150 The Challenge of a Young Merchan (1/2)

As if turning into a liquid, the metallic cube started to melt, and bubble.

Some of the most common materials like iron, lead, and copper, were turning into types of metal which weren't present in the cube before, due to the influence of the perfect metallic treasure.

The various colors which covered its surface were slowly merging, forming infinite types of alloys, composed of each and every kind of metal in existence.

The former cube kept changing shape for a few minutes, until finally, its metallic essence became less chaotic and more controlled. It had turned from natural mana, into the type of mana which belonged to a living organism, and that could be recreated and consumed without the help of another living essence.

After a few minutes of slow movements, the unsteady cube started to melt completely, forming a puddle of liquid, and multicolored metal, that covered the floor of the cellar completely.

In the middle of this puddle, was the perfect metal treasure.

For a moment, this large puddle was as clear as a mirror, and right after, its surface started to bubble like boiling water. The edges of the puddle starts to recede. Slowly moving inwards, and regrouping in a single clump right in the middle of the room.

Right outside of this room, Daniel had appeared, and was standing quietly in wait with his eyes closed. He was observing the event with his immortal essence, and at the same time, he was comprehending all the different concepts which were being displayed by the shapeshiftingmass of metallic liquid.

His comprehension of metal increased as he observed melting, smelting, the bonding of metals.. Seventy percent, eighty, ninety.. Only stopping right underneath a full and complete comprehension.

He quietly opened his eyes, and then waved his hand. This simple action forced a door to open in the wall of the cellar, showing to him what was inside.

In the middle of the room, was what looked like a silvery wolf cub rolled up in a circle, and it appeared to have fallen asleep around the perfect metal treasure.

Despite seeing his evident wolf-like shape, Daniel was perfectly aware of what this entity was. It was a newborn metal elemental.

Observing it carefully, Daniel was able to notice how his fluffy fur was actually made out of tiny needles, which weren't fully solid, and were able to wave like normal hair.

The moment Daniel took a step into the cellar to approach the newborn elemental, he was immediately noticed, causing the wolf-like entity to turn towards him, and show a pair of golden eyes.

Daniel was the first living being that the metal elemental had ever seen, so, it did not feel fear towards him.

It got up on his four paws, and slowly approached him, leaving scars on the stony floor due to his extremely sharp claws. It felt no ill intent coming from Daniel, so it decided not to show aggressivity either.

In response, Daniel fell on both of his knees, and lowered himself to just a bit higher than the wolf cub's eyes. He then moved his palm towards him.

The metal elemental moved his head backwards the moment Daniel's hand approached its face, but as Daniel started to turn his immortal essence into metallic essence of near perfect comprehension, it felt comfortable enough to allow Daniel to touch it.

As Daniel's palm finally touched the top of the wolf's head, he felt the smooth and cold feeling of metal.

A few of the wolf metallic hair cut the sides of Daniel's hand as it lifted his ears in alertness, and looked at the individuals that had appeared behind Daniel.

At the entrance that Daniel had created in the wall of the cellar, Leffe and Buriath were standing quietly.

”What do you guys think I should do with him? Will he chose a name for himself when he'll grow up, or should I?” Asked Daniel without even turning around to look at the leaders of the wood and earth elementals. At the same time, a faint white light was coming out from the small cuts on his skin, and pulling his blood back in.

Leffe was the first one to talk. He said ”Both Buriath and I picked our names by ourselves.. As we didn't have anyone to name us.. If you don't want to name each and every other newborn metal elementals in the future, you should let him do the same.”

”Very well, I won't give you a name.. But I have to call you something until you'll grow up..” Daniel said to the curious metallic wolf cub. ”How about Wolfie?”

Daniel, Leffe, and Buriath were more than aware of how long it would take for the wolf-like elemental to grow an intelligence to their level.

Intelligence and power were two different things.

Just like humans, the intelligence of elementals was within the domain of the mind, which could not be altered by time. So, even with a perfect sphere, and an increased time speed, the growth of the metal elemental's intelligence would not be sped up.

The only increase that he was granted, was from the bonus given for being part of Daniel's group, but even with that, it would take him at least twenty years to reach the level of intelligence that the other two elemental leaders possessed, which unlike him, had grow to that level of intelligence in the span of at least a century.

Of course, thanks to the future increases of the shared effects of Daniel's group, the time would be greatly reduced, but as of now, the newborn metal elemental would have to grow and gain knowledge at a slow pace.

-----

Main hall of the Sect of the Illusory Edge.

”.. He seems too confident.. Are you sure that the kid was only at the peak of the third stage.. And that his essence was split into two?” Asked the one of the elders to the thirty-something years old man which quietly stood in front of them.

”I am sure.” The man responded confidently.