The Transmigrated Author

As the black lightning converged on Rel from all sides, he remained suspended in the air, seemingly trapped with nowhere to dodge. The Soul Forger's eyes gleamed with triumph, watching as his attack closed in for the kill.

Then something impossible happened.

The lightning, mere inches from Rel's body, suddenly changed direction.

Without any visible movement from Rel, without any gesture or incantation, the deadly bolts curved upward as if repelled by an invisible force field.

The entire attack redirected itself to the ceiling above, striking with such concentrated force that ancient stone shattered, raining debris down onto the forge floor.

The Soul Forger froze, his massive jaw hanging open in disbelief.

"How..." he whispered, genuine confusion in his ancient voice. "You made no movement, cast no spell..."

Rel landed gracefully on the cracked floor, his expression unchanged as he faced the bewildered ancient being.

"…"

"Impossible… No human could redirect my lightning without even raising a hand. You were airborne, vulnerable, with no means of escape."

He circled Rel slowly, his enormous form casting long shadows across the devastated forge.

"What are you?"

Rel simply adjusted his grip on his sword, readying himself for the next exchange.

The Soul Forger's eyes narrowed as understanding dawned.

"You're not just tactically sound. You came prepared specifically for me, didn't you?"

He stopped his circling, massive shoulders slumping slightly.

"You knew my techniques before we even began."

Rel remained silent, neither confirming nor denying the accusation.

The ancient being studied him for several long moments, then let out a rumbling sigh that sent tremors through the chamber.

"I can no longer consider you merely a warrior," he declared, his voice carrying a strange mix of respect and wariness.

"You possess something far beyond ordinary combat prowess. Your potential... it rivals even the Towers themselves."

Rel tilted his head slightly.

"The Towers?"

"Ancient beings that once ruled this realm," the Soul Forger explained, a distant look entering his glowing eyes.

"Entities of such power that reality itself bent to their will."

With a decisive movement, the Soul Forger dropped his massive hammer.

The weapon landed with a resounding boom that echoed throughout the chamber.

Then he brought his hands together in a clasp, fingers interlocking in a complex pattern.

"Elemental Zone: The Iron Forge."

"…!"

The words reverberated with power, and immediately the hammer began to glow, pulsing with intense energy.

The light spread outward, engulfing the entire chamber in a blinding flash.

When Rel could see again, the world had changed completely.

They no longer stood in the Soul Forger's underground domain but in a vast, open expanse that stretched beyond sight.

The ground beneath their feet was polished obsidian, reflecting the red-orange glow of the sky above.

All around them, massive anvils dotted the landscape, each surrounded by pools of molten metal that bubbled and hissed.

The air was thick with heat, making each breath a struggle, and the distant horizon was punctuated by erupting volcanoes that sent plumes of ash skyward.

But the most dramatic change was in the Soul Forger himself.

His enormous stone-like form had shrunk and transformed.

He now stood only slightly taller than Rel, but his new appearance was no less intimidating.

Curved horns swept back from his forehead, his skin had become a complexity of overlapping dragon scales that gleamed like burnished bronze, and his humanoid body rippled with perfectly defined muscles.

Only his eyes remained the same, pupilless blue orbs that glowed with ancient power.

"This..." Rel looked around, genuinely surprised.

"I didn't know you could take human form."

The Soul Forger flexed his new body, adjusting to the more compact dimensions.

"I can take any form I wish," he replied, his voice still deep but no longer the rumbling earthquake it had been.

"But right now, I wish to face you as an equal. My larger form would be a disadvantage in this fight."

He gestured to the transformed realm around them.

"Welcome to my true domain, the Iron Forge. Here, my power is amplified tenfold. Every element obeys my command, every flame burns at my bidding."

He smiled, revealing teeth that remained obsidian-black despite his changed appearance.

"Few have ever witnessed this place, none have survived to tell of it."

With a casual gesture, the Soul Forger summoned a new weapon to his hand—a longsword that seemed forged from living flame, its edge constantly shifting and reforming.

"Now," he said, settling into a fighting stance that appeared deceptively relaxed, "shall we continue our dance, Axel?"

Rel assessed his new surroundings, noting the tactical advantages and disadvantages. The heat was oppressive, designed to sap strength and cloud judgment.

The pools of molten metal limited movement options, creating natural hazards that would punish any misstep.

"Your domain is impressive,"

Rel acknowledged, adjusting his own stance to account for the changed battlefield.

"But changing the venue doesn't change the outcome."

The Soul Forger laughed, a sound like metal striking metal. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."

He moved with blinding speed, crossing the distance between them in an instant.

His flaming sword left trails of fire in the air as he launched into a series of attacks that blurred together, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next.

Rel parried the first blow, black lightning crackling where their weapons met. The impact sent shockwaves through the obsidian floor, creating ripples as if the solid stone were liquid.

The Soul Forger pressed his advantage, driving Rel backward toward one of the molten pools.

Each clash of their blades released bursts of energy that scorched the air around them.

In his human form, the ancient being moved with grace as his fighting style was a perfect blend of power and technique.

"You're good," the Soul Forger acknowledged as they separated after a particularly intense exchange.

"Better than good. But in this realm, I am beyond good. I am absolute."

He raised his free hand, and the nearest pool of molten metal responded to his call.

The liquid rose into the air, forming dozens of spears that hovered menacingly before launching toward Rel from multiple angles.

Rel's blade moved in a complex pattern, intercepting each projectile with perfect timing.

Where his sword struck, the molten metal solidified and shattered, falling harmlessly to the ground in crystallized fragments.

"Impressive defense," the Soul Forger commented, already preparing his next attack.

"But can you defend and attack simultaneously?"

The ground beneath Rel's feet suddenly liquefied, attempting to swallow him whole.

At the same time, chains of hardened metal erupted from the nearest anvil, snaking through the air toward him.

Rel leapt upward, evading the liquefied floor, then twisted mid-air to slice through the approaching chains.

As he landed on solid ground again, he immediately pushed forward, turning defense into offense with a blindingly fast counterattack.

His blade cut through the air, trailing black lightning as it arced toward the Soul Forger's neck.

The ancient being barely managed to raise his flaming sword in time to block, the impact driving him back several steps.

For the first time, a flicker of concern crossed the Soul Forger's draconic features.

"You adapt quickly to my domain," he observed, circling warily.

"Most visitors find themselves overwhelmed by the environmental effects alone."

"I've been in worse places," Rel replied simply, maintaining his guard.

The Soul Forger chuckled darkly.

"Have you now? Then perhaps we should escalate further."