"Did it really absorb everything?" The shopkeeper still found it hard to believe. He bent down to look into the empty crate, and only then was he convinced.
He sighed in admiration. "Legendary weapons really do live up to their reputation. Not only can they absorb materials to strengthen themselves, there doesn't seem to be an upper limit... I'm afraid only the legendary God of Craftsmen could forge equipment like this."
"Who knows? But if gods really exist, wouldn't this whole 'give the heroes divine weapons to save the world' routine just be a play for their entertainment? Just thinking about it pisses me off!" Chuan Wenwu tugged at one of the hard spikes on his shield and clicked his tongue. "So a true divine weapon ought to be forged by heaven and earth, born when its time comes!"
"...You heroes from other worlds really do have a peculiar attitude toward the gods." The shopkeeper gave a thoughtful sigh, then looked back at Chuan Wenwu's shield. "Looks like this batch of supplies paid off pretty well?"
"Yeah. I've got over thirty more shields waiting to be released. Plenty of grinding ahead."
"Then let's take a look at the differently shaped shields you commissioned."
The shopkeeper lifted a wooden shield from the bottom of the crate and explained, "Since I don't know how the Shield of the Hero identifies things, I didn't waste the money you gave me. I only made these three differently shaped shields. Try them first and see whether they work. If they do, we can keep adding more without worrying. If they don't, at least we won't have wasted too much money."
"Thank you. That was thoughtful of you."
Chuan Wenwu took the wooden shield from the shopkeeper and thanked him sincerely.
It was still a square shield, an Iron-Banded Wooden Square Shield. It differed from the one he had copied before only in size and proportions, with a few additional decorative patterns. He could guess what the shopkeeper had in mind: he was probably testing how the Shield of the Hero determined whether shields were "the same type."
If a shield could be copied again as a new shield after a few decorations were added or its size was changed, then they could easily make hundreds or thousands of different wooden shields-after all, even the grain of the wood could vary!
Chuan Wenwu tried to copy this new square shield with the Shield of the Hero, but his shield gave no response.
"It failed." He shook his head at the shopkeeper, though he didn't look disappointed.
"So legendary weapons don't consider minor changes enough to distinguish them?"
Elhart wasn't surprised either. He picked up the second shield and handed it over. "Try this one next, the Cross Shield. Its shape is completely different from a square shield, and it's used differently too. This should work."
The Cross Shield was a large shield that could protect the entire front of its wielder's body. It was shaped like a cross, short at the top and long at the bottom, usually ending in a point. When necessary, its wielder could even use it like a greatsword to smash or stab enemies. Its use was completely different from that of a square shield.
Chuan Wenwu used Copy on it. A faint glow lit up, and a new icon appeared in the Book of Weapons, right beside the Iron-Banded Wooden Square Shield-
Iron-Banded Wooden Cross Shield requirements met. Successfully unlocked! [Iron-Banded Wooden Cross Shield] [Equipment bonus: defense +1; technique "Shield Bash (minor)" [Status: unreleased]]
Huh?
A technique? Shield Bash?
Chuan Wenwu froze for a moment. What new thing had he unlocked this time?
With a thought, he immediately opened his status panel and carefully checked what this technique called Shield Bash (minor) actually did.
[Shield Bash: When attacking an enemy with a shield (slapping, smashing, shoving, ramming...), deals additional damage equal to a certain proportion of your defense stat.]
Chuan Wenwu checked it several times before he dared believe his eyes-it really converted defense into damage!
"Hahahahahahaha-!!!" He burst out laughing and almost jumped up to hug Bruce.
How long had it been?
He had spent so much time in that forest, killing who knew how many monsters and absorbing and unlocking who knew how many shield forms. Yet most of those shields only increased his basic stats, and even bonuses that raised his attack were pitifully rare!
Even now, his attack stat hadn't reached double digits, while his defense was already approaching four!
Did the Shield Hero really have no offensive abilities? Could he only kill enemies by cleverly exploiting environmental damage?
No, no, no! Today, he had finally obtained the core mechanic the Shield Hero was supposed to have-Shield Bash! A divine skill that converted defense into damage!
No matter how low the conversion rate was, his astonishing defense would no longer be good for nothing but letting enemies beat him like a punching bag. He finally had a way to deal some damage!
I knew it! How could a class famed for its defense, like the Shield Hero, have no ability to turn defense into offense? Was I supposed to be nothing but a target?
I just hadn't unlocked it yet!
"Hahahahahahaha..." For a moment, he almost cried with joy.
"Hey, lad, what's gotten into you?" Startled by his reaction, Elhart hurriedly asked.
"Hahaha... Sorry, boss. I'm just so happy I couldn't help myself! Couldn't help myself! You probably don't know just how big a surprise this shield gave me, but if you did, you definitely wouldn't be so surprised!" Chuan Wenwu finally managed to calm down and explained Shield Bash's effect, his voice brimming with excitement.
Understanding dawned on Elhart. "So that's it! No wonder you're so happy-the Shield Hero, who had no means of attack, suddenly got an exclusive skill. That's like a blind man regaining his sight or a lame man being able to walk. It really is something worth celebrating!"
He struck while the iron was hot, taking out the last shield and handing it to Chuan Wenwu. "Here, there's one last shield. Let's see what it does."
Elhart took the final shield out of the crate. It was a wooden Small Round Shield, so oddly small that it looked like a pot lid at first glance.
According to Elhart, this kind of Small Round Shield was light and portable, allowing its wielder to move more nimbly. Its face was generally only used to block critical blows. Since it didn't offer comprehensive protection and was quite difficult to use, relatively few people used one.
Chuan Wenwu tried copying it, and sure enough, he gained the Small Round Shield form. Its equipment bonus fittingly gave him two points of speed.
Compared with the Cross Shield he had just unlocked, which came with a divine skill, unlocking this Small Round Shield was far less impressive.
Elhart summed it up. "From what we've seen, your Shield of the Hero mainly looks at two things when identifying a 'new shield.' First is the material: gold, silver, copper, iron, and different alloys all count as different materials. Second is how it's used. Square shields, Cross Shields, and round shields may be made of the same material, but they're used in completely different ways, so they can still unlock new forms."
"Exactly!" Chuan Wenwu nodded, his eyes full of anticipation. "Now that we understand how it works, I'll have to trouble you with the rest, boss-think of whatever other kinds of shields there are and make them with different materials. As long as I can unlock more new forms, it'll be worth every penny!"
"...I told you before, didn't I? That'll be expensive, lad. Do you have that much money?" Elhart sounded doubtful.
"If we did everything at once, I definitely wouldn't have enough. But if we take it step by step... Hmm, starting with the cheaper commissions should be manageable for now. Here, this is the deposit. Arrange things as you see fit, boss. I'm not in much of a hurry right now."
Chuan Wenwu took a large money pouch out of his shield and set it on the counter. He untied it, revealing a pouch full of silver coins.
Before you continue