Chapter 20 The Curse of the Abysswalker
Eric was slightly surprised when Jack Scott stopped him.
"Would you mind letting me take a look at this sword?" Jack Scott's tone, once indifferent, now held a note of humility as he looked at Eric with keen interest.
Eric hesitated for a moment, not expecting such a request from the grand master forger.
After a brief thought, he agreed.
The value of a Demonic Weapon was undeniable, especially one crafted by a master—a coveted goal for every skilled forger like Jack Scott. Naturally, he wanted to examine it closely.
Seeing Eric's uncertainty, Jack Scott reassured him, "Don't worry, I'll only look at it briefly. Feel free to make any requests."
This assurance eased Eric's mind.
This was a master forger!
Jack Scott effortlessly crafted equipment of Mystical Iron and even Mithril grades, and all he asked was to examine the sword.
Without hesitation, Eric handed the Abyssal to Jack Scott.
NPCs couldn't take items from players, so Eric had no concerns about Jack Scott keeping the Abyssal. He could examine it thoroughly. Eric planned to request a Mithril-grade one-handed sword later to truly unleash his swordsman's potential.
Holding the Abyssal like a torch, Jack Scott marveled at its intricacies and power for over ten minutes before reluctantly returning it to Eric.
"This is a remarkable sword with immense power, but the curse on it is malevolent. The more you wield its power, the stronger the curse becomes. Eventually, it could consume the wielder into an endless abyss. Controlling this sword with your current strength is risky; you're at high risk of being overwhelmed by the curse," Jack Scott warned with gravity.
Eric understood this well; otherwise, he wouldn't have hesitated before bonding with the Abyssal.
"Jack Scott, is there a way to weaken the curse?" Eric asked, hoping for a solution.
Though Eric knew some methods to mitigate the curse, he lacked the ability to implement them.
"You must understand, this sword was crafted by the renowned artisan Osiris. It's unique in Divine Realms: Legends, one of only thirty-six legendary swords, ranking thirty-first. But it carries a curse from the Black Dragon King. Besides bestowing incredible power, it periodically retaliates against the wielder. However, with modifications, including using a Lucky Stone, we can reduce this backlash. Finding a Lucky Stone is exceedingly rare; it gathers fortune from Divine Realms: Legends and can counteract the curse. Though they exist across the continent, few possess one. Even I have never seen one. It's an extremely difficult find. If you have a Lucky Stone, I can help weaken the curse on this sword," Jack Scott explained respectfully, his tone tinged with admiration.
Seeing Eric's stunned expression, Jack Scott shook his head ruefully, "Finding a Lucky Stone is rare; don't be disheartened. Those who find them are truly blessed by the heavens."
"Jack Scott, is this the stone you're talking about?" Eric retrieved a dark green Starlight Stone from his backpack, smiling slightly.
Jack Scott glanced at the stone, nodding in confirmation. But suddenly, his expression froze, staring at Eric as if he'd seen a ghost.
Eric shrugged, nonchalant.
Jack Scott's surprise stemmed from realizing Eric could use the Lucky Stone to suppress the Abyssal's curse. Many master forgers in Eldoria Kingdom couldn't manage that feat. He hadn't expected Eric to possess such a rare item.
"Jack Scott, can we weaken the curse now?" Eric asked eagerly.
After a moment, Jack Scott composed himself and casually replied, "No problem. I can manage it in half an hour."
Tonny, suppressing laughter, couldn't hold it in and burst out into the woods, amused by Jack Scott's astonishment.
Half an hour later, Eric received the Abyssal back, noting its revised description.
Crafted by artisan Osiris using the Black Dragon King's fang, this sword was one of the thirty-six legendary swords in Divine Realms: Legends, ranking thirty-first. However, it carried a curse from the Black Dragon King. Besides bestowing incredible power, it periodically retaliated against the wielder. With Jack's modifications and the Starlight Stone, the backlash was significantly reduced. If uncontrolled, the backlash could result in a permanent 50% attribute reduction, rendering the sword non-drop and non-trade.
