Fixed last chapter, when I copied the raw to translate I only got the last paragraphs for some reason lol.
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After a moment of thought, Rhodes said: "Time is tight, Master Dirk. We leave by ship tomorrow morning, so I'm afraid there isn't enough time to forge anything too complex."
"Could we start by forging a sturdy shield? One that can maximize the metal's anti-magic properties and protect vital areas."
Forging a full set of chest armor, bracers, plate, or chainmail was too troublesome. A shield was the simplest and fastest option. Furthermore, it could be used immediately, and Rhodes could later seek help from the High Elves for enchanting, inscribing runes, or even embedding gemstones.
"A shield? A wise choice! No problem!" Dirk exclaimed. "Time may be short, but Dirk's craftsmanship is no joke! I'll forge you a circular buckler!"
The Dwarf swiftly grabbed the largest ingot of anti-magic metal with massive iron tongs and carefully moved it into the furnace. The gold-colored metal quickly turned red under the high heat. Dirk focused intently, adjusting the metal's position to ensure even heating until it eventually became a molten golden liquid.
When the ingot glowed with a strange, translucent dark red hue, Dirk carefully pulled it out, placed it on a heavy anvil, and picked up a smithing hammer larger than a human head.
"Ha!" With a thunderous roar, the heavy hammer struck the dark red metal with precision.
Clang—Clang! Clang! Clang! Sparks flew like a golden rainstorm.
Rhodes and Uther watched closely as the metal began to deform and stretch under the blows, yet stubbornly maintained its dark golden essence. Master Dirk seemed to enter a state of frenzy, completely immersed in the forging.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The metal shifted on the anvil, transforming from an ingot into a thin, curved shield. Uther whispered to Rhodes: "Dwarven smithing is the best in all of Azeroth—once this shield is finished, it will be no ordinary item."
Rhodes nodded, filled with anticipation. Since the "Golden Man" metal naturally possessed anti-magic properties, there was no need to mix it with other iron, which would only dilute its effectiveness.
Hours passed in the midnight camp, echoed by the rhythmic strikes of the hammer. Finally, the work was complete.
Clang—!
With one final, earth-shaking strike, Dirk rested his hammer on the ground, his chest heaving as sweat poured down him. On the anvil lay a circular shield about half the height of a man. It possessed a deep, restrained golden hue. Dirk quickly quenched it in a nearby trough.
Sizzle—! A plume of white steam rose as the water boiled violently.
After it cooled, Dirk wiped it clean, installed the handguard, leather straps, and metal rings, and applied a layer of maintenance oil.
"It is done, Regent Rhodes! Ideally, this should be further processed—perhaps have the High Elves add enchantments and runes, and set some gems in the grooves I've left on the rim," Dirk said.
Rhodes stepped forward and took the shield. It felt excellent—neither too heavy nor too light, with a defensive surface area similar to an ancient Spartan hoplon.
Rhodes then handed it to Uther. While Uther was an offensive-minded Paladin, many of his kin preferred the "Protection" style, using sword and board to shield allies.
"Lord Uther, please hold the shield. I want to test its most fundamental trait—its anti-magic performance."
"Exactly what I was thinking. Come, Rhodes, show me what you've got!" Uther equipped the shield, lowered his center of gravity, and assumed a standard Paladin defensive stance.
Rhodes stepped back thirty paces. Dirk held his breath, eager to see how his creation would fare.
"Fireball!"
Rhodes raised his palm, and fierce fire mana converged instantly! The air distorted as a massive orange-red fireball, larger than a washbasin, streaked through the air.
Boom—!!!
The fireball tore through the sky and slammed into Uther's golden shield.
Bang!!!
Violent flames exploded and swirled, momentarily swallowing Uther in a blinding light. When the smoke cleared, Uther stood unmoved, and the shield remained perfectly smooth. The fire magic had been perfectly blocked; Uther was unharmed.
"Magni's beard—" Dirk gasped, his eyes wide. "It... it blocked it? That huge fireball... and it only produced a bit of smoke?"
Usually, a standard shield would have been shattered, but this metal seemed to directly repel or absorb the magic. Rhodes then tested several other spells: Flame Strike, Dragon's Breath, and even Frostbolt and Ice Lance. The golden shield deflected them all without a single scratch.
"It seems Master Dirk's skill, combined with this metal, has created a true 'Mage Killer,'" Rhodes smiled. "How does it feel, Uther?"
Uther lowered the shield, his eyes shining: "Perfect! It repels at least eighty percent of the elemental force. The rest feels like a gentle breeze. It's so effective that I think forging weapons from this is also a great idea—'Spell-Breaking' weapons. You could literally swat a spell out of the air."
Rhodes' eyes lit up. This metal had incredible hardness and natural anti-magic properties. It was the perfect counter to casters.
Dirk, finally recovering from his shock, rushed forward excitedly: "This metal is miraculous! Regent Rhodes! The remaining material—let's make breastplates! Helmets! Full plate! Greatswords, axes, hammers! Please, let us do the work!"
"Rest assured," Rhodes patted the Dwarf's shoulder. "Once we reach Kalimdor, I will have you forge a whole batch of armor and shields."
Though they couldn't start a furnace on the airship, Dirk was too excited to stop. In the remaining hours before dawn, he forged a heavy, dark-gold two-handed greatsword.
Uther tested the sword against Rhodes's spells. With a roar, Uther swung the blade, easily cleaving through Rhodes' magic. When Rhodes activated an Arcane Shield, the greatsword shattered the barrier instantly upon contact.
"It's not just resisting..." Rhodes said, looking at the remnants of his shield in disbelief. "It's 'extinguishing' the magic! It breaks the very structure of the mana!"
This was a massive discovery. Soon, they would be heading to Kalimdor to meet some of the world's finest archers—the Night Elves—and these weapons would be invaluable.
"A perfect Spell-Breaking Blade! Master Dirk, give it a name," Uther suggested.
"Let's call it... the Spell-Breaker Sword," the Dwarf decided.
As the sun began to rise, the name was met with satisfied nods from both Rhodes and Uther.