Joshua headed back to the Bellwitch's Shop, this time he arrived to see Klaudia who returned with her entourage. The 5th Bellwitch was smoking his pipe, just tapping the ash away from it.
"Ah, Lord of Thorns... Noir Dancer. I'm sure you both learned a lot from those two." Joshua showed the giant his Ashen Phoenix. Which caused the giant to choke on his breath, coughing loudly. Even banging his chest a few times as he looked at it.
"That's the Ashen Phoenix! So... So he gave it to you!?" The 5th Bellwitch was startled by the sight of it.
"Is...Is that a bad thing!?" Joshua asked. He was more confused than anything.
"What!? No! No! It is a good thing! Extremely good! It means that you've earned a weapon far superior than what you have. Tell me what did the phoenix do to you?" The 5th Bellwitch's excitement was infectious, it was like everyone here in the shop was just as excited. They made their way to stand by the 5th Bellwitch's side to see what the fuss is about.
"It... It just charged into me... I didn't feel anything." The 5th Bellwitch started to laugh, smacking his thighs loudly.
"Good... It means that it is compatible with you. I think it is because of the Black Phoenix you saved. Ashen Phoenix is the where all phoenix lines come from. It must have known that you have it as a Familiar." The 5th Bellwitch remarked, where Joshua watched Ferno turn into a phoenix, just flying in circles around the Ashen Phoenix.
"Hey bird brain, what are you doing?" Lugasa scowled as he went closer to Ferno.
"Oh, just saying hi to my ancestor. She doesn't speak much." Ferno changed back to his human form.
"Well, that settles it. Normally when it charges into people. It leaves something onto them, if it left nothing. Then you may be the best wielder for it." The 5th Bellwitch looked at the Ashen Phoenix, he was thinking of what to do with this.
"As the 5th Bellwitch, I call upon you, Oo one of Ash." The Ashen Phoenix appeared before the 5th Bellwitch. Who was inspecting its wings first. Then the Ashen Phoenix showed its body to the 5th Bellwitch, where it covered everything to the point that none but only the 5th Bellwitch could see.
"I see. So your construction is far different than the many blades that I've seen... And you wish to see how he fares with you in your current state?" It was piping notes to talk to the 5th Bellwitch, then it turned to Ferno in his human form. Joshua watched how the Ashen Phoenix rubbed its beak to Ferno's head. Then it piped notes to Ferno as a response.
"The blade's a bit chipped, the temper pattern was disturbed and even its strength is waning. Though I will be honest. The system that you are operating on? It will not be able to detect this weapon's power because of how much it hides. Best to use this as a weapon when you need to cut through your foes with just a single strike. It's sharpness, well. It is beyond the readings of the system. This is because of the weapon's nature." The 5th Bellwitch informed.
"Does it have drawbacks to using it?"
"Normally, yes. But because of the fact that you did not feel any emotion when it struck you. Usually based on the emotion that it invokes when it struck you, it will use that emotion as fuel for its powers. The Avatar of Destruction has been one for anger. It is the first time that I see Ashen Phoenix intact in its true form and its damages in its blade form." The 5th Bellwitch answered, then looking at Klaudia.
"You seem to have grown from your training with the Avatar of Death. He did leave behind something for you. I needed to temper it carefully and had to change it to suit your current self." Klaudia looked at the white tuxedo tailcoat before her.
"This is the Avatar of Death's Funeral Robes. One that he wore for his beloved after she died. Stained by the many corpses of the ones responsible for her death. For every life, he will be cursed to witness the deaths of his beloved with no way to prevent their deaths. He will always wear this on the battlefield. Be it with guns or blade or magic, the blood off his enemies would splash onto it. This is an outfit that has been tuned with the system as per his blessings and the Supreme Being Lucius and the Supreme One of your world. As a result, this has been eased into your list of equipment." The 5th Bellwitch explained as her current robes merged with the Funeral Robes. Where she had a wavy scarf that was resting by her shoulders.
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"It has merged with your robes. It is still called the Avatar of Death's Funeral Robes, but it retains most of your skills from the equipment. Now, oh Ashen One. As my 4th master has worked on you before. I am thankful for the opportunity to fix your blade form again." The 5th Bellwitch lowered his head in respect of the Ashen Phoenix, where the 5th Bellwitch tapped the ash of his pipe and placed some special tobacco in it. Where the Ashen Phoenix provided the flames for it, they watched how the Ashen Phoenix's blade was pure ash. The temper pattern shaped itself to become the phoenix. The chipped parts of the blade were being repaired as hot metals melded into place. Reforming the edges, the cracked spine was also healed in the same way. Priestesses of the many races within the shop stood by the 5th Bellwitch's side, reading the holy scriptures as the Ashen Phoenix piped out meledies to be heard by awl, thrilling and cawing them to life.
