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Shadow Slave

Anvil

Spoilers ahead: this article covers the full story.

AnvilbyIgnoramoose
Fanart by Ignoramoose Fandom
At a glance · Anvil
Given Name
Anvil of Valor[1]
Alias
Vale (Nickname given by Smile of Heaven when they were kids[3])
Titles
King of Swords[2]
Vital Status Killed By Cause of Death
[Reveal]
✞ Deceased
Chapter 2257 Mercy of Shadow
(Death Chapter)

Killed By

Cause of Death
Beheaded
Age
close to 50 (Chapter 1841)
Gender
♂ Male
Race
Human
Spouse
Gwyn
Relatives
Warden (Father)
Mordret (Eldest Son)
Morgan (Daughter)
✞ Madoc (Brother)
Friends
Smile of Heaven (Childhood friend)
Occupation
One of the patriarchs of the great Valor[4]
Affiliation
Broken Sword's Cohort (Former)

Valor Clan

True Name

(FAQs) *


Rank
Transcendent (Saint) (Publicly)[1]
Supreme (Sovereign)[5][6]
Conduit of Power
Swords[7][8]
Core
Soul Core
Dream Gate
(Click here to see description)
Abilities
(Refer to Anvil's other abilities)
Novel
Chapter 367 Fog of Time (Mentioned)
Chapter 1586 Grey Sky (Appearance)
Article contents
  1. Appearance
  2. Youth
  3. King of Swords
  4. Shadow
  5. Personality
  6. Aspect, Ability, & Flaw
  7. Flaw
  8. Other Abilities
  9. Spellsmith and Forging Related
  10. Sorcery
  11. Background
  12. Cohort
  13. Trivia
  14. References
  15. Site Navigation
“ Welcome, warriors of the Sword Domain. We have carved out a piece of this cursed land and established a fortress atop the ancient bones of a dead deity. Our blades are sharp, and our will is triumphant… for now. The forces of Song have had a hard time achieving what we had achieved with relative ease, but there is no wisdom in belittling their valor. Those who underestimate the enemy are destined to fall. The cost of arrogance is death. ”

― Anvil's Speech,
Chapter 1853 The King's Speech


Anvil of Valor was the former heir of the Valor Clan and one of the Sovereigns.[1][9]

Appearance

Youth

When he turned seven, he had somehow grown into a mini version of his father, one could already recognize his father's features in his earnest, serious face. He was weirdly fit for someone his age, but the training regime Warden forced upon him was way too intense.[10]

King of Swords

A tall man with broad shoulders and posture as straight and sharp as a steel sword wearing a long vermilion cloak.[11]

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a lean, but mighty physique. Powerful muscles rolled under his glistening skin, and his sweat was evaporating in the unbearable heat of a crucible. His bare torso was painted in shades of vermilion by its angry light.

The man had dark hair and a thick, but dignified beard. The expression on his noble face was harsh and austere, and his grey eyes were as cold as tempered steel.

— Chapter 1840 Bathed in Starlight

One was a tall man with dark hair and cold, steely eyes. He was clad in heavy dark armor, emanating a suffocating aura of dominance and oppression. A vermilion cloak fluttered behind him like a wave, its vibrant color in sharp contrast with his bleak, ruthless gaze.

He was Anvil of Valor, the King of Swords.

— Chapter 2210 Song, Vale

Anvil is a tall man in dark armor with a vermilion cloak draped around his shoulders. He was naturally imposing in a way that made others cower, with broad shoulders and a mighty build. His eyes were grey and cold like tempered steel, their gaze oppressive enough to make one shudder. His hair was black, and a full beard obscured the lower part of his austere face. Despite being supposed to be around fifty, he appeared no older than thirty. His most striking feature was something invisible and intangible. An otherworldly quality that made people look at him, pay attention, and even kneel in front of him.[12]

The King of Swords had a commanding presence. He possessed a cold indifference, but calm and regal.[13]

Shadow

The former King's face was still and impassive, and his gaze was strangely both full of cold intelligence and empty, lacking the spark of life. He still retained his sublime skill as a blacksmith and artisan, as well as the keen judgment necessary to employ it, but not the will and spirit that made one a person.

The shadow of Anvil had neither desires nor emotions, existing in a tranquil state of silent emptiness.

Still… he looked at peace, almost content, having been given a chance to dedicate himself to his craft even in death.

