"...I came back as early as I could."

Opening the door leading to Alfaera's office, a woman caught her breath as she looked at Alfaera with a slight frown. "You didn't tell me the monster tide would come so soon."

"We didn't expect it either," said Alfaera, letting out a low sigh as she motioned the woman to sit down. "It was only about a week or so ago did we receive telltale signs of it coming."

"In any case, did you achieve what you set out to do, Myst?"

Hearing Alfaera's words, Myst let out a sigh of her own before nodding. "Yeah. I was able to reach the peak of Rank 4 just before you sent a message about the upcoming monster tide." Of course, Alfaera was pleased after that, smiling as she looked back at her.

"Anyways, I'm assuming this upcoming monster tide has something to do with the Greater Tidemother from the previous tide?" asked Myst not long after.

"It's highly likely," replied Alfaera with a faint nod. "After all, it did say that it would avenge its fellow Tidemother."

Briefly scratching the back of her head as she listened to those words, Myst decided to ask Alfaera all of the important information she needed to know about the upcoming tide. "So, how long will it take for the tide to arrive?"

"According to our reconnaissance team, the tide will come the day after tomorrow," replied Alfaera.

"How strong of a tide are we going to fight against? Can the town handle it?"

"I don't know about the general level of the waves making up the tide, but I've heard from the reconnaissance team that the Tidemother leading the tide this time is above Rank 4."

"Is it a normal Rank 5 Tidemother? A Rank 5 Epic-level Tidemother? Or a Legend-level Tidemother?"

"That I don't know." Alfaera shook her head at the question. "However, it's better to assume the worst-case scenario for this one."

"Has the town made all of the necessary preparations for the upcoming tide, then?" Myst looked at Alfaera, her expression slightly grim.

Fortunately, Alfaera's response made her expression relax. "They have. The various sectors are more than ready to make a move once the time comes."

"Even the production sector?" Though she was relieved, Myst's eyes still widened at Alfaera's words. "I know they were the first to recover somewhat, but as far as I've heard, aren't they still lacking a lot of stuff to be fully functional again?"

"Surely they would need more than a couple weeks to fully recover, no?"

"That's normally the case." Alfaera nodded, only to smile as she continued, "However, a certain blacksmith from the Blacksmith Guild was able to forge all of the necessary equipment the production sector needed. You could ask Tristan for more information on that."

Unsurprisingly, her words caught Myst's attention. "Wait... a blacksmith? Not blacksmiths?" "Yep. Just one blacksmith." Alfaera nodded.

"Did the town get their hands on an incredibly talented blacksmith while was out raising my level?"

Hearing those words, Alfaera let out a faint chuckle. "In a way, it did."

"After all, Valyr returned to town to help with the upcoming monster tide."

"Valyr..." Hearing that name come out of Alfaera's mouth, Myst soon put on a pensive expression as she recalled what she knew about the young man.

From his humble beginnings as a guard of Astarto Village, Alfaera recalled that Valyr's strength grew at breakneck speeds, earning him the title of Tidebreaker the time he participated in his first monster tide.

Then, on some day between that and the next monster tide, the young man was able to clear the dungeon that barred the village from expanding into a town, becoming known as Astarto's Light because of that.

Though he had left for greener pastures after that, Myst could still remember the dominance Valyr showed back in the last monster tide he participated in, with only her and Tristan aiding him as they fought against all of the monsters making up that tide.

"I'm sure Tristan mentioned to me one time that Valyr forged the armor set I was previously wearing, but I really can't imagine him to be a blacksmith," murmured Myst after a bit of silence, prompting Alfaera to smile in response.

"Well, fortunately for you, he's still forging something in the Blacksmith Guild the last time Tristan talked to me," she told Myst. "Perhaps you could catch him in the middle of forging something."

"Alright." Making up her mind to pay a visit to the young man, Myst stood up from her seat, only to stop in her tracks as she recalled something. "Speaking of which, how long has it been since Valyr returned to town."

"Roughly... four days, give or take," Alfaera said after a bit of silence. "Tristan and I met up with Valyr to talk about the upcoming monster tide. Then, he decided to hole himself up in the Blacksmith Guild after that."

As those words left her mouth, Alfaera's expression became somewhat apologetic. "Now that I think about it, he hasn't stepped foot outside of the Blacksmith Guild ever since that day." "Mind telling him to take a break from forging for me?" she asked, her gaze focused on Myst. "I should really find the chance to repay him after this upcoming monster tide is over." "No problem." Myst nodded at Alfaera's words as she made her way out of the office once more.

