Chapter 53 - The Arcane Domain

April 5th X778 in the forest near Magnolia town.

It was a bit after lunch time, I ate at the guild hall together with everyone and afterwards quickly left to start this new control training of mine.

The idea is to maximize my control over outside magic while using Ether Zone, if I can do that I should be able to gain complete control over True Sun and make it a truly working spell!

Pun intended.

Anyway, at present you can at best call it a dying star.

If even that...

…

I found myself in the usual clearing where I train with Erza, surrounded by trees in a circular pattern with the sky up above being as blue as ever. There were quite a few patches of grass and flowers missing, it was also riddled with holes and pits after all the times we've trained here…

"Probably should fix that, {Restore}." I murmured, fixing the landscape to be as good as new.

Looking around, I nodded to myself having been pleased with my work.

"Sweet! Now then… Let's get this started!" I said, smashing fists to pump myself up a bit.

Having done that, I expanded my Ether zone to a radius of 50 meters in all directions, taking control of the ether and essentially making it mine.

This is normal, it's what I've always done before.

"Now comes the hard part…" I murmured, concentrating on my task.

Usually, I would use this ether found in the air as fuel for my spells! There was little control needed to do that, albeit it wasn't the easiest thing to do either…

It's nothing compared to other things I've been doing.

What I'm doing now however, is very different!

Using Ether Zone not to gain fuel for magic, but to create a new magic type entirely!

Indeed, I had the full intention of using the Ether in the air itself and creating a type of magic that uses Pure Ethernano found in the air around the user as a means of attack and defense.

You can think of it as being similar to Acnologia's attribute-less magic, I do believe it was called Arcane magic or something… Seeing as he called himself the "Arcane Dragon" or whatever.

Anyway, I'll take that a step further and solidify the ether while turning it into weapons!

Shouldn't be too hard to do after some practice, the hard part however will be raising the amount of items made of ether I can create and control at a time.

Currently, I think I'll be able to control about five to six hundred… I'd like to aim for the thousands at least before the second phase of this training…

And that would be to make it usable during combat!

You might think having hundreds or even thousands of weapons made out of Ether would be powerful as all hell!

And you'd be correct!

Theoretically, as long as there is ether in the area I can keep shooting them out with no cost. The only down side would be the mental strain required to keep going and blasting whoever I'm fighting to smithereens with the hardened ether!

Problem here is, even though I would be able to make it sharp and what not, when fighting a truly strong opponent like Madara or the like, it would do little to nothing by itself.

Such people would simply scatter them away like mere sticks! Breaking them up like the same example.

When considering that, and the fact I could simply throw literal stars at my opponents with no cost nor mental strain which are even more powerful than this supposed new magic type.

It's obvious which wins out.

So why would I do this training? Well, obviously it's to further my control and learn to completely balance a dying star into a perfect one. However there's no need to only go so far!

The second stage of my training is to condense all the Ether in an area into a single point. Once I've done that I have two options, either to shoot it out like a Kame Hame Ha wave, having it spiral all the while for the extra damage!

Or…

I could create a super dense weapon of mass destruction!

If I was to make said weapon, merge it with my Black markings and my dark red flames which I've now dubbed Purgatory Fire.

I may be a tiny bit chuuni but bear with me!

If I were to do so, then the sword would not only be immensely hard to break, extremely sharp to the point of cutting literally anything, but also it would hyper charge the Purgatory fire to the point that it would burn through any defense!

It would be the ultimate weapon!

I think…

And then I proceed to think about all the hax powers I may encounter sooner or later…

Yeah, I won't trust it too much! But it's still a damn good ability to have for close combat.

The sheer difficulty of achieving that level won't be easy though. I may have to be able to control Tens of Thousands of ether's worth of weapons, all crafted to be beautiful and exquisite beyond compare before I can start on that second stage.

This might take me years even, but in the end it will be all worth it!

Once I've achieved that level of control from the first stage, the second will have me condensing as much Ether as I can by moving about the area and gathering more and more to create the ultimate blade or potentially other type of weapon!

I could even use the ether to coat my claws that I create with the markings, I could use the ether to shoot out attack of different shapes be it whips or spikes or anything that's been super condensed!

Quality over quantity baby!

Hmm… Although I can see quantity working as well, as a sort of distraction or harassment against the enemy, looking at it like that it would still have its uses even on lower levels of condensation.

