Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 257 Crimson Curse Armor (Advanced)

After overcoming numerous difficulties, the materials for upgrading the combined treasures have finally been collected.

To thank Su Mu for his help, Raymond specially prepared 5 extra cursed crystals.

Although Randall confidently claimed that his skills were superb and that 30 pieces would be more than enough, Su Mu still allocated more materials.

During the rebuilding phase, Ivan removed the entire set of cursed armor and returned it to Kuraki. Randall opened a private forging room at the Glory Blacksmith Shop specifically for upgrading combination treasures.

Before starting work, Randall even consulted astrology and prayed to God, setting a specific time.

It might seem a bit mystical, but the blacksmith explained that forging high-level treasures is actually a branch of mysticism, and one must be extremely careful in order to achieve the highest success rate.

This piqued the interest of Cedrus, who was recuperating in the Magic Tower. He talked with Randall for a long time, and the two discussed a lot of mystical knowledge, almost causing them to miss the start of their work.

Just at midnight, flames shot into the sky from the blacksmith's shop, and the heavy hammering sounds were extremely penetrating, but they were blocked by a magical barrier, so outsiders had no idea what was happening inside.

This is thanks to Forrest. When building special buildings, there is always regional planning. Buildings like blacksmith shops naturally have to be located in military strongholds and equipped with special magic arrays to prevent spies from stealing key information.

The forging process lasted for five days. Randall placed the components of the combined treasure in the furnace, maintaining their connection while using cursed crystals to enhance the cursed energy.

Ordinary forging involves adding materials like iron and copper into the furnace, but combining treasures is simply burning money. Every time he opens the furnace door, Randall pours shovelful after shovelful of gold coins into the flames, truly spending money like water.

Fortunately, it was only one set that was forged; otherwise, what family could afford such a fuss?

However, since it's expensive, there must be a reason for it.

With the enhancement of the cursed crystal, black cursed energy ripples gathered around the four treasures, resembling the heads of demons. Even a glimpse of them would give one nightmares, let alone the sight of their complete explosion.

Randall was under immense pressure, his body and mind suffering a double torment. It was only thanks to his dwarven blood, advanced forging skills, and decent personal strength that he managed to hold on. Anyone else would likely have been driven mad by the cursed voice during the beating.

The cursed crystals cost 33 pieces, and since Randall had enough materials, he didn't intend to give any to Su Mu Province. He could tell that Kuraki was truly not short of money. This was the kind of employer a blacksmith craved.

The initial investment and forging were actually aimed at unifying the cursed armor's cursed power characteristics. Although combined treasures can fuse their cursed power and be used as a set, they are still different and vary in strength.

Upgrading a combination treasure, in a sense, means fusing them together to create a special treasure.

Therefore, the more components there are, the more difficult it is to upgrade. For example, the Angel Alliance and the Dragon King's Divine Power are basically very difficult to upgrade.

Of course, even a four-piece set like the Cursed Armor is quite troublesome. If the blacksmith is not skilled enough, the armor may be assimilated by the powerful curse energy of the combined treasures, turning it into a new treasure with similar characteristics. The process is extremely dangerous.

Randall dared to take on this job because he possessed a secret technique: the Forbidden Blood Hammer.

He held a giant hammer in each hand and struck it alternately, sparks flying and turning the hammers red.

"Add alchemical dust!"

As his deputy, Cedrus controlled the addition of materials from a distance. He clearly had some knowledge of the mystical, knowing exactly how far to isolate the materials to prevent erosion. But this didn't stop him from being an assistant, witnessing firsthand the creation of the combined treasure.

After the alchemical dust was thrown into the flames, a powerful suction force was generated, drawing the four treasures to the center. The giant hammer moved sometimes gently, sometimes heavily, and the flames and blood-red hues became indistinguishable, as the treasures gradually merged into one.

Originally, there were repulsive magical powers between the treasures. The purpose of alchemical dust is to minimize their mutual repulsion and achieve fusion by relying on their commonalities.

With the final hammer blow, the armor before them, forged in blood and fire, spewed forth an evil demon head, emitting a roar from hell.

"Uh……"

The flames had barely taken shape when they were extinguished by the magical snow that had been prepared at the top, a process incorporating water elemental magic, with each step interconnected.

A large amount of water vapor evaporated, and it took a long time to see the situation inside the shop.

A suit of jet-black armor lay silently on the stone platform, with curved demon horns extending from its sides. It was connected to a sturdy material below, capable of extending and retracting to protect its wearer. Most astonishingly, a pair of eerie, crimson eyes shone from its chest, constantly watching its enemies and emanating a deadly threat.

【Crimson Curse Armor (Combined Treasure Upgrade): When worn by a hero, attack +6, defense +6, spell power +5, knowledge +5.

Blood Curse Descends: After the hero enters battle, all enemy units are cursed with Slow, Curse Possession, Weakness, and Doom, lasting until the end of the battle and cannot be dispelled (maximum number = hero's curse power * 10000).

Forbidden Treasure: This combination treasure occupies only the armor slot and can be inlaid with a cursed crystal to cast a temporary spell, which is cast together with a blood curse (a debuff or damaging spell of level 5 or below, which can be dispelled).

Assessment: The curse spreads, forbidden power wields; when blood descends upon the battlefield, everyone will feel fear.

Randall, holding the Crimson Cursed Armor, laughed loudly, "It's done! Hahaha! It's done!"

Sederlos stood aside, watching the blacksmith who was on the verge of madness, and understood him perfectly.

Although Randall had forging experience, it was all in the past, and the number of components synthesized might not have been that many. In addition, the blacksmith was getting old and his energy was depleted, so it was unknown how much of his strength he still possessed in his youth.

The Crimson Curse Armor cost nearly 45 Curse Power Coins in total, along with countless other resources.

But seeing this treasure in person, I would be willing to spend any amount of money.

[Once the battle begins, the enemy's speed will be reduced by 50%, attack power by 6 points, and luck by 2 points. Their damage will also decrease to its minimum range and be reduced by 1. This effect cannot be dispelled.]

This effect is terrifying. Unless the opponent is a dragon or has the ability to resist magic, their combat power will be greatly reduced after being afflicted by the blood curse.

Cedros knew Ivan's strength. If this hero, who specialized in defensive magic, had the Crimson Curse Armor, he could completely control the situation even against a force of tens of thousands of people. This is the power of combined treasures.

As for the maximum number of victims, there was a limit after the evolution of magic. After all, the effects of magic that cannot be dispelled are too powerful, and the consumption is naturally on a completely different level.

However, for heroes equipped with combined treasures, breaking 10 kills is not a problem at all, so it doesn't have much of an impact.

With this treasure, Su Mu was even able to withstand the entire Barrier Army!

(End of this chapter)