(Riven POV – Valka's Crimson Chamber)
Despite Tsubaki's outburst, I don't flinch. My attention stays fixed on the longsword in Hephaestus's hand.
[Answer: While the sword is flawless by all mortal standards—symmetry, balance, atomic uniformity, edge sharpness, durability, et cetera—it falls short of perfection.]
That was GS's verdict the moment I asked.
'And how does it fall short?'
[Answer: The crystalline structure of the steel reveals a 0.0000003% misalignment of atoms caused by inherent thermal stress during forging. The imperfections are below detectability, but represent deviation from material ideality.]
A detailed list of metrics followed. Mostnof them were irrelevant, and some bordered on pedantic. The only points that really mattered were the microscopic impurities in the alloy and the edge sharpness.
[Finding: Edge width approximates to eight atoms. Maximum theoretical sharpness of one atom not achieved.]
I stare at the blade, unimpressed. 'Petty.' Even if it was one atom wide, the edge would break unlessdifferent materials or magic were used.
[Conclusion: Blade is 99.9999997% perfect. The craftsmanship is divine, but constrained by physical laws. Therefore, it is not truly perfect—merely flawless given the limitations.]
GS's words were as brutal as they were true. By every conventional measure, this was a masterpiece. By GS's standards, it was… almost okay.
To be fair, my initial disappointment came from me expecting it to have enchantments I can analyze. Instead, it was just a sword—an extraordinary sword, yes, but still one I could outmatch with GS and Predator.
'Even so… this is craftsmanship I probably can't replicate by hand, even with years of effort.'
The moment Hephaestus unsheathed it, I knew it was her work. Which meant there was no point lying and saying I was amazed.
'If I called it perfect, she'd see right through me. Dealing with gods really is inconvenient.'
I lift my gaze to meet hers, and speak plainly.
"Before I say anything, just know—I'm not trying to be petty. This is just my honest opinion."
Her face is filled with a calm, but expectant seriousness.
"Go on." She says.
Beside her, Tsubaki narrows her eye, her glare promising violence if I so much as breathed disrespect toward her goddess's work.
"First flaw… the atoms are misaligned by about 0.0000003% due to thermal stress. It's impossible to notice with the naked eye, but here, here, and… here." I trace the areas on the blade, places that looked pristine to me without GS's vision.
Tsubaki leans in, scowling, clearly seeing nothing. But Hephaestus furrows her brow, tapping the sword lightly and scrutinizing the metal. Her expression shifts ever so slightly with each point I call out.
She doesn't confirm or deny anything, only lowering the blade slightly. Then, in a voice laced with steel. "Is that everything you found imperfect?"
'Did she see them too, or is she letting me dig a deeper grave?'
I exhale. "No. There's more."
I go down GS's list, though carefully. I leave out the absurd, like fundamental limits of matter, and stick to the reasonable, like microscopic impurities likely introduced during forging, infinitesimal stresses that even she couldn't avoid due to miniscule thermal differences. Each word I say makes the silence in the room heavier.
By the time I finish, everyone is frozen. Tsubaki looks like she wants to throttle me. Even Hestia has stopped chewing her snacks, blinking at me. And Hephaestus… just stares at the sword.
I brace for anger, maybe even an accusation. Instead—
"Hahaha!"
Hephaestus bursts into laughter. Genuine, rich laughter that echoes through the chamber. She grins, running her fingers down the blade with something close to joy. "So even this wasn't perfect after all… Seems I still have a lot of improving to do."
Tsubaki and I both blink at her in shock.
"This sword," Hephaestus continues, holding it up, "I use it to test prospective smiths of my Familia. Those who can recognize its craftsmanship are talented. But the ones who see that and desire to learn from it, and strive to one day create something of its level, or surpass it… those are the true blacksmiths of Hephaestus Familia."
Her words carry weight. Even Hestia sits a little straighter, paying attention for once.
Then Hephaestus sheathes the sword, turning to me with a warm, genuine smile.
"Thank you, Riven. For reminding me that there are always greater heights to reach."
"…You're welcome?" I manage, more confused than anything.