I could actually probably go the Byakuya Kuchiki route, creating millions of tiny blade petals and using SUPER Quantity this time to overcome the easy to break weapons.

Having them be tiny and still sharp, the only way to destroy them would be to use an area of effect attack! However with the sheer amount it wouldn't matter much, and I could always move around to make more of them.

The problem with that is that the mental strain would be really high, so I'd only be able to do this when I can start the condensation stage probably…

Hmm, maybe both would work?

Yup. Stage three has been found!

Let's look at our graph again shall we?

First stage, creating as many beautifully crafted weapons of many diverse types as possible, goal in mind is over ten thousand!

Third stage, creating a super condensed weapon for myself and also using the next batches of ether in the area as the Senbonzakura Kageyoshi! When using both at the same time, I'll have the perfect Defensive and offense midrange technique, the perfect close combat weapon and when you count all my Word Soul Magic spells I'd also have the best long to midrange attacks!

Good plan!

Now to start training…

…

After having reviewed my initial plans for the new magic, I created my first hardened weapon made of Ethernano.

I was able to make it basically instantly, hardening the ether wasn't as hard as I thought. It only needed a very high magic control which I already had from the beginning.

The sword I made wasn't exactly perfect, it was simply a sword that you could call the masterpiece of a normal black smith.

Although it was still quite good, it wasn't anything unique in this world.

The greater blacksmiths would call this a dud at best.

Anyway… Let's try making more!

I proceeded to create a Lance, a Dagger, an Axe, a Battle Axe, a Warhammer, an Arrow, a halberd and even a Glaive!

They all, just like the sword, had the quality of a masterpiece from a normal blacksmith!

It's not bad considering I'm not a blacksmith myself, only using my imagination to craft them and they're already decent!

Now let's see how I deal with a big number of creations.

I gathered all the ether within the zone and started hardening it rapidly, in the end I was able to create about eight hundred weapons!

Each time I made a new one past a certain number known as five hundred, it was of lower quality than the last.

I think I'll work on the quality of their looks first before doing anything else, also I do believe there's enough ether within the Ether Zone to make roughly two thousand weapons all at once!

It's a good number, probably should be my first real milestone later on!

For now, focusing on appearance should yield the most control benefits…

…

I spent the rest of that day with trying to imagine a more exquisite form for the weapons, making what was bad better and increasing the number of semi good looking weapons.

It wasn't much but it was honest training.

Since that day I spent my time in the guild hall while practicing with Ether Zone, I simply had to conceal the mass of swords as I controlled them.

Because of the limited space of course I only had around twenty, but I did my best to condense them as much as possible and to use that to train my mentality.

I would hide the blades, have them dance around while keeping them together and looking as beautifully shaped as possible!

All the while I would eat, drink, discuss, fight and more with my guild mates!

It's bloody hard!

But I can manage.

Kind of...

…

A few days later after I started my training, I had a brilliant idea!

Like, seriously why didn't I think of this before?

I'll just ask Lazarus to model for me!

And so I did!

…

April 8th, I walked into the guild hall and found where Erza was seated.

She was together with everyone else, they all were seated on two tables that were pushed next to one another. Mira was talking to her about random daily stuff it would seem, I'll have to make a quick intrusion though!

"Hey guys, how ya doing?" I asked, walking up to the table.

"Oh, hey Arthur!" Ultear waved me hello.

"You gonna go back to training? Or will you actually spend some time with us now?" Lyon commented with a wry smile.

"Hahaha, probably gonna train for a bit! I have something I wanna try out." I replied.

"Mmm, seems interesting! Can I come with?" Natsu asked.

"Eh? If Natsu is going then I wanna go too! Hehehe!" Lisanna exclaimed with a bright smile.

"Oy, I'm coming with as well if this flame brain is going!" Gray said, obviously thinking that Natsu might pick something up from me.

"What'd you call me-" I cut Natsu off.

"I ain't taking anyone with, so don't start arguing over it." I said, crushing all their hopes and dreams.

"Ehhh? Why not?" Natsu asked.

"Because it's dangerous, I might hurt you on accident!" I replied sternly, trying to get the message across.

Actually I just wanted to be able to converse with Lazarus normally, the guy still continues to refuse to reveal himself…

"O-Okay… But you owe me for it okay?!" Natsu replied, pointing to me with a finger.

"Pfff, sure Natsu. I'll do something for you later!" I gave him a smile and turned to Erza.

