Absolute Craft-Chapter 103: Before The Storm (3)

Chapter 103: Before The Storm (3)

If someone happened to be inside Blake’s Blizzard Smithy at that moment, they wouldn’t believe their eyes. This man had done something that many would consider reckless, yet he did it without hesitation. He turned his weapon into the primary framework of his new wings.

How many people would sacrifice a brand-new legendary weapon that had barely had time to shine? And how many would risk breaking it through trial and error, with no guarantee of restoring it to its prime?

Blake understood these risks, but that didn’t stop him from tinkering with Oni’s Avalanche. He elongated the blade, split it into two parts, then forged each piece into phalanges for his wings.

He had first drawn inspiration for his blizzard-based designs from a fragment found in The Eternal Winter Graveyard. It was bold of him to believe he could create wings on par with Oni’s Avalanche, but he was determined to try.

In reality, Blake was still a novice blacksmith.

Without taking risks, he would never truly move forward. Even if his new wings couldn’t lift him to the sky, he’d be satisfied so long as they could summon a blizzard and destroy anything blocking his path.

Once he finished forging the main bones, Blake attached them to his wings and waited to see the results.

<The Wings Of The Winter Conqueror (Legendary)(Durability: 400/400)(Attack:154-364)(6 skills available)>

Without examining the new skills just yet, he took a moment to admire how the wings looked sharper and more elegant than before. Then he put on his gear. Instantly, he felt a unique connection form between himself and his armor.

His Sixth Sense reached out to the wings, and they fluttered as if alive. Blake had never felt anything like it—almost like having a second set of shoulder blades, but on a larger scale. Still, with his talent and adaptability, he quickly got used to the sensation and felt a surge of confidence.

There was a reason for this newfound connection.

It was one of the wings’ six skills:

<Skies belong to you (Legendary)(Passive)(0 MP)(0 CD)—You can control the wings of your White Oni’s set as though they were part of your body. You remain permanently linked to them, and only legendary skills can disrupt that connection.>

Blake shut down his Blizzard Smithy and immediately shot into the sky. He soared straight up like a rocket, then spun around near the clouds. When he slowed and gazed at the white world stretching out in every direction, excitement swelled in his heart.

He had stuck to standard crafting projects and a basic fighting style for too long. Yet he was a legendary player with equally legendary skills that could reshape the world. If he put in the effort, he could truly claim it.

He alone was his biggest limitation.

Right then, Blake decided he wouldn’t leave the tutorial zone until the entire snowy expanse was under his command. This starting point would remain with him until the end, and he would expand it until he was completely satisfied.

Meanwhile, Sol felt an odd stirring in his chest. He flew out of the smithy and looked up, spotting Blake far above. The new wings were far cooler than Sol’s Dragon Husk, but the little dragon wasn’t jealous.

He knew Blake would craft him the same wings if he pestered him—likely for just a minute or so.

Sol zipped toward Blake like a glowing red comet. Ever since experiencing Dragon’s Wrath Enchantment, he had acted more like a true dragon—he seemed to better understand his own species, respect them more, and want to be closer to them.

Beatrix followed after him.

When she saw the two of them floating in the sky, she naturally wanted to join. Unfortunately, her current abilities didn’t include flight.

At that moment, the icy wings spiraled around her, and she was swept into the air—faster than she’d ever moved during the Rebellious Hounds’ hunt. The instant her momentum began to falter and she started to drop, Blake reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist.

He held her close, letting her take in the world below with him and Sol.

"We’re Cerberus. It’d be weird without you here, Beatrix," Blake said.

Though his mask hid his face, she could sense he was smiling. Blake, too, could feel her happiness.

"Your skills must have changed because of my wings," he noted. "You probably have a way to hover near me whenever I’m flying—like one of your old shadow skills."

His Ice Path had evolved into something much more versatile. With a single glance, he could raise Beatrix into the air. That was only the beginning. If he inverted the skill, who knew what else it might do?

