[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 145: Blacksmith

You have unlocked the [Blacksmith] Profession.

[Blacksmith]

Bent over anvils, their arms like mighty pistons, their forges hotter than the depths of hell, Blacksmiths are renowned across all the Shardrunes as being the basis for most great works. They may not all make the most legendary weapons, but without Blacksmiths many advancements would never come to pass.

Whether simple or cunning, a Blacksmith can create things out of metal that are the stuff of dreams and nightmares alike. Blacksmiths work with raw ores, smelting them into ingots, then working those base materials into final products. As a First Order Profession, Blacksmiths are restricted in what metals they can work, however their advancement allows them to acquire the use of new metals, expanding their repertoire. As a First Order Profession, Blacksmiths gain the following Stats per Level Up:

+4 Strength | +4 Vigor | +4 Dexterity

+2 Awareness

Starting Skill Spheres

[Forge], [Smelt], [Repair]

Starting Ability

[Desynthesis]

Starting Trait

[Skin Tempering]

Mana Types

[Fire]

Starting Equipment

[Simple Hammer], [Simple Anvil], [Simple Pliers], [Mobile Forge]

Sam liked the sound of that far more than he thought he would. With only a moment’s hesitation, he confirmed the selection and immediately was dunked head-first into the world of metal, hammers, pliers, anvils, and countless other tools and methods of bending some of the hardest materials known to man to his will.

“Sam, you okay?” Raiko asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Yeah,” he said slowly. “It was just… a lot. Like when you got your first Job, y’know? Everything hit me all at once and my brain is still about a mile back, trying to catch up.”

Komachi looked up worriedly, her eyes wide, pools of darkness with a thin ring of emerald. As it became abundantly clear that Sam wasn’t actually hurt, Komachi relaxed and nuzzled up against him.

Was it his imagination, or did she look a little fluffier and fatter?

Petting her soft golden chinchilla fur, Sam looked over all the new things he received, trying to acclimatize himself to them.

[Forge]

(Blacksmith Skill) (F-Class)

(★Common)

The key Skill Sphere for all Blacksmiths. Allows the Blacksmith to Forge items, imbuing them with both physical and magical prowess of the Blacksmith. This is the core of all creation and as such, the most important Skill Sphere any Smith may ever know. Grants a minuscule bonus to the effect of Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, and Awareness when using [Smelt].

[Smelt]

(Blacksmith Skill) (F-Class)

(★Common)

The second-most important Skill Sphere for Blacksmiths and indeed, all Smiths across the Shardrunes. [Smelt] allows the Blacksmith to melt down ore, extracting precious metal in the process. Through [Smelt], a Smith’s life begins, allowing them to create ingots and refined metal from crude rock containing trace amounts of such sought after metals as mythril, darksteel, and adaman. Grants a minuscule bonus to the effect of Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, and Awareness when using [Smelt].

[Repair]

(Blacksmith Skill) (F-Class)

(★Common)

A Blacksmith is only as good as their tools, and the ability to repair them to good standing is paramount. [Repair] allows a Blacksmith to better comprehend the damages done to Smithing-based items, and then to properly bring them back to their former glory. Additional bonuses are added for success and speed of progress if any other Maintenance or Repair Skill Spheres are attained. Grants a minuscule bonus to the effect of Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, and Awareness when using [Repair].

[Desynthesis]

(Blacksmith Ability) (F-Class)

(★Common)

Sometimes a Blacksmith doesn’t want the creation they just made. Perhaps there is a flaw that they could not bear to have their name attached to. Cue [Desynthesis]. By using [Desynthesis], a Blacksmith is able to break down the Smithing-based item into its component parts. Some items are lost in the process, with more of the ingredients being recouped the closer this Ability’s rarity is to the item being [Desynthesized]. Grants a minuscule bonus to the effect of Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, and Awareness when using [Desynthesis].

