Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

Inside a much larger smithing forge, two people, one fox and one mermaid, were drawing blueprints, planning their next creation.

"No! I'm telling you, you can't just put in a few Qi-gathering arrays and call it a day! A Mystic-Grade weapon needs to be more than just self-sustaining! They need to have their own special abilities!" The mermaid argued, drawing up a quick prototype, only for it to get erased.

"Bullshit!" The fox yelled. "As long as a weapon's sufficiently durable and sharp enough, anything can be Mystic-Grade!"

"Yeah, if you just want a giant lump of metal!"

"Why does a damn sword even need its own abilities?! That's what the user's for!"

"That's why they're 'Mystical'! It's in the freaking name!"

"...Tch! How many things does a weapon need to have? First, it's Qi pathways. Then, it's Elemental Resonance for Earth-Grade weapons. Runecraft Infusion for Heaven-Grade, and finally, this nonsense, 'Spirit Power'...Whatever the hell that means."

"...You already know what. It's just a precursor to the Divine-Grade, where the artifacts begin to gain sentience." Coralia calmly explained, though a bit exacerbated. They'd been through this several times already, with Mira becoming more and more frustrated.

Not long after Coralia started working on smithing, she came to Mira asking if she could join. Of course, Mira refused without hesitation, but after enough persistence, she relented and allowed the mermaid into her workshop.

That proved to be a great decision as the efficiency of her work skyrocketed. With her Mind Palace, enhanced brain, and highly comprehensive abilities, she could already learn many times faster than ordinary cultivators.

Now, with someone to argue with, share insights, and work with, she could quite literally achieve twice the work with half the effort.

However, it wasn't all thanks to Coralia. Once she mastered the Mortal-Grade, the [Soul of the Forge] had become invaluable, letting her put her heart and soul into every creation. Through that, she learned of every mistake and every minor detail, could note down the entire process, and, by sharing what she learned with Coralia, could improve at a rapid rate.

Now, they were attempting to create their first "usable" Mystic-Grade weapon. But, Mira was confused about what Spirit Power was, and how an artifact was supposed to be self-sufficient.

On top of that, she needed to incorporate everything she learned from previous grades into it as well. The Mortal-Grade was all about Qi pathways.

The Earth-Grade was then when 'elemental affinities' were introduced. Meaning they could empower the user's Qi when wielding it.

At the Heaven-Grade, artifacts were etched with runes that could store Qi and be activated to unleash simple but deadly attacks. It was in this grade when rather than the users, the weapons themselves became a true danger.

However, in the Mystic-Grade, things changed. Aside from everything before, a masterly crafted Mystic-Grade weapon had three mechanisms:

1. Soul-Binding

2. Runes that enhanced certain physical traits like durability, sharpness, elemental resistance, etc.

3. A series of arrays that, when together, created something akin to artificial intelligence or programming. Hence the word 'Spirit'. That spirit is then able to unleash its own power, generally in the form of a secret ability or technique for weapons, automatic barriers for necklaces, etc. Hence the word 'Power'.

It was that last part Mira couldn't understand.

'How the fuck am I supposed to create a spirit with just runes?! All in a tiny sword body?! Without shattering the entire thing?!' That was what she spent many sleepless nights pulling her hair about.

Everything before was easy. Once she understood the principle behind it, she just needed to improve her forging techniques and could advance to the next grade. But now she was stuck.

Glancing at the pile of 'junk' thrown to the side, Mira couldn't help but sigh. She'd already used a considerable amount of resources trying to create a Mystic-Grade weapon. Although she'd killed a bunch of people and gathered a significant amount of loot, even she couldn't keep up with the demand.

'If I fail anymore, I'll have to put this on hold. I don't want to waste my time banging my head against a wall. I have more important things to do...' She then fell deep into thought.

Arrays were quite confusing, but just like any other language, they followed a certain logic. At their very core, they were a series of runes combined using specific materials to achieve a desired purpose. Some were made using beast blood, others could be created simply using one's own Qi. It all depended on the purpose, complexity, and longevity.

