Kael’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, the flames flickering wildly as they burned brighter, casting erratic shadows on the ground. The leader, still reeling from the flash of heat and the searing sting to his eyes, stumbled back, trying to shield his face with his forearm. His breath came in ragged gasps as his mind struggled to comprehend what had just happened. He'd been ready for a quick fight, but this—this was something else entirely.

Kael didn’t hesitate. His senses surged with adrenaline as he took a step forward, his boots sinking into the wet earth as he closed the distance between them. He could hear the other mercenaries muttering behind him, fear creeping into their voices. The leader’s pride had been shattered, and they could all see it in the way he staggered, disoriented by the flaming sword.

The leader’s dagger, still clutched in his shaking hand, glinted in the fading sunlight. He spat, his voice thick with defiance, though it was clear his confidence had already cracked. "You think this is over? You think one lucky move will save you? You’re just a boy with a toy."

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening around the sword. The flames danced along its blade, sending out sparks that crackled in the still air. “You want to test me again? Let’s see if your luck holds up a second time.”

The leader straightened, trying to steady himself. The remaining mercenaries had taken a step back, their hands now hovering over their weapons as they seemed to question whether they should intervene or not. Kael could feel the shift in the air—the tension thickening. He didn’t give them a chance to decide.

With a swift motion, he swung the sword low, creating a trail of fire behind it. The leader reacted just in time, raising his dagger to deflect the strike. But Kael wasn’t finished. He twisted the blade, catching the edge of the dagger and sending it flying from the leader’s hand. The sword then whipped upward, catching the leader’s arm, and a flash of flame erupted as the leader cried out in pain his arm dropped to the floor in a pool of blood.

The other mercenaries hesitated, some looking at the leader's agonized expression, others looking toward Kael’s fire-imbued sword, the heat emanating from it suffocating. They could feel the raw power radiating from him. Kael swung his sword at the leader one last time, his head was left rolling on the floor his eyes still wide open and his lips pale, no blood leaked out his neck because the flames had already sealed the wound otherwise the already large red puddle would’ve gotten a lot bigger.

The reast of the group started to run towards their horses, until sunny shouted “those horses are mine” the group quickly understood and didn’t dare go near any of them. Well, that was quite the fight and it went far better than I expected Aswell, silver tier weapons really are just as powerful as people make them out to be.

However, Kael wasn’t done yet he had to get his spoils of war of course, after awhile of piling up everything the group left he ended up with 4 swords of the bronze rank, one broken sword of the bronze rank 6 horses, and the leaders bronze rank armour and dagger. It was time to combine Kael though with a mischievous facial expression.

He gathered two swords and willed them to combine, Kael realised that his combination ability wasn’t inherently apart of some spell or aspect he awakened it has always been inside him and it was his own, which lead to many questions but he just couldn’t think of any answers other than he had gained something from his reincarnation.

The two swords had combined.

[sharpened blade]

[weapon]

[pseudo silver]

[A sword that isn’t just like your ordinary sword; its sharper]

Oh, so this didn’t quite manage to make silver, it was time to combine the other two and after a flash of light.

[The great greatsword]

[weapon]

[silver]

[A hunk of metal or a fierce blade? The wielder decides]

This confirmed Kael’s suspicion he knew there was flexibility to the process and it was all in his will, he put more focus control and thought into it this time and tried to combine towards a desired outcome and it worked, he could interfere or maybe it was guide the process how he liked. This was very, very important, now he just had to combine it with his flame sword… kael grew tired, suddenly the muddy ground looked really comfy.

Kael groggily blinked, his surroundings coming into focus as his family crowded around his bed, concern etched on their faces. He winced slightly at the loud voice of his sister, Aimee, who was standing closest to him with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

“Hey doofus, thought you were dead,” she said with a mix of annoyance and relief. “What happened to you?”

