Combination (3)
I bought some water from the auction house to properly test the effects of my aura. Sure, you could say just melt the ice I have stored in the box, but if my hunch was wrong, I'd have to go cut more ice. I didn't want to deal with that hassle, so just this once, I shelled out for water.
I transferred the water to an iron bucket and plunged my sword into it. All I had to do was manifest aura like before and wait to see what happened.
Crack-ack!
The moment I activated my aura, the water froze at an insane speed. But it wasn't just the water—it spread across the entire bucket. At this rate, I'd lose the whole thing, so I hurriedly pulled it out. It seemed the effect only applied to the part touching the aura; the ice hadn't gripped the sword.
Can't I control this thing?
Freezing water was great. I'd gained an awesome ability. But without control, it'd be poison, not medicine. I wasn't sure if the mana itself had changed, but I needed to investigate thoroughly.
At least I can adjust the strength by varying the amount of aura...
Through experiments, I figured out I could control the intensity with aura output. But I had no clue how to turn the chill on and off. Was it permanent? Temporary? No idea.
After agonizing over it, I decided to ask the Gallery.
Come on, guys... YasaengGrill (Video of sword with aura plunged into water bucket, freezing solid) My sword's starving... Nah, just kidding. Anyone know why this is happening? Was logging, whole tree froze, so I tested—my aura gained ice properties. Can't turn it on/off at will. Anyone know how? ┌Cheonma What beautiful sword aura. It even sparkles. Far lovelier than what those North Sea fools use. ├YasaengGrill Do North Sea people control ice? ├Cheonma Most do. But they master martial arts to wield it. You don't know any ice-controlling techniques, do you? ├YasaengGrill Nope. Just the incantation you taught me, Lady Cheonma. ├Cheonma How intriguing. Perhaps your internal power itself carries the chill. ├SwordTasteStar Lady Cheonma's right. Elemental auras aren't unheard of, but they usually require special breathing methods. In your case, Grill, it seems your mana naturally carries ice properties. ├YasaengGrill Can't I turn it on/off? ├Cheonma No idea. As I said, even North Sea Ice Palace channels it through martial arts. ├SwordTasteStar First time seeing something like this. I've seen fire or lightning control, but mana inherently elemental? No clue. ├But with that performance, who needs stone ice vaults or whatever, right? ├Fr, he wanted a fridge so bad he became one himself lol ├Why does this guy always power up in the weirdest ways;; ├Getting strong in such a novel way is just ridiculous lol ├StarlightPrincess Seems like the essence mixed with your mana, giving it ice properties, as folks above said. Totally unexpected. ├YasaengGrill Not bad, right? ├StarlightPrincess If you couldn't handle the chill, your mana would've frozen first. Could turn into blocked meridians like I had—better prepare ahead. ├YasaengGrill Got it, I'll be careful. ├Olfather There are cases of mana acquiring elemental properties postnatally. Ancient texts mention it. ├YasaengGrill Did they go through something like me? ├Olfather No. Mostly direct injections into mana circuits. Results weren't great. ├YasaengGrill Not great how? ├Olfather Ice essence injections froze organs solid, like blocked meridians. Fire essence melted mana circuits—they couldn't handle the heat. ├YasaengGrill Holy crap... ├Olfather Just in case, get adult mandrake essence like StarlightPrincess said. ├YasaengGrill Why didn't you tell me before? ├Olfather You used elixir alongside. Elixir's no common potion—it heals while absorbing/adapting to essence. Perfect combo. I meant pure essence injections. Not always a good thing.
Thanks to Cheonma's incantation, I could absorb it. Otherwise, it'd have been dangerous. Time will tell, but side effects might hit later—gotta prepare.
└SunForever With that, no more ice worries forever. Gimme one? Ice business would be sweet. ├YasaengGrill Sorry, made from my one-and-only Bingseolhwa. Plus, unknown side effects. ├SunForever Don't care, not eating it myself. Shame no more Bingseolhwa. ├YasaengGrill Who were you gonna feed it to? ├SunForever Got plans. Trade if you find more? ├YasaengGrill Talk when I find some. Haven't got my desired power yet anyway.
I'd gained ice properties, but not cold resistance. Worst case, it could be a double-edged sword. Practice essential. Excess in anything is bad.
Can I use it barehanded too?
Would aura on my hand trigger the chill without a sword? Curiosity piqued, I smashed the ice in the bucket with a hammer, refilled with water, and dipped my hand in.
Crack-ack!
Sure enough, it froze solid. Worked barehanded too.
Handy for when I'm unarmed.
I'm heavily gear-dependent. Bare-knuckle fighting? Nah. This power would save me in a pinch. But as always, no proper control meant unknown risks.
