Spirit Taming

Chapter 528: Rumbling Volcanoes

"This is a dungeon that lacks the time you say?" The question in response was nearly silent, but Clark heard it clearly. When the dwarf looked at him again he had a more serious expression. "This is training, nothing more."

There was so much about that response that tells Clark that there was more going on. It was why he quickly sent Devi the mental order to check things out at the mouth of the volcano where more sounds were coming from.

Just because there were fifteen younger dwarves here under the explanation that they were learning, did not mean that was truly the case. "Here is my black lighting spear. See how the edges look dulled? I have no idea how to sharpen this quality of weapon."

The response from the dwarf was widened eyes. He had not expected such a weapon to be wielded by someone so young. But he could also tell from Clark's hands that the weapon fit perfectly. His hands were of someone who spent the proper time wielding the black lighting spear to exert the proper force in a fully developed technique.

These kinds of things were what a blacksmith could sense and naturally learn to spot in their customers. Over time. Especially a blacksmith that had reached a higher level liek this one. He was on par with Clark in battle prowess, that he was feeling he had. But when the dwarf realized that Clark was so young, it was all that more impressive.

Having a young fighter get this strong was something that not many would be able to do at his age. The dwarf thought that he too was still considered powerful compared to his forging knowledge which was the focus of all his effort. Just what would happen if he hadn't learned to forge at all and only focused on battle as this child of humans had?

Those thoughts were temporary though, the normal desire to learn from a weapon came to him. The dwarf started to look at every inch of the weapon showing Clark exactly what a real high quality craftsman was like. Compared to humans, this was triple as extensive an examination.

"You have worn the blade due to fighting multiple beasts. There are small burs that need to be removed so that the blade sings true. Then you will need some resins on the length of the weapon so that you can maintain a grip since your body oils have seeped in to it causing less friction over time.

From that point, we can look at improvements, however, improving the physical capabilities would weaken the rune formations that allow energy storage and dispersion."

"The unique materials needed to improve this function are very hard to get because they have to come together to create and alter energies related to lightning. I recommend just basic upkeep and learning to use a sharpening stone for the blade. I will have this prepared and a small guide on the sharpening stone in just a few minutes.

The green bull horn will also be exchanged for some metals if you want to make up the price paid. Maintenance costs less."

Professional was the only response Clark could think of. He felt bad that he was coming here with the quest goal to destroy something that was being forged here. However, he also didn't feel badly at all. Whatever was going on was a quest that literally could take away the very thing that was giving him the chance at vengeance and to change the world he lived in.

The dwarf began pulling tools and other things from a spatial ring. The constant motion was too fast to keep track of. This was the skill of someone with many more years of experience than any other blacksmith that Clark had ever seen work. Every human blacksmith paled in comparison.

Different cloths were taken to the length of the spear with different oils to pull away any impurities. This made the black lighting spear appear just as good as the day the system gave it to him. It was amazing how dull the black color had become and how hard the patterns on it were to see before this.

When the blade was sharpened, Clark took careful note of how steep the angle was to properly sharpen the blade. It was clearly an important factor while using the porous wet stone. The clear technique that was used proved that it was why there were not any wrong scratches or failed swipes on the stone. Just another example of high levels of skill.

"Quicker than you expected, I am sure. I can tell you have never seen a devoted blacksmith working before. Take it as an added bonus." respecting good work was a very great compliment to a dwarf. They cared greatly for the time and effort they put in to work. Therefore, when the dwarf saw Clark mesmerized by how he worked, he felt a great deal happier.

"It is my first time seeing that. Tpo be honest, I wasn't sure I would see anything since I know that a lot of dwarves keep their styles hidden. Not that this would be the style you use, but I am not anyone that can forge." Clark laughed a little realizing that he would probably never pick up a forging hammer without the need to.

He recalled the pure ice forging he had done, but even that felt different from watching the dwarf forge something. Different energies would be used. Different techniques. Different everything. It was a wonder that Clark had even done anything without the system's guidance. Especially when it came to forging pure ice.

Not that it would be so uncommon once other smiths in Nebula learned it.

"This might be a little forward, but my friend is learning the very basics of forging. He has a beast that can help him heat and make alloys in its stomach. Do you have any advice I can pass on to him that would help him with the very basic of basics?" Clark knew that Ralph had learned a decent bit, but he had a feeling that any advice from a dwarf would be worth its weight in gold.

"Really? For humans, I would say that I always see you struggling with metal. Metal is not solid, it is just a hard to move liquid. Just like lava or molten gold." Clark felt that it was an odd thing to say but he nodded so he could tell Ralph later. Whatever it meant, he was sure that it might be useful to a blacksmith.

"Ha! I like that lost look. Now, take these ingots to make up the difference in pay. The green bull horn is perfect for a project I am completing. You can rest here with the apprentices, but when you have gotten your energy back, you can be on your way. I also won't sell you a gauntlet set at all.

Your hands are accustomed to the spear. If you wear gauntlets, then you will lose all the effort and the connection to your style. Any master of a weapon would understand that."

Clark thought about this for a moment, but he was instantly distracted when he sensed that Devi was warning him that danger was higher up on the mountain. That danger was looming nearby.

As if to send this fact to a higher level, the entire mountain rumbled. The dwarves snapped their heads up as lava slowly pooled over the edge of the mouth of the volcano. It was erupting in an odd way without smoke or explosions, but this new flow of lava was still an eruption.

"That's too early. They shouldn't be at that stage just yet." The mumble was enough for Clark to know this was bad.

"This doesn't feel right." Clark looked at the dwarf and saw that he could tell the same. "Crimson, show your wings. We will get a full look at what is happening so that we can prevent any further dangers." Clark's words were very serious as Crim took the armor form and dragon energy rolled off them.

"Dragon tamer is it? Well you have no reason to check out-" Clark released the dragon's majesty skill. He let it push at the entire area around him to show his strength. The strength that came from his training and his moving meditation technique. The dwarf that had helped him realized that he wouldn't even be able to handle Clark in a battle for ten minutes.

He had been fooled by the human who seemed weaker than he let on.

When Crim's wings took him up in the air where Devi had retreated to, Clark saw the five adult dwarves that had become trapped in cooled magma. But that wasn't all he saw. He saw multiple moving pieces of lava that appeared to be forming around a solid stone shape. One carved with ornate runes that represented earth and fire. Ine that was absorbing energies at a rapid pace.