She chuckles softly. "You're wondering why I'm not angry?"
"Yeah. Honestly, all my reasons could be called nitpicking. Fixing them would take unimaginable effort, or just be flat-out impossible. It's just not worth it."
She shakes her head firmly. "That's where you're wrong. I teach my Familia never to give up in the face of impossibility. If I surrendered for the same reason, what kind of hypocrite would I be?"
Her conviction leaves me quiet. I'm not a blacksmith. I don't have their pride or the obsession that fuels her craft. To me, the result matters more than the process. But to her, the journey is worth infinitely more than the destination.
"I'll continue striving to forge the perfect blade." She says, her eye narrowing with an almost playful glint. "And when I do, I expect you to be the one to appraise it. Even gods need critics."
I'm definitely not a fan of her gaze. 'It's just more work for me.'
Before I can protest—
"Hephaestus! You're not allowed to steal Riven from me!"
Hestia leaps up from her stool, spilling crumbs everywhere, and clings to my arm like a koala. She glares fiercely at Hephaestus, though her cheeks are puffed in childish indignation.
"As tempting as that is…" Hephaestus teases, smiling slyly. "I wouldn't do that to you, Hestia."
Hestia just tightens her grip, her small frame practically hanging off of my arm.
"Anyway…" Hephaestus continues as if nothing happened. "We came here to see how Riven forged that bracelet, didn't we?"
And just like that, the spotlight lands squarely back on me.
'So I have to do it anyway?' I sigh inwardly, staring at the ores scattered on the table. 'At the very least, it shouldn't be this disappointing.'
I had agreed hoping to copy an enchanted item. If that's no longer possible, then…
"Can I create whatever I want?" I ask, my tone curious.
Hephaestus tilts her head, arching an eyebrow. "Of course. I'd rather see you make something you'd actually use." Her lips curl into a small smile, but her visible eye sharpens, watching me like a hawk.
'So much for my skill needing a reference.'
With some effort I peel Hestia off me, and approach the ores Tsubaki had hauled in.
'I might as well make something actually useful to my current situation.' I decide. Gauntlets come to mind first, since my fists are my main weapons. But…
'If I can't defeat it bare-handed, gauntlets wouldn't help much.' I sigh inwardly. 'So what weapon would be best?'
The answer comes quickly.
I glance away from the ores, turning to Hephaestus again with my most charming smile. The suspicion in her gaze only deepens.
"Before I begin… could I ask for a favor?" I say smoothly.
Hestia immediately stiffens, bristling as though I'd just stabbed her in the back.
Hephaestus folds her arms. "What do you need?"
"Could I observe a weapon with the Durandal attribute? If you have one available."
Yeah, it's greedy. But I can already guess she'll accept, either out of curiosity, or out of gratitude for igniting her drive.
Her eye narrows. "Just to observe?"
I nod.
She studies me for a moment before sighing. "…Very well."
"Tsubaki," she calls, "bring him something with Durandal."
"I've got one in for maintenance." Tsubaki replies immediately, shooting me a sharp look. "I'll fetch it." She walks out, leaving the room in a quiet silence.
Hephaestus doesn't let it last.
"Why?" She asks simply. "Why Durandal, of all things?"
I give her a sly smile. "Wouldn't you rather be surprised?"
Her sigh is long and resigned, albeit amused. "…You're trouble." She mutters.
"Oh! While we wait…" I cut in. "Hestia wanted to learn how to lock a Falna. Could you teach her?"
"Ah! Right!" Hestia yelps, eyes going wide. "I totally forgot." She laughs sheepishly, scratching her cheek.
'Unreliable as always.' I think, as Hephaestus begins explaining the technique.
I drown myself in a silent discussion with Great Sage, reviewing the materials, testing combinations, already forming the idea in my mind. It's a shame there's no Orichalcum, but the materials provided are already quite generous.
The door slams open.
"I'm back!" Tsubaki bellows, a longsword slung casually over her shoulder. She tosses it my way without hesitation.
I catch it easily.
[Notice: Beginning analysis.]
