Clyde and Asqa stood before the obsidian stands, gazing at the results of Hammer’s masterwork.
Clyde’s expression remained calm, as always, but his eyes reflected quiet satisfaction.
Beside him, Asqa also couldn’t hide her joy. Her smile stretched wide across her face and her usually sharp composed eyes shimmered with delight.
It was the kind of expression rarely seen from her since the days of battles happened. Like a moment of unguarded happiness.
Hammer caught sight of that expression and felt something shift in his chest. He grinned, the soot clinging to his cheeks cracking slightly with the motion.
"It’s nice seeing someone fresh coming here," Hammer muttered with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked toward Asqa. "Hehehe. Thank you, my lady, for gracing this humble place with your presence."
Clyde raised an eyebrow. "You never talk to me like that, Hammer."
"Hah! That’s because you don’t deserve it," Hammer shot back, laughing.
Clyde chuckled, not offended in the slightest. He understood. It wasn’t every day someone like Asqa stepped into the life of an old forge master.
She stood out like moonlight in a furnace—a break in the monotony of fire and sweat and steel. Even Clyde had to admit that Asqa’s presence had that kind of effecton him as well.
"This looks awesome," Clyde said as he carefully lifted the sword, weighing it in his hand. "What did you call it?"
"I didn’t call it anything," Hammer said with a shrug. "I just forged it. I won’t be the one wielding it, so I didn’t bother giving it a name."
Clyde looked down at the blade again. Its muted crimson shimmered under the forge’s light, with dark violet threads running through like cracks of lightning sealed into steel.
It didn’t radiate bloodlust or rage. No,this sword felt like a quiet dusk, sorrowful but still beautiful, like the world right after sunset.
"I’ll call it... Dusksorrow," he said softly.
Then he focused his gaze, calling upon the interface of his inner System. A faint gleam passed over his eyes as the stat window unfolded in his vision.
Class: Relic-Grade Weapon.
Forged by: Hammer, Blacksmith of Sivagadh.
Elemental Affinity: Shadow.
Passive Ability: Twilight Vein.
Every attack performed by this sword has a 30% chance to inflict "Lethargy" (slow movement and casting) for 5 seconds. Critical hits amplify the effect.
Active Skill : Dimming Pulse.
Releases a wave of melancholic dusk energy in a 10-meter radius, reducing attack power, morale, and magical resistance of enemies by 20% for 12 seconds.
Unique Trait : Silent Elegy.
The longer the wielder stays silent in battle, the stronger the blade becomes. Every 10 seconds without speaking increases damage by 3%, stacking up to 30%. The bonus resets if the user speaks or shouts.
Clyde’s eyes narrowed in thought. This sword wasn’t just strong but also dangerous in a subtle way. This was a sword designed not for rage but for precision, control, and disarming the enemy without theatrics.
He gave a small nod, satisfied. "Yeah... this’ll do."
Asqa looked at him, her smile still lingering. "Dusksorrow, huh?"
"I think it fits," Clyde replied.
Hammer, still grinning, leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
"I don’t know where you two are headed next... but whatever it is, those weapons will see you through it."
Asqa turned her gaze to her bracelet, the living metal still shimmering softly in the forge light.
Her fingers brushed across the runes, her lips silently forming the words of thanks.
Asqa lifted the bracelet from its stand. The metal strands flexed like living filaments, the crimson veins pulsing once as though greeting its new bearer before settling into a slow and steady glow.
She turned it in her fingers, watching the gem at its center cycle from pale sapphire to deep amethyst and back again.
" I never bothered naming my wand," she whispered, "but this... feels as if it’ll be with me for a very long time."
Hammer’s brows rose with interest. Clyde merely waited with arms folded.
After a moment’s thought, Asqa slipped the circlet over her wrist. The runes flared, then dimmed.
"Your name," she murmured, "is Lunaris Chord."
Suddenly, a soft chiming echoed through the forge—almost like a distant harp string—then the System panes blossomed before her eyes.
[Name: LUNARIS CHORD]
Class : Relic-Grade Accessory (Arm Brace)
Elemental Affinity : Moon, Wind
Spell Amplification: +22 % base magic damage.
Magic power Efficiency: -18 % magic power cost on all abilities.
Swift Focus: +15 % casting speed, +10 % movement speed while channeling skills.
Passive: Moon-Silk Resonance.
Each successful ranged spell leaves a luminous mark on the target for 6 s. Reducing their speeds.
Active: Nocturne Veil.
Forms a crescent barrier that orbits Asqa for 8 s that absorbs incoming damage.
Unique: Silent Crescendo.
If Asqa keeps moving for 5 seconds without stopping or getting hit, her next spell deals +30% damage.
Asqa’s eyes widened at the interface details, the faint harp-string tone still echoing at the edge of hearing.
"Perfect," Asqa said simply, reading the floating panel. "It reinforces my casting and keeps me mobile. This will fits me well."
Hammer puffed out his chest, pride radiating beneath the soot. "Told you the Bloom would weave into living metal beautifully under my care."
She slipped the brace fully into place; it tightened once, then settled seamlessly against her skin.
A quiet pulse of power washed through her arms, ready to answer her call.
Asqa offered Hammer a graceful nod. "Thank you."
The dwarf only laughed, wiping at his eyes with a sooty thumb. "You two keep surviving, and I’ll call it even."
Clyde put the Dusksorrow in his other waist, its dim crimson edge reflecting the forge-light.
"Then we’d better test them soon," he said, voice calm but edged with anticipation. "I think we should get ready again."
"To Ruin again?" Asqa asked.
With that the both of them bid farewell and go to the central square to open a portal to one of the Ruin to grind again.