Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

“Could you finish the snake head? Then I would start on the belt,” he offered. Sivri looked over at the crown.

The snake was almost done, but Seth realized that he was getting lost in details. The best way to deal with work like this was to give it to someone else. His time was better spent working on the belt. Sivri, as Goldsmith and Enchanter, had already proven her aesthetic talents.

Apart from the snake head, the crown was only missing the inlays and engravings. Both were tasks Sivri could finish instead of him. After all, it was her who had cut the <Soothing Onyx> for the crown. The blueprint simply defined a black mineral or gem of epic rating, so Seth had gotten it from the Auction house because of its benign effects.

“Alright!”, she answered happily, seemingly satisfied with the more artistic task, over stringing together beads and ornaments.

The two craftsmen switched their tasks and Seth began working on the belt. It was a wide belt, covering the whole belly and transitioning into an armor skirt. Similar to the Usekh, it was a mix of scale, chain, and ornaments.

Scales and chain were the blacksmith’s calling, while the golden dwarf had already prepared the ornaments and strings of beads that would be interwoven with the armor. Although he called them scales, they were closer to armor plates and similar in size to the Wyvern Scales Seth had used on the Wyvern Armor back in the day.

As the scales took shape, Sivri was busy in the background filing and shaping away at the crown. The few glances Seth threw in her direction calmed him. He had definitely made the right decision, as the rough head of the cobra now started looking fierce and dangerous as if it would bite any moment.

After the blacksmith forged and engraved the Scales, Sivri was also done with the snake and moved to the black inlays on the crown. Seth now moved on to the tedious task of making mail from <Blood of Maahes>.

The chain skirt would be the foundation to which primarily the ornaments would be attached. Although the scales would also be fastened to the mail, they were mostly supported by the wide belt. Like the Usekh, the mix of armor and ornaments would create a complicated formation that would increase the protection and speed of the wearer.

<Ding! You have created a special item! +100p Power of Existence>

“I’m done, should I help?” Sivri asked three hours later, shortly after Seth heard the notification.

“Oh? Let me see!” the blacksmith said excitedly. He took the crown from the golden dwarf, who brought it over.

<Slaughter's Crown

Special

Slaughter's -Set 1/8

Durability: 4444

Phys.-Defense: 2400

Mag.-Defense: 1600

Mag.-Damage: 650

1.+130& Mental Defense

2.+75% Power of Maahes' Divine Skills

3.+130 Willpower

4.+130 Intelligence

5. The Scarlet Lord

6. Active Skill: Royal Decree

7.+35% Health Regeneration

Set Effect:

...

Crown & Usekh: 2/8

Active Skill: Royal Duel

+25% to the suppression effect of Royal Decree

...

A crown made of special materials and created by the hands of Master Smith, the first Master Blacksmith, Master Enchanter, and Master Goldsmith on Urth. A holy armament of Maahes and Part of the Slaughterer's Set, designed by Ptah, the Heliopolian God of Craftsmen,.

Requirements: Chosen of Maahes>

Similar to the Usekh, the crown leaned more towards magical skills, though its effects were closer to the concept of royal dignity. Or at least it seemed like it until he read the effects of the Scarlet Lord. The effect raised overall stats by 50% when the wearer was covered in blood.

The Active Skill: Royal Decree, was more in line to what the name suggested. The skill was similar to <Lion Roar> or Seth's <Dragonmight>, as it could suppress opponents in a large area of effect. The crown also inherited the effects of <Benign Onyx> and increased health Regeneration.

It also unlocked a new set effect. In synergy with the Usekh, the effect of <Royal Decree> was increased and it unlocked the skill <Royal Duel>, which would improve the wearer's power in single combat.

“Now, all that is left is the belt... I would be glad if you helped me finish it.”

The blacksmith was working on the chain for the skirt and gladly accepted her help in weaving and riveting the rings. Together, they managed to finish the chain skirt an hour later and began adding the ornaments according to the blueprint.

As for the wide belt everything would attach to, there was no specification for the type of leather to be used in the blueprint. This was why Seth had sent a message to Wedan before they had even begun working and the reason for the dwarf's visit. The bard had remembered that they had some quite special leather at home.

He was lucky, as the young dwarf had not yet started working with the leather of the Guivre, that the leader of Gamma Resistance had offered to them. The hide of a quasi-dragon seemed fitting for the holy armaments of a god.

