Chapter 13: The Gatekeepers (4)
It wasn't the life-steal effect Blake had hoped for. However, as he examined the blade's crimson sheen from various angles, he couldn't help but smile. Not only did the crimson aura look intimidating, but an enchantment that executed enemies below 5% HP meant he had a higher chance at better loot and could level up significantly faster.
It was such a valuable enchantment that he'd do anything to keep it—possibly even transfer it to his next weapon after Pride's Shackle. With his weapon enchanted, Blake sheathed his katana and stowed it in his inventory.
He let the window hover at the edge of his vision as he pushed the table closer to the workbench to lay out his entire armor set. First, he unrolled the second empty scroll and placed as much of his armor on it as possible. Naturally, it was challenging due to the size mismatch.
Helmet, pauldrons, chest armor, gloves, greaves, and boots—all of these pieces Blake had crafted and painted over a week, using high-quality steel. Durable and strong, the set gave Blake high stats and even a unique skill—far beyond what most early-level players could acquire.
That skill was passive:
Without Blake's input, Pride's Second Coming Set automatically adapted to any attack type. If he faced mixed attacks, he could choose which type to prioritize defending against. Blake loved the skill, unaware of how it reflected his own shift between crafting dedication and battle fervor.
Unaware of such parallels, Blake pressed on with the enchantment. He hovered his hand above his mask—the piece he wanted to enchant, in case enchanting the entire set proved impossible. Channeling his mana and activating the skill, the same process began. Unknown letters blazed onto the white sheet under the armor, ignoring its heavy presence. Then all of the letters sank into the entire armor set!
Seeing what the skill could do, Blake practically glowed with excitement—like a child unwrapping his most-wanted gift on Christmas morning. At least, that was how Vargar saw him.
The ability to control weight and transfer it elsewhere was an incredible advantage. Not only was Blake's armor heavy, but he could also use its weight to pin or disorient enemies before cutting them down with his katana. Reducing the armor's weight meant more agility—crucial to his fighting style. And it offered an element of surprise—no one would expect a steel-clad player to be fast or nimble.
A quest prompt interrupted Blake's euphoria:
A small flicker of bright, golden flames appeared before him, expanding to the size of an adult man's clenched fist. Then it formed a golden apple-like shape with adorable, transparent flame leaves for antennae. The elemental landed on the workbench and looked up at Blake, its little eyes sparkling.
"Sol," Blake said after a brief pause.
At once, Sol's eyes shone even brighter.
Vargar commented, "Ye two are alike."
"How?" Blake asked, puzzled.
Meanwhile, Sol used his remarkable power to fly up and perch on Blake's head, leaf antennae swaying. For Blake, it felt like wearing the most comfortable cap imaginable.
Before Blake could inspect Sol's stats or their connection, the smithy walls behind him trembled and slid apart like hidden doors, revealing a pitch-dark corridor. An inviting breeze swept over Blake and Sol.
The Gatekeepers must have sensed Blake had completed two of the three objectives of his quest. Now it was time to prove he deserved to compete for The Lost Kingdom's throne—that he had not only the crafting prowess and ambition, but also the strength to back it up.
Blake glanced over his shoulder at the black abyss. "Come with us, Vargar. I'll show you that the third objective is the easiest."
In the blink of an eye, Blake equipped all his gear via his character page, encasing himself in his forged items.
Time to see whether Blake's hard work had truly paid off!