Chapter 544 – First Duel Starts.

Robert inhaled deeply, his eyes scanning the arsenal laid before him. The weapons gleamed under the forge’s fiery glow, their runic inscriptions not yet active. He was used to adapting to whatever weapon was handed to him, never once considering what he truly wanted. Now, given the freedom to choose, he found himself at a loss. The runesmith, arms crossed, observed him with an impatient smirk.

“Come now, lad. You look like a man who’s swung a blade his whole life. Surely you have a preference?”

Robert exhaled, letting his mind settle as he approached the weapon racks. His hands hovered over several swords, feeling their weight without lifting them. Each blade was expertly crafted, though not quite something a Tier 3 class holder would use. Nevertheless, they were at the pinnacle of Tier 2—his current rank. Some of the runes shimmered softly, but they seemed unfinished, waiting to be completed by a runesmith’s hand. He was beginning to understand what this ascension trial was all about, and he wasn’t sure if he was prepared for it.

He had trained with various weapons, always using whatever was handed to him. While he had settled on swords, there wasn’t a particular type he couldn’t wield. Before him lay blades of all shapes and sizes—long, short, curved, and even massive, super-heavy ones. In the corner, he spotted something that looked more like a sharpened slab of metal, too big to be called a sword but not entirely useless. Swords had their pros and cons; they were often seen as finesse weapons, which weren’t particularly effective against heavily armored opponents.

In the past, he had found himself using a longsword against heavily armored monsters. The blade was ineffective at cutting through their armored shells or thick hides. The only way forward was to use the tip and attempt to thrust at a weakened area like the underbelly or eyes. However, once he grew stronger and was able to wield heavier and enchanted swords, the possibilities broadened. With a sword that had enough mass, it was possible to use it as a bashing weapon. While it still failed to produce the small-area damage of an axe, with enough weight and the right timing, he could mitigate its weaknesses.

Even so, everything depended on his opponent. At this moment, it seemed he would be facing another knight in combat, but this did not mean he would not encounter monsters. These ascension trials were often unpredictable, and without any knowledge of his next opponent, he needed to choose something universal. A weapon that was neither too long nor too short, neither too light nor too heavy.

“This one should do… Do you have any shields?”

After walking around, Robert finally selected one of the heavier longswords. It provided enough reach, and the increased weight would help him against heavily armored enemies. With his strength, he could wield it easily—likely the heaviest weapon he could manage with one hand while carrying a shield. Though he was a sword expert, he was still a knight and could not forget what made him strong. Shields and heavy armor were staples of a knight’s arsenal, so he needed to balance his new weapon with proper defensive measures.

“Aye, I’ve got shields of all shapes and sizes. Just pick one and choose the enchantment!”

Robert glanced to the side where the Bernir look-alike pointed to. There he saw an assortment of shields and armor, all that he had to pick out to fit him personally. Luckily, the armor seemed to be tailor-made for his body, which would save him a lot of time. Robert took a steady breath and reached out to select a shield from the assortment laid before him. The shield carried its own set of runic inscriptions which also seemed to be dormant.

“This one.”

“Ah, great choice a Heater Shield, it has a great balance between defense and mobility! As for the armor?”

“We’ll go with the Full Plate Armor, that one looks promising.”

The runesmith grinned, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand before nodding approvingly at Robert’s selections. The chosen heater shield was medium-sized, practical, and adorned with delicate runic etchings along its rim, while the full plate armor gleamed under the forge’s warm glow, its polished surface hinting at superior craftsmanship. It was made from some heavy slabs of metal but still wasn’t the heaviest from the assortment here.

“Fine choices!”

The runesmith said, already moving to his workbench.

“Now, the real question Sir Knight, what enchantments do you desire?”

Robert hesitated for a moment, the weight of the decision settling upon him. He tried to recall the names of various enchantments he had used in his life. Usually, he chose something practical, like an enchantment that kept the blade sharp. Even if it chipped, he could activate it to deliver a devastating slashing attack. For the shield, he typically relied on a standard mana shield, which synergized well with knightly blocking techniques. There were also elemental runic effects that could imbue a weapon with fire or even lightning magic.

‘Should I go with lightning runes? They should be effective against knights in heavy armor… but will my opponent also use rune magic? Should I ask the runesmith to add elemental protection to my shield?’

He continued to ponder the possibilities and realized he should gather more information. The runesmith here seemed fairly standard – not like his brother, who could cram multiple enchantments into a single piece of equipment. Typically, the limit was one or two enchantments. He was working with tier-2 gear, and he knew that if the enchantment was too powerful, it would burn into the weapon, eventually destroying it with prolonged use.

“Runesmith, how many runes can you fit onto each piece?”

“How many? Well, that depends. I could probably manage up to four lesser runic enchantments on a single piece, but it also depends on the size. For a sword and shield, I’d say two common runes each, and at most, one greater rune on the entire armor – but that comes at a cost.”

“At a cost?”

“Aye. The metal won’t last long, and it won’t be able to store more than two, perhaps three charges before the runes stop working.”

“Ah right…”

He nodded at the dwarven man and continued to contemplate. He was familiar with the charge system used in runic equipment, but he wasn’t sure if it was something he needed to worry about. Charges allowed him to conserve mana, which he could then use in other ways. While most of his skills relied on stamina, some required mana, so it was likely better to use charges and preserve his resources.

Nevertheless, time was ticking, and he needed to make a decision. After considering his options, he chose to stick with the enchantments he was most familiar with – the ones that had carried him through his life. For now, they would have to do.

“For the sword… I want it to cut through armor efficiently while still retaining durability. I don’t want something fragile that will break mid-battle.”

The runesmith nodded, reaching for pen and paper to jot down Robert’s request.

“A rune that enhances sharpness and durability should do the trick. I’ll use the strongest ones you can fit.”

Robert didn’t need anything flashy. With all his combat skills already maxed out, it was best to focus on support-type runes that would keep his weapon intact and reliable. Without knowledge of his opponent, this was the safest choice. For his shield and armor, he leaned toward a defensive approach, opting for mana shields and runes that would grant him a burst of speed and strength when it was time to deliver the finishing blow.

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“I see… I’ll get right to it…”

“Is something wrong?”

The runesmith glanced at his notes, his body language betraying a hint of hesitation. Something about Robert’s choices or perhaps his descriptions didn’t sit well with him. Robert wasn’t a rune expert, so he simply described the enchantments he recalled using and the names they went by, without diving too deeply into specifics.

“Oh, don’t worry Sir Knight, I’ll provide the runes that best match your needs. Just give me some time.”