Nova set the steel in place inside the forge with practiced movements, using the tong from a nearby tool rack. While waiting for it to heat, his essence flowed into a new formation around the anvil.

[You have learned the skill: Resonant Anvil Formation (Master - 92%) {Grade 4}]

[A formation that holds the material in place while hammering, and maintains the heat within the metal for longer than usual. Creates perfect resonance between hammer and anvil.]

'I should make some new formations, honestly. These are outdated compared to what I can make now. But I'll have to figure out what the process needs first.'

The runes glowed with gentle blue light as Nova retrieved the glowing ingot. First, he needed to upset the block—hammering it shorter and wider to create enough mass for the head. Each strike made a clear sound as the metal responded to his will, the formation's resonance ensuring even compression throughout the steel.

The familiar rhythm of forge work settled into his bones as he began drawing out what would become the handle. Heat, strike, fold, repeat. The formation guided his strikes, helping maintain the proper grain alignment—lengthwise for the handle's flexibility, and crosswise for the head's impact resistance.

When sections began to cool, he returned them to the forge, letting different areas heat to specific temperatures—bright yellow for the handle being drawn out, slightly cooler for the developing head.

Halfway through drawing out the handle, a prompt appeared before him.

[Would you like to infuse materials into this forging?]

'Ahh, so that's how it is. Yes, use the troll bone.'

He placed the troll bone beside the glowing steel. The system recognized his intent immediately, and the bone dissolved into motes of light that sank into the metal.

The change was instant. The steel turned a deeper grey, almost black, and suddenly, his strikes barely affected it. The metal resisted shaping even while he was using far more strength than the average human. The formation's glow intensified, struggling to maintain the grain alignment against the metal's new supernatural resistance.

'Well, this is more interesting!' Nova grinned, putting more force into his next strike.

CRACK!

The hammer in his hands broke apart, unable to handle the force he was applying to the supernaturally hardened metal. Fragments of steel scattered across the workshop floor.

"Damn." Nova studied the broken handle. "Should have seen that coming."

While setting the metal back in the forge to make it more malleable, he retrieved another hammer from the rack. This one was larger and heavier, barely fitting in his hand and forcing him to use both at once. 'Let's try this again...'

The metal now glowed brighter than before, well over a thousand degrees hot. It was still far more rigid than the steel alone, but there should be no danger of the hammer breaking again.

The formation held the metal in place, slowly taking the shape of a blacksmith's hammer. At this level of force, the handle also needed to be made of metal, so he continued drawing it out from the block in careful movements, letting the formation guide the grain structure into tight, parallel lines that would give it both strength and flexibility.

Monoforging, making a product with a single piece of metal, wasn't the method he would usually use to create a hammer. But in this case, he felt he had no choice. He didn't know if the properties would be shared if he used a wooden handle.

Nova paused, studying the rough form taking shape beneath his hammer. The head was still blocky, but the drawn-out handle now showed the basic proportions he needed. Time for the precision work.

Taking the piece back to the forge, he focused on getting the heat exactly right. The formation's runes shifted, creating zones of different temperatures—the face and peen of the hammer needed to be hardest, while the center of the head and upper handle required more flexibility to absorb shock.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Working quickly while the metal was hot, he refined the hammer's face first. Each strike was lighter now, more controlled. The formation's resonance helped him feel exactly how the metal moved, letting him work the edges to perfect right angles while keeping the face slightly convex.

When the basic shaping was done, he didn't immediately quench it. Instead, he let the piece cool slowly in the air while the formation maintained its hold on the steel's structure. This would give him one last chance to check everything before the final heat treatment.

Nova ran his fingers over the cooling metal, feeling for any imperfections. The hammer had taken on an elegant form—the slight flare where the handle met the head, the subtle crown of the face, the balanced taper of the handle itself. More importantly, he could feel how the grain structure had settled, the metal's crystalline patterns locked into the shapes he needed.

Satisfied, he returned the hammer to the forge one final time. The formation around the anvil dimmed as he redirected his essence to the quenching trough, creating a new pattern of runes along its length. This formation was more complex—layers of overlapping circles and curves that would control the cooling process with precision impossible in normal smithing.

