Dungeon of Niflheim

‘Ah!’ Leo suddenly remembered that Frost wasn’t from this area and that he came from the Glacial Mountains.

‘They probably don’t have much access to metal, that must be why he uses pykrete.’ Leo looked at Frost with a little pity, as if his strength was being wasted.

Frost twitched uncomfortably under Leo’s pitying gaze, he felt like such a country bumpkin. He could tell what Leo was thinking but didn’t know how to correct him.

‘I can’t exactly say I buy my weapons through a dungeon core using life energy I gather from killing intruders and I just haven’t unlocked 3 star weapons yet due to my weapon mastery being low.’ He certainly couldn’t say that, so he went along with Leo’s idea that he was from a poor village in the mountains without access to decent materials.

Leo felt even more determined to get to a weapon store.

Ding dong

.....

A bell rang as Leo pushed open the shop’s door. Leo brought Frost to a shop he frequented, hoping to either find a glaive or gain information on where to go at least.

“Welcome... oh little Leo it’s been a while how you been?” A friendly old dwarf with grey hair and a massive bushy beard that covered his chest greeted them from behind a counter.

“Hey Borris, had a little hiccup in my last quest but other than that not bad, you?” Leo glossed over the reason for the hiccup, the information was kept hush hush after all.

“Shame to hear that lad but cheer up you can’t be successful all the time. For me though business has been good and can’t complain, you here to shop?” Borris then looked over Frost who followed in behind Leo.

‘Wow,’ Frost was impressed with what he saw, although the shop itself wasn’t that large, every space was utilised and covered with weapons. He could see staffs, maces, clubs, swords, bows, spears and even throwing axes, a wide range of merchandise. He also had a decent variety of quality as well and the prices seemed reasonable with one star weapons going for a couple silver.

“Like what you see lad?” At some point Borris had walked out from behind his counter and stood next to Frost.

“Yeah, did you make all these yourself?” Frost looked at the old dwarf standing next to him, appraising him as he thought about the frost dwarves back in his dungeon.

“Most of them yeah, my sons and nephews made the rest, we own a small smithy in the northern zone, and sell them here.” Borris smiled with pride, he could see from the look in Frost’s eyes that he wasn’t just spouting flattery, he meant what he said.

‘So, he made most of them, such a wide range of skills.’ From what he understood, weaponsmiths would stick to just a few weapon types to specialise in like swords or axes, yet this old man could make anything.

‘If only I had access to someone like him.’ Just like when he ate the food in the phoenix fledgling restaurant Frost had the desire to kidnap the old dwarf before him and have him work in his dungeon.

The old weaponsmith Borris was oblivious to Frost’s thoughts and closely examined the tall young man before him. Whether or not his face was covered didn’t matter to him, what he was looking at was his body, his hands, arms, shoulders, back, any limb or muscle that determined his weapon.

“Hmmm you’re some sort of pole arm user right...may I?” Borris asked if he could feel Frost arm and hands.

Frost nodded allowing Borris to examine him.

“Hmmm not too many blisters or scarring but from the shape... you use a glaive, no?” Borris looked into Frost’s eyes with confidence, he could always tell the weapons people used from their hands.

‘Wow this old dwarf’s got skill.’ Even though he’d only used the glaive for around a week or so, the old man was able easily work out his weapon.

Leo was smiling from ear to ear as he watched.

‘Old man Borris is one of the most knowledgeable weapon smiths in Furano, guessing your weapon is a piece of cake for him.’ He internally praised the weaponsmith of his territory.

“Yes, I use a glaive as my weapon.” Frost answered with respect.

“Been a while since I’ve seen a glaive user here in Furano, wait here for a sec.” Borris rushed into the backroom. Frost could here clanging and banging as Borris searched.

“Found it” Borris returned to the store front a few minutes later wielding a large weapon covered by a purple cloth.

Drawing Frost and Leo’s eyes he smirked and pulled of the cloth and revealed the weapon hidden underneath. It was a glaive and a big one to, easily over 2 metres long.

The blade was light blue in colour almost semi-transparent, bouncing the light off the surface, showing off its smooth finish. The shaft was made of a dense red coloured wood that brilliantly contrasted with the pale blue blade. There was a picture of a wolf howling at the moon stretching the entire shaft. The pommel of the glaive was made out of some kind of metal, likely steel and was well polished allowing you to see your own reflection.

Frost was amazed, the glaive in the old dwarf’s hands was beautiful, he wanted it.

“This is a glaive I made over ten years ago for a C-rank adventurer, unfortunately he died before it was finished.” Borris had a pained look in his eyes as he looked at the glaive.

“The blade is made out of century old ice and star wood pulp creating this transparent yet incredibly strong pykrete. From your hands I could feel an intense cold, I assumed that you were an ice magic user.”

Frost nodded.

“Pykrete weapons work well with ice magic. The shaft is made of fired star wood creating a great contrast for aesthetic purposes but also giving great flexibility and strength. The pommel is made of high quality duram metal, providing a perfect counterweight to bludgeon your enemies, here.” Borris tossed the glaive towards Frost without warning.

