The Hero's Sword (2)
Anyway, I made the greatsword first. I used plenty of silver transformed by mana and gold transformed by mana, alloyed them in the perfect ratio, and for the joints, more gold transformed by mana... Hmm... Calling it that keeps feeling awkward! Let's just call mana-transformed steel adamantium since it's so tough!! Mana-transformed silver is mithril!! Mana-transformed gold is orichalcum!!! Sure, technically they're different metals! But I made them, so I get to name them—who's gonna argue?! Ahem. Anyway.
Gripping the finished sword—made from an alloy of mithril and orichalcum—with both hands, I channeled a specific pattern of mana into the hilt... Kiiing! The metals forming the greatsword's blade shifted rapidly, and starting from my hand holding it, silver armor began plating over me. Gauntlets covering the back of my hands and forearms, a breastplate protecting my chest, shoulders, and hips. It finished with greaves, shin guards, and boots for my calves and feet equipping one by one.
Hmm. Nice. It works perfectly. Especially how it automatically equips during the transformation—that part's flawless. Worth all the trial and error. Plus, once transformed, it locks solidly in place. Can't remove it until I input the pattern to revert it to greatsword form. Honestly, I wanted full plate armor covering everything... but sadly, I ran short on metal, so this was the limit. This design's the compromise. No compromise, and the greatsword would've been even bigger. I really wanted finger guards, upper arm and thigh plates, and a helmet too. But enough whining.
I twisted and turned, testing the armor's fit. I'd paid special attention to mobility after equipping, so even though it's solid metal plate, there's zero hindrance to movement. Most major joints except ankles are exposed anyway, so that's expected. And the covered joints are crafted to avoid impeding motion. Wrists spin freely without a hitch, ankles too. Twisting my waist feels totally natural.
Next, durability test... An alloy of mithril and orichalcum in the right ratio? Honestly, no other metal—not even adamantium or orichalcum alone—could scratch it easily. Those might leave a mark, but since transformation restores any damage... timely shifting basically means auto-repair. Should I add more features? Absorbing shards of darkness from mana stones in cut monsters is a given. Mana absorption too. Buffs for the user... Hmm... What else? Spitting fire or shooting ice shards from the blade? Nah, that'd mess with mana absorption. Eh, this should be plenty. Kinda sucks no ranged option, but still, an excellent weapon.
Oh, right. I made a socket for a black diamond, but forgot to insert it. I slotted the black diamond into the groove on the breastplate's chest. Perfect. Now it's done. The black diamond stays embedded in the sword, absorbing and storing mana and darkness shards. And it can draw mana to buff the user. Like a battery, basically.
I swung the one-handed sword lightly and inspected it. The one-handed sword serves as the transformation core. Even on its own, it's incredibly sharp. Thin adamantium edging makes it super light, plus unbreakable durability. In a world where iron's still rare, this is legendary.
I channeled mana into the sword in my hand, and the linked silver armor began reverting. Legs first, merging back into the blade. Then breastplate and shoulders, finishing with the forearm guards. The sword returned to greatsword form. The difference now? A black diamond embedded midway up the blade from the hilt. Overall, the silver greatsword with subtle golden alloy flecks looked even cooler than I'd imagined. But with the black diamond... it kinda looks like a demonic sword. Eh... whatever!
Next up... the Hero! I can't create someone with Hero qualifications, but I can check if whoever wields this sword has them. Like, they have to be good-hearted. Or have exceptional talent. Can't overlook injustice. Hesitate to save others? No. Willing to sacrifice for the greater good... okay, maybe that's overkill. Oh, and include anyone I designate as Hero. Mine's the top authority—a backdoor overriding other conditions. Just in case! No way there's zero Hero material out there, right? Prepared for the worst, but won't need it!!
Anyway. Set those conditions, and only passers can wield the Hero's Sword... Hmm. Feels like ripping off Arthurian legend. But who cares? No King Arthur here. No Merlin either. When we need a Hero, bring someone qualified, let 'em pull this sealed sword. Pass, they wield it. Fail, disqualified. If they pass at first but change later... lock them out. Harsh maybe, but people change. Good. Hero's Sword mostly done... Oh, wait—didn't name it. Excalibur? Too cliché from stories. Gram? Balmung? Dainsleif? Nah, those are demon sword vibes. Hero's Sword needs bright imagery. Something with "light"... Ah, got it. Perfect name from Celtic myth: Claiomh Solais. Real pronunciation's probably Clíu Solais or whatever, but Claiomh Solais is catchier... Yeah, that. And from its owner's name, when it transforms to armor, call it Agatram. Fits the shining silver color too.
The boy and girl faced each other, swords in hand. The boy's was a massive greatsword embedded with a black diamond, radiating extraordinary power at a glance. The hooded girl's, by contrast, was a plain iron sword—unremarkable thickness and length, nothing special. Based on the weapons alone, the boy seemed overwhelmingly favored. But reality differed.
"Haaah!"
The boy swung his greatsword down at the girl. A swift strike belying its huge size—one that could cleave anything, even a steel ingot. It looked less like sparring and more like a deathblow, perilously threatening. The girl beneath seemed moments from being bisected.
But she calmly extended her iron sword toward the greatsword. Frail before the mighty blade—like a candle in the wind—it should've snapped... but her skill denied that. Just before contact, she dipped it slightly, creating an opening. Her sword clung to the greatsword's side, nudging it aside with minimal force.
Kwaang!!
The greatsword slammed into the ground without grazing her clothes. "That's it."
The iron sword in the girl's hand now pointed at the boy's throat, who still gripped the greatsword.
"Hoo... I lost."
"Yeah. Good work."
She sheathed her sword. The boy secured his greatsword on his back and stretched, muscles sore from the sudden exertion.
"When will I get strong?"
"You're strong already."
The boy couldn't take joy in her words. She called him strong, but he'd never beaten her—not once. Even with the legendary Hero's Sword. He couldn't overcome that plain iron blade. Pathetic. He'd wanted to look strong and cool for her. He'd totally forgotten that the strike he'd wanted to impress her with had been aimed at her.
"I'm just a bit stronger."
Unaware of his thoughts, she sounded casually boastful.
"But... I might not perform well as a Hero like this."
"It's fine. You can do it."
His words lacked confidence, but hers brimmed with certainty.
"My judgment's spot-on. And the sword's choice doesn't lie. So relax."
"But..."
"If you can't believe in yourself, believe in me. Believe in the me who believes in you."
"What even is that?"
He laughed awkwardly. A cool breeze swept the clearing, cooling the sweat on his brow. Savoring the refreshing chill, his gaze stopped on the girl under her stuffy hood.
"That hood—doesn't it feel stuffy?"
"Not really."
"Looks stuffy. Can't you take it off?"
She shook her head.
"Not yet. Time to show the horns hasn't come. If word spreads that I've appeared... Life Church folk might be okay, but outsiders would freak. Gotta keep it secret till the time's right."
The Dragon Priestess's emergence signaled crisis for the world's life too.
— Adventure Record of a Certain Hero Party.