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“Okay…”
This is not something Julian has ever done before, and probably never would if he did not discover Otherworld, if he didn’t discover Artemia. He was already learning about this world bit by bit through MEGAN and Cyrus, and yet nothing truly comes close to experiencing it firsthand.
Magic.
He might not have expressed his jubilance, shock, or joy at being able to manipulate flames with the flick of his fingers—but he was truly, truly excited. Enough that he was actually losing control of himself in glee.
And now, it was showing on his face with a trembling smile as he caressed clear metal before him.
“Hmn…” Julian took in a slow, and steady breath as he let the tip of his fingers brush the surface of the large, and soft clear metal…and as he lightly tapped it, it bounced and jiggled playfully; parts of it, perking up with each of his touch.
He tapped it again, and this time, the flames around his fingertips surged, seemingly responding to his intent and moving as if they were part of his own body—and right now, they probably were.
The flames spoke to him, they spoke to him like how his hands speak to him. They respond to each beat of his heart, each breath. He didn’t need to command, they just do it.
The flames of the Avatar of Searadyn obliged with loyalty that was almost instinctive, the bond between him and the spirit, although but a blink, was already so deep that it felt like he had lived with it his entire life.
“Let’s get started, then…” Julian murmured as the frostfire dancing around his fingers hissed. He tugged at the parts of the glacivyr that perked up, pulling it almost like a thread of… water, but not quite.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, he bent the thread, and a violent spark erupted. Violent, yes… but controlled.
It didn’t feel like molding clay. No, this was something else entirely. It was a different feeling altogether—the closest way Julian could describe it is when one tries to untangle a wire, or tie it in a knot that you desire.
A steel wire, yes. Or perhaps a thick aluminum foil? That is what it felt like to mold it… except harder, much harder.
He had to stay fully concentrated. He controlled the frostfire, yes. But at the same time, he had to follow it too; keeping a careful balance of pressure, cold, and heat to coax the metal into the shape he envisioned.
And soon, the blue flames sparked even more frequently, even more violent as he finally stretched it.
“Is it just me… or is it getting colder?” Cyrus whispered.
“Ssh!” And Juliet immediately shushed him.
Julian stretched it as long as his arm could stretch, the flames in his hands pulsing across the clear metal with each second he pulled. He then carefully placed the glacivyr back on the bench, giving it a twist.
“Shit!”
“Ssh.” And this time, it was Juliet’s time to be shushed as she accidentally gasped as the blue spark that erupted with the twist was even more violent than the last. The cold that it carried with it, enough to cause the air to creak.
Julian gave it another fold, causing the sparks to just fly and bloom without consequence. And when he was satisfied with the width, the blue flames dancing around his fingers became solid, a frozen flame.
“Hm.” And with a breath, this frozen flame hammered the clear metal, no. Perhaps hammered was not the right word to use, but attacked. It attacked the glacivyr with utmost precision, compressing its twist and turning it into blocks.
And while the flames were violent, the brushing of Julian’s hand as it hovered across the metal was not. If Ellie were here, then she would have definitely recognized the way Julian moved because… he always held the same gentleness whenever he massaged her.
Soon, however, the intensity of the flames increased—and the glacivyr could do nothing but obey his will.
“Hm?” But then, a small miscalculation. But not on his part.
The Avatar of Searadyn had a will of its own, it had emotions… and it got excited as the weapon was taking shape.
As the flames attacked the tip of the flattened glacivyr, a wave of violent chill burst outward from Julian’s hands—sharp and biting—freezing the entire surface of the workbench in an instant.
It was then followed by a ripple which caused jagged icicles to grow from the frozen surface, some of it even pricking into his arm.
“Hm…” Julian hummed as he did not expect the pain. But he quickly let a large breath escape his lips, lifting both of his hands almost as if to console the spirit of the flames, “...It’s fine, relax.”
Slowly, meticulously, he resumed molding–no, forging the clear metal. The blue sparks now erupting each second.
The three watching him noticed something, however—he seemed to be folding the clear metal even though its shape had already been established—and he did so for hours on end, seemingly lost in the rhythm of… creation.
They were confused as to what he was doing as at one point, it even seemed completed, and yet still, he folded and shaped it again and again.
Another hour passed, and finally, Julian stepped back from the bench; his heavy breaths releasing vapor as they escaped his curled lips.
“Julian… is that…?” Juliet whispered, eyes wide as she stared at the clear weapon.
The weapon he’d forged was shaped like a rapier, elegant and slender, yet… larger, almost as long as a traditional longsword. The blade gleamed with the same clear, crystal purity as the Glacivyr, as though it were nearly invisible… its form revealed only by the gentle blue of the frostfire coiled around it.
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“It’s… almost too perfect,” Cyrus murmured, leaning in, his eyes fixed on the glowing weapon.
And while Juliet and Cyrus were amazed by that they were seeing, the guild master frowned slightly, looking doubtful.
“A rapier, but… that size?” he was confused, scratching his head, though his gaze held an undeniable glint of admiration.
Julian took a step forward, lifting the blade. It was heavy, the weight pressing down on him as he gripped it with both hands. He swung it once, feeling the flow of the weapon, testing its balance and power.
And seeing him swinging it, the guild master’s confusion became even more apparent, “So… it is a longsword? But why is it—”
And then, with a flash of blue light, Julian twisted the handle with his hands. Sparks crackled, and in an instant… the single blade divided into two.
Twin Rapiers.
The longsword shifted into two identical rapiers with oversized guards that completely shielded his hands.
Magic. Julian, as promised, took full advantage of that, mixing magic with craft.
