"I don't know why, but I've never truly understood John Chou. Sure, I've spent much more time with him than you have, and our interactions have always been calm and ordinary. But somehow I still feel you know him better than I do."
Zachary Justice drifted over to my side. After we sat down, he looked at me.
"What is it you don't understand?"
"His actions are just too strange. Everything he's done since then—was it really all to bring me back? He knows exactly who I am."
Zachary Justice shook his head.
"Try looking at it from another perspective. And what's so wrong with him wanting to bring you back?"
I smiled and nodded.
"There's nothing wrong with it, really. In fact, it's good for me. But I can't shake the feeling that he's scheming something—maybe something that could actually stop my plans."
Zachary Justice stood up, his form blurring as if he didn't intend to keep talking.
"Plans are made by people, but they're also carried out by people. Everything may have changed, but what hasn't changed? It's not because you've lost your memory, or because your true self has awakened. Think about it, Qingyuan—you probably already know, but you refuse to accept it. There's no need to overthink things. What matters is what you do next, because everything else is meaningless to you now, isn't it?"
I stared, unable to answer Zachary Justice. He had already dissolved into white light and vanished. I forced a smile—now I had to figure out how to get Eugene Smithson to willingly forge a weapon for me. After peering into his heart, I saw it was barren, like a wasteland. His passion for forging swords was gone, and he had grown cold and hopeless.
I could brand Eugene Smithson with the Hell Imprint, forcing him to obey and forge weapons for me. But if I want the best Infernal Weapons, they must be made willingly—with passion. Otherwise, the result will never be truly great.
Lost in thought, visions of Eugene Smithson's past flashed before my eyes—memories of everything he'd witnessed in his own era. I was still probing his memories through Black Moon. His mind was chaotic; all he could picture was the battlefield.
Suddenly, I noticed something strange on the battlefield—all the weapons had vanished. I was stunned, and in an instant, I found myself back at the white platform. Eugene Smithson stared blankly into the distance, his body slowly turning to stone. His heart was already dead. I realized he had died inside when forging the eleventh weapon for the Underworld Court. Even now, his state was still that final moment before death.
"Looks like there's nothing left. I might as well help him find release."
As Pyra Blaze drifted toward Eugene Smithson, I instantly moved to shield him, grabbing her hand and glaring at her with authority.
"I can tolerate a lot, but not this."
Pyra Blaze shrugged helplessly and sighed before returning to her seat. I looked at Eugene Smithson—his body was still turning to stone. Even if I restored him again, nothing would change unless I used the Hell Imprint. I hesitated.
Gradually, Eugene Smithson lost consciousness. I crouched down beside him.
"Miss Xi Shi is still inside the beauty you forged. Do you want to see her one last time? What has become of the beauty you created?"
As I spoke, I watched Eugene Smithson's expression. I noticed a glimmer return to his eyes—and I understood. I smiled.
"If you help me forge the weapon, I'll let you come with me to the living world."
Eugene Smithson slowly turned his head and gave a bitter smile.
"Still the same, huh?"
I shook my head.
"I'm not like the others. I told you I wouldn't force you to forge a sword. But as a master smith, your weapons will always surpass mine. I could forge one myself, but I want to see your masterpiece."
Eugene Smithson nodded.
"Do you really intend to end everything?"
I grunted in response.
"That's why I want you to forge an Infernal Weapon that can end it all. Deep down, you don't care anymore—there's no hatred, no sorrow, no joy. But you'll still want to forge, won't you? After all, it's what you loved most in life."
I spoke, but Eugene Smithson didn't answer. He kept staring into the distance. Then I noticed the petrification had faded from his body. I could sense a faint spark rekindling in his heart.
"How you forge is up to you. How I use the weapon is up to me. There's no need for any constraints between us. I won't interfere with your forging—just deliver your finest masterpiece, Eugene Smithson."
I stared earnestly at Eugene Smithson. At last, he slowly stood and burst out laughing. I could hear the clang of his inner hammer striking the blade once more. No matter how much he was forced or humiliated, he could never let go of his life's work. He only ever wanted to swing the hammer and forge swords.
Eugene Smithson walked over to the colorful stones arranged by the platform and ran his hand over them.
"These stones won't do—the material is far too ordinary."
I was a bit surprised, but nodded anyway.
"Black Moon, Pyra Blaze, go with him to find suitable forging materials."
Eugene Smithson looked off into the distance, then spoke.
"I need a furnace and a forging table."
I grunted and glanced at Huangquan and Jiuyou. The two of them left immediately.
"Are you planning to forge the souls of the dead into the weapon?"
I grunted in response.
"Of course. Otherwise, the weapon can't reach the living world."
"If you do it this way, you'll never find the right sword soul."
I looked at Eugene Smithson in confusion.
"It's not the strongest soul that bears the strongest sword; it's because someone desires to wield the sword that the strongest soul emerges."
I understood instantly. I snapped my fingers, and the battling souls before me dissolved into dust, absorbed by the ground.
"I see. So how do I find the right candidate?"
"That's for you to figure out. I'm only here to forge the weapon—don't ask me about everything else."
As Eugene Smithson spoke, he jumped down from the platform to inspect the stones the servants had brought. Black Moon and a very exasperated Pyra Blaze followed him.
I quietly returned to my seat on the white stone, lost in thought. I understood what Eugene Smithson meant. Throughout history, many swordsmen, ghosts, and people I've met weren't born strong. Seeking out Eugene Smithson was the right choice—even that failed creation, Zhen Yu, was the same.
"Looks like I'll have to summon the others—what a hassle. If I have to screen them one by one myself, it's going to be a pain."
I glanced around, sighed helplessly, and sat back down. All I could do now was wait for Black Stone to return.