The Builder's Pride (The Legendary Builder Book 3)

by J. A. Cipriano

  “He wields Excalibur. It is not a sword you can stand against even with Lucifer’s hammer.” She nodded to the warhammer strapped to my back. “Clarent is old, brittle. It would not do the job. Still, neither of those facts tell me why I should help you.” She smiled. “It does let me know what you seek though. A weapon to face Dred. Tell me, is that what you wish? A big sword to smite your enemies with? Perhaps one large enough to make up for whatever you’re overcompensating for with all the armor?”

  “These are Armaments. They grant me the strength to face Dred, assuming I had a sword that could do it.” I held out my hands, displaying my gauntlets.

  “Dred is not strong because he has a bunch of magic items.” She spat onto the ground next to her. “He is strong because he trains harder than all those before him. He is strong because he takes what he deserves.” She smiled at me. “Are you that strong? That daring.” She shook her head. “I think not.”

  “I am strong, and I will beat him!” I growled, taking an angry step toward her and reaching for my warhammer.

  “Oh?” She raised an eyebrow at me, and as she did the watery walls around us began to close in on us. “Prove it. Prove you’re a big strong man.” She got to her feet, and as she did, a chill ran down my spine. “Take the sword from my hand.” She extended her hand toward me, and as she did, a sheathed five-foot blade filled it.

  “That’s it?” I asked, moving closer until I was close enough to grab it.

  “That is it,” she said, smiling at me. “But know that if you miss, I will require something in trade from you for another try.”

  “What is that?” I asked, watching her carefully.

  “My dear, Builder. When you ask a question like that, it makes me think you do not think you can snatch the sword from me. After all, I’m just a tiny, frail woman. How hard could it be?” She shrugged. “Try being confident.”

  “I am confident,” I said, taking a deep breath and focusing on the weapon in her hand.

  “Then prove it, Builder.” She shut her eyes. “Take the sword from my hand.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. “Are you ready?”

  “Ye—”

  I backhanded her across the face, and as she stumbled backward, I snatched the sword from the air as it fell. “Thanks.”

  39

  “Is this where you tell me I cheated?” I asked as Morgan glared at me so hard, smoke actually started to rise from my clothes. I ignored it.

  “No,” she growled, still glaring at me. “I just didn’t expect you to hit me.”

  “So, what you’re saying is you didn’t expect the unexpected.” I nodded.

  “That’s not what I—”

  “Oh.” I continued to nod. “So, I just outsmarted you.” I smirked. “I could see how it’d be concerning to be outsmarted by a dumb guy like me.” I shrugged.

  “You’re pissing me off. That is unwise.” Morgan took a step toward me, hands clenching and unclenching.

  “Tell me something,” I said, leaning the new sword against my shoulder. Part of me wanted to examine its stats, but I couldn’t get distracted right now.

  “What?” she snapped.

  “Did it hurt when I hit you?” I asked, letting amusement fill my voice.

  “Of course it hurt—”

  “See, here’s the thing. I used about one percent of my power when I hit you,” I lied straight-faced. “But if you keep coming at me like you are, I might just decide I feel threatened and have to defend myself. And I won’t use one percent of my power to do that. I will come at you with everything I have.” I met her eyes. “Do you want me to do that?”

  She stopped mid-step. “One percent?”

  “One percent,” I repeated.

  She watched me for a long moment, and I could see thoughts flitting behind her eyes. “Go.” She nodded once. “I don’t like the look of you.”

  “Much obliged.” I gave her a quick salute. “Ready when you are.”

  “You expect me to send you back to the surface?” she asked, incredulous. “Swim yourself.”

  “Are you trying to piss me off?” I took a step toward her, and she visibly tensed. “Because I feel like I’ve been pretty amenable.” I met her eyes as I pointed the sword at her. “And you’re making me feel like I shouldn’t bother.”

  “Fine.” Morgan sucked in a breath that made her breasts heave against her dress. “I will send you to—”

  “To the edge of the forest,” I said, interrupting her. “Sam and me both. You’ll send us both to the edge.”

