SFS Chapter 158 [The Radiance of the Heavens, the Eclipse of Transcendence]
Chapter 158 [The Radiance of the Heavens, the Eclipse of Transcendence]
"interesting."
Vogwell stood aside, watching this extraordinary encounter with practiced ease.
This weathered blacksmith had witnessed countless extraordinary events over the long years. Even he found the exchange between the young man and the ghostly figure before him strangely captivating.
“I never imagined such a bond existed,” Vogwell said, his rough voice tinged with respect.
“Two young men, one responsible for guiding, the other carrying a heavy burden.” He slowly approached the young man lying on the ground, who was already unconscious.
His breathing was weak, as if it might stop at any moment, and the shimmering light covering his skin had long since dissipated, returning it to its original color.
"Sigh...this is such a hassle..." Vogwell sighed; he hadn't taken anyone in for a long time.
In the dimly lit room beside the furnace, Vogville carefully placed the young man on a makeshift bed.
The usually stern and weathered blacksmith appeared unusually gentle as he gazed at the unconscious figure.
"You really look like him."
He couldn't shake the suffocating feeling in his heart. Looking at the young man, he thought of his own son.
“Kids are always so reckless,” Vogwell muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He had collected some herbs and potions, leftovers from treating his injuries, both common and magical. He hadn't used these on anyone for a while, but his skilled hands still retained that muscle memory.
He carefully poured the mixed potion onto the burns on the young man's skin, marks left by the intense forging ritual.
The young man was half-naked from the waist up, as required by the ritual.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a small suit of armor in the corner. Unable to suppress his curiosity, the blacksmith walked over. The moment he grasped the armor, he immediately realized it was extraordinary.
“Black armor?” Vogville murmured, his fingers feeling its cold touch. The armor was exquisitely crafted, the black material seemingly swallowing the surrounding light. “You’ve got yourself something good, boy.”
Vogwell examined the armor carefully, his experienced hands exploring the intricate details. The fine engravings on the surface testified to the craftsman's exceptional skill.
"This is no ordinary piece of equipment. The quality indicates that it was crafted by a master blacksmith and must have cost a considerable amount of money."
Vogville continued to examine the armor, his fingers tracing each exquisite carving.
As he further analyzed the structure of the armor, his keen eye discovered its true purpose.
“Yes, it’s stealth gear, I understand,” Vogville said softly, nodding. The choice of materials and design details indicated that the armor focused on enhancing agility and concealment. However, as an experienced blacksmith, he couldn’t help but notice a fatal flaw.
"The defensive capabilities are good, but the practicality is poor." His tone carried a hint of criticism. "Wearing this will attract attention."
He quietly pondered the design of the armor, and some ideas for improvement surfaced in his mind. "This armor needs some [transformation metal] added."
Vogwell stroked his beard, already having figured out how to activate [Transformer Metal].
“I can do it…” he whispered, as if he had found a way. “Unlike weapons, armor doesn’t need to include all the transformation properties; one rune is enough.”
He walked to his inventory and reached out to press a small button hidden behind the forge. The wall slid open silently, revealing a small space.
This hidden compartment displays a series of glittering little objects, each adorned with ancient symbols, as if whispering forgotten secrets.
Vogwell's fingers darted among the items until he found an exquisitely carved energy rune.
The energy runes flickered with a faint light, resonating with the latent power waiting to be unleashed.
Vogville carefully took out the rune and held it in his palm. The patterns on the rune swayed gently in the soft light, as if telling him of its power, while drawing mana from the surrounding space.
“Perfect,” Vogwell muttered to himself. He took the energy rune and returned to his armor.
“This should be enough as a gift,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of rugged gentleness.
"Cough cough...cough cough..." Just as he was about to raise the hammer, a violent cough suddenly gushed out from deep within his chest.
He quickly covered his mouth and took a deep breath.
"Am I pushing myself too hard?" Vogville murmured, looking at his aged body. Forging a weapon with such powerful energy and soul was no easy task. Combining the [God of Forging] and a high-level [Call] had placed a considerable burden on his body.
"Sigh... I'm getting old." But he remained stubborn, and after adjusting his mindset, he picked up the hammer again.
Ding!
In the silent cave, the sound of hammering echoed as Vogville began his work. The flames in the furnace cast flickering light that shone on the walls.
The young man still slept in the dim light, his body bearing the marks of his journey. And the weapon lay dormant within him.
......
