“Welcome Supreme Warlady Elena,” the Master Blacksmith said while bowing deeply.
“Let us see your work Master Blacksmith Verox,” she declared.
“Of course, right here,” he went over to a counter and pulled away a piece of cloth. A sword inside of sheathe was resting on a wooden stand. My mother looked over it and then gestured to me to pick it up. I grabbed the gold inlaid sheath and hilt before freeing the sword.
“The Dungeon metal was decent. Not the best of course, probably from the upper layers, but it had a high degree of Mana infusion. I would estimate some lesser variant of Mithril. Placing it around the value Platinum on the power table of metals,” the Master Blacksmith explained.
“That strong?” I asked.
“Indeed. Dungeon metal is quite rare. One of the rarest natural treasures. I kept the enchantments simple yet strong as requested. Sharpness, tier 2. Durability, tier 3, and the hardest of them all Self Repair tier 1. A solid tier 2 blade.”
The tier grading system was common with adventurer equipment. Basic stuff was all tier 1. Which was rated up to red core monsters. Tier 2 was rated for up to orange. Tier 3 was rated up to yellow, which was rated up to level 99. That meant up to the 9th layer, that I could safely use this weapon.
The grading system was more of a guideline. My mother’s blade was supposedly a tier 5 weapon, rated up to Champion monsters at the 24th layer, or level 249. Normally elites and legendries had tier 4 and 5 weapons. And adventurers could use weaker tier 0 weapons, especially when starting out. But the tier rating system was designed to be rated against champion monsters for equipment.
“It feels heavy,” I said.
“Yes, since I didn’t do weight reduction like I normally would have for someone your age,” he replied.
“I would have thought it would be a tier 3 with the alloy I found in the dungeon,” I said.
“If it was just the blade it would have been. But your mother insisted on those specific enchantments, which draws Mana away from the main aspect of the blade by focusing on specific areas. So, the overall blade is slightly weaker, but the sharpness has been retained, durability increased, and self-repair added. In exchange the blade itself is weaker with less Mana,” Master Blacksmith Verox explained.
“You will adapt to its weight. The enchantments on it will serve you well. Having a strong primary weapon that requires little maintenance is important, when you will be down in the dungeon for a long time,” she said. I didn’t even get to decide, but she was paying for everything. And how could I argue against her experience?
“For the Self Repair, it uses ambient Mana. The Supreme Warlady was kind enough to provide a blue monster core to form the nexus for the enchanting work. A bit overkill, but as long as the hilt is intact, the sword will eventually reform. It might not be my best work, but it is something I have placed my maker’s mark upon,” the Master Blacksmith declared.
Normally high level craftspeople had apprentices do a lot of work and no mark was placed, or a lesser mark was placed instead. To place his actual mark, meant he stood by this work and it greatly enhanced the value of such a weapon.
Also, it didn’t escape my notice that my mother was throwing every resource possible she had at me. She might say harsh words, but she did love me quite a bit. If anything I would say she was emotionally stunted in many ways. She had spent her formative years fighting in the dungeon. That would skew anyone’s thought process.
“No innate spells?” I asked.
“No. But the weapon can handle channeled Mana really well from skills. That is the kind of weapon you can wield with confidence for quite a while. Now it just needs a name,” he said.
“You didn’t name it?” I asked while looking at the runic symbols etched into the blade. I thought I saw some familiar ones, but I wasn’t sure. My knowledge regarding runes wasn’t comprehensive enough.
“No. A weapon should always be named by its first wielder,” he said. I looked at my mother.
“It is a personal thing. You can choose to share or not. I have never shared the name of my primary weapon,” she declared.
“Ah the legendary work of Grandmaster Forgeheart. If I may be incredibly rude, may I look at your blade, Supreme Warlady Elena?” Master Smith Verox said.
“No, you may not. Its power shall only grace my hands,” she declared.
“Ah, my apologies,” he said.
“Every smith I talk to asks, it is no concern,” she said.
“Why is it so special?” I asked.
“A tier 5 weapon, almost tier 6. Grandmaster Forgeheart gave his very life to craft the blade. A man of immense skill and pure talent. Legendries would beg him to provide even a glance on weapons they commissioned from his apprentices. But as his skill grew he desired to break through and create a tier 6 crafting skill, the dream of all us true craftsman,” he explained.
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“The only known tier 6 skills are combat skills,” my mother said, and the Master Smith nodded at this.
“Indeed. But if anyone could break that barrier, it would have been Grandmaster Forgeheart. When a Supreme Legendary asked him to forge a simple blade that could withstand her immense power, nothing extra, he took up the commission. Using the most extravagant of materials and processes. Top Alchemists were commissioned to help refine the metal. For over a year he worked tirelessly crafting the ultimate blade. One that could withstand anything, carrying his hopes and dreams.” I listened closely while my mother didn’t interrupt. Master Smith Verox seemed like he was recounting a divine revelation.
“But he realized the blade would not surpass the barrier of a tier 5 blade and his skills would not reach tier 6. His apprentices swore these were his final words. ‘Let all know that I lay down my life in the pursuit of even greater heights!’ He then plunged the almost finished blade into his chest. To quench it with his own blood and skills, killing him. They said he died with a smile on his face and your mother pulled the blade from his charred corpse,” Master Verox said.
