Blacksmith vs. the System

While the rest of the council spread to handle their missions, mine was clear. To hunt any monster that might represent a threat to the town, and and spend the rest of the time desperately forging high-grade weapons to enhance the might of our elites.

Initially, we had more than enough weapons to arm them, but with most of them shipped to the other towns, our reserves once again dipped down to a dangerous level. So, I started forging desperately, once again focusing on the creation of spearheads.

No creativity. No experimentation. Just channel the near-endless mana from the dungeons — helped by the leyline under its entrance — to shape the metal into the correct shape, imbue it with the strongest offensive capability I could achieve in less than a minute, and move on to the next one.

The new weapons had one advantage. My skills had shown great improvement since the last time I mass-produced them based strictly on the direction of my skill, which meant a significant quality upgrade. My stat increase from the most recent level boosts helping further.

I wasn't the only one desperately hammering metal. All around me, hundreds of others worked, shaping metal into weapons. Some created melee weapons like me, the others focused on creating cannon shells, steam car parts, and other modern implements.

There was no hint of usual levity around the factory, neither me nor the other workers. Everyone was aware that one more weapon might mean another life saved, desperate to steal every second.

As for me, I split my production between decay variants and fire variants, each guided by the skill, relying on the dungeons for mana conversions. While Radiant weapons would have been better, I didn't focus on them.

The time differential between the two types didn't justify it under the current circumstances. Not when the number of elites requiring better weapons would climb rapidly, a need that only I could answer.

Two hours passed in desperate production, and I finally received a notification.

[Shaper of Quintessence (Legendary) 274 -> 275]

That was the only good thing about my current task. I was pushing myself to the limit, but that was strictly based on the skill guidance, while dungeons handling the conversion process. Combined, that was a good way to improve my skills further.

Hopefully, the next upgrade will give me some better weapon plans.

…

[Shaper of Quintessence (Legendary) - 299]

For two days, I forged without a break. Even when Harold or one of my students arrived at my side, I didn't interrupt my work while I listened to them and gave my orders. That didn't change when the reports of distant dungeon breaks reached my ears.

I continued forging when smaller bands of corrupted monsters started to attack the walls, enough to injure some of our weaker defenses. I stayed here with my hammer in hand, even when those bands got larger and larger, and the nature of the casualty reports started to change. The simple injuries escalated to occasional lost limbs, wounds dangerous enough to keep them down for days even with Health to assist them…

I continued forging even after the first reported death. Now, the town was not limited to a single entrance where I could defend by jumping back and forth. The outer walls were measured more than thirty miles in radius at this point. Even if I used the gates, I could only be in one place at one time. My impact would be limited.

Staying here and forging, I could save far more lives.

I hated it. Even though I knew it, a part of me felt guilty that I wasn't there to save lives.

The pain of those deaths climbed higher as the reported deaths increased. Our people were getting stronger, but not as fast as the monsters. Even cannons weren't enough to quell the tide.

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"My king," Harold approached, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yes," I replied, barely raising my head, and only because Wisdom helped me to feel his worried concern like a physical object.

"Maybe you should rest," he suggested. "Some sleep will help."

"Out of the question," I cut him. "I could go on for days without feeling the effects of physical work."

"That's not what I'm worried about," he replied. I looked at him, my annoyance clear. He kept his gaze sharp, showing me that he wanted to insist.

"No," I repeated. "Out of question. Now, tell me why you came here?"

"We have detected a corrupted beast horde approaching the walls. It's not too large, but…"

"Their numbers are still too high to be handled directly?" I guessed.

"No. They have a corrupted boss monster with them, and…"

"Say no more. Which part?" I asked. He pointed in the direction. I dropped my forging hammer, grabbed my trusty trio of weapons — sword, spear, and hammer — and stepped into the decay dungeon.

The moment I stepped in, I was hit by a horrible smell. No, not a smell, I realized a second later. At least, not a physical one. The corruption from the mysterious energy. My connection with the dungeon had been alerting me about the build-up, and so were the reports from Logan, but feeling it directly was different.

Things were dangerous.

When I stepped out of the nearest gate, I met with a group of exhausted soldiers. Not physically thanks to the System, but mentally, something that couldn't be solved by Health. I couldn't blame them, not when I could see many of them suffering from wounds, which unfortunately were proving resistant to Health.

The constant, loud hiss of the steam cannons didn't help, and neither did the cries of the maddened beasts at the horizon, approaching despite the rain of shells, cutting down the weakest ones, but leaving the stronger ones alive.

But, as I walked, something changed. The moment they saw me, their earlier despair dispersed. "Steel king is here!" the shouts exploded loudly, their weapons raised high to greet me.

Seeing my effect on them was an interesting feeling, pride mixed with guilt. Pride that they trusted me to save them. Guilt that I couldn't be there at all times.

I turned my attention to the approaching horde, with less than a mile distance. It was a relatively small horde, getting smaller as the shells took down the weakest ones. But, the remaining ones put an intimidating sight. The corruption was bad enough that I had trouble identifying the original nature of the beasts. My best guess, some kind of mammal. Maybe some kind of cat?

"Be ready to handle the rest of the monsters once I take down the boss monster," I declared loudly. "They represent easy levels for you, my loyal soldiers." Then, I jumped down the walls. It wasn't the most ideal move, but we were facing a boss corrupted to a shocking degree for the first time, and the last thing I wanted was to test its capabilities once it could target the soldiers.

Maybe not the wisest move, but I found myself unable to do anything else. I brought down my blade as I approached, a Radiant Flame attack cutting through the air, leaving its distinct red aftermath behind.

[-4000 Mana]

The boss monster dodged, its speed shockingly rapid, but the rest of the monsters weren't fast enough. The attack cut through dozens of monsters.

[Level 83 -> 84]

[+5 Vitality, +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +5 Essence, +3 Wisdom]

The results had been surprising, I noted even in the midst of the battle. I had known that the corrupted monsters gave more levels, but to give me another level by cutting some of the weaker mobs was surprising.

It confirmed that our plan for supporting the other towns was even more viable than we first assumed. As long as they handled the first disaster, they would have a fighting chance.

The best I could hope for.

I went forward, several slashes targeting the boss monster. It dodged again and again, but that didn't stop its horde from getting smaller.

[Level 84 -> 85]

[+5 Vitality, +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +5 Essence, +3 Wisdom]

"Finally," I growled when my attack landed on it, our distance less than a hundred yards, only to leave a shallow cut. It confirmed the validity of my earlier decision. I continued sending slashes toward it, targeting the same wound, switching between pure decay and Radiant Flame…

When the distance dwindled into melee range, it was already half dead, though at the cost of replenishing my reserves thirty times. Without a dungeon, only an ascended warrior could have taken the beast down.

Yet, in melee range, I switched to my spear, staying just outside its swings while I targeted its head repeatedly, each attack biting deeper. Until, it collapsed.

[Level 85 -> 89]

[+20 Vitality, +16 Strength, +12 Dexterity, +20 Essence, +12 Wisdom]

"You have the rest, my brave soldiers," I shouted as I retreated, giving the rest the precious opportunity to level up against the weakened horde.

The sudden boost in leveling efficiency surprised me. Level hundred for me was not too far away. Too bad that, with dungeon connections, ascension was not supposed to be an option for me.

That didn't bother me. If others surpassed me, I would happily pass down the crown to them. Anyone in the council could take it, and I would be happy.

What bothered me was that I still lacked a way to help others ascend. Maybe I should focus on that first…