Legendary Shadow Blacksmith

“How long…”

Julian stood by the forge, not in his usual spot, but on the other side of the anvil.

“How long has it been?” For a moment, he was back in his childhood, standing next to his father. The smell of burning coals and molten metal filled his nose, the heat of the forge licking at his skin. He didn’t know anything back then, but he learned in time what everything meant.

He remembered the rhythm of his father’s hammer, the steady beat of metal shaping metal, the way he used to listen, completely captivated by the process… the burns in his hands when he makes a mistake…

…and the screams of her mother as she beat his father half to death for even bringing Julian to the forge.

His father had taught him everything he knew about blacksmithing, even when Julian couldn't even see. Telling him to listen… to listen to the voice of the metal. This is the reason why he loved blacksmithing so much—because in a way, it allowed him to see.

All of his senses, working to create an image in his mind that he would have otherwise truly never seen.

“Ha…” His grip on the hammer tightened, his heart pounding as a surge of emotions washed over him.

“...I haven't done this since... since then,” he whispered to himself. His vision blurred slightly, and he blinked it away, focusing on the anvil in front of him.

"Yo, pretty boy…" Juliet’s voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present, “You… alright?"

“Yes…” Julian turned to look at her, only to see her slightly backing away from the anvil.

“...You look like you’re about to cry again,” Juliet squinted her eyes, now slightly hesitating and thinking whether or not she made the right decision. What if… Julian’s actually just some sort of crazy person?”

“I'm fine. Sorry…” Julian quickly wiped his face, shaking his head slightly as he forced a smile. “I just... It's been a while since I’ve been an assistant.”

"...And you’re crying because of that?” Juliet stared at him for a moment longer, her brow furrowed, but she didn’t press further. Perhaps... Julian truly was just a little... special? She would ask, but she only just met him and it wouldn't really be right.

But alas, Juliet could not help herself.

"Sorry to ask this out of nowhere, pretty boy..." Juliet narrowed her eyes, "...But are you right in the head?"

"No, I'm not." And surprisingly, Julian answered without any hesitation.

"Well… Alright, then," Juliet let out a small chuckle; shrugging as she placed the hot metal blank on the anvil. "Let’s get started."

“Okay,” Julian let out a humming breath.

“Okay, strike the—”

PANG!

And before Juliet could finish her words, the hammer struck the metal, and she saw all of Julian’s emotions seemingly vanish at the first spark. His expression shifted from one of nostalgia to one of calm… and strict concentration.

Is this even the same person who looked like he was about to cry just moments ago?

The rhythmic clanging of metal against metal echoed through their tent, and Juliet quickly realized just how… focused he truly was. Every strike was precise, deliberate, the sound sharp and clear as the shape of the blade began to emerge.

“This is… crazy.” Juliet worked alongside him, but her pace soon slowed as she watched in awe. She had seen skilled blacksmiths before a lot of them, but Julian… Just from the first strike alone, she knew Julian was different.

And all of a sudden, Juliet found herself a bystander—she was supposed to be leading this crafting process… so why does it feel like she ended up just being the assistant instead? No, worse than that—her only role now was holding the blank ingot.

But still, Juliet did not mind at all. Each strike was perfect, timed to perfection, and the metal responded to him like it had no choice but to obey.

“How… did you even learn something like this?” Juliet muttered, almost to herself as she glanced at Julian’s

And Julian didn’t respond at all.

“By the gods…” Juliet’s amazement slowly turned into something else—something closer to fear. She had been in this business long enough to recognize talent, but Julian’s skill… went beyond that.

His strikes were flawless, unrelenting in their precision. The speed at which they were crafting the weapon was unnatural. It didn’t take long for the blade to take shape, far quicker than Juliet had ever experienced before.

“T…this… Julian, this is…” Her heart raced as she grabbed the finished sword, “G…[Guidance!]”

And as soon as she saw its stats, she froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.