  “I can’t do that,” she said, but as she spoke, she looked away.

  “Liar,” I said, gesturing at her. “You can’t even say it with a straight face.” I shook my head. “My ex used to do the same thing when she lied. Just send Sam and me back, and I’ll forgive the slight. No harm, no foul.” I tightened my grip on the sword. “Otherwise things might not be so fun.”

  “Fine,” she said, gesturing at me with one hand. “I didn’t want to spend another second with you, anyway.” As she spoke, a wave of blue energy swept out and wrapped around my body. The feel of it was like a cold breeze on a warm day, and as I looked down at myself to find myself transforming into translucent ether, I wanted to scream, to flail.

  Only before I could do any of those things, I found myself standing next to the bridge where I’d fought the ninjas.

  “What in the Blue hell?” Sam cried, looking around. She was still sopping wet, and as she spun in a slow circle, her boots squelched in the mud. “What just happened?”

  “I got the sword,” I said, gesturing at her with it. “Morgan and I had a chat, and she decided she didn’t like me.” I frowned. “Don’t really know why. Normally, I’m fairly likable.”

  “Said the most annoying guy in all of Hell,” Sam replied, laughter in her voice. “I don’t know how you could have possibly managed to get that witch to help us, but I’m glad you did.” She nodded to the sword. “Can I see it?”

  “Sure,” I said, offering it to her, and as she took it, I pulled up its stats.

  Caliburn

  Type: Longsword

  Durability: 57,000/57,000

  Damage: 2D20

  Enchantments: Mortal Strike

  Ability: none

  “I wonder what that does…” I mumbled, pulling up the tooltip for Mortal Strike.

  Mortal Strike: This enchantment causes the wounds delivered by Caliburn to bleed for twice as many rounds as normal. Wounds are resistant to healing and failed attempts to heal damage dealt by Caliburn results in the wound timer being reset.

  “Holy fuck,” I said, mouth dropping open in astonishment as Sam pulled the weapon from its sheath. Caliburn seemed to glow with the same ethereal blue light Morgan had used to transport.

  “Wow,” Sam whistled, looking over the blade. “This is amazing.” She touched the center of the blade where it extended from the ornate golden hilt. “You can tell it has been folded many times to increase strength and blend the metals.” She swallowed. “Probably sixteen or so, and the metals themselves… This isn’t just Stygian Iron, Arthur.” She looked at me. “This is made of Heavenly Gold too.” She shook her head. “I didn’t think it could be blended like this.”

  “Be careful with it, Sam,” I said as she held it out so the light played off it. “There’s an enchantment that causes the wounds to be pretty gnarly.”

  “Yeah, that’s the product of the Heavenly Gold.” Sam nodded. “Most of the weapons have effects like that. It’s what makes them so devastating.” As she went to sheath the weapon, I realized there was a separate tooltip for the scabbard. “Be careful too. That means if you cut yourself with it, you’ll bleed just as well.”

  “Right,” I said, taking the sword from her and opening the tooltip for the scabbard. I wasn’t sure how I hadn’t noticed it before.

  Caliburn’s Scabbard

  Type: Scabbard

  Durability: 7,300/7,300

  Defense: 1D10

  Enchantments: none


  Set Bonus: Bloodless Victor

  Bloodless Victor: When worn by the wielder of Caliburn, the wielder will not be affected by the Enchantment: Mortal Strike and will be able to survive mortal blows.

  “That witch really thought of everything,” I said, strapping the scabbard to my belt as quickly as I could.

  “What do you mean?” Sam asked, watching me. “And why did you put that on? You look absolutely ridiculous with a sword on either leg.”

  “The scabbard makes me immune to the bleed effect granted by Caliburn, so if it cuts me, I won’t die of blood loss,” I said, and as I went to reveal the mortal wound thing, I stopped myself. I wasn’t sure why, but something told me, I’d be better off keeping that one to myself. It was weird because while I hadn’t worried about Dred having spies up till now, Morgan had seemed to know him well, and we were at the edge of her forest.