In addition, it was incredibly tough and durable, with the effects of improved defense, strength, and speed. It was not the dragon scales that offered damage negation, but the Guivre also wasn’t a legendary dragon. If Seth had to come up with a comparison, then a Guivre was probably closer to an Imugi like Tatzel, or maybe his mother before she became a golem deity.

It didn’t take too much effort for the blacksmith with <Sewing> on the craftsman level to stitch and reinforce the leather to the blueprint's specifications. They added the various embellishments before finally adding the scales and chain skirt.

<Ding! You have created a special item! +100p Power of Existence>

<Ding! You have finished a special set! +1000p Power of Existence>

<Your title: “Acknowledged by the Gods” had improved! +20-> +30 points to all Stats.>

<Ding! Your skill Sewing(Craftsman)lv.1 has become Sewing(Craftsman)lv.2!>

The second notification of the day sounded, as they finished the final piece of the Slaughterer’s Set. And it came together with an improvement of the title, too. Yet, Seth felt a little underwhelmed. He expected more from a special set, however, he accepted it since he didn't really put any of himself in it. He just produced someone else's blueprint.

On the other hand, his <Sewing> rose, making him quite happy.

<Slaughter's Belt

Special

Slaughter's -Set 1/8

Durability: 4444

Phys.-Defense: 2600

Mag.-Defense: 3100

1.+75% Power of Maahes' Divine Skills

2.+100 Strength

3.+130 Agility

4.+130 Endurance

5. Battle Dance

6. Active Skill: Weather Tackle

7. 10% Overall Power up under the open Sky.

8. Guivre Hide

Set Effect:

Both Bracers:2/8

Active Skill: Storm Shield

+40% Defense when blocking with the bracers.

Both Shinguards: 2/8

Active Skill: Storm Charge

+25% Movement Speed

Usekh: x/8

Skills of set items have no cost, only cooldown.

<Royal Decree> is enhanced by 25% if the crown is equipped.

Crown & Usekh: 2/8

Active Skill: Royal Duell - In the face of Royal Dignity, a single opponent is weakened based on the difference in strength,

+25% to the suppression effect of Royal Decree

Usekh& Scale & Armor, Belt:3/8

+50% Overall Defense

Passive Skill: Force Shield

Set-effect 8/8

+75% to the Power of Maahes' Divine Skills

All Skills using a bladed Weapon are raised by 5 levels.

Active Skill: Protection of Maahes

Active Skill: Joy of Blood

A belt made of special materials and created by the hands of Master Smith, the first Master Blacksmith, Master Enchanter, and Master Goldsmith on Urth. A holy armament of Maahes and Part of the Slaughterer's Set, designed by Ptah, the Heliopolian God of Craftsmen.

Requirements: Chosen of Maahes>

Seth checked the final piece with interest., especially because he wanted to see what exactly the leather would do. The Guivre Hide, actually raise Defense by 15%, Movement Speed by 10, and Strength by 30 points. Not bad at all.

“Battle Dance”, the special effect of the belt raised the wearer's agility the longer they were in combat. The skill <Weather Tackle> was a charge skill that ended in a body check. The wearer would elementalize based on the current weather, and deal 200% magic damage of that element to the target.

As for the final set effect, it added another two active skills. <Protection of Maahes> was one of the few defensive skills Mike would possess and it allowed him to lower his own defense, to raise the defense of a target by double of what he lowered.

As for the <Joy of Blood> one could call it a survival skill, as it added Life Steal to the user's attacks for one minute, giving the wearer the chance to replenish their vigor during battle. After checking the belt and seeing that everything was in order, he finally sank down on his chair.

“Phew, finally. Did we skip lunch?” Seth asked tired, looking at the time.

“It’s early afternoon. You could go look for Mina and the others to have a late lunch or early dinner,” Sivri suggested.

“You don’t want to come along?” the bard asked, curious why she was excluding herself.

“Yesterday was fun, but also tiresome,” Sivri said apologetically. Seth nodded, he understood what she meant. Being with others could be fun, but it was also stressful, especially when one didn’t know the others too well. As a shut-in for much of his life, Seth got that.

“It’s alright. Just take a rest. I guess, even golems can have mental fatigue if they have a soul and an ego.”

Leaving Sivri to guard the shop, Seth went looking for Mina and the others.