blacksmithoftheapocalypse

1280. Stay as it used to be?

---Cinema Dimension---

“Kukuku, I will have to tell Tawaret about this. She will love that! ...Or get angry. Great!” Bes, the portly little god cackled at the fact that his chosen had gotten a pet resembling a hippo so much. As ancient work colleagues, he and Tawaret had a special bond.

“That is if they manage to raise it,” Kali commented, trying to rain on his parade. After her champion was slain, she had taken the invitation to leave a clone to watch, but she was still a...

1279. A magic bag

Spending 2000 gold to buy two pets with the potential to become legends for Mina and Fin was no problem for him. As for the other pets, he was going to get the money back, one way or the other. Either the recipient would pay him, or he would get Leana to reimburse him with guild funds.

Especially for the additional beasts. Mina's idea was not bad, to get at two individuals from a species to have Evan breed them. This was how he got the idea to ask the clerk to double up their earlier ga...

1278. We've come so far

As the two bickered about who would get the Archwolf, which they had not even bought yet, Seth looked at the eggs with a hint of petty glee. Even if they didn't count the pets from the lucky draw, they had witnessed the three highest-grade beasts that were feared and revered for their power.

Yet, not even one of them came close to Seth's attribute values. Of course, he knew more than anyone that Attributes may look pretty, but what truly mattered were your stats and multipliers. Althoug...

1277. Like a killing star

“Of course, just a moment,” he said, hurriedly collecting the coins and writing them a receipt. “Ah! Please take these. They are part of your purchase,” he suddenly said and placed 15 scrolls on the counter.

“These are...?” Mina asked.

“The eggs are enchanted with hibernation magic so they don't hatch too early. You use these scrolls to dispel the magic, to hatch them,” he explained a crucial part of the business. Seth had not thought of this before, but it made se...

1276. It gets better

“That's one ugly motherfucker...” Seth mumbled when they saw the status screen of the first white, pineapple-sized egg.

<Subterranean Terrorbird. lv.148 System Level: ~68

Epic Knight, medium-grade

Durability: 225000

Mana: 500

Strength:300

Dexterity:50

Agility: 50

Intelligence:20

Willpower:100

Endurance:300

Luck:20

Phys. Defense: 6000

Mag. Defense: 2500

Abilities: Terrakinesis

Skills: Charge, Body ...

1275. Hold your breath

Edgar invited them upstairs where it became clear that this was the place where they stored the valuable goods. The quality of the display and furniture was another step up from the first floor. The clerk showed them to a peculiar device, placed on a mahogany countertop.

It looked like a thick metal plate with various enchantments engraved on it. There was also a suspicious groove and several buttons on it.

“This is a multipurpose magic artifact that allows us to get a detailed ...

1274. A hundred thousand eggs to see

Entering the “Eggcelent Beasts”, they stood in a wide showroom. Beast eggs of various colors and sizes were displayed in glass cabinets. Bigger exemplars were displayed on nests covered by cages or barriers.

There was also a display similar to the egg gacha stalls, with many eggs of similar size and color. A lucky draw of unidentified eggs, that could be hatched and raised as pets or mounts. At the bazaar, the prices on these ranged from one and five silver coins.

But this was...

1273. Joke around

---Spring City---

Around midnight, the trio left the venue of the private auction they had chosen to visit. Although it was not boring...

“Who would have thought they wouldn't have even one interesting thing...” Mina mumbled disappointed. The auction products weren't even comparable to the items they saw at Erka's shop. They didn't know what they expected, but they left a little downcast.

With their evening ending with some mild entertainment, they were just in time to t...

1272. Don't you dare-

----Delta----

Following her call with Seth earlier, Leana was now looking through the papers on her table, considering who to send to Spring City. She couldn't help but ponder the change of Minas Mar that happened after the last battle.

It felt like Minas Mar was moving now. Of course, it wasn't like they had been doing nothing in the past, however, up until recently their strategy had been like turtling. Minas Mar had always stayed in the back, building up their strength unless s...

1271. Through the Dungeons old

“Seth?” Mark Baker exclaimed surprised, seeing right through the illusion masking their faces. The former man in charge of adventurer administration in Y-City exclaimed surprised. The blacksmith was no less surprised to see the current, elected leader of TS12 sitting at one of the tables, together with a little girl and a woman his age.

