Triple X System

”I-i did it~” Kyle panted, beads of sweat streaming down his body as he stared at the sword in front. There was a mixed expression plastered on his face, as his hands were trembling greatly the hammer still clutched in his hand.

”Well done boy.. I had my doubts, but looks like you ain’t all bark and no bite afterall.” Darwin smiled inspecting the sword. When Kyle had watched Darwin, he concluded it to be easy as he hadn’t know how swords were made, so he thought it wouldn’t be difficult.

Picking the steel he placed it on the table, heating it in the burning furnace. Carrying it out after a while, and placing it on the anvil used by Darwin.

’The flames would be my only challenge.’ Kyle thought, wiping some beads of sweat off from his forehead. He still didn’t know how Darwin was immune to this burning flames, but he’d guessed the latter might be used to such environments, since he guessed he was a weaponsmith.

’Next was shaping the corners into a sword using the hammer.’ He remembered the process vividly, so it wouldn’t be a challenge at all. Touching the hammer, he could feel it was hot and slippery but he didn’t mind, he’d been in worse conditions. Lifting the hammer a bit from the table, the weight of it dawned on him, causing him to drop the hammer to the table.

’Shit! how many tonnes does this fucking hammer weighs.’ Kyle cursed. It was like he was lifting tons of trailers, stacked together. He didn’t know how strong he was as he’d never tried to guage it, but he knew he was stronger than most space guards here. But lifting the hammer wasn’t anything like punching a wall, no.. it was far more worse!

Glancing, he could see Darwin was staring at him with a sly smirk.

’I can’t afford to look weak in the presence of this stupid dwarf.’ Gritting his teeth, Kyle struggled to lift the hammer adding every bit of strength to his arms. After some seconds, he finally managed to lift the hammer panting a bit.

’Now I just have to hit it, how hard can it be?’ Kyle nervously chuckled, taking a deep breath. Bringing the hammer down, it looked like he was falling from a high tower, as the hammer pulled his body a bit forward.

’Clang!’

A loud clang noise resounded, followed by the revibrating pulsing feeling coursing through Kyle’s body, as the hammer came to a sudden stop.

”Pfft..” Kyle could hear Darwin was struggling to contain his laughter, which made him frown more. His pride was being insulted, and he’d rather die than watch. Strengthening his will he persevered, lifting the hammer like his life depended on it, clanging the metal some more.

He continued like this, till he was slowly getting used to the heavy weight of the hammer. Next was bevelling the sword on side with the hammer, then flipping the other side and doing the same.

After that was reheating the steel, which involves the terrifying furnace. Picking the sword with the tongs, he proceeded towards the furnace. He was still a couple feat’s away, but the scorching flames could be felt heating his skin.

Opening it, he placed it inside. waiting some while, bringing it out then repeating the process three more times. Just like Darwin had done.

He then sanded it with the belt sander, reheating it then quickly dipping it in oil quenching it, then placing it on the table to cool.

’M-my hands feels like they’re going to fall out any second now.’ His whole body was trembling from lifting the hammer, as he’d never experienced any of this in his entire life. It was far worse than being stabbed multiple times, or a broken bone!

’I-i have to go on or my pride will be rubbished. Like he said, endurance and perseverance!’ Kyle screamed internally, fighting the exhaustation clouding his mind. Shaking off his hazy eyes, he struggled to walk to the furnace lowering it to a formidable Temperature, and placing it in the furnace. Bringing it out he placed it to the table, leaving it to cool before he took a hilt strapping it to the sword.

....

”Well done boy~ you’ve finally completed your training with me.” Darwin said inspecting the sword. Slowly nodding, Kyle was about to head out to his room to rest but stopped remembering something.

”I have a favour to ask you.” Kyle calmly said garning Darwin’s attention.

”What?”

”I need your help in refining something.. a sword to be precise.” Kyle boldly said. He was referring to the frozen katana, he used during the hunger games. He was hesitant a bit, but he didn’t have any other choice as he only just learnt how to forge a common sword.