  “Well, that’s certainly convenient.” Sam nodded. “I would have never thought of that, but it makes sense.” She smirked. “You have no idea how many people have died from nicking themselves with their own weapon during a battle, or worse, had it turned on them.”

  “I hadn’t even thought of the second one.” I swallowed hard.

  “Hopefully, you won’t ever experience it.” Sam came closer and touched my shoulder. “Now then, it seems I have some work to do.” She met my eyes. “That is, if you’re sure you want me to try transferring Clarent’s power into that weapon.”

  “That’s the whole point.” I shrugged before looking down at the sword I’d been using. “Otherwise I may as well just continue using Seure here.”

  “You named it Seure?” Sam looked down at the sword. “It’s not special enough to have a name.”

  “That’s not true. Names have power, and by giving it a name, perhaps I made it a little more special.” I smiled at her.

  “You’re an idiot,” Sam said, trying to hide her grin as she shook her head at me. “But I guess that’s part of your charm.”

  I didn’t respond as I looked down at Seure. The weapon had served me well, and yet, I was about to get rid of it. Part of me felt bad, but at the same time, a quick look at its stats let me know I was making the right choice. Mostly anyway.

  Seure

  Type: Longsword

  Durability: 12,454/23,000

  Damage: 1D20

  Enchantments: none

  Ability: Ethereal Armor, Sapphire Beam, Emerald Shield, Crimson Fire

  “You know,” I said, turning my eyes from the weapon and focusing on Sam. “You will have to add the cool hilt thing and the armor ability to Caliburn. Otherwise, I’ll probably have to keep both of them.” I stuck out my tongue. “They’re the source of my ranged attacks after all, and while I love being a bruiser, I’ve played too many games where the big barbarian gets picked off by some kiting asshole.”

  “I don’t know what any of that means, and I’ll be happy to do that, though I’m not sure why. You have the new earring remember?” Sam pointed to my ear.

  “You know, I’d forgotten, but I’d like you to do it, anyway.” I touched my ear, feeling the earring she’d given me. “You know, just in case. One is none, and two is one and all that. Unless it’s an issue.”

  “Not really.” She looked down at Seure before moving her gaze to Caliburn. “It won’t take long, probably less time than moving Clarent’s ability over to Caliburn.” She shrugged. “I have the stuff to do that just sitting back at my shop. All I have to do is pop out that pommel and inscribe the runic work on the blade with Dark Blood.”

  “Awesome. Let’s get to it then.” I offered her my hand, and as she took it, I teleported.

  40

  “Are you sure you’re okay to work on this now?” I asked as Sam took Caliburn from me and laid it on her table. “You’re not too weak, right?”

  “Arthur, I’m fine.” Sam stared at me for so long the rain pounding on the roof overhead began to drive me crazy. “Besides, I’d rather not put it off.” She gestured at me. “I know you have the warhammer and Seure, but I’d rather you have a sword fit for the Builder.” She took a deep breath. “It’d make me feel safer.”

  “Me too,” I agreed because it was true. While Seure had worked well up till now, it was still a pretty normal sword, and a pretty normal sword wouldn’t beat Dred. Hell, if I’d had just Seure when we’d gone into the enchanted forest, it would have been nearly impossible. Lucifer’s hammer had really saved me, but as I watched Sam begin to shuffle around her shop, I knew it was time to return the weapon to its owner.

  “This will probably take a few hours.” She smirked at me. “Try not to get into any fights until it’s done, okay?”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I asked.

  “Yes. I was trying to be nice about it, but you don’t seem to take a hint very well.” Sam grinned. “Now off with you.”

  “Fine. I can see when I’m not wanted.” I moved across the room and kissed her. “Good luck.”

  “Won’t need it, but thanks anyway.” She playfully shoved me away. “Now go. The sooner this is done, the better.”

  “Sure,” I said, reaching back and gripping the warhammer. As I did, I focused on its owner. Once again, the small of my back began to burn, and the crown upon my head began to glow. Then I teleported.

