Tower of Heaven

And so it happened. Five hundred years into their ten thousand-year journey, the very first Neuric evolved.

He grew taller by two feet. He was still relatively small, but he was no longer too small to be a threat. His body was no longer frail by design he had a strong and bulky figure that made him look more like a dwarf than a Neuric.

The grey, stone-colored skin he possessed was proof that he was of the same race, but everything else about him said otherwise.

Especially the hair on his head and beard, which were now made out of the pure essence of fire.

He looked down at his own hands curiously. He felt a sensation of ecstasy unlike any other.

Without a word to anyone, he disappeared. When he appeared in Hakurat again, he had a load of Qi Steel, iron, gold, and a strange black powder material that his fellow smiths didn't know the identity of.

He worked like magic. His every movement was art. Those metals were transformed through the flames that came from his own body. The forge was no longer a necessary medium, but a tool used for precision refinement.

The flames he produced naturally were different from what could naturally occur. Subtly, as the refinement and construction process took place, the flames even molded into pens of sorts and etched patterns into the metal's surface.

What should have been several days of forging at the very least was completed within six hours of continuous work. The end product was a silver disk covered in evenly spaced ridges.

At this point, a large crowd of blacksmiths had gathered around Hakurat. They watched as he threw the disk in the air. They watched as it sucked qi from the air and expanded into a barrier that trapped them all in this small area.

With their widened eyes filled with splendor and curiosity, they watched how it responded to his call and returned when he raised his arm up to summon it.

Not once did he provide it with qi. Not once did he give it anything it didn't already have.

For the first time in Neuric history, an "artifact" was produced.

This particular scene was an isolated incident. As the first of his species, that Neuric, whose name was Gurrik, was enlightened by the Heavens and given a great opportunity.

He was able to produce an artifact far above his level. He could not immediately create functional products immediately upon evolving, after all. He didn't even know his new strengths yet.

However, in that moment, he was able to see the path forward. He personally understood the potential that Atlas saw in them from the beginning.

And, of course, he wouldn't have been able to achieve it if it weren't for the Shinnim's guidance.

As one would expect, Gurrik received a great status that day. His entire job description changed. He was given his own personal forge, and rather than focusing on mass-produced products, he was allowed to use any resources he needed to research the mysterious thing known as "artifacts."

Meanwhile, the rest of the Neurics chased the same evolution path that Gurrik had taken. At this point, Atlas had to interrupt.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

'They can definitely all evolve eventually, but it will take far too long. I do not want to waste more time than necessary in the early stages of this process.'

When it came to this evolution, five hundred more years was more than enough time.

Atlas created several ceremonies. First were the means to choose every generation of Saintess and Hero, and next were the means to grant evolution as a reward to Neurics who stood out.

Everything else was set. There was only one thing left to do before skipping into the distant future.

Those few Neurics who Atlas first set his sights upon. Rok, who once spent his entire life mining a single wall. Yin, who lived aimlessly, tinkering away in the village. Uk, who had untapped potential that could never see the light of day, and Ye, who had the brutality that Neurics desperately needed.

They had lived for a long five hundred years, and though they were preparing to leave this world, their names would always be remembered.

Uk, who created every strategy that the Neurics used to achieve victory over other races and subjugate them. He would forever be the greatest general in Neuric history.

Ye, who possessed the bravery and courage that saved countless Neurics on the battlefield. He may not have been the chosen hero, but in war, he had equal status.

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Rok, who stood at the forefront of the Neurics whenever they entered battle. He established their fighting techniques and qi cultivation. Because of him, the current Neuric cavern extended further than could fit on a single map. He was the great hero chosen by the Shinnim to lead them to victory.

And, finally, Yin. Yin, who was always loved because of her kind and quiet personality. Yin who guided the people, took care of everything that the other three couldn't, and truly carried the entire Neuric race on her back for the past five hundred years. She was a Saintess, but she was so much more. In history, she would be remembered as the Mother of Neurics, the Shinnim's Prime Apostle.

They did not all leave the world at the same time. Uk went first and Ye followed soon after. Rok and Yin were able to persevere for a few more years before they entered the Shinnim's embrace.

However, that day eventually came for all of them. Death was an inescapable thing for as long as time existed.

Atlas watched their passing, and in memory of them, he passed a scripture to the Neurics that would forever engrave their names in the world.

And, perhaps it was an illusion or perhaps it was because it was their dearest wish. For a brief moment, for the smallest instant of time, Atlas came face to face with their spirits.

Uk, Ye, Yin, and Rok, who bowed to him in unison with smiles on their faces before entering the cycle of reincarnation, despite being Neurics who were otherwise fated to forever live beneath the ground, unseen by anyone or anything, they left a deep impact on him.

They were merely Replicas created by the Tower, Atlas knew that as well, but they were his first believers in this life. They would be forever engraved in his Legend even when this trial space disappeared.

The Neurics had an interesting tradition to send off the dead. Their bodies would be placed on the altar amidst a bed of precious metals. An Igni Neuric would then turn their body into a great artifact, immortalizing them.

This was truly the best ending for a Neuric, who loved crafting like it was their dearest child.

It was a moment when even Atlas felt a sense of loss, but it was only one part of this trial. Over the course of the next few millennia, many Neurics would live and die. Atlas could not form true connections to any of them.

He had already accepted this fate when he sent off his four original chosen apostles. He no longer had to spend so much time carefully guiding their growth path. From this point forth, he could skip time and take a less important role in their story.

Five hundred years would pass before Atlas saw the Neurics in detail again.

And five hundred years was more than enough time for a great deal of things to change.