
When active, it will usually glow visibly (without losing any of its structural integrity, somehow explanation Steel-based blades will have any heat treatment ruined after exposure to such heated-blade usage, and if you get it glowing hot it will also become malleable and easily deformed, as any blacksmith knows. A hot blade is an edged weapon that somehow heats up, adding the thermal energy of its temperature to the kinetic energy of its blow to achieve Absurd Cutting Power.
