Chapter 12: Blades of Fire
The day had finally arrived. Akira woke with an excitement he hadn’t felt in years. His blood ruby swords were ready. After a quick breakfast and finishing his chores at breakneck speed, he made his way to the blacksmith’s shop in town.
As he approached, he saw Ren standing outside, leaning against the doorframe with a grin.
“Took you long enough,” Ren teased. “I’ve been dying to see these swords of yours.”
Akira chuckled. “Trust me, so have I.”
They stepped into the blacksmith’s shop together, where the burly smith was polishing a gleaming blade on the counter.
“Ah, Akira,” the blacksmith greeted, his voice gruff but warm. “You’re just in time. Your swords are ready.”
The smith reached under the counter and pulled out two magnificent katanas. The blades shimmered with a crimson hue, their edges razor-sharp. The hilts were crafted with intricate designs, wrapped in black leather, and adorned with faint red accents that resembled veins of molten lava.
Akira’s eyes widened as he stepped closer, running a hand along the flat of one blade. “They’re perfect,” he whispered.
Ren whistled, clearly impressed. “I’ve never seen anything like those. Blood ruby katanas, huh? Those are gonna turn heads.”
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The blacksmith smirked. “Not just for show, either. These are as deadly as they come. But there’s something special about this one.” He held up the katana meant for Akira’s left hand.
“Special?” Akira asked, taking the blade.
“Yeah,” the blacksmith said. “When I was forging it, I noticed something unusual. Blood rubies have a natural affinity for magic, and this blade seemed to resonate with fire magic in particular. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Akira’s Kaeto System immediately chimed in as he gripped the blade.
---
Item Unlocked: Flame Fang (Left-Handed Sword)
Type: Magic Katana
Buff: +15% Fire Damage
Skill: Blazing Slash
Pour fire magic into the blade to ignite it, unleashing fiery cuts that scorch enemies and leave burn effects.
---
Akira stared at the notification, his heart racing. “It has a skill,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
“What’s that?” Ren asked, leaning closer.
“Uh, nothing,” Akira said quickly, shaking his head. “Just… it feels different from the other one.”
He swung the blade experimentally, feeling a faint warmth radiating from it. It was subtle, but as he concentrated, he could almost feel his mana syncing with the weapon.
“And the other one?” Akira asked, picking up the right-handed katana.
The system chimed again.
---
Item Unlocked: Ruby Fang (Right-Handed Sword)
Type: Katana
Buff: +10% Critical Hit Chance
---
“Just as deadly,” Akira murmured, his grin widening.
The blacksmith crossed his arms, nodding in satisfaction. “Take care of those, kid. They’ll serve you well, but remember—they’re tools. It’s your skill that’ll make the difference.”
Akira nodded. “Thank you. These are amazing.”
Ren punched him lightly on the shoulder. “You’re seriously living the dream, Akira. Dual-wielding katanas? Fire magic? What’s next, taking down a dungeon by yourself?”
Akira chuckled but didn’t respond. The thought wasn’t entirely far-fetched, especially with the Kaeto System at his side.
As he sheathed the swords and strapped them to his back, he felt a surge of confidence. The Black Swordsman class felt closer than ever, and now he had the tools to start carving his path in Noble Eternity.
“Let’s see what these can do,” Akira said, his voice brimming with determination.
Ren grinned. “I’ll hold you to that. Now, what’s the plan?”
Akira smirked, his hand resting on the hilts of his new blades. “Training. Lots of training.”
Together, the two headed back toward the forest, ready for whatever challenges awaited.