19 Chapter 19- Adamantite
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Oliver finally stopped. He was hung upside down a thiccc tree branch doing crunches. He finally stopped after completing the final set of 250 reps.
Still hung upside down he gazed into the sky for a couple of seconds reminiscing the last couple of months since he started his training as a body cultivator with Olson as his master.
9 months of training showed clear results. Especially physically, Oliver's changes were extremely noticeable. You could clearly see well-defined muscles glistening with sweat as it fell down his body. Although he was nowhere near Olson's level but his body was as of an extremely fit professional athlete. He even gained a couple of inches and finally reached the height of 6 feet. Even after that he still had room to grow, after all, he was still just 16 years old.
Practising day and night not only chiselled his body out but also gave him a slight tan, which turned him from a white as anaemic to just a very white person.
He jumped down the branch and landed while doing a front flip.
"Looks like you finally have full control of your body. There is no rigidness in your movement. It's impressive that you are able to come this far in such a short period of time."
Oliver looked up towards the absolute unit of a man standing in front of him. He smiled and replied.
"It's because of master's training that I could even walk on the path of body cultivator. I don't deserve the praise."
Olson just cracked a smile and laughed, "Boy no need for flattery, you earned your strength so take the compliment with pride. After all, a MAN should be prideful. But not..."
"But not conceded," Oliver replied
"Hahaha... right but not be conceded."
After a moment's pause, Olson asked, "Marco told me that you have finally completed weapons training and practised with all the weapons we have in the shop. Is that true?"
"Yes, master only yesterday did I finally completed my training with the Halberd."
"Tell me what did you conclude then?"
"Halberd is a powerful weapon, it has a good reach, great for a battlefield. Its axe head is good for both cuttings as well as stabbing. However..." Oliver stopped.
"However what?"
"However it's not a weapon for me. The only thing going for it is its weight. And that is also because I chose the heaviest Halberd in the shop The Mountain Cleaving Halberd."
"More I progress as a body cultivator more these weapons feel light to me. Even though I know they are not something any ordinary person can even use, and a single swing of it can easily cut a horse in half. Due to its 'weightlessness', it just doesn't feel anything."
Olson took a couple of seconds to understand what Oliver was explaining and then asked a question in return, "So what weapon do you think suits you the best?"
Seeing Olson asking this question Oliver got surprised. Not because of the question but because of Olson's acting skills.
"Damn it old man, still trying to make a fool out of me. You knew from the first day when you gave me the art of The Supreme way of Shiv, that which weapon I would use. After all, there is only one type of weapon you can use most efficiently after cultivating this body art, a heavy weapon. The boast you get in your arms strength is much more than you get from any other body art. Even though you made me practice Body Control Art, which helps the body get much more nimbler and flexible. There is no way that it was compared to the strength given from the Supreme way of Shiv."
Listening to his disciple's tantrum he just laughed and then said, "Then say it which weapon will you be using from now on?"
"Tsk, isn't it obvious a heavy sword. The further I cultivate the art stronger my body will become and stronger my arms will become. There is no way I could use a light weapon properly. In addition the weapon the suits me the most still is a sword and with the weight and farther reach of the heavy sword, it fits perfectly with the direction of my natural progression."
"Don't pretend it is a surprise, I saw the glint in your eyes the first time I picked up a heavy sword."
"Haha yes, you are right. The only weapon that would have fit you after cultivating The Supreme way of Shiv and the art of body control is a heavy sword. And yes this was no test nor was I trying to make a fool of you."
"You need to under Oliver there is a big difference between a weapon chosen for you and you choose a weapon for yourself."
"Anyways forget all that. First of all congratulations, you are finally ready for your last part of weapon mastery training. Now take off that metal slab and follow me to the furnace. It's time you get your first weapon made."
Oliver was stunned. He finally understood what the metal slab that he had been carrying on his back for more than half a year was for.
It was not just for weight training but was also the metal going to get used to forge his first weapon.
"What are you standing there for like a stone. Hurry up it's not like I have the whole day."
"Ye-yes!"
Oliver followed Olson to the furnace where he saw Marco already working. He looked up and saw both Master disciple pair coming and said.
"Ah boss, so you are finally going to make a weapon for Ollie."
"Oai Marco don't make it sound as if I don't do anything for him. He is finally ready for his first weapon so I am forging one for him."