— shadow of the King of Swords,
Chapter 2284 Shadow Smith

Personality

Anvil did not waste a lot of time, speaking in a calm and concise manner — as if the very concept of wasting words was offensive to him. It did not seem like he was trying to explain something to the gathered powerhouses or wished to persuade them... instead, he was simply stating his will.
— Chapter 1841 Evil Minds That Plot Destruction

Anvil was a serious young man with impeccable conduct and exemplary battle prowess. His family's fame led other Sleepers to admire him. He seemed more interested in knowing weapons than wielding them.[14]


According to Morgan's point of view in Chapter 1980, Anvil is a relentless perfectionist, driven by an unyielding desire to create something flawless in a deeply imperfect world. His demanding nature leaves no room for failure, discarding anything or anyone that does not meet his exacting standards. Cold and harsh in his approach, Anvil sees himself as an artist shaping the world through discipline and control, with a singular focus on realizing his vision. He views others, including his daughter Morgan, as tools to be forged and wielded rather than as individuals with their own worth.[15]

Anvil's behavior was shaped by his frequent journeys into the forbidden realm hidden in the eerie mirror under Bastion, from which he miraculously returned alive each time. These perilous experiences seemed to profoundly affect him, leading him to isolate himself for weeks in the library or the forge upon his return. Over time, his demeanor shifted beyond the measured coldness and nonchalance he had adopted after his bitter conversation with Jest, manifesting in stranger quirks. His most extreme reaction was ordering the destruction of every mirror in Bastion, punishing those who failed to comply with severe consequences. Additionally, he developed an obsessive perfectionism, as if driven by a deep hatred of the very concept of Flaws. While Jest dismissed these changes as harmless eccentricities, they hinted at something far more disturbing—something Anvil had encountered within the mirror realm that left a lasting and terrifying impact.[16]

After his brutal battle with the anomaly, he appears eerily calm despite his severe injuries. However, when he feared for Gwyn's life, panic and desperation broke through, revealing that his aloofness had been a fragile facade. After Mordret's birth, paranoia took hold—he became convinced his son wasn't truly his, despite all evidence. His final warmth died with Gwyn, and at her funeral, he vowed to not fail anymore, fully embracing emotional detachment. The loss of Smile of Heaven shattered what remained of his restraint, driving him to strike a ruthless deal with Asterion to kill Broken Sword. Once a warrior who fought for others, Anvil became a cold, calculating force, consumed by doubt, grief, and an unrelenting pursuit of power.[17]

His obsession with creating a "flawless" weapon revealed a deeper, disturbing madness. He did not care about winning battles or his own life—only about his obsessive pursuit of perfection through the creation of an ideal "sword".[18]

That obsession had centered around Nephis, whom he saw as the "flawless sword" he had been trying to create. He had claimed to have shaped Nephis into what she had become, having guided her from a lost girl to a "radiant star." His ultimate goal had been to forge Nephis into the perfect weapon by making her kill him in a final act, thus completing her transformation into the flawless "sword" he had envisioned.[18]

His actions and thoughts had revealed his complete disregard for attachments, driven by a debilitating flaw. His intense focus on creating a flawless weapon (or being) had consumed him, and he had no interest in conventional victories. Instead, he had hoped to lose to Nephis, seeing her as the final step in his quest for perfection.[18]


Aspect, Ability, & Flaw

His Aspect gave him a high affinity for metal, which he used to control flying swords and enhance his swordsmanship in ingenious and quite insidious ways.[14]

He can control countless flying swords that seemed to follow his will, flowing across the sky, moving with clear and hypnotizing, lethal intent.[11] He was terrifying, more like a force of nature than a human being. His will was the law, and his kingdom was determined by his sword. His authority was absolute within his kingdom's borders.[19]

He was able to transform Nightmare Creature into a Memory but the process was not disclosed.[20]


Show/Hide Aspect Abilities

Received in Ability Chapter Mentioned Status Aspect Abilities
First Awakening
(After First Nightmare) 		Dormant (Sleeper) 2088 Active His Dormant Ability, first seen as a Sleeper, granted him a deep connection to metals, allowing him limited control to enhance his swordsmanship by subtly pushing the blade in battle, making his attacks both deadly and unpredictable.[21]
Awakening
(After first escape from Dream Realm) 		Awakened (Awakened) 2088 Active As an Awakened, his Dormant Ability advanced significantly, enabling him to control a flying sword and use it to slay Nightmare Creatures without physical contact. It was described as an evolution of his control over metal and swords. Though, there was a chance that his Awakened and Ascended Abilities had nothing to do with combat and were instead meant to be used for crafting.[21]
Ascension
(After Second Nightmare) 		Ascended (Master) 2088 Active Note: His Ascended Ability as mentioned in Chpater 2088 may had nothing to do with combat, and were instead meant to be used for crafting.
Transcendance
(After Third Nightmare) 		Transcendent
(Saint) 		Active Note: His Transformation Ability remains a mystery as Sunny had never seen Anvil use or manifest this Transcendent form as mentioned in Chpater 2088.
Supremacy
(After Fourth Nightmare) 		Supreme
(Sovereign) 		Active (No information)