Frost caught it without difficulty as his eyes never left the weapon.

‘It’s heavy,’ the weapon was incredibly heavy compared to his current weapon but manageable, in fact it probably suited his current strength better than his 2 star pykrete glaive.

Frost gripped the shaft and moved his hands along it, feeling every inch, he caressed the light blue blade, it was cold to the touch and cut the edge of his finger without any effort.

‘Beautiful’ Frost couldn’t help but smile, he wanted this weapon, no he needed it. With fanaticism in his eyes Frost gazed at Borris and asked.

“How much?”

“Hahahaha that look in your eyes, I knew I didn’t misjudge you. You’re just like the person who ordered this glaive, a battle fanatic haahahahah.” Borris laughed without restraint, he’d held onto this glaive for ten years never finding someone worthy of it...until now.

“It’s considered a peak 3 star weapon so it ain’t cheap.”

“How much?” Frost wasn’t unnerved in the slightest asking for the price once again.

Borris held up 3 fingers.

‘Thirty silvers that’s not much’.

“Thirty silvers?”

“Pshhha no! 3 gold coins my friend”

“What!”

“What!” Both Leo and Frost were shocked that was more than double what they expected. Leo queried the price first.

“Old man Borris are you sure about that price? a top of the range 3 star sword would only cost a single gold coin? Yet you’re charging triple that for a glaive” Leo was confused, Borris was never one to overcharge a customer, Leo believed that 1 gold and fifty silvers would be an appropriate price even if it was peak rank.

“Definitely” Borris nodded with conviction, his eyes never leaving Frost. He knew the exact worth of this weapon, even charging double would be a discount. This weapon was the best Borris had ever created and it was so close to being a 4 star weapon, only being held back by its base materials. The only reason he was asking for 3 gold coins was because it’d been gathering dust for the past ten years.

Within Nova just as how there’s a massive power gap between C and B rank monsters, there is a considerable difference between 3 star and 4 star weapons. The two cannot be compared on the same level, for Borris to claim that his glaive is almost a 4 star weapon is quite an achievement. Only within the empire’s capital Arkheart would you be able to find weapon smiths able to create 4 star weapons. Without a 4 star weapon, hunting B-rank monsters would be nigh impossible.

Leo could see the determination in Borris’ eyes and knew that there was no room for negotiation.

“If old man Borris is so convinced about the price, it must be worth it.” Leo turned to Frost, waiting for his decision. He knew that Frost had the money since he handed him 5 gold coins earlier, but still.

‘We’ve only just started shopping.’ They still had a lot of stores to visit.

Frost however was gripping the glaive in his hands tightly, although the price of 3 gold coins shocked him, he could still afford it.

‘3 gold coins, 3 gold coins,’ he repeated the price over and over within his head, he was struggling to part with such a large amount. Borris and Leo remained silent as Frost mulled over his decision.

‘Ah! Fuck it, it’s only money.’ He made his choice; what use is money if you don’t use it. Frost felt relieved the moment he made his decision. He faced Borris, looking into his eyes with admiration.

“I’ll take it.”

“Hahahahaha great choice lad, you won’t regret it.” Borris laughed out loud, smiling ear to ear. He felt a large weight being released, the burden of holding onto that weapon was finally resolved, a few tears leaked from his eyes as he remembered the young man who asked him for the weapon in the first place.

‘Hopefully this weapon will be able to finally protect its wielder.’ Borris was an avid believer in weapons having souls, he could feel the glaive’s joy as it was swung by Frost.

Frost removed his coin purse from his sleeve and happily handed over 3 gold coins without a single ounce of buyer’s remorse. His saving were now dwindled down to just over 2 gold coins.

Borris took the three gold coins and placed them in his vault before returning with a purple cloth bag that could be used to transport the glaive on Frost’s back. It was given free of charge thankfully.

“Whenever the blade needs maintenance please come back here or to our workshop in the northern zone.” Borris waved goodbye to Frost and Leo as they walked out of the shop, Frost now carrying a large, covered glaive on his back making him look much more like an adventurer.

“Where to next Leo?” No longer feeling restricted in spending his money, Frost looked towards his young companion urging him to lead him to the next store.

Leo was momentarily stunned, even for him, the lords son, spending 3 gold coins would make him feel drained but these thoughts were quickly erased with the phrase ‘well that’s Frost-senpai for you’.

“Let’s go and look at the armour shops next.” Leo looked at Frost’s current attire, although it looked very expensive it didn’t look as though it provided much defence. Leo was correct, Frost’s robes that he constantly wore provided little to no defence. They could only regenerate if ripped when imbued with a little mana but offered no defence against weapons. There were options in the dungeon menu to upgrade these clothes through DP, the prices however were quite extravagant. To make them equal to standard leather armour (the appearance wouldn’t change however) would cost 10,000DP, equivalent to recycling 10 gold coins. With his current savings and daily income, it was an expense beyond what he could afford.

“Sounds good, lead the way.” Much cheaper to purchase some armour in Furano although they wouldn’t regenerate or be as comfortable, he could buy dozens and still have money left over.