Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

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Legendary, Ego

Durability: 5000

1. Nurturing Space

2. Spells deal double damage

3. Illusion Magic effect is doubled

4. Necromancy effect is doubled.

5. Spells cost 30% less

6. Phase Shift

A ring created through the cooperation of the first Master Goldsmith of Urth, Master Smith, the first master enchanter of Urth, Master Smith, and the Great Sorceress Al'Zalsar. It is a great accomplishment, an item that will turn the owner into the master of their own pocket dimension.

Requirements: Master Smith's approval.>

Although the ring had a small number of effects when compared with other legendary items, but this didn't mean anything. The Nurturing Space was over the top.

The blacksmith and the sorceress currently stood in a vast empty space and were inspecting how exactly Al'Zalsar's enchantments had changed.

The first thing they did was walk outside. Outside the entrance of Minas Mar, Seth instructed Legion to create an entrance to the pocket space, one as big as it could. A massive portal, ten by twenty meters wide opened and wildly sucked in air.

The winds generated even took with them large patches of snow in the surroundings. Asterion and his crowd of fans were watching the spectacle eagerly.

The enchantments Al'Zalsar had added were mostly ones aimed at usability and safety. For starters, they helped control the size of the portal, as well as allowing an instant transmission of things inside to the outside.

"The automaton ego- legion was already able to the basics of these things, so I can't take full credit for those. I just strengthened them a little," she played her work down, as they entered the portal.

Once the wind had calmed down, the space inside was filled with fresh air and snow, making it safe for a living person to enter. Inside revealed itself as a room of darkness, but not because there was no light.

Piles of white snow glinted on the otherwise sickly gray ground which made up the base plane with rough edges and completely black firmament beyond. It was like standing on a small snowy island in the middle of space.

"I added protection against invasions from outside with space magic and concealed the space so that demons like that demon merchant you mentioned can't find it anymore. I also added an environmental light source, so we can see inside, and temperature control."

Seth had not even thought of these things, but it made sense. He wouldn't want some random existence from the outer realm to stumble upon the little pocket dimension, or the demon merchant to come by and steal stuff from him. Her explanation answered some of the questions Seth had, but not the biggest one,

"But how did this become a Nurturing Space?"

Resting inside the nurturing space had several effects that couldn't be explained by Al's enchantments.

Rest for:

6h Small Attack UP for 1h upon exiting space

12h Big Attack UP for 1h upon exiting space

18h Small Experience Bonus for 1h upon exiting space

24h Medium Experience Bonus for 1h upon exiting space Longer times can have random benefits for the growth of stats and skills.>

"When you ask me like that, I would guess the buffs have to do with the . The improved regeneration is thanks to the high mana density in the air."

Al'Zalsar confirmed his own suspicions. This time the chaotic effects of the materials had really outdone themselves. They had actually reacted with Al's enchantments and strengthened the pocket dimension into a nurturing space. It somewhat reminded Seth of the housing system that existed in some games, where one could gain a buff by spending time or sleeping in their own house. She explained that the high mana density was because the mana of the ring's soul was feeding into the space to power the enchantments, which was also why Seth didn't suddenly have a ring that granted him several tens of thousands of additional mana.

They walked around the desolate piece of earth. It wasn't like there was empty space beyond the edge, as Seth may have imagined, but the pocket dimension had a hard, smooth border he could touch. It was more like a cave than an island floating in outer space.

Seth couldn't help but grin at the comparison, as Minas Mar could be translated as Tower in a cave, or Subterranean Tower. If they really built a house here as Al'Zalsar suggested, it would still be on brand. Thinking of building inside this place, the blacksmith had a sudden idea.

"Al, how deep do you think is the earth here?"

"Roughly half the with, so something about 40m." she estimated.

"Do you think it could sustain plant life?"

Instead of building inside the pocket dimension, Seth thought of the possibility to plant one of the house trees Karina had created. If it was as Al said and the space had a ceiling, they could simply have it grown from the bottom to the ceiling. It would save them a lot of effort.

" If you are thinking what I think you are thinking, then it would probably work since those trees are not normal and can sustain themselves with mana. However, it will probably slightly worsen the recovery effects."

"Hmm, I'm sure we can find a workaround for that. Aren't there ways to increase the density? I'm sure we could create something like a mana dispenser." Seth asked interested.

"With the artificial magic crystals you have, that would not be a problem, yes."

When they finally left the Nurturing Space after their talk, the sun had already fallen.

"Originally, I wanted to talk to you about Project Iego and the refinement, but I guess we should do that at another time," the sorceress said with a sigh.

Seth couldn't quite point out what it was, but she seemed a little different when she said her farewells and returned to Delta alone. Seth pondered about it but decided not to dwell on it after he was unable to figure it out.

Letting go of his worries, he turned to his new ring and stopped restraining the joy in his heart. With this ring, he could finally bring people like the Faer or Ceres with him, without having to hide them. He was also sure that the golem with ego, like Python and Wolfram, would appreciate to have a place to roam in.

Although they couldn't quite describe how it was to be stuck in the inventory, it didn't seem like a pleasant place. He was sure Puffles and Tatzel would also appreciate the new place over the systems pet space. Especially Tatzel, who could now spend time with Python, even when they were traveling. Now, his personal equipment was almost fully completed. He only lacked a soul for the Eye of Argus. He was just happily checking his status on his way back to his quarters when his heart sank. His attributes had not increased. Looking back, there was no notification about it, when he finished the ring.

What was the reason? How could this be? His great way to earn financially free stats! Did it stop? Why? After panicking over it for a moment, he came to a conclusion. There could only be one reason. A heart-rending reason. He was a master goldsmith. It was the only possibility that made sense to him. He would stop gaining attribute points for legendary items after becoming a master. It felt like the system was bullying him.

At first, he tried his best to reach the master level and only got the proficiency boost after he already finished his own load out. Now, when he is happily advancing at breakneck speed, it was telling him that his goal would also cost him one of the greatest benefits he had. Why couldn't he have been unlucky? Had the leaderboards come later, he could have earned so many attribute points with legendary items. Would it have been frustrating? Yes. Would the quality of the items have suffered? Maybe! BUT!

This was when he suddenly stopped whining because he realized something. This was not a game. He was a blacksmith. Compromising on the quality of his products for some childish min-maxing in stats was below him! These were items that were supposed to help him and his friends... his family to survive and grow. Yeah, so what if he lost the chance for some more attribute points? It would have taken ages to reach his current skill level. It was good the way it happened.