Anvil possesses a territorial domain.[22]

His domain extended into the real version of Bastion. He ruled the ruined castle and killed anything that tried to crawl out of the water.[23]

He expanded his Domain using the Citadels but did not limit himself to it. His true authority came from people wielding swords, empowering them.[24]

Flaw

Show/Hide

Note: Click Show/Hide Spoiler to reveal hidden information.

In Chapter 2163 (Titled "Iron Heart"), Anvil revealed his Flaw, that he must lose everything he cherishes. He blamed his father's death on his Flaw and concluded that the only way to escape it was to cherish nothing and no one.

Anvil's Flaw, as described by Jest, is his complete lack of fear due to his lack of value for anything, including his own life. Jest claimed that this extreme fearlessness stems from Anvil's detachment—he does not cherish anything enough to fear losing it. Jest sees this as a dangerous flaw, one that requires someone else to value Anvil's life on his behalf.[25]

Other Abilities

Sorcery

Anvil's sorcery was centered around the creation of a vast runic array, constructed using flying swords that acted as conduits for his essence. These swords formed intricate runes in a glowing red darkness, not on a flat plane but in three-dimensional space, making the array exceedingly complex and difficult to discern. Unlike traditional runes, which are written with ink, carved into stone, or woven from ethereal light, Anvil's runes were "written" with sharp steel. The array's purpose was to channel and focus energy, much like a prism focuses light, though its exact function was unclear. Cassie speculated it might be some form of prismatic confluence or magical fulcrum.[28]

The array was designed to assemble itself at the critical moment, leaving no time for Condemnation, the Cursed Tyrant, to react. Anvil used the array to enhance a single upward slash of his sword, infusing it with overwhelming power. This attack summoned an "endless invisible blade" that cut through the world itself, even slicing through the distorted space manipulated by the Tyrant. The slash succeeded in injuring Condemnation, deeply cutting its wrist, but the damage was not severe. The runic array's power was entirely consumed by this one act, and while the array dimmed, the invisible blade did not dissipate, continuing its upward trajectory.[28]

Anvil wields an extraordinary power capable of cutting not just physical objects but abstract concepts. For instance, his sword was observed destroying a cloud of red pollen by severing its "concept", rendering the pollen inert and lifeless. His swords can annihilate powerful Nightmare Creatures effortlessly, as seen when countless blades filled the sky and rained down to obliterate a horde of abominations. Initially, it was unclear if his feats are limited to his Domain or if they reflect his inherent Supreme-level abilities.[29]

Other instances:

  • He cut the very concept keeping Ivory Island aloft, briefly disrupting the sorcery that made it fly (Chapters 2235-2236)
  • His Will manifests through his cursed sword that attacks the essence of a person: Cuts courage, determination, hope, and even killing intent (Chapter 2244)
  • He distorts space itself, displacing a fragment of the Shadow Realm, stripping Sunny of its protection and power (Chapter 2244)
Anvil's Will is portrayed as an overwhelmingly powerful force — the true weapon that makes him nearly invincible. It is tyrannical, indomitable, and honed like a blade. His sheer determination and presence exert crushing pressure on the soul. This weaponization of Will shows that Anvil doesn't just fight with strength — he breaks his enemies from within.[30]

Background

Cohort

Reveal

Anvil of Valor was formerly a member of Broken Sword's cohort. Among the Sovereigns, he was the most renowned. He was mentioned many times in the texts describing the human expansion into the northern territories of the Dream Realm, as well as the history of Bastion.[1] He was responsible for slaying the giant forest titan that surrounded and harassed Bastion for decades since it was first established.[31][1] Later on, the traces of him disappeared but there was no mention of his death.[1]

He was one from "Aster, Song, Vale" who had returned from the Fourth Nightmare wreathed in a new authority.[32]