[Item: Unnamed Ordinary Sword]

Type: One-handed Sword

Grade: Epic

Durability: 200/200

Sharpness: 100

Weight: 2.5

Special Effects:

Heat Resistance: Negates heat-based damage for the wielder by 15%.

Armor Penetration: Increases damage against armored foes by 20%.

Skills:

Molten Edge: The blade heats up, allowing it to sear through armor and flesh, leaving a burning wound that continues to deal damage over time.

Description:

The first blade forged together by Julian and his assistant, Juliet. A blade forged with unmatched precision and fire in its core. Its molten power grants it the ability to cut through the toughest armors, with heat lingering in its strikes to burn anything it touches. Its edge remains hot, making each slash more devastating than the last. Crafted to endure, this blade stands as a testament to both the skill and the passion behind its creation.

[End of Description]

“W…what?” Her hands shook slightly as she stared at the words glowing in front of her. How had they done that so quickly? It usually takes hours, an entire day even, to produce a weapon of this quality. But they had done it in mere minutes.

"Julian," she breathed, "My skill… My [Fire Enhancement] skill actually activated!? It... this is only the second time it has activated in my entire life! And… and…!!!"

Julian didn’t seem to hear her. He was still standing at the anvil, hammer in hand, waiting for the next blank.

“We… just made an [Epic] grade weapon. This… this is insane. How did—” Juliet’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but Julian remained as calm as ever, his focus unbroken. But soon, his eyes turned toward the sword that Juliet was holding.

"Oh... look at it," Julian then suddenly approached Juliet... and perhaps too close. Juliet wanted to move back, but there wasn't really so much space inside her outdoor forge, "Look... at our baby."

"Uh... huh?" Juliet quickly looked around as someone might misunderstand what was happening right now. But fortunately for her, the other blacksmiths were also completely focused on their own craft, "Uhm... right... maybe I should... uh... put this aside for now?"

“Hm... Next?” Julian then asked quietly, a small smile persisting on his face.

“N…next? What do you mean… next? We just… crafted an [Epic] weapon?” Juliet hesitated, her heart pounding. She should have been excited. She should have been elated. But instead, she was terrified. No one crafted like this. No one could create something so perfect so quickly… and yet he just wants to craft again without even celebrating it?

What kind of blacksmith was he?

"You... want to make more?"

"More babies, yes."

"...Please don't call them babies anymore."

And so, they continued working, but Juliet’s hands shook as they crafted one weapon after another. Not once did Julian miss a strike, not once did his focus waver. But of course, they could not replicate the [Epic] grade weapon they made anymore.

By normal standards, [Epic] grade weapons are the highest one could craft throughout their entire life—but it is also because there were no longer any weapon grades between [Epic] and [Legendary].

Not all [Epic] grade weapons are equal. But still, it was a testament of a blacksmith’s skill. And the fact that they created one on their first try means... something special was happening here.

And by the time they had finished their third sword, Juliet’s awe had turned into outright fear.

Was Julian… actually a master? No… masters couldn’t even work this fast if they tried.

“Julian…

…just what are you?”

And so, with that, Julian continued to hammer away.

***

“Sword Junkie!”

Amidst the crowd of people who wandered around the smithy stalls, a single voice broke through the usual clamor.

The words were shouted loudly, catching the attention of everyone nearby, including Juliet. She quickly turned to see what the noise was about, only to see a man pushing through the crowd… and approaching toward them?

Julian, too, glanced up from his work—but not because of the noise, but because Juliet removed the blank from the anvil.

The stranger pushed closer, his eyes widening as he finally reached Juliet’s stall.

“I… I finally found you!” He pointed at Julian, his face a mix of awe and excitement.

“Hm…?” Juliet raised an eyebrow as she looked at the stranger, and then to Julian.

“I knew… I knew it was you! Sword Junkie!” he shouted again, drawing even more attention from the crowd. “I’ve seen your work, man! You’re a legend!”

“Sword…” Juliet stared at the man in confusion, unsure of what was happening. “Sword… Junkie?”

