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

Damon rose to his feet without delay and searched for the trio of blacksmiths. Although they were practicing in the wilds, this presented no challenge whatsoever. Several short messages dispatched via the system sufficed to summon them right before him in under ten minutes.

Scars marked their frames, their energies thick and stable, and their palms roughened even with the innate healing their forms offered. Any observer would swiftly feel profound admiration for them.

"My lord." The trio saluted him in unison, bending low in respect.

The ancient spirit emerged at once. "Behold my apprentices. In diligence and commitment, none surpass them!" he boasted, his see-through whiskers waving as though stirred by an invisible breeze. His empty sockets scanned the three with clear approval.

The blacksmiths tensed for a brief instant before easing up, evidently accustomed to their teacher's... punctuality. One cleared his throat discreetly. A second tried his utmost to avoid flushing, whereas the third inclined even lower. "Master," he intoned with deference. "Your humble student offers greetings."

Damon observed the interaction with faint entertainment before lifting a palm. "Enough of that. Time presses on me right now, so formal introductions can wait for another day. I summoned you today because I require aid urgently, and I need it immediately."

From his storage, Damon produced a mask. He had claimed this from Viola's remains after slaying the female. While she donned it, the piece radiated a legendary aura, yet upon dropping, it dimmed and shifted to an unknown form.

Damon aimed to wear it. He felt certain this would uncover further details. Still, tampering carelessly with legendary artifacts was unwise, particularly one originating from elsewhere. Such high-tier relics, once linked to another user, might harbor hidden snares. Obtaining complete legendary pieces so soon in the game proved rare. For instance, the prospective legendary goods in his hold remained partial and restricted in function.

Though elite guilds likely outpaced him with superior access and might, he questioned if they had secured any flawless legendary artifact. If his hunch held, the object surely concealed some defect or ploy within.

Perhaps the foe had embedded a mechanism in the legendary piece, anticipating Viola's demise would yield it. Failing to suspect foul play would make him a fool.

Damon rotated the mask deliberately in his grasp, a brief golden glimmer bouncing from its lackluster, apparently ordinary face. On initial view, it seemed inactive, nearly ordinary. Yet his expertise warned otherwise. Legendary artifacts never fully slumber. They merely bide their time.

"This," Damon stated evenly, displaying it, "came from a woman I defeated in battle."

The blacksmith trio aligned themselves, prior unease dissolving. Their gazes fixed on the mask, driven not by avarice but true intrigue. The elder spirit's smirk waned, his features growing grave.

"A legendary," the spirit whispered, floating nearer. "This truly ranks as legendary grade."

Damon affirmed with a nod. "Equipped by her, it gleamed as a finished work. Once in my hands, it dulled to unidentified status." He clenched it a touch firmer. "I intend to don it. Yet first, I must understand its nature fully."

"Wise choice," the spirit answered distractedly.

"Can the four of you handle this? Consider it a minor trial from me to join my ranks." Damon grinned.

The team sprang into action, the elder spirit issuing commands to his pupils. Moments later, they returned seeking certain materials: metallic minerals, precious stones, and various plants. Rare as these were, by chance, Damon held them all.

From his numerous auction house sweeps, the vast spoils from slain foes across defeated forces, and the bargains gathered from demon territories at trivial prices, he possessed precisely what they required.

The trio proceeded to arrange an intricate formation. Damon left them undisturbed. He returned to the wilds to level up further. Retrieving his blood duplicate, he dispatched it to farm as well.

Several hours passed before the anticipated update arrived. As foreseen, the legendary artifact proved intact and whole. Had it been fractured or partial, even the blacksmiths' extraordinary skills couldn't have yielded results so swiftly.

With that ruled out, his alternate theory likely stood. The legendary piece bore an inherent weakness.

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

Leonel advanced, dabbing perspiration from his forehead. "My lord, this awareness lacks the power to dominate independently. However, upon equipping the mask, it would seek to invade gradually, insidiously. Detection would evade you initially. Direct takeover proves unfeasible. Yet it could ensnare your thoughts and essence during vulnerability."

Damon approached the formation and peered at the mask. It still looked vacant, matte, benign. He would never have suspected such a major pitfall. Likely, a presence akin to Blood Reign dwelled there, though with malicious aims.

"Is removal possible?" Damon inquired.

"Yes," Leonel confirmed. "Though not without repercussions. Erasing the awareness outright would disrupt the artifact's legendary framework. It would degrade by one level."

"What if we retain it?" Damon urged.

The spirit's gaze sparkled. "We confine it then. Isolation of the awareness is feasible, leading to full extraction later. This demands time and extensive setup. I advise against using this piece now, but should necessity arise, proceed warily."