Kael tried to sit up, the events of the battle still fresh in his mind. His head was pounding, and he could feel the remnants of exhaustion weighing heavily on his body. “Yeah, well, I guess I’m a bit tougher than I look,” he muttered, half-smiling despite his exhaustion. “Don’t worry about it, I’m fine.”

His older brother, Dan, gave him a sharp look, his brow furrowing with concern. “You’re fine? You’ve been out cold for days, Kael. What happened? We heard you fighting, but... you disappeared. We thought you might’ve...”

Kael shook his head, cutting him off before his brother could finish. “It’s a long story,” he said, though his mind was racing, trying to make sense of what had happened.

Aimee rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky you’re not dead. I’m still not sure what you did, but... I’m glad you're back. Just don’t go doing anything stupid again.”

Their mother, Lydia, finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "What exactly happened out there, Kael? We were so worried. Your brothers ran out to look for you, but they couldn't find you. We thought—"

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This family belonged to the previous owner of Kael's body, and it was a fairly large one, though not unusual in this world. He had three older brothers, one of whom was studying at an academy in a distant country. The other two, Dan and Tom, were… well, not the brightest. They were good-hearted, but they often had a hard time grasping things that most people took for granted. Then there was Freddy, his three-year-old little brother, who was the youngest of the bunch. And of course, there was Aimee, his sister—sharp-tongued, strong-willed, and always ready to call him out on his missteps. Together, they made up a family that, for better or worse, Kael now found himself a part of.

Thankfully, none of them had seen the fight and assumed he’d been badly beaten by the convoy. That worked fine for Kael, who was still grappling with why he had passed out in the first place. Maybe it was related to his ability—it must’ve caused some strain on his mind. So, there are limits, Kael mused. That thought both intrigued and worried him. I’ll have to experiment more to understand where those limits are and how to work around them.

After fending off his family’s questions with vague answers about being overwhelmed but somehow driving the convoy away, they eventually left him alone. His excuse of not feeling one hundred percent seemed to work for now, though Aimee didn’t hide her scepticism. Kael didn’t have the energy to deal with her suspicions; his mind was already preoccupied with the possibilities—and risks—his power offered.

Once the house was quiet, Kael pushed himself upright, wincing slightly at the lingering ache in his muscles. He made his way to the corner of his room, where the spoils of the recent battle were piled haphazardly. The faint gleam of steel caught his eye, and as he ran his hand over the cold, unyielding metal, a flicker of excitement stirred in his chest. Time to see what else this ability can really do.

Kael lowered himself to the floor, sitting cross-legged as he carefully laid out the weapons before him: the leader’s dagger, the silver-ranked [Great Greatsword] he’d forged earlier, and the [Sharpened Blade], which had come from the combination of two bronze swords. His breathing steadied, his focus sharpening as he reached for the two swords, this time leaving the dagger untouched. The process was becoming more familiar with each use, a strange and instinctive act that felt as natural as breathing. He closed his eyes and visualized their attributes intertwining, merging into something greater.

A flash of light erupted, briefly illuminating the dim room. When it subsided, Kael’s hand grasped a new blade, its sheer weight and heat surprising him.

[Great Crimson Edge]

[Weapon]

[Pseudo Gold]

[A hulking blade forged from unbearable heat, its form reminiscent of molten rock shaped into a mighty greatsword]

Kael’s eyes lingered at that description…P-p…Pseudo…Gold! What how can I manage to gain something like this, even though it isn’t quite gold rank this could easily kill nearly anyone in the city maybe even the continent! Kael summoned it and it was even larger than him it look like a slab of large molten rock that looked like it would be more useful to crush things with rather than cut them, he then tried to pick it up but to his dismay it didn’t even budge, not even a little, well dam just when I thought I had achieved something revolutionary.

Well I guess ill have a look at that dagger that the group leader had used.

Shadow Fang]

[Weapon]

[pseudo sliver]

[A lightweight blade, designed for speed and silent execution.]