[Skin Tempering]

(Blacksmith Trait) (F-Class)

(★Common)

Not all Blacksmiths require heavy dragon hide aprons. Some have built up their skin to resemble the tough hide, imparting a powerful Fire Resistance as well as general Physical Resistance. When a Blacksmith deals with temperatures hot enough to melt adaman, and enough force to shatter rock with a swing, day in and day out, their bodies are forced to adapt or expire. Grants a minuscule bonus to the effect of Strength, Vigor, Dexterity, and Awareness when using [Skin Tempering].

Fire Mana Attunement has morphed into Fire Mana Affinity.

Your Fire Mana Affinity has reached (★☆ Uncommon I).

That last trait made Sam sit up and pay more attention.

A Blacksmithing trait that increases my Fire and Physical resistance? Yes, please!

It made sense, but damn did it feel good to have something that paired perfectly with his build. Not only did the [Skin Tempering] work to make him more resistant to Fire and Physical damage, but it would no doubt serve him well around the forge and hammers he was likely to be using.

All the abilities seemed useful, but perhaps most important was the stat spread. It was perfect.

Okay, maybe not perfect, because he sure as hell would have loved some Mind, but he had to admit it fitted well with his current stats. Barring Voidknight, which gave equal stats to everything, he now had two pillars of progression that raised his core stats of Strength, Vigor, and Dexterity with every level.

When Sam got to the starting equipment, he started as the first item materialized and landed with a heavy thump nearby. When he saw the gleam of iron out of the corner of his eye, Sam grabbed the hammer and inspected it.

[Simple Hammer]

(Blacksmith Tool) (F-Class)

(★ Common)

Enhancements

Craftsmanship II | Quality Chance I

Refinement I

+2 [Forge] | +1 [Desynthesis]

Though simple, this hammer is well-made and sturdy. Any novice Blacksmith would be well-served with its no-nonsense approach to function over form. Most Blacksmiths start off with hand-me-down tools that have seen a great deal of use and abuse, but this tool is as new and unmarred as a freshly cooled ingot of iron.

Sam hadn’t expected anything major with the tools. In fact, he honestly expected that he would have to make the tools himself. How, he wasn’t exactly sure. Maybe smash some rocks together and then go from there?

He was elated to have a Blacksmithing tool, especially one that seemed to be rather good for its rarity.

Thanks to the Blacksmithing information rattling around in his brain, he had an inkling as to what the enhancements did. Craftsmanship II improved one’s crafting ability, and quality chance increased the odds of creating a higher quality item.

The fact that it added to his [Forge] and [Desynthesis] was beyond good. He thought it was special until he received the next item.

[Simple Anvil]

(Blacksmith Tool) (F-Class)

(★ Common)

Enhancements

Craftsmanship I | Quality Chance I

Crafting Speed II

+1 [Forge] | +1 [Repair]

Sturdy and strong, this [Simple Anvil] is unadorned beauty made material. What it lacks in frills, it more than makes up for with its weighty heft and solidness that can take a beating without ever letting down its Blacksmith. Most Blacksmiths start off with hand-me-down tools that have seen a great deal of use and abuse, but this tool is as new and unmarred as a freshly cooled ingot of iron.

If the [Simple Hammer] made a thump, then the [Simple Anvil] made a hearty, bone-shaking, THUNK! when it landed just outside of the Sacred Tree’s pool, for which Sam was eternally grateful.

At over 300 Strength, he had more than enough to pick up the heavy thing with great ease—a feat that surprised everyone there—but it would not have been fun if it landed in his lap.

There was also the fact that he couldn’t see the bottom of the pool through its glowing mystical depths. For all he knew, it fed underground aquifers that wove throughout the Skyshard’s landmass.

Good thing this thing doesn’t have a riptide, he thought.

Perhaps that was even how it replenished the Skyshard’s mana, an integral resource for any island to float across the sea of clouds. Something a settlement core imparted, except he had never really been able to pinpoint the source.