Sharing his excitement, Beatrix checked her skills and saw that each one had been updated. One of them did exactly what Blake had guessed. He was spot on. Its only requirement was that Blake be airborne with his wings spread.

Whenever he was in the air, she could propel herself toward him and remain by his side. If he landed, she wouldn’t be able to use it at all.

"Bubu," Sol said, hovering across from Beatrix and Blake, obviously challenging her to a game.

Before she could respond, he spun around and darted off.

Realizing the little dragon had a major advantage in midair, Beatrix quickly kicked off Blake’s armor, using him as a foothold, and launched herself toward Sol. The force of her kick made Blake lurch forward, but it gave her enough speed to grab Sol and hold him tight so he couldn’t escape.

Blake watched them with a fond expression. "It looks like running away from Beatrix has become Sol’s favorite pastime."

A pastime he usually lost.

Blake finished his work, returned home, and oddly enough changed into outdoor clothes instead of his usual casual wear. He threw on a cheap pair of pants, a plain shirt, a hoodie, and a jacket. Even though it had been warming up, he still preferred to bundle up.

It was the weekend, and as promised, he and Joel were going to the sports park. Exercising outside this time of year would give most people a chill, but the park had several indoor arenas for different sports, along with gyms.

Blake and Joel could try out a variety of facilities free of charge.

After meeting up with Joel outside, they headed to their destination.

"Kyria said he’s coming too! I didn’t know he lived in this town," Joel said.

"He does?" Blake asked. ’Wasn’t it raining in his area?’ he wondered silently.

In truth, Kyria didn’t live anywhere near them. However, he had managed to get Joel’s social media details, learn more about him, and piece together roughly where Blake lived.

He also found out that the two of them would be at the sports park today.

He intended to see Blake in real life—but from a discreet distance.

"He said he’d meet us at this intersection..." Joel checked his phone, scanning the area for someone shorter than them.

Joel’s only impression of Kyria was that he was smaller and wore a mask like "big bro," so he figured it would be easy to spot someone matching that description. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Joel snapped a quick selfie and sent it to Kyria. After five minutes with no reply, he decided they shouldn’t waste any more time and headed straight to the sports park, thinking maybe Kyria was already there.

That assumption couldn’t have been more off the mark.

Kyria was close by, and he wasn’t alone.

Standing not far from them, Kyria and Wolfang both wore scarves that covered the lower halves of their faces. Kyria had on a hat and styled her hair as she did in the game to hide her gender.

"He’s really let himself go in real life. This bothers me more than you think," Wolfang said, watching Blake’s retreating figure.

While they waited, Wolfang had taken note of Blake’s somewhat neglected appearance. Blake needed a better diet and more exercise than he probably realized. For someone like Wolfang—who took good care of his own body even without regular swordsmanship practice—it was painful enough to make him want to reach out and help.

He wanted to give Blake the number of a reputable nutritionist and suggest a decent gym. Blake definitely needed a barber, too. Wolfang didn’t know what startling changes might come from it all.

"He’s not a rival to your family’s businesses. He’s just an ordinary guy. So what are you planning to do now?" Wolfang asked Kyria.

She had been watching Blake and Joel until they vanished around the corner. "I’m not one to break promises. I’ll go to the sports park with them. They just won’t know it’s me."

"Revealing yourself would boost your chances of working more closely with Superbia by at least seventy percent, you know. You’re both hiding your identities for pretty minor reasons. He seems fine, even if he’s neglected himself. And you don’t have to obey your grandfather’s outdated demands by pretending to be a man. He’s stuck in the past—plenty of women do great in business."

"You spend too much time with my father," Kyria said.

"My father and I are your family’s main lawyers," Wolfang replied with a small smile.

"It’s not just that," Kyria added, catching Wolfang by surprise. "In Ashen World Online, anything is possible. I can’t wait to apply my grandfather’s mindset on a grander scale."

"That spells trouble," Wolfang muttered.

"It does," Kyria said with a faint smile. "Which is why it’s your job to clean up after me."