Chapter 708: The Mystery of Blade Intent

Third Person’s POV

A smooth knuckle bow gradually took shape around the hilt, followed by a newly formed crossguard.

Ethan watched the transformation in astonishment, having never expected the broken saber to undergo such a complete reconstruction merely by awakening its weapon spirit.

The newly formed hilt settled comfortably into his grip, fitting his hand as though the weapon had been crafted specifically for him.

Its surface possessed a dim purple shade, giving it an elegant yet subdued appearance that contrasted with the sinister nature of the devouring maw he had witnessed moments earlier.

The crossguard also took shape, forming a simple, rounded design rather than the elaborate semicircular guards commonly seen on the medieval rapiers of his original world.

Its understated appearance suited the rest of the weapon, with no unnecessary ornamentation to distract from its overall design.

As for the blade itself, it bore little resemblance to a traditional rapier.

Instead, its curved profile combined features reminiscent of a katana and a talwar, giving it a distinctive shape that appeared both elegant and threatening.

However, the most astonishing transformation occurred along the blade’s edge.

The chipped, uneven edges of the broken weapon gradually smoothed out, the damaged portions restoring themselves as though the blade had never been broken in the first place.

Its curved edge grew increasingly refined, sharpening until it gleamed with a lethal brilliance that seemed to transcend the physical properties of ordinary metal.

Ethan’s initial astonishment soon turned into curiosity, but the moment his gaze lingered on the sharpened edge, a strange stabbing pain began spreading through his eyes.

He immediately recoiled, his brows knitting together in shock.

Even in a world where magic and extraordinary weapons existed, he had never heard of a blade whose mere appearance could cause such discomfort.

There had been no visible attack, nor had he sensed any direct fluctuation of mana.

Nevertheless, looking at the edge for too long had caused his eyes to ache as though they had been exposed to something they were never meant to perceive.

[Don’t look at it any longer.

That’s the forgotten edge of this weapon that has resurfaced.

Its leftover aura should vanish soon.]

The Nexus spirit’s voice rang out within his soul, prompting Ethan to avert his gaze without hesitation.

He had already experienced the strange pain firsthand, so he had no intention of needlessly testing the spirit’s warning.

Instead, he calmed his breathing and waited for the discomfort to subside, keeping his eyes away from the weapon’s edge until the strange sensation gradually began to fade.

Only after he had recovered somewhat did Ethan speak, his voice carrying a trace of lingering shock.

"What was that?"

[As I said, it was the old intent of the weapon, left over from the era before it was reduced to this state.

This new infusion of darkness might have awakened that remnant aura, but don’t worry.

It has already faded into nothing.]

Ethan remained silent for a moment, digesting her explanation.

The weapon’s former condition had clearly concealed something extraordinary, evident from the fact that he could not recognize the nature of that strange, sharp power.

In the end, he could only presume it to be its natural sharpness made from some godly metal.

Also, the fact that a remnant of its original aura could still cause such a reaction after all these years left him even more curious about its true capabilities.

After considering the matter, he finally asked the question that had begun to occupy his mind.

"Does that aura increase the sharpness of this weapon?"

[Of course! Why are you asking such a stupid question?]

Ethan’s mouth twitched slightly at the spirit’s immediate response, but he chose not to argue.

Instead, his curiosity only grew stronger.

"Then what material do I need to feed this blade to make it emit that kind of aura and become that sharp?"

He asked the question with unconcealed excitement, already imagining the possibilities if he could somehow restore the weapon’s former sharpness.

A saber capable of producing such an extraordinary effect would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset, especially considering the enemies he would eventually have to face.

However, rather than receiving a straightforward answer, Ethan was greeted by a derisive chuckle.

[Heh heh, aren’t you something?

Well, I wasn’t wrong about you.

You are a dreaming idiot, aren’t you?]

Ethan frowned slightly upon hearing her mocking tone, but, contrary to what the spirit seemed to expect, he did not lose his temper.

Instead, he examined his own thoughts for a moment before responding in a calm voice, devoid of sarcasm, ridicule, or any hidden hostility.

"Go on, tell me how I’m an idiot."

The Nexus spirit fell silent.

Perhaps she had expected him to snap back at her, or at least defend himself against the insult, but Ethan’s composed response left her with little reason to continue mocking him.

After a brief pause, she spoke again, though this time her voice had lost its playful derision and become noticeably more serious.

[Well, you are an idiot, but since your attitude is good, I’ll tell you.

A weapon’s edge can certainly be sharpened with higher-grade materials, but its true potential can only be displayed by its wielder.

That sharpness you felt was blade intent.]

’Blade intent...’

Ethan was momentarily confused by this unfamiliar term, but rather than interrupting the Nexus spirit, he patiently continued listening, hoping to understand what she meant.

[You can think of it as something similar to Law Power.

However, unlike Law Power, which is derived from the natural laws and principles governing this universe, something like a weapon’s intent originates from within oneself.

To become a Rank Five mage, a person must at least master a Lesser Elemental Law to its full potential.

Similarly, to become a Rank Five warrior, the minimum requirement is to master a Will Intent.

Will Intent can be divided into many categories, including weapon intent, fist intent, kick intent, and several others.

However, remember that mastering one of these intents is the minimum requirement for a being to ascend to Rank Five.]