[Living Forge / Master Craftsman] was probably one of the most astonishing abilities Lucas Reeve had encountered so far.
Its effect seemed simple: improve forging ability and ore extraction ability.
But... it could instantly transform Lucas Reeve from a complete novice into a true god of forging.
Of course, how could the system give away such an awesome ability for free? Just as Lucas Reeve thought, it was a nerfed version.
Similar to the Holy Lance, it required Lucas Reeve to upgrade it later with Prayer Power. Currently, it only gave Lucas Reeve the talent of a forging grandmaster. But if it were the complete version of this ability, it would allow Lucas Reeve to become a demigod in charge of forging and craftsmanship, creating true divine artifacts that everyone on Terra would covet with a flip of his hand.
Of course, this ability only provided forging talent and did not provide additional attack methods or buffs. If one had to name an attack method, it would be breathing fire from the mouth.
After possessing this talent, Lucas Reeve's view of some ores and machinery completely changed. The Big Ugly mecha, which he thought was okay before, was now full of flaws in his eyes and could be described as a piece of junk.
As for ores and metals.
In Lucas Reeve's eyes, these iron lumps that others saw actually had 'life'.
And it was precisely because they had 'life' that a different kind of miracle could be born from the metal under the constant hammering.
Looking at the scorching metal ball in his hand, which glowed with a peculiar red light, Lucas Reeve's eyes showed some excitement.
Just by scanning it with his spiritual power, the specific information of the metal ball was imprinted in his mind.
It possessed a hardness comparable to D32 Steel, but its conductivity for Originium Arts was optimized by twenty percent compared to D32. Furthermore, due to its stable internal structure, it was very malleable. Compared to the original D32 Steel, which could only be used as a defensive material for armor plates.
The metal that Lucas Reeve had just spent three days and two nights forging could be used for weaker joints. Moreover, its hardness was no less than that of D32 Steel, and it also possessed a flexibility and mobility that D32 Steel lacked.
Is this the top-tier forging talent?
Even Lucas Reeve himself couldn't help but be amazed.
D32 Steel was basically the most perfect man-made metal known on Terra. It was almost impossible to create an improved version based on it, at least the current Terra forging masters didn't have this ability. Perhaps a genius would appear in the future.
And this brand new D32 Steel that Lucas Reeve forged, if given to Raythean Industries, might cause quite a stir. After all, this was no longer a small piece of metal, but a brand new breakthrough. The added flexibility and mobility that D32 Steel lacked meant that many combat machines could be optimized. And most importantly, it was a talent.
Looking at the gradually cooling metal ball in his hand, Lucas Reeve was very satisfied.
The metal ball felt as elastic as a water ball, soft, but its hardness was the real deal, D32 Steel.
It could even be stretched, and while being stretched, its internal hardness would not change at all.
Lucas Reeve temporarily named it D35 Alloy.
The only drawback was that the cost of forging it was not low.
Forging is the process of awakening the life force of metal, not creating something from nothing.
And the raw materials for forging this alloy included D32 Steel.
*Hiss...*
He still wanted to forge something else.
Lucas Reeve's head was now full of ideas, and he wanted to try them all.
However, Zumama, who was resting on the ground, seemed to see through Lucas Reeve's thoughts at a glance and looked like she was about to cry.
"Lord Lucas... I really can't go on anymore... please let me rest for a while."
At first, when Zumama knew that Lucas Reeve was going to use her body to forge metal, she was very happy. Gradually, she realized something was wrong.
She didn't expect Lucas Reeve to last so long.
A full three days and two nights.
For an ordinary person's body, let alone three days and two nights, they wouldn't be able to withstand such high-intensity hammering for even half an hour. But Zumama's body had endured it for three days and two nights before signs of fatigue and exhaustion appeared. Such an incredible physical body, to be honest, even Lucas Reeve had rarely seen one.
Hammering metal is addictive.
Lucas Reeve gradually came to enjoy this process.
This sense of accomplishment from seeing other metals smelted together under his continuous hammering, and then a brand new metal being born.
Unfortunately, there weren't many high-strength bodies around that he could use.
Patriot's body was strong, but the Reunion Movement was still on the march, and there was simply no extra time for Lucas Reeve to forge on the spot.
