The smell of cleansed metal and plasma lingered in the air as the workshop fell silent once more. Ethan gazed at the skilled Vulcan balancing the idea against the harsh icy reality of survival.
A Mythic-Tier Artificer working full-time. Masterwork equipment is assured on demand and access to the best defensive technology available.
The risks were enormous since Ethan would be linked to a powerful person making him more easily identifiable. The option however, was to try to obtain equipment that was now under him while depending on potions and good fortune. Durability was now more important for survival than evasion. In addition to speed, he required a stronghold of magic and metal.
Ethan turned to face Anchor who pulsed with a gentle comforting strength.
"The partnership is accepted" Ethan confirmed. "However, the conditions of material gain must be unchangeable. 50% of whatever legendary or mythical material we find while traveling together will go toward your study and forging and the other 50% will go toward my content and personal use."
Vulcan nodded clearly accepting "A just split. Both the chaos and the access are provided by you. I supply both the defense and the craft. Equip your new gear now. We must act quickly."
With haste Ethan removed his low-level outdated armor and grabbed the new gear. His riches was directly transformed into raw physical strength which was the real result of his hard work.
He started by equipping the Core Aegis. The Mythic-grade armor fit his torso flawlessly and felt cool against his skin. It was sturdy enough to survive the fall of a building but it seemed incredibly light. He could feel his center being encircled by the passive flow of fire resistance.
[CORE AEGIS MYTHIC GEAR EQUIPPED
1. VITALITY +45
2. FIRE RESISTANT PERMANENT 80%
3. MYTHIC SKILL UNLOCKED: CHRONIC SHIELD: Upon taking the damage that exceeds 50% of the wearer's Max HP in a single blow, the Aegis generates the stabilizing field that nullifies all the damage taken and magic damage for 2 seconds. Cool-down: 120 seconds]
The Chronic Shield skill's sheer power gave Ethan a level of confidence he had never had before. The difference between a cautious retreat and instant death following a catastrophic hit was a guaranteed two seconds of invulnerability.
The Energy Anchors come next. The boots which were of legendary quality were slender but precisely balanced.
[ENERGY ANCHORS: LEGENDARY BOOTS EQUIPPED
1. AGILITY +30
2. LEGENDARY SKILL UNLOCKED: FLOW STATE: Activating Flow state removes all the movement penalties caused by complex terrain ( ice , mud , rubble , lava ) and grants 5 seconds of friction-less movement. Cool-down 60 seconds.]
Ethan took a few forceful steps to test the boots. In the erratic terrain of high-level zones the Flow State offered a critical edge by ensuring escape routes when others would falter. He was now moving at a frighteningly high base speed.
And lastly the Shadow-Weave Mantle. The cloak seemed to absorb the room's light and sound as it settled around him.
[SHADOW WEAVE MANTLE: LEGENDARY CLOAK ITEM EQUIPPED
1. PERCEPTION ( HOSTILE INTENT ): +20%
2. LEGENDARY SKILL UNLOCKED: SHADOW BLINK: Instantly teleports the user 10 meters in any direction while maintaining the sneak status. Requires active sneak. Cool-down: 45 seconds]
Wearing the mantle, Ethan triggered his Sneak. It was unsettling how quiet everything was. Now that he possessed an instantaneous directed teleport that didn't compromise his stealth he could easily avoid complex traps or close-quarters ambushes.
[MASTERWORK TRIO SET EFFECT ACTIVATED:
PHANTOM SKILL UNLOCKED: When the shadow weave mantle is maintained for more than 10 seconds all active cool-down of both core aegis and anchor boots are reduced by 20%, Upon exiting the sneak the user gains temporarily 20% boost to energy damage absorption for 5 seconds]
His playstyle was perfectly complemented by the Phantom set effect. By rewarding stealth with instant battle readiness, it transformed his evasion into a notable skill that blocks everything.
"The work is magnificent" Ethan said as he slowly turned to look at the equipment. He sensed the materials' combined strength a genuine symbiotic defense. "The set effect alone is worth the price of the Fragment."
"It must be" Vulcan said happily "It is not designed for small-scale conflicts. It is designed to survive in the deep high level zones where a metal failure equates to a life failure".
"I need twenty-four hours to secure the final rewards" Ethan said. He described how he plans to maximize the payment algorithms of the system by timing the distribution of the content.
After going back to his secret room Ethan finished editing the Mythic Creation film. He highlighted the Mythic Aegis's purple and gold illumination as well as the danger taken by the Master Artisan. He centered the story on how impossible the accomplishment was.
He made the footage public. Every significant guild warlord and elite player in Aethelgard took notice of the content which dominated the global PV stream for the following day. Only one master could produce the new level of gear that the entire realm knew was possible.
Master blacksmith Vulcan was effectively severing his connections with Aethelheim in the meantime. Only his most important transportable tools a portable crucible, specialized quenching liquids, and his tracking compass were kept when he sold off non-essential equipment. In a brief strange statement he formally ended his service to Lord Valerius mentioning the search for "materials of true transcendence." He was prepared for the difficult voyage.
Twenty-four hours later Ethan encountered the Vulcan outside the city close to the secondary gates a secluded and lightly patrolled areas.
"The city is buzzing," said Vulcan. "The market for materials is in turmoil. "Legendary" and "Mythic" quality have been redefined by your videos."
At last, Ethan unlocked his system panel. The outcomes were profound and instantaneous.
[CONTENTS PAYOUT FINALIZED
1. Forge duel ( S Rank ): $1,550,000 ( net share 775,000 to Vulcan)
2. Mythic Creation ( SSS Rank ): $5,100,000 ( net share 2,550,000 to Vulcan)
Total content revenue: $6,650,000
Payout to Vulcan: 3,325,000]
[EXPERIENCED GAINED:
1. 1,200,000 EXP From Forge duel
2. 4,500,000 EXP From Mythic creation
Total EXP gained: 5,700,000]
[LEVEL UP 53-> LEVEL 58]
[CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE RECEIVED: 30 ATTRIBUTE POINTS]
[SSS RANK MYTHIC ACHIEVEMENT RECEIVED]
UNPRECEDENTED CINEMATIC QUALITY
MYTHIC SKILL UNLOCKED: FORGEMASTERS GRASP: LEGENDARY SKILL (PASSIVE): Grants the user an intuitive understanding of structural integrity and resistant of all forged or magically hardened materials upon contact. Allows the user to identify the weakness and flaws of the materials instantly]
Ethan was Level 58 his partner was safe his enormous debt was suddenly gone and he had the ideal passive skill for spotting future treasure.
Ethan said"The numbers are satisfactory," his decision reinforced by the enormous payoff and skill development. In order to make sure his body could withstand the pressure of his Mythic gear he swiftly allocated his new attribute points putting them into Agility and Vitality.
"The terms have been honored" the Vulcan affirmed as he turned to face the future. "Where do we go? You determine the course; you are the source of chaos."
The path leading from Aethelheim into the uncharted higher-level woods caught Ethan's attention. He sensed the Mythic Aegis's gentle comforting pressure. He was no longer in debt, he was moving for the unachievable.
"We require a target that has never been captured on camera. Master Artisan, we require additional materials."
The two partners an armored mountain of creation and a shadow-runner, entered the gate and disappeared into the wilderness.