The Ashen Phoenix blade glowed into a majestic azure colour, where the Ashen Phoenix's wings changed to match it. Where Zephyr was then seen to greet the Ashen Phoenix. They put their heads closely to each other where Joshua watched as an armor form over Zephyr's back. The weapons that were made of his family's essences had been released. They now have the word 'For the Lord of Thorns' by the side,all of them were jet black. Yet their status equipment could not be seen.
"Because of how strong their feelings for you were, they've changed beyond norm. However, for Sheena's Love and Todd's Tears. Those have been destroyed. During the tempering, I had seen their souls be trapped in it. Which is rare for such a thing to happen. I've set them free, for I truly believe in accordance to what the Avatar of Destruction had spoken about you... Though it was an asusmption, I had to set them free or they will become evil spirits that haunt people. I hope you do not think ill of my actions, Oh Lord." The 5th Bellwitch lowered his head to Joshua who merely let out a sigh.
"Thank you, Bellwitch. I... am grateful for your actions." The 5th Bellwitch nodded.
"About your weapons, they cannot be read by the system because the amount of love that your family and the people whom supported you had. Including those who do not know you, they've become akin to the Ashen Phoenix's kind. One that the Supreme Being of your realm has declared to be a weapon that does not need to have its powers checked. It has been tuned. These weapons will grow with you but... They are also different." The 5th Bellwitch spoke as Joshua picked up Rayland's Unforgiven.
"I've combined them with the past reiterations of the same weapons. Which is why they are now similar to that of the Ashen Phoenix. Should your world be in danger, lean onto the ones who support you. Even after they are gone." Joshua nodded to the 5th Bellwitch's words, the giant was kind. Picking up Rayland's Unforgiven, Joshua could feel the warmth of his elder brother into this revolver.
"Heard you got trouble, kiddo. Just remember, your brother's got you." Joshua felt a pat on his back, turning to see if it was Rayland. It was nobody but Joshua accepted it. Joshua smiled as he looked at the 5th Bellwitch.
"May the light of your God. Shine upon you, Lord of Thorns." Joshua made his way out first while Klaudia stayed to get the rest of her gear checked. The weapon's stat screens appeared but now there was a +++ to the damage potential it had. Stepping out of the shop, Joshua had a renewed resolve to his hands, so he headed back to the training arena.
This time seeing Jordan who was training the combatants, Joshua wondered if the Master of Cards would view Jordan as a good leader? Jordan turned to Joshua, waving at him. Then making his way to Joshua.
"I saw that display of power. You fought against that Klaudia girl right? I heard that she's a complete loner. She takes on the toughest Spires of her rank and the Chairman made sure she was excluded from the headcount requirement that we have. A lot of the A-ranks here are a little unsure of how to handle or process things. A few B-ranks are here too. This mission has everyone on the edge, so the combatant types just go on ahead and fight to loosen the tension and nerves. The others are busy checking out new gear." Jordan said as he put his arm over Joshua.
"I got a wife and a kid in there. I'm scared that if I fuck up, because most of those guys look at me ast the leader." Jordan's words, Joshua could feel the hesitation in Jordan's voice.
"I know you can do this." Joshua said where Jordan laughed. Joshua was surprised but then again, if he remembered correctly. Jordan was fighting mainly in the arena for the money and fame. The many members of the Guilds were preparing for an assault.
Just another day, and they will have to enter the Spire. Joshua didn't feel worried or at ease, but he was wondering if he can do this." Joshua was thinking as he stood on the rooftops, placing Brilliant Ash to his shoulders and Ashen Phoenix to the other shoulder. Getting a feel for the difference, it was like night and day.
Though there was something else. Joshua went back to sleep.
Only to wake up in the Ashen Phoenix's domain, seeing the Ashen Phoenix just lying down in its nest. Then checking its own feathers, Joshua walked towards it. Where it picked up Joshua by the collar and put Joshua down. He found Ferno as a little phoenix as well and sleeping in it.
For some reason, he felt a relaxing air from it.