Chapter 149 5: The Old Man's Words!

The blacksmith spent several hours, Zell glued to the movements and abilities of the old man's blacksmith techniques, before suddenly, after hours of silence, a hoarse old voice filled the room.

"Take it!"

His old wrinkled hands, dark black skin with countless scars and bumps from what seemed to be his hard work and long life.

'Why does it feel like he probably has a super handsome form, that this old man image is just his hobby?' Zell thought as he observed the blade with entranced eyes.

A large sword, with a black blade, silver guard and pommel, with a crimson jewel inlaid in the pommel.

The wonderful black leather grip, with wonderful patterns and grooves, all for holding it to feel even more comfortable.

'This sword is so beautiful! It needs a female name!'

Honestly, Zell's head was throbbing with pain; after several moments, it was like information and knowledge were pumped into his mind, over and over, strange words formed into his common language, teaching him what the old man wanted to convey.

How to forge weapons, and when to apply more mana, although it would take months, maybe years, to reach this level, thanks to the huge amount of help from the old man.

-Gained Novice information on Metalmancy

Although his skill didn't improve, countless blacksmith patterns and how to make them were shown on the screen, but earlier, they were crossed out, with only a basic mana glove and knife available.

'So many resources needed... I should have those cute foxes go out and forage for me; I can reward them quite handsomely; they want it from me anyway...'

The old man's face was quite happy, watching as the boy seemed fine; he was worried that giving all his knowledge would kill him; only a small stream of blood oozed from his nose, stopping after a few moments.

'What a good seed; this boy will be my only disciple!'

"Boy, don't rush to improve yourself; first, try making something you might need in large quantities, not a weapon; those are too advanced and cost too many resources to increase your skills efficiently, maybe something to protect or locate your loved ones."

His voice was still hoarse and quite angry sounding, but Zell could tell the old man just seemed to be this way as he nodded, thinking about maybe something like a ring, necklace or mask for all the guild members to wear as a sign of his guild.

'This way I can protect their identity, or hide their beauty to avoid annoying young masters, it's not because masked women are sexy, maybe the blood binding can help me locate them easier in times of need, or when the end starts in full swing!'

"Thank you for the advice, although I want to go and create things like a madman! I will follow your words, taking one step at a time!"

'Good boy, honest, blunt and listens to me.'

"Good, here this sword, don't leave it hanging. I can see your class and know you use magic to create weapons. Have you ever considered; studying this sword and, instead of a temporary weapon made at the moment, using the Metalmancy to craft your soul-forged weapon one day?"

The old man laughed like he was some learned sage which was a little irritating, but Zell gained so much from him and felt a slight sense of epiphany and wonder.

How did the old man know he would come, or rather to craft this sword in the first place? Was there some strange coincidence or reason? He also wondered who learned this in the first life because it was demon and dragon bloodlines only.

Zell's mind raced, wanting to know the truth, but rather rush to start creating things, like a teenager who just got his new PC and wanted to try out that game which lagged on low settings before, now he could play on ultra or max settings!

Slowly his hand moved to grasp the sword, stroking across the smooth black blade, almost like seeing the prototype for his future weapon; each finger tightened around the leather handle, he couldn't tell what monster it was made from, yet it was strong, durable but also soft on his fingertips.

'Good, he is analysing the sword, not just grabbing it like a monkey!'

The old man watched Zell as he pulled the sword across his face, almost taking in the sight, scent and feel of the blade for several moments before taking a simple ox guard stance, the tip of the sword pointing to the black-steel dummy in the corner.

'It's so light!? But I can feel the weight and power each time I strike or thrust forward! What a wonderful sword! It's even more comfortable than the sword I used each day!' He thought.

Zell thrust forward, the blade cutting through the wind like a hot knife through butter, his eyes closed, trying to feel the weight, how the sword moved, what parts were heavier, and where the weight was distributed.

The moment after he swung, he would stop and adjust his posture and stance to suit this sword better; its reach was shorter than his other sword, but the broad blade was thicker, more powerful and seemed to deal much more damage.

'This boy, she never said you were such a wonderful kid... Zenovia, the boy you wanted to help, he might just one day surpass me!'

Zenovia contacted this old man; originally, he would never have been in the game and would show up later when the prince of Demon's Amon would find him and later create a devastating weapon that killed many gods, both demon and divine.

The old man wasn't complimenting his skills or power but rather the ability to restrain his desire, not just swing it around like a madman, which Zell wanted to do.

In reality, it was true; Zell wanted to dash from the shop and slaughter wolves for pelts, then find ores and other things like a maniac; although never a keen grinder, somehow this class and sword entranced him, made him feel like those blacksmith MC's in novels both eastern and western.

'The demon blacksmith....'

Slow thrusts and graceful sweeps barely touched the black-steel dummy, yet it was filled with thick slash marks and deep holes from the blade.

Zell wasn't even looking; he was trying to feel the blade; what made it so comfortable? He couldn't find that out after not even a few hours of metal many, but he wanted to!

He was filled with passion for the first time since the world ended, and he died.

'I feel so alive....' Zell thought, opening his eyes slowly, his crimson eyes shocked at the sight, his pupils dilated at the destroyed dummy, barely any black steel untouched by his entranced strikes.

[Cynthia, I need a favour from you!] Zell poured mana into the ring; the normal amount seemed to stop and fizzle without any sound.

Probably due to this place being cut off from the game, it was one of them, the real demon world.

"Young man, what do you think of the skills and gift I have given you?"

[What do you need, master, also where are you!? It took so much mana to reply and open the call!]