Ultimate Level 1-Chapter 415: Crafting Decisions

Chapter 415 - Crafting Decisions

Max tried to stop smiling as he and Buwingrid worked on the different parts of the weapon he had asked her to craft.

She hadn’t been very excited to learn that he had two legendary weapon crafting skills, one of which she possessed, but hers was a lower rank.

He of course had been surprised to learn how many she possessed and the ranks of hers.

So this is another one of those world questions I’ll one day find out.

How do some worlds have an easier time earning ranks in crafting skills while another world struggles to acquire or advance them?

Nodding as he hammered on the metal she had given him, Max glanced up and saw Buwingrid engraving runes on the shaft for his weapon.

Yes. I mean her world is filled with crafters, but she also said that there are over ten thousand dungeons in her world, which is about ten times the size of this one. I cannot begin to fathom what that must be like.

An underground world that operates on deep mining, dungeons that are primarily used as ways to gather materials, and a world that produces fighters she says could easily fight in the ring outside the center part of this city? I’d say it sounds about right.

Don’t forget what she said, though.

Making sure he focused on the next few strikes of his hammer, he said nothing, returning it to the forge to heat up again.

That her people fight on other worlds. That there are whole planets where the populations do just that, and it's basically a life aimed around growing up as a soldier or one who outfits them. Which is why she is here.

Don’t forget she mentioned how their world is under siege by other worlds, many of which are often what you all consider evil races or creatures. Hearing that things like orcs, goblins, ogres, and more have systems like yours and hers, as well as worlds and gods, adds some concern.

I guess we’re going to experience some of those things eventually, which leads me to wonder about the stories of legends.

Lost in that conversation, Max continued to take the metal he was working on out, hammering it, getting a dozen strikes before he had to put it back in the forge for a bit. It was taking him numerous repetitions of the whole process to see any result at all, the metal she had given him was one that he had never seen before.

“You’re making good progress,” Buwingrid said when she approached where he was, twirling the seven-foot shaft in her hand. “I would have thought you’d be done by now.”

“No you didn’t,” he replied. “We both know this metal takes forever to shape, and the heat doesn’t hold well. It’s why you gladly farmed it off to me.”

Winking, she nodded.

“You’re right. Still, it’s nice to have you working on it. Saves me a lot of time and effort. If my mother was here, I could have asked her to do it but odds are she would have said no. At least until you pulled out that damn token.”

He didn’t reply, seeing that the blade he was crafting was almost ready to be hammered again.

“So tell me, what are the chances that everything I want to do will work?”

Buwingrid began to stroke the beard on her chin and shrugged.

“Honestly… I know it’s possible. There are a few crafters from my world with a skill as high as yours regarding Elemental Weapon crafting. The cores are rare as most can’t afford the cost to simply throw at a weapon unless you have someone gifted with that skill. Anyone with that skill can charge whatever they want. It is one of the reasons why I was able to come here and set up shop. You are extremely fortunate to have acquired so many.”

“Kill a dragon, harvest their body,” Max replied. “Seems like everyone is happy to trade for them.”

Buwingrid snorted and nodded as she glanced up at the ceiling.

“There are only stories of dragons on my world. All the ones that were there are now gone. Terrible stories about how they ravaged the land and destroyed so many, all in pursuit of gold and gems.”

He listened to her tell a story about one, getting another round of hammering in before he had to put the weapon head back in the coals.

“What are your thoughts about dragons?”

She spat and frowned.

“I’ve lived on this world for a while, and Igarra and I had an understanding. Knowing now that she was a true dragon upsets me a little bit. Dragonkin can be bad enough and most are extremely powerful. It seemed weird and impossible sometimes to believe one had grown to her level of strength, but then again, those who are strong continue to get stronger.”

“So you’re not a fan of them?”

A sigh came from Buwingrid as she studied Max for a moment, glancing at the weapon head resting in the coals, slowly turning a shade of orange as the heat was absorbed by it.

