Frankly, Azaroth was regretting it, and at the very least, he was having second thoughts about it. Gaining a second core in addition to his own would give him access to power he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

He glanced at the weapon again, a growth-enchanted weapon. A shame that it wasn’t suited for him; it was a weapon for those who fight with blunt force.

"Not regretting anymore," Azaroth said firmly. Because what he needed to do right now was to look for an enchanted weapon of his own. One made in the crypt. And a growth one.

The Crypt Master grunted, unsatisfied that he didn’t get them to fight each other. He turned to Catena. "Now then. Are you ready to bond with the weapon?"

Catena looked at the weapon in hesitation. "Will... will anything bad happen?"

The Crypt Master shrugged. "You should know that weapons like this have their own soul. Feeble, yet it’s there. It might not like you. It might reject you. But really, there are no significant disadvantages. So nothing bad. I hope."

Catena looked at the weapon and then rested his hand on the top of the handle. At first, he felt nothing; it was just like normal wood to him. But he sent his essence into it, and the weapon hummed with power.

Slowly at first, but it started to build up. A warm green glow flowed between him and the weapon, and he felt something flicker—a heartbeat. Barely noticeable, but he felt it, like the beat of a living being.

But then it was gone again. What remained was as cold and warm as anything. Catena released his hand with a gasp; he stumbled back, his eyes wide on the weapon.

"What in..." He didn’t get to finish because the big wooden club changed. It shrunk to a small size that fit Catena’s own size and strength.

The Crypt Master looked at him and nodded. "Seems the weapon likes you already. Now, I want you to make a little cut on your finger, smear the blood on the weapon, and name it."

Catena was getting more confused. "Name it?"

"Yes. By giving it a name and by the weapon accepting it, you make a bonding," the Crypt Master said.

Catena sighed and groaned. One thing about him was that he hated things like naming or anything that made him think too far. He didn’t like it one bit. So he didn’t think; he just cut himself on his spike, put his hand on it, and said the first thing that came to mind. "Basher."

Stallus rolled her eyes. "Very original," she said.

And Alex snickered.

But the weapon, Basher, was shaking. The weapon had acknowledged the name, and apparently, it liked it. It sent a small sensation of pleasure to Catena that made him gasp and withdraw his finger. When he returned it, the sensation was gone.

"Congratulations," Stallus said. She smiled at him. She would get her own weapon, she swore silently to herself. She would not pretend otherwise that she felt envy for Catena.

Catena was all smiles. He could feel the weapon in his mind now, and with a tug, the weapon started to drink from his essence, like a babe from its mother. It was a strange sensation, and when he put Basher away into his storage space, it was still drinking his essence from his core.

Catena explained to the Crypt Master what was happening, and the Crypt Master replied that the weapon is still like a toddler that needs him to feed it. That once it was grown enough, it would be able to tell him what it liked and what it liked eating.

"What weapon should I be using now?" Catena pointed helplessly at his chain.

The Crypt Master shook his head. "Continue using your chains for now. When Basher is ready for use, it’ll let you know."

Catena nodded.

Azaroth was getting tired of all their talk, so he cut in. "What is the reason you are actually here, Crypt Master? I know it’s not only for Basher."

The Crypt Master looked at him, and then his appearance changed again. He was now a tall man, his skin the color of fresh milk and his eyes like the night. "Oh? Can you tell me why I am here then?" He tilted his head down at Azaroth.

Azaroth just shook his head. "No idea, but I’m very sure that’s not the only reason you are here."

The Crypt Master nodded slowly. "You are right, of course. I have been watching you for these three months, and I must say, you guys are stubborn if nothing else."

"And..." the Crypt Master began, but Azaroth cut him off again as he remembered something important.

"Forgive me, Crypt Master, but tell us why we had to fight a monster of higher rank than us?" Azaroth narrowed his eyes. What he really wanted to know was if the Crypt Master was actually able to catch him when he used chaos core.

The Crypt Master scratched his head as if it was suddenly all too much for him. He smiled at them sheepishly. "Let’s just say that one slipped my control and came into the crypt."

Stallus snorted. "It nearly killed us."

The Crypt Master shrugged. "That’s one of the reasons you are here: to get killed. And trying not to get killed. Everything here is designed to kill you, and be glad that you are not dead yet." The Crypt Master finished stiffly. What he was not saying aloud was that he was surprised that they were not dead yet. At least one of them.

Alex asked him, "But how did it slip your control? You are very powerful. Very. Compared to it at least. It should be impossible for it to happen..."

The Crypt Master gave him a disgruntled look. "This crypt is big, bigger than you think. And I have a lot of things to look at. To care for. A lot of responsibilities you can’t even begin to imagine."

Azaroth knew he was lying.