In some portion of my mind, I could feel it. Magnum Opus, my masterpiece, waiting for me. Opening the Perks menu, I view my new additions to the list.

Perks:

Compound Strength

Description: Increase the force that you can apply with by using more than one limb for an attack. This bonus is beyond what one could normally achieve. Strength increased by 1, +1 Strength per level up.

Life Tap

Description: Allows the user to convert HP into MP at a cost of 5 HP per MP. Attunement increased by 1, +1 Attunement per level up.

Magnum Opus

Description: Your ultimate masterpiece. Once a day you may accelerate the limits of your mind to make a single creation that exceeds your current capabilities. Intelligence increased by 1, +1 Intelligence per level up.

Nimble Feet

Description: Your footing has never been surer. You can perform any assortment of maneuvers and your feet will always catch you. Dexterity increased by 1, +1 Dexterity per level up.

Curious, I lift a kettle full of water with one arm, it has some weight to it, but with my Strength stats, it’s fairly easy to lift. Grabbing on to the kettle with a second arm, however, it feels light as a feather.

‘Compound Strength at work I suppose. Perfect for using an anchor, it’s near impossible to do one handed to begin with. Why did I stick with such an unwieldy weapon again?’

Colt is staring at me as I lift the kettle full of water in each hand and then two at once, testing my perk. He raises an eyebrow. “...What are you doing?”

“Lifting water, what does it look like?” The grin I can’t keep off my face ruins my sarcasm.

“New perk? Ilmarinen mentioned something about you finally using your stat points. I’ve been using mine all along. I can’t believe you’ve forgotten! I already have several first-tier stat perks!” Colt’s chest puffs up with pride in himself.

“Yeah yeah yeah, you’re so special, I have plenty now too.” Rolling my eyes, I begin cleaning up. Don’t want to set Ilmarinen’s kitchen on fire, these potions seem pretty volatile.

A wave of energy emanates out from the main room suddenly. Mentally setting aside Magnum Opus, I decide to experiment with it later and see what’s going on.

Colt and I are both on alert when we enter the main room. Ilmarinen heaving for breath when we enter. “Oh, lad. You… came just… in time… I finished…” He takes a moment to breathe deeply and drink a multicolored potion. “Much better, the last Skill I used... ‘Twas very… resource consumptive.”

Laying on the anvil in front of him is my new anchor. The weapon is gorgeous. It’s made of the smooth white Palemetal, but there are some lines running through the arms. Ilmarinen notices my questioning look.

“Mana channels. Will enhance yer anchor Skills’ speed and efficiency.” Walking over to grab the hefty piece, Ilmarinen stops me. “There be one last step here lad, it will be a painful one. Ye must claim the weapon by blood. ‘Tis an aspect of the metal and forging process.”

Gulping, I approach. Ilmarinen hands me a knife. Staring at the enchantments on it makes my head dizzy, so I don’t. He nods approvingly, I cut my hand, red blood welling up. He guides my hand to the anchor and places it just at the junction of the arms and the shank.

My HP begins to plummet as blood drains from my body into the grooves of the anchor. It seeps into the metal, disappearing and leaving clean white metal once more. Pain wracks my body. “Now, boy! Declare its name!”

Immediately, its name is clear in my head. I cry out. “Argo!” In a flash of light, the name embeds itself into the metal of the anchor, then smoothes over once more. The drain stops once the name is done. Checking my HP, a shock goes down my spine. I only have 11 left.

“Ilmarinen that nearly killed me!” He hands me a potion which I take a dose of immediately.

“Nearly.” The potion is actually pretty tasty, some kind of fruity flavor that I can’t describe.

All the pain in my body evaporates after a single dose of the potion. He takes it stores it away… Somewhere before I can even inspect it.

Calming myself with a deep breath, I look over my new weapon once more. The smooth, polished white metal gleams. The shank leads up to an ornately shaped stock, similar to a crashing wave.

The head of the anchor consists of two rings, each with a handle in it for me to hold on to when using it. The flukes on the arms of the anchor look dangerously sharp. The entire piece is far bigger than my original anchor.

Hefting it up, it’s heavier than it looks. My Compound Strength is put to work supporting it. It’ll take some getting used to, but I can feel how strong this weapon is.

