165 Artifact Forging (1/2)

Wallace wasn't aware about the train of thoughts of those other examinees.

He was focus in learning the forging method and finding a way to complete the task.

The first spell that he imprinted to his Mana Body was the Spirit Flame. After all, it is the core of the magic.

He recalled the information to pass this last examination.

Based on the instructions included in the memory crystal, once the Mana Arrays within this room detected that he imprinted the 'Weapon Artifact Forge' spell on his Mana Body, the materials to forge a simple knife will be sent here. After that, he needs to use whatever he have learned to forge those materials using the new method. Also, the knife must possess Spirit Channelling to consider it as a 6th gen mana artifact and pass the test.

'Then... I can probably skip the other spells. Let's see... Three more spells should be enough. Living Furnace's Touch, Spirit Channelling, and Weapon Artifact Forge should do it.' Wallace thought after making some considerations.

For the meantime, Material Appraisal can be replaced by his Necklace's exclusive skill, Glimpse of the Mind. For the Mage Cover spell, its purpose was to protect him from harmful materials, he'll just do his best to protect himself without this spell in case there really was a need.

As for the Soul Imprinting spell, it wasn't required this time so he could skip it for now. The Living Furnace's Breath on the other hand can only be learned after mastering the Living Furnace's Touch, so there was no point in learning it's magic formula for now.

”Alright... there's no time to hesitate. I can only move forward.”

He immediately started to control his internal Mana to simulate the magic formula he learned in the memory crystal. The process was similar to Artifact Forging step where the magic structure crystal was being placed to a material to act as the core or brain of the Mana Artifact. But instead of placing the magic formula into a material, it was being imprinted to their Mana Bodies.

The process was slow and requires full concentration. During this imprinting process, the AOTL breathing method must be continuous and can't be interrupted. Apparently, it was this breathing method that makes the magic formula stay within the Mana Body, and without this, the formula would just immediately vanish or dissolve like a normal mana. Of course, the spells imprinted won't be permanent on his Mana Body as well.

Wallace couldn't think of anything else after he started another round of imprinting process.

He wasn't aware how many hours had passed and only stopped after he completed the imprinting of the fourth and last spell.

”How much time had passed this time? Avalon, how many hours left?” Wallace asked after confirming that the fourth spell was imprinted successfully.

Since they were underground, he doesn't have a concept of time  and only relies with Avalon. Although he have pocketwatch with him, it's more convenient to ask it.

[ 47 minutes left. ]

”Guh! It's almost time?!”

Wallace immediately looked at the floating sphere beside him, he was about to ask if it was serious but remembered that it's an A.I. and it wouldn't tell a joke at times like this.

”Let's try this then...” Wallace can only begin forging the artifact.

He looked at the materials that has suddenly appeared from a secret compartment of the the desk.

The drawer just suddenly opened and within were neatly placed materials for the knife he had to forge.

'Glimpse!'

Wallace thought after pouring Mana to his necklace.

[ Daedric Steel - Ten times stronger alloy of standard steel. It has mysterious energy. ]

[ Ebony Wood - Sturdy yet springy wood. It has an extremely high cold resistance and corrosion resistance. The wood will continuously emit heat unless it was isolated from Mana. It has mysterious energy. ]

The Daedric Still was just a lump of metal at the moment while the Ebony Wood was a piece of log. The latter seems to be used for the handle of the knife that he was about to make.

'Continuous heat... Mysterious energy, huh.'

After pondering for a bit, Wallace started to feel his Spirit Flames. Anyway, the materials provided were enough for 3 sets, so it would be fine to fail for 2 times but he had to hurry.

This first attempt would be his method to feel out all the skills so it wouldn't hurt even if he failed.

The Spirit Flames appeared on his two hands, it was blue in color as it dances beautifully on his palms.

'This feeling is a bit weird.'

Wallace commented after using it. The Spirit Flames feels so different compared to the standard magic spells being cast through Mana Artifacts and the formless Mana he normally controls.

After he got used with the Spirit Flames, with Wallace's fine control, the two materials started to float. This time, he activated his Living Furnace's Touch as he molded the materials to his envisioned item.

It wasn't hot in the room due to the Mana Arrays stabilizing the temperature but drops of sweat can be seen coming from Wallace's body.

Clang!

The Daedric Steel dropped on the floor as it caused some noises. For the Ebony Wood, it was caught by his foot.

He failed to mold the material.

”I envisioned it correctly, but using the Living Furnace's Touch spell is really causing a problem.”

Wallace grumbled upon noticing the difficulty of controlling the spell since after touching it and molding a bit, he had also used Weapon Artifact Forge spell to seal the deal but it wasn't working. It was causing a conflict in his mind as he was multitasking. It was very difficult.