He worked tirelessly throughout the entire night. From heating the raw materials and casting the molds to shaping the finished products, Chen Luo carried out every step meticulously, leaving no detail unattended. The sound of his hammer striking metal rang through the night, sometimes in rapid succession, sometimes breaking off according to the rhythm of his work.
Thanks to the Alchemy Furnace's system, he did not need to use conventional industrial cooling methods. Excess heat would be absorbed by the runes and redirected back into the furnace, reducing unnecessary heat loss while maintaining the efficiency of the entire system. This saved Chen Luo a considerable amount of time and effort, allowing him to focus on crafting each weapon.
He made use of all the knowledge he had unlocked in his previous life, combining it with the experience he had accumulated alongside Alvibion, and continuously crafted equipment suited to each member of the group. Everyone had their own strengths and fighting style, so he could not simply make a batch of identical weapons and hand them out to everyone.
Just then, Galahad approached to speak with him. At first, Chen Luo continued working while listening, but as the conversation went on, his hands gradually slowed. By the end of it, he had almost stopped working altogether. His eyes widened as he stared at Galahad in disbelief.
Dawn had arrived. There was now exactly one day left on the countdown to the Blood Moon.
The atmosphere at the base grew tenser than ever. Everyone understood that there was very little preparation time left, and any mistake now could directly affect the group's chances of surviving the coming battle.
Even so, Chen Luo did not stop. He continued shaping the final weapons with one sharp hammer blow after another. For those who were witnessing the crafting process firsthand for the first time, such as Dylan and the Kenshi brothers, the scene was truly astonishing. This was what handmade craftsmanship really meant.
They were not blacksmiths and could not fully understand the complicated techniques involved, but they could at least recognize the difference between an item carefully produced through every individual step and mass-produced equipment from a factory.
By contrast, for people who were already familiar with this sort of thing, such as Zhang Zewei and Chris, the scene was nothing particularly new. In their eyes, Chen Luo's skill was not yet outstanding; most experienced blacksmiths could do better than this. But that did not mean the weapons before them lacked value.
After all, his current abilities still had their limits. Nevertheless, equipment crafted by hand like this was already far superior to the industrial products factories could manufacture at the present time, at least in terms of materials and finished quality.
-"The blade is sharp. It looks heavy, but it's actually quite light. Not bad craftsmanship. It's not perfect, but it's still pretty good. Who would've thought that Mr. Chen Luo could make something like this when no one was paying attention?" Chris picked up the newly forged steel sword and carefully examined both its blade and hilt. He tested its weight in his hand, then swung it a few times to feel its balance. "At this quality, it'll definitely be useful if handled properly."
Chris had not expected Chen Luo to complete such a weapon in so little time using the Alchemy Furnace. What pleased him even more, however, was how the sword felt in his hand. A weapon needed more than a sharp edge; it also had to suit its user. Clearly, Chen Luo had considered that carefully before making it.
-"And this throwing axe, too. Its center of gravity isn't too far off, and the weight is just right. If you throw it from a suitable distance..."
Whoosh!
A sharp sound tore through the air. The axe flew straight past everyone and struck the wooden board on the wall, burying more than half its blade in the wood and landing almost dead center.
-"Extremely accurate." Anthony looked at the axe embedded in the board and nodded.
He did not underestimate the equipment Chen Luo had made. For throwing weapons, both weight and center of gravity were extremely important. An axe that was too heavy would make it difficult for the user to carry several of them, but if it was too light, its impact would not inflict enough damage. Only with the right balance could it be easy to carry while still delivering enough force to embed itself in a target.
-"Looks like you've calculated this quite carefully." Anthony said, then turned to Chen Luo. "If you made a few more, I think they'd be even more convenient to use."
-"I'll consider it. For now, try these out first. If anything doesn't suit you, just let me know."
Chen Luo crafted weapons according to each person's strengths. Aside from the children, the Kenshi brothers, and Anthony, most people were equipped with tactical knives or military gear suited to their combat needs.
As for the others, he selected individual weapons for them.
Chris received a pair of dual blades with mana conduits running inside them, allowing him to unleash magical slashes. Given his fighting style, which focused on stealth, ambushes, and blocking enemy routes, these weapons would help him make full use of his strengths while creating opportunities for the others to coordinate their attacks.
Aaron received a pair of iron fist weapons. Unless necessary, he did not need to extend his claws. These fist weapons alone were powerful enough to deliver devastating punches, even capable of smashing a monster's skull away. Aaron's role remained that of a vanguard, directly suppressing enemies and opening a path for his teammates.
The sisters, Mana and Celes, continued using their two magical swords and medium-sized shields. This equipment allowed them to maintain both offensive and defensive capabilities, making it suitable for their role in holding down the front line.
Alice received a staff with a head made of mana-infused steel. It could not only assist her in casting spells, but could also serve as a melee weapon. When necessary, Alice could swing the staff to inflict physical damage rather than relying solely on magic.
Anthony still used a katana, but this time the sword had been simplified, with its handguard (tsuba) removed. From the outside, it looked no different from a cloth-wrapped stick, yet a deadly sharp blade was hidden within. This design allowed him to conceal the weapon more effectively while retaining its original combat capability.
As for the Kenshi brothers, Chen Luo made them two short swords—wakizashi. They were soldiers and had no need for blades as long as katanas. However, military knives sometimes lacked the reach needed to deal with monsters that got too close. Wakizashi were compact yet long enough to help both men handle close-quarters situations more effectively.
The Ten Thousand Extremes Divine Sword had also been repaired by another three portions. Unfortunately, the materials currently available were no longer sufficient to restore it further. Chen Luo genuinely wanted to return the sword to its complete state, but he still lacked the cobalt and amethyst quartz required to craft the Jade Man Youlin, so he had no choice but to suspend the work for now.
Just then, Chen Luo took the initiative and asked Galahad to follow him outside.
Galahad understood that the weapon he had just been given was not merely another piece of equipment for battle. He silently followed Chen Luo until the two found a secluded place, far from the curious eyes of the others.