Eight hours was definitely not a long time to create the strongest possible runic armament, but everyone gave their best nheless.


    For the first step, Nial created a bunch of runic solutions, which he would need either way. Because he knew that he was not a good alchemist, Nial worked rather fast and focused on quantity rather than quality.


    To create a single high-quality runic solution, he would require at least half an hour, and Nial nned to create four runic solutions. He couldn''t afford to waste two hours just to create runic armaments, especially not if he had to forge as well.


    Forging a high-quality saber would take way too long, which was why he reconsidered forging a small dagger. However, that would require just as much attention because there were many little details he would have to pay attention to.


    Furthermore, it was impossible for him to engrave more than 3 runic constetions on an ordinary dagger. Nial was not the best at ovepping runic constetions without letting them influence each other negatively, and he was not particrly skilled in the technique of miniature engraving as well.


    Miniature engraving meant engraving the miniature version of a runic constetion on an object. The runic constetion would usually be a quarter of what it was under normal circumstances.


    Some high-ranked Runiciers were exceptionally skilled to create miniature runic constetions that were a tenth of their usual size. However, Nial was not exactly adept at miniature engraving, which was why he didn''t even think of doing it, to begin with.


    This was also one more reason why he let go of the idea of forging a dagger. In the end, Nial created a saber, with above-average aesthetic looks. It was a good saber, made out of Amethyztan, a grade-2 metal with the same shine and color of an amethyst if purified properly.


    Nial was not good at purifying metals, which was why he didn''t waste his time attempting it. The grade-2 metal was alreadyplex enough for him to create a Tier-2 runic armament with the n he had in mind. This was also why it was not necessary for him to go out of his way to do something that would take way more time and efforts than he had to out in to create the entire runic armament.


    Only around six hours were left when Nial finished concocting the runic solutions and the first few steps of the saber''s forging. It was time for him to start engraving the runic constetions he had in mind.


    He lifted the engraving pen and wanted to start when he noticed that his hand was trembling and his heart was thudding wildly.


    "I can do that…an Advanced runic constetion…even if I will only barely get a 75% perfection grade, I can do it! I was able to create the third Ancient Origin ring with ease as well…that''s just as difficult as engraving an advanced runic constetion…well maybe not thaaattt difficult but still!" Nial reminded himself while slowly taking deep breaths to force his body to calm down.


    It was possible to create Tier-2 runic armaments with Intermediate runic constetions but that would require more than 10 Intermediate runic armaments, which had to bebined and ovep each other. All the runic constetions would be linked to be one big runic constetion that was extremelyplex, and it would be very easy to make mistakes in its creation.


    Simultaneously, high-quality materials would make it easier to create runic armaments of a higher tier as well. For example, a highly purified metal and exceptional runic solutions created with materials that had been purified perfectly would gradually decrease the needed requirements to create a runic armament of a higher Tier.


    With highly purified Amethyztan, and the same runic solution Nials had just perfectly purified, he would only have to engrave fivebined and ovepped intermediate runic constetions, and a bunch of Basic runic constetions to create a Tier-2 runic armament.


    But even then, one had to create a great synergy between the used metal for forging, the runic solutions used for the runic constetions, and the runic constetions as well.


    Nheless, it was said to be easier than engraving an Advanced runic constetion as long as one learned how to engrave ovepping runic constetions. Theplexity of advanced runic constetions was on apletely different level and Nial was actually not confident in engraving his first ever sessful Advanced runic constetions.


    Unfortunately, it was not as if Nial had much of a choice. He could tell that everyone was trying to create Tier-2 runic armaments, which meant that their ranking would be better than his the moment they seeded.


    At least, this would be the case if he were to follow the normal process to create the best runic armaments he was currently capable of creating.


    The time he studied being a Runicier was simply too short inparison to everyone else, and even if his foundation was great, he didn''t know many engraving techniques, let alone any techniques that were rted to cksmithing and concocting.


    He could only do his best to increase the quality of his runic constetions because his forging and runic solutions were much worse than that of any of the other five finalists!


    Nial knew that which was why he forced himself to break through his shackles and advance further! Even if it would just be a fluke, he had to engrave a proper Advanced runic constetion in the saber!


    Time slowly passed in which all the six finalists were working hard. The vast majority of finalists created runic weapons because they were the most experienced with weapons. Only Ophelia Narit didn''t bother creating a runic weapon. She had created a shield made out of a red ore that nobody could identify.


    She spent three hours creating the shield made out of an alloy with the usage of various grade-2 ores. Through this, the best possible shield for her purpose had been created.


