Sparks flew in every direction as Mike struck the metal. With every strike of his hammer, he got it closer and closer to the shape he desired. He pounded with rising enthusiasm, the sound of hammer meeting metal ringing out several times each second. Unlike with a sword, he wouldn't need to get a sharp edge, allowing him to strike with less care than would be required for a blade.
He didn’t just want a hammer head, but also wanted a spike on one side in case he would ever need to punch through the armor of a foe. The metal slowly took shape, before it cooled down and Mike needed to place it back into the forge, allowing it to heat up. The metal was tough, and each strike he’d made only made miniscule differences in the shape, but progress was progress.
This process repeated for hours, with the hammer getting more and more defined as he worked. Several times he attempted to experiment with infusing it as he struck it, but on top of increasing its weight, it also made it significantly harder to shape. He gave up after a few attempts of infusing it, deciding it would be the last step of the process. A pleasant benefit of how many times the metal needed to be reheated showed itself, as the metal was tempered bit by bit thanks to air cooling after each trip to the forge.
The process was long and monotonous, requiring his constant and undivided attention. He noticed several times people had stepped into his workshop, trying to tell him something but quickly being driven out by the ridiculous temperatures the room was being subjected to. After nearly 12 hours of pounding away at the metal, he had the shape he desired.
He spent the next 6 hours making a suitable handle out of the extra Nonmium he had been provided. With both created, he began infusing, and fusing them together. He strained as the weight of the two threatened to rip them out of his grip, but he held on, knowing that once they were fused they would be easier to handle.
The hammer was created as he felt he was nearly done, but he still had one more thing he’d thought of during the hours of hammering. He continued the infusion, pushing not just mana, but one of his rare fragments into the hammer. More specifically, he infused his class fragment into the item, which proved to be a test of both mental and physical strain as the hammer increased in weight once more.
The stone floor he stood on cracked, and he sunk several inches as mana got denser and denser within the hammer. He manipulated the fragment to fill the shape of the maul, perfectly mirroring the hammer head it had been placed in. As soon as the fragment was finished being infused, the hammer suddenly became much more manageable to carry.
Finally feeling that he was done, he removed all the unnecessary mana from the hammer, causing its weight to return to almost normal, if just a bit heavier. He didn’t even need to check his notifications to tell that his levels had spiked dramatically, as he felt the power rush into him. He ignored his notifications, instead focusing on the finished product, identifying it.
Mighty Slayers Maul (Epic) (Class Bound)
This hammer has been forged from Nonmium, and gains weight and durability as mana is infused. A class fragment has been imbued into the mana of this hammer, and all Mighty classes wield this hammer as if it was half its actual weight. Through feats of might, may the mighty fall.
Mike stared at the hammer for a moment longer, before scooping it up in his arms and giving it a hug. His work over the many hours had paid off, and they had paid off big time. He was about to check his notifications, when Jonas burst into the room, looking at Mike.
“What the hell did you just do?” He asked, looking like he had just sprinted from across the entire camp.
“I just made my new hammer, that's what.” Mike responded, pride filling his body.
“Have you checked your notifications, because you really should.”
Mike obliged, looking at his notifications, and being completely star struck at what he saw.
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*Class level up x4! Arcane Artisan (level 25). Further levels blocked by evolution*
*Race level up x2! Human (level 22)*
*[Encampment notification] This encampment has produced its first item of epic rarity, all those involved in its creation are rewarded one profession level.*
*[Planet Notification] Earth's humans have produced their first Epic rarity item, all those involved in its creation are rewarded one profession level.*
*Skill upgraded! Infused weapon creation, becomes Fragment Infused weapon creation (epic)*
*Skill upgraded! Intermediate mana manipulation, becomes Advanced mana manipulation (rare)*
*Title gained! Epic Crafter (Epic)*
Epic Crafter
Gain 10 percent to all stats when any epic rarity item or higher is equipped.
“Well shit…” Mike said, reading through it all. His attention wandered back to the fact that his evolution had blocked him from gaining a level, if it had only been one level he would have gained.
“Ya, well shit.” Jonas responded, with a look of both frustration and helplessness. “I have already had several people ask about the random level ups they received just on my run over here. We are going to be having a very big problem tonight.”
“Why shouldn't people be happy about the levels?”
“The average level of the camp determines the strength of the raids each night, and logistically speaking, most people in the camp were involved in making that hammer, whether it was from getting the materials, to building this workshop, or even just defending the people who did those things. That means that the average level of the camp rose significantly in just a few seconds.”
“Well I’m sure we can handle the raid for the night, it couldn’t be that much worse.”
“Maybe not, but given the trend we have observed with the monsters, we suspect one that was at least level 23 was going to show up in the next few days, but after the spike in strength, we may see something at level 25.”
Mike was not as worried as the leader of the camp, instead he simply brandished his new hammer, smiling. “Perfect, I can test out my new weapon on something worthy of using it on. They stepped out of the building, and Mike was surprised to see that the sun had already set. He was about to ask Jonas for the time when the horn rang out that signaled an incoming raid.
Jonas gave Mike a look, prompting him to run and leap over the walls, waiting for the powerful beast to appear. It hadn’t taken long, as 45 minutes later, a tarantula brood mother slowly lumbered its way towards the walls. Mike smiled, as he was pretty much perfectly matched up against this type of enemy. Slow moving, and weak to blunt damage, meant his hammer would make quick work of the beast.
Mike threw every free point his many levels had gained him into strength, ready to turn the spider into paste. To the shock of every single on looker, Mike bolted towards the foe, faster than any arrow most of the archers could shoot, and swung his hammer into the head of the spider. This wasn't just a strike to the head, but one that Mike had poured everything he could into.
Enhance Self was pumped up to full power, he had made the hammer as heavy as he could handle, and he transferred all of his momentum from his charge into this one swing. The head of the Tarantula exploded as all of the bits flew high into the sky. Every single monster, human, and animal that saw him froze at the display of complete and utter dominance.
*Skill upgraded! Intimidation, becomes Dominating Intimidation (Rare)*
*Title upgraded! Mighty Slayer, becomes Mighty Slayer (Rare)*
Mike had not intended to strike fear into the hearts of every living thing present, but that was exactly what had happened as the entire rest of the raid fled back into the forest, tails tucked and ears flattened. The defenders clapped and cheered, while Mike stared at the hammer. The difference between an epic item and a rare one truly had shined, and Mike was eager for the next chance he would get to make one.
The night had then followed with more celebrations, but not nearly as large as the one that had been thrown for Martin. For the most part, people were happy because many had reached their evolutions after gaining the level granted by an epic item being made.
The parties came to a close by the next morning, which unfortunately had been rainy. Mike spent the day making a few more rare items, mostly doing it in the background as he chatted with some of the other people in the camp, and by the end of the day, he felt it was time to push his class to all new heights, and grind to reach his next evolution.