Solar Mage

Chapter 34: Stupid Axe

I had planned on cutting the iron shaft myself, but looking at the current state of my body, I don't think I'll be able to say the same anymore.

I open my now broken pocket watch, the glass cracked, but hands are still moving.

I need to hurry and get the Red Dragon Flower quickly, it's been over three days since we've entered the dungeon and if what the physician said is correct, then I only have 2 days left to gather all the materials and I don't know how long it will take me to fully heal! Tin is a heavy armored shield, so he won't be able to jump high enough, or react fast enough to slash the shaft. Rachel is not a physical fighter, nor has she ever trained in the sword so she won't be able to do it either. Damn, is waiting for my recovery, however long that may be, the only option we have? Dustin is going to die at this rate!

Maybe I could melt the iron shaft with my magic?

"Guys, I have an idea, what if I melt the shaft with my magic?"

Tin looks at me with amazement and claps.

"That's a great idea! But are you sure your flame is hot enough to melt it? From what I've heard, only 4th circle fire mages have flames as hot enough to melt iron."

I've melted black iron before at just the 2nd circle, I think I'll be able to melt regular iron.

"Trust me, I've done it before."

"Well, if you say so."

He says while shrugging.

I walk up to the axe and close my eyes to concentrate on just my thoughts.

A pillar should work wonderfully for this situation, the imitation of Edward Tane's fire wall that I used to block off the goblins. Except, instead of multiple pillars, just create one, that's much larger and much hotter.

I open my eyes and a massive amount of flames spew out of them.

What is this sensation? I feel– much more powerful. When did I obtain this skill? This is great! With this power-up, I will definitely be able to melt the shaft; perhaps even the black iron as well!

Solar Imitation: Flame Pillar!

A great column of flame sprouts out of the ground and engulfs the entirety of the axe.

Nice, it completely engulfed the axe! The heat radiating from this is intense, if I didn't have my blessings of Pyro, my sun magic would have burnt me every time I used it. It should definitely melt the shaft soon, I just need to wait for the sound of the black iron edge falling down so I can release it.

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I continued maintaining the flame pillar, anticipating when the edge would drop.

I sweat profusely and struggle to breathe.

It's been five minutes of holding this spell... it has gotten–

"Huff, huff–"

a little warm. The flame pillar should've melted the iron in just a couple of seconds but–

"Huff, huff–"

I have heard no sounds other than the torrent of flames. My mana reserves have almost been drained to half.

I glance over at Tin and Rachel.

They're sweating from the intense heat of the flame as well, I should cease the spell.

I lower my hand and fall to the floor as the spell disappears.

I guess the damage to my body has limited me, not only by what I can do physically but the rate at which mana is consumed as well... it doesn't matter, as long as the axe is gone–

I look up and see the axe still swinging, unfazed and unmarked.

How is it possible that iron would be unmelted after sitting in magic as hot as the sun for five minutes!?!

Tin and Rachel turned towards me.

They're going to laugh at me for being so confident, het being unable to do what I said aren't they?

Once they get close enough, I keep my eyes closed as I speak.

"Yeah, yeah, my plan failed and I was unable to melt the iron. Go ahead and laugh."

"There's no reason to laugh, I felt the intensity of your fire even from as far away as we were standing. That is undoubtedly the hottest flame I have ever felt before and was definitely enough to melt iron."

Tin...you're making me even more guilty for what I'm about to do to you.

"I felt that as well, you may not believe me but that flame, given enough time, is hot enough to melt Black Iron as well, which is why it makes no sense whatsoever how it is still unmarked."

Come on Tin, give me the response I'm looking for!

"Do you know why it didn't work then?"

He took the bait!!

I act anxious.

"I do have a guess but I'm not sure..."

"Please tell us anyway, we need to get out of here and we can't do it without you, just tell us what we need to do!"

"Very well then, my guess is that because the axe swinging so quickly, the fire is dispersed by the black iron edge before it even comes into contact with the iron shaft and the force at which the axe swings, the flames don't even come in contact with the edge. Eventually, my flames would do enough damage to the black iron for it to melt, but I barely have half of my mana left so I won't be able to hold it for long enough.

"Does that mean that we'll be stuck here forever? I have a wife and kids back home!"

He starts bawling his eyes out and takes a silver locket out from out of his suit. He opens it and there is a photo of three humanoid silhouettes with Tin's bald head in the middle.

He had a family? He never mentioned that! That means I almost let the provider of a family die... it's a good thing that it didn't happen though.

"Don't worry Tin, I always have another plan. You offered to do anything I told you to do if I told you about my guess right?"

He sniffles.

"If it's for the plan that'll help me get out of here, yeah, I'll do anything!"

I reach my hand out and smile cheerfully.

"Please give me your shield."

He takes the shield off of his back without hesitation.

"Of course, I trust that you won't break it because you are a good kid and know that this shield cost me the entirety of what I made last year."

Ugh– his smile and trust in me– it's so bright!

"O- of course I know that Tin, don't worry, I'll make sure you don't lose any money from this."

"Great!"

He drops the shield on my hands and I scream in pain.

"Auuuuughhhhh!!!"

Why is this shield so heavy? Damn you whoever was the one who put me in this state, I'll make sure to send you to hell!

"You need some help there?"

"No thanks, I can handle it myself."

I say as I imbue my body with aura.

This isn't as good as before, but at least I feel stronger with than without it.

I pick up the tower shield and walk toward the axe once again. Just before taking action, I scream back at Tin without turning.

"You said the shield had a layer of Black Iron right?"

"Yeah!"

He screams from afar.

"Great."

Heightened Senses, activate!

I stare intensely at the motion of the axe.

Concentrate harder– I've memorized the pattern of the swing now. Three, Two, One, Now!

I chuck the tower shield into the crevice under the floor where the axe's range of motion reaches.

A sound can slightly be heard apart from the loud screeching of two metals running against each other.

"My shield!!!"

The next moment, the axe hits the shield and pushes all it all the way to the far end of the crevice but it struggles to swing back.

Nice, it worked!

I take out Dustin's sword from the Sage System's inventory and with aura, I cleanly slice the axe from the contraption and the axe falls down, as the little bit of the shaft still left, swings ferociously, now that the axe has gotten so much lighter.

"Nameless, how could you!? I told you that that cost all the money I made last year! You said you wouldn't make me lose any money!"

"Calm down Tin, it is unfortunate that your shield is gone but now you have this."

I reach down and grab the axe, pulling it up and placing it in Tin's hands.

"This is yours now. I told you you wouldn't lose money right? Now you have an entire weapon made of Black Iron, that you saved up money for a year to buy just a little bit of previously."

"I- I can have this? Thank you so much Young Master! I will obey anything you say!"

Ugh– if I knew loyalty was so easily obtained with money, I would've saved more...

"Alright then, for my first order, I am promoting you to axeman, so get up and lead the way of the Heavy Armored Axeman."

"Yes!"

We all, finally, get past the second trap and head for the first room.