Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

"Today I managed to unlock a really cool path thanks to Leana's booklet. It's called "Fist of the Dog Star" and improved my hand-to-hand combat and allows me to use existential power to strengthen or create my own set of skills as my level rises!" Fin cheered.

"I thought of choosing "Night Consumed by Blades" which would allow me to turn night itself into my weapons, but the meaning is hard to grasp. How about you Seth? Have you finally decided?" Mina asked him interested.

"Yeah. Yeah, I think I finally have one I like," he said with a smile.

After Seth returned he returned to their quarters to eat with the two in private. The paths to legend were the hottest topic among the people in Minas Mar, so it was just a question of time for it to come up at the dinner table. So far Seth had only been able to listen about all the paths others had unlocked or wanted to choose, while he was relatively dissatisfied with his array of choices.

This had changed when he was out, testing the Devil's Wheel Fiddle. During the testing, when he checked his status, he found a little exclamation mark hat appeared at the list of paths. Only then remembered that there was something among the notifications after he finished the instrument.

When he checked it, he found that one of the paths that had not even been explained in the booklet had been unlocked! On top of that, he couldn't help but actually like it.

<Forger of Legends

The powers of legendary materials used in the creation of an item are strengthened. The rate of improvement is based on Level of Existence. 25% upon reaching legend status.

Domain allows to imitate the effects of legendary or special materials previously worked with as an enchantment on non-legendary materials by using Power of Existence.

Achievements needed to unlock:

1. Title: "Blacksmith of Legends"

2. Title: "World's Best Blacksmith"

3. Created items from more than ten Legendary or Special materials.>

Forger in this context really had a double meaning. Previously Seth had thought it meant as a synonym for blacksmith and he was not wrong. But it was also meant imitator, as in someone who created counterfeits.

If a power that allowed him to copy and use legendary effects on non-legendary materials, effectively forging a legendary power, was not broken for a crafting profession then what was? The only restriction was that he had to get his hands on legendary materials to begin with.

Thinking of the hardships it took to get the legendary or special materials he worked with, he suddenly understood why there were probably very few people who managed to unlock the skill and maybe even fewer who actually chose it. The difficulty of getting the materials, as something one could not buy even if they wanted to, was abyssal.

Yet, it was not the same for Seth. He had two methods to make legendary/special materials that could change based on the material used to refine. Even with just that, as long as he could procure epic iron or silver, he could make himself legendary effects himself.

There were also the 10 materials he had already worked with. Especially Damage Nullification from the Dragon Scales or the Immunity to Weapon Damage from the Carapace of Conflation were incredibly tempting powers he would be able to put on any non-legendary item he wanted.

Seth liked it because it was not based on any of the power he previously held, but was applicable to all of the things he made and was going to make in the future. Another reason was his current situation. Urth was in the throws of change.

The boundary of the Pathworks had receded with the birth of a legend, so legendary monsters may appear soon. Gods were flooding their world and some of them handed their chosen special materials to create holy armaments. The dungeons in the holy land, where even a boss had thrown two legendary materials at him. Then there was the Voracious Cloud Continent, the place from where Master Mountain had brought the horn of a fallen god.

Unlike most craftsmen who may have had the chance to tread upon the path of a Forger of Legends, he was in a unique position that had potentially allowed him access to many legendary materials. All he needed was the power and will to get them in his hands. This had true long-time potential.

Seth had actually unlocked another path after his practice in the mountains. The fifth path he unlocked was Bard of Anarchy. It had no restriction on the skill level of his musical skills, and was based only on the damage he had caused and titles he had gotten so far.

It was similar to Calamity of Fire, as this path could increase the destructive power of his songs. The problem was that it actually restricted the way Power of Existence could be gained. As a Bard of Anarchy, only notoriety could be turned into Power of Existence. This meant he would have to become well known for technically evil or chaotic acts.

Which sounded like a lot of annoying work to the shut-in blacksmith. He preferred to stay at home and weave a net of fame like a spider, by spreading his name through items across trading routes, merchants, and the auction house. If he spread his name, the materials may even come to him on their own, too.

Growing his power from home and only sometimes going out to maybe get a legendary material vs actively having to cause mayhem to stay relevant and grow? The answer was easy! Staying home, all day, all the time was the way to go.

"Does that mean Fin can also become invincible?!" the fairy cheered excitedly after Seth explained.

"I'm happy for you, that you also got a path you like," Mina said calmer, kissing him on the cheeks. Her smile was genuine, Seth was sure she had known that it had bothered him a little that he had no interesting paths and he was actually glad that he was happy.

"Ah! Hey! Fin is also happy for Seth," the fairy hurriedly added, seeing Mina stealing a march on her. He hurriedly rammed into his other cheek and gave him a smooch, making Seth chuckle.

"Don't laugh! Fin is serious~" she huffed.

"Thanks, you two," he said with a content smile.

…

"Who goes there?" A swift figure appeared before him on a crumbling street of the ruinous city.

"Have you already forgotten who I am?" the wizened man who had just appeared on the streets of Sigma asked with a benign smile. The Vampire scrutinized the man's face for a moment.

"Oh, the old man with spatial magic who traveled with that little princess," the vampire remembered after a moment.

"My name is Idyllin Mo. I came to see how things were going and to make an offer to you in the name of the Princess and the Tower Master of Minas Mar."

Leana had sent the space archmage north once again for two reasons. One was to find out what Arget Nore in Gamma was Planning, the other was to try and recruit the vampires for Minas Mar. Originally, the vampire had stayed behind in Sigma to manage the reaction of the Ethnarchs following their previous escape.

If this situation had calmed, Leana intended to leave one of the Tree Stations for the Vampire to create a new home for themselves. They were also looking for Genevieve, but ever since she vanished after the evacuation from Sigma, there were no traces of her to be found.

Genevieve seemed to have fled, maybe unable to face her brother sincerely after overcoming the catastrophe. Idyllin had hoped that she may have returned to her people here, but the person he was brought to r was an elderly-looking vampire, who acted as their temporary leader.

"A new home, you say?" the old man looked around with his old eyes after Mo finished his proposition. Following his eyes, Idyllin found that the vampires had not put much effort into building anything in these ruins.

"You are right. Maybe it is time for a new beginning, and there is nothing left the Ethnarchs would want. We have lived too long in the ruins of our fallen culture. So long we have gotten used to dealing with living in ruins and trash."

The group of noble vampires looked at the ground in shame. The elder was right. Over the millennia, they had forgotten the glory and prestige, living like rats not even intending to build something new.

" We will follow you back," the elder finally gave the conclusion with a nod.