The Builder's Wrath (The Legendary Builder Book 4)
Page 3
“I’m almost done,” Sam said as I stepped through the door. It was weird because the pink-haired blacksmith who was also the Archangel of Death hadn’t even looked up.
“Define almost with a timeframe,” I said, sidling up beside her. Caliburn was still in the exact same spot on her bench, though there looked to be a lot more rune work inscribed upon the blade. As I glanced over at Clarent, the sword I’d broken when I had saved Mammon’s lands from the Darkness, I saw she was right. The runes were done.
“Honestly?” she spun, turning to look at me, and blew a lock of pink hair out of her sweat-streaked face.
“Yes.” I nodded to the sword. “The rune work seems almost done.”
“It is almost done.” She threw an annoyed glance at it before wringing out her arms. “My forearms are cramped because I did a week’s work in a day.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I haven’t slept, and I’ve barely eaten.” Her stomach rumbled to punctuate the point.
“Should I get you some food? I’m sure Takumi would be happy to bring some by.”
“No.” Sam shook her head. “I haven’t even eaten the last meal she brought me.” She pointed across the room to where a sandwich and chips sat barely touched.
“You should eat it. Keep your strength up.” I picked up the plate and held it out to her. “It’s probably pretty good.”
“You know how it is when I work. I get super focused and forget about eating.” She picked up a chip and popped it into her mouth. Only as she did, her entire body shivered, and she let out a soft moan. “Oh man, that’s good.” She snatched the plate from me and shoved a handful of chips into her mouth.
“Anyway, now that the rune work is done, what’s left?” I glanced at Caliburn. “Just moving the power over, right?”
“Yes,” she said around a mouthful of sandwich. “But I don’t know how long that will take or if I have the strength for it.”
“How much strength do you need?” I asked as she shoved the entirety of the sandwich into her mouth and tried to chew around it. “And, you know, tasting usually makes things better.”
“You know me, Arthur. I’m a shove it in kind of girl.” She batted her eyes at me, which was weird because she was still chewing, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.
“All right.” I shrugged, picking up Caliburn, and as I did, I felt a surge of strength rush through me that I hadn’t before. The runes lit up with sapphire light just how Clarent had. It was a bit crazy.
“Don’t touch it!” Sam cried, grabbing it out of my hands and putting it back down. “It’s not ready.” She shook her head. “You wouldn’t walk in on your bride before the wedding, would you?”
“I… um, sorry?” I shrugged. “I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.”
“You wouldn’t.” She snorted. “Anyway, I guess now is as good a time to try.” She put the empty plate down and moved in front of me, shoving me aside with her hip.
She reached out, running her hand along the broken pieces of Clarent. She’d fitted them back together but hadn’t welded them together. We’d talked about doing that or recasting the blade completely, but in the end, Sam hadn’t been skilled enough so we’d met with a creepy lady in a lake.
Then I’d punched her and taken the sword. It had been a whole thing.
Either way, I still felt a little bad about Clarent. I’d found it in a pawnshop, and cleaning it had summoned Gwen who had, in turn, brought me here. Part of me knew that without that freak accident, I’d still be the orphan wannabe software engineer in a dreary town.
It was hard to believe how much things had changed, and for a moment, I thought back to Merle. The old man had sold me this sword, and I wondered what he’d say if he saw me now. Part of me wanted to find out, but most of me didn’t want to go back to my old life.
After all, what good was being a demigod in the mortal world? I’d be a cubicle monkey just the same. Here though? Here I mattered.
Still, looking at Clarent now, I wondered if maybe we should just weld the blade back together and see if I could regain my Builder powers. Clarent had let me adjust the stats of my friends and allies like I was in a video game, but I had lost that ability when it’d broke. Now Sam was about to put the power into Caliburn, but what if she failed?
Then, not only would Clarent be destroyed, but I’d have lost my primary power as well.
“Are you ready?” Sam asked, glancing up at me. “You know the stakes.”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. “If you fail, we’ll find another way.”
