The March to the Heart of Eidolon
Night falls violently on Edenfall. Akihiko, Lirea, and Yoru traverse a devastated area known as the Red Chains Cemetery , a former execution ground for traitorous mobsters. Metallic rain falls from the sky, remnants of ancient weapons still raining down as punishment for a forgotten war. Every step echoes with hatred.
The Messenger Without a Pulse
A metallic crow falls from the sky. It bears an obsidian-engraved message: "Iron does not beg, iron does not die ." It is the signature of the Black Anvil Clan, a faction never before recorded in the Mafia archives. Akihiko suspects it is part of the legendary Mafia that has remained hidden.
III. The Encounter at the Dead Forge
Following the coordinates hidden in the message, they arrive at an underground forge concealed beneath a mountain. There, they are met by Argheir , a monstrous blacksmith whose skin has been fused with dark steel. He tells them of the "Path of Absolute Iron," a doctrine that believes bodies must transcend their flesh through forged pain. He challenges them to a merciless duel.
Combat of Armored Wills
Argheir unleashes his ability, "Forged Seal ," which allows him to harden his will until his blows pierce even mental abilities. Akihiko uses his Void power to create a zone without sound or echo, but Argheir cuts through it with brute force. It's a battle between technique and absolute physical endurance.
Lirea and the Cut Breath
Cornered by the emotional impact of the battlefield, Lirea accesses an ancient, forgotten technique: "Cut Breath ," a form of energy released by suppressing emotions until they implode. This ability severely wounds Argheir, revealing that his body is held together by ritual nails.
The Trial of the Anvil
Before dying, Argheir drops a hammer with ancient inscriptions. It is a symbolic key: only those who have survived the Trial of the Anvil will be able to open the next chamber where the true leaders of the hidden mafia are concealed. The key recognizes Lirea, branding her with fire.
VII. Echoes of the Fallen Battleships
The hammer's fire stirs echoes in the mountain. Soulless spirits—defeated warriors who failed the Judgment—emerge to test the intruders. Akihiko and Lirea must confront them as the mountain trembles.
VIII. The Lament of Unbreakable Iron
Amid the echoes, a figure with a deep voice recites the "Lament of Iron": a litany of forgotten warriors who could not merge with eternity. It is a chant that weakens the will, forcing the living to remember their failures. Lirea falls to her knees, but Akihiko helps her up.
The Counter-Song of Emptiness
Akihiko responds with a technique never before used: "Counter-Chant of Emptiness ," a form of silent resonance that erases the laments without denying their existence. This neutralizes the emotional effect of the chant and frees the souls trapped in the mountain.
A Door Without Hinges
Deep within the forge, they discover a door without hinges or lock, made of petrified blood. Argheir's key merges with it, transforming it into mist. As they pass through, they feel time stand still.