The smell of steel, grease, and ozone was the air Allen Truk was most familiar with.
In his personal workshop on the edge of the Starfire base, these scents brought him more peace of mind than any noble lady's perfume.
At only sixteen years old, he inherited his father's tall and upright physique, but possessed even more of the composure and restraint of a craftsman.
Beneath a head of neat black hair, a pair of purple eyes identical to Lind's were focused intently on the internal circuitry of a complex structure on the workbench. A faint, orderly flow of energy danced at his fingertips as he carefully adjusted a rune node that was almost invisible to the naked eye.
Outside the workshop lies the legendary Spark Base.
The towering "Law Stabilization Tower" is like a silent giant, with energy radiance interwoven with light veins and shadow abyss flowing from its top, enveloping this land on the edge of the Howling Abyss in a relatively stable and strange force field.
In the distance, the rhythmic hammering of dwarven craftsmen echoed from the newly built furnace area, mingling with the chants of fox tribe laborers carrying materials, weaving together a vibrant symphony.
This is a symbol of the new era, one of the power centers where the father, Lind Truk, defied the gods with his mortal body and personally participated in the formulation of new rules.
However, for Allen, this place is more of a laboratory, a battlefield, and the starting point for him to try to understand and surpass his father's towering peak.
He was not like his sister Eileen, who was naturally drawn to conflict, nor was he like his brother Roy, who was passionate about the workings of the stars and grand theories.
His world lies in the physical objects touched by his fingertips, in the precise feedback when energy flows through the circuit, and in giving "function" and "meaning" to cold metals and crystals.
"Energy conductivity increased by 3.7%, rune resonance is stabilizing... Success."
Allen muttered to himself, put down the specially made micro-engraving pen in his hand, and gently exhaled.
As he watched the core of the multi-legged exploration structure, which was only the size of a palm but with an extremely precise structure, return to stable operation, a slight smile crept onto his lips.
This is a pure, creative joy.
The workshop door was gently pushed open, and a slightly teasing, clear voice rang out:
"Finding your 'little spider' again? Allen, Father's 'political day' is about to begin, Mother asked me to come and get you."
It was Eileen who came in.
Years have passed, and she has grown even more radiant and beautiful. Her fiery red hair is like dancing flames, and her body exudes a magical aura of harmonious coexistence of ice and fire, giving her both an icy coolness and a fiery vitality.
She is now a renowned elementalist among the younger generation of Blackrock Territory, and has even begun to participate in some magical affairs outside the territory.
Allen's focused expression vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of helplessness.
"I understand, sis. I'm just doing the final adjustments. The 'Tunneler Type III' will soon be ready for exploration of the Abyss Rift."
"Yes, yes, our little craftsman is the best."
Eileen smiled and stepped forward, ruffling her younger brother's hair, only to be dodged away by him in annoyance. "But today is different. I heard that liaisons from all the tribes will be there, as well as a special envoy from the capital. You, the son of the 'Truck' family, can't be absent."
"The son of the Truk family..."
Allen silently repeated the title in his mind, feeling a heavy weight on his heart.
This is not only an honor, but also a shackle.
Lind, the father, was a god-slayer, one of the creators of the new order, and a symbol that Blackrock Territory and the entire continent of Til could not ignore.
As his offspring, they are destined to live in the spotlight, but also in the shadow of their father's immense influence.
Especially him, Allen.
He did not possess his sister's dazzling magical talent, nor his brother's extensive knowledge (at least in the traditional sense).
He chose a seemingly more "ordinary" path—craftsman, alchemist, architect. In the eyes of some ancient nobles, this was even considered "unorthodox."
But he knew that the core of the light vein energy system, crystal skeleton technology, and the profound Zedu civilization legacy left by his father was construction and creation.
He simply chose to explore in a different direction than his father.
After packing up their tools, Allen and Eileen walked out of the workshop side by side, took the internal elevator platform, and headed to the administrative center located in the core area of the base.
The Spark Base is no longer the rudimentary outpost that struggled to survive under divine punishment.
Today, it is a magnificent underground-above-ground composite city that blends dwarven architectural styles, elven natural blending techniques, and Blackrock Territory's unique technology.
The passageway, constructed of metal and rock, is wide and sturdy, with self-illuminating light-guiding crystals embedded in its walls. The energy channels, like the blood vessels of a city, emit a deep hum.
The atmosphere inside the council hall was solemn and dignified.
Ellen and Erin quietly walked to the family seating area and sat down next to their mother, Alice.
Nazra and Leonis were also there; they were each in charge of different tasks, but at this moment they were both quietly watching the meeting.
In the center of the hall, Father Linde sat in the main seat. He was still dressed in simple black casual clothes, his demeanor restrained, like an ordinary person.
But when he occasionally raises his eyelids, his purple eyes sweep across the entire scene, the invisible pressure that seems to pierce through the soul makes even the most arrogant liaison officer unconsciously hold his breath.
Astaire stood slightly behind Lind, calmly presiding over the meeting.
Naraku's figure seemed to melt into the shadows, and only the most acute senses could detect his presence.
Several special "guests" sat around the round table.
One was a burly orc with bronze skin and thick hair. He sat casually, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. He was Urano, the God of Beasts, and his permanent liaison at Starfire Base, representing the attitude of that savage lord.
The other is an elegant elven woman with long, pointed ears, who exudes a tranquil, natural aura and is the representative of Elessia, the Mother of a Thousand Roots.
There was also a taciturn dwarf representative who seemed to be one with the earth beneath his feet, and a Naga messenger whose face was hidden under a hood and who carried a faint smell of the sea.
In addition, there was a special envoy from the Kree Empire's royal family, dressed in magnificent clothes, with an expression that carried the unique reserve of imperial nobles and a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.
The meeting focused on the new problems that arose on the continent of Tiel after the signing of the "Spark Charter".
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