Staring at him for a while, Darwin finally spoke. ”No”

”What do you mean no?” Kyle frowned furrowing his brows. He knew Darwin could easily reject, but he couldn’t afford to take no for an answer.

”Are you dumb or deaf boy? No means no.” Darwin uttered unchanging his mind.

”You selfish bastard, am risking my life to save your princess here. What happens if I die, or worse.. Lumia also dies huh? You think troy would take it likely if he learned you could’ve prevented it!” Kyle yelled trying to manipulate Darwin. He didn’t know what he was about to face, but he wanted to be prepared against anything. And with the help of the frozen katana, he was confident he could deal with Lynn.

”First of all she’s not my princess. She’s the princess of Lumia kingdom, idiot! And second, I don’t owe you any favour boy. you chose to be the hero and embark on this suicide quest, because you can’t help being in the spotlight junkie.”

”H-hero.. I was forced into this! you think I’d risk my life to save some princess.” Kyle retorded fuming with rage, his cheeks puffed a bit.

Turning, he was about heading up the stairs when he paused. ”I’ll ask ona to bring you the weapon. It’ll be your choice to accept or not, just know mine and lumia’s life is in your hands.” With that he left the floor, heading up to the door.

’Huh? it’s open.’ Kyle could see the wooden door was open which was strange, as it either meant someone recently entered or was about entering.

’Whatever~’ shrugging, Kyle left through the door walking to his room. Stopping, he sensed a figure approaching him in front, which he clearly recognized.

’What a coincidence.’ Kyle thought, seeing ona approaching in front.

”Ona.” He called out. ” I was planning on seeing you when am done, but looks like we were fated to meet here.” Kyle said with a light smile, trying to push his vision awake for some minutes longer.

”F-fated? ha-ha! w-what do you mean Kyle.” ona nervously chuckled, scratching her head a bit looking down. Looking at her, Kyle could see she was acting strange.

”I have a favour to ask you.” Kyle said, causing ona to look up at him with a hint of red on her cheek.

”A-a favour?”

”Yes. I need you to bring the katana I used in the hungers games to Darwin. You see.. I don’t know where it is as everything happened so fast.” Kyle nervously said, chuckling a bit.

”B-but why?” Ona asked, confused why Kyle requested this sort of help from her. Usually, weapons from the hunger games were stored in the weapons hall, in a well guarded section. So she couldn’t just go and take it, without a solid reason.

”Well you see.. he promised to help me improve it as a favour, for being his student and finishing my training.” Kyle lied. He could see ona was still hesitant a bit, so he dug into his bag of tricks.

”Please ona.. I may be strong but am not confident I can beat Lynn by myself. The katana suits my fighting style and my ability, so it’ll give me an advantage.” Kyle softly said, grabbing ona’s hand tightly clutching it.

”Huh..” ona let out a soft gasp as Kyle held her hand. She didn’t expect it, so it sent a jolt throughout her whole system, her heart beating much faster.

’W-what’s wrong with me? Am behaving this way from just his touch. no.. impossible.’ ’Ahh!’ Ona screamed in her head, her mind in a dilemma. Seeing ona still hadn’t agreed, he pressed further throwing in the trump card.

”Please ona~ lumia’s counting on us, and we need all the help we can get.” Kyle calmly said, making ona’s body shuddered more.

”O-ok.” She stuttered staring into Kyle’s eye, her face all red with her breathing a bit rough.

”Thanks..” Kyle smiled letting go of her hand, entering his room and shutting the door.

’W-what just happene’ Ona thought staring at her hand. ’For the first time in many years I lost myself because of a-a man?’ Shaking her head, she then continued walking further down the floor.

”I-i made it.” Kyle muttered crashing to the bed. It was evening of the third day and he hadn’t even eaten yet, but his body was too weak to stand. It didn’t take a minute before his eyes closed shut.