Doomsday Pillars

Seven star sword, the name of this wooden sword.

Previously, Alex had never managed to get information about the status of this wooden sword artifact item. But this time when he tried again using the bracelet in his hand. A line of information filled his mind.

[Seven Star Sword]

[Long Sword - Tier ???]

[Length : 1 meter, Weight : 4 kilograms]

Still in disbelief at the voice that sounded in his mind earlier, Alex asked the sword just to be sure.

"Are you the one who spoke earlier, sword? Or am I starting to lose my mind and talk to myself unconsciously? "

[Yes, I am the one who talked and no, you have not lost your mind, not at the moment]

Alex was dumbfounded when he heard the sword's snarky reply. He then turned towards Aria and asked.. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what? You've been talking to yourself the whole time"

"The sword, Aria. This wooden sword is talking to me."

"H-How is that possible?" She replied, confusion in her voice.

"I know right? Maybe because this sword is a high-tier artifact?" "Yeah, it must be because of it." Alex quickly said before Aria could say anything.

He returned his attention to the sword that he was holding firmly in his hand; he checked its pummel, turned it over to the side, checked its fuller, looked at its grip, sword guard, everything he thought of checking Alex inspected. This double edged sword has 7 marks carved along its blade with a line running between the marks of the blade, exactly like a star constellation.

Seeing the constellation motif on the sword, Aria leaned closer at the sword and said, "Isn't that the Big Dipper's constellation?"

"Yeah, I think you're right." Earlier, Alex seemed to know what is that constellation but can't quite put his finger on it. But now that she had mentioned it, he now knew for sure.

It seemed that only he could hear the voice of the sword based on Aria's words. To fully confirm it, he then asked the sword once again.

"Can you hear me?"

[Yes, I can hear you, Master]

"Why are you only starting to talk to me now?"

[It's not that I don't want to, Master. I've tried but it seems because of your cultivation realm is still too weak that I'm unable to do so. I'm assuming the reason why you can hear me now is because you've just reached the foundation stage of light element]

It's actually an easy thing to guess but Alex only wants to hear it from the sword itself for sure.

Alex was confused about the sword calling him Master, "Since when have I been your master?"

[The sword can't be held by just anyone and the fact that you can hold it means you are my master]

Alex remembered that the first time the mysterious man gave this sword, He felt a strong pressure accompanied by a strong wind when he received the sword and hold it in his hand. It seemed that was what it meant. At this moment, he suddenly thought of a question and then said it.

"What is the identity of the man who gave you to me? Who is he?"

[I don't know the person's identity, Master. I only know the identity of my last master]

"He isn't your master?" Alex asked curiously.

[No]

"Who is it then?" He asked again, perplexed about the fact that the mysterious man wasn't the master of this sword.

[I was previously owned by a great man named Fuxi]

When Alex heard the name, he immediately recalled who Fuxi was. He had heard of the name Fuxi before. Fuxi is one of the figures in Chinese mythology from the 2000 BC period. He knew about this fact because Fuxi was actually the original creator of the hexagram technique he had learned. The story of Fuxi was written in the technique manual, explaining who he was and what he did.

'In the beginning there was as yet no moral or social order. Men knew their mothers only, not their fathers. When hungry, they searched for food; when satisfied, they threw away the remnants. They devoured their food hide and hair, drank the blood, and clad themselves in skins and rushes. Then came Fu Xi and looked upward and contemplated the images in the heavens, and looked downward and contemplated the occurrences on earth. He united man and wife, regulated the five stages of change, and laid down the laws of humanity. He devised the eight trigrams, in order to gain mastery over the world.'

This is the phrase that was describing Fuxi in the manual

Upon realizing who the previous master of this wooden sword was, Alex became even more amazed by the artifact in his hand. It seemed that the reason this sword had accepted him was due to his light element and his hexagram technique.

Alex then proceeded to ask the next question he wanted to know,

"What tier of artifact are you? How come the bracelet can't show your tier and only show a question mark on the status."

[The bracelet is an outdated technology and only has limited access to the lower realms. The bracelet cannot analyze a tier 5 artifact or anything above it]

Alex wondered why the sword saying that the bracelets with a technology that so out of this world given by the doomsday pillar could be an outdated technology. Does it mean the pillars itself also outdated, the thought really buffles him. But at the moment Alex really should just focus on what is in front of him.

"Then, that means you are a tier 5 artifact?" Alex asked excitedly

[Yes, I am a tier 5 artifact]

Hearing the confirmation from the sword, Alex was flabbergasted. "Wow…"

Aria who was standing beside him was puzzled by his sudden amazement.

"Hey, Alex. What happened exactly? Why are you suddenly amazed? You are scaring me." she said anxiously, grabbing Alex's shoulder and shaking him left and right.

"Eh? Huh?!" Startled by the sudden shake, Alex turned his head and said, "It's nothing, Aria. I'm just happy because of this wooden sword." A faint smile could be seen plastered on his face.

"Hah?" Aria jumped into confusion and fell silent when she heard his answer.

Alex could only ignore her reaction and returned to talk to the sword.

"That's amazing. But, it still a wonder for me to hear an artifact that could talk. It's a bit strange."

[Actually, most of the tier 5 artifacts and above had a mind of their own]

Fascinated by the new information, Alex kept asking questions. 

"Oh, really? Why is that?" 

[Because in order to create a tier 5 artifact, it would need a soul, either a humanoid soul or a creature soul, to add into the artifact, enhancing and strengthening its power]

"Oh, I understand now." Alex paused, contemplated and then said, "Now, tell me. What else is special about you besides your sharpness?"

[Your words are incorrect, Master]

"What do you mean?" He asked, flurried.

[Sharpness is not my strength, Master. Truthfully, I am quite dull when compared to other tier 5 swords in terms of sharpness. As you can see, Master. I am just a wooden sword]

At this, Alex was not disappointed, in fact, he became even more excited. A sword that was not made for fighting purposes must be a sword that has very special skills. He was so excited that he tried to guess the skill of this sword.

Considering the power of the tier 5 artifact and the light element on which the sword is based, Alex imagines a skill like [Light Blade], a light element skill that would make the wooden sword into sort of a laser blade that could cut any material, just like in one of the famous hollywood movies excites him. A light element skill that could heal any wound even possibly raise someone from the dead. Nor does it rule out the possibility of a skill capable of rewinding time around like the mysterious man did.

"Then you must have something else that makes you a tier 5 artifact, right? Tell me what is it."

[You're right, Master. My function is actually not to fight, but to be a crafting tool. My main purpose is to engrave]

'E-E-Engraving…?? What does it mean?' Alex's passion began to decline when he heard that.

"T-Then, you must have skills that you can pass on to me right?" Not giving up, Alex asked in a trembling voice.

[Naturally, Master. Here are the first skill you'll need to use me]

A certain information went inside his mind and a notification appeared in Alex's mind.

[You have learned the skill]

[Draw]

[E/N : *facepalming* 'Poor Alex.']

Reading the name of that skill, Alex didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed that he was going to repeat the drawing lessons he had been through at his architectural school.

"..."