Chapter 135 Personal Exclusive

A cascade of system notifications left Eric momentarily stunned.

He had merely made modifications to the Silver Dawnrift design, integrating his unique combat style and personal preferences. He could never have anticipated, in his wildest fantasies, such a fortuitous turn of events.

A double-trigger effect, an incredibly rare occurrence, meant that the attributes of his newly christened Silverlake Gleam were significantly amplified. The only question was, to what extent?

Runeforged Steel had the potential to increase an item's quality by one level, elevating a Mithril-grade item to the coveted Adamantite-grade.

The Obsidian Iron Insignia, on the other hand, enhanced an item's existing attributes, typically by a range of 5% to 25%. A 20% enhancement was practically equivalent to raising the weapon's quality by a full level.

The combined might of these two effects meant that the exquisite, light blue longsword resting in his hands was, at the very least, a top-tier Adamantite weapon. There was even a remote possibility that it had achieved the fabled Obsidian grade.

A level 10 Obsidian weapon at this stage of the game was practically unrivaled, second only to the mythical Demonic weapons whispered about in hushed tones among veteran players.

With bated breath, Eric picked up the softly glowing Silverlake Gleam, his fingers tracing the intricate runes etched into its surface. It was time to unveil its true potential.

[Silverlake Gleam, One-Handed Sword, Adamantite Weapon, Requires 45 Strength and 80 Agility to Equip, Level 10, Attack Power 78, Strength +18, Agility +22, Attack Speed +3, Durability 70/70, Passive Skill: Stream of Shadows – Creates an afterimage effect when attacking. The faster the attack speed, the greater the damage, up to a 50% increase.]

The attributes were nothing short of breathtaking, solidifying its position as a top-tier Adamantite weapon. The addition of the Stream of Shadows passive skill elevated it even further, allowing it to challenge even Obsidian-grade weapons in terms of sheer combat prowess.

"The perfect balance between speed and strength, just as I envisioned." A wave of satisfaction washed over Eric as he admired his creation.

In the world of Divine Realms: Legends, forged equipment reigned supreme. They consistently exhibited superior attributes in comparison to their dungeon-dropped equivalents, and their capacity for customization according to the specific requirements of players rendered them highly sought after.

As a result, master blacksmiths were highly respected and sought after in Divine Realms: Legends. They were invaluable assets to any guild, their forges constantly buzzing with activity as they churned out masterpieces for the realm's elite.

Offending a master blacksmith was akin to poking a hornet's nest.

After all, who knew which top-tier player owed their life to a particular blacksmith's creations? One wrong move could lead to a relentless pursuit by a small army of vengeful players eager to repay their debt to the artisan who had forged their prized equipment.

The right fit was paramount.

While custom-made weapons and equipment might only offer a slight edge in terms of raw attributes compared to their randomly dropped counterparts, their impact on a player's combat effectiveness was undeniable.

These personalized creations were known as "exclusive equipment," tailored to the unique strengths and preferences of a specific individual or class.

Silverlake Gleam was Eric's very own exclusive weapon.

In the hands of another Swordsman, it would likely perform admirably, a testament to its inherent quality. But in Eric's hands, it transformed into a force of nature, its true potential unleashed.

With Crimson Edge gone, he had been in dire need of a weapon worthy of his skills.

Silverlake Gleam was the answer to his prayers, a trusty companion that would serve him well for a long time to come.

His first foray into crafting exclusive equipment had been a resounding success, filling Eric with a sense of accomplishment and renewed purpose. It was time to turn his attention back to Silver Dawnrift.

The experience gained from crafting the Adamantite-grade Silverlake Gleam had significantly honed his skills, making the creation of Silver Dawnrift feel like a walk in the park.

The next two days flew by in a blur of activity.

Eric's days were dedicated to moving into his new place, furnishing it to his liking, and maintaining his rigorous physical training regimen. His nights, however, were reserved for the enchanting world of Divine Realms: Legends, where he tirelessly honed his crafting skills.

The combination of physical exertion and a steady supply of nutritional supplements had done wonders for his physique. His mind felt sharper, and his reflexes were quicker. He estimated his current physical condition to be on par with the average member of a college sports team. With another ten days to half a month of dedicated training, he was confident he could reach the level of a martial arts club member, further enhancing his ability to absorb the beneficial effects of the nutritional supplements and pushing his mental acuity to new heights.

In the virtual realm, aside from the occasional visit to the auction house to procure materials and valuable items, Eric had struck a lucrative deal with Thornheart. He had sold off a large quantity of level 5 to 7 Bronze equipment, netting him a tidy profit of over 2 gold and more than 200,000 credit points. The rest of his time was spent in the familiar warmth of the intermediate forge, where he not only churned out Silver Dawnrift after Silver Dawnrift but also utilized the bronze and dark iron blueprints acquired from Blackbeard to craft a small arsenal of weapons and equipment.

He had invested every remaining penny of his earnings back into his craft, replenishing his dwindling stocks and procuring materials to produce an even higher caliber of Advanced Whetstones of Precision.

In just over two days, he had crafted an astounding 31 Silver Dawnrift swords, over 200 pieces of level 8 Bronze equipment, more than 100 pieces of level 9 Bronze equipment, over 100 pieces of level 10 Bronze equipment, more than 60 Dark Iron weapons, over 70 pieces of Dark Iron equipment, and a staggering 2,000 high-level Advanced Whetstones of Precision.

His efficiency was nothing short of astonishing, enough to make even the most seasoned blacksmiths green with envy.

The secret to his success? An almost nonexistent failure rate.

