Chapter 1110 Lightning Harnesser
The three master blacksmiths instructed each new recruit to approach the blueprints.
"Alright, everyone, step up and study these blueprints carefully," Rurik commanded.
The recruits complied, and one by one, they took their turns examining the intricate designs.
First was a young man, a human with brown hair, who scrutinized the blueprints with intense concentration. He seemed eager to prove himself.
Next was an orc, burly and strong, who examined the blueprints with a furrowed brow. His muscular arms suggested he was no stranger to hard labor.
Then came an elf, tall and elegant, with sharp features and graceful movements. He studied the blueprints with an air of sophistication.
Beside the elf was a half-elf, who displayed a blend of human and elven characteristics. He had a thoughtful expression as he analyzed the designs.
Michael, too, stepped forward, his eyes focused on the blueprints. Unbeknownst to the others, he activated his spyder, using its capabilities to record the intricate details of the artifact's design.
Rurik, the seasoned dwarf master blacksmith, stood before the recruits, his arms crossed and his gaze stern.
"Now, tell me," he began, addressing the recruits, "what is the purpose of this artifact?"
"If you answer us wrongly, you'll be considered to have failed the test. Then, you will have to leave the guild and try again next year," the elven master blacksmith explained, his voice gentle yet commanding.
Rurik turned his gaze to the brown-haired young man.
"So, lad, you first," Rurik prompted.
The brown-haired young man furrowed his brow and looked at the blueprint once again. He scratched his head, clearly struggling to decipher the intricate design. Michael empathized with the recruit, recognizing that the artifact's complexity was challenging even for experienced blacksmiths. Besides, Michael didn't think anyone below Four star level could comprehend the artifact's nature.
"It must be some kind of weapon," the young man ventured. "An energy weapon perhaps. It might use Celestial crystals to shoot beams of energy."
Rurik shook his head. "Wrong," he declared. "Try again next year. Now, please see yourself out."
The elven master blacksmith gestured toward the exit, and with a resigned sigh, the young man left the hall, voicing a mild protest.
"Take your loss gracefully, lad," Rurik growled as the door closed behind the departing recruit.
Following this, Rurik turned his attention to the half-elf. Judging by the half-elf's uncertain expression, it was evident that he, too, had no better understanding of the blueprint than the previous recruit.
"I was thinking the same as him," the half-elf admitted honestly instead of making a wild guess. The elven blacksmith sighed in response, not bothering to speak, and gestured for the half-elf to leave.
"Next year, then," the half-elf sighed in resignation before departing, leaving only three recruits remaining in the hall.
Rurik turned his attention to the two remaining recruits, a determined orc and a contemplative elf.
"Your turn, lad," Rurik said, nodding at the orc.
The orc glanced at the blueprint, his brow furrowing with concentration. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"It could be a device for enhancing armor, like a protective field generator," the orc suggested.
Rurik shook his head. "Incorrect."
The orc let out a grunt of frustration, but he exited the hall without further protest, clearly disappointed.
Next, Rurik focused on the elf, who appeared deep in thought as he examined the blueprint.
"I believe it might be a tool for refining magic crystals," the elf ventured, choosing his words carefully.
Rurik sighed softly and shook his head once more. "Incorrect."
The elf, maintaining his composure, nodded gracefully. He turned and left the hall, his expression one of graceful acceptance.
With only Michael left in the hall, Rurik turned his gaze to the last recruit, his eyes locking onto Michael's.
"Your turn," Rurik said, his voice gruff but curious.
Although Rurik was aware that Michael had overheard his conversation with Arlen, he remained impartial during the selection process. Michael's prior knowledge of the situation wouldn't grant him any special treatment; he had to provide the correct answer like the rest of the recruits. The elven master blacksmith and the orc exchanged glances, skeptical that the last remaining recruit would offer a viable solution.
"This artifact can be a weapon or an energy harnesser," Michael began, his voice steady and self-assured.
"As per these blueprints, it's designed to harness the power of lightning strikes and store that energy," Michael explained, surprising the three master blacksmiths. Michael's response shattered their initial assumptions about him.
"Please, continue," Rurik encouraged, his interest piqued.
"However, a critical issue with these blueprints is the potential instability of the final artifact. Some essential modules appear to be missing. If those aren't incorporated, the artifact could explode during its creation, following these schematics," Michael concluded, offering his assessment.
The three master blacksmiths exchanged astonished glances before nodding in agreement.
"You are absolutely correct," acknowledged the elven master blacksmith.
"It appears we've found our new recruit," added the orc, though Michael shook his head.
