When I think of a sword, the word katana immediately comes to mind.
The katana was one of the strongest swords in history—said to be able to slice through bone, and even other blades, if crafted properly.
That's why the katana is also an extremely dangerous weapon.
But what is a weapon, really? An object meant for killing? A tool that instills fear?
Although a weapon can be all of those things, to me, it's something more—a tool to craft techniques yet to be born.
Like the first warrior who created the quick draw technique. Why did they invent it?
Even I can answer that—efficiency. The faster the blade was drawn, the better the chances of survival. But that technique has evolved over time.
Now, quick draw consists of two seamless steps: drawing the blade and striking in a single motion.
But could it evolve further? What would that look like? What purpose would it serve?
These questions are part of why I love wielding a sword. And to continue creating new techniques, I first need a katana that can withstand my imagination.
That's when an idea struck me—the dragon's body. Could I use it as material for a sword?
I felt it the moment I awoke. My new arm... it felt unbelievably strong, unnaturally dense.
I approached the dragon's corpse, crouched down, and placed my hand on its body.
Cold. Smooth. I only needed a small piece.
The horns especially caught my eye. They were harder than its scales—and there were two of them. Perfect. I could craft two blades if I wanted to.
I pulled out the horns. I expected resistance, but thanks to my new arm, it was surprisingly easy.
With the horns now in hand, I was ready to forge.
Red walked up to me.
"Master, what are you doing?"
I sat down cross-legged before replying, "I'm going to make a sword."
Her eyes lit up with excitement, and her tail flickered with a bright red flame.
Blue joined us quietly, sitting beside Red as she watched in silence.
Using the skill {Instant Blacksmithing}, I could forge a sword from any material—even grass. But it required intense focus, deep imagination, and a strong understanding of swordcraft.
Fortunately, I had plenty of both.
I closed my eyes and activated the skill.
{Instant Blacksmithing}
The dragon horn began to glow, heating up until it melted into molten liquid which levitated above my legs.
I hovered my hand over it, shaping the material with my mind.
A longsword—about 80 cm. Single-edged, curved blade. A diamond-shaped guard. Lightweight, with a long grip for extra power.
And then, the finishing touch: small holes across the blade to help wind cool the steel during use. Ideal for 'that' technique.
I opened my eyes.
Lying in my lap was a pitch-black blade—sleek, elegant, and beyond anything I imagined.
Red and Blue looked amazed, their eyes sparkling with admiration.
I lifted the blade. It fit perfectly in my hand and weighed almost nothing—it felt like I was holding air. Perhaps because of the sword's lightness, or maybe it was the strength of my new arm.
But I wasn't done yet. I still needed two things—a name and a sheath.
I used the dragon's skin to craft the sheath. Just like the blade, it was pitch black and smooth to the touch.
And now, for the name.
I turned to Red and Blue.
"So, what do you think I should name this sword?"
Red immediately jumped in, eyes glowing.
"Master's Black Sword! Because it's master's black sword!"
I smiled.
"Denied."
Note to self: never let Red name things again.
I turned to Blue, who had been quietly thinking.
"If I may… how about Dragon's Horn?"
"Mhm… it has a nice ring to it, but I want something cooler."
I held the blade up to the sky, examining the holes that dotted its edge like stars in the night.
"A moon…" I muttered.
Then, my eyes widened as inspiration struck.
"Yes! I've got it. I'll call it… Dragon's Moon."
Red nodded her head. "Master, that's a beautiful name!"
"Yes. My master's naming sense is truly splendid," Blue added with a serene smile.
I grinned with pride.
The name carried two meanings. First—the night I nearly died under the moonlight fighting a dragon. Second—the small holes in the blade, resembling full moons.
I stood up and tied the sheath to my waist, sliding the sword in with a satisfying click. The motion felt smooth—natural.
I glanced back at the dragon's body.
"Should I just… leave it here?"
I scratched my head. That seemed like a waste. I could make at least ten more swords from it. Weaker, sure, but still valuable.
Blue noticed my hesitation and stepped forward.
"My master, I believe we should take it with us."
I looked at her, puzzled. "How? We can't just walk around carrying that thing."
She shook her head gently.
"I can preserve it in another space."
She approached the dragon's body.
"If I may?"
I nodded.
She activated her ability. A swirling blue portal formed beneath the corpse. It slowly sank into the portal, which closed a moment later. The body was gone.
That ability… was seriously impressive.
"Great job, Blue."
Her tail ignited with a calm blue flame and swayed gently. She looked pleased.
Red, however, puffed her cheeks and pouted, staring daggers at Blue.
I turned toward the light seeping into the cave. It must lead outside.
The first thing I planned to do out there was simple: create and practice sword techniques.
A faint smile curled my lips.
"Let's go."
And with that, I stepped out of the cave—into a new world, Blue and Red right behind me.
***
The Small Town of Beginnings was, as the name implied, a humble place. It earned its title from the many legendary warriors who once called it home.
Its buildings were made of wood, and it wasn't exactly a safe haven for the weak. The mayor was both corrupt and cowardly, often dealing with bandits behind the scenes. But these so-called bandits had access to remarkable intel.
Like the three currently seated around a table at a shabby little inn.
"Hey! Have you guys heard what happened out west?"
"Tch. Another one of your tall tales?"
"No, seriously! I heard it from my cousin—"
"There he goes again with his cousins…"
"Just listen! This actually happened!"
"Yeah, yeah. Waiter! Three beers over here!"
"Fine, we'll humor you. Go on."
"My cousin told me there's a city called Cathedra—and in that city, there's a church… and a Goddess."
The other two bandits exchanged a look—then burst into laughter.
"Hah! A goddess? What've you been drinking, man?"
"Right? You've really lost it this time."
The first bandit slammed his palms on the table.
"I'm serious! She brought people back from the dead! She can cure any disease!"
The laughter faded. The other two looked at him with uneasy expressions.
They knew Bandit One was eccentric—but this was a new level.
"Just sit down. The beer's almost here. Let's not waste time with fairy tales. That dancer's supposed to show up too."
Bandit One reluctantly sat back down, clearly upset no one believed him.
But that single, wild story spread like wildfire through The Small Town of Beginnings—sparking waves of curious travelers and desperate souls heading west to confirm the rumors of Cathedra's goddess.
And those three bandits?
Well… only the mayor of The Small Town of Beginnings would know what became of them.