Chapter 1187 Crafting a cloaking armor
Several hours later, in the heart of Goldspire, Michael and Gaya found themselves in the bustling Blacksmith Guild. Rurik, the acting guild master, had graciously sent every blacksmith on a break, giving Michael the privacy to work in the forge hall. The hall was a symphony of anvils, hammers, and furnaces, now silent and waiting.
Gaya sat on a sturdy table, watching intently as Michael made a few adjustments to the armor they had purchased earlier. Around him lay the scales from the centipede ancient beast and the fur from the invisible panthers, both rare and powerful materials.
With skilled hands, Michael was carefully infusing these elements into Gaya's new armor. The meticulous process required precision and a deep understanding of the materials' properties.
"What exactly are you doing?" Gaya, her curiosity piqued, asked.
Michael paused, looking up from his work. "I'm enhancing the armor," he explained. "These scales will add an extra layer of protection against physical attacks. The centipede beast's scales are incredibly tough, yet flexible," he said. Then, he picked up a tuft of the invisible panther's fur. "And this," he continued, "is going to give the armor an added element of stealth. The fur has properties that can distort light, making the wearer harder to detect."
As Michael worked, his movements were precise and confident. Each scale and strand of fur was integrated into the armor with care, ensuring that the enhancements complemented the existing enchantments.
Gaya watched, fascinated by the transformation of her armor. Michael's work at the forge was a display of intricate skill and deep knowledge of his craft. The process of infusing the scales into Gaya's armor was both complex and physically demanding. He started by heating the scales with dark flames, an intense heat that brought out their inherent qualities. Then, he carefully poured a special acid, brewed by himself, over the heated scales. This acid was crucial in breaking down the scales' tough exterior.
Even with the acid's help, the scales were incredibly resilient. Michael had to use his Doombringer to activate the ancient ice core. The ice core emitted a burst of extreme cold, freezing the scales and making them more brittle. With precise, controlled strikes, he then broke down the scales into smaller, manageable pieces.
Gaya, watching the process, couldn't help but express her amazement. "Those are damn fucking strong," she remarked, impressed by the durability of the scales.
"You should have seen the swarm that ate through this stuff like butter," Ayag chimed in with a hint of pride, recalling how the defeated the centipede.
"I'm glad that swarm didn't come at me when I was in the Celestial Valley," Gaya responded, imagining the ferocity of such a creature.
Meanwhile, Michael remained completely focused on his task, moving on to the next phase. He took each strand of the invisible panther's fur, meticulously infusing them into the armor. This process required a different kind of precision. Each strand had to be carefully aligned and woven into the fabric of the armor, enhancing its stealth properties without compromising its flexibility or strength.
Finally, Michael forged the scale pieces onto the armor. The sound of the hammer striking the anvil rang out rhythmically in the forge hall. Each hit was measured and deliberate, ensuring the scales melded seamlessly with the armor, enhancing its protective capabilities while maintaining its lightweight and stealthy design.
After almost an hour of meticulous work, Michael finally set aside his tools, the major part of the forging process complete. He then took out a special spray, an item he had purchased from the system store, specifically designed for finishing armor. He applied the spray with careful, even strokes, coating the armor in a sleek, matte black finish that seemed to absorb light, enhancing its stealth capabilities.
Once the paint had dried, Michael began the process of fitting the armor onto Gaya. He methodically assembled it piece by piece, each segment clicking seamlessly into place. The armor hugged her form perfectly, a testament to Michael's attention to detail and understanding of Gaya's physique and combat style.
The armor was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The scales were subtly integrated, providing a reinforced structure without bulking the armor. The light-reflecting strands of fur weaved into the fabric gave the armor an almost ethereal quality, shimmering faintly when caught by the light. It was lightweight yet formidable, balancing the need for protection with the necessity of mobility and stealth.
As Gaya looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but be impressed. "It's beautiful," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and satisfaction. Michael gestured towards Gaya, "Reach out your palm," he instructed with a knowing look in his eyes. Gaya extended her hand, curious about his next move.
From his pouch, Michael retrieved a small piece of high-grade celestial energy crystal. Its inner light pulsed gently, indicating its potent power. He carefully placed the crystal into a compartment on the wrist of Gaya's armor. The mechanism within the armor whirred softly as it opened, accepted the crystal, and then closed with a subtle click.
Instantly, the armor shimmered in a gentle red hue, and Gaya felt a warm surge of energy spreading through it. The crystal was activating some latent feature of the armor.
