Chapter 105: Shinkai no Ken

DING

[Talent's daily use available. Use: Yes/No]

He gazed at the notification, elbows resting on his legs and his hands supporting his head.

The rising sun's rays cast shadows on the icy mask of solemness veiling his pale face.

Despite the all-nighter he pulled, his eyes still flashed calculatingly as if several hours of deep pondering didn't affect him. Even now, they ignored the notification to analyse the demonic map's fiery depictions.

Still, his hand pressed on yes by reflex as dark wisps of demonic energy wafted from his eyes, and a conflicted mutter escaped his parting lips.

"Should I speed run to level forty?"

He gazed at an abyssal cave painted in the east. Above it, the name "Crypt of the Fallen" hovered in bold, ominous letters.

No matter how he looked at it, his gamer's experience screamed that powerful creatures inhabited the place. Worse, they were most likely undead or ghosts, two species that sent shivers down his spine just by imagining their ugly forms and insidious abilities.

His eyes trailed west, behind the goblin town, while his talent wheel's needle rattled against the prizes. Yet, the sound didn't register in his ears, and he instead focused on a ruined citadel.

This time, the name "heretic cult of Zepar" hovered in smaller letters.

He inhaled sharply, the familiar name causing him to squint as his mind raced.

"Isn't he another demon?" He tucked his fingers around his chin, hesitation flashing in his eyes before he shrugged. "I won't face the entity worshipped by the heretics, anyway. So, I might want to start there."

He didn't know if the size of the letters represented the strength of the place's inhabitants. But unlike the undead, he couldn't let demons proliferate next door. Who knew what those bastards would do next? What if they summoned one of the kings?

He sighed, his hands moving to pick up the map. With gentle care, he rolled and strapped it to his belt.

Simultaneously, his talent's notification broke the heavy silence and revealed his daily reward.

[Congratulations on obtaining a throwing rock!]

He rolled his eyes, then summoned the rock, his arm blurring before it could totally shape itself.

WHISTLE

"Congratulate my ass."

As the rock darted outside the territory, he left his house and walked to the altar. seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Before the colossal structure blazing with demonic flames, he saw his subjects waiting for him.

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The sun's lights reflected on their fierce chitinous armor in an enchanting spectacle of dancing sparks. It continued down to their standardised yet powerful scarlet double-edged swords. Without scabbards, they glinted with a deadly sheen and a faint trace of demonic enchantment.

By them, Muramasa held a piece of fabric wrapping a long item that drew his attention.

Noticing his curious gaze, the legendary smith moved to him and nodded.

"I promised you a surprise last week."

With a meaningful glance, he gripped the fabric and gradually lifted it, revealing a short sword darker than ink.

The light itself seemed to shed away from its frame as if terrorised by the material it had been forged off.

Adam's eyes enlarged as he saw the curved lines pulsing like green veins along the razor-sharp edges. More than added flourishes, he knew they were the masterfully carved weapons' enchantment nexuses.

As he observed it, Muramasa chuckled and shoved it into his hand.

"It's yours. The enchantments might not be perfect, but I took inspiration from the blade you're already wielding." His eyes narrowed into that of a professional with decades of experience. "The shape, size, and weight are the same down to the millimeter, meaning you won't have to adapt to it."

Gratitude warming Adam's drumming heart, he nodded at the Muramasa before scrutinising the abyssal short sword to make its information appear.

Shinkai no Ken

Introduction:

An exquisite short sword crafted from an abyssal spawn's carcase by the legendary sword smith Muramasa. Through his unique craftsmanship, Muramasa imbued the blade with both demonic and abyssal enhancements.

Warning: Non-demonic or abyssal creatures wielding this blade will suffer from rushes of uncontrollable blood lust and fits of madness.

Rarity: Epic

Level requirement: 30

Strength +80

Agility +80

Enhancements:

Muramasa's Abyssal Touch: The weapon's strikes deliver corroding damage and can cleave through energy up to the fourth tier.

Eyes enlarging with each word he read, he gasped in shock at the blade's surreal stats. No, they were broken!

'I win one-third of my current strength and agility just by equipping it! That's crazy! And I'm not even mentioning the enhancements!'

The ability to cleave through energy? Didn't it mean he could cut spells in halves like in games and damage elemental beings and ghosts with physical strikes?

Noticing his reaction, Muramasa patted his shoulder and grinned in unmasked pride.

"I promised the best equipment for your army." He pointed to his subjects' blades. "I tailored each one to perfectly match its wielder. That's what I meant when I said artisans are the backbone of any army."

Upon hearing Muramasa's words and feeling the sword's weight and the pommel's texture in his hand, a realisation rumbled in his mind.

'More than a fine weapon, it feels like an extension of my arm. Even better! I don't need to adjust to it for several months or train to use a new style.' Delight sparkled in his eyes as his hand tightened around the pommel. 'I can also wield two blades now!'

More than a random idea, he remembered reading about a popular Italian style called Florentine swordplay. It emphasised speed, agility and techniques to overwhelm opponents in duels.

A smirk broadened on his face to reach his eyes.

'I'll strike anyone facing me so fast that it'll make defence impossible!'

Satisfied by the weapon, he thanked Muramasa for his great work and handed him the enchanted ore he had bought in the city.

Then, he turned to his subjects, raising his Shinkai no Ken commandingly under the bright morning sky.

"Gather the rest of the army. We march to the goblin's town to offer them peace..." His eyes narrowed into slits. "In death if they refuse."