Chapter 10: The Forge of Power
The sun hung high in the sky as Yusha and Jisoo stood on the training grounds, their weapons in hand. Today was the day they tested their newly crafted weapons. It was the beginning of something bigger, something that would define their journey.
Unc stood nearby, arms folded across his chest, watching them with an amused expression. Minji stood off to the side, her eyes bright with curiosity. Fang-le, Junseok, and Jiwon were also there, observing silently, eager to see the outcome.
"Ready, boys?" Unc asked, his tone casual.
"Yeah," Jisoo replied, twirling his rapier and glancing at Yusha. "Let's see if these new toys live up to the hype."
Yusha gave a quiet nod, feeling the weight of his weapons in his hands. His anticipation was tempered by a deep focus. These weapons weren't just tools—they were extensions of himself.
Unc grinned, picking up two sleek black briefcases from the table and opening them in front of the two young men.
Inside, Yusha's eyes fell upon two katanas—one red and one blue—gleaming with power. But there was also a third weapon resting within the case. A massive, dark scythe, exuding an oppressive aura that seemed to drain the light from the air around it. The presence of the scythe was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
Unc chuckled, nudging the case toward Yusha. "Careful with that one," he warned. "It's a bit... much."
Yusha felt a strange pull toward the scythe but decided to leave it for later. His gaze shifted to the two katanas.
For Jisoo, Unc revealed his rapier—a beautifully crafted blade that shone in the sunlight—and a secondary short sword, its design sleek and deadly.
"Your turn, Jisoo," Unc said with a nod.
Jisoo stepped forward and took the weapons with ease. He raised the rapier to the sky, testing its balance. It felt natural in his grip, and he could already feel the power humming through it. He knew the ritual was about to begin. He glanced at Yusha before looking at Unc.
Unc nodded. "Go on, Jisoo. You know the drill."
Jisoo placed the rapier before him and muttered the ancient words from Unc, the ritual flowing from him effortlessly. The rapier shimmered and pulsed with energy, becoming a part of him as his focus deepened. It was as though the weapon were an extension of his very being, alive and responsive.
"Thunderstrike Fang," Light engraved, the name shining on the blade.
The rapier vibrated as the name settled in, its power surging. The short sword beside it shimmered, and Jisoo felt the bond forming between them.
Then, with a focused breath, Jisoo drew his secondary short sword. Its blade gleamed, silver with intricate runes etched into the surface. The runes glowed softly, responding to the power he wielded.
"Gale Tempest," Jisoo read, naming the short sword.
The weapon hummed with energy, almost as if it recognized its owner's intent. Jisoo felt the subtle shift in the air around him as he raised the short sword, its power aligning with his own. His secondary weapon, though smaller, now felt like an extension of his will, complementing his rapier perfectly.
Unc nodded with approval. "Nice. Your weapons are in tune with you."
Yusha, standing off to the side, gave a soft smirk. "You always were the flashy one."
Jisoo shot him a playful glance. "Someone's gotta keep up with you, Yusha."
Unc's grin widened. "And now, Yusha, it's your turn, but it seems like you can just name them without ritual, that's definitely odd."
Yusha lifted the red katana first. Its heat radiated through him as he called it by name. "Crimson Fury."
The blade shimmered briefly, and Yusha felt a rush of power. It was as though the sword was alive, ready to follow his every command. Then, with equal reverence, he picked up the blue katana.
"Azure Seraph," he whispered.
A jolt of energy shot through him as the two swords reacted, their auras intertwining. For a brief moment, they shimmered and merged into a single blade, glowing with violet light. The sudden surge of energy pushed against Yusha, and he staggered but quickly regained his balance.
The blades split back into their original forms, and Yusha took a deep breath. "That was… unexpected," he muttered, slightly shaken but exhilarated.
Unc chuckled. "Good. Now try the scythe."
Yusha hesitated but picked it up. The dark scythe felt heavy, almost like it was pulling at him, draining his energy. He gripped it firmly, sensing the immense power coursing through it.
"The Void's Embrace," he murmured, naming the scythe.
The scythe hummed, the air around it vibrating with dark energy. The ground beneath Yusha's feet cracked as if the weapon had briefly bent reality itself. A sharp, heavy pressure filled the air before fading just as quickly. The weapon now felt fully attuned to him.
Yusha exhaled, feeling the weight of the scythe settle. "It's… incredible," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
Unc glanced over at him with a grin. "It's a powerful weapon. Just remember to handle it with care."
Yusha nodded, looking at the scythe once more. There was no going back now. It was part of him, just like the katanas.
Finally, Yusha reached for his guns. He drew them from their holsters, feeling their weight. He looked at the sleek black gun and spoke firmly, "Eclipse."
The gun hummed with power, reacting to the name. Then, he turned to the silver weapon, its surface gleaming like a star in the night sky. "Radiance."
Both guns thrummed, the energy shifting in the air around him. Yusha holstered them, feeling their weight settle comfortably against his sides.
Minji, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward, eyes wide with curiosity. "You named your weapons. That's... odd."
Yusha gave her a small smile. "They've always had names. I just needed to acknowledge them."
Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "If only everything in life worked that simply."
Fang-le, who had been watching the whole time with arms crossed, chimed in. "You two are pretty damn flashy, but let's see if the weapons live up to the hype in the real fight."
Junseok, who had been quiet until now, grinned. "I wouldn't mind testing those swords myself, Yusha."
Yusha just nodded, stepping back as he adjusted his weapons. He knew the real test would come soon enough.
Jisoo, still standing off to the side, caught Unc's eye. "So, when did you awaken your powers? Everyone talks about it, but you never go into detail."
Unc chuckled, the glint of mischief in his eyes. "Ah, the stories, eh? Well, I was just a normal guy at first, nothing special. I trained relentlessly, honing my skills to the point where I became unique. It wasn't some grand awakening or anything. It was more of a gradual progression."
"Gradual progression?" Fang-le asked, intrigued. "So you didn't just wake up one day and—poof—mountain-making powers?"
Unc laughed. "No, nothing like that. It took time. I trained every day, pushing myself further than anyone thought possible. Eventually, I gained the ability to create mountains, lakes, and even reshape the terrain, but it comes at a cost. My mana drains quickly when I use it for big changes. And no, I can't alter reality or anything like that. It's not as flashy as some might think."
Minji nodded, processing this new information. "That sounds… powerful, but exhausting."
Unc shrugged. "Exactly. It's a lot of mana, so I have to use it wisely. But, I think it's a good balance. You can't rely on raw power alone."
The others nodded in understanding. They had all seen some of Unc's power in action, but hearing the details about how it worked gave them a deeper understanding.
Yusha, who had been silent during the exchange, looked at Unc thoughtfully. His own powers were just beginning to surface, and the idea of having to control such immense abilities was both daunting and fascinating. Maybe one day, he could do the same—push himself to reach that level.
The conversation drifted to other topics as the group prepared to leave the training ground. Yusha couldn't help but feel a deep sense . His weapons, his powers, and his path forward—all of it was falling into an unknown point.
But as Unc always said, the true challenge was yet to come.