Chapter 84: Serpent Scale Arm Shield

【Serpent Scale Arm Shield (Temporary)】

Type: Arm Shield

Level: Common (White)

Effect: Superior Toughness, +300% Corrosion Damage Resistance

Introduction:

A temporary defensive equipment crafted from scales of some powerful otherworldly creature.

Remark:

"Hiss (tongue flicking)..."

......

What appeared before me was a pitch-black arm shield the length of a forearm.

The snake scale obtained from the cave secret realm was completely preserved, embedded in lightweight, sturdy metal like a gemstone;

Overall diamond-shaped, the shield surface smooth with slight curvature, edges sharp;

A design with both buckles and straps allowed the user to either actively grip it to enhance defensive strength or bind it on the forearm without affecting the left hand's daily activities;

The leather cushioning layer under the metal base could greatly reduce the burden on the arm during use, conserving stamina.

Taking the equipment from Barn's hands, I wore the arm shield on my left forearm.

Five fingers tightly gripped, I gestured a few defensive postures.

Satisfied inwardly.

On one hand, Barn had perfectly satisfied my previous requirements, completely preserving the snake scale itself so it hadn't deeply fused with the metal base material in the equipment materials.

This way, when conditions were sufficient in the future, I could also conveniently separate the snake scale from it to craft truly high-level equipment that could bring out its defensive performance.

On the other hand, although there was a large amount of metal at the arm shield's base, it seemed similar to the steel used for the wooden sword scabbard on my back.

Wearing it on my hand was very light.

To say I couldn't feel any weight at all would definitely be nonsense.

But with my current physical fitness, even if I wore it while eating and sleeping daily, there was no impact whatsoever.

"I already thought your scale had pretty good strength. When forging the arm shield, its defensive performance was unexpectedly strong and tough."

Barn looked at my satisfied expression, his face also showing a gratified smile.

"Work hard, save more money. With this quality material, making a magical equipment piece would be more than enough."

I nodded, both eyes gazing at the attribute panel of the arm shield before me.

Although just as Barn had said, this arm shield now was only a piece of ordinary white-board equipment.

But perhaps because the snake scale's own strength was too high, even though the equipment's quality level was still only white (common), it had already exaggeratedly attached two affixes:

"Superior Toughness" and "+300% Corrosion Damage Resistance."

Even not knowing the actual effects of these two bonuses, just looking at the words "superior" and "300%" was enough to demonstrate their efficacy.

A bit overpowered.

"Not bad, right? Want to try feeling it out?"

Barn to the side stroked his beard braid hanging to his chest, asking at the right moment.

Hearing this, my eyes couldn't help brightening.

With the "attribute panel" cheat, without needing actual combat verification I already knew he'd forged it very well, with no quality problems.

But after all it was new equipment—inevitably my hands itched a bit.

And I probably wouldn't have another chance to go out on missions in the short term.

Taking this opportunity to try it was harmless.

......

Right now there happened to be no business at the blacksmith shop, with free time available.

So Barn personally led me to the small courtyard located behind the shop.

Very large area, wide and spacious, almost equivalent to two blacksmith shops.

But the environment wasn't as neat and orderly as inside the shop, with many iron implements and scrap materials scattered about.

Didn't mind.

I wore the arm shield, drew the beheading longsword, gripped the sword hilt with both hands and swung at the air a few times.

Even more satisfied inwardly.

The length of the diamond-shaped arm shield's sides was much wider than the forearm itself.

Originally thought it might not be conducive to my two-handed sword style.

Looking at it now, it actually didn't affect combat.

Screech—

Behind me came the sharp sound of metal scraping against the ground.

I saw Barn carrying an armload of various-shaped metal products, quickly walking over.

Seemed to all be semi-finished products. These iron implements looked exceptionally crude on the outside. A few sword-type weapons didn't even have hand guards—bare blades connected directly to handles.

"Clang."

Casually throwing the items in his arms on the ground, Barn pulled out a single-handed sword from among them.

His burly body over two meters tall made the single-handed sword in his hand look like a short dagger.

Weighing it twice, he looked at me:

"Ready? Shall we start?"

"Come on." My body leaned slightly forward, five fingers of my left hand tightly gripped, blocking the arm shield before me.

Clang—

Black hair at my temples swayed violently in the strong wind.

I only felt a huge, concentrated force transmit from before me. My legs planted on the ground involuntarily retreated two steps.

Instinctively lowering my head, my gaze looked at the arm shield.

Surface pitch-black, smooth as new.

That force just now, the instant it fell upon it, seemed to be dispersed and weakened by its slightly protruding, somewhat curved surface.

"How's it feel, not bad right?"

Barn threw the single-handed sword in his hand aside, picking out a short axe from the weapon pile again.

"After piercing, try slashing damage next?"

Sizzle—

Arm muscles as thick as an adult's thigh swelled, veins and tendons bulging under the skin visibly.

The air, torn by the vigorous force, let out a pained wail.

The axe blade glinting with cold light, wrapped in strong wind, instantly fell on the arm shield's surface.

"Bang clang."

Sparks scattered.

The pitch-black shield surface smooth as a mirror without a single scratch reflected the broken axe blade spinning up into the air.

......

Wearing the pitch-black arm shield on my left forearm, I tied the coin pouch back at my waist and walked out of the blacksmith shop.

As payment for serving as caravan guard, Barn had waived the forging labor costs for me.

The originally 35 gold custom service ultimately only symbolically charged a bit of material fees—

7 gold.

I even felt he'd actively charged less, because aside from the snake scale, the arm shield's other base materials had all used very high-quality materials.

That light plate armor I'd stripped from Ingram—I hadn't brought it over but temporarily stored it in my inn room.

Although the sheriff's disappearance seemed to have been suppressed by some power, I still maintained caution, planning to do as I'd planned before.

First wait a few days, avoid the spotlight.

Then take out the plate armor and have Barn help modify its style.

At that time, with my current physical fitness, if it didn't affect movement too much, putting the plate armor over the chain mail shirt—double-layer protection—my overall defensive strength could go up another level.

As for arrangements for the next few days, I didn't plan to take any more missions.

After all, a random guard job had extended into such a big pile of matters. If I went out again, who knew what strange things I'd encounter.

Honestly stay in River Valley Town until the professional hired by the half-elf arrived.

First get the combat skill learned, then consider other things.