“I like how you worded that.” She rolled her eyes. “If I fail.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” I said, putting a hand on her shoulder. That’s when I realized how tense she was. Worse, I could feel the fear pulsating through the mark on my abdomen that bound us together. That simple touch let me know how damned scared she was. If she failed, it was over.
“But that doesn’t make it less true.” She bit her lip and met my eyes. “But I won’t fail.”
“I know you won’t.” I gave her my best reassuring smile, and she nodded resolutely.
“Let’s get this done.” I felt the mark on my abdomen open wide, and felt her strength, her power. It rushed over me in a way I hadn’t quite expected. The earring started to flare brightly, and as the specter of death settled over the inside of her shop, her black-feathered wings burst forth.
Black light flowed from her outstretched hand as she shut her eyes and began speaking in the demonic tongue that hurt my brain.
Clarent shattered, exploding into a million scintillating shards every color of the rainbow, and as they did, I felt its power fighting to escape, to disappear into the ether.
Sam wove her hands through the air like a conductor, shaping the very air in a way that reminded me of a sculptor modeling clay. With each stroke, she swept more of the power into Caliburn.
The new sword began to glow, its runes flaring like miniature stars with each pass of the hand.
Sweat began to bead on her forehead as she moved, and I felt the strength inside her begin to weaken. That wasn’t good, but fortunately, I had a trick up my sleeve.
“Concentrate on your work, Sam. I’ve got the power side.” I shut my eyes as I reached out through the other marks on my body. “Just think of me as a battery and take what you need.”
Pride. Wraith. Lust. Envy. Greed.
As I opened each mark, I felt the archangel on the other side of the tether. I could see through their eyes, feel through their touch, and they could do the same. Then, one by one, they began to lend me their strength.
Gwen was first, and the power of lust flowed into me, heating up my entire body before flowing into Sam like white-hot flame.
The magic around her hands tinged purple as she sucked in a breath, but still, she worked. The cold embrace of Greed hit us next, and as I exhaled a breath of mist, Sam’s movements sped up.
Wrath and Envy hit us next, their twin powers so close, that if I hadn’t known they were together, I would have wondered if they were. It was a bit weird because while Envy had gone insane, Wrath seemed to take care of her constantly, tending to her in a way that only sisters truly could.
Still, I could tell that even with their boost in power it wouldn’t be enough. Sam’s form was starting to falter.
“Lucifer,” I whispered, focusing on the mark of Pride as I spoke. “Please.”
“What if I cannot?” Her response was thready in my ear as she opened her eyes. She still lay in the infirmary, and while I was sure she had been healed, I could still feel her reluctant to share. She’d been less sure of herself ever since she’d been beaten by Dred, but that didn’t matter. I needed her help.
Sam’s form began to falter, and she gritted her teeth. “I need more.” Her words were strained, and as I opened my eyes, I saw she was almost done, but that didn’t matter. The glow around her hands was all but gone.
“Lucifer,” I said, and this time thunder crackled above
me, and the crown she’d given me began to glow. I couldn’t force her to help me, but even still we were bound. “Just try.”
“Okay.”
With that word, her mark opened wide, and the power of Pride hit me like a lightning strike to the brain. Strength flooded through me and into Sam. Her hands began to glow once more, and this time I knew we’d be able to finish the ritual.
Barely.
4
“It’s perfect,” I said, holding Caliburn in my hand. The blade pulsed with power in a way Clarent never had. It felt stronger, and well, just more.
“Did it work?” Sam asked, looking at me. Her hair was plastered to her face with sweat, and she was still taking ragged breaths. Oddly, I knew it wasn’t just her. I could feel the five other archangels connected me, and they all seemed drained.
To be honest, I’d been tired too until I’d picked the sword. Now I felt like I’d made my coffee with Red Bull. Power thrummed through me as I gave the weapon a tentative swing through the air.
