GUARDIAN OF THE END

"So… why are we standing in front of a forging shop?" Jason questioned.

He and Issac were currently standing in front of the only forging shop available in the town. All th meager weapons, utensils, tools etc were created in the same shop.

"Because the next form of thunder that you are going to learn requires precise control and focus. It will also be best if you try mixing forging with it since its mostly used to create objects using thunder." Issac explained.

The pair walked inside the shop and closed the door behind them. No one was present inside yet all of the materials required by them were already set on a working table.

"Look carefully." Issac ordered before raising his right hand.

Sparks of thunder flickered around his hand before taking the form of a lasso. The lasso was oddly shaped and thunder continued to spark from it.

"This is a normal lasso I have created with the help of thunder. Now if I focus on it and try to make it a bit better…"

The lasso suddenly started getting more defined yet at one point, it stopped improving. It still remained rough and the thunder sparks flickering from it seemed more dangerous.

"No matter how hard I try, I can't force the thunder into a more precise and compact form. It will continue to stand out like this." Issac explained. "But if you shift the type of thunder being used…"

Issac dispelled the lasso before summoning another form of thunder. Green sparks flickered around his fingers before another lasso, this one completely green, appeared in his hands.

The lasso was extremely smooth and from no angle looked like it had been made from thunder.

"Is that really from thunder?" Jason asked in a doubtful voice.

Sparks were no where to be seen and the smooth look made it stand out in a weird way.

"It is made from thunder. This is the green version of it and though it might look a bit like puke, it is thunder. I am sure you can sense the energy running inside it but you can touch ti to be sure."

Jason raised his right hand and touched the lasso with his index finger. The charges from the lasso immediately ran inside his body, surprising him.

"This contains more energy than a normal thunderbolt!" Jason exclaimed.

"That's because this form of thunder is used to compact the mana. It is often used to confuse others by making them believe that the power level of this thunder is the same as others."

Issac dispelled the current lasso as well before summoning a green thunderbolt. It too appeared smooth and no charges ran out of it.

"Though it looks less flashy, its much more effective that a normal thunderbolt."

Issac summoned a normal thunderbolt and held the two forward for Jason to compare. The latter touched both of them and sensed their power to the best of his capabilities.

"The green thunderbolt contains almost twice the amount of power than a normal one…" Jason murmured once he had finished his observations.

"Indeed, you are correct. That is why those who can control more forms of lightning are deadlier than normal lightning mages. Thunder, being an extremely rare element, is of course supreme than lightning.

Its evolved forms are superior than normal thunder as well. That is why there are four different forms of thunder that can be used depending on the situation."

"Then why didn't you use them before?" Jason questioned.

"It was because of the contract. Risa and my powers were restricted to a certain limit. If we went over that limit, Julian and his patron would be able to sense our powers and things would get ugly." Issac sighed.

"Do you know who is patron is?"

"No, I don't know that. The only information available is that his patron was born on Clover. That was why he enjoys many more perks."

Jason and Issac sighed simultaneously. Both of them wanted to know more information on Julian's patron god for their own reasons.

But in the end, both of them wanted to know of a way to remove the patron god from the equation or at least limit his powers to a certain degree.

"Anyways, let's get you started. Try to think of the green thunder and summon it."

Jason nodded and raised his right hand. Obeying Issac' instructions, he thought of the green thunderbolt his grandpa had summoned.

Green sparks of thunder immediately started flickering around his fingers. Jason guided the sparks slowly and create a thunderbolt.

To his surprise, the thunderbolt formed was half the size of a normal one he was used to creating. Both of them had the same energy inside them yet the difference in size was too enormous to avoid.

"Though its a bit rough and small, I am surprised to see that you managed to summon one on your first time." Issac commented. "Try combining more mana with it and bringing it to the size of a normal thunderbolt.

Jason did as told and infused the thunderbolt with even more green thunder. Its size slowly increased before reaching the size of an average thunderbolt.

"Now continue increasing the size of the thunderbolt. Keep trying it until you feel that no more mana can be injected into the thunderbolt without shaking its stability."

Jason blinked in confusion yet continued to inject more mana into the thunderbolt. The size slowly started increasing before Jason started facing difficulties.

The mana he injected simply rebounded, sending a jolt of shocks through his arm. Jason immediately dropped the thunderbolt in his arm.

Issac swiped forward with the speed of thunder and plucked the thunderbolt before it could hit the ground.

He calmly absorbed the energy inside the thunderbolt since he too was a thunder mage, one at a much higher level when compared with Jason.

"That's called thunder rebound. Once you have reached the limit of compacting thunder, the excessive amount will send a shock through your body. Normal people, especially those between Practitioners(F) to Silver(C) ranks can be knocked unconscious by this.

That's why its best to get precise control over this form of thunder and you will be able to use this deadly weapon against others." Issac explained.

"So I am going to learn how to do that inside this shop." Jason muttered.

"Exactly. You will be creating various tools with the help of green thunder and use it to cut pieces of scrap and even do a small amount of forging. After all, forging requires precision and a certain amount of force.

If you make the slightest mistake, anything can happen. Its also the best way to learn. I am sure that you can master this within ten days."

"That less?" Jason asked in a surprised tone.

"You are a natural at such things and I am sure that your control over the dark element will help you here. This shop will be available for use until noon. Make sure you don't destroy it," Issac paused. "Too much. Don't destroy it too much."

Issac carelessly walked out of the door as though he had done his job. Jason glanced at the door for a few seconds before turning his gaze towards the table.

A large chunk of aluminum was lying alongside other forging materials. Jason spared them a glance before taking them aside.

'At least I know what tools I have to create.'

Jason observed the tools used for forging before proceeding ahead to create his own tools. The first thing he needed to do was to cut the aluminum.

To do that, he needed something that could either burn through the sheet or corrode it.

'I wonder what I would do without you.' Jason said to the system.

[ You will be just another reincarnator wondering what you are doing with your life. ] The system chuckled.

After all, it was responsible for telling Jason what he needed to do next.

Jason stared the sheet of metal for a few seconds before lifting his right hand. He could simply create a sharp blade made of dark element and corrode the metal.

But that was not what he needed to do. He needed to use the green thunder to first cut the metal.

'All right, how hard can it be?' Jason wondered before summoning a thunderbolt made from green thunder.

,m He slowly led it get to its maximum height before touching the aluminum metal with its tip.

Jason gulped nervously as he plunged the thunderbolt with full force. Instead of cutting through the metal, the thunderbolt exploded in Jason's hand and sent him flying.

He managed to land on his feet and looked at the condition of his hand. Fortunately, he had only received minor injuries which were already being healed by his passive healing ability.

'This brings back memories.' Jason thought with a smile.

He could still remember the time he had been training with Risa and Karna. He also remembered the numerous amount of failures.

'Well, I just have to keep trying. A few blasts can't scare me!'