Players' NPC Big Daddy

Blaze had always superficially believed that forging was a dirty job. ”Dirty” here wasn’t derogatory; it was simply a description. A Blacksmith inevitably came into contact with fire and ash. Their faces would burn red, ash would stain their skin, and they would be drenched in sweat with every strike. But Hade changed Blaze’s prejudice, even making him feel a bit ashamed. Forging was a sacred ritual of Metal Rebirth. The metal turned red-hot in the Flames, just like a gestating infant.

Hade swung the Iron Hammer, the muscles all over his body trembling from the heavy blows, yet he steadily and softly hummed an ancient fairytale meant for the metal.

”The Flame is the womb, the Iron Hammer the umbilical cord.

”The scars of today are the Dew of tomorrow’s thriving growth.

”Your story concluded in the bitter winter, and you slumber in blood and cold.

”I will awaken you in midsummer, opening a new Chapter with blood and fire.”

CLANG—CLANG—

That was a thunderous heartbeat, a torrential breath, the cry of a newborn. Hade sprinkled the bone powder from the dish into the Flames.

HISS—

The Flames violently flared up in eight streams, and the Eight-headed Evil God experienced a resurrection in these Flames of rebirth. They looked down on everyone with a cold gaze, their bodies expanding as they tried to reconstruct themselves with the Flames.

”Hmph!” Hade gave a cold snort and smashed his Iron Hammer down. Yamata seemed heavily injured, but instead of retreating, it bit at Hade as if enraged.

”What?!” Blaze stepped forward to block Hade. The Poison Fangs Pierced through his Armor and plunged into his body, instantly injecting Highly Poisonous venom made of Flames.

”AAARGH—GAH!” Blaze felt as if his blood were burning and evaporating. The bulging veins on his forehead even turned red.

”Human!” Chicken shrieked, but the scorching Flames forced her back. She roared resentfully at the stunned Hade, ”Old fart, what is going on!”

”Ya-Yamata isn’t dead yet!?” Hade shouted in disbelief.

[Negative Status: Eight Fire Curse Poison]

[Loses 5% of HP per second, inflicting agonizing pain, severe burns, and other mental abnormalities.]

”U-Use [Supreme Red Potion]!” Blaze was now incredibly glad to have met Flying Brick, though it only allowed him to linger on his last breath. Even if he could dispel the negative status, the Highly Poisonous Flames were still being continuously injected, the agonizing pain and burns tearing at his mind. What should he do next? Was this forging ritual going to fail?

The items in his inventory began to burn. The Monkey Hand twitched, bones carbonized, and the apple stored at the very bottom oozed a hint of Incense under the roasting of the Flames.

”This... won’t do!”

[Conditions met to activate Rocky Perseverance A.]

[Activates when two or more negative mental states (such as agonizing pain) are present and HP is below 10%. Power increases by 50%, Intelligence increases by 50%, immunity to unconsciousness and Dizziness. This status lasts for 30 seconds.]

Blaze took a fierce step forward. Bitten by the eight snake heads and injected with poison, his prey-like backward-leaning posture shifted into an aggressive forward lunge.

”If it’s a snake, you have to grab its vital spot!” Blaze seized the snake’s vital spot with one hand and ripped the head off his body. The restrained snake head hissed and sprayed venom; the Highly Poisonous Flames dripped onto his Armor, emitting a SIZZLE of corrosion and leaving behind hideous marks.

Even though he had torn one off, the other seven were unaffected, injecting their venom with even more Madness, scorching Blaze’s soul with the Highly Poisonous fire.

”Use [Supreme Red Potion].” Blaze forced the Proud Eight-headed Evil God to meet his gaze. The Poisonous Snake made of Flames saw a light even hotter than fire within the darkness of his helmet.

The Metal Rebirth ritual would not stop. If there was no Iron Hammer, he would use his fists.

