Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 161 36.3 - The forge

"Oh my…..This will take a while…."

As those words spilled from the mouth of Vorgvir, he couldn't help but shake his head. Even for him, who had been one of the best legendary blacksmiths in the entire universe, the things he had seen in the vision were hard to make.

'A weapon that contains different forms?'

When one thought about making weapons, the first important element would be the blacksmith that would make it.

But the other one would be materials.

'How can I find the materials to make such an item?'

Knowing that he had been away from the eyes of the world, it was clear that he didn't have enough materials in his inventory.

"What is the problem?" At that moment, the young man opened his eyes, standing up. His gaze met with Vorgvir's.

"Sigh…." A hearty sigh left Vorgvir's mouth as he proceeded to explain the things about the weapon he had seen.

"The weapon I had seen in your essence….It will be very hard to make." He said, turning back to the workshop.

"Is it because there isn't actually one weapon, but many were there?" the young man probed, his eyes darting around the place, looking for the remnants of the vial.

"Indeed. In a sense, one can only hold one weapon connected to their essence, and it is almost unseen for one to connect with more than one weapon."

"And I am not one of them."

"Yes. And because of that, the vision I had seen simply means the weapon you will connect with needs to contain many forms, not one."

"Hmm….."

"Creating such a weapon is no simple task. The essence you've witnessed requires rare and powerful materials, some of which are not easily found in this realm. We'll need to embark on a journey to gather these components from various corners of the world."

"What kind of materials will you need?" However, the young man seemed rather relaxed even against this revelation.

"..." Hearing this, Vorgvir fell into silence for a second, sorting his thoughts. His mind had already formed a clear direction to follow in his mind for the weapon that needed to be made. "First and foremost, your powers…."

Before he could continue, the young man nodded his head. "Moonstone."

Hearing this, Vorgvir's eyes widened for a second.

'This kid…Does he know his origins?'

He looked at the young man talking.

'No, he probably doesn't.'

Looking at him, it was evident that he was just a cheeky and a bit edgy young kid who didn't know much about the world, but it also seemed he researched about himself.

"We will need [Moonstone]."

"Yes. We will need [Moonstone] as the conductor of your source of powers." Vorgvir replied, nodding his head.

'It is sad that I can't tell you about anything…..Tch, that contract.' Inwardly, Vorgvir clicked his tongue. Even though the kid had the right to know, there were things out of his control here.

Vorgvir gestured toward the array of weapons displayed in the workshop, each possessing distinctive forms derived from the inherent qualities of the materials used. A small flame danced in his hand as he illustrated the interplay between material and form.

"All of the weapons we made tend to have at least a special form," Vorgvir explained. "Every material has specific characteristics that contribute to the final shape and function of the weapon. However, there are instances when the desired result won't take a special form due to constraints, much like the weapon you seek."

The young man nodded in understanding, prompting him to pose a crucial question. "So, we need a suitable material for this characteristic, is that correct?"

"Indeed, it is," Vorgvir affirmed. "A material that defies a specific form—a rarity so profound that discovering it is nearly impossible due to its elusive nature—[Morphium]. This substance harmonizes with the ebb and flow of your essence, granting the weapon the ability to shift and adapt."

As Vorgvir concluded his explanation, he fixed a discerning gaze on the young man. "However, acquiring both [Moonstone] and [Morphium] will be an arduous task. These materials are exceptionally scarce, and their unique characteristics make them challenging to locate. The journey ahead is bound to be fraught with trials and dangers. Of course, from-"

TAK!

Just as he was about to continue, a sudden and unexpected sound interrupted him.

"Are you talking about these?"

Vorgvir turned, his eyes widening at the sight before him. There, on the ground just before the kid, lay the two materials he had just described—[Moonstone] and [Morphium].

"….."

Vorgvir was momentarily taken aback, not anticipating to see these elusive materials appear before them at that exact moment. The air in the cavern seemed charged with an unexpected energy as the blacksmith processed the uncanny turn of events.

"….You…." He was speechless.

'How does he have those materials?'

The young man whom he took as a kid suddenly brought up one of the rarest materials in the world.

"How do you have these?"

At the end of the day, he couldn't help but ask. How did this kid have both of them? He didn't look particularly strong either.

"Does it matter?" However, the young man simply shrugged it off.

"…..Well, it doesn't."

"Right."

