Chương 30: Luxmore

Walking over into my domain, I let the comforting feeling of the area wash over me. There is just something reassuring about being surrounded by yourself. It's like a warm hug, I think. My anvil looks just the same as when it was created. Opening up the interface I waste no time on inspecting the required materials. It says it wants all four units of glintsteel as the base, and six glimmerwood for the secondary. Then of course, I put the light mana crystal in as the core.

With selections completed, the metal bars appear on the anvil. Taking my heating stone, I apply it to two of the bars. This is going to take a while, as the stone isn't actually that big. Twiddling my thumbs, I wait for several minutes as the first set of bars heat up. Then many more minutes for the second set. I can see why proper equipment would be helpful, this heating stone wont cut it for much longer, I imagine. That is a problem for later though, as with the bars heated up, I pull out my hammer.

I turn it around in my hands a few times, it really is weak. Compared to the image in my mind of my new hammer, that is. This is going to be less like an upgrade, and more like a total shake-up. Energy flows through me as I raise my hammer. This time, I want to pay better attention to it. So I feel every bit of it as it flows through me, starting at the corestone. The energy feels like it's burning up my insides as it moves through my body. It does not move in a straight line.

Instead, it splits apart, flowing to every corner of my body, as if collecting every bit of myself that it can. Eventually, it all gathers together, flowing down my arm. The instant I feel it start to gather in my hammer, I strike. Clink. The metal warps, ever so slightly. The individual bars are getting just a bit closer to becoming one. So, I strike again. Clank. And again. Clink. The world around me focuses until only four things remain in my awareness.

My body, my hammer, the anvil and the clink-clank as my hammer hits the anvil. Nothing else matters, for it does not have a part in this process. My body aches as strike after strike molds the material to my will. Ever so slowly, it changes. From four bars sitting on an anvil, to a block of solid metal, and finally, to the hammerhead I envisioned. The exhaustion definitely pulls at me, I can tell this one has been far more draining already. Perhaps because I am being more direct with my use of energy?

I just hope it makes a better result. With the metal part done, my hammer and the hammer head suddenly disappear. Now I am holding two sticks, each representing six units of the wood I think. Following my instincts, I place them on the anvil. Energy gathers in my body, but instead of using a hammer, I merely use my hands. I should probably have some sort of tool suited towards carpentry for this, but oh well. The energy flows into the glimmerwood, making it shine brightly.

I also feel it start to heat up beneath my palms. Just as I am worried about it catching fire, the ends start to glow even brighter. It is too bright, and I am forced to look away. But I can feel the instant the two pieces form a connection. When I turn back, I find that a single long handle remains, exactly as specified in the blueprint. There are also some interesting engravings on the wood, they feel magical. Probably to hold the imbuements or something.

With the handle and head done, now comes the next step: assembly. The hammer head reappears, having cooled down enough for me to touch. With careful hands, I pick it up–amazed at how I can lift up something so heavy with just one hand. I align the handle with the hole at the bottom of the head, and slide it in. A faint click can be heard, and with one last bit of energy, I feel the two pieces settle together. The mana crystal appears in my hand, and I slot it right into the side of the hammer.

Energy rushes out of me, feeling like every last bit of it I have is draining into the hammer. My world narrows, until it becomes only the hammer, and nothing else. Now this is the fun part. The hammer tells me a grand tale, one of fire, brimstone, death, but also peace and happiness. From being scattered across the lands, to becoming whole once again. It tells me of its parts, and how they work together to form a whole. In turn, I whisper back to it. I tell it of what it could become.

Smashing monsters with the force of mountains. Crushing their bones until their cores are forced to give up. Until nothing remains but dust and blood. I tell it of shaping that which can further change the world. To bend metals, to imbue them. We exchange tales, me telling of my many experiences, and of how it came to be. It tells me of the power of light, and how it shapes even the smallest functions. How it powers everything, from the smallest plant, to the largest titan.

How it empowers and protects, no matter the cost. An idea surges to my mind. What if that power could be shared? Not just with the weapon itself, but the wielder? Or even those nearby? The hammer humms, seemingly happy with my idea. The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. As our conversion continues, I fill it with power. Power that carries my very self, and all that I think about. I tell it to be strong, unstoppable even.

In turn, the weapon asks me to be strong as well. To be fast, smart, and to protect others. All of which I try to do anyways. I have no clue how much time passes. But eventually, a sense of completeness rushes over me. But, as a last question, the hammer asks me for a name. Damnit, why do I have to name things? My brain ruffles through a bunch of options. I have gotten quite used to naming things, though I really don't like the responsibility accompanying it.

Eventually, I settle on the name Luxmore, as a bit of an ode to my former name. The instant I think of the name, my sense of the world slowly starts to return, along with a sense of complete exhaustion. I barely get to see the notification before losing awareness yet again.

'Ding', Forging of Luxmore (Uncommon) successful. — I wake up to a feeling of wetness pressing against my cheek. The instant she senses I am awake, Luma is up and bouncing around on my chest.

