Born in Blood

The new technique allowed Liam to shape his weapons however he liked.

However, it had its own limitations.

Liam's Breaker Blade condensed into a dagger with a loud hum.

It was made from the same material Liam's Breaker was. Darkness Devouring scales.

However, when Liam used Sword Connection, there was no personality or connection with him or the blade.

The sword was empty.

Why?

Because Liam didn't make or inscribe it.

It didn't have his touch.

It was just a sharp piece of metal that looked like a curved dagger.

If Liam wanted to connect with the sword, he had to make one from scratch, then add it to the Sword Construct.

In contrast, Liam could manipulate his swords to slightly alter their forms.

Liam could even combine the two qualities slightly!

Liam reverted the sword back to the Breaker. Slowly, one of the edges of the mighty weapon turned sharp and thin.

However, the base weapon was still the same. 

Yet, the sharp edge actually belonged to the Black Blade!

It was still 212 kilos. 

So long as Liam didn't change the entirety of its composition and true purpose, he could add and combine qualities.

Plus, Liam's Breaker Blade had two edges. 

The Black Blade was a single-edged weapon, which was why only one edge of the Breaker was sharpened.

'There's no need to keep them separate now.'

'They're one entity, but individualistic at the same time.'

All of the transformations were instantaneous and required no mental energy or 'Ora' to complete.

If Liam wanted to switch from sharpness to power in a single swing, he could!

"Are you serious? Did you seriously combine me together with the Little Demons?" the Black Blade protested. 

'Her' tone was filled with regret and silent disapproval. 

"Same here, Forger. We dislike the Kitchen Knife. Pompous, cocky and very obnoxious," the Dusk Blades countered. 

"It's bad enough that you have that damn spider always clicking with us," the Black Blade added with a sigh.

The Breaker Blade was stoically silent, watching the ordeal with tired eyes.

…Not that it had eyes, of course.

Liam ignored them.

There was no doubt in Liam's mind that Sword Construct was an amazing ability.

Liam's face turned stern and dark.

'I'll rest for a week and a half before entering the next Trial.'

Just a week and a half.

Usually, Liam would take 2 weeks of rest to nourish himself back to health and train with his new abilities.

But what happened still unnerved him to a bad extent.

'Sword Construct is relatively easy for me to get used to, so there's no need to prolong my rest.'

Now, there was a hidden time bomb somewhere.

Liam had no intention of being there when it exploded.

***

Liam looked much better after a week and a half of rest.

His burnt off black hair had grown back to a short cut, and he'd exchanged his charred clothes for a new set of black wrappings.

Liam was ready for the fifth Trial.

'Another month would let me get past the liquid-stage,' Liam thought with furrowed brows. 

Finally, the liquid-stage was near!

Since Liam had so much to do, Liam couldn't put all his eggs in one basket and focus on his core.

Otherwise, he would have already advanced by now.

But he was already in peak condition.

He'd already practiced with his new abilities.

He already finished every delicacy and drink that the ornate hall offered him.

Although him getting past the liquid stage would greatly bolster his prowess, wasting another month would give Twilight an advantage.

Liam hadn't forgotten about the Moyong woman.

If the two of them had been placed into different areas of the inheritance but undertook the same Trials, that meant that only one of them would exit at the end of it.

What would happen to the one left behind?

Death.

It was for this same reason that Liam didn't make another peak Rank 3 sword to add to his Sword Construct.

If he did, there was a chance that the next Trial wouldn't even require it, and he'd waste a full month.

Liam heaved a sigh.

Then, with the Breaker Blade in his hand, took a step into the blinding rays of light.

When Liam walked through, he expected the same sights as always.

Green grass, sunny skies and light wind.

This time, there were a few differences. 

Instead, there was flat stone ground, a starry night sky, and no wind.

There was something ominous about the Trial.

Liam looked around.

Neither his Triumvirate Body nor his Shadow Sense picked up on anything strange.

WHOOOM!

Liam's gaze snapped towards the source of noise.

Tendrils of darkness and light were swirling together to form something.

Something human.

Liam frowned.

The grip on his Breaker Blade tightened.

First, the feet slowly formed, then the legs, then the hip, then the waist, then the chest, then the neck, then the face.

Liam's eyes widened with pure shock.

…

It was him.

A copy of Liam himself!

This was no Shadow Clone.

No…

Those cold, multi-colored eyes, the thin lips, pale skin and sharp chin. 

What was even more shocking, in his hand was a Breaker Blade!

Copy-Liam's eyes connected with Liam's.

A cold grin flashed on the Copy's face.

Meanwhile, the real Liam grimaced deeply.

This…

'No,' Liam thought as his mind raced. 'There's no way the inheritance can copy the Triumvirate Body or my Blood abilities.'

'There's a limit to what even Celestials can do.'

The Copy's grin widened even more. 

Liam instantly felt unnerved.

There was an uncanny valley feeling in his heart.

This was him. But it was not him, and it definitely was not human.

…But then again, neither was Liam.

"I know what you're thinking," the Copy said, perfectly imitating Liam's voice. 'He can't use my abilities, surely not!'

Liam narrowed his gaze at the copy.

It speaks?

Liam didn't like where the Copy was going with this.

Copy-Liam's smile broadened.

Tentacles suddenly sprouted from all over its body, the textures of which rapidly switched from furry, to scaly, to spiky. 

A moment later, blood-spikes burst from the Copy's body.

The Copy fixed his cold multi-colored eyes at Liam, enjoying the shock-filled expression on his face.

...

What exactly was this supposed to teach?