“Uhm…” Julian let out a quiet sigh, placing the hammer back on the anvil. His calm concentration faded, replaced by the familiar uncertainty that crept back into his demeanor.

“It’s you, right…?” The stranger leaned in closer to lower his voice, “The one who can always hit [Perfect] spots…? The one who could mass-produce [Rare] weapons!?”

“Mass… producing [Rare] weapons?” Juliet’s gaze darted between the two men. Was Julian really some kind of famous blacksmith?

“We… we should stop,” Juliet took in a small gulp as she realized… she might just be in the presence of a legendary blacksmith.

“Oh… okay,” Julian nodded silently, grateful for the excuse to step away from the attention. He looked at Juliet, his eyes softening. “Will you be here tomorrow?”

“T… tomorrow?” Juliet blinked in surprise. “You… you still want to work with me?”

“Yes…?”

“I’ll… be here, then?” Juliet awkwardly chuckled, “I’ll… I’ll clean up here, Sir. You can… you can go with your friend.”

“...Sir?” Julian was slightly confused by Juliet’s sudden change in demeanor, “Then… I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“S…Sword Junkie, wait up!” As Julian left the stall, the stranger quickly followed him.

“Uhm… what do you want?” Julian could really only scratch his chin as he glanced at the stranger, “I’m… actually about to sleep.”

“Ah, I know the best inn here! Follow me, Sword Junkie. Follow me!”

“...Right.” Julian… well… he was incredibly weirded out as the stranger bowed to him before gesturing to him to follow.

Julian followed the man through the crowded streets of Ethaca until they reached a small inn, and as soon as they stepped inside…the stranger started bombarding him with questions.

“You have no idea how much of a following you’re gaining back on Earth, do you!?” the stranger raised his voice.

“What… what are you saying?” Julian’s eyes widened as he looked at the other patrons of the diner. And to his surprise, none of them really reacted aside from some curious glance.

“Oh, you don’t have to worry. I forgot you were a Newbie,” the stranger waved his hand, “This place is owned by a Player, and all of the people here are Players.”

“All… of them?” There were probably around 20 of them there—if one would think about it, these were 20 millionaires back on Earth… well, except him.

“What… do you want from me?” Julian did not really think much of it anymore as he wanted to sleep. He promised MEGAN he would only craft a single blade… and it ended up being more. If he doesn’t go back to Earth soon, he knew he was in for some proper sermon.

“A collab,” the stranger continued to follow Julian even as he went to the counter to pay for a room, “You and I do something together. This will be very beneficial for the both of us. You see, I interview newbies that seem like they have the potential to make it big in—”

“I’m… not really interested,” Julian shook his head, trying to avoid the man’s persistent chatter. “I’m just doing Otherworld for… fun.”

“Why did you turn on your stream, then!?” The stranger wagged his finger, “...Is this the image you want? Mysterious and aloof? Someone’s already doing the concept, but if that’s what you want, then we can go with that. Women usually dig that, and you’re incredibly handsome too—did you pay Humanity Engineering a premium to enhance your clone’s looks?”

“What…?” Julian grabbed the key that was handed to him by the innkeep, “I… have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m not… interested.”

“But think about it!” the stranger persisted. “We could do something huge, you’re obviously a very talented blacksmith. And the way you hacked those goblins? You’re some kind of soldier, aren’t you!?”

“Huh?”

“Were you sponsored by someone, or did you participate in the Otherworld Project with your own money!? I could even help you back on Earth! Set you up with other famous streamers and—”

“Please…” Julian cut him off, raising a hand. “...No. But, thank you for the offer.”

The stranger blinked, clearly taken aback by Julian’s sudden firmness. “You… you sure?”

“Yes.” Julian nodded before heading up the stairs.

“You’re going to earn a lot of money!” The stranger raised his voice even further and pointed at his eyes, “Look! I have live chat installed and they are going crazy about you!”

