Clyde ran his fingers along the golden lining of Radiant Veil, feeling the faint hum of power pulsing beneath the fabric. The coat was impossibly light, yet he could tell it was sturdier than the black armor he have before.
Shifting his gaze to Dawnpiercer, he admired the elegant silver blade, its intricate runes glimmering faintly as if responding to his touch.
He tightened his grip around the hilt, and a surge of energy rushed up his arm. This sword carried remnants of divine power from Uriel.
Curious, Clyde focused his mind, calling upon his ability to perceive the true nature of artifacts. A moment later, shimmering letters flickered into view before him.
Heaven’s Aegis: Reduces incoming damage from all sources by 20%.
Wings of Light: Enhances movement speed and agility when airborne.
Divine Resurgence: Quickly regenerates health when standing in direct sunlight or near a strong energy source.
A coat forged with powerful source of Eden’s power, woven with Angelic threads that resonate with divine energy. It grants its wearer protection, speed, and the ability to heal under the light of the heavens.
Clyde smirked. "So it’s not just for show."
He then turned his focus to Dawnpiercer, allowing the blade’s hidden properties to reveal themselves.
Angelic Edge: Attacks ignore lesser magical defenses and deal increased damage to corrupted or Demonic beings.
Lightbringer’s Strike: Charges the blade with holy energy, releasing a wave of radiant force with each swing.
Unyielding Will: The wielder cannot be disarmed unless they willingly release the weapon.
A sacred blade crafted in the heart of the Eden’s forges. Designed to cut through darkness and corruption, it will be wielded by a champion of the Archangels. Though not yet met its wielder, its power remains untarnished, waiting for its master.
Clyde exhaled, his grin widening. "Not bad at all."
With these in his possession, he wasn’t just wielding some discarded relics, he was claiming the weapons of the divine for himself.
Then Clyde remembered something important, wasn’t his Elderglass Sword capable of being upgraded?
He had never bothered to upgrade it before because, so far, the blade had been strong enough. He never thought it was necessary. Besides, he didn’t even know the best material to use for it.
But now that he had obtained this divine sword, could he use it to enhance his Elderglass Sword? If so, then his blade would become far stronger—not just by absorbing his power, but by evolving on its own.
Focusing, Clyde stared at his Elderglass Sword, watching its glass-like blade shimmer faintly under his mental concentration.
Seconds passed, and then—finally—he received a response.
It wasn’t just a weapon. It was alive.
A voice resonated in his mind, as if the sword itself acknowledged his thoughts.
[The sword can be upgraded by devouring the essence of another blade. Do you wish to use the essence of this sword?]
It even recognized that Clyde was holding another weapon. At this point, he realized just how deeply his Elderglass Sword was connected to him.
A grin spread across his face.
"Yes," Clyde answered, excitement coursing through him.
Clyde started the process with his mind, commanding the Elderglass Sword to begin its upgrade.
The blade shimmered, its glow intensifying until suddenly and without warning, it shattered into countless wisps of radiant light.
His eyes widened in shock. Had he just destroyed his most trusted weapon?
Panic surged through him. He had wielded the Elderglass Sword through countless battles, if he had made a mistake and it was truly gone then his heart must be broken.
But before his worry could spiral further, the scattered wisps of light suddenly rushed toward Dawnpiercer, wrapping around it like swirling threads of energy.
The divine sword trembled violently in his grasp and Clyde instinctively let go.
It floated midair while still quaking. Then a sudden burst of light and fierce embers erupted from its core, lashing out like a cornered beast. The sheer force of the energy sent shockwaves rippling through the chamber.
Clyde took a step back, his expression a mix of awe and unease. The two swords were clashing and fighting each other.
The Elderglass Sword—an enigmatic weapon he had carried since the beginning—was attempting to consume the divine power of Dawnpiercer.
But this wasn’t an ordinary sword; it was a blade forged in the heart of Eden itself, imbued with divine energy meant for an Archangel’s champion.
Could the Elderglass Sword even win?
What if it failed? What if the divine essence overwhelmed it instead?
Seconds stretched into minutes as Clyde watched with a pounding heart. The embers flared and crackled, the blade shaking as if in furious resistance. But then a sudden stillness happened.
The light dimmed, the embers faded, and an eerie calm settled over the chamber.
Clyde narrowed his eyes, holding his breath as a soft blue shimmer emerged from the fading light.
And then the Elderglass Sword reappeared from it.
It hovered gently in the air, its blade no longer glass-like but reforged with a new, brilliant sheen. The once-transparent edges now gleamed with traces of silver and golden etchings, remnants of Dawnpiercer’s divine power.
Clyde exhaled slowly, his lips parting in silent wonder.
His sword had done it. It had devoured the divine weapon and evolved.
A moment later, the golden and silver lines on the blade vanished, revealing the glass-like surface once more.
The Elderglass Sword floated toward him, and Clyde caught it effortlessly. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he could feel it—something was different. A new power had awakened within the blade.
Sliding it back into its sheath, Clyde turned toward the entrance, grabbing a few pieces of armor and weapons from the racks before stepping out of the room.
He planned to return to his mansion first before continuing his journey to explore other domains and report back to the Ancient One.
But the moment he stepped outside, he froze.
Standing before him was a figure he never expected to see again—not after she abandoned her domain and her followers.
Her wings blazed with fire, her jaw was clenched tight, and her eyes burned with uncontained fury.
"Oh," Clyde said. "Hello."