The Rise of the God of Death
Chapter 51: Thunder God
In the forge, Manmand was carefully working, his hands moving with precise rhythm as he advanced the contract between Lucy and her staff, Lydia — a task that would've taken her years to complete on her own.
"Uncle Manmand," said Lucy curiously, watching him carve strange glowing runes across the staff's surface.
"What?" he replied without turning, his focus still sharp.
"What would happen after you advance my staff?" she asked, tilting her head.
"It's going to open an easier path for you," said Manmand, glancing over his shoulder.
"Like what?" Lucy leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"You'll be able to contact your staff directly," he explained. "Ask her for more power, sense her emotions… maybe even speak with her freely one day."
He placed the staff down and crossed his arms. "Reaching that point is incredibly rare. As far as I know, only your dad and a few others ever achieved it."
"Woah!" Lucy gasped. "So you mean I'll be as strong as my dad?"
"Definitely not," said Manmand flatly. Lucy's smile instantly vanished, her face turning pale.
"But," he added with a small grin, "I'm sure you'll reach an incredibly high level one day."
"Really?" she said, brightening again.
"Of course. At the end of the day, you're living with the strongest man known."
As soon as Manmand said that, Daimon entered the forge with Darren and Nil behind him. The air shifted — calm yet heavy with their presence.
"Hey, you came back," said Manmand.
"Oh, the tank-top geezer," said Darren with his usual grin.
"Hey, kid," said Manmand, ignoring the nickname. "What weapon did you choose?"
"A lightning greatsword with a blue outline," said Darren proudly.
"...What?" Manmand's face turned pale.
"It rejected me and closed the trial! That stupid blue dragon!" shouted Darren angrily.
"Definitely expected," Manmand muttered, crossing his arms.
"What do you mean!" barked Darren.
"That weapon," said Manmand slowly, "is the only thing in this entire place I couldn't access. The only thing I know is that its former user was a Supreme God-level being — known as the Thunder God."
"Woah!" Nil and Darren said in unison, eyes wide.
"There are even rumors," continued Manmand, lowering his voice, "that the Thunder God imprisoned his own soul inside that sword."
"You can't use it yet," he said, turning to Darren, "but keep it. If you ever pass that trial, you'll stand shoulder to shoulder with your master's old comrades."
Darren smiled faintly. "Okay, thank you, gramps," he said, plopping down on the couch like nothing happened.
"Hey Lucy, what did you do?" he asked, stretching his arms.
"I made a contract with a staff called Lydia," said Lucy proudly.
"Cool. Was it difficult?" asked Darren.
"She was tweaking," said Nil casually.
"What!" shouted Lucy.
"Like crazy," Nil added with a teasing grin.
"That didn't happen!" Lucy's cheeks flushed red.
"Oh... so you did tweak?" said Darren, raising an eyebrow with that annoying smirk.
"No, I didn't!" Lucy yelled back.
"I did my best not to laugh," said Nil, holding back a chuckle.
"Thank god I wasn't there," said Darren. "I would've laughed like never before!"
"SHUT UP!" yelled Lucy, jumping on both of them as they started running around the forge like kids.
"Hey, glasses kid!" shouted Manmand.
"Yes!" replied Nil, dodging Lucy's attacks.
"Come here — let's prepare your weapon!" said Manmand, finally standing up.
Nil froze mid-run, his expression turning from playful to nervous. "Wait, right now?"
"Yes, right now," said Manmand, cracking his knuckles. Sparks of mana flashed around his hands as the forge began to glow brighter.
Lucy and Darren stopped, looking at the two in curiosity.
"Uh oh," muttered Darren, "this is gonna be good."
Manmand smirked. "Let's see if your body can handle the pressure of your own weapon, boy."
Nil gulped, stepping forward. The forge flared with light — and another storm was about to begin.