“No one has dared to inspect the blade. Some say it is the only tier 6 weapon in existence. That is why all Smiths and craftspeople, desire to inspect such a blessed weapon. The plainest of blades, with no ornamentation or other changes to its style. But forged as the ultimate sword,” he finished while breathing heavily. I looked at my mother.
“Name your blade,” she told me, cutting off any questions that I had. Did she really have the ultimate sword forged by a Grandmaster putting his very life into the weapon? What would it be like to hold such a weapon? I looked at my blade, so simple my comparison.
“Beginner’s Blade. That is its name. This is but the start of my journey. A weightier name is not needed,” I stated and my mother nodded. I felt a slight shift in the Mana around the weapon and my status.
“A good name,” Master Smith Verzo declared.
“Now the armor and other gear,” my mother said.
“They are nothing special and my apprentices did them and I checked their quality. Light Armor, Medium Armor, shield, bow, spear, daggers, axe, and combat gloves. All tier 1 of the highest quality,” he said and gestured to another counter. My mother nodded and collected all these items into her spatial storage.
“Good work as always, Master Verzo. Thank you for coming to Monolith on such short notice,” my mother said.
“For a commission from you, I can smile for the rest of my days and brag to my peers,” he said. We left from the shop as I followed next to my mother. We got in a magical carriage which immediately set off.
“So, your blade?” I asked.
“I will not speak of it. It is my most trusted companion. Your weapon is your life. Treat it well, as you would close friend or family member and it shall care for you in turn,” my mother declared.
“What next?” I asked.
“We are going to see Tutor Damian to collect your study material. He has been busy preparing a lesson plan for the next year while you are in the Dungeon. I expect you to complete it within that time frame,” she said.
Which meant she wanted me to complete it more quickly, since in her mind she was only setting the lowest possible bar for what was acceptable. Which was completely unfair in my opinion, but there was no use in arguing with my mother. I had tried and she had swiftly defeated me verbally.
We reached another building and Tutor Damian was busy writing at a table surrounded by piles of books. “Are you done?” my mother asked while walking over.
“Just about. Just finishing up the lesson plan and the suggested actions for breakthroughs. You asked me to put quite a bit together as well as doing other research,” he said.
“I know, but I expect results with what I am paying you,” my mother said.
“And done. A bit rushed at the end, but here is the study plan you wanted. The sheets here are the research you wanted me to do as well,” Damian said as my mother took the study plan that was a book and the sheets of paper.
While she flipped through them Damian looked at me. “And how are you, Justin?” he asked.
“I learned a lot in the dungeon and found a natural treasure that was turned into a sword,” I said as I gestured at it on my hip.
“An impressive first solo descent. I am glad you are doing well.”
“I did have some use with runes. I used a simple trap, carving fire runes into the ground and filling them with core dust. Managed to take out physically resistant monsters,” I said.
“An inspired use. Your skills are improving at a rapid pace,” he said. My mother must have told him my status. “Innovative uses like that always give a lot of levels. Your time in the dungeon clearly was quite impressive.”
My mother cleared her throat. “Oh, and I must apologize for misleading you before. The study I showed you looking at skill levels, was primarily from the common population. Not individuals who are more heavily tutored,” he said.
“I thought there were higher multipliers?” I asked.
“It didn’t take into account places like the College of Advancement or outliers such as yourself,” he said. My mother clearly wanted me to experience more pressure and was using Damian to try and correct what he told me earlier. It was so blatant that it was a bit ridiculous.
“We will be gone for quite a while, what will you be doing?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Well your mother is sending me to the College of Advancement with a letter of recommendation. With that I will be able to get a coveted teaching assistant position. Which could hopefully lead to a full professorship one day. I might even see you there in a year or so,” he said.
“My mother plans to send me there. I have to take the top spot,” I said, and Damian winced at that.
“That is…very difficult. The competition is brutal. Even with your skills and stats, it will be a challenge,” he said.
“Why? I am gaining skill levels faster than other kids my age?” I asked.
“Yes. But the true elites, can compete against you. You have a chance unlike me, with my poor background, when I attended. But the mindset of that place is very different,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Any rewards from being the top student?” I asked.
“A single tutoring session with the Mathemancer. A supreme legend just like Supreme Warlady Elena,” Damian said.
“A boring old man who thinks too much. You have done good work Tutor Damian. Your letter of recommendation. And if you see the old man, give him this letter as well,” she handed over two letters to Damian who took them carefully.
“I will ensure I hand it to him personally,” he replied.
“Come my son,” my mother said.
“Good luck Jusin,” Damian said.
“Bye Tutor Damian,” I waved goodbye and quickly hurried after my mother. “What did you have him research?” I asked.
“Skill combinations and progressions for you. It won’t be easy or simple, but I believe we can get you other resistance skills. You will have to level them up on your own, but if you can reach immunity and then absorption, the chance to combine them into a tier 6 skill would be quite powerful,” she declared.
“What?! But resistances are really hard to level?” I asked.
“So? Work harder. Do better. If you want to be the best, then seize the opportunity I am giving you my son,” Supreme Warlady Elena declared imperiously.