“I’m not a fool to believe a dragon is simply after gold or gems. Someone like me doesn’t get to where I am without studying and researching. There are lots of rumors about where their power comes from. If one manages to kill a dragon with the right person around, they could search for a power source inside them and make something great from it or trade it for a vast amount of money.

“Part of me was surprised to learn that Igarra didn’t have one.”

Clearing his throat, Max frowned.

“What?”

He looked at the blade and then back at the weapon smith.

“Let me do another round of this, and then I’ll tell you what I know.”

***

Buwingrid hadn’t moved from the chair she had taken from storage, slowly twirling the ends of her beard between her fingers.

“You know everything I know about dragons; now you can understand how I feel about them. Some are evil like humans or dwarves can be. Others are also kinder and more gracious. The two with me are unique and are part of my family.”

“Still… to have two dragons following you. That is… unheard of. What my Queen would offer you for one… a large portion of her kingdom would be considered a small gift, especially if the red one you described is as big as you say.”

“And yet, that’s not what I’m offering.”

“Oh I know,” she replied, her face slightly red. “Still, you are an unusual person. That is one of the main reasons why I am happy to work with you on what you request. It also explains why Igarra would come in and commission weapons I never saw used in any fight. To know she was eating them to gain power…”

“How many worlds have you been to?” Max asked as she trailed off.

“Been to? Besides my own and this one?”

Rolling his eyes, he bobbed his head.

“Close to maybe twenty?”

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“Why so many?”

“Part of it was the payment for the skills I learned and the training I was given. I had to spend time serving the armies, crafting weapons, and doing grunt work in forges. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good trade. No part of me wants to be on the front line facing the monsters my people have to fight. My mother earned her power the same way and stayed in longer than some, gaining a higher commission and access to greater skills. She will be excited to see what I have gained from this bargain.”

“So she’s a godly ranked crafter?”

Grinning, Buwingrid shrugged.

“That’s not for me to say, but know that if she ever feels you are worthy of her hammer, there are few in our world or many of the ones I have been to that can compare. Part of the reason she isn’t here right now is because our Queen summoned her. I expect her to return in a month or two.”

She could be a potential ally in the days to come. Even if you cannot gain a skill that high, she could craft what we desire if we were willing to trade that token.

I guess if there is no other way, it will have to be done. For now I think we at least have time before we must decide on that. In the meantime, I’ll gladly use it to get a dwarf to help me as often as possible.

Spoken like a true villain.

Pulling the weapon head he had stored, Max set it back in the coals, watching as the flames rose, sparks coming off as he buried it inside.

“Well, I guess we need to get back to work. I need to do a few other things before this fight.”

Buwingrid stood and stored her chair.

“Be safe. This new champion… He isn’t like Igarra, but I haven’t seen a weapon cut him yet. Every strike has bounced off his skin.”

“Are you saying this is a foe I might not be able to defeat?”

Drumming her fingers on the stone table she was near, the weaponsmith didn’t reply for almost ten seconds.

“You’re smart, and you know that just because something is smaller than a different being doesn’t mean it is weaker. We also haven’t seen Lord Kazrak use any skills. Every fight has been him simply overpowering his enemies with speed and strength. Those axes… I would bet a chest full of tokens that they are cursed.”

“I saw that replay of his battle against the arachnoid challenger. It was as if they absorbed light.”

Buwingrid nodded.

“There are many ways to guess what a weapon does by the aura it gives off. For a weapon to visually look like that in such a way means they are powerful. Which means you’re facing an enemy you have no clue about. You had ideas on what Igarra could do. Your size and speed also allowed you the ability to mitigate some of her power.

“Unlike many who would have to stand still and let her breathe fire on them, unable to get away, you could dodge it, and it appeared you could teleport around her. I do not doubt that Kazrak will have studied every replay of your fights and asked everyone who knows anything about you regarding your true potential.”

“Which is why Jazzjak and Quilazmore are still alive.”

