The Grind Never Stops
Arriving back at their home, Gilgamesh and Kaela wasted no time unloading the minerals they had mined from the depths of Insane Dragon Nevartan's nest. Each mineral radiated a faint, otherworldly glow, a testament to the chaotic energy they contained.
[Insane Dragon Iron]
A mineral that naturally occurs in the nest of the insane dragon Nevartan.
It has been influenced by Nevartan's madness for countless years and gained the chaotic ability of 'Proliferation.'
It doubles every 10 days.
This absurd nature makes it very difficult to control. The hardness is comparable to black iron, but the smelting difficulty is several times higher.
Weight: 5
[Insane Dragon Stone]
A mineral that naturally occurs in the nest of the insane dragon Nevartan.
It has been influenced by Nevartan's madness for countless years and gained the chaotic ability of 'Suppression.'
The hardness is very low, but when mixed with other minerals, it eliminates the characteristics of those minerals.
Weight: 1
[Insane Dragon Bead]
A mineral that naturally occurs in the nest of the insane dragon Nevartan.
It has been influenced by Nevartan's madness for countless years and gained the chaotic ability of 'Rampage.'
When mixed with other minerals, it multiplies the mineral's characteristics.
If humans touch this mineral, they will lose their sense of reason and be unable to smelt it. Use with caution.
Weight: 300
Gilgamesh carefully set the Insane Dragon Bead on the workbench. The bead was a circular, emerald-green mineral, dense and heavy, about the size of a soccer ball. Its surface shimmered with an almost hypnotic intensity, but its weight—300 units—made it clear that this was no ordinary material.
"Kaela, can you touch this mineral once?" Gilgamesh asked, his tone cautious but curious.
It was a dangerous mineral that caused the 'rampage' stage. Gilgamesh didn't have any problems touching it because he was resistant, but there would be a big problem if the ordinary blacksmiths touched the insane dragon bead.
Kaela raised an eyebrow but complied, reaching out to touch the bead. As her fingers made contact, a faint ripple of energy seemed to emanate from the mineral. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Kaela's brow furrowed, and she pulled her hand back, shaking her head slightly.
"Ugh... I think I became lightheaded for a second," she admitted, her voice tinged with discomfort.
As Gilgamesh expected, only a full-fledged craftsman can touch the bead and overcome the mineral's curse. Kaela is in her later part of Advanced Blacksmith so she can touch it without losing her reason but it still causes her discomfort.
Kaela turned her attention to the Insane Dragon Iron, her sharp eyes scrutinizing its properties. "In order to use the Insane Dragon Iron properly, we need to secure the same amount of Insane Dragon Stone," she mused. "But there's a problem. The Insane Dragon Iron infinitely proliferates, while the Insane Dragon Stone is finite. How do we balance that?"
Because of the characteristics of the insane dragon iron, the item made by it will also double its volume and weight. To use the insane dragon iron as an item-making material, it was necessary to properly control this characteristic.
Gilgamesh had already considered this. The Insane Dragon Iron's Proliferation ability was both a blessing and a curse. While it could double in quantity every ten days, this also meant that any item made from it would grow uncontrollably unless its properties were suppressed. The Insane Dragon Stone, with its Suppression ability, was the key to controlling this chaos—but as Kaela pointed out, there was only so much of it to go around.
"But what if I make tools with the Suppression ability of the Insane Dragon Stone and the Proliferation ability of the Insane Dragon Iron?" Gilgamesh suggested, his eyes lighting up with excitement.
Kaela's face brightened as the idea clicked. "Ah! That could work!"
"Huhu, let's try it," Gilgamesh said, already reaching for his tools.
The first step was to create a hammer and anvil using the Insane Dragon Stone. However, the stone's low hardness meant it needed to be combined with other materials to withstand the rigors of blacksmithing. Gilgamesh decided to mix it with Black Iron, a durable and reliable mineral. The result?
[You have succeeded in making the item.]
[Black Insane Dragon Hammer]
Rating: Epic
Durability: 410/410 Attack Power: 130
A hammer made by a craftsman who lacks in reputation.
It is made of black iron and is quite durable. More minerals can be tempered without much difficulty.
However, this hammer also contains a large amount of insane dragon stone. It is possible to remove the characteristics of the mineral due to the 'Suppression' ability. Don't use this hammer for minerals with unique characteristics.
