While Jayna is surprised at the sudden scene, Angus is focusing on the Red-Veined Wood and the feather, utterly oblivious to the previous woman's phantom. Only after he gets informed by Jayna through their bond a few seconds later does he know about it.
At this moment, the feather slowly lowered and touched the red-veined wood. *Crack* *Crack* *Crack* As the feather touches the red-veined wood, it produces a more cracking sound as the red vein becomes more active.
"Not good! It is going to break!!" exclaimed Angus as he tried to prevent the red-veined wood from getting destroyed.
However, the current situation is beyond his control. In fact, he planned to use the phoenix feather enhanced by the Winter Solstice sunlight to melt the red-veined wood slowly without damaging it or losing its properties.
Since red-veined wood is a magical and unique material, he doesn't have as much control over it as other materials. Therefore, he could only helplessly look at it as the cracking sound got louder. *CRACK*
Suddenly, the cracking sound stopped as the sunlight became more potent. At the same time, Angus and Silvia also lose control over the airborne mineral pool above.
The reddish liquid above falls under the sudden intense sunlight while the red-veined wood flows upward. It is as if they are attracted to each other. Soon, the red-veined wood along with the phoenix feather, is engulfed by the whole liquefied material. *ZZSSHHS*
A loud sizzling sound could be heard from it. In this split second, Angus made a new plan, design, and calculation in his mind. The whole process is already out of his control. All he could do was adapt and turn it for the best possible outcome.
"A good chance!!" exclaimed Angus excitedly.
Through his new calculation, the possible outcome may create a more powerful sword than he previously thought. However, he couldn't just stay idle and wait for it either. nOve-Lb/In
'At the current rate, the materials may take a uniform shape. I still need to mold it properly to become a sword.' thought Angus inwardly before glancing at Jayna.
Understanding his intention, Jayna brings down the hovering liquefied material using the surrounding fire elemental. In the meantime, Angus takes a deep breath while gathering his energy for the last process.
"*HUFT* [Domain - Sensing Field]." said Angus coldly.
A soft invisible wave was released by Angus and covered the whole metallic tower. Through this domain, he could perceive the surroundings as the back of his hand in real times. It is the domain version of Mana Echolocation. Then, Angus takes a battle stance while closing his eyes.
'Come on... Come on... I know you could hear me and understand my intent. I need your help. Just lend me some of your energy.' thought Angus inwardly.
Angus is trying to make contact with the mysterious misty ball to lend him more power. He knows if he could use more of this mysterious energy, Jayna's sword may be enhanced further.
As Angus kept trying to contact and absorb the mysterious ball, he didn't notice the wooden bracelet with a unique swirl carving dimly lit up. A moment later, Angus notices he has arrived at a familiar bloody place.
At the same time, he finds his teacher sitting on top of bone piles and corpses while looking at him lazily. Seeing the familiar lazy expression, Angus couldn't help but want to beat the shit out of this man.
However, he holds down his temper as he knows this man is not his real teacher and only the way for whatever heritage Chi contacts him.
Before Angus could say anything, "It's not going to work." said the man casually.
"What did you mean?" asked Angus back.
"It is exactly as I mean. Didn't I already tell you before? Focus on being stronger. Then, we could talk about heritage chi. Now, you want to touch it just to impress your girl? Heh.. I believe they called people like you a simp in the previous world." said the man.
"I could handle the energy before and I definitely could handle it now, " replied Angus resolutely, ignoring the man's last remark.
"Yes, you could and you would be lucky not to die from it. Maybe it also doesn't want you to die since such a talented and strong user like you is very rare. Still, I suggest you not do it. If you are adamant about using it, I suggest you no longer hold back."
"Huh? Holding back?!!" asked Angus back.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. Why do you think this place looks like this? I prefer a good sunny grassy area than this stupid bloody land. Let me tell you, why that thing chooses you and decides to lend its power is because of this, " said the man, spreading his arm.
"Try to remember it, O the current user. You simply can't run from your past." added the man.