"Haha, how could I say something like that boss. Anyways, Ollie, you must be thinking why use the same metal slab for forging the weapon that you use for weight training right?"
Oliver just nodded in agreement. Since the day he started his training to become a body cultivator under his master, he had to drop the idea of being a blacksmith. After all, there were just so many hours in a day that he had. And he spent most of the time either cultivating or training his body or weapons practice. Somedays he even wished that he had '48 hours a day' so that he could do much more.
Seeing curious Oliver, Marko explained, "Actually it's not any secret. It's just a common forging technique used while forging a mana weapon. You see this metal is called Blue Iron. Different from your regular iron, It's only found under lakes and rivers that contain a high level of mana. Due to extreme pressure as well as mana, these iron ores are highly mana conductive. So when a weapon is forged using this blue iron, it becomes a great mana weapon. And as this slab of blue iron was connected to you day and night for more than half a year. Whenever you practised mana manipulation some of your mana would also enter the metal slab. So this metal slab is now will make a weapon that is much more attuned to your mana."
"I see. Makes sense," replied Oliver.
"Ok enough of chit chat. Now go bring the stone Mister Ben gave you and then go to your cultivate or something. I will be busy forging."
"Huh, I won't be able to watch?"
"No, bring me the stone, and don't disturb me for the next two days. I will call you when the weapon is ready." Olson instructed strictly.
Seeing how serious Olson was, Oliver went to his room and brought the stone Ben gave him. Actually, Oliver had already shown the stone to Olson and asked what it was.
Olson told him that it was a very precious and rare gem. In fact, he was surprised that Ben even gave him such a present. He explained that this stone was called a Fire Ruby, which was pretty self-explanatory. It was a stone used while forging a mana weapon and it would give it fire properties if forged correctly.
Oliver reached into his bag and took out the stone. After studying the stone for a couple of seconds he took it back to the furnace and gave it to Olson.
Olson received the stone without even looking back at Oliver and started to heat up the furnace. Oliver knew this was his sign to move out, so he went back to the backyard to start cultivating again.
After 9 months of practice, he had finally reached the stage where he could repeat "OM NAMAH SHIVAY" 8 times between each breath.
He knew that breakthrough was very close so he continued to cultivate.
........(2 days later)........
Oliver was sitting in the centre of the patchy grass field again while practising his cultivation technique. The last two days had been similar to the last 9 months. Wake up, shit, cultivate, food, study, food, body training, weapons mastery, food, sleep, wake up, shit, continue... It was not like Oliver had any life outside the Olsons Blacksmiths. So he continued to be like that for the next two days too while waiting for his sword to get forged.
It was only in the evening when Olson finally called him back to the furnace.
When he reached he saw barechested Olson, as well as barechested Marco, standing next to a wooden table.
On the table was a straight long dark black sword with dark red inscriptions on it. They looked as if wines of blood had crept onto the sword, giving it a mystical look.
"Go on pick it up. It's yours." Said Olson with a big grin on his face
Listening to him Oliver's hand slowly reached out to the handle.
As he touched the black handle of the sword, which was beautifully carved giving it a perfect grip on his hand. He felt slight warmth coursing through his entire arm.
Unlike the looks of the sword that felt as if it would be cold to touch due to its dark matte black texture, it gave a light warmth. It was not hot but comforting while in hand.
Only when Oliver picked it up did he realise just how heavy the sword was. Even after 9 months of cultivation, he could barely hold the sword up.
His hards were slightly trembling but then he forcefully contracted his hands and forearm muscles. But even after that, it took a lot of strength on his just to keep the sword up.
Seeing Oliver tremble while barely able to pick the sword up Olson laughed," Hahaha this is what you call a heavy sword. Tell me did you like your first forged?"
Seeing the stupid grin on Oliver's face, he already knew the answer so he continued. "So what name have you decided to give it?"
"Hmm, name?"
"Obviously, how can a weapon make by Olson himself be nameless."
After giving a deep look at the sword Oliver replied, "Then how about, The Great black heavy sword?"
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"No? What about Black Cleaver?"
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"Destroyer?"
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Suddenly Marco interrupted, seeing the tragedy about to take place. He commented, " How about Adamantite? Named after one of the strongest metals found on the planet?"
Even Olson was impressed," Adamantite... good Marco, I knew I could depend on you."
While Oliver just stared at the sword....'Adamantite...yeah it does have a ring to it.'