Vorgvir's eyes shifted to the materials on the ground, examining them with a mix of astonishment and curiosity. The [Moonstone] emitted a soft, ethereal glow, casting a gentle luminescence that seemed to dance along its surface. Its translucent nature revealed intricate patterns within, reminiscent of the moon's mesmerizing play of shadows.

Besides it, the [Morphium] presented an entirely different appearance. Its form was elusive, a liquid-like substance encapsulated within a crystalline container. The substance shimmered, taking on ever-changing hues as if adapting to the ambient energies surrounding it. The essence of adaptability and transformation was vividly captured within its enigmatic structure.

But the weirdest thing is both of these materials were covered with a weird type of container. It was a design he had never seen before.

'Is this what human blacksmiths do nowadays? It works quite well.'

As if an old man who had met with the technology for the first time he looked at the container, analyzing it.

"It's quite an interesting way of using mana fields. Is this the work of some contemporary blacksmiths?" Vorgvir asked, expecting the answer to reveal the ingenuity of a fellow blacksmith.

The young man shook his head. "Not blacksmiths, but magic engineers. They've found a way to enhance and protect these materials using advanced mana fields. It's a blend of craftsmanship and magic, creating containers that not only preserve but augment the properties of the materials within."

"Magic engineers? What is that?" However, Vorgvir, not aware of the change in the outside world, didn't know about the term.

The young man explained, "Magic engineers are individuals who specialize in combining traditional craftsmanship with magical principles. They integrate mana manipulation techniques into their creations, producing items that possess both physical and magical attributes. These containers are a testament to their ability to harmonize the two disciplines."

Vorgvir scratched his beard, intrigued by the advancements in craftsmanship. "Times have indeed changed. I was unaware of such developments during my seclusion."

The young man nodded. "The world has evolved, and new methods have emerged. These containers not only protect the materials but also enhance their properties, making them more effective for forging."

"Interesting….Rather than relying on the skills of the creator, they are more likely to rely on methods, it seems..."

"Yes. That's right."

The young man leaned forward, his eyes focusing on the materials. "Vorgvir, when can we start the forging process?"

Vorgvir, however, shook his head as he looked at the materials. "There is one thing we are missing from your weapon." He said as he approached the Morphium.

The young man frowned at the response. "I thought we had everything we needed here; what else do we need?"

Vorgvir shook his head solemnly. "There's a vital component."

"The essence of purpose?" the young man questioned.

Vorgvir nodded, "Indeed, it is an important one, but there's another crucial factor. The missing component is the energy supply."

The young man's confusion deepened. "Energy supply? What do you mean?"

Vorgvir sighed, "Morphium, despite its incredible potential, has a drawback that's kept it from widespread use. To control and confine Morphium into the desired material form in the free space where the mana is rampant, a substantial and sustained energy supply is required. It's not just about forging it into a shape but maintaining that shape and manipulating it as needed during the forging process. That's the challenge with Morphium."

He signaled the container and the Morphium there.

"The container is making use of the mana fields inside it to make sure the Morphium is subjected to a special type of mana continuously, and because of that, we can see it in a special form, but that won't be the case in the real world where you will need to use the mana around."

Understanding dawned on the young man's face as if, this time, he wasn't expecting such a conclusion to be drawn.

"So, we need a considerable energy source to wield Morphium effectively in crafting the weapon."

Vorgvir nodded, "Precisely. This energy supply is what will allow us to harness the transformative abilities of Morphium and mold it into the weapon you seek. Without it, our efforts would be in vain, and Morphium's potential would remain untapped."

As those words sank, the young man fell into contemplation, thinking about the words that left Vorgvir's mouth.

Vorgvir gazed at the young man, understanding the weight of his concern. "Such a power supply is not a common commodity. However, there is a solution."

The young man's eyes sparked with curiosity. "What solution?"

Vorgvir began explaining, "In the depths of high-ranking monsters lies a potent source of energy called Mana Cores. These cores are concentrated manifestations of a creature's magical essence. If we can obtain the Mana Core of a powerful monster, I can fashion a special compressed mana cube from it. This cube will serve as the energy supply needed to wield Morphium effectively."

The moment he said those words, young man's eyes widened as if a realization dawned upon him.

"For a power supply, would this suffice…."

With those words, he grabbed something from the spatial space under his control.

"This!"

Widening Vorgvir's eyes…..