Control practice first for now.
Sword training, breathing exercises, power honing—busy times. No wonder they say specialize in one thing.
Best to master just enough control over the chill.
Not like I'm triggering an Ice Age.
Fantasy world or not, that scale's impossible. Sure, some slice mountains with swords, but that's not me.
I finished cleanup and logging. No sword aura with the chill, so barehanded. Body's tougher now, so no sweat securing wood.
Dinner time soon.
Winter makes sun set early? Sunsets from orbit, not rotation, right? If truly early, it's planetary. All Four Seasons Forest weirdness.
Heard of midnight sun, but...
Whatever. Forest gonna forest.
After smoked tiger meat, added firewood to the hearth, warmed up. Despite events, cutie Wonmo slept on. Hibernates in winter to recharge, I guess.
Baby bear-owl, so yeah...
Other animals slowing too. Crises so far? Just blizzards, avalanches. With prep, all manageable.
Emergency exit mandatory... Chimney-style?
Avalanche power demands brick. Chimney survived last one unscathed. Still, inspect regularly.
Better than mud... Cement?
Does this world have cement? Or equivalent? Earth ancients built lasting without it. Walls took cannons to breach. Used what they had.
Me too. Use everything to survive.
Not Dwarf... Ask Gallery. Might not know offhand.
Dwarf said specialists investigate. He's shared researched stuff before.
Anyone know how to bind bricks stronger? YasaengGrill (Chimney pic) Used mud till now, but want better for rebuilds. Mud's got limits. ┌StarlightPrincess Heard they mixed lime with sand paste for castles. ├PassingDwarf Yeah, high-nick above's right. It's called cement. Mix with sand. ├YasaengGrill Cement? Like I know? My eyes went wide. Cement here too? Figured no word for it, but boom—there it was. Same name even.
├PassingDwarf What's your cement? ├YasaengGrill Mix with stuff, slather, hardens over time. ├PassingDwarf Spot on. Rich boy, why not use till now? ├YasaengGrill Never dreamed it existed;; When invented? ├PassingDwarf Idk? Ancient af. Dwarves def did. ├YasaengGrill No cap? ├PassingDwarf Bet? ├Olfather No lie. Dwarven tech boom partly from cement—solid housing. ├PassingDwarf Aww, why spill -_- Coulda milked it. ├YasaengGrill You'd just want booze lol ├Olfather But not without issues. Over-tech for era, scholars debated. Called "discovery," not invention.
├YasaengGrill Popped outta nowhere? ├Olfather Yep. My gift's similar—current tech can't make it. Olfather's gift: subspatial backpack. Ignores mass/volume limits mostly. Huge space-saver.
├Olfather Scholars say ancient relic stumbled upon. ├YasaengGrill Ancient relic? ├Olfather Yes. Gods-walked-earth era. Beyond modern grasp. Lost tech/civ like novels? Vanished civs leaving traces. Earth's got 'em too—no shock. Egypt pyramids? No clue how.
Army makes you feel humans stacked 'em.
Anyway, back on track. Cement exists—now method. Dwarf knew basics.
├PassingDwarf For gaps, sand not dirt mix. ├YasaengGrill Why? ├PassingDwarf Dunno. Dad said so. ├YasaengGrill Ok ├Somehow trustworthy lol ├Same as academy profs—do as told, no one knows why lol
River delta or sea for sand?
Local's dirt, not sand. River mouth/sea only. Hate sea in winter. Delta better. Not building now—stockpile steady.
No sand at auction.
Checked auction, replied to Dwarf. Cement secondary—real question.
├YasaengGrill Hey. Elemental weapons exist? ├PassingDwarf Yeah. Lightning hammer, flaming sword. Why? ├YasaengGrill How made? Natural? ├PassingDwarf Usually. Lightning hammer struck by bolt—original owner fried lol ├YasaengGrill Fire? Burnt corpse? ├PassingDwarf Nah, sword in volcano crater. Why ask? ├YasaengGrill Wonder if artificial. Like infuse essence into forging sword. ├PassingDwarf Wild talk lol. Find more Bingseolhwa first. ├Ice sword OP tho? Lol ├But made one, ain't selling anyway.
Dwarf right—no more Bingseolhwa, no crafting. Even if, no sword combo.
Maybe 2-3 more...
Chatted trivia, day ended. Ppareumbo fire-gazed while I slept. Wood duty to him.
Next morning, clear skies.
"Oh. Another one?"
Digging wood, found more Bingseolhwa.
"Here too, here... Why so many?"
Not one—clusters. Scour tree gaps, easy finds.
Like seasonal food?
Not some wild greens.