Considering his settlement core was named the Sourcestone, it did seem a bit on point.

[Simple Pliers]

(Blacksmith Tool) (F-Class)

(★ Common)

Enhancements

Craftsmanship I | Quality Chance III

Refinement II

+1 [Desynthesis] | +2 [Repair]

This pair of pliers come with a knurled pattern that few pliers of this degree possess, providing a slightly better grip and making it easier to accomplish some of those peskier repair jobs. Most Blacksmiths start off with hand-me-down tools that have seen a great deal of use and abuse, but this tool is as new and unmarred as a freshly cooled ingot of iron.

[Mobile Forge]

(Blacksmith Tool) (F-Class)

(★Common)

Enhancements

Craftsmanship I | Quality Chance I

Refinement I

+2 [Smelt] | +2 [Repair]

Increases Effectiveness of [Fire Crystals]

Though small, this [Mobile Forge] is able to be picked up and placed wherever you need it. Many Blacksmiths would prefer a larger forge to start with, but doing so would be a disservice. Smaller forges such as this provide the novice Blacksmith with an understanding of how not to waste fuel and how to best fine-tune their forge for each application. A lesson many Blacksmiths go their entire lives without learning, much to the detriment of their Profession. Most Blacksmiths start off with hand-me-down tools that have seen a great deal of use and abuse, but this tool is as new and unmarred as a freshly cooled ingot of iron.

The final two items appeared in quick succession. The pliers rattled away as they tumbled end over end against a rock. It was a testament to their craftsmanship that, true to their description, they were unmarred despite the rough treatment.

The [Mobile Furnace], was significantly larger than any of the other tools, but it had a clean beauty to it that Sam was fond of. There was no ornamentation, nothing extra.

Which was a good thing in a way, because the thing would have been difficult to grab if it was any larger. It wasn’t necessarily heavy, but it was awkward to move around, so Sam elected to keep it right where it was beside the pool.

At least until he was recovered enough to use it.

“Dang, that’s a lot of cool items,” Komachi said, rubbing her paws together.

A bunch of loot piled around her as well. The mimic sniffed at the crafting tools. Though what a Merchant needed, Sam didn’t know.

Aside from those, the most notable among Komachi’s crafting gear was a beat up, wooden cart with empty boxes stacked on top of it.

It did not escape Sam’s notice that interspersed between those otherwise mundane crates were Inventory chests. Judging by size alone, they were no doubt far vaster in capacity than his [Initiate Inventory Pouch]. Unsurprising, considering that was a part of Fighter’s starting gear.

He shook his head, remembering that he sacrificed a wider assortment of gear in favor of the [Dull Claymore] that had been his beginning foray into heavy weaponry.

Now it was the [Charred Claymore], sitting unused and broken in his Inventory. Still, it had been worth it, especially since Komachi gave him her starting Cleric gear.

And I could always use [Desynthesis] on it and get some raw materials to make something else. Although, even as he thought it, Sam didn’t believe he would ever get rid of the [Charred Claymore]. It was broken now, but it still had immense sentimental value.

Maybe he’d fix it.

It was a good thing equipment magically resized to whoever was attempting to equip it, presuming they met the requirements.

Komachi climbed into the cart, rummaging around, followed swiftly by Chompers, who investigated all the contents through loud bouts of rapid sniffing.

Where is his nose? Sam found himself wondering. Is… is it the lock? I thought that was its way of seeing!

It wasn’t the first time Sam wondered if Chompers was looking for another mimic. He couldn’t have ever expected that the little guy would turn out as resourceful and loyal as he did.

It seemed even when Komachi picked her reward from the Dark Vault, she was looking out for Sam.

Everyone thought the Mystery Mimic would turn out to be a bloodthirsty monster.

They couldn’t have been more wrong.

In fact, Sam probably owed the mimic his life, considering he fought alongside him against the Dungeon Core when everyone else was off trying to fix the Mana Engine.