“Wait, did he just—?” Juliet’s voice was filled with amazement as she watched the transformation.
“No way,” Cyrus breathed, eyes widening.
And before their amazement could even fully reach its peak—another spark erupted from one of the twin rapiers.
“What’s happening now!?” The guild master held his breath as they all watched as the rapier shifted in Julian’s hand, its long blade folding like origami—a rose, but not quite. It became flat, transforming into a full shield that seemed almost invisible to the naked eye.
“No. Freaking. Way!” Cyrus sucked in a very deep breath as he pulled his hair back, each word that was coming out of his mouth was filled with disbelief and awe… and he wasn’t alone at all.
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“Hm…” And while everyone was expressing their shock, Julian started moving around with his new equipment. Raising the shield, thrusting the rapier—and even swinging it. Unlike his concealed rapier back on Earth, this clear blade was wider and its edges were extremely sharp and could also be used to slash.
But perhaps the most crucial part was the balance. He had crafted this for himself, and it felt like an extension of his body—much like the flames his fingers now instinctively summoned.
With each thrust, swing, and even as he just raised his shield… a fierce, chilling aura pulsed forward, a scalding for that threatened to bite into anything that was even unfortunate enough to stand in his path.
And once he was satisfied, he whispered for the [Guidance], curious as to how Artemia sees his weapon.
[Item: Searadyn’s Veil]
Type: Shifting Weapon [Current form: Rapier and Shield]
Grade: Epic [Unique]
Durability: 250/250
Sharpness: 160
Defense: 90
Weight: 9.5
Special Effects:
* Perfect Balance – The balance of this equipment will always be perfect. Enhances Strength and Agility by 15%
* Searadyn’s Blessing – Searadyn has granted the wearer of this equipment resistance to extreme temperatures, providing constant comfort and substantial resistance to fire and ice attacks.
* Spirit's Loyalty – Only those acknowledged by the Spirit of Searadyn can feel the Special Effects and use the Skills of this weapon.
Skills:
* Glacial Rebound – Upon successfully parrying an attack, a burst of frostfire emits from the shifting weapon, pushing back the attacker. Has a 5% chance to momentarily freeze the attacker.
* Searadyn’s Wrath — The shifting weapon leaves a trail of frostfire in the air with each swing, damaging anyone who goes near it over time. The trail disappears after 1.2 seconds.
Description:
Forged in communion with Searadyn, the Spirit of Frostfire, this Shifting Weapon carries both her enduring power and her quiet sorrow. Searadyn’s Veil embodies an ever-shifting form, its clarity concealing a fierce spirit ready to defend and protect. Every swing and parry reflects a promise: the spirit’s enduring loyalty to the one who recognized her loneliness and chose her companionship. The wearer wields not only a weapon but the memory of a powerful, silent ally—one whose flames now live to serve a worthy hand.
[End of Description]
[Congratulations, Julian Winters. You have finished the labor: Craft a [Unique Epic] Weapon (1/1)]
“Hm…”
Julian glanced at Cyrus and Juliet, a subtle, satisfied smile hinting on his face as he saw the notification from the [Guidance of Artemis].
He examined the status screen of the weapon, humming as the information entered his mind. And after a moment, he flicked the remaining rapier, and with another flicker of blue light, it shifted, morphing into another shield.
“...That’s done.” Julian took a long breath, lowering his hands, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction in the weight of his creation.
“Thank you for letting me borrow your forge.” He glanced up at the guild master, who was still staring at him, eyes wide with amazement. And without another word…
…he began walking toward the exit. The two, almost invisible shields swinging along with his arm.
“Wait… you’re leaving just like that?” The guild master blinked.
“Yes…?” Julian paused, glancing over his shoulder. “I’ve done what I came here to do. Thank you, guild master.”
“Well…” Juliet shrugged, giving the guild master a somewhat apologetic look before gathering her things, “...You don’t have to worry, he’s like that with everyone.”
“But… I was going to announce the guild’s revival,” the guild master stammered, watching as they prepared to leave. “People would come from all over… Master Julian, I would like to introduce you to them!”
“No, thank you.” Julian hummed, already half out the door. “There’s still something I have to do.”
“Is…” The guild master hesitated, frowning. “Is this about your… unique class quest?”
And as soon as the guild master said those words, Cyrus subtly snapped his fingers several times to cut off his stream—after all, they didn’t want the Chat to figure out about Julian’s secret quest just yet.
“You’re aware?” Cyrus asked cautiously, his tone low and guarded.
The guild master nodded, a soft chuckle escaping him.
“It wasn’t hard to figure out by the end,” he admitted. “I’ve met countless blacksmiths at my old age, and someone like Julian, with the talent he has… being [Classless] could only mean one thing: he’s bound to be touched by the gods. And so… what’s the quest, exactly? Perhaps I could offer some guidance.”
"Hm." Julian turned his shoulder to the guild master, hesitating for a moment before he answered.
“I need to defeat a creature called Orpuk using this weapon.”
“An... Orpuk?” The guild master’s face went pale, his eyes widening with what looked like genuine shock. Julian, Cyrus, and Juliet exchanged a glance, waiting for him to elaborate.
The old man blinked, mouth opening slightly. “That...”
They leaned in, tension thick in the air as they saw the shock in his eyes.
“...I don’t know what that is.” The guild master whispered.
“You’re really starting to piss me off, old man.” Cyrus’s eye twitched, his jaw clenching as his annoyance reached its peak.
“But…” the guild master remained serious, raising his finger in the air,
“…I know someone who might.”
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