SSS Awakening: Rebirth of the Strongest Vampire God Chapter 701 Legendary item?

Damon rose swiftly to his feet and sought out the trio of blacksmiths. Although they were honing their skills in the wilds, this presented no obstacle whatsoever. Just a series of short system messages was sufficient to summon them right before him in under ten minutes.

Scars etched their frames, their presences thick and unwavering, hands roughened even amid the innate healing their bodies offered. Any who beheld them would feel a surge of deep admiration right away.

"My lord." They chorused their greeting in unison, inclining their heads low.

The ancient spirit burst into view without delay. "Behold my apprentices. None rival their tireless effort and loyalty!" he declared with pride, his ghostly beard rippling as though stirred by an unseen gust. His vacant gaze roamed over the three with evident approval.

The blacksmiths trio tensed for a mere instant before easing up, plainly familiar with their teacher's... sudden appearances. One cleared his throat courteously. A second struggled mightily to conceal his flush, as the last dipped lower in another bow. "Master," he intoned with deference. "Your humble student offers greetings."

Damon observed the scene with faint entertainment, then lifted a hand. "Enough of that. Time is pressing for me right now, so proper introductions can wait for another day. I brought you all here today because I require an item, and I need it without delay."

From his inventory, Damon drew forth a mask. This was the very mask he'd claimed from Viola's remains after slaying the woman. While she donned it, the piece clearly emitted a legendary radiance, yet once it fell, it dimmed into a state of quietude, shifting back to something unrecognizable.

He yearned to wear it. He felt certain that action would unveil further secrets. Still, it proved unwise to tamper haphazardly with legendary artifacts, particularly one that hadn't belonged to him originally. A legendary piece once tied to another player might conceal built-in dangers. After all, securing legendary items so soon in the game was no simple feat. His own array of prospective legendaries, for instance, stayed unfinished with restricted applications.

Though the major guilds likely surpassed him in progress, resources, and might, he remained skeptical they'd acquired a wholly intact legendary yet. If his instincts served true, the artifact surely hid some defect or hidden peril within.

Perhaps the adversaries had even embedded a scheme in the legendary, foreseeing Viola would lose it upon her demise. It would be sheer folly not to harbor suspicion here.

Damon rotated the mask deliberately in his grasp, a momentary golden flicker dancing across its matte, apparently plain exterior. On the surface, it seemed inactive, nearly ordinary. Yet his seasoned judgment knew the truth. Legendary artifacts never fully slumbered. They merely lay in wait.

"This," Damon stated evenly, lifting it high, "I claimed from a woman after I ended her life."

The three smiths drew themselves upright, their prior unease dissolving. Their stares fastened on the mask, fueled not by avarice but by sincere interest. The elder spirit's smirk vanished too, his features hardening into gravity.

"A legendary," the specter murmured, floating nearer. "This truly qualifies as a legendary-grade artifact."

Damon inclined his head. "When she had it on, it glowed like a fully realized creation. Once in my hands, it faded back to an unknown form." He gripped it a touch firmer. "I intend to equip it. But only after I understand precisely its nature."

"A prudent choice," the ghost answered distractedly.

"So, can the four of you manage something with it? Consider this a minor trial from me to earn a place among my followers." Damon grinned.

The team dove straight into the task, the ancient ghost snapping directives at his pupils. Mere minutes elapsed before they returned, seeking specific materials, metallic ores, precious gems, and herbs as well. Rare as these proved, by sheer luck, Damon held every one in his stores.

Through his repeated strikes on auction venues, the massive haul of drops from the hordes he'd decimated, and the bargains he'd gathered from demon territories at bargain prices, he possessed exactly what they demanded.

The trio proceeded to arrange a kind of formation. Damon refrained from interrupting. He headed back to the wilds instead to continue his grinding for a while longer. He recalled his blood clone and dispatched it to grind too.

Several hours passed before the awaited notification reached him. Precisely as anticipated, the legendary artifact wasn't shattered or partial. Had it been, the three smiths, regardless of their extraordinary gifts, couldn't have delivered results so quickly.

With that ruled out, his alternative theory likely held water. The legendary must conceal some kind of weakness.

"A remnant awareness lingers within the mask." The elder ghost declared somberly.

Leonel advanced, brushing sweat from his forehead. "Lord, this awareness lacks the strength to claim control independently. Yet the instant you don the mask, it would strive to possess you gradually, covertly. You wouldn't detect it initially. Direct mastery over you? That remains impossible. But it would ensnare your mind and spirit in your moments of frailty."

Damon approached the setup and gazed upon the mask. It still looked devoid of life, lackluster, innocuous. He never would have suspected such a grave limitation. Likely some presence akin to Blood Reign dwelled inside, though with far from benevolent motives.

"Can we extract it?" Damon queried.

"Yes," Leonel affirmed. "Though not without repercussions. Removing the awareness entirely would undermine the artifact's legendary framework. It would descend a rank."

"What if we let it remain?" Damon urged.

The spirit's sockets flashed. "Then we confine it. We could seal away the awareness and ultimately purge it from the mask altogether. That demands time and far greater setup. I recommend avoiding this item for now, but should necessity arise, wield it carefully."