Primordial Sin System

586  Chapter 586-The Trial of the Blacksmith Emperor

Chapter 586

The swirling vortex of light faded as Dave landed in the middle of a dark, eerie forest.

Shadows stretched between tall, twisted trees, and the faint glow of the moon barely illuminated the damp ground beneath his feet.

The silence was unsettling, broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures moving through the dense undergrowth.

Dave dusted himself off, a confident smirk on his face.

"Alright, where's the next trial? Can't waste my time waiting all day."

He looked around, his voice echoing faintly through the quiet forest.

Suddenly, a faint metallic clinking sound caught his attention. His sharp eyes darted toward the source, where a small, armored figure stepped into view.

The figure was barely over four feet tall, clad in intricate black armor covered in glowing runes.

A heavy, oversized hammer was strapped across its back, and a single red slit in its helmet burned with an ominous glow.

Dave stared for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"No way. This is my next opponent?"

His laughter echoed through the forest as he clutched his sides.

The dwarf-like figure didn't move or respond, standing perfectly still in the clearing.

"Hey, come on now," Dave teased, grinning widely.

"Don't tell me they ran out of strong enemies, so they sent... you. Did you get lost on your way to a blacksmith convention? Or did someone drop you off after story time?"

The armored figure remained silent, the glowing slit in its helmet narrowing slightly.

Dave crossed his arms and continued, clearly enjoying himself. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Look, I get it. Life must be hard when you're that... compact. I mean, do you need a ladder to swing that hammer? Or maybe you could just throw it and hope for the best?"

He snickered at his own joke.

The air suddenly grew heavy, and the temperature seemed to drop.

Dave tilted his head, noticing the tension in the air but not taking it seriously.

"What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve? Don't tell me you're mad about being... fun-sized."

At that moment, the dwarf's glowing eye slit flared bright red.

The figure raised one armored hand, and the ground beneath them began to tremble.

A deep, guttural growl came from the small figure, and the sound of metal grinding against metal filled the air.

"Huh?" Dave raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious. "Oh, are we finally getting serious?"

Without warning, the dwarf's armor began to shift and expand.

Plates of blackened steel extended and locked into place as the small figure's body grew larger.

Muscles bulged beneath the enchanted metal as the dwarf's size increased until it towered over Dave at a monstrous five-meter tall.

The hammer, once oversized for the dwarf, now seemed like the perfect weapon for its transformed state.

The ground cracked beneath the weight of the armored colossus, and a deep, resonating voice echoed from within the helmet.

"You dare mock me?" the towering figure boomed. "I am no mere trial! You will regret your insolence, fool!"

Dave blinked, staring up at the hulking figure. For a moment, he was silent before breaking into a wide grin.

"Well, that's more like it! Took you long enough to grow up."

Before the transformed dwarf could respond, the ground trembled once again.

This time, metallic figures began to rise from the earth around them.

Each one was a puppet, crafted from dark steel and engraved with glowing runes similar to those on the dwarf's armor.

They carried a variety of weapons—swords, axes, and spears—all radiating a dangerous aura.

Dave's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Puppets, huh? Oh, and look at those weapons! Semi-God grade, if I'm not mistaken. What the hell!"

He cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "This might actually be fun."

The towering dwarf let out a thunderous laugh. "You think you're ready to face me, boy? You mocked my size, but now you'll see the full might of the Blacksmith Emperor!"

Dave smirked, unfazed by the intimidating title. "Blacksmith Emperor, huh? Sounds fancy. But titles don't mean much if you can't back them up."

The puppets moved first, their metallic bodies creaking as they charged toward Dave.

Their weapons glowed with deadly energy, slashing and stabbing with precision.

Dave dodged the first wave of attacks with ease, his movements fluid and calculated.

"Not bad," he said, sidestepping a spear thrust and delivering a powerful punch that shattered the head of the puppet wielding it.

"But you'll need more than this to slow me down."

Another puppet swung a massive axe at him, but Dave caught the handle mid-swing and crushed it with his bare hands.

"That's a semi-God level?"

Pieces of metal clattered to the ground as more puppets surrounded him.

The dwarf watched from above, his glowing red eyes narrowing. "

These are but a fraction of my creations, boy. Let's see how long you can last!"

Dave laughed, kicking a puppet away and dodging another attack.

"You're starting to sound like the others I've faced. Don't tell me you're all talk."

The dwarf growled, raising his hammer high. "You dare insult my craft? You dare underestimate me?"

With a powerful swing, the hammer struck the ground, sending a shockwave of molten energy toward Dave.

"You have an anger issue; the demonic clone would easily destroy you if he met you because of your emotion."

The blast incinerated several of the puppets in its path, forcing Dave to leap into the air to avoid it.

"Whoa!" Dave exclaimed, landing gracefully on a nearby tree branch.

 "Now that's what I'm talking about! Finally showing off some real power."

The dwarf roared, summoning more puppets from the earth. This time, their weapons glowed even brighter, and their movements were faster and more precise.

Dave grinned, leaping back into the fray. "You think a few more tin cans will make a difference?"

As he fought, the puppets' Semi-God grade weapons clashed against his fists, creating sparks that lit up the dark forest.

Despite their numbers, Dave moved with ease, dismantling them one by one.

However, he noticed that the dwarf was studying his movements carefully, waiting for an opening.

"You're not just sending puppets for fun, are you?"

Dave said, dodging another attack. "You're stalling, trying to find a weakness."

The dwarf smirked beneath his helmet. "Clever boy. But it won't save you."

With a sudden burst of speed, the dwarf charged toward Dave, his massive hammer glowing with molten energy.

The ground shook with each step, and Dave barely had time to dodge the devastating swing.

 The hammer struck the ground where he had stood, creating a massive crater and sending shockwaves rippling through the forest.

Dave flipped backward, landing on his feet with a chuckle.

 "Alright, I'll admit it. You hit harder than I expected. But if you think that's enough to bring me down, you're in for a surprise."

The battle continued, the forest echoing with the sounds of clashing metal and thunderous impacts.

Dave's playful demeanor remained unchanged, but his sharp eyes carefully studied the dwarf's movements and the enchantments on the puppets' weapons.

"Interesting..." Dave muttered under his breath.

"You're not just swinging blindly. Every attack has a purpose, and every move is calculated"

'This guy knows what he's doing.'

The dwarf, noticing Dave's focus, growled in frustration.

"Stop mocking me and fight seriously, boy! Or are you too afraid to face me at full strength?"

Dave smirked, stepping forward. "Afraid? Nah. I just like to have fun before things get serious. But if you insist, I guess I'll stop holding back."

He raised his hand, summoning a faint glow of chaotic energy around him. "Let's see if you and your toys can handle this."