“Argo armed and ready for combat.” A hollow, resounding voice echoes out of the anchor.

“Gah! It’s ALIVE!?” Nearly dropping the anchor, I redouble my grip.

A small glowing orb appears in one of the rings. It seems to be… Staring at me. Ilmarinen seems unphased while Colt has backed away several steps. “Go on lad, inspect it.” Nodding, I do so.

Argo the Palemetal Anchor

Quality: Legendary

Traits: Self-regeneration, Golem AI, Growth, Rewrite, Storage Mode

Description: This anchor combines the capabilities of the mystic Palemetal to take on the properties of other materials. The core of a ruins golem has been added to this metal, granting it the capabilities of self-regeneration as well as adding the golem’s runic AI to the weapon. This AI has been reprogrammed and personalized for the user, Lucas Creo. The crystal of a star reaper mole has been added to this metal, granting it the capability to grow alongside the wielder. The natural properties of Palemetal allow for enchantments to be inscribed then erased when needed to add different enchantments. This effect will not influence the strength of the enchantment. This weapon has the capability of entering a storage mode, shrinking in size to be more easily carried.

In my shock, I drop the anchor, which lands on and breaks my foot. “FUCK!” Hopping on my good leg, I hold up my other foot and look at it. It’s a smashed mess of bones and flesh. Ilmarinen looks at me disapprovingly while Colt fusses over my foot.

Using Echinodermal Flesh, my foot stitches itself back together. The bones crack and pop into place. Colt’s face turns green, and it’s not from blushing. He runs to the kitchen and I hear him vomiting.

Ilmarinen yells to him. “Ye better not get yer damned bile on my counters, boy!”

Finally, my foot is back to how it should look. “Well, that hurt. A lot. Ilmarinen, thank you so much! This weapon is incredible! What does it mean by storage mode though?” Running my hands over the metal, I try to find where that enchantment might be located.

“The enchantment is internalized lad, but I forgot an important part!” Ilmarinen reaches into a pouch at his side and pulls out a fish hook made of Palemetal. In a flash, his arm extends out towards my head faster than I can react.

A quick pierce and loss of 0.5 HP, the hook is in my right ear. “Ow! Ilmarinen why?!” With the hook in, I can sense my anchor. Ilmarinen ignores my exclamation and nods to me.

“Will yer anchor into storage mode lad.”

Thinking about wanting my anchor to be stored, it suddenly shrinks down and flies up to the hook, attaching onto the ring of the hook, hanging from my ear. Ilmarinen hands me a mirror.

Looking in the mirror, it’s a tiny version of my anchor hanging as a normal earring would, but from a fish hook through my ear.

A quick check of my equipment menu shows that I have an earring slot filled now. “Ilmarinen, how do I get it out of storage mode?” I’m afraid to simply will it to be normal size again when it’s attached to my ear.

“Simply pull it off lad, it will expand again.” Testing this, I grab the tiny anchor and pull. It comes off the earring easily with a small click and expands once I hold it in front of myself. “Woah! That’s fast!”

“Thank you so so so so much! This is the most amazing weapon ever!” Pulling him into a hug, he freezes up for a moment before several strong arms pull me off.

“Yer welcome boy, I don’t do hugs though.” He glares at me, but I can tell he’s happy I’m so appreciative. His chest is swelling with pride.

Ilmarinen turns to the kitchen. “Get back in here, Colt! I finished yers as well!” Colt practically teleports back into the main room, having used his dagger to dash in as fast as possible.

“REALLY?” He’s unbound energy currently, eyes darting around the room looking for where Ilmarinen’s creation for him is.

“Calm down lad, I had some Palemetal left over, enough fer these.” He pulls out a pair of light green leather boots, a slightly lighter shade than the tempestwing bat was. They have a layer of Palemetal over the toe box and around the back.

There’s a yellow-green gem embedded in each of the boots right at the base of the Palemetal at the toes. “The process is the same, lad.” Ilmarinen hands Colt the knife. He gulps.

With a quick cut before he can think otherwise, his hand is bleeding green blood. He touches it to the metal of the boots, wincing in pain. His form becomes slightly paler as his Wild Magick is drained. “Name it lad!”

