Legendary Craftsman Skills Unleashed

"What the hell is this?!"

Job skills usually meant specializing in one category. Combat classes went without saying, but even production classes forced you to pick from the start—blacksmith, architect, alchemist, or enchanter—and dive deep into that single line. Once you mastered the core skill, sub-skills would branch out naturally.

But blacksmithing, architecture, alchemy, and enchanting? What kind of mishmash job was this? If he had to label it, it might as well be "Artisan" itself.

—Why are you freaking out? That's standard for building proper Item Power.

"Item Power…?"

Tud cut in with a bored drawl. Vulcan hadn't expected an NPC to drop such a player-centric term, but it confirmed all these skills were truly his. He couldn't hide his shock.

'Am I screwed?'

Even mastering one production skill was a monumental grind. Leveling up four categories at once? The rush from Dragon Eye's buffs and the tempering quest's insane action stats had Vulcan pumped—until this cold reality hit like an ice bath.

—Guess it's time to explain. Long ago, I sought to forge armaments transcending all beings and laws.

Not even dragons could reach that realm, but I aimed to pierce it through my creations. And I found the key—nearly completed it, too.

"Hm? So you ultimately failed?"

—Just ran out of time. I'd mastered every crafting method, gathered the rarest, mightiest materials, and was about to start when my lifespan ended. Got too absorbed in techniques and research—time flew by unnoticed.

"……."

Vulcan tossed out a casual probe, but Tud's past-tense tale exceeded expectations. Not a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠failure—just cut short by mortality. Foolish as it sounded, it wasn't laughable. If time had been on his side, success was possible.

—So I sought to witness that ultimate Item Power through another. You're a bit off-script, but you've got potential. Digest my contingency properly, and you might fulfill my will. Hell, probably will.

But more crucially: contingency. Inherit whatever Tud left behind, and achieving his goal wasn't impossible.

'Wait—he gathered all the materials and then croaked? So they're still sitting there pristine?'

His lair might be stuffed with stuff for crafting beyond Legendary gear. If Vulcan snagged it?

Craft gear transcending Legendary—Mythic grade?

'How much would that fetch? Ten billion? Nah, peanuts. Even selling a fraction of the piled-up riches…!'

Hope reignited. Eyes sparkling, Vulcan turned to Tud.

"Leave it to me! I'll absolutely avenge your grudge, Lord Tud!!"

Smack!! His passionate vow earned a swat.

—Who're you calling a ghost? Yeah, I'm a soul, but don't talk like I'm ready for the afterlife. Pisses me off.

"Urk. Got it."

—That greedy glint in your eye… whatever, might be for the best. No greed, no ambition.

"So what's next? Find that… contingency?"

—Hmph. Way too early for that. Basics first. Gather materials?

"Materials? You mean…."

Vulcan pictured his wood scraps and lowest-grade iron ore, but Tud wagged his tail pityingly, thwacking Vulcan's head.

—Ore alone doesn't make items! Prep other stuff too. And what you'll craft from now on is special—differs from standard materials. No backtalk, just collect.

'Hm?'

A new quest popped up. Normal crafting recipes came from affinity quests with production NPCs, but Vulcan could skip them thanks to Tud—straight recipes, no rep grind. Handy, but the conditions puzzled him.

Goblin hides made sense, but bones? Mildly toxic junk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not even viable for alchemy—pure vendor trash. Anima flowers? Rare forest trash drops, same deal. What for?

'Legendary class recipes are different, huh?'

He lacked production know-how, so he'd follow orders and gather.

"Understood. Back soon."

Buying trash from players returning from hunts—park at the shop, pay a bit over vendor price—would be easy. But Vulcan nixed it. Wasteful on junk, and this was a Legendary quest for a new recipe; leaks could spell trouble.

Still, he needed gear. Tempering stats far outleveled normal 30s, but old equipment hit level/stat walls.

"Purchase."

He dashed to the nearest gear shop, snagging the best beginner long sword for 80 silver. Pitiful attack and durability, but Gloria Saga's drop rates sucked—no alternatives. Auction house had solid early-game resale flips, but beginner villages blocked it.

'No need for armor, right?'

Luckily, sky-high ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other stats meant skipping pricy, trash-defense armor. Dodge everything—his control could handle beginner zones easy.

As he gripped the new blade, Tud scowled.

—What're you doing?

"Huh? Why? Can't hunt goblins barehanded…."

Bracing for a smack, Vulcan huddled—earning only pity.

—Idiot! After all that watching, you pull this crap? You're prepped to wield any item. Since I chose you as incarnation!

"Huh?"

What? Ready for any item?

'No way.'

A memory flashed: Blacksmith perk—use self-crafted gear with minor penalties. Legendary different? Ignore "self-crafted" limit?

Vulcan bolted to the warehouse NPC, paid fees, grabbed his old main-hand, and equipped.

"Holy shit."

It worked. Sub-skill of Legendary Smithing triggered, letting him equip his trusty Berserker's Longsword.

'Attack down 50%, options locked?'

Halved damage, no effects—but still insane. Level-appropriate gear topped at Rare ~50 attack. His 80-silver junk? 13~15. This halved? 126~144.

'Actually busted.'

Berserker's was Uncommon but rivaled low Rares—top-tier base damage among peers. Double-edged: Berserk auto-triggers on poor HP management, spiking attack but tanking defense to 30%.

'And as skill rank/level rises, options unlock.'

Item Master limited to base power only.

"Huh?"

Item Master effect again. A weapon mastery skill—combat class exclusive.

"130%?"

Shocking enough, but Vulcan gawked at details. Common F-rank Sword Mastery nerfed to 80%—grew to 90/100/110% via rank-ups. Higher grades started stronger: Rare F barely hit 100% breakeven; even Unique F was 110%.

F-rank Legendary at 130%? Production class, no less.

'Add my insane base stats…?'

Tempering had bloated his stats. Combined? Goblins weren't opponents. Nothing was—for now.

"Heh heh heh heh…!"

—Gonna stand there grinning like an idiot? Move it!

Tud stomped his stubby legs, bopping Vulcan's head. His "incarnation" dawdling on goblin hunts irked him.

"On it! Let's go!"

Vulcan finally moved. Slightly clumsier than before—explained by full old gear loadout: Berserker's Longsword, Charge Platoon Breastplate, Verdant Greaves, Last Stand Plate Boots, Gargoyle Gauntlets.

Armor took defense/option hits too, but in beginner zones? Vulcan was a walking fortress.

Even cash-whale billions-in-starters or luck-goddess Shana couldn't touch this peak Item Power.

Goblin massacre underway.