BANG—

That was the booming sound of Blaze grabbing the Poisonous Snake and smashing it against the Twisted Greatsword. The red-hot Twisted Greatsword firmly welded the Poisonous Snake in place. However, the Poisonous Snake broke free in an instant, but Blaze caught it again and smashed it into the Twisted Greatsword once more. Sparks flew and shadows flickered. With every strike, the tall and stalwart Shadow of a Hero wrestling the Eight-headed Evil God barehanded was cast upon the wall.

”Human, what is he trying to do?” Chicken stared blankly at the man battling the Flames.

”He—he wants to continue forging in this situation!?” Hade roared in disbelief. Finally, the commotion in the Forging House drew Audrey and Herbie from outside. As soon as they entered, they saw the scene of Blaze fighting the eight-headed snake. They fell Silent; the heatwave left their mouths dry the moment they tried to speak.

”Stop him, quickly! His Strength Value isn’t high enough for forging!” Hade roared anxiously as the clerks and apprentices scrambled for weapons. Herbie turned to Escape and get help. Only Audrey stood there blankly, staring at Blaze’s back. Her world had narrowed down to just Blaze and the furious roars of the eight-headed snake.

[Conditions met to activate Rocky Perseverance A.]

”Use [Supreme Red Potion]!”

”Ah—” Audrey subconsciously opened her mouth.

”It hurts so much! It’s so scary! No! I don’t dare anymore!” she thought. Just uttering a single syllable brought back painful Memories flashing before her eyes. Her throat being slit, her head being smashed in, her chest being Pierced—even so, she had stubbornly refused to admit defeat, staring straight into her opponent’s eyes. But time and again, after escaping, she would hide in her room, hugging her blanket, Silently crying and begging for mercy. She had lost the courage to sing.

She had run away from her dream, and on her path of Escape, she had met a rude Lost Home Knight.

”You have the Singer Profession, so you should be able to use very powerful group support abilities. If you casually sing a few lines, you won’t even need me to make a move.”

”You jerk, you really said something that arrogant in the past, didn’t you?” she thought. Audrey braved the wave of fire and stared directly at the Eight-headed Evil God and the Hero’s back, weaving a melody with ancient words. It was solemn and grave, yet as lingering and gentle as a love song. It was one of the most Advanced tracks of the Singer.

[Hymn to the Sun God]

As if sensing danger, the Eight-headed Evil God glared coldly at the woman singing aloud as if no one else were around. Its fangs parted, and a jet of Highly Poisonous fire sprayed out. Audrey looked at the deadly poison, where a single drop would be fatal, with an almost indifferent gaze. A Singer wouldn’t just casually sing a few lines and stop.

”Careful, Audrey!” Herbie, who had returned upon hearing the song, fiercely tackled Audrey to the ground. However, Audrey was completely unaffected. Her eyes never looked away, and her singing never ceased.

”Hey, where are you looking?”

[Conditions met to activate Rocky Perseverance A.]

[Conditions met for Skill evolution: Rocky Perseverance A - Adrenaline F]

[Conditions met to activate Adrenaline F]

A single hand pressed down on the Twisted Greatsword, which seemed to be the body of the Eight-headed Evil God within the Flames. The Eight-headed Evil God was completely flipped over and pinned down, the Highly Poisonous venom splashing onto the ceiling. The eight pairs of eyes were forced to look up at Blaze. His raised iron fist was wreathed in the aura of the Sun—the very thing snakes feared most.

”Look at me, then become its scars, become its Memory!”

BANG—

Sparks flew once more, but this time, rather than a spray of Sparks, it was a sea of Flames ascending in defiance of gravity. Blaze’s Strength Value was high enough. One punch, two punches. Like a seasoned Blacksmith, Blaze swung his Iron Hammer, whipping up stormy waves of Sparks. The Eight-headed Evil God roared in despair amidst the sea of Flames, and the Twisted Greatsword grew a new body. In the end, it wouldn’t be them experiencing the rebirth from the Flames.