“Favon!” Colt’s calls out.

It takes less time to drain than my anchor did, there’s a lot less of the Palemetal. Once he’s done, he seems hesitant to touch the boots. “...These won’t talk like the anchor, will they?” Colt’s voice is slightly scared.

“Nay lad, ‘twas a product of using the golem core.” Ilmarinen shakes his head slightly.

Colt sighs in relief. “Thank goodness, I didn’t want talking boots, no offense.” He glances at Ilmarinen before taking the boots sheepishly. We both inspect them.

Favon the Palemetal Tempest Boots

Quality: Legendary

Traits: Self-Repair, Air compression, aerokinesis

Description: These boots are made of tempestwing bat leather and cured by a grandmaster blacksmith. They harness the wind control capabilities of the tempestwing bat while combining these capabilities with the gem of a compressurus allowing for the compressing of controlled air. A self-repair enchantment has been applied to the leather, allowing it to repair with an input of energy.

“Oh my god Ilmarinen these are incredible!” Ilmarinen is ready this time, however, and stops Colt by his head before he can hug him. Colt frowns for a second before resigning to not hugging the octopus man.

Equipping them, they appear instantly on his feet, perfectly sized. “They’re so comfortable! The leather is really soft!” He jumps up for a moment, testing the boots. We’re both surprised when he doesn’t come down, however.

Colt is standing on air. “OH MY GOD!” We both exclaim at the same time. “Ilmarinen this is so cool!” Colt is jumping from panels of what must be compressed air across the room. “Take this Lucas!” Colt does a spinning kick in the air, I see nothing but suddenly a force slams into me, knocking me over.

The wind is knocked out of me as I land. Colt runs over to me. “OH GOD LUCAS I’M SORRY I GOT REALLY EXCITED!” He’s shaking me and pulling me up. Once I’m on my feet, Ilmarinen glances between us.

“Ye two are due fer another duel. Let’s test yer capabilities. Come out, Fae, ye can observe as well.”

Pasivier suddenly shimmers into existence. “And how did you know I was there, blacksmith?”

Ilmarinen glares at him for a moment. “What kind of blacksmith wouldn’t know what happens in his forge?”

Pasivier waves him off and walks to the training room in Ilmarinen’s house, disturbingly knowing exactly where it is. Colt and I look at each other, shrug, and follow along.

When we arrive in the training room, Pasivier is inspecting with an approving look on his face. “This room is excellently enchanted, blacksmith!”

Ilmarinen glares at him for a moment. “Thanks. The name’s Ilmarinen. Not blacksmith.” Pasivier simply waves off his annoyance.

“Shall we begin? Colton, I’m rooting for you. Don’t disappoint.” Colt looks annoyed at Pasivier but walks across the room and gets into a combat stance.

Unclipping my anchor from my ear, it extends into full size. “Argo armed and ready for combat.”

“Ready Colt?” Grinning at him, I crouch down slightly.

“Ready.” Colt extends his hand out, a green glow gathering. “Ivy Creepers!” Vines of ivy extend across the floor slowly at me.

“That all? Flame Swathe!”

A jet of fire shoots out from my hand, incinerating the vines. I know Colt, those vines were slow but they were a setup for something more.

Taking the offensive, I dash at him using a mixture of Plot Course, setting up beacons, and Crashing Wake to increase my speed further. “Devastating Impact!” Adding knots to the blow and ballasting my weight, my new weapon blurs towards him.

“Realm of Autumn: Fallen Leaves!” Colt’s skill activates just before my attack lands. Red maple leaves appear around him, drifting down. However, before my blow hits his body, the leaves gather and catch my anchor.

The force of my Devastating Impact is completely negated by his shield. Colt grins at me before spinning and kicking out. An invisible force impacts into me, sending me flying into the wall. Pasivier cheers out. “Splendid counter, Colton!” He holds up a score card displaying a 9 on it.

Ilmarinen scoffs at him. “Get up, lad! It’s not over yet!”

Climbing to my feet, Colt is already coming at me again. “Fist of Gaia!”

“Batten Down!” The visage of a ship appears around me, taking the hit from his attack. I drop the shield and crouch down, anchor at the ready.