Was this his family? Seth found the woman slightly familiar, too. he felt like he had seen her somewhere before, but couldn't remember what occasion...

1270. Freewheeling

“Didn't you send anyone to get rid of them?” Mina asked bluntly, stealing the words from Seth and Fin who had both opened their mouths to ask something similar.

Seth may have thought differently if these people came to ask for an alliance or shelter, but they had simply set up camp on their territory, without as much as asking. Cultivators like that were practically pests.

Even if they had settled somewhere in the No Man's land to fend for themselves, the...

1269. Soaring, tumbling

The city was filled with boisterous, ethereal music as the procession of the noon sermon began walking down the main street. Pale priestesses with their signature white hair and red eyes that followed the blessing of Senior White danced a complicated choreography, using artistic implements to make the ceremony look even more divine.

Among the priestesses were big snakes with silver scales doing their very own show, sometimes weaving and connecting with the women's dance. Figu...

1268. Feeling

“Do you think that is enough for the content of the cabinets and our little list?” the blacksmith asked with a knowing smile. Unlike before when she shrewdly haggled with Fin, Erka's face had frozen only twitching here and there as she tried to control her expression.

Even for Seth, it was obvious what was going on inside her. She was unwilling. Unwilling to part with her collection of goods. unwilling to let this chance to have a legendary weapon go. it didn't matter tha...

1267. Indescribable

After a few isles of weapons paired with enchantments, the merchandise slowly transitioned to rows of potions. Neatly spaced and labeled, the shelves were filled with high-quality alchemical products of all kinds. Many were basic potions they knew.

Medicines to recover Mana, Health, or Stamina. Potions to buff attributes but there were also all kinds of cremes and oils that were less common on Urth or many of the system world. The majority were poisons or elemental substances...

1266. Ah, believable Sights

---Perrerian---

The sound of steel crashing against steel echoed through the training grounds, as flurries of sand and dust were kicked up. Two almost six-meter tall steel giants were locked in a mighty sparring match.

The commander of the fort had organized the sparring especially for his guests to watch after lunch. After approaching the fort at the mouth of the cave yesterday there was some back and forth with Jane leading the conversation before they were...

Update

Hey guys, I'm down with a mean influenza. I'm barely able to do anything but drink water and sleep. That's why there were no new chapters. I will post them as soon as I'm feeling better, sorry for the delay

1265. I'm in a whole aisle

As they continued through the isles they came across a few interesting items like arcane kitchen utensils or the equivalent of mana-driven power tools. One even was a magic enchantment engraver, similar to a rotary tool. it also came with various bits that could be swapped depending on the rating of the material used.

Seth himself had come across this problem when working with <Adamantium>. As its legend suggested, it was incredibly durable, making it hard to forge but ...

1264. It's crystal clear

“This is delicious,” Fin exclaimed munching a bunch of fresh candied nuts, her cheeks filled like a chipmunk. They were nuts Seth had never seen or heard of before, but he had to agree that they were delicious.

“You have to try this!” Mina exclaimed, having found an exotic booze, being served at one of the many specialty stalls of the bazaar. Most peddlers here sold stuff that was far below their standard, so they were technically bee-lining from one food stall to the...

1263. When I'm way up here

After spending all night “exploring” the penthouse and the natural hot spring that was part of the private terrace and outdoor area, the three were in a great mood when they ordered breakfast in their room in the morning.

The suite had several bedrooms, of which only one saw extensive use that night. Overall, it was almost as classy as the Tower Master quarters at Minas Mar, except for the outdoor area they lacked at home.

Although they could h...

1262. I never knew

The view was quite nice, as the stretch of highland between the location of Spring City and the resort, was on one hand half covered in snow, but on the other hand, it revealed patches of grass and flowers peeking out from below the cold blanket.

30 Minutes later they were able to see their resort from the cabin on the back of the massive white snake. The divine beast of Senior White was quite adept with movement in the snow and plains as it slithered along with incredible sp...

