Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

After going through the soul contract a last time the contract was finally signed. Most of the clauses were for a time when Seth or maybe Jonah was not there anymore. All the talk of immortals had made him think of what would happen after he was no more.

Tryx was going to become an item, that may exist for centuries. Unless the mask was broken she would live forever. She would need to have some agency for herself in a future he may not experience. He had not really thought of things like this before.

With the soul contract fixed, it was time for the last hard part, to replicate the mask using <Soul Forging>. Still, he persevered through it and found a way to use the original as a template, since the soul was incorporeal. He worked as quickly as possible while staying precise thanks to the skills of Wraithguard and Forgeright.

He almost threw away his hammer in relief when he finally finished. He was satisfied with the state for the soul mask and quickly turned to infusing the soul armament and quenching the mask in the Waters of Styx.

<Ding! You have finished a legendary item! >

<Ding! The effect of a tool has changed your item.>

<Ding! A synergy between powers has changed your item.>

Face of Deception

Legendary

Phys. Defense:1500

Mag. Defense: 1500

Durability: 9000

1. Blessing of Wind

2.+200% Power on Skills and Spells

3. Azazel's Deception

4. Trait: Natural Charm

5.+35% Power on Illusion Spells

6. Fair Faced

7. Passive Skill: Azazel's Small Illusion Magic

8. Active Skill: Curse of Tryx

9. Active Skill: Fearful Evil Eye

10. Active Skill: Maddening Evil Eye

It's strange..such a little thing.

A mask with enrapturing beauty at first glance, but hiding a dark secret. A wicked item from the hands of Master Smith, the first Master Blacksmith and Master Enchanter of Urth. The Mask may have unforeseen effects depending on its wearer.

Requirement: Tryx Approval, Master Smith's Approval>

There were a few effects Seth had not expected, but the weirdest was still the flavor text, which fell out of the ordinary, the blacksmith couldn't explain what it meant.

Azazel's Deception was the result of the forging ballad and had a "medium chance" to make the viewer perceive the wearer as a loved one, or in a good light. It was a vague effect, but good to have, Seth guessed.

On the other hand, there was Fair Faced, which had a chance to enrapture someone based on their intelligence and willpower. This was similar to a stun, which could give an advantage in battle. This worked well with Natural Charm, which could give a similar effect.

Seth had an inkling about the unforeseen effects these three effects could lead to. Especially when looking at the skills. <Curse of Tryx> and <Azazel's Small Illusion Magic> which were controlled by the item's ego. The first was the original power of the succubus, while the latter was the improved illusion magic that the demon soul brought with it.

Those in addition to the evil eyes and the improvement of illusion Spells Charon's Obol added, would really lead to haphazard and diverse effects. Then, what if someone like Jonah wore it in combat?

But most importantly: He was finished. Now was the time to distribute the new weapons and set off. Everyone was already waiting for him.

…

Why were they waiting for him? Because Seth was the fastest. Everyone, including Cromwel, had entered Legion, while Seth was shooting through the maintenance tunnel like a bolt of oiled lightning. Since the tunnel was an almost straight line and even ground he reached a crazy speed to reach Agra in record time.

Seth had really strained himself to finish the items quickly and they had set off within three hours after Karina's worrying message. They were also unable to reach the advanced troops. With the bard's speed, it was only seven hours since Karina lost contact with the Sapling when Seth reached the mana-gathering formation and rushed the way toward Mount Agra.

Despite his hurry, despite his speed, Seth came too late. When the blacksmith crossed the ridge to finally see Agra, his heart dropped. After he took a moment to take in the sight, his blood started boiling.

<Ding! Your skill Calm Reaction lv.7 had become Calm Reaction lv.8> He heard it but was too preoccupied to take note of the message.

Half the lower city where the Hangingtree had once stood was laid to waste. In the middle of the chaos laid a massive giant made of black marble, bound by the vines and branches of what was left of the tree. It was apparent the tree had sacrificed itself to stop the behemoth, exuding a disgusting and unholy power.

Seth's eyes did not linger for long on the thing that probably broke the barrier. What caught his eye was the situation in the city. The streets and buildings were flooded with blood and corpses of all state's death. They were not just adventurers. Although any adult could gain a class and levels, scattered among the dead were clearly children...

Parents and the elderly wearing cheap items trying to protect their children. <Theia's Vision> showed him the scenes in excruciating detail.

Agra, as a city, was not big. It seemed like they didn't have any places to evacuate the civilians within the holy barrier.

The Chimeras and the Faer were locked in an unnerving battle, cooperating with the warriors of Mount Agra scattered across the city. But the immortals were not the real problem. They posed no threat to the high-level troops of Minas Mar, although the people fought them rather carefully, executing precise incapacitating cuts instead of dismembering moves.

What really kept them all on their toes during the fight were the elegant ephemeral figures jumping around the city. Using the soldiers as distractions to evade the warriors, they went after the weaker civilians, showing no distinction between men, women, or children

<Ding! Your skill Calm Reaction lv.8 had become Calm Reaction lv.9>

Seth immediately recognized the glow people, the Tuatha De. Those monsters that hid their cruelty behind their beauty. What were the things from the fogs of Ypsilon doing here? Why did they come here? What was going on? One thing was for sure, they clearly cooperated with the troops of Y-City.

It was not the first time Seth faced a terrible tragedy ever since his journey started all the way back in Alpha. Yet, most of the time in the past he was too busy with himself to step up or he interfered for his own reasons.

If Seth was clear about one thing in his life, then it was that he wasn't a hero. He didn't think about the suffering that was not directly in front of him, one may even say that his empathy was a little lacking. He knew that one person alone could never save everyone, so why try? He never had the desire to save the world from all its ailments, but...

In the end, he returned to Urth when he could have led a peaceful life in Ora. He did interfere in situations that had nothing to do with him. As much as liked to look the other way for his own mental health, as much as he found excuses for himself, he did care.

Especially so when there was someone to blame. This wasn't a calamity or a tragedy nobody could have prevented. This was the result of a stupid political agenda, some senseless human greed... These people were killed for someone's egotistical plans. Seeing so many people die because of something so vain, his emotion started to boil over and he wanted to lash out.

Suddenly felt a cooling sensation that slightly calmed his thoughts but not his heart.

<Ding! Your skill Calm Reaction lv.9 had become Calm Reaction lv.MAX>

He wanted to vent, he wanted to shout, but he couldn't even start hating the skill, but even when it took away the satisfaction of venting his emotions, it helped clear his thoughts. Thanks to <Theia's Vision> taking in everything before him took just the blink of an eye.

There was no time to be stuck in his thoughts. He had to act.