Though, seeing the slightly conflicted expression on her face, Myst decided to stop once more as she looked back at Alfaera. "Anything else you want me to do?"

"Well..." For a while after that, Alfaera put on a pensive expression, only for her to shake her head in the end. "Never mind. I'll take care of it before the monster time comes."

"You sure?"

"Well...since you are heading to the Blacksmith Guild, could you tell Almera I said hi?"

"...Sure."

"Thank you."

...

Ttang! Ttang! Ttang!

"And... done."

Not knowing how many hours have passed since he began upgrading every piece of armor he forged to Gale Wolf Armor, Valyr let out a long sigh of relief as the system confirmed the

upgrade.

Briefly taking a look at his notifications, he then stored the Hammer of Beginnings back into his spatial bracelet, only to shift his gaze towards the remaining materials he'd requested

from Julian.

"If I still have time, I could use these materials to upgrade the set to Tempest Lupus Armor," murmured the young man to himself, letting out a slightly disappointed sigh soon after as he looked at his status screen. "Sadly, I don't think there's enough time to do that."

Deciding to put the materials needed to upgrade the armor to the side for Tristan to peruse in the future, Valyr began to do a few basic stretches as he admired the set of armor he'd created. "In any case, I'd say this armor set is as good as the True Wyvern Armor set I'm currently

wearing."

"If not better."

Though Valyr only took around two hours or so to forge a piece making up the Wind Wolf Armor, that time was extended to at least three times as much once he began upgrading it to

its higher-tiered counterpart, the Gale Wolf Armor.

Surprisingly, part of the reason as to why it took him that long was because he had to replace the Wind Wolf Fur on the armor with Gale Wolf Fur one by one, turning into a task that was more dependent on perseverance than skill.

Nevertheless, once he got the hang of replacing the fur on the armor while improving its other aspects, the young man's forging speed gradually ramped up, allowing him to finish everything just a day before the monster tide arrived.

"[Superior Analysis]."

Though he'd already obtained confirmation from the system that the properties of Ascended Wind Wolf Armor had carried over during the upgrade, Valyr still decided to take a look at it

with his own eyes.

Ding!

[True Gale Wolf Armor] (Level 55)

Rarity: Epic+

Foundation Tier: None

Defense: 9261544

Forge Quality: Transcendent

Originally an improved version of an armor set made by the Blacksmith Guild for classes

specializing in speed... description has been omitted.

Bringing out all of the properties of Gale Wolf Fur, this set of Gale Wolf Armor could be considered the closest set of armor that could replicate the Gale Wolf's abilities. <Innate Skill 1: Child of the Gale - Increases the user's AGI and DEX by 12%. Also increases the

user's movement and attack speed by 12%. Only applies when the full armor set is equipped.>

<Innate Skill 2: Gale Wolf's Spirit - Allows the user to form a connection with a Wind Wolf, imbuing themselves with their powers as their STR, AGI, and DEX are increased by 20% for 5 minutes. Can be overcharged to improve its effects by a further 50%. Cost: 7,000 MP. Cooldown: 15 minutes.>

<Innate Skill 3: Gale Wolf's Descent - Allows the user to summon a Gale Wolf with their energy for 5 minutes, inheriting 50% of the stats of the user. While the Gale Wolf is active, the

user's STR, AGI, and DEX are boosted by 15%, while the user's movement and attack speed are

boosted by 20%.

All attacks dealt by the Gale Wolf onto a foe deals 150% of the user's damage. Cost: 20,000

MP. Cooldown: 1 hour.>

<True Gale Wolf Set 1/6>

Set Effects:

- 2 pieces: AGI and DEX +25

- 3 pieces: HP +1,500 and MP +800

- 4 pieces: AGI and DEX +5%

- 6 pieces: Movement and Attack Speed +20%

Remarks: You've allowed this piece of armor to reach the pinnacle of its abilities. Yet, it seems

like there's still room for greater improvement.

"I guess I was just a couple minutes too late to watch you forge something."

Just as Valyr closed the screen he'd brought up in satisfaction, a familiar voice began to

resound from the entrance of the workshop, causing the young man to faintly smile as he

replied back.

"Long time no see, Myst."

"You're just the person I was looking for."

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