[You have learned the skill: Sapphire Quenching Formation (Expert - 79%) {Grade 5}]

[A formation that allows for increased control during the quenching process. The heat conduction can be slowed and sped up at will, focusing on select contact points.]

Nova lifted the hammer from the forge when it reached the perfect temperature. He held it above the trough, letting his focus sync with the formation. The water began to move in subtle patterns, guided by the runes.

With a fluid motion, he dipped the hammer face-first into the water. The formation caught the steam before it could burst upward, instead channeling it in controlled spirals. He lowered the rest gradually, letting the formation guide the cooling rate—fastest at the face and peen, slower through the center of the head, and slowest of all where the head met the handle.

The water danced around the metal, creating zones of different cooling rates that would give each part of the hammer exactly the properties it needed.

When the metal finally sang a satisfied tune, he drew it from the water. The hammer had taken on that distinctive grey-black color of properly quenched steel, but with an unusual dark tint.

[Finish forging process?]

'Ah? Is this where I would apply enchantments? Before the product is done?'

The enchanting was usually done after the forging as it was an entirely separate process, but he didn't mind starting it right away.

Nova carefully gathered his engraving tools, selecting the finest chisel available. The hammer lay before him on the anvil, still warm to the touch. With the patience born from centuries of practice, he began carving the intricate runes into the metal.

Each line had to be perfect—a single flaw in the pattern could destabilize the entire enchantment. His connection to the material made the delicate work easier, letting him feel exactly how deep each cut needed to be. The runes spiraled across the hammer's surface in an elegant dance, following the flow of the metal's grain.

With the physical runes complete, Nova began weaving essence into them. He had used the enchantment countless times before—a complex working that would enhance the metal's natural properties, making it both more durable and more responsive to the wielder's will.

The runes began to glow as he worked, first blue, then white, as they absorbed more and more power. Nova could feel them resonating with the troll bone infused into the steel, harmonizing perfectly.

'Now it's finished.'

[Forging complete]

[Created: Hammer of the Mountain's Heart (Epic) {Grade 4}]

[A masterwork hammer forged from steel and Outland Troll bone. The perfect balance and grain structure make it ideal for precise metalworking. Forged by Nova.]

[Enchantment: Goddon's Flux Enchantment {Grade 6}]

[An ancient enchantment that dramatically enhances durability and flexibility while maintaining perfect resonance with its wielder.]

Nova lifted the hammer, testing its weight and balance. It felt alive in his hands, eager to shape metal once again. Despite its epic quality, it was still just the first step—a tool to help him forge greater works.

'... The fragment is almost spent. I was completely focused on the—'

His thoughts halted as he suddenly noticed a presence nearby. Turning, he found a small girl with raven hair, still up in a ponytail, standing perfectly still. Her grey eyes were fixed on him with an intensity that seemed to pierce into his soul.

The light from the dying forge cast strange shadows across her face, making her seem both younger and older than she appeared. She hadn't moved a muscle since he noticed her, with a face frozen in mild shock.

"... You shouldn't sneak up on people."

"I... shouted your name several times," Animo replied, her voice trembling slightly. Something about seeing him work had clearly shaken her.

"Oh." Nova set the hammer down carefully. His divine focus had its drawbacks, as he was now recalling. "Well, did you want anything? It's quite late, isn't it?"

"No, I, uh… H-Have you..." She swallowed hard, seeming to gather her courage. "Do you know the name Gorton?"

'... Huh? Is she trying to surprise me by reading my soul stats?' Nova studied her more carefully now, noting how her hands were clasped tightly together.

"That's not a very impressive trick. You hide the Assess well, though."

"Y-You have?" Her eyes widened further.

"... Fine." Nova sighed. "Yes, I've heard it before. Why?"

Nothing could have prepared Nova for her next words. Not because their meaning was surprising, but because they were in a language he hadn't heard in six lifetimes.

The girl's lips started quivering as she spoke. "Because he… he gave me my legs. Nova Gorton."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.