As dawn broke the next morning, Strawberry stood outside of Kaelin's forge, excitement coursing through her veins. The streets of Urbus were quieter in the early morning hours, the soft golden light of the rising sun casting long shadows across the cobblestones. It had been two days since she had given Kaelin the materials—dragon scales, Carsar's blood, and Carsar's core—to craft her custom scythe, and now the moment had finally come.
She pushed open the door to the forge, immediately greeted by the intense heat of the furnace and the steady clang of Kaelin's hammer against metal. The dwarf blacksmith looked up as Strawberry entered, her face breaking into a wide, mischievous grin.
"Ah, there ye are, lass," Kaelin called, setting her hammer aside and wiping her hands on her apron. "I've been waiting for ye. Your scythe's ready, but I gotta tell ye… there's somethin' strange about this one."
Strawberry raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Strange how?"
Kaelin scratched her chin, a look of mild confusion crossing her face. "Well, I don't quite know how to explain it. Could be 'cause of the dragon parts ye gave me, but… it almost feels like the scythe has a mind of its own. It's not like any other weapon I've ever forged. I've seen weapons gain attributes, sure, but this—this is different. Almost as if it's alive."
Strawberry's eyes widened slightly. A weapon with sentience? That was something she hadn't expected. The materials she had provided were rare and powerful, but for the scythe to develop a form of consciousness was beyond anything she'd encountered before.
"Alive?" she echoed, stepping closer to the workbench. "What do you mean?"
Kaelin gestured for Strawberry to follow her. "Come take a look."
Resting on the workbench was the scythe Kaelin had crafted, but even from a distance, Strawberry could tell there was something unusual about it. The blade had a faint glow, as though it were pulsing with some inner energy, and the dragon scales embedded along the handle shimmered with an ethereal light. There was a sense of presence emanating from the weapon, a subtle, almost imperceptible hum that seemed to resonate in the air around it.
Strawberry stepped closer, her heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and awe. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the handle. As soon as her skin made contact, she felt a slight vibration, as if the scythe was reacting to her touch.
"It's like it's waiting for somethin'," Kaelin muttered, watching closely. "Never seen anythin' like it before."
Strawberry lifted the scythe from the table, marveling at the way it fit perfectly in her hand. Stepping back to get room, she spun it experimentally, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. The balance was flawless, and yet, there was an undeniable sense that the weapon was… watching her, almost as if it was anticipating something.
As she examined the blade more closely, she ran her fingers along the edge—too carelessly, as it turned out. Her palm grazed the blade, and a sharp sting followed. A thin line of blood appeared on her skin, dripping down toward the blade.
Before she could react, something extraordinary happened.
The blood, instead of dripping off the edge, was absorbed by the scythe. It dissolved into the blade, which immediately began to glow, the light intensifying with each second. Strawberry stepped back, her eyes wide with surprise as the weapon pulsed with an inner radiance. The entire scythe vibrated in her hand, and the energy within it seemed to surge, as if the weapon were coming alive.
Kaelin's eyes widened in amazement. "What in the name of the gods…"
The light surrounding the scythe grew brighter, and then, in a burst of radiant energy, the weapon began to reshape itself. The handle lengthened slightly, the blade extending and curving into a sleeker, more elegant form. The dragon scales that adorned the handle shifted, rearranging themselves into a more intricate pattern, while the core of the blade pulsed with a deep, fiery glow.
The transformation was beautiful and terrifying at the same time, and Strawberry watched in awe as the scythe became something entirely new.
When the glow finally faded, what remained was a weapon that looked far more refined, more powerful than before.
The handle had darkened into a sleek, obsidian black that gleamed faintly in the dim light of the forge. Intricate patterns of swirling vines, etched with extreme detail, ran up the length of the handle, weaving together like creeping ivy. The handle wasn't just smooth—it had a textured grip from the vines, which made it feel both natural and secure in her hands.
At the base of the handle, a black ring adorned with sharp spikes circled the bottom, designed not just for decoration but as a hidden feature that could catch an enemy by surprise during combat. The spikes, although small, were lethally sharp and added a layer of defensive potential.
But the most striking change was near the top, where the blade connected to the handle. A beautiful, dark pink briar rose had bloomed just below the connection point. The rose was intricately detailed, its petals curling outward, and its vibrant color was almost jarring against the obsidian black of the handle. Thorny vines wrapped around the blade's base, coiling upward like they were part of the scythe's natural design. The rose, like a delicate crown, gave the weapon a striking, almost regal appearance, but the thorns made it clear that this beauty could kill.
The blade itself had transformed into something otherworldly. It was now longer, curving elegantly into a sharp point, with its edges gleaming in an iridescent blue sheen that shifted subtly in the light. The polished surface reflected the glow from the forge, creating a mesmerizing shimmer as Strawberry moved it. The edge of the blade was razor-sharp, and etched along the curve were more briar roses and crescent moons, faintly glowing with a soft pink light that seemed to pulse in time with Strawberry's heartbeat.
The entire scythe felt alive. It hummed in her hands, responding to her every movement, like it was eager to prove its newfound power.
As her eyes traced the intricate details of the scythe, a system notification appeared in her vision, confirming the incredible transformation.
System Alert: Weapon Evolution
Congratulations! Your weapon has evolved.
Scythe of Dragons has evolved to...
Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon
Item Class: Legendary
A scythe forged from dragon scales and infused with the blood and core of a dragon. It has gained sentience and is now bound to you. The Radiant Scythe of the Rose Moon grows in power as it bonds with its wielder, becoming stronger with each battle.
Effects:
Increased damage and attack speed.
Absorbs a portion of enemy life force with each successful hit.
Unlocks special skill: Moonlit Rose Waltz (A unique skill exclusive to the weapon, allowing the wielder to perform a deadly, spinning attack with increased critical damage).
The weapon is now part of your personal gear set and cannot be traded or stolen.
Strawberry stared at the notification, a grin spreading across her face. The Scythe of Dragons had evolved into something far beyond what she had ever anticipated. It wasn't just a weapon anymore—it was part of her, connected to her blood, her essence, and her journey in Aincrad.
Kaelin let out a low whistle, still clearly amazed at the transformation. "Well, lass, I've been forgin' weapons me whole life, and I've never seen anything like that. It's a beauty, no doubt, but there's somethin' about it that gives me chills."
Strawberry nodded, spinning the scythe experimentally. The blade cut through the air with a soft, lethal whistle, leaving a faint pink glow in its wake. "It feels… alive," she murmured, more to herself than to Kaelin. "Like it's part of me."
Kaelin crossed her arms, still studying the weapon with a critical eye. "Aye, and that means ye need to be careful with it. A weapon like that—one with a mind of its own—can be dangerous if ye don't stay in control."
Strawberry gave a small smile, her fingers tightening around the handle. "I'm always in control." Now. Not forgetting that one time she wasn't in control.
Soon. Soon I will go hunting for those two sacks of rabbit poo.
I. Will. Destroy. Them!
I SWEAR IT!
0*0*0*0
And that's the chapter. I might have made her OP too early, but I'm not changing it now. So, if you don't like an OP MC, well, you're just going to have to wait until floor ten, when she takes a long break.
Anyway, here's a poll.
I've been thinking... wait, wait, hear me out, okay? So, I've been thinking about what weapon our Quinny should wield. Right now, it's a sword, but I don't know. Should she stick with the boring, overly-used sword or get something more exciting?
Here are my options so far:
Long sword
War axe
Whip sword ; ) If you know, you know.
Chain sword
Spear
Other?