See also: Broken Sword's Cohort

Trivia

  • He created an enchanted talisman to protect Ascended Welthe from Mordret's possession.[33][34][35]
  • He sent Caster to kill Nephis.[36]
  • In Chapter 1186, hundreds of unique swords appeared before the Battle of the Black Skull started, all of them had a symbol of an anvil pierce through by a sword either etched on its blade or engrave on its pommel. They are all forged Memories of the King of Swords.
  • The King of Sword, Anvil, has created millions of swords, including those used by the Knights of Valor and Paladins. He also forged the storm of swords that he had commanded in Antarctica.[37]
  • In Chapter 1108, he prepared tools to trap and destroy his eldest child, but Whispering Blade and Morgan are hesitant to use them.
  • In Chapter 1586, the King of Swords had entered the waking world, bringing with him the formidable strength of a Sovereign's Domain.
  • In Chapter 1587, Anvil directly confronted the harrowing creature identified as the same Great Titan that had previously decimated the armies of both Valor and Song during the Battle of the Black Skull. It was only mentioned that he and Ki Song (as Sovereigns) were actively holding back the Great horrors, including this Titan, to maintain control of the battlefield and ensure the continued operation of the Dream Gates used for civilian evacuation.
  • According to Anvil, there was no one in the world who knew Ki Song better than him.[38]
  • Orum stated that he displayed impressive physical strength and endurance that is a little monstrous.[14]
  • In Jest's early memories, he was a timid boy, not quite three yet. He had a serious expression on his cute face.[39]
  • When Anvil was little, he did nothing but study and practice all day long.[10]
  • Anvil and his older brother Madoc lost their mother during the First Gate Crisis, a catastrophic event where Nightmare Gates began appearing on Earth.[10]
  • Broken Sword might have been the deadliest warrior of their cohort, but it was Anvil who was responsible for equipping his companions with the best Memories and gear.[16]
  • He harbored an inexplicable suspicion that Mordret was not his.[17]
  • In Chapter 2274, June and Kim pass a ruined cathedral where the sound of hammering echoes. The blacksmith is a shadow tirelessly forges weapons for the Shadow Legion.
  • A cocktail was themed after Anvil named the Old Valor. The drink was nearly transparent with sharply cut ice cubes.[40]
  • The King of Swords left behind certain secret inheritances—valuable and hidden things that very few people knew existed and fewer were able to retrieve. Those were plundered by Mordret while hunting down the extended Valor family.[41]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chapter 369 Hidden Forces
  2. ↑ Chapter 1108 Gathering Information
  3. ↑ Chapter 2166 The Returned
  4. ↑ Chapter 577 Only You
  5. ↑ Chapter 1102 Opposing Forces
  6. ↑ Chapter 1229 Seventh Night
  7. ↑ Chapter 1218 Hunted
  8. ↑ Chapter 1904 Queen's Blood
  9. ↑ Chapter 740 Dream is Collapsing
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Chapter 2156 Flexible Steel
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chapter 1586 Grey Sky
  12. ↑ Chapter 1841 Evil Minds That Plot Destruction
  13. ↑ Chapter 1854 The Shadow's Response
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Chapter 1936 Adulthood
  15. ↑ Chapter 1980 Flawed Creation
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chapter 2164 Nothing to Lose
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Chapter 2173 Paper Armor
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Chapter 2240 Flawless Blade
  19. ↑ Chapter 1587 Dream Gate
  20. ↑ Chapter 2095 King and Jester
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Chapter 2088 Fragments of War (25)
  22. ↑ Chapter 1528 New Eden
  23. ↑ Chapter 1640 Harrowing Reality
  24. ↑ Chapter 1679 Beacon of Hope
  25. ↑ Chapter 2139 Bad Timing
  26. ↑ Chapter 2048 Different Foundations
  27. ↑ Chapter 1689 Satisfactory Answer
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Chapter 2090 Fragments of War (27)
  29. ↑ Chapter 2082 Fragments of War (19)
  30. ↑ Chapter 2244 Seventh Strike
  31. ↑ Chapter 363 Citizen Sunny
  32. ↑ Chapter 368 Aster, Song, Vale
  33. ↑ Chapter 587 The Explosion
  34. ↑ Chapter 697 Friendly Visit
  35. ↑ Chapter 1108 Gathering Information
  36. ↑ Chapter 1126 Unexpected Revelation
  37. ↑ Chapter 1644 Royal Forge
  38. ↑ Chapter 1853 The King's Speech
  39. ↑ Chapter 2155 Human Connections
  40. ↑ Chapter 2291 An Elegant and Noble Outing
  41. ↑ Chapter 2496 Between the Cracks

Sources & history

Anvil · Shadow Slave Wiki

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Retrieved 2026-11-04 · Article version 1