Conditions of Use: Advanced Blacksmithing Level 1.
Weight: 400
[Black Insane Dragon Anvil]
Rating: Epic
Durability: 2,500/2,500
A anvil made by a craftsman who lacks in reputation.
It is made of black iron and is quite durable. It is durable enough to withstand strong and continuous friction.
However, this anvil contains a large amount of insane dragon stone. It is possible to remove the characteristics of the mineral due to the 'Suppression' ability. Don't use this anvil for minerals with unique characteristics.
Conditions of Use: Advanced Blacksmithing Level 1.
Weight: 6,900
"Okay!"
It was as expected. The suppression ability was exerted even after it was made into a tool. Gilgamesh smiled with satisfaction as he tested the new tools. However, his excitement was short-lived. When he tried to use the hammer and anvil on the Insane Dragon Iron, the result was disappointing.
[The Black Insane Dragon Hammer and Black Insane Dragon Anvil have failed to suppress the ability of the insane dragon iron.]
"Ah."
It seemed that the suppression ability of the hammer and anvil was too weak to have an effect on the pure insane dragon iron.
"Hrmm."
Kaela frowned, her mind racing for a solution. "How about making a hammer and anvil with a combination of the Insane Dragon Bead and Insane Dragon Stone?" she suggested. "The Insane Dragon Bead's Rampage ability might amplify the Suppression of the Insane Dragon Stone. If the effect becomes stronger, it could sufficiently suppress the Insane Dragon Iron's ability."
Gilgamesh's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea. Let's try it."
[Insane Dragon Hammer]
Rating: Unique
Durability: 630/630 Attack Power: 290
A hammer made by a craftsman who lacks in reputation.
It is made of black iron and is quite durable. More minerals can be tempered without much difficulty.
It is made of an insane dragon bead and is quite durable. Any mineral can be tempered.
However, this hammer also contains a large amount of insane dragon stone. The insane dragon stone's suppression ability is amplified by the insane dragon bead.
Once this hammer is used to smelt minerals, the unique characteristics of the minerals are unconditionally deleted. Don't use this hammer for minerals with unique characteristics.
Conditions of Use: Advanced Blacksmithing Level 3.
Weight: 600
[Insane Dragon Anvil]
Rating: Unique
.....
....
.
Gilagmaseh then tried the new hammer and anvil on the insane dragon iron and the result was excellent. The insane dragon iron's proliferation ability was completely suppressed. With this hammer and anvil, it would be possible to produce items for a long time with the insane dragon iron, which infinitely multiplied.
"Good! It works!" Gilgamesh exclaimed, jumping with joy. Kaela smiled, her enthusiasm matching his. They exchanged triumphant smiles.
Now all the preparations are over. He secured a large number of insane dragon iron, which infinitely proliferated. There was also the hammer and anvil that could control the insane dragon iron's ability to proliferate. In the future, they don't need to worry again about materials, they can continue to grind because, for them, The Grind Never Stops.
***
"I seriously need to consider making one legendary item," Gilgamesh muttered, his eyes scanning his stats. The numbers were impressive, thanks to the countless hours he had spent honing his craft and pushing his limits. But he knew that stats alone weren't enough. To truly stand out, he needed a weapon worthy of his skills—a weapon that could match his ambition.
===========================
Name: Gilgamesh
Level: 83
Class: Pagma's Successor
Title:
- One who Became a Legend
- Bane of Yatan Church
- Sword Saint Candidate - Stage 2 (Transcendent)
* All stats will become 1.3 times greater.
* Quickly detect the target's weakness.
* There is a high probability of predicting the target's movements.
* 'Super Sensitivity' will be opened.
-First Epic Item Maker
-First Unique Item Maker
_________________________________
Health: 14,718
Mana: 2,685
_________________________________
[A/N: The number inside the brackets is the buff from his title 'Sword Saint Candidate']
Strength: 690 (+207)
Stamina: 856 (+257)
Agility: 690 (+207)
Intelligence: 685 (+205)
Dexterity: 969 (+290)
Indomitable: 408 (+122)
Persistence: 499 (+150)
Composure: 404 (+121)
Dignity: 404 (+121)
[A/N: Fiuhh~ With this, now it become easier to manage the stats.}
Stat points: 50
===========================
It had been a few months since he and Kaela had discovered Nevartan's nest, and in that time, Gilgamesh had barely left the forge. His life had become a cycle of hammering, refining, and creating, interrupted only by brief moments of rest. The fruits of his labor were evident in the piles of Rare, Epic, and Unique-rated items that filled their workshop. But now, it was time to aim higher.
