Chapter 13: The Gatekeepers (4)

It wasn't the life-steal effect Blake had desired.

However, as he examined the blade enveloped in a crimson sheen from various angles, he couldn't help but smile.

Not only did the crimson aura look intimidating, but the enchantment that executed his enemies meant he had a higher chance of better loot and could level up significantly faster.

It was such a valuable enchantment that he'd do anything for it, including transferring the effect to his next weapon after Pride's Shackle.

With his weapon enchanted, Blake sheathed his katana and stowed it in his inventory.

He let the window hover at the edge of his vision as he pushed the table to the workbench to lay out his entire armor set.

First, he unrolled the second empty scroll and placed as much of his armor on it as possible.

Naturally, it was a challenging task due to the size mismatch.

Helmet, pauldrons, chest armor, gloves, greaves, and boots—these were the items Blake had crafted and painted in a week, all made from high-quality steel.

Durable and strong, the armor set provided Blake with high stats and a unique skill—much more than most players at early levels could hope for.

The skill he’d obtained from crafting his armor set was a passive one.

Without Blake’s input, Pride’s Second Coming Set would automatically adapt to any attack. If he faced a combination of attacks, he could decide which type to prioritize defending against.

Blake loved the skill, not realizing how it mirrored his own indecisiveness and internal struggles. Just as he could change defenses, Blake had come to love crafting as much as his battle fervor.

Unaware of this, Blake proceeded with the enchantment. He hovered his hand above his mask—the item he wanted to enchant in case enchanting the entire set was impossible.

Channeling his mana and activating the skill, the same process occurred. The unknown letters burned onto the white sheet beneath the armor, ignoring its heavy presence. Then, all of the letters sank into the entire armor set!

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Upon learning about the skill's capabilities, Blake literally stared at the screen with sparkling eyes. He was like a kid who had just received the toy he always wanted for Christmas!

At least, that's how Vargar saw him.

The ability to control weight and even transfer it to something else was such a remarkable skill that Blake couldn't stop grinning widely.

Not only was his armor heavy, but he could use its weight to trap or stun enemies unexpectedly before cutting them down with his katana. Reducing the weight meant he could be more agile, which was crucial for his fighting style.

There was also an element of surprise.

No one would expect a player encased in steel armor to be nimble or fast.

A quest prompt interrupted Blake’s joy.

A small flicker of bright, golden flames appeared before Blake. It expanded to the size of an adult man's clenched fist, then took the form of a golden apple with adorable, transparent golden flame-leaf antennae and tiny legs below.

The elemental landed on the workbench and looked up at Blake.

Its little eyes instantly sparkled.

"Sol," Blake said after pondering for a moment.

Upon receiving the name, Sol's eyes shone even brighter.

Vargar commented, "Ye two are alike."

"How?" Blake asked, puzzled.

Meanwhile, Sol used his amazing power to fly up and perch himself atop Blake’s head. His leaf antennae swayed left and right as he settled into a comfortable spot.

For Blake, it felt like wearing a cap so comfortable he'd never take it off, even in bed.

Before Blake could look into Sol’s stats and their connection, the walls of the smithy behind him trembled and parted like hidden doors, revealing a pitch-dark corridor.

An inviting breeze swept over Blake and Sol.

The Gatekeepers must have sensed that Blake had completed two of the three objectives of his quest. Now it was time to prove that he was worthy of vying for The Lost Kingdom’s throne—that he could be a king not only with crafting skill and drive, but also with the strength to back it up.

Blake glanced over his shoulder at the black abyss. "Come with us, Vargar. I'll show you that the third objective is the easiest."

In the blink of an eye, Blake equipped all his gear from his character page, encasing himself in his forged items.

Time to see whether Blake’s hard work had paid off!