"....."
"Ceobe..."
Lucas Reeve thought of someone.
Ceobe's physical strength was also far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Before leaving, Lucas Reeve patted Zumama's smooth hair and said with a smile.
"Sorry... I was at a critical moment of forging just now and couldn't stop randomly."
She didn't expect Lucas Reeve to actually apologize to her.
Zumama suddenly seemed to have broken through the limits of her body's functions. One second she couldn't move, the next she bounced up from the ground, sitting cross-legged on the grass, her snow-white, gelatinous face instantly flushing red.
"It's not Lord Lucas's fault... it's... it's me who's too useless... I couldn't last for such a short time...."
"Don't say that, silly child~ You've already worked very hard."
"By the way, I've already spoken with the big shot at Raythean Industries. She agreed. As long as you want, Raythean Industries will send a private jet to pick you up and take you to Raythean Industries in Columbia for a job. You'll have the top mechanics at Raythean Industries as your mentors."
Lucas Reeve patted Zumama on the head.
And Zumama was momentarily stunned.
To be honest, she didn't really take it seriously before, thinking that Lucas Reeve was just saying it casually.
However, when the opportunity was placed right in front of her, and all she had to do was nod to go to the holy land of Raythean Industries in her mind, Zumama hesitated.
She... was a little reluctant to leave this place...
After all, she was born and raised in the Eunectes Tribe.
"You don't need to answer right away."
Lucas Reeve wagged his finger in front of Zumama.
"You can go whenever you want. As long as you agree, even if it's a year or two, or even ten years later, as long as Raythean Industries still exists, my promise will be valid."
With that, Lucas Reeve entered Zumama's body, and his consciousness descended upon Columbia.
And Zumama, sitting where she was, was now at a loss.
This was the first time in her life that she had been so flustered. She wanted to call the High Priest to discuss it with him. After all, Grandpa High Priest came from the outside world and had seen many, many things.
However... when Zumama called the High Priest's name, she received no response for a long time. She only heard heavy snoring coming from the cockpit of Big Ugly not far away...
Zumama's eyelids twitched frantically.
The High Priest is sleeping again....
——————
"Ceobe~ Can we discuss something~~"
Back in Columbia, Lucas Reeve immediately had Jessica find Ceobe.
And Ceobe, who was having fun with Ifrit, excitedly ran to Lucas Reeve.
"Brother Lucas, what's up? Or do you have some edible gift for me?"
"Here..."
"How about letting brother borrow your body for a bit? When it's done, I'll buy you a van full of desserts."
However... just as Ceobe was about to agree, a strong sense of crisis in her heart made her pause.
But... thinking of a van full of desserts... Ceobe forced herself to overcome her instinctual sense of crisis and nodded.
"Good girl...."
Two days later~
After occupying Ceobe's body, Lucas Reeve sat on the ground, exhausted.
With the first experience, forging D35 Alloy this time was much easier. There was no need for continuous hammering. It lasted for a full two days. Lucas Reeve looked at the three neatly arranged, small brick-sized pieces of D35 Alloy before him and couldn't help but smile. Don't underestimate these few small pieces of D35 Alloy; the consumption of raw materials had burned through tens of millions, with the biggest cost being the purchase of finished D32 Steel.
Although Lucas Reeve could also forge D32 Steel himself, it would be a waste of time.
After Lucas Reeve returned the body to Ceobe, the long-term physical exertion had long since emptied Ceobe's stomach. For a gluttonous silly dog like her, this was simply torture. She seemed to have forgotten the fatigue of her body, or perhaps, the instinct of hunger allowed Ceobe to overcome any other difficulties. Even though her body was so tired she could barely stand, she still rushed out of the room with incomparable madness and pounced on the desserts that had been prepared long ago, gobbling them down to replenish her depleted energy.
"I'm never believing Brother Lucas's words again!!"
She even said this while eating.
Lucas Reeve, holding the forged metal, floated out and scratched his head with a smile.
As expected...
I really need my own body.
Otherwise, I'll have to borrow someone else's at critical moments.
If I have my own body, I can hammer as I please, even for ten days or half a month, it wouldn't matter...
This process continued for a good half a month.
Finally, the D35 alloy for the mecha's joints was temporarily ready.