“...Money?” Julian’s steps slightly halted. But after a few breaths, he just continued up the stairs. But of course, as someone with keen eyes and someone who has met more players than he could count, the stranger noticed this sudden hesitation.

“Money, huh…” The stranger smiled,

“...My name’s Cyrus! I’ll… I’ll see you in the real world, Sword Junkie. Innkeep! Give me a room too!”

***

Julian was now lying on the bed of the inn. It was hard, but it didn’t matter at all. The day had been… intense. And now, it was time to return to his world of darkness.

But before he fell asleep, he whispered, “...[Guidance.]”

“Oh, I leveled up…?” Julian blinked, “Is it… from those people I killed?”

He didn't really know what to feel about that. He just killed people, and instead of being punished, he was rewarded with strength instead.

"Huh..." And he wasn’t really aware of it, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

This… was slightly exciting, wasn’t it?

“Since I always seem to find myself weak and wounded…” Julian whispered to himself, “...Put 3 into Vitality and 3 in Strength?”

“!!!” And once again, his body felt like it was being thrown into a grinder—and without even realizing it, his body shut down, and he drifted into sleep.

***

Julian woke up, blinking as there was once again nothing but darkness in front of him. He was back in his original body. His real body.

He sat up, stretching his arms. And finally, his body wasn’t as weak as it had been the last time he woke up, which made sense. He had only been gone for… eleven hours? Maybe less?

Perhaps today was going to be a peaceful day.

[Julian!]

But then, a scream in his mind caused his entire body to almost convulse.

[Julian! You’re finally back!] MEGAN’s voice echoed through his mind, frantic and desperate. [Julian, something’s happened!]

“MEGAN, what’s… going on?” Julian immediately grabbed his cane on the side of his bed and stood up.

[It’s Ellie!] MEGAN’s voice trembled, [A… a hospital called and said she’s in the ICU!]

“The… hospital?”

And all of a sudden, Julian’s blood ran cold as the words of the Guidance of Artemis echoed in his mind: [Many will suffer.]

Is it possible… that the punishment was also capable of bleeding into his real world? Could Ellie be the one paying the price? His real body did receive his clone's ability... It made sense—after all—if his clone’s abilities were mysteriously adapted by his real ability…

...then extending the punishment to his world wouldn’t be beyond what the gods of Artemia could do.

Or is this just a coincidence?

"When... when did this happen...?"

[7 hours and 32 minutes ago!]

That was way before he failed the penalty, and even before they reached Ethaca and entered the Tower of Mana.

“MEGAN, which… hospital is it?” Julian tightened his grip on his cane.

[It’s the Clevesky General Hospital on Sky Net!] MEGAN’s words came out fast, [I already called a taxi for us. ETA: 12 minutes. It has to go around, and there’s a traffic jam because of the air control servers—]

“Where’s the window?” Julian cut her off, feeling his way to the desk where his face mask should be lying around.

[Huh?] MEGAN sounded confused.

“Point me to the window,” Julian quickly secured the mask over half his face again, “We’re meeting the taxi halfway.”

[...The taxi is still above us, Julian. Between the Below and the Sky Net.]

“Even better…” Julian found the window by feeling the heat radiating from the glass, “Tell it to stay there.”

[Wait, you’re not planning to…] MEGAN stammered, [Julian, calm down and stop trying to prove to us that you're stupid, we already know. I know I told you about Daredevil and Spider-Man, but—Julian!? Julian…!?]

Without waiting for her to finish, Julian swung the window open, stepping up onto the ledge. The city hummed far below, the busy streets hundreds of feet away. He took a deep breath, attaching his cane to his waist and then twisting slightly to face the building. His fingers… digging and sinking through the concrete like it was foam.

“MEGAN… for both of our sakes,” Julian whispered through his mask, “...Don’t make a mistake when you tell me where to grab and land.”

[Julian... even for you... This—]

But before MEGAN could respond, Julian kicked off the ledge with all his strength. His body explosively shot upward, hugging the wall of the building as he soared higher.

[---is crazy!!!]