1261. A dazzling place

“So, what are you going to do now?” Al'zalsar asked after they just passed through the hell gate and returned to Urth. The blacksmith stretched his body, feeling the weight of the mission fall off his shoulders, he did his job, and now it was up to others to do all the real annoying stuff, like trade negotiations.

“Now? I will take a look at how Tatzel and Puffles are doing. Then I will take a few days vacation doing nothing and afterward, it will be about time to fulfi...

1260. A Whole New World

Gnawing and grinding, the sound of industrial mining filled the dark tunnel. Beasts covered in cold sweat hid in dark corners and barren dead ends as the wave of Minas Mar flooded into the tunnels. The swarm of worker drones spat from the bowels of the magic tower made no difference between flesh and rock.

The native beasts, remnants of the demonic birthing pools, were no threat to the automatons and mining golems. Monique was the first who step through the dark portal and en...

1259. Wish they were only dreaming.

---Pakkonaia---

“Wow, this place looks really modern,” Seth thought to himself. No matter what foreign world Seth had visited so far, it never felt close to modern to him. Even Chrona, the capital of the Chrona Empire with all its wonders that were comparable to modern technology, always had a hint of pre-industrial charm.

This place, however, reminded the blacksmith of the underground laboratories he had seen in the past when they went to save Drosi and ...

1258. Now, where to go?

The last gate to visit, dubbed the Night Forest by Seth, in his mind. Beyond the gate, they could see a view of big trees trapped in eternal twilight. At least they had yet to witness the sun rising on the other side of the hell gate.

Depending on how Monique’s mission at the surface of Cave World would go, this was actually their last and most promising chance to strike a deal with a group of demons of the abyss. Of course, the question had come up of how could there be cr...

1257. Not one to tell her no.

“Hi Seth, Al.” she greeted them with a nod. “Are you two taking a break?” Monique asked as she sat down beside them with her lunch. Her outfit suggested she just finished her training and came by for a grub.

“Yeah, we just came back to take a break before we entered the last one,” Seth answered her readily between bites.

“J—just one left? I mean, how are the hell gates so far?” the Chosen of Athena asked curiously. Seth raised an eyeb...

1256. A new fanatic point of View

---Thres---

“Oh my, this place is JUST lovely...” Alison commented sarcastically.

The emerald jewel in the ruins of Beta. The satellite city of Beta, refurbished and protected by Adam and his people. The artificial druid had not only managed to beat back the Muir Empire which ruined the district to begin with, but he also became its representative after helping the new emperor to his throne.

As a sign of “good will” and to keep this p...

1254. A hole

Carving away the very floor under their feet hit by hit, and putting the debris in his inventory, Seth created a shaft that went straight down. Every few hits and stores, the 2x2m shaft became over a meter deeper.

“Oh, hi!” the mining blacksmith suddenly exclaimed, as he found chunks of iron ore and specks of <Dark Iron Ore> among the debris, they had actually grazed an iron vein. Seth marked it on the map before he continued. Maybe it was a good idea to strip mine ...

1255. ...New World?

Getting the sorceress away from the allure of demonic monster-spawning tech, the blacksmith sped-run the remaining point of interest indicated by the swarm of golem eyes. Just like the previous places, they found materials ranging from common all the way to some scarce epic resources.

Most of them were meant for <Alchemy>, spells, and arcane enchantments, but they also found a few ore veins that were of interest to the Tower Master, or rather his growing crew of blacksm...

1253. In a Magic Cave exploration

Stepping through the gate, they were greeted by absolute darkness as they slowly sank down to the bottom of the cave, using <Feather Fall>. This was so deep below earth, that there was truly no light, not even the obligatory mushrooms or creatures with bioluminescence.

Even when using <Nightvision>, there was barely anything he could see. All beside him cast a spell with the flick of her wrist, illuminating the whole cavern that contained the hell gate in a dim gl...

1252. ...and under.

“That didn't take as long as expected,” Seth mumbled after the gate to the swamp world shut off.

“Yeah, I really like Diplomatic Missions like this,” Al commented sarcastically. Seth sighed. She was right. At this rate, was there even a need for him to accompany her?

if they ended up simply beating the shit out of everyone they found and forcing them to close the gate, then Al could have done that on her own. If she hadn't left most of the work because she was t...