Hack, Slash & Burn 2: A LitRPG Fantasy, page 35
“You aren’t no Soldier of Light now, are ya? What you doin’ saving worlds?” Bardune sighed. He looked Calder up and done. “When you need the weapons?”
Luceen glanced at Calder. “Nine hours from now.”
Bardune swayed where he stood. “Great Garran’s beard you need it in hours lass?”
Luceen dipped her head in a nod.
“Got any other outrageous requests I should know of? You want me to barter a peace between dwarves an’ elves while I’m at it?”
“Well… one more, small request. You wouldn’t be able to make the equipment out of… living steel, would you?”
Bardune scoffed. He pulled at his beard, which was so long it dangled down to his belt. “Living steel? You want me to craft living steel in a few hours?”
Calder glanced between them, wanting to ask what in the world living steel was, but figuring it was best if he pretended to know. Besides, he didn’t want to get in the middle of this.
“Were you not once the Revered Smith of a Mountain Lord?” Luceen asked.
Bardune tilted his head to the side. “Well, yes, o’ course. Darralagar the Eighth—”
“Did you not craft an axe for each one of his sons and daughters?”
“Twenty three children that man had—”
“Didn’t you once say you made five hundred swords in a single day?”
“Well, a day an’ a half, to be truly honest. An’ those were special circumstances—”
“Can you do this, Bardune? It’s important.”
The dwarf grumbled something under his breath. Looked Calder up and down again, settling his gaze on his eyes. “Ya really tryin’ ta save a world?”
“Not just any world,” Calder said. “My world. The Soldiers of Light are abandoning it. Apparently the Protectorate can’t spare the people, so they’re leaving a world full of non-Touched to fend for themselves against an orc invasion. An army will be marching on the last bastion, the capital of my kingdom, in… nine and a half hours.”
Bardune narrowed his eyes. “I’ve five commissions I’m meant to finish today. Five customers I’ll have ta disappoint.”
“Is that a yes?” Luceen grinned.
Bardune grumbled some more. Something about losing business and outrageous requests, and having too much stock he hadn’t been able to move since she left her store.
Which gave Calder an idea.
“You have stock you haven’t moved? Any low-level weaponry?” Calder asked.
Bardune frowned at him. “Aye. Most of it. Why?”
“Because soon we’ll have more people to outfit than any one smith can handle. We’ll take it off your hands.”
Bardune smiled through his beard. “Well, why didn’t you say so?” His demeanour improved. “So, you’ll be lookin’ for a sword, then? What kinda fighter are you? Some kinda Warrior o’ course. Shield Carrier? Heavy Hitter?”
“Berserker.”
“Berserker, aye? An’ what’s your focus, strength or speed?”
“Speed, mostly.”
The dwarf released a deep chuckle. “Well, what in the world ya wearing a shield for?” He walked over to a rack of swords. “Ever wielded a two-hander?”
Calder crossed his arms at his chest. “Having a shield has probably saved my life more than once.”
Bardune just shook his head. “Shields are good. Especially for Shield Carriers. But you’re no Shield Carrier. You’re a Berserker. And do ya know what living steel is, lad? Do ya know what it’s capable of?”
As the dwarf’s words sounded rhetorical, Calder decided not to answer.
“I’ll give it a Shield Shift spell, if that’ll appease you.”
“Shield Shift?”
“A Warrior who don’t know what a Shield Shift is,” Bardune muttered. He glanced over at Calder. “New world… how long you been Touched?”
Calder rubbed the back of his head. “Well, it’s been… a couple of months, really.”
“Months, and you wantin’ to wield living steel?”
“He’s level 70, Bardune,” Luceen interjected. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Bardune looked at Calder a little differently, then gave a gruff nod. He pulled a sword twice as tall as himself from the rack and held it in front of him. “There are some weapons that come with spells. Pre-enchanted. They’re not easy ta make. Not common like that Sage Sword at ya hip is common.” He nodded at Calder’s scabbard. “Pull that thing out and try an’ throw a swing at me, will ya?”
