Now that Alex knew what his immediate goal was – to further upgrade Virtue''s Edge – he decided to inspect the sword''s details onest time before setting off to fulfil this goal.
[Virtue''s Edge]
[C+ rank (Growth type)]
[A sword like no other. This de was forged by Mikhail, a grandmaster swordsmith as his final work before he disappeared, never to be seen again. Forged in the heart of a Volcano, it is particrly fond of the fire element.]
[F tier effect - Whenbined with the fire element, the power produced with each sh will be doubled.]
[E tier effect - When wielded, the de and its wielder gains a resistance to fire based attacks, reducing their damage by 40%. The sword will absorb residual fire energy and convert it into additional strength for the wielder''s next strike.]
[D tier effect - The sword can unleash [zing Arc], sending a wave of searing me outwards. The intensity and range of the Arc increase depending on the user''s proficiency and perception, converting the usual melee attack into a long range attack. Current attack range. (25,000 kilometres)]
[C tier effect – Once per battle, the de can enter a temporary state of Phoenix Rebirth, where it bes enveloped in roaring fames, increasing its power output by 10 fold for 10 seconds after the effect is activated. During this time, all attacks performed by Virtue''s Edge will ignite anything the wielder considers an enemy within their preceptory range.]
''Still C tier… Damn I almost feel bad for you…'' Alex thought to himself as he gazed down at the sword in his hands.
He used to be behind the sword in terms of growth, now it turned out that he was ahead…
How the tables have turned!
''I remember Principal Farnes saying that I just need to use the sword and it will naturally increase in strength itself. But I''ve taken the liberty to kill dozens of powerful enemies over the past year, many of them being B tier, and even some A tiers! Yet why is the sword still only C tier?''
Alex could only muse inwardly at the pecrity he had found about his sword.
However, out of nowhere a strange sensation started filtering over to his mind.
Emotions.
Like a distant echo of emotions that were not his own.
A whisper of longing, frustration, and… expectancy?
The feeling was vague, fleeting, yet persistent enough to make him stop in his tracks.
''Brontes?''
His first instinct was to nce over at Brontes, assuming that his bond with him was the source of the sudden wave of emotion.
The Aetherion had been growing stronger by the day, so it wouldn''t be strange for their bond to evolve in unpredictable ways along with him. But when he turned back to nce at him, the massive beast simply gazed back at him with a curious tilt of his head, with his golden eyes gleaming with intelligence but showing no signs of being the source of the disturbance.
That was when he felt it again.
A pulse.
This time, he distinctly noticed the sensation wasn''ting from Brontes.
It came from below.
From his sword.
His gaze shot downward, eyes widening in shock as Virtue''s Edge trembled in his hands, its de vibrating in rhythmic spasms. Each time it pulsed, another faint wave of emotion swept through his mind – more coherent now, more desperate.
''You…'' Alex''s breath hitched. ''You''re trying tomunicate with me!?''
The sword''s response was immediate. Another pulse. Another sharp vibration. A clearer sense of affirmation settled into Alex''s mind, as if the weapon was confirming his suspicions.
He had always known that Virtue''s Edge was special.
A growth type weapon was practically the figurehead of special, after all. Capable of evolving alongside its wielder.
But he had no idea they could gain sentience – a mind of their own!
Alex took a deep breath, steadying himself.
''Alright,'' he thought, directing his will toward the sword, ''If you can hear me… show me something. Tell me what it is you need to grow stronger.''
The de trembled again – harder this time. A spark of crimson light red across its length, and suddenly, Alex felt a strange pull on his mind, like an unseen force guiding his thoughts toward something.
His vision blurred momentarily, and Alex acted against his instincts to stop it. His surroundings shifted as images – fragments of memories that definitely weren''t his own – shing before his eyes.
A raging volcano. Blinding heat. A hammer striking metal, over and over again. A figure, face obscured, ret radiating an immense presence as they poured their very essence into the sword''s creation.
But the most shocking part was yet toe.
The figure paused the hammering, turning to face Alex.
It had no face, but it was definitely human – or at least humanoid.
Apart from theck of a face it was indistinguishable from the average Awakened''s physique he had seen many times before.
But despite not having a mouth to voice its thoughts, Alex still heard a voice speak to him loud and clear,ing from the faceless figure in front of him.
"Find the forge. Complete the sword."
It directed its gaze towards the sword in Alex''s hands, before turning back around to continue the mindless, monotonous hammering like nothing had just happened.
Alex staggered back, nearly dropping Virtue''s Edge as reality snapped back into ce. His breathing was ragged, and his pulse pounded in his ears like war drums.
''Find the forge…?''
He didn''t understand everything he had just seen, only being able to understand thetter part of what it said.
From the way it directed its gaze towards Virtue''s Edge, he knew that it was the sword in question.
But this only sprung even more questions up in his mind.
''Complete the sword? Does that mean Virtue''s Edge is an unfinished weapon? But how if it''s already so powerful!''
The prospect of such a thing baffled him.
But his mind started to piece things together.
''Find the forge… This is probably a clue to help me figure out how toplete it.''