This incredible output had propelled his level to 10, putting him within striking distance of level 11. He could easily make his way to Silvervale City whenever he wished. However, a visit to the legendary Shadowwing Citadel beckoned, promising untold riches and opportunities.

Based on his observations and intel gathered from various sources, the average player level hovered around 6, with more dedicated players reaching level 7. Only those who practically lived and breathed Divine Realms: Legends, grinding relentlessly day and night, had managed to reach level 9. So, Eric was in no particular hurry. The experience required to level from 9 to 10 was substantial, demanding at least another full day of dedicated grinding.

As he prepared to list a few Glowing Outfit Design Blueprints on the auction house, something peculiar caught his eye.

The once-ubiquitous presence of Martial Alliance players roaming the streets had vanished.

"Could it be that the Martial Alliance has disbanded?" he wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued. He promptly accessed the in-game bounty system, keen on observing the number of Martial Alliance members who had perished in recent times.

In Divine Realms: Legends, bounties were handled with ruthless efficiency. Players simply had to complete the assigned task and submit the necessary proof. The system would then verify the kill and, if confirmed, automatically transfer the bounty to the player's account. This streamlined process eliminated the need for manual verification by the bounty issuer, saving everyone involved a significant amount of time and effort.

Eric had initially deposited 5 gold coins and a cool million credit points into the system, a war chest designed to sustain his conflict with the Martial Alliance for a month or two.

The numbers that greeted him sent a jolt of surprise through his system.

The 5 gold coins were gone, vanished without a trace. Only a paltry 800,000 credit points remained.

The bounty on a regular Martial Alliance member was a mere 1 silver coin or 100 credit points. The disappearance of 5 gold coins equated to 500 kills. The bounty on elite members was significantly higher – 10 silver coins or 1,000 credit points. Even then, 5 gold coins could only account for 50 elite kills. To expend such a sum, the entirety of Willowbrook Town's Martial Alliance elite would have had to be slaughtered multiple times over, not to mention the additional credit point expenditure.

In just over two days, his bounty had wreaked havoc upon the Martial Alliance, decimating their ranks.

No wonder their presence had vanished from the streets. The Willowbrook Town branch of the Martial Alliance had been crippled.

As he scrolled through the kill statistics and watched the accompanying video evidence, one word echoed in his mind:

"Savage!"

The sheer scale of the carnage was staggering. The Martial Alliance had been utterly decimated.

Among the countless names and grim statistics, one entry stood out – a female Assassin with an astonishingly high kill count. She had single-handedly eliminated over fifty Martial Alliance members, her victims a testament to her deadly skills.

Intrigued, Eric clicked on her profile, eager to witness her handiwork firsthand.

The videos showcased a level of skill and precision that sent chills down his spine. Her movements were fluid, her attacks precise and deadly. She controlled the flow of battle with almost supernatural grace, her every action a testament to years of honed reflexes and mastery over her craft.

"FlameDancer?" he murmured, committing the name displayed on her profile to memory. He racked his brain, trying to recall any mention of a top-tier female Assassin by that name, but drew a blank.

Just as he was about to delve deeper into her profile, a notification alerted him to an incoming call from Tonny.

"Tonny, what's up?" Eric answered immediately. He knew Tonny wouldn't contact him unless it was something important. The usually jovial tone of his friend's voice was replaced with a frantic urgency that sent a chill down his spine.

"Eric, I don't know how, but the Martial Alliance... They found us. They sent a whole squad of elites after us, including some heavy hitters I've never even seen before."

"We tried to break through, but..." Tonny's voice cracked with emotion. "Cola... Te stayed behind to cover us. We lost a few others during the escape. It's just me and Ezio now. Eric, you need to be careful. They're out for blood. If they find you, you won't even have a chance to use a return scroll."

The weight of his words settled heavily on Eric's shoulders. Tonny and Cola had formed an unbreakable bond during their time leveling up and adventuring together. The thought of Cola sacrificing himself to ensure his friend's escape filled Eric with a mixture of admiration and rage.

"Where are you? I'm coming to get you." Eric's voice was ice-cold, his fury barely contained.

"No, Eric, you don't understand. There are too many of them, and they've got some real monsters on their side. Ezio and I will find a way out of this. Just stay safe." Tonny's words tumbled over each other, his fear palpable even through the digital connection. He had contacted Eric out of concern, worried that his friend might inadvertently stumble into the Martial Alliance's trap. It wasn't that he doubted Eric's abilities, but the sheer number of enemies, coupled with the presence of unknown experts, tipped the scales firmly in the Martial Alliance's favor.

"Tell me where you are," Eric demanded, his voice brooking no argument.

Tonny hesitated, torn between his desire to protect his friend and the knowledge that Eric wouldn't back down. He knew that tone, the one that spoke of unwavering determination and cold fury. "We're in Tempest Canyon," he finally relented.

"I'm on my way. Just try to stay alive." Eric wasted no time in reassurances.

"Ezio and I managed to lose them in the deeper parts of the canyon. It's thick with fog and dense undergrowth. They'll have a hard time tracking us down." Tonny cursed himself for contacting Eric, terrified of dragging his friend into a no-win situation.

"Good. The return scrolls might be locked due to some skill they're using, but you should still have your Veiled Tranquility Scrolls. Use them. It'll make it harder for them to sniff you out. Find a good hiding spot and stay put. I'm coming to get you." With that, Eric ended the call.

Though contrary to his assumption, the deployment of a contingent from the Martial Alliance, which included seasoned experts, did not necessarily portend an effortless dominance over his associates; such a presumption was fundamentally erroneous.

Eric immediately sprinted towards Tempest Canyon.