"Uh..." A low groan escaped my lips involuntarily as I opened my eyes. The familiar burning sensation immediately triggered my senses, followed by physical exhaustion and pain.
“You’re awake.” Vogwell’s hoarse voice broke the silence, revealing that he was nearby. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced me to lie back down.
'What does this feel like?'
This feeling was strangely unfamiliar, as if there was something unnatural inside me.
“Don’t rush,” Vogwell’s voice remained straightforward. “You’ve just gone through a considerable ordeal. Forging and fusion is no child’s play, especially when it involves materials like mana cores.”
After I had settled into my surroundings, Vogwell continued, "However, I must say, the result is quite impressive. The weapon you wanted has been successfully forged and is waiting for your inspection."
Hearing his words, memories from before I lost consciousness flooded back like a tidal wave. The sounds of pain, and the immense energy I felt within my body.
Brother, I am with you...
In my agonizing agony, I even saw her. That strange feeling, as if her voice gave me strength, enabling me to resist that pain.
'That's probably how the characters in the show feel when they look back on their past.'
In any case, as Vogwell said, the weapon was successfully forged. Before I closed my eyes, I did feel a strange energy enter my body.
“Look at your weapon,” Vogville said, pointing to my chest. There, a small mark appeared. I looked down and saw a gleaming crescent moon mark in the center of my chest.
"This is..." I know what it is, and I had anticipated this outcome. But seeing and feeling it with my own eyes still feels somewhat strange to me.
"This is no ordinary weapon. It is connected to your very essence. It will only manifest when you summon it. Just focus."
After hearing his explanation, I closed my eyes. A weapon connected to essence means it's similar to the way I wield power.
I closed my eyes, focused on the weapon, and imagined the form it should take.
It was an interesting process, like sculpting a mental sculpture. As I delved into my mind, a series of images flashed before my closed eyes. They were like glimpses into the potential forms of a weapon, each form representing a different aspect of the weapon.
As the mental exploration deepened, the images became clearer, as if the paths of each form were unfolding before me. I could sense the unique essence of each weapon, waiting to be unleashed.
The first thing that appeared was the green moon.
As my consciousness flowed, the surrounding cave seemed to change. The moon emitted a green glow, and an energy rifle appeared. I could almost feel the weight of the weapon and the cold touch of its metallic surface.
Then, the second form appeared, and the scene changed again. The moon burned with blue-gold flames, illuminating the vast天地 (heaven and earth). I held the Blue Moon Bow, and each arrow I fired produced an explosive impact. The bow's intricate details were vividly presented.
The third form materialized, and the moon emitted a deep crimson light. This time, I wielded the Crimson Moon Twin Blades, and as the blades sliced through the air, the crimson energy left a trail of withered destruction. The precision and lethality of the blades were clearly visible in my mind.
The fourth image reveals a silver sky, with me holding a silver moon blade in my hand. As the blade spins and dances in the air, threads of silver energy connect them, their graceful movements mesmerizing.
Finally, the scene transformed into a deep purple-black sky. I held a series of black moon rings in my hand, manipulating the power of darkness to crush the ground beneath my feet. The overwhelming force of gravity control resonated within the rings' intricate design.
After the mental image finished flashing, I instinctively knew the weapon's name.
This was not my own decision, nor was it something I discussed with Vogwell.
[The Radiance of the Heavens, the Eclipse of Transcendence]
This is the name of the weapon itself.
When Vogville's voice echoed through the cave again, I was pulled back to reality from my reverie. "Have you figured out your weapon yet?" he muttered with a hint of curiosity.
“I think… I understand,” I replied, still immersed in the captivating experience.
“Then I suggest you open your eyes,” Volgville instructed.
When I opened my eyes, the [Radiance of the Sky] appeared before me. The weapon that had just appeared in my mind was now truly in front of me.
The intricate details, the ethereal light, the weight in your hand—these are no longer illusions. They are real and tangible.
It was a transcendent experience; a weapon so deeply connected to a person's very essence could be so extraordinary.
I can feel the energy emanating from the weapon, and when I touch it, it feels as if it's part of my body.
Vogwell calmly observed my reaction, his rough face betraying almost no emotion. "Well, it seems you got what you wanted. If there's nothing else, you'd better leave. This isn't a place to linger."
Despite his rudeness, I could still detect a subtle hint of approval in his words.
However, before I leave, there is one thing I need to check.
'state.'
This is a change in my body and skills; I know something has definitely changed.