Under Ethan's instructions,Otlo first finished working on the instrument ordered by Ethan.At first they were studying the Ballista but Ethan ordered them to finish his task first.

So all the blacksmiths were gathered to work on it.

And in a few days, everything was set.

...…

Inside the forge the thick hair laden with smoke and heat wriggling around.

At the center of the room stood a large bowl-shaped furnace. Flames rose and danced through the gaps, glowing a deep red. The sound of crackling fire echoed softly, filling the room with an eerie hum.

In the middle of the furnace sat a man cross legged.

And yeah…This man was none other than Ethan.

His body was surrounded by faint shimmering flames. The fire didn't burn him; instead, it seemed to melt into his skin, slowly being absorbed by his body like water into dry earth.

SWOOSH!

His entire body shone with a bright orangish shine.

Ethan clenched his fists and muttered under his breath, "No… not enough."

Randall, who stood nearby, panicked. "But, my Lord, it's dangerous!" He turned to Otlo, looking for support. "Tell him to stop!"

Otlo frowned,and his rough hands tightened around the metal tongs. "My Lord, can you really handle it? I added filters to control the flames, but if they spiral out of control, even you won't survive."

"You shouldn't underestimate the firepower just because of Advanced rank.Maybe you shouldn't rush this."

Ethan opened his eyes, a faint black mist escaping from them.

His skin glistened with sweat, but the moment it touched the flames, it vanished with a hissing sound.

He took a deep breath and muttered, "I can handle it. Just turn up the heat a bit more."

Otlo sighed deeply. "As you command." He grabbed a handful of coal and threw it into the flames and then he took the large bellow and pumped it hard.

A burst of air shot into the furnace, causing the flames to rise higher and burn brighter.

SWOOSH!

Huge waves of flames erupted reaching upto the ceiling.The fire engulfed Ethan completely.

"Hissss…"

A sharp sound filled the forge as the heat struck Ethan's body. Pain tore through his nerves like countless knives cutting through flesh. His skin reddened, tiny cracks forming across his body. He gritted his teeth, refusing to scream.

Then he activated the Crimson Flame Body Tempering Art.

The moment the technique began, the flames moved differently. They twisted and coiled like living serpents, entering Ethan's body through invisible pores.

He guided the fire through his mana channels, letting it flow into every corner of his body. The heat scorched his veins, burning away the filth and impurities within him. His bones trembled under the pressure, and dark smoke escaped from his skin as the residue of filth and broken debris of his body was burned away.

Every second felt like an eternity. His muscles screamed in agony, his bones creaked and cracked as if breaking apart. Yet through that pain, Ethan felt something new.

A faint rhythm of strength pulsing within.

"ARGHHH!" he roared as his body trembled violently.

A sharp cracking sound echoed from within him, and his eyes lit up with a strange brilliance. His body was reshaping itself, piece by piece. His bones broke and healed again, growing denser and stronger than before.

'WOAHHH!'

'Is this the effect of Goddess blessings..'

He could feel the minute changes of his body under the naked eye.The healing rate of his body was really fearsome.

Small cuts healed immediately while wounds which would take a month would heal in just a few days.

This was the source of his confidence for pushing himself into the firepit.

'I am just a rudimentary believer who just believes in her existence, not her magnanimity.'

'If I was hardcore follower like those brainwashed cultists,I might be able to regrow missing limbs.'

Ethan then shook his head to concentrate.

"Throw the crystals!" Ethan shouted hoarsely.

"Yes, my Lord!" Randall responded quickly. He grabbed a handful of glowing ice crystals and tossed them into the furnace.

SWISH!

A cold wind burst through the forge. The icy energy met the burning flames, creating a strange balance between fire and frost. The two opposing forces surged into Ethan's body together.

The clash of heat and cold sent waves of power throughout his limbs. His skin steamed, his veins shone faintly under the surface, and his body released a blinding white light.

The Goddess's blessing amplified his healing ability, allowing him to endure even more pain.

His torn muscles repaired themselves faster, the scorched parts of his skin renewing with new life. The agony was unbearable, but Ethan stayed still. He wasn't doing it out of madness or pride,he was doing it because he had to.

"What the hell is this?"

"Does reaching the Advanced stage have such an effect?"Randall gasped in shock seeing the wounds healing and breaking.

"Advance Stage my ass.."Otlo spat in anger.

"If everyone has such a monstrous ability doesn't that mean a knight would just be a fearless masochist?"

"It might be a power exclusive to the Lord or the effect of certain skills and techniques."

Randall nodded,"Yeah that makes sense."

Then under their very eyes they saw a huge beam of light exploding from Ethan.

After several minutes, Ethan's voice came out low and rough. "Enough… extinguish it."

Otlo pulled a lever, and the flames slowly died down. Smoke filled the air, and the forge returned to silence.

Ethan stepped out from the furnace, steam rising from his body. His skin looked tougher and faintly red, like metal freshly pulled from fire. He flexed his arm, then slammed his fist against his chest.

"Damn… it's solid," he muttered, feeling the firmness of his muscles. A faint smile appeared on his face. "Minor success."

He let out a long breath, exhausted but proud. His eyes wandered down, and for a moment, a strange thought crossed his mind.

'If my bones and muscles got this strong… then what about… that part?'

He blinked and looked down briefly. 'If it also became tougher, wouldn't that… cause problems during penetration?' he thought awkwardly.

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