Eric felt relieved; the backlash now seemed manageable in the short term.
Stowing away the Abyssal, Eric noticed numerous messages from Ezio, inquiring about his delay and when he'd reach the Silent Grove Dungeon.
"Tonny, let's head to the dungeon," Eric replied promptly, acknowledging their delay.
Amidst the Abyssal's affair, Eric had entirely forgotten their scheduled time, leaving Ezio waiting over half an hour. He intended to compensate Ezio accordingly in the Silent Grove Dungeon.
"Perfect timing; I've been itching to test my new spells," Tonny exclaimed joyfully.
Arriving at the Silent Grove Dungeon entrance, players crowded around, many forming teams for the level 2 dungeon.
"Forming team for Silent Grove Dungeon, seeking high DPS, four spots open."
"Efficient Silent Grove Dungeon team needs strong healer for guaranteed success."
Eric shook his head at the recruitment posts, heading directly to where Ezio signaled him. In his previous life, they struggled in the Silent Grove Dungeon until most players reached level 5.
"Expert, you're finally here. My friends are eager; let's hurry," Ezio said anxiously, leading Eric to the team assembly area.
"Ezio, is this the expert you mentioned? I expected someone remarkable, not this..." Priest Silent Summer Night sneered upon seeing Eric in novice gear with a seemingly inferior weapon, mocking him.
"Summer, show some respect. He's a distinguished closed beta tester and skilled for sure. Why else would he ask for all the swordsman and mage gear?" Shield Warrior Last Stand Warrior interjected, disdain evident.
Both Summer and Last Stand had taken an immediate dislike to Eric. He'd requested plate armor and caster equipment upon arrival, making them feel exploited. Were it not for the leader's curiosity about Eric's abilities, they'd have entered the dungeon long ago. Seeing Eric's shabby gear, they seized the chance to belittle him, revealing their frustrations over outfitting him for nothing.
Ezio wanted to retort but hesitated; Eric's gear left him speechless.
By now, many players were level 2, and a closed beta tester wasn't—how was that possible?
Skyweaver, who'd previously anticipated Eric's arrival, now wore an expression devoid of expectation, stating coldly, "Ever died before?"
"No," Eric admitted, shaking his head.
"In that case, you should leave. We don't need a 'pro' like you trying to scam gear," Skyweaver declared, brow furrowed coldly.
"Skyweaver, there's a misunderstanding. Let's try first," Ezio attempted to reason.
"Try what?" Priest Silent Summer Night scoffed. "Who'll take responsibility if we die? Even dying in a dungeon loses experience points, albeit minimally—a 10% penalty. Can this noob afford that?"
"Summer, don't complicate things for Ezio," Ranger Skyweaver interrupted. "Ezio, I know you're defending this swordsman, but I'm responsible for the team. I only take experienced players into dungeons, not newcomers who waste time. You have two choices: either join us for the dungeon or leave with him."
"I'll leave the team." Eric didn't want to cause Ezio any embarrassment, so he promptly departed. "Tonny, let's find another team to enter the dungeon."
"Sure." Tonny grinned and followed Eric without a word.
"Your true colors are showing. Unable to exploit us for gear, you walk away," sneered Shield Warrior. "Ezio, you're too trusting. Only you would fall for such a noob. Stick with Skyweaver in the future and learn."
Ezio's expression hardened, but he stood by his judgment of Eric; he believed Eric was indeed skilled.
"Skyweaver, I apologize." Ezio too chose to leave the team, opting to follow Eric to confirm his assessment.
"You!" Ranger Skyweaver was taken aback, surprised by Ezio's decisive move. He had initially dismissed Ezio as a fool; had he not seen Ezio's capabilities, he would have kicked him out long ago.
Priest Silent Summer Night looked at Ezio and sneered, "Ezio, don't regret this decision. When we clear the Silent Grove Dungeon and claim top-tier gear, you'll regret it. You'll regret it for ten, twenty years—regret not following Skyweaver."
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