82: Armor, Shields, and Magic Weaves

As night deepened, the campfires grew even brighter.

Jasper's face was wreathed in smiles, and he rubbed his hands together, saying, "To show our sincerity, all transactions with you tonight will be half price, and can be settled with salt."

I silently calculated that the salt reserves in my system space were worth over 200,000 gold coins.

Looking at the full plate armor gleaming coldly in the firelight, I decisively stated, "Alright, we'll take this set of armor."

Jasper's eyes lit up, and he continued, "Our caravan also has a highly skilled runic artist. Normally, a permanent rune costs 5000 gold coins, but for you, it's only 2500. Would you like some enhancement runes drawn on the armor?"

Randall's eyes flashed with interest upon hearing this.

I nodded, "Yes, we'd like to understand the effects of the runes first."

The runic artist was a tall, slender elf. He took out a thick, leather-bound notebook and turned to a page: "These are the most common enhancement runes. For example, the 'Resilience' rune can enhance the armor's defense; the 'Lightness' rune can reduce its weight; and there's also the 'Rebound' rune, which can reflect part of an attack back to the caster..."

Randall listened carefully, asking questions from time to time: "Will these runes interfere with each other?"

"No," the elf replied, "but a single piece of equipment can only have a maximum of three runes drawn on it, and there needs to be a three-month interval between drawing each rune, otherwise the magical fields will interfere with each other."

I pointed at the 'Resilience' rune pattern and said, "Why is the middle of this 'Resilience' rune so empty? And it specifically notes that no other rune can be drawn in the middle?"

"Ah, this one is quite special," the elf's eyes lit up, "Do you have a caravan emblem or a holy emblem pattern? I can help you draw a pattern that belongs to you."

I pointed to the holy emblem on Randall's chest, "Can this be drawn?"

"Yes, this pattern will only cost 15 gold coins," the elf replied.

After some discussion, we decided to first draw the 'Resilience' rune on the armor, then draw the Black Panther Fortress holy emblem pattern in the blank space in the middle, and also add a small panther paw in the center of the crown.

The elf took out special magical pigments and began to draw intricate patterns on the armor.

Under the moonlight, the pigments glowed faintly, flowing as if alive.

As the final stroke was completed, the rune pattern on the armor suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, then gradually receded into the armor.

Then the elf began to draw the holy emblem pattern on the chest of the armor, following the holy emblem on Randall's chest.

The elves truly live up to their reputation as a race with extremely high artistic talent.

The runic artist himself was not a cleric, yet he wielded his brush with divine assistance; the holy emblem he drew had eight or nine tenths of the sacred charm of the system-produced holy emblem Randall possessed.

When the final stroke of the holy emblem was completed, the holy emblem pattern on the armor suddenly burst forth with an extremely dazzling divine light, and then the entire armor shimmered with radiance, as if the holy light had integrated into every single plate.

Then, the holy light gradually receded into the armor.

Everyone present was stunned. How could a holy emblem drawn without the method of drawing runes emit light?

I communicated with the system and used the appraisal ability. The appraisal information for this armor is as follows:

[Full Plate Armor +2]

This is the best and heaviest armor a warrior can buy. Whether in appearance or actual protection, it is almost impeccable.

The closely fitted steel plates on the armor are specially designed to subtly deflect enemy attacks and arrows at clever angles.

The entire set of armor also has very exquisite patterns and carvings.

After being reinforced by the 'Resilience' rune, this full plate armor has become an ideal defensive gear for warriors.

The holy emblem pattern on the chest of the armor, empowered by the purest energy of the system, has gained sacred and powerful strength.

Data:

Defense Level: -1 (for slashing attacks -4, for piercing and ranged attacks -3)

Equipment Abilities:

- Target is immune to all physical attacks from Undead Creatures

Active Abilities:

- Undead Creature Immobilization

- Instantly destroy weak Undead Creatures

Requirements: Strength 15

Only Usable By: Randall Barkman

Weight: 35

...

Why does the system never give me such good things? Not only did it actively add various Undead Creature-targeting abilities to this armor, but it also set this armor as Randall's exclusive equipment.

Too biased!

"Randall, bring your greatshield over!" I asked the elf to draw another holy emblem and a 'Rebound' rune on this greatshield.

Sure enough, when the elf completed the rune pattern and the holy emblem pattern again, the greatshield once again burst forth with dazzling light and divine radiance, then gradually receded into the greatshield.

[Shield: Randall's Surprise +3]

This type of large shield, also known as a tower shield, is made of metal or wood, and its height can range from the user's toes to their chin. It must be securely fastened to the user's forearm, and the user must constantly grip the shield. Of course, the hand gripping the shield cannot hold anything else.

This shield is made entirely of metal.

After being reinforced by the 'Rebound' rune, this shield has become an ideal defensive gear for warriors; the best defense is offense.

The large holy emblem pattern in the center of the shield, empowered by the purest energy of the system, has gained sacred and powerful strength.

Data:

Equipment Abilities:

- Defense Level +4, additional +5 against ranged weapons

- 5% chance to reflect part of an attack back to the enemy when hit

- Holy Mystery

Damage: Deals 4d8 magical damage to Undead Creatures (damage halved on successful save).

Special Function: Weakens powerful Undead Creatures such as Liches and Ancient Vampires, making them more vulnerable to attacks.

Requirements: Strength 15

Only Usable By: Randall Barkman

Weight: 18