Adelman's Ring.
This was the name of a Rank-1 artifact that had come into Eren's possession under unusual circumstances. Crafted from a unique mana-conductive metal alloy, the ring bore intricate runic engravings and featured a small blue sapphire that emitted a soft, ethereal glow.
The ring possessed a remarkable ability. When exposed to moonlight throughout an entire night, it would unleash impenetrable mana defense domains three times whenever the user wanted them to, enveloping them in a protective shield.
Upon activation, the ring would only consume a small portion of the user's mana, providing a dome-shaped energy barrier capable of withstanding external assaults for up to 10 minutes. This granted the owner approximately 30 minutes of heightened secured space if all three activations were used consecutively. Alternatively, the ring could be charged using the ranker's own mana, albeit at a substantial mana consumption cost.
Curious about the limits of the ring's capabilities, Eren attempted to charge it with his infinite mana core, hoping to extend its defensive properties. However, the ring's sapphire began to show signs of deterioration, prompting him to halt his experiments and preserve the ring's integrity for crucial moments.
As Eren neared the precipice of achieving the Awakened Rank, he pondered the possibility of upgrading the ring to match his newfound power. However, his inquiry with Malcolm, the bald merchant, revealed that his artisans were incapable of elevating the ring's rank.
Recognizing its enigmatic origins, Eren turned to unconventional means to accomplish the task. Entrusting the ring to Ariadne, he implored her to seek out a skilled artisan from her sphere of demonic rankers capable of transforming it into an Awakened rank artifact.
Eren grimaced, realizing the potential consequences of entrusting the ring to Ariadne. He inwardly chastised himself, acknowledging that he had made a grave error by seeking external help and exposing the artifact to an unknown entity.
'Tch. I should have known better,' he muttered, regret etching his face. 'I just hope the person Ariadne gave the ring to doesn't recognize its true significance and decides to keep it for themselves.'
In a tone of complaint, Eren turned to Aleph, holding him partly responsible. 'You should have informed me about the ring's background earlier. If I had known it held clues to an Elder Artifact, I wouldn't have entrusted it to anyone.'
Aleph swiftly responded, explaining the circumstances.
'Hmm? It wasn't that I didn't want to warn you. My Soul Imprint was dormant within your soul while you possessed the ring, rendering me unaware.
It was only after I accessed your memories afterward and confirmed the existence of the ring through my Divine Sense that I pieced together its significance. Even if I had been conscious during that time, I might not have recognized its purpose as a pathfinder to the original Adelman's Ring. To me, it would have appeared as a normal Rank-1 artifact, for the most part. I mean, I didn't have a reason to dig deeper into it. So…"
As Eren absorbed Aleph's explanation, understanding washed over him. After a moment of contemplation, he posed another question. 'Why is it called Adelman's Ring if it's an Elder Seed Artifact? Why isn't it recognized as such?'
Without hesitation, Aleph provided an answer.
'That's because the general population remains unaware of the Elder Artifacts— their true power and how to locate them. Consequently, most Elder Seed Artifacts are known by the names of their previous or current owners. If they have indeed been discovered by such owners and used extensively that is.
These owners, empowered by the Elder Artifacts, leave a lasting impact on the history of their respective worlds. Therefore, the Elder Artifacts become associated with the influential figures who possessed them.
Adelman's Ring likely followed this trend. It's probable that a person named Adelman, the previous owner, utilized the ring's powers to forge a reputation in Gilaahan's history. As a result, his name became synonymous with the ring among the people of Gilaahan."
Eren found Aleph's explanation plausible, accepting the theory as a reasonable explanation for the ring's nomenclature.
While on night watch inside the mountain cave, Eren absentmindedly scratched his jaw as he sought answers from Aleph. 'Aleph, I'm curious about the similarities and differences between Elder Artifacts and Hex Artifacts. From what I've gathered so far, it appears that both types of artifacts align with the abilities of their owners and grow alongside them. However, I sense that there's more to them than meets the eye,' Eren inquired, taking advantage of Aleph's unusually talkative disposition. He was determined to extract as much information as possible from the enigmatic entity.
Aleph let out a dramatic sigh, seemingly expecting Eren to display his opportunistic nature. After a brief moment of contemplation, he responded, "It appears my Soul Imprint is having a bad influence on you, Eren." Clearing his throat, he continued.
'Indeed, there are similarities between Hex Artifacts and Elder Artifacts. Both fall under the category of spiritual artifacts and operate on the foundation of intent-based magic.
As Kino may have mentioned, Hex Artifacts are considered pseudo-Elder Artifacts, as they were crafted by deities and their followers who sought to emulate the concepts behind the true Elder Artifacts. Essentially, Hex Artifacts are just a few steps away from attaining the same level of growth potential as their Elder Seed counterparts.
Kino was correct in stating that the potential of Hex Artifacts is limited due to the absence of a crucial ingredient in their creation—the Elder Ichor blood,' Aleph patiently elucidated.
The weight of understanding began to settle on Eren's shoulders as he grasped the profound significance of spiritual artifacts. Hex artifacts and Elder Seed artifacts held equal importance in his eyes, for he recognized that he had yet to unlock their true potential due to his own limitations.
Determined to forge a path as a battlemage by crafting personalized artifacts, Eren realized the necessity of acquiring such knowledge at an early stage. Inevitably, his thoughts turned to the possibilities of creating his own Hex artifacts or even venturing into the realm of Elder Seed artifact creation—assuming he possessed the required power and access to the essential components.
The tantalizing prospect of such endeavors sparked his imagination, fueling his aspirations to reach new heights.
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