Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

Chapter 1335: The Secret Mission

“Hubert?” Seth asked, surprised. It had been a while since he had seen the dimensional merchant. He had also been part of the evaluation of Chrona. he had sometimes worked for Minas Mar but was originally not a member. It was through some twists and turns of fate that he finally wished and was allowed to join the guild.

“Yes, Iʼve returned,” the older man whispered suspiciously.

Although he had joined and had a room at the Tower, he was another member who was not seen often. His skill allowed him to trade with other dimensional traders from across the Pathworks, and if possible, he would also travel to these places to peddle in person. Having learned his lesson, he would only leave with an escort of Oathguards.

Had he been here at the time, he would have been sent to Perrerian, the world beyond the cave gate, or Pakkonaia, the world with the dark elf-like demons, instead of Luf or Jane. The fact that he was sneaking into the workshop looking for him could only mean one thing. His secret mission was a success.

“Did you find what I asked for?” Seth asked in a hushed voice. When Hubert nodded, the blacksmith quickly ushered him into one of the sectioned-off rooms of the workshop. Until he was absolutely sure, he wanted what he asked of Hubert to remain a secret, even from his workshop assistants.

After they entered the room and Seth closed the door, Hubert brought out a small box and put it on the workbench. With both of them leaning over the small box, he opened it, revealing a roughly walnut-sized, bronze bead, engraved with a worn-down pattern of scales.

“This is the Last Prayer Bead of Saint Beashaz, a dragonewt monk,” Hubert revealed the origin of the hefty bead. “I hope this is the right thing, I had to exchange it for two bars of special tranquil legendary

for it,” he added, prompting Seth to appraise the bead he brought.

Legendary

Durability: 120/300

1. Piety of Beashaz

2. Tenacity of Beashaz

3. Protection of Beashaz

The last bead of Saint Beashazʼ rosary, that remained after his final struggle to protect his people. >

Seth marveled at the item Hubert managed to acquire on his journey. It was an accessory, similar to an orb. The bead could be simply held to gain itʼs effects, but it could also be turned to a necklace and worn like that.

The merchant had really done his job properly, as all three effects hit the mark.

The Piety of Beashaz improved the power of healing and divine skills, and spells by 150%.

The Tenacity of Beashaz increased the wearerʼs strength and endurance by 150 points.

The Protection of Beashaz improved all protective skills and spells by 150%.

“This is exactly what I needed. How did you find something like this?” Seth asked incredulous. The blacksmith had a hard time believing Hubert managed to find something so close to his speifications.

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“It wasnʼt easy. I had to pay off the intelligence organizations of various worlds to collect and sift through information before I was finally stumbled over the legend of the Last Bead of Saint Beashaz,” Hubert explained.

“Oh, what is the story behind the item?” Seth asked curiously, as the flavor text didnʼt really reveal much. If a legendary item came to be, instead of being created from a legendary material, it was usually the story about it that was responsible. It wouldnʼt hurt to know it before he started crafting.

“Well, from what my informants told me, it goes like this:

Saint Beashaz was the abbot of a small monastery in a frontier region. When the barbarians of the bordering nation began raiding and pillaging nearby villages, people fled to the monastery to seek shelter, leading to the attackers laying siege to the monastery

The villagers and monks had managed to send for reinforcement from the king, but they were running late. The monks and priests soon ran out of mana, and the barriers broke, leaving only the bare wall and gate to protect them.

Legend has it, that when the gates of the monastery were broken down by the barbarians, it was Abbot Beashaz who faced them alone, protecting the rest of the monks and villagers behind him.

Unarmed as a man of god, he only had his skills and a bronze rosary.

With his many running dry and their barriers destroyed, he wrapped the prayer bead around his fists and single-handedly held the gate, fighting the pillagers with sheer tenacity. Blocking weapons, smashing skulls, and hitting armor, his prayer beads broke one by one.

All except the last one. When the kingʼs men finally appeared on the horizon to face the barbarians, the pillagers fled, having taken only a single life at the monastery, that of Abbot Beashaz. When the soldiers arrived at the monastery, they found the abbot still standing in the broken gateway, surrounded by the bodies of his attackers.

Covered in wounds, he had died standing, only holding this single bead, shining with holy radiance in his hand... Or so the story goes. What god he originally served, where that Monastery originally was, that is all stuff swallowed by time. All that remains is the bead and the story. I doubt I would have been able to acquire it otherwise.” Hubert finally ended his little fairy tale.

Seth nodded slowly. He was no expert on legendary items and legends in general, but especially Hubertʼs last words made the items make sense to him. With this kind of story, it wouldnʼt have made sense that the bead was not a holy relic, held dear by some church.

If the Church was still going strong and the god was not forgotten, Seth would have guessed that the effect would not only be stronger, but also specific to the god Beashaz originally served. In that manner, it was good that none of those were known anymore in the legend.

Otherwise, the bead would have a lot less value to Seth. How was he supposed to make an engagement ring from this to surprise Fin, if one of the main effects was dedicated to a foreign god?

This way, all effects could apply to Finʼs current skills and powers.

There was also more than enough to made a ring, or maybe two? It was pretty much perfect as base material, except for the fact that it was ordinary bronze. The blacksmith would have to try refining and reinforcing it to raise the durability a little. But durability was not as important for accessories, so it was acceptable.

“Good, good. Excellent work, Hubert. What do you want as a commission? Gold, or something more special?” the blacksmith praised the merchant and asked for his prize. Hubert had used Sethʼs legendary materials to trade for it, but that didnʼt pay him for all the effort he put in.

“No, no, i need nothing. The publicity I was able to get, by being able to trade with legendary materials is more than enough. The fact that someone entrusted me with their legendary materials, is a big boost for my reputation,” the trader surprisingly insisted that he was already paid with exposure and didnʼt need anything more.

“Are you sure? How about an accessory made to raise personality?” he asked, slyly. Personality was the main attribute for the merchant and Seth; he had earned the right to own a legendary something of Charisma.

“Oh, well, you are making me weak, but no. You are already busy as is, especially with this now. I will put in a request when I really need something,” he hesitated, but still refused.

“Okay then, make sure to do so, “ the blacksmith mumbled, a little stumped.

“I will take my leave then,” Hubert said with a business smile and left, leaving behind his satisfied customer.