First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System
Chapter 229: Reading about Runesmithing

Chapter 229: Reading about Runesmithing

Orion carefully opened the beautifully bound book, feeling a subtle sense of anticipation. The thick pages, cool beneath his finger, felt good to the touch, each containing neatly printed text and intricate diagrams.

The soft glow of the mana lamps in his room illuminated the detailed illustrations vividly, drawing his eyes deeper into the complexity and allure of the runesmithing arts.

The first Chapter, <Introduction to Runesmithing>, immediately captured Orion’s attention, prompting him to read the initial sentences aloud softly.

<Runesmithing is the profound art of imbuing weapons, armor, and artifacts with magical runes, elevating mundane items into powerful tools capable of channeling the elemental forces of nature itself.>

He continued reading for a while before he paused thoughtfully, turning slightly toward Lumi’s glowing hologram. ’So, essentially, Runesmithing transforms ordinary equipment into powerful magical gear. It’s entirely different from blacksmithing, which simply shapes materials without magical infusion.’

Lumi tilted her holographic head thoughtfully, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

[But Master, wouldn’t a normal blacksmith also forge weapons with mana-conductive materials? What’s the key difference then?]

Orion nodded, smiling gently at her insightful question. ’Good point, Lumi. According to this book, the key difference is intent and methodology.’

’Blacksmiths shape and temper materials, possibly using mana-infused metals, but runesmiths specifically engrave precise runes, carefully structuring mana pathways inside. It’s the difference between shaping something and giving it a magical purpose.’

Lumi bobbed enthusiastically.

[Ohhh, I see! So, runesmiths are sort of magical blacksmiths who work more with mana than physical strength?]

’Exactly,’ Orion agreed, turning the page to the second Chapter titled <Weapon Anatomy & Core Components>. ’Here it explains the critical components of a rune-forged weapon—its core, channel lines, and rune slots. Every weapon crafted this way has a precise internal structure.’

He carefully studied a diagram, which illustrated an elegant longsword, drawn meticulously. ’See here, Lumi? The core serves as the mana storage and focal point. Channel lines are pathways that direct mana from the core through the weapon, enabling efficient flow and preventing overload. Finally, rune slots are precisely where primary runes are inscribed, guiding the mana and dictating effects.’

Lumi floated closer, studying the image closely.

[Wow, it’s so detailed! The craftsmanship needed must be incredibly high!]

Orion chuckled softly, nodding appreciatively. ’That’s why runesmiths are rare and valued highly—this precision requires tremendous skill and patience.’

As he turned to the third Chapter, <Material Selection & Tier Classifications>, Orion grew even more absorbed.

He read silently but shared a few key points with Lumi. ’Material selection significantly impacts elemental compatibility and absorption potential. For example, materials range from basic iron at Tier 1 to rare alloys like Windsilver or Bonesteel at Tier 6 and above. Matching a weapon’s material to its intended elemental affinity vastly improves its performance.’

[So materials aren’t just about strength or durability but elemental compatibility too?]

Lumi asked, clearly knowing the answer but just to entertain Orion.

’Precisely,’ Orion said, half to himself and half to Lumi, flipping to the fourth Chapter, <Runes & Their Types>.

Here, Orion slowed his pace, meticulously studying rune diagrams and elemental interaction rules. ’Listen to this, Lumi: <When carving multiple runes, placement order matters greatly—runes like Flow must precede Ignite to prevent mana conflict or rejection.> Fascinating, isn’t it?’

[Oh, it’s like building a puzzle, Master! Everything needs to fit together perfectly.]

’Yes, exactly. Rune interactions can significantly alter the weapon’s effectiveness—or even cause dangerous backlash,’ Orion emphasized, his voice more and more immersed.

Continuing onward to Chapter five, <Engraving Techniques>, he carefully read about required tools like the Runescriber Blade, and Forging Hammer, as well as proper rune carving procedures.

He paused at an especially detailed section. <To prevent backflow and rupture, carving runes must be done with precision and steady mana control. One slight mistake can destabilize the entire matrix and explode the weapon.>

[That sounds risky, Master. I suppose meticulous mana control would be crucial here, right?] Lumi asked cautiously.

’Absolutely. So this is what Grandma meant by Arcane Magic back then. Such a precise level of mana control...’ Orion murmured softly, moving onward to the sixth Chapter, <Forming the Runic Matrix>.

He quickly absorbed the key information about connecting runes into circuits and creating templates suited to specific weapons.

The seventh Chapter, <Elemental Infusion & Core Stabilization>, intrigued Orion deeply. He skimmed various rituals involving elemental essence infusion, noting to Lumi, ’Weapons must be bathed under precise conditions for each element. For instance, Fire requires intense heat, while Water demands calm, flowing streams of mana.’

[That’s really interesting! Do different elements need their own rituals?]

’Yes, to stabilize the weapon’s mana signature and fully integrate elemental properties,’ Orion explained briefly, shifting to the eighth Chapter, <Soul Syncing & Finalization>.

Here, his interest intensified. ’Soul-binding is the final stage, temporarily or permanently connecting the weapon to its wielder’s soul essence, vastly increasing compatibility and responsiveness.’

Lumi gasped slightly, eyes wide.

[Master, doesn’t soul-binding carry certain risks?]

’Indeed. The book explicitly mentions that improper binding can harm the wielder’s Sea of Consciousness or permanently damage their mana channels,’ Orion answered gravely.

He briefly skimmed the ninth Chapter, <Troubleshooting & Known Failures>, pausing at various warnings about rune failures and their dangerous consequences. ’The book also outlines procedures for safely dismantling failed circuits without triggering an explosion.’

[Master must remember these points carefully!]

Lumi urged, visibly concerned.

’Don’t worry, I won’t court death so early,’ Orion reassured her with a chuckle, finally reaching the last Chapter, <Notable Examples & Legacy Designs>.

Here, he lingered longest, captivated by clear blueprints of legendary weapons like the renowned sword ’Stormseeker’ and the famous spear ’Earthshaper.’

Notes from historical runesmiths added fascinating insights, underscoring the complexity and potential of truly masterful creations.

’These examples are incredible, Lumi,’ Orion breathed softly, eyes glinting with newfound admiration. ’Each weapon here represents a lifetime of dedication and mastery.’

Lumi nodded vigorously, sharing his excitement.

[I can’t wait for the day when Master creates a Legendary Weapon! (≧∇≦)/]

Orion chuckled before flipping the book and opening the first page again. ’Well, it’s time to start reading it from the start again.’

He began reading the book with much more focus this time, not even talking with Lumi about it.

Time passed without him even noticing, and just as he reached the last page, a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Good morning, Young Master. Time to wake up." Rina’s sweet voice came from outside the door.

Orion raised his head as he looked toward the window—the sun had already started to rise. "Oh? So much time passed?"

[Yes, Master! You have been reading for like 11 hours now.]

’Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I can stay awake for a few days without issue.’

Orion stretched gently, feeling mild stiffness in his shoulders from the prolonged hours spent meticulously reading through the dense runesmithing manual.

A soft knock came again, accompanied by the same gentle voice from before. "Young Master, are you still sleeping?"

Rina’s sweet and soothing tone brought an amused smile to Orion’s lips. "Come in, Rina."

The polished wooden door swung open quietly, revealing Rina alongside Fiora.

Both entered gracefully, stopping in mild surprise at seeing Orion already awake, comfortably seated at his desk with the thick runesmithing book open before him.

Rina’s eyes widened slightly, a gentle mixture of admiration and concern reflected in her expression. "Young Master, did you not sleep at all? You were awake studying this entire time?"