Morning sunlight broke through the clouds as work crews swarmed the Coalition compound repairing walls and clearing rubble. Logan Mercer was already awake inside the forge. Mira and Renn stood beside him their hands resting on the worktable where sketches were spread across the surface. New sketches. Designs that looked unlike anything the realm had seen.

Logan tapped the central drawing. This is the first step. The Null Crossbow.

Mira leaned in. A crossbow designed to disrupt magical shields

Renn nodded slowly. But that requires a core alignment that bends energy inward. Dangerous.

Logan pointed at a side diagram. Not if we build a dampening chamber around the core. The energy release will travel forward in a narrow burst. It will not explode but will destabilize any magic barrier it hits.

Renn frowned. So it does not kill It disables

Logan nodded. Magic is their biggest weapon. Take that away and the Silver Courts lose their advantage.

Mira smiled. Smart. Very smart.

Logan pointed to another blueprint. And this one. The Pulse Pike.

Renn read the notes. A melee weapon with a core inside the shaft that releases a shock wave on contact

Logan nodded. But controlled. Enough to disrupt a mage’s spell. Not enough to level a building.

Mira adjusted her gloves. That means beastbone reinforcement for the pike head. And shock absorbing metal for the shaft.

Renn added. And a runic limiter around the core.

Logan smiled faint. Exactly.

He stepped back. These two weapons are the start of a new line. Magic counter gear. If we build this line we weaken the Silver Courts dominance. We increase our defensive capability. And we protect every client under the Coalition banner.

Mira looked at him carefully. Logan you are talking about a revolution. If you deploy these weapons the realm changes.

Renn whispered. This could start a real war.

Logan shook his head. No. The war already started when they chose to attack my forge. This changes who wins.

Thalen entered the forge quietly. He stood near the doorway with arms crossed as he studied the sketches. Impressive. You created these overnight

Logan shrugged. Could not sleep. Too many ideas in my head.

Thalen stepped closer. Logan these weapons will rewrite battle doctrine. Are you prepared to unleash this line into the realm

Logan answered. I will not unleash it blindly. We start small. Brinn receives the first batch. Then selected Coalition outposts. Only defensive units. No kingdoms. No offensive armies.

Thalen nodded. Wise. But the Silver Courts will respond aggressively.

Logan picked up the Guardian Blade. Then let them.

Mira looked at Thalen. Logan needs resources for these designs. High grade beastbone. Core fragments. Alloy metal.

Renn added. And more stabilizer runes.

Thalen nodded. Done. The supply caravans are already on their way. You will have what you need by tonight.

Logan paused. That fast

Thalen’s eyes sharpened. After the battle you fought this compound became the most strategically valuable point in the western realm. Merchants are lining up to support you. Buyers want your weapons. Allies want your success. And enemies want your downfall. You do not have the luxury of moving slowly.

Logan exhaled. Then we move fast.

He turned to Mira and Renn. Prepare the forge. Today we start building the Null Crossbow.

Mira nodded. Already ready.

Renn swallowed. And I will prepare the core dampeners.

Logan stepped to the forge fire and fed new coal into the chamber. The flames grew hotter. Shadows flickered across the walls. The roar of fire echoed like a promise.

He lifted a hammer and beastbone limb. The work began.

Hours passed. Logan shaped bone. Mira adjusted frames. Renn stabilized cores. Sparks flew. The forge glowed brighter than ever. The Null Crossbow began taking form limb by limb piece by piece.

Thalen periodically checked progress but did not interrupt. He understood the gravity of what Logan was creating.

By dusk the prototype lay on the worktable. Compact. Smooth. A central core chamber protected by layered bone plates. A specialized bolt channel built to release energy bursts.

Logan touched it with quiet satisfaction. Tomorrow we test it.

Mira grinned. And then we build more.

Renn gulped. And hope it does not explode.

Thalen stepped forward. Logan Mercer. You have given the realm its first defensive weapon against kingdom magic. When this crosses the battlefield you will no longer be just an inventor. You will be a force.

Logan stared at the Null Crossbow. A new age of weapons was beginning. And he was the one forging it.

He whispered softly. Let the realm see what innovation truly looks like.

And the forge burned brighter like it agreed.