Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

Boom!

A figure fell to the ground, leaving a human-shaped indent on the walls of the training room. Jonah could only look on awkwardly, secretly wiping away the sweat. He was just glad that a human-shaped bullet missed him.

It was a lot harder to get used to high-speed combat than Seth had expected. This was the third time he had to peel himself out of the wall. His movement skill <Lame One's Walk> needed absolute control over one's body.

This was why he had to familiarize himself with the sudden increase in agility, so he could use it to its full potential. He had asked for Jonah's help since the vampiric swordsman was agility based himself... and he had the highest self-healing rate in Minas Mar.

If Seth were to, theoretically, run him over like a freight train, Jonah had the highest chance to survive until he could cast healing magic on him. The blacksmith wiped some dust off and got back into a fighting stance.

Despite the force and speed, Seth suffered almost no injuries from running into a magically reinforced rock wall at full speed. This was possible because the 80% damage nullification applied to literally every incoming damage.

It was not just about Magic, Weapons, or Skill. It also counted for impacts, fall damage, pressure... anything that could harm him, was reduced by 80%. The blacksmith was not going to test it, but he hypothesized that he could not die from fall damage anymore.

Like an ant that was not heavy enough to develop a terminal velocity that could kill it, with 80% damage reduction and his defensive effects, he could probably survive any fall at this point. As mentioned, he was not crazy enough to test it, but he was quite sure it was possible.

After another hour of Seth trying to get used to his increased speed, the blacksmith said farewell to Jonah and returned to the workshop. Even though he had finally finished his armor, there were still some things to do. Before anything else, he wanted to keep the promise he had neglected for a little too long.

He still owed a flute to Ember, who had helped him find Tano'Mol. The demon girl had given him the blueprint, but it was still the first time he was really going to make an instrument. Luckily he had the skill <Instrument Maker> which allowed him to use system guidance.

However, he quickly found that it was not needed. The structure of the instrument itself was not overly complicated.. With <Instrument Maker> at the beginner stage and the experience as a craftsman blacksmith and goldsmith, making the body itself was easier than expected. Seth went as far as doing her a favor and used <Ithildin> for the body of the flute.

The superior material was chosen because of the wondrous design of the enchantments on the flute. They would add magic effects into the tones played with the flute, based on what kind of power the user chose to imbue with their mana. This way they could adjust the tones to the power of the music, gaining synergistic effects.

These engravings were similar to elemental enchantments Seth could use to give a weapon elemental attack properties. The ones on the flute had no fixed element, making them more versatile, but also less efficient and harder to control. The <Ithildin> would help to slightly ease this difficulty.

Still, it would take a lot of skill as a musician and a magician to bring out the flute's full potential. On one hand, he questioned whether Ember had what it took to really use this item. Didn't she bite off more than she could chew?

On the other hand, if she really managed to become proficient in playing this flute … maybe he should recruit her for Minas Mar in the end? In the beginning, the blacksmith had still been doubtful of her, but she had been a great help during the time he knew her. He put the thoughts of recruiting her in the back of his mind and concentrated on working on engraving the enchantments.

<Ding! You have finished an epic instrument! Proficiency gained>

<Ding! Your skill Instrument Maker (Beginner) Lv.1 has become Instrument Maker (Apprentice) Lv.3>

By using an epic material and his already high skills in making the flute, his skill had directly jumped up by a whole tier. This gave Seth a pleasant surprise. He couldn't help but enjoy how easy it was to raise a low-level skill by using high-grade materials.

Of course, this was only possible because he already had high crafting skills, which allowed him to work with these kinds of materials. Otherwise, Seth would have chosen this route from the very start.

The flute had not taken as long as he expected, and now he had licked blood. There was another instrument that had been dwelling in his inventory for quite a while. Gleobem's Panpipes and Soul were still waiting to be turned into something.

Ember's Flute had inspired him to make similar changes to the panpipes. Although it had no valves, he could still adjust the enchantment and add it to the thirteen pipes of Gleobem's flute. Although it would take a lot of skill for a musician to play it, not only was Gleobem a skilled individual, but once the pipes were his body, Seth guessed he would have little problems using the enchantments skillfully.

Seth still thought that his decision to end Gleobem was right. The satyr was a robber, who used his music and skills in illusions to harm people. It was such a fundamental part of his being, that it was even mentioned in the flavor text of his soul.

However, he had also felt a little guilty as there was a difference to end someone to prevent future harm and capturing their soul for one's own profit. This was why he had not used the souls for any of his items so far. He also couldn't trust it. But now, he also had a way to make sure the satyr wouldn't betray him.

~ Hey, Gleobem. Are you interested in making music once again?~

Seth tried to contact the soul with <Telepathy>, but there was only silence.

~Gleobem?~

~... That is my name. Are you Hades? Thanatos? Hermes? Can I finally go to the afterlife? Please release me from this torturing silence!~

Seth hesitated. Right, he had not spoken with Gleobem before. How would he know that his soul was captured at the time of his death? He only hesitated for a moment, before he made a decision.

~No, Gleobem. This is not god. No god will come for you.~

~No, please! I'm willing to repent! I'm sorry for never respecting the divine rules! I'm sorry for all the things I did. Even if I have to suffer in Tartaros, let me leave this darkness and silence!~ the soul interrupted Seth and begged. He didn't even beg for mercy, but for punishment.

~I am no god, but if it is a punishment you wish for, I can give it to you and end your life in darkness.~

~Yes, yes. I have reflected. I will take any punishment. Whatever it is! As long as it isn't this silence!~

~Then listen closely. You will be reborn in a body of music and your punishment will be to serve the man who had killed you. Do you agree? Then repeat after me loud and clear. "In exchange for a body and the chance to make music once again, I am willing to serve the man who has killed me. Seth Smith."~

~Yes, yes! In exchange for a body and the chance to make music once again, I am willing to serve the man who has killed me. Seth Smith.~

A stream of power flowed out from the soul after voicing its clear consent, forming a scroll in the blacksmith's hand. This was a soul contract, not one that held souls, but one that could force someone to adhere to an agreement.

During the acquisition of materials for the Faer 2.0 Seth had gained quite a bit of proficiency from watching and working with Tano'Mol. His <Soul Trader> skill was also close to reaching lv.4.

~The contract had been established. Get ready for your reincarnation.~

With the soul contract in hand, Seth started working on the panpipes. Seth couldn't help feeling some disgust when he checked the panpipes again, using the <Blacksmith's Eyes>. Gleobem's instrument which looked like ivory was actually made from hollowed human bones.

The blacksmith had no problem working with monster bones, but working with human bones made him feel inherently icky. Still, he overcame his feelings and started working on the bones. Unlike with Ember's Flute which he made completely out of <Ithildin> and only engraved with the enchantment, he got ready to make inlays of <Ithildin> on the bone panpipes.

Wearing a mask against the dust, he cut the channels for the metal into the bones. He made sure to thoroughly clean his workspace and cremated the bone dust later. When he finished the inlays, he forged Gleobem's soul to mirror his panpipes and infused the satyr's soul.

<Ding! You have created a rare ego instrument! Proficiency gained!>

<Ding! Your skill Instrument Maker (Apprentice) Lv.3 has become Instrument Maker (Apprentice) Lv.6>