“Flame Swathe!” The fire spews towards him, burning away his shield of leaves. “Mooring!” The swing of my anchor connects, binding him in magical ropes. Twisting my grip, I shift to swing from the left. “Devastating Impact!”

A wall of vines comes up to block my attack, but I accelerate it faster with more knots before it can stop it. The hit connects, breaking the magical bindings but sending Colt to the opposite wall. He slams into the stone with a hefty crack.

Colt stands up, green energy encompassing his body before flashing out of existence. Expecting something, I activate Radar Sense, but too late. Vines and roots wrap around my body from behind, entangling me. “Marlinspike!” The water-formed spike slashes through the vines, but Colt was given all the time he needed.

“Realm of Brambles: Fae Thorn!” His body speeds at me, assisted by the dagger I made him as well as his new boots. Turning to the side, I avoid some of the damage, but the hit still lands. I’m sent to the ground, skidding across the floor.

Throwing a Fireball to distract him for a moment, I get up and circle around the room. Radar Sense is active now. Colt sends out several high-speed compressed air shots, but with my detection Skill active, I can “see” them.

Ebbing and Flowing, I shift through the attacks, dodging each one. With each projectile, I make my way closer to Colt. Plotting a Course, I speed through the rest of his attacks, appearing next to him.

A new Skill calls out to me as I approach Colt from his side at high velocity. “Watery Grave!” Colt tries to dodge away, but his feet are entrenched deep in water. My anchor smashes him into the floor.

“Realm of Brambles: Briar Shield!” A spiky shield of thorns rapidly extends out around Colt, some of them catching me before I can jump away. The world starts spinning on me. “Gotcha.” Colt grins.

“Realm of Nettles: Insidious Poison.” Strength is leaving my body by the second. Pumping HP and MP into Echinodermal Flesh, I work hard to metabolize the poison, but there’s so much of it.

“Silence” Colt’s voice echoes out as he approaches me. My lips feel sealed, my Skills locked away behind the spell. My fury begins to mount, I smash my Will against the spell, pushing through.

My next swing at Colt is clumsy, but it keeps him away from me for another precious moment. Clarity is starting to return to me slowly from the poison, my body working in overdrive to clear it.

Using some of the water from a Crashing Wake, I pull on it with Hydrokinesis. The water rushes under Colt’s feet, pulling him off balance. “Undertow!” The Silence shatters. The water accelerates, making him fall down from the sudden increase in force.

Jumping up quickly, I Plot my Course above Colt, the blue beacon shining down, marking my target. Colt brings up another Fallen Leaves shield, but a use of my Marlinspike cuts through the leaves, leaving him open to an attack.

“Devastating IMPACT!” The anchor crashes into his body, a loud CRASH resounding through the room. Colt’s eyes bulge under the hit. Chest heaving, I back away as Colt gets up. “That was far enough Colton, if this were a real fight without this enchanted room, that attack would have been your end. We’ll work on that cockiness when you think you’ve won.”

Colt and I bow to each other after the battle, like Ilmarinen instructed us to do last time.

Pasivier turns, shimmering out of existence as he walks away. Ilmarinen turns to me and pats my back. “That’s my anchorist! I’m proud of ye lad, ye fought like a true swashbuckler!”

Colt grunts and walks over to me. “Damn dude, I’m pissed I lost but that was a good counter at the end there! How did you overcome my poison?” We clasp hands for a moment.

“My perk Echinodermal Flesh, I forced my body to metabolize the poison faster.”

Colt nods appreciatively. “I’ll have to work on the skill, make that not work next time.” He winks at me and walks out of the room. He’s definitely putting up a front. Disappointment at the loss is clear in his step. In my mind we’re just one for one though, he kicked my ass last time.

“Ye proved to me that ye deserve that anchor, lad. I’m proud of ye. Ye was quick on yer feet and sharp of mind in that fight.” Ilmarinen tentatively pats my back, clearly not a fan of the physical contact.

I’m beaming with pride now. “Thanks, Ilmarinen! Would you mind showing me a thing or two though? I still feel awkward with an anchor.”

He nods and walks out of the room. Minutes later he returns with his massive anchor in his arms. “Let’s get started, boy.” I gulp.