Calder looked over at Luceen, who gave him a shrug. He drew his hand-and-a-half sword. He didn’t know what level the dwarf was—scanning strangers was impolite. Besides, he never seemed to be able to in this city. Most didn’t show up with anything when he tried. “I’ll swing downward.”
“Swing wherever the hell ya want, ya ain’t gonna hit me.”
Calder smirked. He didn’t bother activating any of his passive skills—he didn’t actually want to hit the dwarf—but he did surge forward, sending a swift strike down at the dwarf’s head.
Bardune didn’t so much as move his sword to block, to the point where Calder worried he actually would hit the dwarf. He was ready to pull back his strike when the sword in the man’s hand glowed. A transparent shield appeared in front of it, encompassing a meter radius. Though it was transparent, it blocked Calder’s strike easily—like hitting enchanted stone, Calder’s sword was simply stopped dead.
Calder raised an eyebrow. “Impressive.”
“That’s Shield Shift.” Bardune lowered the two-handed sword, the glowing shield disappearing. “Not as versatile as a shield, but gives fighters like you the best a both worlds. You never been to a smith before, ‘ave ya?”
“Not a Touched one,” Calder said, wondering how much Kohl could learn from this man.
“So, what do ya say? Want to wield a two-hander?”
Calder looked down at his sword. He was currently holding it in one hand. As it was a hand-and-a-half sword, the grip was long enough to wield in both. He gripped it with his left as well, testing the feel of it, wondering what using Shield Shift would feel like.
The dwarf knew his business. Holding the sword like this… something about it felt right. Powerful. Calder was an offensive fighter more than anything else. Taking down enemies gave him Killstreaks, keeping him going even more. With Strike Advantage, even a small boost in the strength of his swings could make a massive difference down the line…
“All right. I’ll go for a two-hander,” Calder said. “But what’s living steel?”
“That’s something you’ll have to ask Luceen about. I don’t have time to stand here and chat! I’ve got a bloody sword and full set o’ armour to craft, out of living steel no less!” The dwarf waved a hand, shooing him out of the smithy.
“Don’t you need to… measure me?”
“Measure you? Are ya daft? I’ve got a spell for that and it’s already done.” Calder was rushed out of the smithy by the grumbling dwarf. “Come back in six hours!”
The doors were slammed behind them as Calder stumbled back out of the smithy. “He’s… pleasant,” Calder said, though he had to admit, even in the small exchange, he had grown a certain fondness for the grumpy dwarf.
“I can still hear ya!” a bellow came from inside the smithy.
Luceen chuckled. “Come on. Let me explain what living steel is.”
Chapter 43
Calder stood atop the battlements. He moved to place a hand on the hilt of his sword, except the hilt of his sword wasn’t where it usually was. Instead, there was a heavy weight on his back.
The two-handed sword Bardune, the dwarven blacksmith, had crafted for him earlier in the day. When he had given Calder the sword, he had also handed him a unique looking scabbard. Calder wasn’t used to using a back-scabbard, and he had at first been confused as to why it was larger at the sides near the top, then he realised that was to give it room to pivot when he drew it.
He did that now, holding the weapon in his hands.
Gods, it felt good.
The sword didn’t look terribly unique, which Calder appreciated. He didn’t need some fancy sword with jewels in the hilt like some general in the army who never drew their weapon. No, he wanted something purely functional.
But he couldn’t say there wasn’t a beauty to it. The weight was perfect. It was heavy. Very heavy. Far heavier than his Sage Sword ever had been, but that was to match with Calder’s Strength.
The blade had a cross guard, and the hilt was unadorned. It was straight and double-bladed. Perhaps a handsbreadth up from the cross guard were pointed parrying hooks, ones that he imagined could do a fair bit of damage were he up very close.