    After spending three hours forging, she had spent an hour creating the runic solutions with which she would engrave the runic constetions on the front and the back of the metal shield.


    The shield''s appearance closely resembled a Celtic shield, which made it looks very unique as its form was oval with two rather big indents on each side of the center of the shield.


    The indents circled from the front and went all the way to the back, which made it easier for Ophelia to connect the runic constetions on the back with the runic constetions on the front.


    This was exactly what Ophelia wanted; to create a runic constetion that was connected with each other from all sides.


    She was a fast engraver and didn''t have any issues engraving numerous miniature Basic runic constetions that ovepped with each other. Ophelia easily added a bunch of Intermediate runic constetions on the shield that already had dozens of basic runic constetions.


    For the following four hours, it looked like she never lifted her head to look at the progress of the others. Her entire focus was on the fiery red Celtic shield in front of her and nothing could distract her.


    Meanwhile, Nial was giving his utmost to engrave a purplish runic constetion on the widest area of the saber in front of him. Arge number of runic constetions had already been engraved on the saber but they were mostly perfect Basic and Intermediate runic constetions.


    The saber could already be considered a peak Tier-1 runic armament, but that was not enough, and Nial knew that very well! His range of perception was solely focused on the saber in front of him, and his [Mana Sense] increased his sensitivity to mana. This allowed him to sense what he was going to engrave with much higher precision.


    Nial had to make sure that he didn''t make a single mistake while engraving and that he would be able to copy-paste the runic constetion that had been imprinted in his mind. He needed a perfection grade of, at least, 75%, which meant that he could only make a few mistakes.


    A single wrong stroke in an important area of the runic constetion would drastically decrease its efficiency, possibly decreasing the perfection grade by more than 10%.


    In the worst possible case, it would destroy the weapon altogether. This would be his worst nightmare, and it was something Nial had to prevent by all means.


    Nial was fully focused on his task ahead. He didn''t even realize that one of the finalists had started to throw a fit, destroying the entire artisan space that belonged to him.


    The finalist had made a big mistake and ended up overestimating his capabilities. He wanted to engrave a perfect Advanced runic constetion to make sure that he would win, especially against Ophelia Narit.


    Both winning the tournament and being considered a Runicier, who was better than a once in a ten thousand years talent, were things that would increase his reputation drastically.


    He had been daydreaming of bing the best Runicier of the new generation, even better than a prodigious Draco. Not many could say that about themselves, which was why all of his runic armaments would be an exclusive brand, increasing the value of everything he created drastically, just because he was the one to have worked on it.


    Unfortunately, he was led by greed and desires that overwhelmed his rational mind. The result was that the Runicier made a mistake by creating a thicker stroke in the advanced runic constetion than he wanted to create, thus, scrapping the runic armament in its entirety!


    The runic constetion was damaged and rendered unusable because of a tiny mistake the young Runicier made. However, this slight mistake was enough to destroy the entire runic armament, just two hours before midnight. The final round would end in two hours, and there was no time for him to attempt reforging a new weapon and to engrave itwith all the necessary runic constetions all over again.


    He had failed miserably and the young Runicier understood this very well. This was why he lost his cool and began creating a ruckus.


    Realizing that now he would humiliate himself and his race by achieving thest ce amongst all the finalists, and losing nearly all the prestige he would have gained just by creating a good runic armament in the final round made him murderously angry.


    His entire being was overflowing with rage and he couldn''t stayposed anymore, which was why he began destroying everything around him.


    In the end, he lost his sanity for a few moments until he was knocked out and removed from the scene by the tournament staff.


    However, despite having been removed, the fit the Runicier threw affected three of the five remaining finalists who lost their concentration as nervousness crept in.


    They began to sweat heavily, and it seemed like they were having problems maintaining their focus. They were at the exact same step as their rival and were about to engrave an advanced runic constetion.


    All of them had learned to engrave numerous basic, intermediate and advanced runic constetions, whether it was for the purpose of training or to create runic armaments on their own.


    With enough time, all of them were able to create Advanced runic constetions at every 10th attempt. At their age, this was very good, but it didn''t help right now, especially with their biggest rival being a prodigious Draco, whose talent was unrivaled and in as day when their eyes fell on to the Celtic shield.


    Looking at the elegance Ophelia demonstrated while engraving runic armaments, they couldn''t help but sigh deeply.


    They were just about to return their attention back to their own runic armaments when they noticed something that caused their bodies to freeze.


    "Is the Celtic shield humming?!"


    **


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