"So Erza, mind doing me a favor?" I asked.

"Hm? Depends on what it is, but sure." She replied.

"Do you mind if I take your sword with me for my training today?" I asked.

"Huh? Why do you need it?" She asked, looking all surprised.

-"Yeah, why do you need me?"- Lazarus asked through telepathy.

"I need an exquisite and beautiful looking sword for my image training, yours would do perfectly!" I replied.

-"Exquisite and beautiful! Boy you know how to flatter a blade up don'tcha? Hahaha!"- Lazarus laughed through telepathy.

"Mmm… It's not that I don't trust you but I'd have to come with, if that's okay? I know you said it's dangerous but I'm fairly confident in defending myself." She replied.

"Hmmm" I pondered for a moment, "Yeah. I guess you'd be fine! Can we go now then?" I asked.

"Ehhhhh?! This is so unfair! Why does Erza get to go??" Natsu protested.

"I thought I made that much clear?" I turned to him, raising an eye brow.

"Ughhh…" Natsu shifted his head towards the ground, looking quite sad.

"There, there Natsu. It's alright." Lisanna patted his back with a smile.

"Hahaha!" We had a collective laugh over it.

"So you're both gonna head out now then?" Mira asked.

"Yeah, I guess now would be best. Don't wanna keep this training freak waiting." Erza replied, glancing to me with a grin.

"Hey I take offense to that! Obviously I'm a training maniac!" I replied, puffing by ċhėst out proudly.

"Pfff! Hahahaha!" Another collective laugh sounded from our table.

"Hahaha, that you are Arthur nii~! You really should try to loosen up from time to time you know" Cana commented, having everyone nod in agreement except Erza.

"Well, all jokes aside, doing as much training as he does is quite admirable in my opinion." Erza commented in my defense.

"Erza. He does fifty, lemme rephrase that… FIFTY! Laps across magnolia as a morning jog, WHILE SPRINTING! That's obviously over kill." Gray pointed out, having everyone nod together once more.

"Hey I do what I'm capable of, if that's fifty sprinting ŀȧps across town then that's that. Gotta stay in shape ya know? Maybe you should try it again someti-" I got cut off.

"HELL NO!" Natsu, Cana, Gray, Ultear and Lyon exclaimed as one.

"I am never attempting that torture again!" Gray said, pointing towards me in an accusing way.

"Seriously, how do you even manage that?!" Cana, the one who can be said to be best physically gifted after me and Erza said.

"Well… Hahaha…" I gave a wry laugh.

After the demonification my physical feats have skyrocketed. It's not my fault that nothing less than that is enough to tire me out!

Heck I even run with ten times normal gravity pressing down on me!

"Haaaa…" Erza sighed, "Shall we go then? I guess I'll take the time to do some training too." She continued.

"Haaaa, yeah… Let's head out. {Gate}" I said with a sigh, opening a gate to my usual spot.

"See you guys later~" Cana waved goodbye.

"Enjoy your training, cause I certainly ain't joining." Ultear waved too.

"I still wanna go…" Natsu muttered.

"There there…" Lisanna patted him some more.

"…" Gray just stood silent, unbeknown to him he had already lost his clothes somehow.

How do you do that dude?

"I'll talk with you later again Erza!" Mira waved to Erza as we walked through.

"Yes, we can go on a job too if you'd like." Erza said.

"Sure! Sounds like fun!" Mira replied.

After that exchange we found ourselves on the other side of the gate.

"Seems like you two have gotten close, ey?" I asked.

"Sort of, she seems to like my company and I do think she's a nice girl so I enjoy hers as well." Erza replied.

"Well that's nice. Now then… Lazarus?" I spoke to the sword.

-"Why hello there, my faithful companion's comrade who goes by the name of Arthur."- Lazarus said through telepathy.

"Weird hi but okay… Anyway, I wanted to ask if I could use you as a model for my ether sword creation magic thingy." I replied, creating a single good looking blade of ether.

-"… You're horrible at making swords boy."- Lazarus said after a short pause in a unamused tone.

"Eh? It's not that bad, come on! Talk about high standards…" I replied, obviously a bit shacken up from the strong critics.

-"Well… Sure, it's good… Kinda…"- Lazarus commented again.

I swear I could feel his eyes narrow…

Even though he has no eyes…

Wait, why do I hear a skeleton laughing in the background?

Must have been the wind...