There were runes up the blade, but they didn’t glow. They were dull, and hard to see unless one was looking for them.
The pommel was the one thing that looked a little strange and out of the ordinary, at least when compared to swords that he was familiar with. It was a spherical crystal, one that was completely clear. At least, it had been clear, until the dwarf had told him to bleed onto the blade.
That request would have sounded odd if Luceen hadn’t given him an explanation first.
Apparently living steel required a connection with the user. A bond. One that could only be broken upon the death of the wielder. That bond was initiated with blood—the first blood to touch the blade connected the sword to the soul of the one who wielded it.
It also filled the previously clear crystal with his blood, turning it completely red. When he looked at the pommel, he could see his blood swirling around in there when the light shined upon it.
Calder couldn’t say he understood it. Luceen didn’t, either, so that didn’t make him feel too bad.
The living steel didn’t only bond to the user, it adjusted to the will of the user, to their strength and fighting style—that was why it was so heavy. It also couldn’t be wielded by someone else. He had tested giving it to Luceen, but it had only burnt her hand and forced her to drop it. He would have to die before someone else could use his sword.
Another strange thing about the sword, at least compared with ones that he was used to wielding, was that it was two metres long. He had never wielded something other than a spear that was taller than himself.
He scanned the sword, perhaps for the fifth time since he had been handed it.
Living Sword – Unnamed (Bonded) – Level 70
Imbued spell: Shield Shift
This sword grows in strength beside its master. Its strengths reflect those of its master. A portion of all Proficiency gained by the wielder feeds into the sword to keep its strength and levels growing.
The name of this weapon shall be gained in a moment of great conflict.
Elemental Damage - +20 Fire
Elemental Damage - +20 Lightning
Elemental Damage - +20 Ice
Attribute Boost - +20% Base Strength
Attribute Boost - +30% Base Agility
Calder had been surprised when he read that description. He had contemplated what it would be like to have a weapon that grew in strength as he did. Never had he imagined one truly existed.
He had also been surprised to find that the sword didn’t have slots like other enchanted weapons he had encountered. It added elemental damage that reflected the three elemental spells that Calder possessed. Not only that, its attribute boosts were base percentage modifiers. Instead of adding a few points into the attribute, which didn’t make a massive difference in the long run, it would help him get stronger every time he added to either his Strength or Agility.
Living steel. It really was quite powerful. It had also been incredibly expensive, to the point where they hadn’t been able to afford any ballistae for the walls.
I hope it was worth it.
He looked down at his armour next. His sword and armour, Bardune assured, had the same self-cleaning ability as his previous equipment. It also had a self-repair feature, meaning it would never need to be mended.
Though when it did need to be repaired, it would actively drain his mana and adrenaline through the bond to a small degree to heal itself. Calder didn’t see that needing to happen any time soon, as he had never even managed to so much as scuff his Sage Sword, let alone chip it.
His armour looked like a normal, unadorned set of steel full-plate. At least, it had looked that way until he had put it on and, just like the sword, bled on it a little. Its plates had shifted slightly to better meld with his body. The grey steel had darkened a touch, taking on a reddish sheen, giving him somewhat of a sinister look.
A look he couldn’t say he disliked.
It covered every inch of him. There was even a helmet. When he lowered the visor, he had expected it to impede his vision, but it didn’t look as though it was there at all, to the point where he often forgot it was down.
And gods, was it comfortable. It wasn’t heavy, like his sword was heavy. On the contrary, it felt incredibly light and flexible. He could perform a high-kick over his head if he wished. Not that he felt the need to test that.
He scanned his armour, looking at that for the fifth time as well.
Living Armour – Unnamed (Bonded) – Level 70
This full-plate armour set grows in strength beside its master. Its strengths reflect those of its master. A portion of all Proficiency gained by the wearer feeds into the armour to keep its strength and levels growing.
The name of this armour shall be gained in a moment of great conflict.
