“Where’s Broken?” Booba exclaimed, looking around in confusion as he realized his friend had vanished from the stage after being announced as the winner.
“Maybe he’s getting recognition from the royal blacksmiths?” Freya suggested.
Earlier, they had seen Broken leaving with the royal blacksmiths, but they had no idea why. They had sent him private messages, hoping for a response, but had been met with nothing but silence.
“Let’s give him a few more minutes…” Elincia suggested. “If he doesn’t come back soon, we should go find him ourselves.”
The rest of the group shared a look of impatience, concern written all over their faces.
“He’s always stirring up trouble,” Melliandra muttered under her breath.
“I have a feeling the royal blacksmiths are trying to get their hands on Broken’s hammer.”
Just then, Maylock made a remark that grabbed everyone’s attention.
“Damn it, those royal blacksmiths must be after his hammer!” Booba growled, his anger mounting as he stood up abruptly.
“Would that be a wise move? Could any good come of it?” Elincia asked slowly.
“Of course it’s not good! What makes you think letting those fools take the hammer would be a good idea, Elincia?” Booba snapped.
“Shut up, Booba. I didn’t ask for your opinion, idiot,” Elincia shot back.
“Maylock, what do you think?” she continued, turning to him.
“Well, it could be advantageous for him… if they offer a significant price for it,” Maylock mused, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibilities.
Goldrich nodded in agreement, “They certainly have the resources to buy the hammer from him.”
“Do you think Broken might accept the offer?” Elincia asked, turning to Freya. “He needs that hammer, right? It’s a Unique-grade item.”
Freya smirked, shrugging her shoulders. “He definitely loves money. But I’m not so sure about this hammer. He seemed really protective of it. It’s Unique-grade, which means it’s worth a fortune. Yet, if the skills embedded in that hammer are truly one-of-a-kind, he might think twice before letting it go.”
“What if Broken refuses to sell the hammer?” Booba interjected. “Something feels off about this whole situation. I should go check on him.”
“What do you plan to do, Booba? Are you joking? Trying to cause trouble with your low level?” Melliandra retorted.
“Everyone can come with me,” Booba insisted. “We need to do something to save Broken.”
Jovina’s eyes sparkled with excitement at Booba’s suggestion. “I love a bit of chaos. Let’s stir things up, hahaha.”
Maylock rose from his seat, dusting off his cloak and taking a slow, deep breath. “I agree. Being friends with Broken seems to always land us in big trouble. Starting a riot here isn’t ideal, but we can’t let him face this alone.”
Goldrich chuckled softly. “You’re quite concerned about him, aren’t you, Maylock? You’ve never been this eager to help anyone before.”
Maylock nodded thoughtfully. “He has enormous potential. I want him to see me as a reliable friend now, while he’s still building his reputation. It’s a strategic move. Let’s help him out of this mess.”
Without another word, the group stood and began making their way toward the arena. But before they could get far, they were confronted by a line of royal troops blocking their path.
***
“Don’t make me do this,” Broken implored, his gaze locking onto Jasper.
Jasper sighed, a weariness settling in his eyes. “We tried to resolve this peacefully, but it seems you’re not willing to cooperate.”
“I have every right to refuse your offer,” Broken asserted. “This hammer is mine- and that’s final.”
“I guess we have no choice,” Jasper replied confidently. “You players return to the Temple of Resurrection if you die, right?”
The other blacksmiths exchanged anxious glances. “Jasper, are you sure about this?” one asked tentatively.
Jasper waved off their concerns with a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry. What can one blacksmith do against six of us?”
Broken clenched his fists. He donned his full combat attire, transforming into a menacing figure in gleaming black armor, resembling a battle-hardened swordsman.
“He’s dual-class?” one blacksmith whispered in surprise.
“But he’s only a level 50 player,” another scoffed. “We can handle him easily.”
“We’ll have no trouble dealing with him,” Jasper declared confidently.
In an instant, a pair of magnificent knuckles materialized in Broken’s hands, their blades a striking green that glittered like emeralds in the dim light of the room. The sight left the six blacksmiths momentarily speechless, their eyes wide with awe.
“What kind of knuckles are those?” one of them asked.
“They look high-grade… am I wrong?” another murmured.
“He must be loaded with valuable items,” another blacksmith whispered.
“We’ve come this far,” one of them said resolutely. “So let’s finish this. Kill him!”
The atmosphere within the group grew thick with tension, fear, and suspicion. Even the
bravado they showed moments ago began to waver.
“But can we really defeat him?” one of them asked.
“What could he possibly do against six of us?” another tried to reassure.
Broken steeled himself, channeling his focus and activating his skills.
[Blessing of Health (Active Skill) Lv. 3]
If things went south, he was prepared to summon Gaia and eliminate all six blacksmiths at once. Defending himself, no matter the consequences, was far better than letting them take
his creation.
One of the blacksmiths lunged forward, hammer raised high, aiming to strike Broken. But with a deft movement, Broken parried the hammer’s blow with his knuckles.
“You think with your low level you can withstand my attack?” the blacksmith taunted.
To everyone’s surprise, the impact forced the blacksmith backward, taking several unsteady steps. That was just a fraction of the power Broken’s knuckles held.
Without wasting a moment, Broken surged forward, his knuckles a blur as he rained blows on the blacksmith. Energy surged from the ground like wild, green vines, entangling the blacksmith and restraining him for a brief moment.
The other blacksmiths gasped in astonishment. It was a passive skill and an extraordinary one
at that.
Broken angled his strike towards the blacksmith’s neck, but Jasper intervened, swinging the hammer from the side. Broken swiftly dodged, leaping sideways to avoid the attack. “Damn,” muttered the blacksmith who had taken Broken’s hit, visibly frustrated. “That knuckle doesn’t just have a passive skill to restrain its target-it also ignores defense.”
“Could it be a Unique-grade item too? It certainly seems like a valuable weapon,” another
speculated.
“We can’t just let him keep striking at will with that kind of firepower,” a third blacksmith
pointed out.
“Let’s make him hand over the knuckles as well,” another suggested.
“Attack him together!”
Broken smiled grimly, preparing himself for the onslaught. “I need to end this quickly before
more people show up,” he thought.
Just then, something unexpected happened. Four knights burst into the room, swords drawn, surveying the chaotic scene.
One of the knights barked, “Drop your weapon or face the consequences!” Seeing an opportunity, Jasper shouted, “This man here is trying to harm us! We must stop him!” His voice dripped with rage, hoping to turn the knights against Broken.
The knights advanced, their attention now fixed on the lone figure in gleaming black armor- Broken. The tension in the room skyrocketed as he found himself surrounded, adversaries closing in from all sides.