"Now, press the button on your palm tightly," Michael said, taking a step back to give her space.
Perched atop Michael's shoulder, Ayag watched with excitement. "Do it," she encouraged Gaya, her voice tinged with anticipation.
Gaya clenched her fist, pressing the button as instructed. The armor responded immediately. It began to flicker slowly, the surface starting to ripple and warp the light around her. Within moments, Gaya was almost invisible, cloaked by the armor's advanced light-distorting technology. The effect was mesmerizing, rendering her nearly undetectable to the naked eye.
Blending with the shadows and darkness, Gaya moved around the hall, her form nearly invisible in the newly enchanted armor. The hall, once familiar, now served as a testing ground for her newfound stealth capabilities.
Emerging from the shadows after a short while, she pressed the button on her armor, reappearing as the cloak of invisibility faded away. The transformation from unseen to visible was smooth, a testament to the armor's advanced design.
Curious, Ayag turned its attention to Michael. "Why not integrate this feature into your dark armor?" she asked, intrigued by the feat.
"The energy radiation from me seems to weaken the cloaking effect," Michael explained. "And I can already blend with darkness perfectly. Gaya needs this more than me," he said. His words reflected a strategic mindset, prioritizing their collective strengths and weaknesses in battle.
In response to his selfless craftsmanship, Gaya stepped closer to Michael, her smile warm. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, her laughter light and genuine. "You're the best husband one could ask for," she declared, her eyes alight with appreciation and love.
After a while, Michael turned his attention to forging new arrows for Gaya. With precision and expertise, he crafted a variety of specialized arrows: explosive arrows that could detonate on impact, poison arrows coated with lethal toxins, and flash arrows designed to disorient and blind opponents temporarily. Skillfully, he adapted each of these into crossbow bolts.
Gaya, observing his work, furrowed her brow. "But I use a bow, not a crossbow," she reminded him, a hint of confusion in her voice.
In response, Michael surprised her by flicking his wrist and revealing a sleek, black crossbow. The weapon, named the God Slayer, was an impressive piece of craftsmanship, forged using the collarbone of the centipede and the very crossbow Michael had used to kill the God of Rain, Rainar.
Gaya's eyes widened in awe and disbelief. "Is this the Crossbow? The one you used to kill Rainar?" she asked, her voice a mix of excitement and reverence.
Michael nodded, a subtle pride in his gesture. "Yes, and I want you to have it," he said, extending the weapon towards her.
Hesitantly at first, Gaya reached out and took the crossbow from his hands. She turned it over, studying the intricate details, the balance of weight, and the feel of it in her hands
Holding the God Slayer, Gaya felt a surge of confidence and responsibility. "Are you really going to give her the crossbow?" Cain asked, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Michael responded with a tone of respect and practicality. "I'm proficient with long-range weapons, but Gaya is a master," he acknowledged. His ability to recognize and admit his own weaknesses was one of the many reasons for his rise in power. He understood the importance of leveraging each member's strengths in their collective endeavors.
Acknowledging Gaya's superior skill in long-range combat was not just a strategic decision for Michael; it was a testament to his character. He was secure enough in his abilities to praise and rely on Gaya's skills.
"Let's see what this baby can do," Gaya declared with a spark of excitement in her eyes.
She took a standard crossbow bolt and loaded it into the God Slayer. With a swift, fluid motion, she fired the bolt, its flight true and fast.
Without missing a beat, she quickly loaded another bolt and released it. This second bolt, with impeccable precision, split the first bolt in half, continuing its flight straight through the split remains of the first. The demonstration was not just a showcase of the crossbow's capabilities but also of Gaya's extraordinary skill in archery.
With Gaya now equipped with her new armor and the God Slayer crossbow, along with the specially crafted bolts, they were more than ready to take on the challenges of the dungeon. The enhancements to her gear provided not just increased protection and stealth, but also a significant boost in her combat capabilities.
Meanwhile, Michael prepared himself for the journey ahead. He donned his signature black long coat and turtle neck, an ensemble that had become synonymous with his love for darkness and power. Strapping his dark swords onto his back, he exuded an air of quiet confidence and readiness.
The final step was to open a portal back to Goldspire. With a focused gesture, Michael activated the portal that would lead them to Borgin, with whom they would venture into the Kingdom of Aurumvale, the domain of God of Wealth, Luxor.
Standing at the threshold of the portal, Michael turned to Gaya. "Let's go," he said. With those words, they stepped through the portal, heading for their adventure, ready to face whatever the dungeon of Aurumvale held in store for them.
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