First, he had to prepare the metal. Arthur stoked his furnace, watching the flames climb higher.
As the iron began to glow cherry-red, Arthur focused his mana into his fingertips, letting the energy flow through him and into the metal. The raw power sent visible ripples across the molten surface, his mana accelerating the bonding process between molecules.
"What are you doing, Davis?" Master Forge's voice boomed across the forge. "That's not clay you're playing with! Heat it properly or get out!"
A panicked student hurriedly adjusted his technique.
Arthur remained locked in concentration, using metal tongs to transfer his glowing ingot to the anvil. Each hammer strike wasn't just physical—he channeled pulses of mana through the hammer, perfectly timed with each impact. Blue energy flashed on contact, driving deeper than mere force could reach, compelling the metal to reshape according to his will rather than just beating it into submission.