“Another sign of how smart he is. Keeping those who know things about you and being able to threaten their families allows him to ensure their obedience. Which is why you quickly hid your friends.”

Max turned and looked at the glowing orange metal in the coals and took his tongs, pulling it out of the flames and setting it down on the anvil.

“I guess then I’ll need to see what I can learn about him. For now, thank you again for this.”

Waving his gratitude away with a hand, she moved toward the area where she had been working. “Just finish that. I’ll get to work on what I need to take care of. We still have a lot of things to accomplish.”

Turning all of his attention to the metal that would house a large amount of magic, Max blocked out the rest of the world, lost in thoughts about what the fight might be like.

***

“Everything is ready for you,” Buwingrid said as she studied the finished blade. “I’m impressed as always by what you do. Now comes the hard part. How do we want to do this?”

“You’re certain that a weapon can house more than four elements?”

“I’ve seen it done before, but it’s rare. Beyond the amount of skill it takes and the cost of the cores, most wouldn’t dream of doing something like that. The stats are prized but the risk is far beyond what most are willing to take.”

She is right. Do we need to risk so much? If it fails, the weapon will be destroyed, leaving you with just the hammer you made for Fowl.

Perhaps… but we’re combining two different systems. If we can make all this work, think of the potential of another skill. Buwingrid said that this is how many of the dwarves who are crafters, like herself, gain those skills. It is why they are more than happy to move between systems and learn. It is how she has thirteen skills.

I’ll do everything I can to make this successful. So I am ready whenever you are.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Max replied. “You go first. I’ll go after you.”

***

Max let out the breath he had been holding in as Buwingrid finished her part of this gamble.

Learning that she possessed the metal element had made him a bit jealous, wondering what she could do with it, even if the skill was uncommon.

This is just another thing to add to the list of skills I want to acquire from shards, if possible, while we’re here.

That is one of the things I like about you, Max. Here we are, risking all the time we have to craft a weapon most would never attempt, using a gigantic portion of our materials you’ve saved, and all you can think about is what the next skill you’re going to acquire will be. It’s also another sign that you believe you’ll come out on top of this next fight.

He chose to ignore Bob’s statements, knowing it was a compliment but also a slight at the same time, instead focusing on the next task.

Wiping the small bead of sweat from her brow, Buwingrid stood and motioned to the weapon, a bladed staff held in place by two vices.

“The rest is up to you. I’ve used everything that I believe this weapon can be enchanted with that won't interfere with what you’re going to attempt. Go slow.”

Smiling, Max nodded and motioned to the small metal chest she had resting on the bench nearby.

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“I’ll owe you for this one.”

“Yes… yes, you will.”

Moving a few feet away, she retrieved the chair she had sat in earlier and plopped down on it.

Pulling a pair of gloves from storage he had acquired from her, Max opened the lid and gazed at the core inside.

Wood… who knew.

***

You need not to push your luck. It’s giving feedback already, and you barely managed to get it to accept the last core.

His hands trembled, and Max shook them, trying to shake out the sensation running up and down his arms as well.

“For a second, I thought I was about to endure a feedback explosion. That is not what I want to be part of,” Buwingrid stated as she moved back from the corner of the room she had been standing.

“How bad was it?”

“You saw where I was, right?”

Nodding, he couldn’t deny the concern Bob had or her reaction.

The lightning core had almost erupted in his hand. It had fought against him the entire time, trying to push itself away and immediately pull itself closer as he held on with every ounce of strength.

All his magical equipment except his boots and pants were removed and stored, the weapon having reacted badly when he had done the stone core before the lightning one.

Just wait for a moment. Catch your breath and consider what we have done. This weapon has a metal, wood, fire, sand, ice, stone, and lightning core. Do you believe we can force an air one into it?

Frustrated, Max couldn’t ignore the doubts both the dwarven weapon crafter and his skill had, yet inside him was a desire to try for one more.

As he stood there, silent for a while, he sensed Buwingrid move toward him.

“So what are you going to do?” she asked.

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