Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

---Bottom of the Sigmaen Sea---

~What is that?~ the blacksmith asked the stag, still stuck to his back.

“T-The source of the Nuckelavee, sir!”

What they were looking at was what looked like the entrance to the shell of a mollusk that stuck out of a rock cliff at the bottom of the sea. Inside the shell was a disturbingly meat-colored entrance, which was currently shut tightly.

This had nothing equestrian at all! How was this spitting out creatures that looked like skinless horses and their riders, fused together into a nightmare-inducing monster? This stag was messing with him. He should have-

Seth was about to do something drastic when the entrance opened and subjected him to a scene that would be burned into his mind for the rest of his life. The birth of a Nuckelavee was one of the worst things Seth had seen in his life, so far. It was also undeniable proof that the stag told the truth.

The problem was: He couldn't use that for the steed, he needed a horse... or something like it. He was pressed for time, though! His eyes fell on the stag again. Equestrian enough. The color was also adequate. But he had given his word... but what was the word given to a monster worth? He also said he MIGHT spare it...

Ultimately, Seth stored the sword in his inventory.

~Fine, let me down and you can leave,~ he said. He would at least get the soul of that thing as a consolation prize and be on his way. The cloak had brought him on a ride that brought him to the source of the Nuckelavee. It was his own fault assuming that the source would be horselike because the auxiliary body was.

The stag had once again fallen silent.

~ You CAN let me down, right?~ Seth asked suspiciously.

“O-Of course, but you have to grab my antlers with both your hands. Then you have the power to order me and release yourself!” it assured him.

~Is that your geass?~ Seth asked. If this creature was a being that appeared with the awakening of the realm, the condition didn't seem as weird. Dig Dimblood had a similar condition about serving the one that caught him. The blacksmith grabbed onto the other antler with his right hand.

“Haha, you fool! Who would have thought you would believe me? Haha, there is no way to release you until you are dead. You will simply stay with me until you die of thirst! Now that both your hands are bound, you can't use the big scary sword! Hahah!” the stag broke out laughing, prancing around.

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In the end, the cloak didn't disappoint. It was Seth who made the detour, despite having the goal right in front of him.

~Welp, I gave you the chance, don't forget that in a moment.~ the bard whispered into its mind.

“What are you talking about? Are you already delirious?” it asked amused, happily prancing through the water, quickly getting away from the entrance and the Nuckelavee that had emerged from it. One moment it was prancing in the water, the next it landed on solid, dry ground.

Before it towered a huge tree with dark windows and a door. Legion was currently empty as all the golems and Faer were stationed in Delta. While the stag was surprised about suddenly appearing inside Legion's space, the blacksmith's hand grasped the antlers tightly.

“Let's see if your ashes will still stick to me.”

The tragic squeal of the sticky stag echoed in Legion, as the soggy beast was bathed in a sea of draconic flames. Seth's whole body was enveloped in fire and so was the beast. Without the water surrounding them, it was easier for the flame to show its full potential and the stag had next to no way to defend itself.

It was thrashing around, crying in pain, and trying to get him off, but it was no longer in the position to decide when he got off. It tried shape-shifting and magic, but nothing could weaken the blacksmith's grasp. Lastly, it started apologizing and begging, to no avail.

Seth held no mercy for the monster, as it turned to ashes under his very hands. When the power began leaving its body, the Spirit Blacksmith used to rip the soul from the dying body. With its death, his hands and body no longer stuck to it. He got off, leaving the coals to fall apart.

The Soul of a Water Stag, a water spirit native to Urth. It retains 94% of its original skill and 82% of its personality. The soul has a high affinity to water and illusion. Trait: Tricky Opportunist >

Seth had been ready to augment it with the cultivator souls if it wasn't too big, but the Water Stag actually gave him a massive soul. It even had a trait, although the trait wasn't too great. Tricky opportunist improved the power of skills by 20% if it's involved in fooling someone.

The examination of the soul also revealed the beast's geass. As a beast of water, the Stag was only allowed to leave its home body of water if it brought a sacrifice on its return. On the other hand, the beast was able to gain part of the victim's power if it was sentient and died in the water itself.

Considering how strong the stag already was, Seth seriously questioned what sentient being it had found to sacrifice up here. His first thought was the dwarfs they had found in these northern mountains, but from what Seth heard they never left their mines.

Although he was curious, this wasn't the time to dawdle. he had a soul that roughly fit his criteria, it was time to return. After leaving Legion, he threw a last look at the bizarre origin of the Nuckelavee. If it wasn't for the Stag, he might have fought it. Probably for hours. Right now, he decided not to.

Seeing how he was now stuck at the bottom of the Sigmaen Sea, without a water taxi to bring him back up Seth decided to use Home Call on this rare occasion and directly return to the entrance hall of Minas Mar.

Dripping sea water everywhere, Seth contacted Idyllin Mo, who he had already returned, before returning to his workshop. Getting the soul was just the first step. While he started working on the next step, he put the stag soul into the Soul Refinery. The geass was not something that would be helpful as Hunger's mount, and neither was its personality.

~Shall we have a little talk?~ Seth used to contact the souls. An intact ego was important for what he intended to do.

~Ah! It's you! What have you done to me? What is this place?~ the stag's voice came back, full of panic.

~Oh? You died, don't you remember?~

The soul stayed silent for a while after Seth''s question, but the blacksmith didn't feel like giving it the time to sort out its trauma of burning alive.

~It doesn't matter right now. I have your soul in my grasp and you have a choice to make. Shall I erase your ego, or will you be obedient and make a deal with me?~ the demonic bard presented the options with a friendly business smile.

~That doesn't really sound like a choice...~ the stag mumbled.

~You have options, It's a choice.~ The demonic bard insisted.