"You two done talking yet? Cause I'll be over there doing my own thing. Okay?" Erza said, unstrapping Lazarus from her belt and leaving him floating in midair.

-"Alright then, do your best out there but don't overdo it okay?"- Lazarus told her.

"Of course, of course! You sure are a worrywart Lazarus... I'll talk with you two later!" Erza said and turned around to leave in another direction.

Soon she was out of view and sight.

...

-"Ugh… I'm worried about that girl ever since that stunt she did in front of you…"- Lazarus commented.

"She'll be fine, future queen of fairies remember?" I replied.

-"Yeah that title wouldn't surprise me honestly."- Lazarus said.

"Give it like four years." I said with a shrug.

-"Mm… Anyway, you wanted a model? You got me so you'd better do well! I take a certain amount of pride in my shiny looks you know."- Lazarus said, seemingly puffing his unexisting ċhėst out before leaving his sheet to expose a beautifully crafted blade.

"Mmm… That's exactly what I needed! I can feel the artistic inspiration overflowing!" I said with a joking tone, acting as the crazy artist that I obviously am not.

-"You done?"- Lazarus asked unamusedly.

"Ah. Yeah, sorry. I'll get on with it." I replied and started shaping a sword of ether.

My attempts to copy Lazarus' appearance were quite futile even with him as the model in front of me. It's kinda like how a newbie painter can't make a portrait when he just starts out making such things.

Having a model did help quite a bit though, and I was able to make the Ether sword look quite a bit better! Now I could call it a decent but meh work crafted by a really good blacksmith in this world!

-"… You have no talent in sword making boy."- Lazarus said, looking over the blade with what seemed to be harsh criticism.

"Well thank you very much for the high appraise." I replied, having realized the quality this sword wanted was way beyond me anyway.

-"How many of these semi better swords can you make?"- He asked.

"Lemme see…" I replied.

Taking the good looking appearance of the sword I had last forged, I created a hundred such swords before the quality started dipping!

Well damn, when I used the 'normal blacksmith's master piece' looking sword I could make five hundred of them before they lost quality…

This is already five times as difficult! And I still need to improve the looks and quality far more than it is!

Bloody hell I'll be doing this training for over a decade…

-"Mmm, a hundred of these is quite good if I'm being honest. You already have such fine control, if you can raise the amount to a thousand then you'd be a real monster!"- Lazarus said, this time actually praising.

"Yeah, the goal is quite bigger though. I plan to make them even better looking and at least a thousand or two." I said.

-"… Whoa… Good luck kid, no wonder you needed a model."- Lazarus replied.

"Yeahhh… You don't mind helping me out more often from now on do you?" I asked.

-"Not at all, this is quite amusing for me. Watching someone try to make swords out of pure ether and actually succeeding at doing it I mean."- Lazarus said.

"Mmm… Have you seen anything like it before?" I asked.

-"Nope, I'm pretty sure it's a completely original magic style. Say… Do you have a name for it yet?"- Lazarus asked.

"Oh… As a matter of fact I don't… Lemme think about it real quick." I said and went into thinking mode.

-"How about Ether Blade magic?"- Lazarus suggested.

"Nah, it's not just about swords or weapons… I take complete control of the ether within the area after all. There's more I can do than just swords." I replied. "Say, how about Etherium Craft?" I asked.

-"Why does that sound like a game of blocks?"- Lazarus asked in a questioning matter.

"Huh... Now that you mention it..." I pondered over it for a second.

We stood silent for a while after that, thinking of other names...

-"Hmm, then how about… Arcane Domain Magic?"- Lazarus suggested once more.

"Arcane Domain magic… Huh…? Sounds nice, okay that's the name! Sweet! Thanks Lazarus!" I said with a grin.

-"No need to mention it kiddo, just keep that little knight of ours safe alright?"- Lazarus replied.

"Of course, you have my word on that." I replied, raising a fist for a supposed fist bump.

-"A word magic user gives his word ey? Guess I'ma have to believe it then! Hahaha!"- Lazarus laughed as he bumped his hilt in my fist.

The day continued as normal after that, Erza was soon done with her practices too and we went back to the guild.

I made some good improvements today, and I obtained a name for my new magic!

Arcane Domain fits perfectly!

Now, sooner or later I'll be equipped with a powerful new ȧsset that can work wonders with my already existing skill set!

I really can't wait to use this!

…