NOVPUB
Chapter 120: The Result
Aldrian was astonished as the screen in front of him pinpointed exactly which parts of the steel to hammer and how much force to apply. He examined the intricate details of the steel and couldn’t help but praise his Eyes of the Heaven for providing such precise information.
"Well, as expected from my mysterious abilities," he thought.
He inspected the steel, now glowing red from the forge, and glanced at the screen, which also displayed the optimal steps and the best temperature for heating. According to his Eyes of the Heaven, the steel was nearing the perfect temperature.
Once it reached the exact perfect heat, Aldrian swiftly grabbed the steel with a pair of tongs and placed it on the anvil. Duke Valiard raised an eyebrow at Aldrian’s precise movements and keen sense. He could feel that the steel’s heat was ideal for tempering and silently praised Aldrian for quickly grasping one of the most critical aspects of forging.
Aldrian then picked up a hammer, carefully positioning himself.
Clang!
As the hammer struck the steel, Duke Valiard immediately noticed that Aldrian had used less force than expected but chose not to comment. He continued watching.
Clang, clang!
With each strike of the hammer, Aldrian’s blows was nearing perfection, and after a few more moments, the duke could sense that Aldrian had already mastered the exact amount of force needed for each strike. Making Duke Valiard’s surprise grew.
It was truly baffling to Duke Valiard how Aldrian could so quickly identify the necessary adjustments to his strength, fine-tuning it to the exact amount needed—despite the force being stronger than usual by his standards. Yet, even with the increased power, the steel’s durability remained unaffected.
What amazed Duke Valiard even more was Aldrian’s consistency. As he observed the tempering process, he noticed that Aldrian maintained a steady, precise amount of force with each strike, never faltering. Every hit was confident and flawless, as if Aldrian instinctively knew which part of the steel required attention.
"Amazing! His sense for controlling his strength is remarkably sharp. After just a few strikes, he already understands how to adjust perfectly. Most beginners need days, even weeks, to maintain such consistency over time," Duke Valiard thought in awe.
Meanwhile, Aldrian glanced at the power bar displayed on his screen, showing a perfect 10/10. Earlier, when he had used less force, the number had shown 8/10. After adjusting his power, he finally reached the right amount. He struck the exact spot 20 times, just as his Eyes of the Heaven indicated, before moving on to the next area.
Each section of the steel displayed a different number, indicating where Aldrian needed to strike and how much force to apply. He realized that each type of steel likely had its own unique numbers and requirements. Following the precise instructions, he struck the indicated spots with the exact force required.
The result became apparent shortly after he completed all the steps shown on his screen. The shape of the steel was nearly perfect, needing only one more round of tempering to further refine its quality.
After finishing, Aldrian saw that the blade’s shape was already perfect in his eyes. All that remained was to create the pattern on its surface. With a gentler force, he began carving a design that almost exactly matched the blueprint Duke Valiard had provided. "Almost" because certain parts had a slightly different flow than the original pattern.
"If this is the perfected version of the pattern, then..." Aldrian thought.
He followed the pattern on the screen, carefully infusing his energy little by little, just as Duke Valiard had done, allowing the artifact to absorb the energy of heaven and earth. Duke Valiard, who had been watching in amazement, was initially impressed, but as he observed how Aldrian was shaping the pattern, he frowned. After a few moments, he silently shook his head.
"In the end, he’s still a beginner. Did he forget the pattern?" Duke Valiard thought. "With that variation, the energy flow in the blade will be less efficient, lowering the dagger’s grade."
Even so, he kept watching quietly as Aldrian completed the pattern and quenched the blade in special oil. Once the process was finished, the final product lay before them—a blade seamless and flawless in shape.
Even Duke Valiard, who had seen countless weapons, regarded this blade with a solemn expression.
"Although the pattern is slightly off, I have to admit, the outer appearance is perfect—neater and harder than what I usually create," he thought, turning his gaze to Aldrian. "Have I just met a genius in blacksmithing, someone with great natural talent?"
Duke Valiard watched as Aldrian performed the final step, injecting his energy into the blade. When the energy enveloped the blade, completing the process, a sudden surge of aura and power radiated out, sweeping over Duke Valiard and leaving him stunned once again. Today had been filled with surprises, but this final shock made him question his own capability.
"Low Sky grade! How is that possible?!" Duke Valiard’s mind raced, the situation in front of him just as absurd as where Aldrian, still in the Earl stage, had unleashed an attack at a King stage level. The blueprint for the dagger was only designed to allow for a maximum potential of Middle Earth grade. This dagger was meant to be affordable and easy to produce so that more people could access such an artifact.
No matter how much effort you put into tempering the blade, it would only ever reach middle Earth grade at best. Even if by some miracle it achieved peak Earth grade, it would only hold that level briefly before crumbling, as the material—without any special mix or enhancements—simply couldn’t withstand the higher intensity energy flow required for peak Earth grade.
Unless you use better materials and a more complex Sky-grade pattern, it’s impossible to upgrade a blade to Sky grade. Yet, the blade in front of him, made from cheap dark steel, had somehow reached low Sky grade, which was beyond his comprehension.
Yet here it was—a low Sky grade blade made from basic dark steel. It defied all logic.
Duke Valiard approached Aldrian, unable to take his eyes off the blade. He grabbed it from Aldrian’s hand, examining it closely with sharp, practiced eyes. He rubbed the surface, stroked the blade, and infused it with his energy. What he found astonished him—it was an artifact without a single flaw, perfect in every aspect.
As his energy enveloped the entire blade, he finally understood the incredible discovery before him.
"The pattern! The very pattern I thought would disrupt the energy flow has, shockingly, made it smoother and more efficient. There’s no excess energy wasted into the air." He marveled at the blade’s sturdiness and durability, both far greater than he had ever imagined possible.
Duke Valiard guessed that while Aldrian’s hammering technique wasn’t particularly special, his precise control over the power and accuracy of each strike made all the difference. Even the slightest millimeter can make a huge impact in blacksmithing!
"This is truly a marvelous creation!" Duke Valiard exclaimed inside his mind, turning to Aldrian with eyes full of admiration, as if he were gazing at a rare gem. His intense stare gave Aldrian goosebumps.
"How did you do it?! I mean, how did you know what to modify to create this blade? With a grade this high using only basic materials, you could revolutionize the entire artifact market and have your name written in history!" Duke Valiard asked, overwhelmed with amazement.
"After watching your technique and understanding its intricacies, I was able to shape the most effective method to create the blade," Aldrian explained, crafting his words carefully to make Duke Valiard believe in him. "As I’ve said before, I can grasp and apply knowledge instantly."
He continued, "Even though the material is common and cheap, I could make it sturdier through precise hammering and by using stronger force, compacting every part of the steel."
"As for the pattern, you mentioned it’s like a formation, and since I’m somewhat of a formation master, I made small modifications to the blueprint. This helped the pattern flow more smoothly and allowed the dagger to store more energy, which is why it jumped in grade."
Duke Valiard’s eyes shone with excitement as he listened to Aldrian’s explanation. In that moment, he made up his mind.
"I must train him to become a master blacksmith! With his potential, he could be the one to forge the next Divine artifact!"
"Young master, if you don’t mind, would you like to try creating another artifact? This one will be of a higher grade and involve a more complex process. With your talent and potential, I have no doubt that you are a genius blacksmith. I must admit, you are exceeding all of my expectations—no, it would be an understatement to say that; what you’ve accomplished is beyond anything I could have imagined," he said, trying to convince Aldrian.
Aldrian simply smiled at the duke’s eagerness.
"Success."