What remained was the external armor part.
At Raythean Industries, the reason why mechs couldn't be put into war was simply that ordinary metals couldn't withstand several rounds of artillery fire. And if the entire external armor was replaced with D32 Steel, the cost would be too high. Even Raythean Industries didn't want to make such a meaningless investment.
And Lucas Reeve's next goal was to forge a brand new alloy for external armor.
Its hardness would be equal to or surpass D32 Steel, and it would be lighter in weight, with a certain degree of Originium Arts conductivity.
With the help of his ability, Lucas Reeve already had some clues, but it required continuous experimentation.
The forging process was incredibly arduous, but Zumama's body had improved significantly after so many consecutive days of forging. Basically, each forging session squeezed out all the strength from Zumama's body, which then recovered on its own, just like a gym rat building muscle.
To gain muscle, you have to lift heavy weights.
Heavy weight training can tear the muscle structure. Although it's painful, the newly grown muscle will be harder than before.
Finally, on the fourth day, another brand new alloy was born under Lucas Reeve's blazing hot hammer.
"We did it... Lord Lucas!!"
Zumama was incredibly excited.
To share Lucas Reeve's pressure, for these past few days, it had basically been Zumama and Lucas Reeve's two souls controlling this body together for forging, a state similar to when Lucas Reeve and Patriot merged.
"Yeah!!"
After it cooled down, Lucas Reeve eagerly picked up the metal plate.
After scanning its internal structure, Lucas Reeve couldn't help but laugh.
The internal structure of this new alloy had a special molecular structure, making it almost indestructible. Its hardness even surpassed that of D32 Steel. It was sufficiently thin, not very heavy, and also had the property of absorbing external kinetic energy and energy to a certain extent.
This reminded Lucas Reeve of a metal called Vibranium.
However, the hardness of the one he forged might not be as good as Vibranium, and its property of absorbing kinetic energy and energy was not a hundred percent absorption, but... for Lucas Reeve, this metal was already very satisfactory.
He temporarily named it: Nirvana Metal.
And while Lucas Reeve and Zumama were studying the metal, the Reunion Movement had finally successfully reached the south after bypassing the Army Group's defense line.
This entire journey took nearly two months.
In the past, the Reunion Movement would definitely not have had this capability. After all, food was a major problem.
A two-month march meant that they might not get any food supplements during this period. For the Reunion Movement, which used to live from hand to mouth, it was very difficult to save up enough food. And even if they had food, the Reunion Movement still needed to be on guard against the patroling Army Groups that Lucas Reeve might encounter at any time.
This time, due to Lucas Reeve's presence, even if they encountered a patroling Army Group squad, there was no need to worry.
However, luckily, the entire process was very smooth.
The Reunion Movement did not encounter any obstacles.
Although the temperature was still low, it was much higher than in the harsh north. After all, you could occasionally see living green grass on the ground. For the cold snowfields, green represented life. As long as there was life, it was not a dead end for humans.
The green grass on the ground excited many members of the Reunion Movement for a long time.
They found a place that was remote enough and could provide some shelter from the wind, which was then temporarily used as the Reunion Movement's base.
Talulah had also considered that since they were now on the southern border of Ursus, they could either leave Ursus directly, so that they wouldn't have to worry about being pursued by the Ursus Army Groups in the future. But this plan was rejected by Patriot as soon as it was proposed.
After all, although there were no Army Groups in the wilderness, there was something more terrifying than the Army Groups...
Various wilderness monsters...
On this point, Lucas Reeve also held an affirmative attitude.
After all, he had previously encountered wilderness monsters under Magallan's jinxing when he went to Bolívar with Magallan, Jessica, and others on a commission. For this kind of monster, whose individual strength was average but who were good at group action, probably only an army could deal with them. Compared to these monsters, the Army Groups seemed more approachable.
Due to his forging talent, Lucas Reeve also spent some time forging a custom-made, ultra-high-power heater for the Reunion Movement. This heater used High-Purity Originium as its energy core, converting the energy in the High-Purity Originium into heat. It could be temporarily placed in the center of the settlement for warmth.
As for the future direction of the Reunion Movement, Lucas Reeve also chatted with Patriot and Talulah about it during his leisure time every day.