The shattered remains of the ceremonial sword lay on Arpan's anvil like a fallen constellation. Even under the dim light of the forge, the Star-Iron emitted a cold, silver radiance that seemed to push away the heat of the coals.
Sir Kaelen stood by the door, his arms crossed, his hawk-like eyes never leaving Arpan's hands. The other apprentices huddled in the shadows, whispering. "He's insane," one muttered. "Star-Iron can't be mended once the mana-flow is broken. It'll shatter the moment he hits it."
Arpan didn't hear them. He was staring at the sword through his [Soul-Sight].
[System Analysis...]
[Item: Shattered Star-Iron Longsword]
[Status: Broken Mana Circuit (94% Damage)]
[Warning: Conventional hammering will cause a Mana Explosion.]
[Solution: Use 'Dokra Soul-Binding' to bridge the gap.]
Bridge the gap, Arpan thought, his pulse quickening. I don't need to melt it; I need to heal it.
He picked up a small piece of the Azure Bronze he had refined earlier. With a sudden movement, he placed it between the two broken halves of the Star-Iron.
"What are you doing, boy?" Master Grom hissed from the corner. "You're mixing bronze with Star-Iron? You'll ruin the purity!"
"I'm not mixing," Arpan replied, his voice steady. "I'm creating a conductor."
Arpan closed his eyes and began the [Metal Whisperer] technique. He reached out with his mind, feeling the jagged edges of the Star-Iron. It felt like a frozen river, blocked by ice. He began to hum—a low, vibrating frequency that matched the resonance of the metal.
Ting... Ting... Ting...
He wasn't striking hard. He was tapping the bronze, guiding its blue energy into the silver cracks of the sword. Slowly, the Azure Bronze began to glow, turning into thin, glowing threads that wrapped around the break like a magical bandage.
[Syncing: 45%... 62%... 88%...]
Suddenly, the air in the forge grew heavy. A surge of silver light erupted from the sword, blinding everyone for a second.
[Ding!]
[Success! Mana Circuit Restored.]
[Evolution Detected: The blade has absorbed Azure Bronze properties.]
As the light faded, the sword lay whole on the anvil. But it was no longer just a silver blade. A faint, glowing blue vein now ran through the center of the steel, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Sir Kaelen stepped forward, his expression changing from skepticism to pure shock. He reached out and gripped the hilt. The moment his hand touched it, a wave of cold, sharp energy rippled through the room.
"This..." Kaelen whispered, swinging the blade through the air with a whistle. "The balance is better than the original. How did a scrap-boy find the soul of the Star-Iron?"
[Quest Update: The Star-Iron Challenge]
[Status: Phase 1 Complete!]
[Reward: +500 Exp, Level Up to Level 3!]
[New Title Unlocked: The Iron Healer] "If you're enjoying Arpan's journey with the Bronze God's System, please don't forget to add this book to your Library! Your support through Power Stones and Collections helps this story grow. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!"