Elemental Resistance - +20 Fire
Elemental Resistance - +20 Lightning
Elemental Resistance - +20 Ice
Attribute Boost - +100% Base Stamina
He smiled, looking at the vast amount of Stamina he gained from the armour. It doubled his Stamina completely. The moment he had put it on, he had felt the gain to his adrenaline reserve.
It was insane how much stronger this equipment had made him feel.
Then, when he had returned to Kashan, the strength of all those changes coupled with the Intermediate Enchanted Stone wall… well, it made him quite durable, not to mention formidable. The only thing he wasn’t sure about was the fact that the sword and armour both would take some of his Proficiency, and when he had asked about the equipment being “unnamed” he had gotten barely an explanation.
Bardune had told him that there was no telling when the sword or armour would each gain names—let alone how many names they each might gain over time.
It was entirely dependent upon how strong Calder grew, and what feats he performed while wearing said equipment, which only confused Calder all the more.
The dwarf did inform him that many people didn’t use living steel because of how much Proficiency it drained from someone’s levelling ability, which made him worry that he might lag behind if it took too much.
Still, Calder didn’t mind making such a trade. At least for this fight. Perhaps he would one day feel differently—he didn’t know.
Calder looked at the wall beneath him and scanned it.
Intermediate Enchanted Stone
+1000 Physical Defence
+1000 Elemental Defence
Defenders within one mile of this wall receive:
+110% boost to Stamina
+30% boost to Agility
+30% boost to Strength
+30% boost to Magic
+60% boost to Perception
He smiled. The Intermediate Enchanted Stone was the strongest he had yet to encounter.
Next, he looked at his attributes, which were modified by the Intermediate Enchanted Stone wall he stood upon, his Living Sword and his Living Armour.
Calder – Avatar of Light
Level 70
Classification: Spellsword/Berserker
Attributes – Simplified (Modified Values)
Strength: 245
Agility: 311
Magic: 252
Stamina: 571
Perception: 128
You have 0 attribute points to apply.
Calder examined his attributes, finding it hard to believe that his Stamina was so high.
That was another thing about the living steel. The percentage modifiers that it applied actively changed his base stats while he was wearing it. Without the armour, his base Stamina was 136. With the 100% boost, it became 272. Then, with the 110% added boost from the wall, it worked on the second number, after the armour had changed it. So, instead of adding 210%, wearing the armour and being near the wall more than quadrupled his normal base Stamina.
Something that he thought must have been a mistake the first time he saw his attributes after returning to Kashan.
This is absolutely insane, he thought, not for the first time.
Some of his attributes weren’t quite as strong as they had been in the Dark World, standing in the new city they had claimed, as he didn’t have the Main Defender boosts in Halanor. Magic and Perception, for instance, were marginally lower. But that didn’t bother him, especially as it wouldn’t negatively affect his cooldown for Dream Step or Portal.
Perhaps his sword and armour would grow to help him with those too, in time.
Calder, it’s starting, Peter said through the link.
Calder blinked, shaking away all his thoughts about attributes and his new equipment, Peter’s words bringing him back to reality.
He looked over the edge of the battlements at the army that had begun amassing an hour ago. The orcs had indeed chosen to use a Mass Portal. The portal was larger than any other Calder had ever seen. Not even the portals he could create grew that big.
It stretched for several miles and was taller than the city walls.
Then the army had begun marching through it.
They were still marching, even now. It was the largest fighting force Calder had ever seen.
Peter’s message concerned the exodus. The portals that the people left through would be opening. Calder wouldn’t have anything to do with getting people around the world to Kashan. He had other Berring Touched dealing with that, just as he had others who would be providing Weapon Stones and equipping the first to become Touched, something that would no doubt be happening even as the siege raged.
But he was determined to see the exodus of Kashan himself, and he knew the army wouldn’t dare strike while the Soldiers of Light were still on this world.