  And reappeared just beyond the edge of the town. Lucifer sat draped in a cloak, her eyes staring off into the sky. Rain pelted her already drenched body, but if it bothered her, it didn’t show. Worse, since I was outside too, I got soaked to my skin in the space of a second.

  “Hello,” she said, not bothering to look over at me. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. I think I’ll have a new sword soon.” I pulled the warhammer free of the sling and held it out to her. “So I wanted to return this.”

  “That is why you’ve come?” she asked, getting to her feet and coming toward me. Her face was strangely blank as she took the warhammer. Then she plunged the head into the earth and leaned on it.

  “Yes.” I nodded to her. “It really helped me out.”

  “Good.” She paused for a second, eyes raking over me before turning them to the heavens. “Glad it helped.”

  “You seem distracted.” I glanced toward where she stirred, but it was nothing but thunderbolts and lightning. “Should I be worried?”

  “Do you ever wonder what they’re doing up there.” Lucifer nodded toward the horizon. “How the fight in Heaven goes?” She turned back to me and pushed back her cowl, revealing her rain-soaked hair.

  “I sometimes do, though not that often. Honestly, I’ve been hoping they last long enough for me to get strong enough to make a difference.” I looked up at the sky for a moment.

  “So you would sacrifice Heaven to save Hell?” Lucifer laughed. “Interesting.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.” Lucifer met my eyes and something dark and angry swam through them. “It may not matter though. I have journeyed across this land and have found it wanting. The Darkness has encroached from all sides, and that is simply unacceptable, but do you know what is worse?”

  “No?” I offered, confused by her sudden anger.

  “None of mine have pushed it back.” She pointed a finger at me. “Only you have done anything, and that’s just pathetic.”

  “Hey, I’m not—”

  “I do not mean to say you are pathetic, Arthur, nor your efforts. I mean to say that while I have been locked away, my people have failed to fight back effectively. We should not have needed you. We should have won on our own,” Lucifer growled, and while that might have been true, I wasn’t sure it was fair. After all, I’d seen Dred route Nadine’s entire army in an eye blink.

  “You used my name,” I said, unable to hide my surprise. “You’ve never done that before.”

  “That’s what you focus on.” She smiled. Barely. “I am upset, and you are focused on the fact I called you by name.” She shook her head. “So human.”

&
nbsp; “I wouldn’t normally care, but we’ve spent a lot of time together, and you’d never done it before. I was always human or Builder.” I shrugged. “I notice these things.”

  “What else have you noticed?” She took a step toward me, and as she did, the sky crackled overhead. It must have startled her because she turned her head toward it. Only that was strange because she could control the weather.

  “What?” I asked, turning to look in time to see a flaming fireball explode from the sky. One that seemed remarkably similar to Gabriella’s own entrance into Hell how many lifetimes ago.

  “Come.” Lucifer, grabbed my hand with her free hand, and before I knew what was happening, her wings unfurled, and we surged toward the crater in the distance. Overhead, the whole of the world seemed to swirl with chaotic energy. The entirety of the horizon turned crimson, and the rain that fell turned to blood.

  The smell of swamp gas and death filled my nose.

  “What is it?” I asked as we landed just beyond the golden flame leaping from within the crater. Even several meters back, it had been so hot, our freshly plowed fields into glass had turned to glass.

  “I don’t know,” Lucifer growled, releasing me and gripping her warhammer with both hands. “But I aim to find out.”

  As she took a step forward, the ground began to shake, seizing violently enough that I fell on my ass. Lucifer sprang into the air, hovering just far enough above the dirt to keep from falling. The wind began to howl, and the sky turned to flame.

  The horizon spilled open, and I could hear a thousand fading trumpet blasts. That’s when I saw the army of angels overhead. There were so many, I could hardly count them, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that there were at least a hundred darkness warriors for every last angel. And not just normal ones either. There were ravagers, liches, and everything I’d seen in my nightmares and visions and a thousand more besides.

  “Heaven has fallen…” Lucifer whispered, and as I turned toward the sound of her voice, I saw a shadowy figure coming toward us through the golden flames rimming the crater.