"Yip! Yip!" Groaning, I sit up to see what she is so excited about. Tons of level-up notifications are in my mind from finishing the craft, but those can wait a moment. Glancing around the room, I see Dovey lying on the floor. In my very much not expert opinion, he ain't looking too hot. Luma jumps off the bed and starts running circles around the dove. I get up and walk over, bending down to inspect the bird.

"What happened?" Dovey's beak opens just slightly, "Corporeal, too, long." He says and I notice his form is a bit faded around the edges. I remember the phylactery saying something about corporeal spirits, and Luma's great spirit thing said she would always be able to stay corporeal. Maybe non-great spirits have a limit to how long they can stay out of my phylactery? But wait, how would they exist in nature? Maybe there is somewhere else they go, and that is why I have seen so few of them thus far.

Putting that aside, my skill is kinda tingling a bit, so I guess this is when I should use it. I reach down and grab Dovey into my hand. Then with a sort of tug on his form with my mind, he sorta gets absorbed into my body. It tickles, and feels weird. Like I am heavier somehow. But I can tell Dovey is definitely in my phylactery or whatever. I am indeed! Thank you MASTER~ Ah shit, he can speak into my mind now. What did I ever do to deserve such a thing? I can! I can even read your thoughts too, meanie.

What did I ever do to get stuck with such a cruel master? Dovey retorts. You tried to kill me. Well uh, fair enough I suppose. But yes, I was outside too long, thank you for bringing me in. It is quite cozy inside of you:) I sigh and try really hard to ignore the bird that now rests within the very core of my being. Whether by an actual ability, or just Dovey shutting up, it does work. All I am left with is a bit of a weird feeling, and a sense that Dovey is not ready to come out yet for a while.

To be honest, I might just leave him in there until needed… Fumbling around, I poke the right part of my mind and a menu appears. It lists out Dovey, his abilities and a whole lot of other stuff. Most notably, a 'stability' value, which is currently at 6%. My guess is that at 0%, spirits can't function in the real world, and they will have to rest up inside my phylactery for a bit. Which is fair enough, it would get kinda annoying if I had tons of spirits constantly flitting about around me.

"Yip Yip!" Luma says, jumping up onto my shoulder and nuzzling my cheek with her cold nose.

"Yes, yes. You are cool too, little fox." I scritch her chin, causing her to let out a small purr.

"Do you want to go inside too?" She looks at me for a moment, before shaking her head no.

"Yip!" Ima interpret that as a 'no, I want to stay out here with you!" Which is fine with me, she is really cute, after all. How come you never call me cute, hmph. Dovey grumbles, which I ignore. With the problem cleared up, I sit back down on the bed and look at the notifications.

'Ding', Magic Smith has advanced to level 20. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Magic Smith has advanced to level 21. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Magic Smith has advanced to level 22. Stat points distributed.

'Ding', Quest Completed: Tools of The Trade'Ding', New blueprint formed, Double-head hammer of Light'Ding', Luma has advanced to level 18. Stat points distributed. A few Magic Smith levels, the quest compilation, and even one for Luma! Quite a haul for just a craft. I am starting to notice that leveling is getting far slower. Perhaps I have progressed out of the early stage or something, and this is where shit starts to get real. I even have a new hammer, which is apparently uncommon quality.

I pull it out, and hold it in my hands. My jaw drops as I feel the raw power within it. Running my hand gently down the handle, it is a bit rough, but quite good considering I don't know shit about carpentry. The head is beautiful too, and beautifully scatters a bit of light coming in from the window. The entire thing humms with power, as if begging me to go smash some monsters with it. Naturally, I just have to inspect it. Luxmore (Uncommon) A tool forged by the Magic Smith Orn, to be wielded by Orn himself.

This hammer is well-suited towards many things. From smashing one's enemies, forging new equipment, to even making pancakes. The hammer emits an aura of light when infused with mana. This aura does twofold: firstly, it empowers the user, increasing their physical stats by a minor amount. Secondly, it buffs the magical stats of all allies within three meters by a minor amount. With the combined effects of both glintsteel and glimmerwood, the hammer can also be used as a lightsource when mana is run through it.

The hammer also acts as a great channel for light magic. Thus improving the efficiency of all light magic while holding the hammer. However, it is said that the hammer is quite restless. Do make sure to use it often. Imbuements: Multi-faceted Empowering Aura (Uncommon), Restlessness (Curse, Uncommon), Unbreaking (Common), Light Attunement (Common). Requirements: 50 Strength, 75 Agility, Level 20 in Magic Smith (or variant) Interesting, it does seem quite useful.

That stat bonus is going to come in quite handy, I expect. However, I apparently gave it a curse? The description just says I have to use it often as well, it doesn't say what the consequence for not doing so is. Which is probably fine. Something tells me that curses aren't exactly rare, and not inherently the worst thing. Heck, I would bet that the stronger a piece of equipment gets, the more likely it needs a curse to like, balance it out or something.

Plus It isn't like I am going to slack off and retire to some farm or something. Plenty of monster slaying and forging awaits me in my future. I do still have a quest reward to check out. Which I will do in a moment. Something far more important, and hero-y comes to my mind first. You know, the whole Claire and Calder thing. As my next act of heroism, I should probably rescue Calder from Claire's clutches.