No. That wasn’t right. It didn’t feel like a weapon. It felt like an extension of myself, of my body itself.
“I think so,” I murmured, shutting my eyes for a second and inhaling a breath that tasted of spearmint. As I exhaled, I stared at Sam, bringing up her character sheet.
Name: Samantha (Samael)
Experience: 576,285
Health: 149/149
Mana: 19/190
Primary Power: Smithing
Secondary Power: None selected
Strength: 54/100
Agility: 95/100
Charisma: 20/100
Intelligence: 95/100
Special: 95/100
Unique Ability: Archangel of Death*
Perk: Rank 3 Blacksmith
Flaw: Badly Marked
“Well, I can see your stats now, so that’s good.” I pulled Lucifer’s crown off my head and set it on the table. Only, Sam’s stat boxes remained. Excellent.
I turned my gaze upon Caliburn and nearly shouted for joy when the stat box came up.
Caliburn
Type: Longsword
Durability: 57,000/57,000
Damage: 2D20
Enchantments: Mortal Strike
Ability: Distribution* – Can be used by the Builder to distribute Experience.
“It worked!” I cried, doing a fist bump. “I can see the ability on the sword.” I smiled at Sam, and that’s when I realized how much experience she had. “Whoa.”
“What?” she asked, eyes filling with fear. “Is something wrong with it?” She took a step forward, and I shook my head.
“Give me a second,” I said, staring at the flaw listed on her character sheet. I’d not seen it before, but then again, I could see a lot more menus than I could before, and then there was that asterisk on the skill window.
With a flick of my wrist, I opened the ability for Caliburn, and my eyes widened in shock.
Distribution: This Ability can be used to change the Stats of a person, creature, or structure under one’s control. It allows the user to distribute unspent Experience points as well as redistribute Experience points that have already been spent. Note: Stats cannot be lowered below their initial levels.
*Note: This ability has been transferred from a lower quality item into a higher quality item. It will be stronger than before. Please exercise caution.
“Okay…” I looked down at the sword. “That’s why I see more…” As I spoke, Sam looked like she wanted to ask me something, but evidently, thought better of it. That was good because I wasn’t done yet.
Turning my gaze back to her character sheet, I pulled open the Badly Marked Flaw.
Badly Marked – The user was previously been bound to another. While the Mark has been severed, she has not healed from the transition causing a permanent 10% debuff that affects all stats. Additionally, all powers associated with the mark will be lessened.
Would you like to remove this flaw? Cost 68,000 experience. Yes/no?
“Yes,” I said, and as I spent her points, Sam cried out in shock. The spot where she and Dred had shared a mark began to glow, and before my eyes, I saw sapphire light leapt from Caliburn and hit her flesh. It writhed along the surface of the scar, and as it did, I felt the mark she shared with me strengthen. I couldn’t tell you how, or why exactly, but as the glow faded, it felt like a river had burst through the dam that had been blocking its path.
Power rushed out of her, and as it did, her character sheet changed once more.
Name: Samantha (Samael)
Experience: 508,285
Health: 149/149*
Mana: 22/190*
Primary Power: Smithing
Secondary Power: None selected
Strength: 54/100*
Agility: 95/100*
Charisma: 20/100*
Intelligence: 95/100*
Special: 95/100*
Unique Ability: Archangel of Death
Perk: Rank 3 Blacksmith
“What did you do?” Sam asked, touching the spot, but where before our shared mark had sat atop a scarred chunk of mottled flesh, now the skin below was pristine. I could feel the power radiating off Sam like never before.
Crazier still, I could see asterisks on her character sheet like I had when I’d looked at Lucifer before. I hadn’t been able to open them before, but now that I had Caliburn I wanted to try it.
Strength: This Stat represents Physical Power. It determines how strong the user is and how hard she hits.