My eyes trace the blade while Great Sage dissects it in the background, and seventy-two seconds later—
[Notice: Analysis complete. Durandal attribute copied.]
'Perfect. Thanks, GS.'
I hand the weapon back to Tsubaki, who blinks. "Already?"
"Yeah." I answer casually. "Told you it wouldn't take long."
Hephaestus's brow furrows, but she simply continues to observe.
I turn back to the ores, no point hiding what can't be hidden. One by one, I absorb them. Impure Adamantite for durability, Seiros which boosts magic, Mithril for its high magic conductivity, and leather. Each vanishes into black smoke as it's pulled into Stomach.
Hephaestus's eye widens. Tsubaki curses in shock. Hestia just beams like a proud mother.
"Riven's amazing, isn't he?" She says smugly.
Neither of them answer and I ignore them.
'Let's get to work.'
[Notice: Beginning item creation.]
Inside my Stomach, materials shift and coil. The Seiros mineral stretches, forming s vein-like lattice. Next, the Mithril wraps around it. The Seiros would boost the power of any magic, while Mithril let's it travel smoothly.
Finally, Pure Adamantite encases it all, shaping a hilt, crossguard, and blade.
Branching lines of Mithril gleam faintly across the midnight blue Adamantite, like a tree of lightning frozen within beautiful steel.
The blade emerges whole: wide-guarded, thick at the core, tapering to a perfect edge, and its surface alive with capillary like silver threads.
[Notice: Should the Durandal attribute be added? Magical energy will be consumed.]
'Wait, what? I didn't know adding attributes consumes magic.'
[Answer: Magic is consumed as the Blacksmith DA is not available to facilitate the process.]
'…How much mind will it consume?'
[Answer: Attribute strength is determined by amount of magic power utilised. Current magic power reserves can achieve 3.2% of the true Durandal attribute.]
I lip almost twitches.
'I should've saved those magic stones.' I lament, resolving to do so in future.
'By true Durandal, do you mean the attribute on the sword?' I ask.
[Answer: Incorrect. The Durandal attribute attached to the sword is at 5% potency. A True Durandal at 100% would achieve infinite durability.]
I freeze. '…I can actually make an indestructible weapon?'
[Answer: Yes. Required magic power rises exponentially as the True Durandal attribute is achieved.]
So effectively, with all my magic power at level 1, I achieve 3.2% compared to what a normal level 5 blacksmith achieves passively through their DA.
'It seems worse, but it will rise as I raise my magic stat, and eventually surpass them.'
A grin spreads across my face. 'Then let's do it.'
[Notice: Adding Durandal attribute. Consuming 99% of available magic power to prevent Mind Down.]
A wave of mental exhaustion slams into me, but I ignore it thanks to IronHeart. The actual process is almost instantaneous, and the sword is then complete, radiating a quiet, but terrifying majesty.
I exhale slowly, admiring it as it floats in the metaphysical space if Stomach.
'I wonder how Hephaestus and Tsubaki will react?' I smirk mischievously.
*************
A/N: Hello Everyone. How are you all doing? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, yeah, this is the chapter. I made a few changes to canon. I always wondered why Durandal wasn't truly indestructible (since Ais's sword can break, and weapons can become blunt), so I made some changes to allow for that to change.
Next, the sword looks almost like the one in the picture. The veins just face the other direction and are more numerous. Think trees branches.
As for a few other things, mainly the reactions to Predator... I'm getting there. I'll be doing a Hestia, maybe Tsubaki POV next chapter, which'll show just how shaken they are.
And yeah, GS is pretty. 0.0000003% is nuts. Like I said before, Riven was disappointed because he didn't get a sword with an attribute. He's actually quite impressed with Hephy's work, since even he doubts he could make something as great through actual forging, but he cares more about getting a good sword than the process itself.
Maybe Hephy will change that one day, maybe not, we'll see. But she's pretty much a confirmed love interest, so either way, there'll be more interactions.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
There isn't really much to say this chapter, so I'll end it here. I hope everyone has a great day/night, and I hope you enjoyed😁.