Before Angus could reply, his body felt like it had lost balance and strength and fell backward. Yet, he didn't touch the bloody ground and just kept falling. The next moment, he came back inside the burning metallic tower.
"Running from my past?!" muttered Angus inwardly before looking at the moving liquefied material before him.
Hearing this, Angus couldn't help but reminisce about various things from his past life. Through this lane of memories, he somehow remembers the last conversation he heard with the old dwarf Balrug.
"How to make an artifact?" asked Balrug rhetorically.
"Yes, I want to know how you make the Skythorn into artifact grade?" asked Angus.
"Well, I just did what I usually do. Enhancing it, hammering it, molting it, sharpening it." said Balrug casually.
"That's not what I am talking about." replied Angus.
"*SIGH* Well, if you truly want the answer. It may be because I put part of my soul and life on it. Though I didn't really put it. But, I somehow risked my life and everything during the forging process." said Balrug.
"Is that thing real? I hear from the old man Draught that belief is just for amateur or senseless excuses." said Angus.
"Ameteur?! Heh... He is not wrong. Did you know the difference between amateur and professional?" asked Balrug.
"Err... In skill?" replied Angus.
"It is how they sacrifice and value things. Be it time, resources, effort, or others. There may be crafters in this world with their own philosophy and way. It is akin to weapon intent. Every master and blacksmith has a different interpretation."
"Some amateurs could risk anything to create a masterpiece even if it cost its life. It is a one-time event and opportunity. While professional, they didn't dare risk everything as they wanted to create more masterpieces."
"There are also other ways of smithing, like having precise skill and logical steps. Still, everything will be the same in the end.
"How much do you want to sacrifice for that masterpiece? If you want a good thing, you must sacrifice something." explained Balrug.
Wake up from his memories, "That's right. I couldn't just do a half-assed one. Jayna, get away from here." said Angus as he glanced at her.
"No.." refused Jayna.
"I don't have any choice, Jayna. I need to give my all to finish it. Otherwise, everything will be wasted. I love you... I always love you." said Angus.
"NO!! Angus!!" called Jayna.
Ignoring her plea, Angus pointed his finger in his forehead. *PRICK* Angus feels like something is broken or unsealed. Countless terrible memories, killing, and the sensation returning to him.
"[Domain - Lord of the Death]." muttered Angus softly.
*BUSSHH* A bright red wave erupted from Angus. Everything that is encompassed by it slowly degrades as they are pressured by enormous killing intent and bloodlust. Even Nabe and the others outside could feel such a tremendous unfiltered bloodlust.
The full-fledged Nabe herself even had a cold sweat. In fact, she had never felt scared like this since Anna's silent warning to her. However, this aura, presence, and killing intent are many times worse than Anna's.
It was so terrible killing intent that it not only manifested in the real world but changed everything it touched. Any weak-willed person who touches or feels this killing intent will be destined to be instantly dead or crazy at least.
Fortunately, Nabe is creating many barriers to isolate the whole area. Otherwise, the soldiers in the basecamp may go crazy and be affected by it.
"Hiii... Hii..." stuttered Brigida with a wild crazed crying face.
The two prodigy couldn't withstand such terrifying killing intent and bloodlust. Nabe immediately moved and knocked them unconscious before they went totally crazy.
"W-What happened inside?! Why is there such a terrifying killing intent?" asked Kusibella.
The powerful killing intent also affected Bornja and Kusibella, which are closest to the metallic tower. Fortunately, their dwarf race is famous for having good resistance. Along with their stubborn and strong will, they could resist this massive killing intent without going crazy.
In the meantime, Angus had inner turmoil as his enormous cultivated chi drained from his body. The bad memories slowly haunted him. He could hear countless screams. The sensation of blood, the smell of corpses, the ecstasy of ripping one life. All of them return to him.
"ARGGHHH... Shut up!! Shut up!! You are dead! Dead!! I am your master!! I am your king!! I AM... DEATH!! HAHAHAHA...." Laughed Angus in madness maniacally.