Chapter 388: Like a hot knife through butter.
Once the shrunken orange beast core came in contact with the hilt of the bastard sword, the fusion process began.
The large amount of energy being generated was so much that they began creating mana channels that traveled all around the sword. By distributing the energy throughout the sword, not only was it preventing the sword from getting destroyed, but it was creating mana pathways that enabled the sword to cast spells.
In a matter of seconds, the mana channels were complete, but the fusion process was nowhere done. With no other place for the energy to go, it began depositing in the pathways and if left any longer the sword’s structural integrity would be ruined.
That was when Professor Tacitus placed the 4 yellow crystals at the center part of the blade directly above the hilt.
Without the need to inject mana into them, the stabilizers began glowing as they began draining the excess energy from the core and even those deposited in the mana channels.
With the mana outburst under control, it didn’t take much time for the fusion process to come to an end, but that was when the stabilizers created their own mana channels that linked back to the core.
“As I said earlier, stabilizers come in different tiers, and each tier comes with extra functions.” 𝐛𝐝𝗼𝐯𝐞𝐥．𝐜𝐨𝗺
…..
“The 4 you are currently looking at are tier 2 stabilizers. Not only do they stabilize the fusion process, but they also act as amplifiers by absorbing both energies from the user and the environment.” Professor Tacitus explained.
“From next class, we would be aiming to improve the number of arrays you all can integrate into a power source because your level of forgemastery isn’t good enough to need stabilizers.”
Integrating arrays into a power source was something that was done once, meaning no matter the number of arrays one had to integrate, it all had to be done at the same time.
So for the students to be able to handle way more arrays that could warrant the use of a stabilizer, they needed to improve their mana control and mental fortitude.
Mana control helped to perfectly trace out all the arrays in mid-air, while mental fortitude was responsible for remembering and keeping all the traced arrays active.
“So we would improve integration skills before practicing using stabilizers. Class Dismissed!” Tacitus put his newly forged sword back into his dimensional space before leaving his class.
‘Did he just forge a peak high-quality fire elemental sword in under 2 hours?’ Blake couldn’t help but ask after using the system to take a look at the sword’s quality.
[It is what it is.] The system replied.
‘Although Professor Tacitus is harsh on everyone, he is a very skilled forger, and I respect him for that.’ Blake said as he left the class.
It was the end of classes for the day, so it was time to practice fusion magic and exercise.
…
2 days later, it was the middle of the week and everyone knew what time it was.
It was time for Blake’s ascension.
Right from the 2nd week, Blake had been challenging students to rank matches.
All of the challenges had been aimed at the demoted 2nd-year top-ranking students, and many were still betting it would remain that way. This was because when Blake became the rank 10, he challenged the 9th rank student to let Luciano and Damon enter the 5th and 6th place respectively.
So the question now was who was he going after, the rank 4 student or the rank 3.
From Blake’s previous battle, people already knew that both ranks would be a win for Blake. It was just that match with the rank 3 would be more interesting since it involved the strongest member of the Nystrom family.
They soon found out who the next target was when Blake walked up to Michelle Nystrom.
Michelle Nystrom was 6 feet tall, just 2 inches lower than Blake. Her orange hair was braided in a single ponytail, and her hazel eyes were brimming with confidence.
She had smooth reddish-white skin that gave her voluptuous curves a delicate aura. The most unique thing about her was her tomboy energy.
She had braided hair to stop it from getting in her way and was always on leather trousers. Even her posture was of someone always ready for combat.
“I challenge you to a ranked match.” Blake said to the orange-haired girl as he clicked his badge to make the match official.
Once again Instructor Zirrack appeared and warped them to the battleground.
‘If I remember correctly, someone was saying I was just overthinking, but this is the 5th time he is in charge of my match!’ Blake sneered at the system.
[Does it make any difference?] The system said.
‘Seeing him puts my body in stress mode.’ Blake said as he did his very best to not turn to the bald man muscular man with a scar on his face.
Once the spectators had arrived and the combatants were done with their preparations, Zirrack signaled for the match to begin.
“I forfeit!” Michelle announced, instantly turning the silent battleground into a rowdy market.
“Why?” Blake couldn’t help but ask.
“Because I fought you when you were weaker than your current self, and you still won me.” Michelle said.
“You fought me?” Blake said as he tried to remember when, that was when the system replayed his memory of the team test that involved the queen ant and her hive.
[When you attacked Tessie’s team, Tessie alongside 3 of her teammates committed suicide, leaving her. At that time she was the 5th rank of the 2nd year students.] The system explained.
“Oh, you are the girl that used the fire and earth magic fusion.” Blake said.
“You are funny.” Michelle chuckled as she left the battleground.
‘That was disappointing. A disappointing investigation mission and now this.’ Blake said as his body was itching for action.
[her forfeiting didn’t affect what they think about you, rather it increased it.] the system drew Blake’s attention to the conversations of the spectator. Michelle’s action made it look like even the rank 3 student was afraid of Blake.
After a few seconds of thinking, Blake finally decided on what to do.
“The show must go on!” Blake said as he walked up to Dustin Ulrik the rank 2 student.
“I challenge you to a rank battle.” Blake said causing the entire battleground to go silent as he clicked his badge and made it official.
“Step into the battlefield.” Instructor Zirrack said to both of them.
‘The only difference between Dustin and Michelle is their main element. Michelle is fire, while Dustin as an Ulrik is Earth.’
‘This means he would most likely going to take a defensive approach to the fight.’ Blake ran a quick assessment on his opponent.
“Begin!”
Once Zirrack gave the signal to start the match, Dustin brought out a black gauntlet that had a large emerald crystal on it.
‘Is that an artifact?’ Blake couldn’t help but ask.
[He has one, so it most likely is.] The system said as it was too far to scan the grade of the item.
In ranked matches, the use of artifacts was not prohibited. The reason Blake hadn’t fought anyone with an artifact was that they were rare and those in their possession were useless against him.
The only people that could possibly get their hands on one were nobles, and that was why people saw it as shameless whenever they used it.
Not caring about the reaction of everyone on the battleground, Dustin clenched his fist and activated the artifact.
The large green crystal began glowing and the ground began quaking as a dome of emerald crystal erupted from below.
‘Is that what I think it is?’ Blake asked with a frown on his face.
[Yes, that is chromastone.] The system confirmed.
“Then I cannot let him complete his preparation.” Blake said as ebony and Ivory appeared in his hand as he dashed forward.
By the time Blake had covered half of the battlefield, another layer of chromastone had formed, and by the time he was there, it was already 3.
Nonetheless, Blake thrust Ebony and Ivory in their combined form into the dome.
Ding!
The sound of the collision was heard, but on looking closer they saw that the sword had made its way through the 3 layers of chromastone.
“Blake is the winner!” Instructor Zirrack announced the winner of the match as he took down the chromastone to reveal Dustin who was enveloped by the golden barrier.
“What did I just watch?!”
“Did that sword just cut through chromastone like it was butter?!”
“What tier is that sword?!”
Everyone was flabbergasted by what just happened.
Chromastone was the signature spell of a demigod from the earth pathway, meaning Blake’s sword could kill a demigod!
This began raising rumors that Blake’s sword was an epic-tier weapon, but the question now was how did he get his hand on one.
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