Aldric had already decided to raise the difficulty of his current quest to the highest possible level in order to reap the maximum rewards. Since he had found traces of information about the local lord from the dwarf, he naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by.
Given that the quest difficulty could be increased at any time to a "dangerous" level, as a player—and especially as a skilled player—it was only natural to take risks. High risk meant high reward.
After all, in this game, the first death carried no penalty. But starting from the second death onward, the player would permanently lose three points of Constitution. Once Constitution dropped below six, resurrection would no longer be possible.
When a player lacked sufficient Constitution to revive, the system would automatically initiate the Second Generation Mechanic. Among all female NPCs with a favorability score above 90 toward the player, the system would randomly select one, trigger an appropriate storyline, and insert a brief romantic chapter into the narrative.
When the screen faded to black, a brand-new life would be born within the game world. The new Second-Generation character could inherit a portion of the previous generation's attributes, all their wealth, every innate talent (with the option to reselect), as well as certain hereditary traits or class abilities, plus all relevant relationships and faction ties.
After setting a new growth path, three weeks of real-world time later, an 18-year-old playable second-generation character would be ready to enter the world.
…
But back to the matter at hand—Aldric opened the envelope. The wax seal bore the official insignia of Count Anthony, the local lord. At first glance, it looked just like a normal procurement order—nothing secret or suspicious about it.
Yet the content was anything but ordinary.
It listed heavy weaponry of ridiculous specifications:
five full sets of armor, each weighing more than 300 pounds;
fifteen giant swords, each over two meters in length;
and five massive war hammers, nearly 250 pounds apiece.
Apart from that, the delivery location specified on the order matched exactly what the dwarf had said—a warehouse deep within the slums, far away from the lord's own castle.
Something was definitely off.
Unless the soldiers of the lord's guard were all built like the brawny woman beside him, no normal human could possibly lift these weapons, let alone fight with them. Why would someone submit such a suspicious order so openly to a completely uninvolved blacksmith?
If what the dwarf said was true—that these weapons were meant for trolls or orcs—then the person behind the order clearly didn't fear discovery. Because by the time the order was fulfilled, there would be no one left to tell.
If that was the case, then major trouble was brewing within the city, and Aldric had to move fast.
…
"Any useful information?"
A message popped up from Vittoria.
While examining the weapons in the forge, Aldric replied,
"Everything on the list is an heavy equipment. The delivery spot's in the slums. We'd better check it out. I don't think we have much time left. Be careful on the way—I think a Shadow Assassin has marked me. It might get troublesome after dark, so be prepared."
Vittoria nodded, then reached into a large metal crate and pulled out a fearsome triple-headed flail.
Each head was shaped like a spiked wolf's fang, arranged in a triangular pattern. A thick, black metal chain connected them to a half-meter-long handle, whose end was carved into the shape of a skull.
The moment the weapon came out, Aldric was stunned.
It was a killing instrument forged purely for slaughter. Just looking at it evoked visions of shattered skulls and broken ribs. Combined with Vittoria's towering physique, the weapon radiated a brutal, blood-soaked beauty—one that made you both fear and admire it.
"Cool," Aldric couldn't help but praise sincerely.
Vittoria caressed the flail with affection before slinging it across her back. Then she picked up a heavy, iron-reinforced shield from the nearby rack and said,
"The weapon was a quest reward. Gloin fixed it up for me. My custom all-metal shield still needs a few days, but this one will do for now. Remember to pay the bill—it'll count as my advance payment."
Aldric, being flush with cash, nodded readily.
"No problem. Add whatever else we need—we're going in fully armed."
The dwarf, Gloin, was flipping through a small ledger beside them.
"Anything you need, I've got it here. This shield's got the best steel inlays, with a fifteen-year-old oak core. Tough as dragonhide! Aside from being a bit heavy, there's not a single flaw. Perfect for this lady brute!"
Aldric picked up a pair of black bracers. The fine scales were neatly layered over supple leather. After testing the fit, he flexed his wrists a few times—smooth, unrestricted.
"Add this to my bill too."
"Excellent choice!" the dwarf grinned, jotting it down eagerly.
"Swamp drake scales with premium calfskin lining—top-notch materials! You've got a fine eye, my friend!"
Aldric then tried on a set of metal greaves but found they restricted his jumping and movement too much, so he set them back down. Gloin's small eyes dimmed in disappointment.
"How do you have so much money, anyway?" Vittoria asked through a message.
Testing his flexibility, Aldric replied casually,
"Teacher's quest reward. As his apprentice, it's perfectly normal to spend a bit on survival gear. Besides, he owes me a favor."
Without the slightest guilt for "spending his master's money," Aldric continued picking through equipment. Unfortunately, most of the heavier armor would restrict his movement, so he gave up on those.
"All together, that'll be forty-seven gold coins—twenty-five for the shield, twenty-two for the bracers. I'll even waive the small change," said Gloin, visibly pleased with his generous new customer. Then, unwilling to miss a chance to make more, he leaned closer and added,
"I also have a spare spatial pouch from my adventuring days! Holds up to three feet of space! Yours for just a hundred gold!"
That piqued Aldric's interest. A portable storage item would be incredibly useful. Checking his coin pouch, he realized he had almost four hundred gold coins left.
The purse itself was no ordinary item either:
[Golden Pouch]
A delicate-looking coin pouch that seems capable of holding only a handful of coins. In reality, it can store up to 500 gold pieces without changing in size or weight. Maximum capacity: 5,000 gold coins.
"Without me," said its creator, "this world's economy would still be stuck in the barter age."
It was well within his budget, so Aldric happily paid up.
The delighted dwarf, feeling he'd struck gold, generously let Aldric take brand-new weapons without waiting for repairs—though, of course, refunds were not an option.
Having witnessed Gloin's love for money firsthand, Aldric stored the greatsword in his new pouch as a backup weapon. He hung the two straight sabers at his sides, fastened his newly repaired leather armor, adjusted his bracers, and prepared to set off with Vittoria to investigate the quest lead.
…
Aldric's New Equipment
[Straight Military Saber]
Forged by dwarven craftsman Gloin. Compared to traditional curved blades, this design allows both slashing and thrusting, making it more effective against armored targets.
Usage Requirement:None
Material: Tempered Steel
Craftsmanship:Average+
Trait:Armor Piercing (Thrust)
"Gloin never said straight blades were easier to make—just more satisfying to use."
[Swamp Drake Bracers]
Crafted from the hide and scales of a dangerous swamp drake. The material is durable yet supple, with finely treated leather that doesn't hinder wrist movement.
Usage Requirements: None
Material: Leather, Swamp DrakeScales (Tough)
Craftsmanship: Excellent
Defense: Very High
Trait: None
"For a pair of bracers, their defense is surprisingly impressive."
…
Vittoria's Weapon
[Slaughter Flail]
A once-ruined weapon obtained by Vittoria during her advancement quest. Forged from unknown metals, only the handle and chain survived when it was found. Yet in her hands, it became a nightmare to all who witnessed it—including the master blacksmith Gloin himself. Out of gratitude, Gloin reforged it, adding three wolf-fang heads. Though uncertain of its original form, the weapon's new version surpassed all expectations. He named it simply:Slaughter.
Usage Requirement:Minimum Strength 17
Material: Subterranean Cold Steel (head), Unknown Alloy (body)
Craftsmanship:Indestructible
Trait 1:Heavy Weapon Scaling: For every point of Strength above 17, damage increases by 10%, up to +100%.
Trait 2:Incomplete Relic – If restored to its true form, unpredictable power may awaken.
"Tremble before it—for nothing survives its path."
(End of Chapter)