"With all due respect, I am not a new recruit. My experience far surpasses that," Michael clarified.
The elven blacksmith raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Talent can sometimes be overshadowed by arrogance."
The orc beside him nodded sagely, uttering an old proverb, "A roaring river may drown its own banks."
Michael couldn't help but chuckle at their comments. With a confident grin, he responded, "Gentlemen, my talent is not arrogance. It's simply the truth. But I understand skepticism; it's human nature. Now, what's the next challenge, if you don't mind?"
The three master blacksmiths exchanged glances, now curious about this confident newcomer who had shattered their preconceived notions.
"Well lad, if you can indeed find what's wrong with the artifact, you can't be considered a new recruit. I think my fellow master blacksmiths will agree..." Rurik glanced at the orc and the elf.
To Michael's surprise, the orc and the elf genuinely nodded in agreement. If this were the mortal realm, he was certain that these master blacksmiths would have clung to their arrogance, but their willingness to accept his insights astounded him.
"Aranion, Nazrag," Rurik called his fellow master blacksmiths by their names, the elf and the orc, respectfully.
"Please bring out what we've forged. This new lad might shed some light on things we haven't seen," Rurik said.
Aranion, the elf, and Nazrag, the orc, nodded before leaving the hall to retrieve the artifact they had forged following the blueprint.
"So tell me, lad, what level of blacksmith are you?" Rurik inquired.
"From where I came from, I was a five-star blacksmith," Michael replied, his tone calm and confident.
Hearing Michael's response, Rurik was utterly stunned, his dwarven eyes widening in surprise.
"Really? Lad, don't pull my leg. Almost all the master blacksmiths in the guild are five-star blacksmiths," Rurik said skeptically, to which Michael just shrugged.
"That's why I said I'm not a new recruit. I am far from it," Michael asserted.
"Well, if you aren't lying, you won't have a problem showing us your talent by forging several weapons, will you?" Rurik challenged, still somewhat skeptical about Michael's abilities.
"Bring it on," Michael replied with a confident smirk.
Aranion and Nazrag carefully carried a large glass box into the hall, and Rurik advised them to be cautious. They gingerly placed the glass box on a table, revealing a cubical artifact made of what appeared to be a combination of gold and silver metals. Lightning bolts crackled around it, and Michael could hear the ominous buzzing of the contained electricity.
Rurik explained, "This is the most stable form of the artifact we've managed to forge so far."
Aranion added, "The earlier iterations we attempted all exploded when exposed to lightning."
"Wow," Ayag gasped, her eyes fixed on the cubical artifact within the glass box.
Michael bent down to examine the artifact more closely. As he studied it, he realized why Rurik had mentioned that the guild would have forged the artifact sooner if their guild master were present. Michael suspected the guild master must be at a six-star blacksmith level, a significant step above him.
"As I mentioned earlier, these blueprints are incomplete, and several modules are missing," Michael explained.
Rurik inquired, "Do you have any ideas on how to remedy the situation?"
Michael paused for a moment, considering his options. Studying the blueprint and the incomplete artifact wouldn't yield a solution, given his current skill level. He was tempted to consult his internal system, even though it meant spending some of his precious badass points.
The only viable solution to fix the artifact was to consult the system. Although Michael was hesitant to spend his remaining nine million badass points, he understood the importance of resolving this situation and completing the artifact.
While he wanted to impress the Blacksmith guild, his main motivation was to complete the artifact, recognizing its potential value in his battles ahead. He had a hunch that this artifact might prove to be a valuable asset when facing the God of Thunder, Kranar.
"System, how much will it cost to scan the artifact and the blueprints to identify the missing modules? I can see that this artifact is designed to harness lightning and store its energy for later discharge," Michael inquired.
[The system requires two million badass points to scan the artifact and locate the missing modules. However, if the host wants the system to design the modules, it will cost additional points,] the system responded.
"No need for design. Just provide me with the information about the missing modules and their purposes. I can forge them myself," Michael confidently stated. His proficiency as an Inventor complemented his blacksmithing skills, enabling him to create these modules. If he were at the six-star blacksmith level, he wouldn't have needed to consult the system.
As Michael consulted the system and prepared to complete the artifact, unbeknownst to him and the blacksmiths, several shadowy figures infiltrated the guild. They readied themselves to strike down their targets when the opportune moment arrived. The looming calamity remained concealed from the guild members, who were wholly focused in their efforts to finish the artifact.
"Well lad, give us a new perspective," said Rurik.
"I can design and forge the modules, but I'll need your resources and assistance to expedite the process," Michael confidently replied, much to the surprise and relief of the blacksmiths.
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