So that leader did have some nice weapons up his sleeve, looks like he mustve been some form of assassin maybe a hired killer that did seem to suit his fighting style from the time Kale had gone against him, it made him wonder if they met under different circumstances whether he would still be alive…

Shaking off the thought, Kael turned his attention back to the [Great Crimson Edge]. His fingers tightened around its hilt as a temptation crept in. If he combined this pseudo-gold blade with the [Flame blade] what would he end up with? Something even closer to true gold rank? Or maybe even Gold rank itself?

But then the memory of his last blackout hit him—how his body had shut down after overusing his ability. He remembered the helplessness, the vulnerability, and the nagging fear of leaving his family defenseless if more mercenaries came calling.

“No,” Kael muttered, however there was a slight issue he couldn’t desummon the other weapons like he can with the [Flame blade] so he was going to have to hide them, there came the next issue… he couldn’t even move the [Great Crimson Edge].

He pushed the dagger under his pillow making sure none of the edges stuck out then moved his bed so the greatsword would be hidden underneath Leaning back against the wall, Kael allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The haul from the battle had given him a glimpse of what his ability was truly capable of. With weapons like these, he could protect his family—and, perhaps one day, carve out a place for himself in a world that no longer felt quite so insurmountable.

Kael’s gaze drifted to the window. The night was quiet, but it carried a sense of unease. The fight, the power of the pseudo-gold sword, the weight of his new responsibility—it all felt overwhelming. He glanced out the window toward the stable where the six horses he’d claimed stood restless.

The horses had been an unexpected boon. Sunny, their family’s old workhorse, would probably appreciate the company—and, truthfully, the help. A faint grin tugged at his lips. But another thought crept in, unbidden. What if I could combine them?

It was absurd, wasn’t it? Combining living creatures? But his ability seemed limitless in its potential. He’d already defied conventional understanding of magic by creating weapons no smith could forge. If his ability worked on animals...

Kael shook his head, trying to dispel the notion. Yet curiosity itched at the back of his mind, refusing to be ignored. What would happen if I combined them?

The thought gnawed at him until he couldn’t resist. Quietly, Kael slipped out of his room and into the cool night air.

Kael stood in the stable, staring at the restless horses. The idea had started as a spark of curiosity, but now it burned in his mind. He’d combined weapons and unlocked incredible power—why couldn’t the same principle apply to the horses?

The six warhorses he’d claimed snorted and shifted, their powerful frames imposing even in the dim light. Kael felt a twinge of guilt. They were living creatures, after all, not just tools. But he couldn’t ignore the thought of what might come from their union. If he could merge their strengths, their endurance, and their speed into a single entity...

“Alright,” Kael muttered, taking a deep breath. “Let’s see if this works.”

He stretched out his hand, focusing on the horses. His ability stirred within him, a familiar warmth spreading through his chest. This time, though, it felt different—stronger, heavier. Combining living beings wasn’t like merging blades; it required more focus, more control.

The horses began to glow faintly, their forms shimmering as if caught between reality and something else entirely. Kael’s heart pounded as the light grew brighter, enveloping the entire stable. The air crackled with energy, and Kael had to shield his eyes as a final, blinding flash filled the space.

When the light faded, the stable was eerily silent.

In the center of the room stood a single horse, its presence commanding and otherworldly. It was larger than any of the warhorses had been, its coat a sleek black so dark it seemed to absorb the light around it. Its mane and tail shimmered like strands of liquid silver, and its eyes glowed faintly with a deep violet hue.

Kael took a hesitant step forward, his breath catching in his throat.

[Night Rider]

[Mount]

[silver]

[A steed born from the merging of strength, speed, and endurance. Its abilities are amplified under the veil of night, making it unmatched in stealth and speed when darkness falls.]

Kael ran a hand along its neck, the coat unnaturally smooth and cool to the touch. “You’re... incredible,” he whispered. Night Rider snorted softly, stamping a hoof that left a faint impression on the stable floor.