Chapter 423: Sword of Fury

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A mold possessing two features that Apollo sought―sharpness and a majestic design―appeared before him. Even the appearance of Typhir's sword paled in comparison to the mold before him.

Of course, it was a long step away from Brynhildr, which was forged from the most exquisite mold the Monarch prepared. On the other hand, the quality of the one before him was still extraordinary.

"Did you create this mold?" Apollo asked while still in slight awe of its magnificence.

"Of course not! This is well beyond my skill. This mold was found within a ruin and it is part of a set of three. Fortunately, my grandfather gifted it to me as a present to advance my studies of the craft," Xonnomor answered, still thankful for the chances given to him by his grandfather.

In response, Apollo nodded. 'I suppose I should have expected that. The quality of the mold should indeed originate from that time. Wait…'

"Did you just say it came in a set of three? What were the other two molds?" Apollo questioned after realizing something.

"If my memory serves me, then it was an axe and a pair of twin swords," Xonnomor responded.

"Saethyn's axe?" Apollo questioned with a dubious look. Even though Xonnomor had yet to confirm it, the designs of the molds were too similar. The only difference was their shape. Even the symbols were identical down to the smallest engraving.

"Correct, that would be the one," Xonnomor nodded in admittance.

Instantly, Apollo rubbed his chin in thought. 'No wonder the engravings look so familiar. They're each related to the written word of Ira.'

Back when Fuhrer summoned the symbols of the Sin, they resonated with Apollo deeply, so the impression it left on him was substantial. Therefore, if an item held the slightest semblance of those written symbols, then he would inevitably recognize them.

However, since these weapons possessed these specific engraving its, also meant another thing. 'Only the Sin of Ira can activate these weapons. In a sense, it's an incomplete model. Or, rather it's a mold formed for a single purpose.'

Compared to the Hell Bringer, which required a bizarre amount of resource on a level that Apollo couldn't even make sense of, the mold in Xonnomor's possession was lacking. From what Apollo suspected, the Hell Bringer weapon wasn't locked to any Sin. 

That alone was an advantage since the typical order of demon weaponry was to engrave it with a single Sin. Hence, why that weapon was one that could only appear once.

Only a unique vessel could carry the power required to house seven sins at once and remain permanent.

"Very well. Use that one," Apollo nodded. The thought of having a weapon on par with a Lord excited him. In fact, because his weapon was forged from so many rare materials, there was a chance that the end result could outclass Saehtyn's weapons entirely. 

Since the mold was huge, carrying it required nearly all of Xonnomor's strength, showing his apparent exertion by all the protruding veins on his neck. Nevertheless, he managed to drag both sides of the blade mold near the forge before clamping them together.

He then secured it in place before smelting Dark Mythril and a handful of Fragment of Sins. Although the Dark Mythril was extremely conducive to Sin, Xonnomor added it as a precaution. Because the metal was beyond him, there was a chance of it absorbing too much Sin from his Hellfire, rendering it ineffective.

Therefore, Xonnomor produced these items before such a situation could even arise. In fact, he even kept half of the pile given to him on standby. 'Over 200 of them should be enough to at least forge this weapon.'

As this was a delicate process, Xonnomor moved at a steady pace, eventually tipping the smelting pot over the vertically erected mold. The molten metal entered the mold, raising the ambient temperature of the room at an alarming rate.

Even Apollo started to sweat while exhaling. "Whew, that's hot. Now I understand why not just anyone would stand before a forge and withstand this obnoxious heat."

"Right!" Xonnomor yelled. Although he was close, the pressure of the steam was so loud it disrupted his hearing. Once the mold was filled, he pushed a gear that suspended it in the air and dragged it over to the corner of the room.

A tub of liquid with a silver frost circulating above it now rested underneath the mold as Xonnomor lowered it. A loud sizzling noise occurred the moment the bottom of the mold touched the surface of the water, causing a dense mist to fill the room.

"Is that normal water," Apollo questioned. However, normal in this sense wasn't the same normal for a human. The water the demons use was filled with Anima. Nevertheless, this liquid was far more unique than that.

"Not at all! This is Nether Frost. And it's not actually water. It's another type of flame of a different extreme. Whereas a typical flame burns through heat, this one achieves the opposite effect," Xonnomor revealed.

Suddenly, Xonnomor's expression changed as he gazed at the mold casing with a focused expression. The air around him transformed as he hastened his process tenfold. Finally, he picked up a hammer. 

Not only did he fill the blade's mold earlier, but he kept enough molten liquid to form the guard and add few designs to the hilt. The sonorous clangs of metal collided against metal sounded as Apollo took in the entire process.

He watched each of Xonnomor's focused strikes made with a clear path towards its intended target. With his incessant pounding, seconds turned into an hour of not moving from his area.

Eventually, the handle adornments and guard were finished, allowing Xonnomor to rest the mold on the floor and open it. Instantly, a blade that didn't even need to be sharpened appeared before him. However, Xonnomor expected as much.

Generally, molds of this level were used to bypass any tedious work through special means. 

Picking up the cooled blade, Xonnomor marveled at its unfinished appearance. "Just a few more adjustments and it's all yours."

"Take your time. No need to rush if it's not necessary," Apollo replied while also looking at the weapon's unfinished state. Yet, the black and silver color already captured his full attention.

Xonnomor soon repeated some of his actions to meld the blade, handle, and magnificent guard as one. Just moments later, it became a completed weapon that he handed to Apollo.

Apollo held it before gliding his fingers over the etchings on the blade, running his finger all the way to its edge. He finished this movement with a light tap on the blade's edge, but a small prick appeared on Apollo's fingertip, which caused his expression to change.

'Sharp. Extremely sharp,' Apollo thought to himself before attempting to wave the weapon.

"WAIT!" Xonnomor exclaimed in fright. Although Apollo didn't intend to, all of the veins and etchings on the weapon pulsated as if they were alive. "Don't test it in here. With the material used... you now possess an extraordinarily sensitive weapon."

"Right," Apollo answered with a sheepish chuckle before walking outside to the damaged courtyard. Since it was already so damaged, what harm was there in creating a little more?

Apollo then raised the sword and performed a simple downward slash, but the outcome was absolutely horrifying. The sword emitted a terrifying wave of Ira, which produced a 50-meter fissure with melted sides.

Despite the lack of promoting the process, the weapon had just unleased a strike on par with Nether Severance!

Unsurprisingly, Apollo marveled at the weapon in his hand before noticing a slight discrepancy with this weapon. It absorbed far too much Sin! In fact, his chest felt heavy, as if a large portion of his Ira was sapped from his heart.

Meanwhile, Fuhrer appeared with the others before catching a glimpse of the weapon in Apollo's hand, "Are you… perhaps taking up the sword?"

"Possibly. But, not in the way that you and Typhir wield it. I just needed a vehicle to transport my Sin properly, except it would seem that I have over-indulged," Apollo admitted with a faint grimace.

"Understandable. Not everyone needs a technique to use a sword. You can simply use it as a means to create destruction. Though, I must ask. Will you be giving it a name?"

"A name?" Apollo muttered while raising the sword to his face.

"Yes. All weapons with a rightful owner must have a name," Fuhrer insisted.

Thus, Apollo silently stared at the weapon as flames of Ira rose in his eyes. Eventually, Apollo thought of a befitting name, "Gram, The Sword of Fury."

〈System: Congratulations, you have received an incomplete Armament.〉