'Following that logic, there must be a certain sequence that could create this Spirit Power, like a computer program. Except each letter could mean hundreds of different things.'

Suddenly, a breeze swept through their large cavern, and the temperature dropped significantly. Like they had been dropped in an icy hell. Ice started to form outside, followed by rapid snowfall. A blizzard was coming–a bad one, too.

Coralia shivered, feeling it seep into her very bones, but Mira felt right at home. If anything, the sudden change in temperature combined with her mind working overdrive put her in a heightened state of awareness.

She stood before the anvil, her gaze piercing through the blueprints that littered the forge. Coralia, wrapped in a shawl to fend off the cold, watched Mira with a hint of admiration. This wasn't the first time Mira had entered such a state, and she loved how hard-working the fox woman was.

"Thinking about Spirit Power again?" Coralia asked, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid air.

Mira nodded, her mind racing. 'Spirit Power... It's not just about imbuing the weapon with a semblance of consciousness. It's about crafting a soul within the inanimate, giving it a purpose beyond mere destruction,' she mused silently.

She began to pace, her steps echoing in the vast forge as she delved deeper into her thoughts. 'A soul, in essence, is the culmination of experiences, emotions, and memories. Although I have no idea how it's formed, for sentient beings, that's what makes up a soul. How do you replicate that in a sword? Runes are definitely the key, with each symbol being a word in the complex language that defines the universe's essence. But to create a spirit, I need more than just words. I need a narrative, a story that this weapon lives by.'

Coralia watched, fascinated, as Mira's expression shifted from contemplation to enlightenment. "You've got an idea, haven't you?" she smiled.

Mira stopped pacing and turned to Coralia with a spark in her eyes. "Yes. It's all about sequence and unity. Like in music, where notes alone are simple sounds, but together, they create melodies, emotions, and stories. The runes need to be arranged not just logically but emotionally. They need to resonate with the essence of what they're meant to become."

She approached the drafting table, her movements fluid and sure. "For Soul-Binding, the rune sequence must mimic the process of forming connections, akin to how friendships develop. It's not just about tying the weapon to its user but for the two to become one"

Coralia nodded, intrigued. "And the other runes? Durability, sharpness, elemental resistance, and the like?"

"Each trait can be seen as a character trait. Durability is resilience in the face of adversity. Sharpness is the wit to cut through deception. Elemental resistance is the adaptability to thrive in any environment," Mira explained, her voice gaining strength. "By defining these traits through runes, we're not just enhancing a weapon. We're defining its personality, its spirit."

"And the Spirit Power? The unique ability?" Coralia asked, eager to see where Mira's revelation would lead.

Mira smiled, a plan forming in her mind. "That's where the narrative culminates. The unique ability is the weapon's purpose, its ultimate expression. It's not enough for it to be powerful. It must be meaningful, a reflection of the spirit we've woven into its very core."

She began to sketch, her hand moving with confidence. "Let's say our weapon's spirit is a protector. Its unique ability could be a shield, not just a barrier but one that adapts to protect against the most imminent threat. It learns, grows, and becomes an extension of the user's will to protect."

Coralia watched, awestruck, as the blueprint came to life under Mira's hand. The array sequences began to take shape, a complex web of runes that promised not just a weapon but a companion.

"The Qi Pathways will serve as the circulatory system, distributing energy throughout. Elemental Resonance will be the weapon's empathy, allowing it to harmonize with its environment. The Runecraft Infusion, its intelligence, enabling the activation of its abilities. And Soul-Binding, its heart, linking it to its user," Mira outlined, her vision clear.

After she finished drawing it up, she quickly made a copy and handed it to Coralia. "Go gather the needed materials. We'll start when you return."

The mermaid nodded happily and dashed out into the coming blizzard.

A few hours later, she returned a bit bloody but with a large smile on her face. Mira nodded and took her Spatial Ring away, inwardly praising Coralia's efficiency. She picked up her hammer and sorted out all the materials she'd need. "Let's get started."

"Yes!"

From then, the two spent the next twenty-four hours at peak concentration, crafting the perfect weapon until a light shone out of the cave, indicating that a new Mystic-Grade weapon was born.