Current Level: 95/100. Experience Cost to increase Strength beyond 95 is ten times the current level plus one. (960)
My mouth fell open. I’d never been able to extend stats beyond ninety-five before. It had always been a hard stop, and now I could. It was a bit crazy since those points cost way more experience, but knowing I could was great. Still, that wasn’t all. As my eyes read through it a second time, I skipped to the note at the bottom of the menu.
*Note: This user possesses the unique ability Archangel of Death. This unique ability will cause stats to triple when in use.
“So that’s what those asterisks mean!” I nearly shouted as I grabbed Sam and pumped her arms.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked in a way that suggested that while she knew what I was talking about, it wasn’t quite clear.
“Okay, so I spent some of your experience to get rid of a flaw caused by Dred’s mark, and when I did, it caused you to get the same asterisks by all your stats like Lucifer had.” I gestured at her character sheet even though she couldn’t see it. “It makes it so that when you use your archangel abilities, your stats are tripled.” I smirked. “You’re probably the best blacksmith ever now.”
“Wait, I can use my powers again?” She gave me a strange look. Was she unhappy about it?
“You don’t seem pleased,” I said, suddenly confused. “I thought you’d be happy.”
“I am.” I didn’t believe her because she was frowning. “I’d just, well, I’ve been without it for so long. I don’t want to get my hopes up.” She shuffled her feet. “When I stopped being able to use my power, it nearly crushed me. If it still doesn’t work…” She took a deep breath.
“Try it,” I said, moving across the room and picking up her Scythe. The bone was cold in my hand, like it was trying to suck the heat from my body. Only, it’d never felt like that. As I hefted it, the sigils on it began to glow in the same way that happened when I used any of the archangel’s weapons. Only Sam’s had never done that before.
“It’s glowing,” she whispered, and her voice was so quiet, I barely heard her.
“Yeah.” I swallowed, offering it to her. “Just try it.”
“Okay.” She took the scythe from me, and the moment she did, I felt the earring in my ear grow ice cold. Power exploded out from her as a swirling tornado of black ripped from the ground beneath her feet.
The smell of death and decay filled my ears, and when she looked up, I could practically see her skull beneath her nearl
y translucent flesh. Her dark wings unfurled, spreading out and casting shadow about her like a cloak.
“I’m whole.” The words hit me with so much force, I backpedaled. Only, she wasn’t paying attention to me. Instead, she inhaled sharply. As her nostrils flared, her eyes widened. “I must hurry.”
She darted outside, and as I followed, I saw her moving toward the healers. She grabbed one by the shoulder, causing the demoness to let out a shriek.
They exchanged words before Sam dragged the woman toward an angel who looked to be on death’s door. As Sam pointed fervently at the angel, I realized what was going on.
Sam was the Archangel of Death, and she could sense those closest to dying, and as such, she could direct the healers. As I watched Sam shove the healer toward the angel, she spun on her heel, sprinting off toward another healer.
Part of me wanted to help her, but I wasn’t sure what I could do. None of my powers moved toward healing, and I’d just be in the way. Besides, now that I had my sword, I felt stronger than ever before.
Strong enough that I was pretty sure I could save Gabriella. I wasn’t sure why, but at that moment I could have sworn I felt her across the horizon. As I turned my gaze toward the Darkness, I knew I had to go get her. I felt the pulse of that need in every inch of my body.
Despite the little voice in my head telling me I was an idiot, I quickly moved back inside Sam’s shop and snatched up my crown. I fit it on my head, and a rush of power hit me.
Crazily I saw more stat boxes open around me. While before I could only upgrade the stats of people, I quickly saw I could do more. I stared at the forge before me and opened the menu orb hovered above it.
Black Iron Forge
Type: Forge
Durability: 7,000/7,000*
Grade: B*
Enchantments: None*
Ability: None*
That was all normal, but what was different were the asterisks. This time I opened the Grade menu, just to see what would happen.
Grade – The Grade of this item is currently classified as B. Items up to the level of Grade B can be forged without penalty. Every Grade level beyond Grade B will suffer a penalty of 10%, to stats, abilities, and chance of success.