Absolute Craft-Chapter 77: White Oni (5)

Chapter 77: White Oni (5)

Blake spent three days in the Blizzard Smithy without stepping outside—not even for a quick break. Whenever he needed to restore his stamina, he’d drink a potion and inspect the details he had chiseled into his armor. He never stopped working—not because he was under any deadline, but because he genuinely enjoyed the whole process.

His tools floated around him, carried by the smithy’s cold breeze. With a single thought, he could summon them to his hand. This Blizzard Forging felt more like sculpting than typical smithing, though each piece of Ice Steel still harbored slight imperfections only an experienced blacksmith would notice.

Drawing on his recently acquired knowledge and basic dwarven techniques, Blake allowed no flaw to escape his attention. Fixing them was part of the fun; he channeled cold steam between his hammer and the steel, then struck with all his spirit.

Naturally, Blake kept shouting his own name.

He still wasn’t certain which ingredient would yield the best weapon for solo bosses, and that uncertainty weighed on him a bit. Yet, given The Rotten Leviathan’s traits and skills, he didn’t feel too pressured.

He believed a new Pride’s Shackle would prove especially effective against that boss, his main target. To Blake, the awakened Stone Troll General was merely a stepping stone to a bigger showdown.

Still, forging his new katana was his final task. First, he focused on new equipment, ensuring it melded properly with the old. That required extensive hammering, which he relished—he took pride in how precisely he could now control each blow.

Switching between hammer and chisel, he refined every detail. When he finished, he polished each piece until the bluish steel turned cloud-white. In its glossy surface, he saw his Prideful Beast—no longer bound, now part of his gear.

This transformation reflected his growth. He was finally ready to wield his skills, items, and experience not just for himself, but also for others.

At last, Blake turned to forging his katana. He set it on the ice anvil and studied it, then placed the Winter Sword beside it. The contrast between them was obvious, in both length and blade curvature.

A cold wind swept over them, bathing each in frosty steam. Blake laid his katana atop the Winter Sword and began hammering. Like ice creeping over a surface, his Prideful Beast essence spread onto the Winter Sword with every blow.

With no fire involved, welding the two took extra time and strength. His voice took on a harsh, driven tone as he roared his name with every strike.

Still, he persevered, determined to merge both weapons into one. Before long, they fused inseparably. Most would have called the endeavor foolish, but anyone truly observant would notice how the two steels had melded into a single property at their junction.

He removed the Winter Sword’s handle and stored it in his inventory, then went back to hammering across both blades. After several hours, he had transformed them into a tall, heavy block—completely unfit for combat.

Yet Blake felt satisfied. He logged out.

He returned the next day, repeating the process. He elongated the blade while thinning it out. After several hours, the Winter Sword’s original form was all but gone, now part of a crescent-shaped blade.

Blake summoned more of the smithy’s cold steam to eradicate any lingering defects, guided by his gathered skill and experience. This stage was critical for reinforcing the Ice Steel—just as traditional forging involves repeated heating and quenching, Blizzard Forging immersed the blades in cold steam over and over.

After two days of work, Blake knew it was time for the finishing touch: the Winter General’s Blizzard Spirit Inspiration Fragment. A small ice shard appeared, and he inserted it into the curved blade.

At that moment, something unexpected happened. A fresh blizzard arose from the blade, lifting it to the smithy’s ceiling. The snowfall churned so violently that Blake couldn’t see what was going on inside.

After a tense pause, the storm eased, unveiling the blade. Its pale blue color caught Blake’s eye; Ice Steel usually had a darker tint, but his katana sparkled like crystal ice.

As soon as it landed on the anvil, a system prompt materialized:

<Your blade has evolved into the legendary rank, its Ice Steel bearing the name of Blizzard>

It was his first legendary weapon.

Blake hurried to attach the tsuka (handle), finishing the katana in a way he’d never imagined. The potential of these inspiration fragments thrilled him—he looked forward to his next inspirations and projects.

Next, he turned to the 12th Lost King’s Crown Piece, curious how it would react to Blizzard Forging. This time, he wasn’t just altering the helmet’s design—he had crafted something entirely new and planned to reattach the horn.

Though he lacked a specialized furnace, the Blizzard Smithy proved extraordinary.

The procedure went smoothly. The horn’s mythical skill, Superbia, remained intact but gained a new effect Blake instantly appreciated.

<Would you like to name your equipment set?>

<White Oni>

<Would you like to name your katana?>

<Oni’s Avalanche>

Upon finishing, Blake turned around.

Beatrix had been watching silently. She had concluded her training for the day and was resting in her master’s smithy.

Blake spoke: "I want to fuse Ice Steel with your equipment—make it my own original work."

It was a risky gambit that could have ruined her special gear, which had been forged by the 12th Lost King and scaled to her current level. Whether it would grow with her remained uncertain.

Yet Beatrix removed her helmet without hesitation.

Her attitude toward the 12th Lost Kingdom had soured, and her bond with Blake made her more than willing to entrust him with her equipment. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Sol whimpered, "Blake! Bubu!"

He seemed to want something as well.

-

A week later, soft footsteps echoed through a dark corridor veiled by drifting cold steam. They halted before colossal doors, and a white gauntlet pushed them open. Inside stood the awakened Stone Troll General.

Sensing intruders, it opened its eyes. Seeing the trio in the doorway, its mouth twisted into a broad grin.

They had returned, stronger and more prepared than ever.