Now, Gilgamesh considering making his first legendary item, remembering that, the canon event is getting closer and closer. It was a shame, after all, that a Legendary Blacksmith like himself had yet to produce a weapon of legendary quality.
"Yeah, let's do that," Gilgamesh said, his voice firm with resolve.
With his mind made up, Gilgamesh activated his Legendary Blacksmith's Creation Skill. The interface appeared before him, glowing with an ethereal light.
[Legendary Blacksmith's Creation Skill]
You can create three equipment item production methods every time the skill level of the 'Legendary Blacksmith's Craftsmanship Skill' goes up.
Number of items that can be created at present: 3/3
* When items are produced using this skill, the name of the creator is automatically placed on the item.
[What item do you want to create?]
There was no question in Gilgamesh's mind. It had to be a greatsword. Only a greatsword could fully utilize Pagma's Swordsmanship, unleashing its devastating power with every swing.
"Greatsword," he declared.
[Have you decided?]
"Yes."
[What materials would you like to use?]
That makes Gilgamesh think for a few seconds. While insane dragon iron is strong, it is not the strongest mineral he can get, there is still blue orichalcum, it has the best hardness and strength among all minerals and it is lightweight and has ability to grow stronger in darkness.
"Blue Orichalcum and Black Iron."
[Have you decided?]
"Yes."
[Please design the item.]
This was the moment Gilgamesh had been waiting for. He closed his eyes, recalling the intricate designs of weapons he had admired in another life. His fingers moved almost instinctively, tracing the blueprint with a fluid grace. The system's correction effect ensured that every line, every curve, perfectly reflected his vision.
The finished design was breathtaking. The greatsword had a long, curved blade with a razor-sharp edge. Its surface was adorned with intricate, filigree-like patterns that seemed to shimmer with an inner light. The hilt and pommel were dark and metallic, exuding an aura of power and elegance. It was a weapon fit for a legend.
Gilgamesh admired the blueprint for a moment, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.
[Have you decided? When you complete the blueprint, the number of available creations from the creation skill will decrease by one.]
"Yes."
[Please describe the characteristics of the item.]
Gilgamesh took a deep breath, his mind focused on the essence of the weapon. "It's a greatsword with high attack power. Thanks to the materials used, it's very light but has enough weight to exert devastating force. It specializes in raw attack power and has a certain probability of activating joint attacks. The size and sharpness of the blade suggest a capacity for immense destruction."
He didn't need fancy skills or flashy effects. What he wanted was pure, unrelenting power—a weapon that could maximize his stats and skills to their fullest potential.
[Please name the item.]
"Paretic Blade."
[Have you decided on 'Paretic Blade?']
"Yes."
[Paretic Blade]
Rating: Unique ~ Legendary
___
Unique Rating Information:
Durability: 750/750
Attack Power: 845~1,855 Defense: 25
* Agility +25
* Critical chance +75%
* There is a certain probability of activating the '5 Joint Attacks' skill.
* There will be a fear effect if the enemy is more than 20 levels lower than the user.
* Attack power +20% in dark places.
___
Legendary Rating Information:
Durability: 1,230/1,230
Attack Power: 1,040~2,190 Defense: 60
* Agility +25
* Critical chance +90%
* There is a certain probability of activating the '5 Joint Attacks' skill.
* There will be a fear effect if the enemy is more than 20 levels lower than the user.
* Attack power +20% in dark places.
* There is a high probability of activating the 'Paralyze' skill.
It is designed by a legendary blacksmith. It is a greatsword, but its cutting ability is excellent. Blue Orichalcum and Black Iron were used as materials, it's light so the attack speed doesn't fall. Due to the nature of the blue orichalcum, it becomes stronger in the dark.
User Restriction: Level 300 or higher. More than 5,200 strength.
Advanced Sword Mastery level 8 or higher.
Weight: 690
Gilgamesh stared at the description, a grin spreading across his face. The Paretic Blade was everything he had hoped for and more.