The Prince of Heaven's Gate - Last Stand At World's End

“Hmm… your purpose is good, but can’t you just wait until the Riders of Norria handle this mission?” Randolph, the Blacksmith of Leaf Village, asked. “Now that the Kobolds are no longer a problem, it is only a matter of time before they resume handling the problems that they have set aside due to the Kobold’s wanton banditry.”

“It is exactly because of this reason that we should strike now, Master,” Lux countered. “Right now, there are so many monster materials that can be looted from the Figaro Gardens. Are we going to let the Riders of Norria take them all?”

Randolph’s expression eased up a bit, and Lux knew that he was faltering. All he needed to do was give his Master one more push before the latter agreed to lend him Blood Moon for a few days.

“Well, I’m going to be honest. It does tempt me, but the answer is still no,” Randolph replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Listen, Lux, I don’t want you to rely on the Mythical Weapon to boost your progress. Since you are my Disciple, I want you to resume your studies of Blacksmithing. I’m sure that after a few years, you will be able to craft Mythical Weapons.”

“No, Master.” Lux corrected. “I won’t settle for Mythical Weapons, I will go for Legendary Weapons.”_-.

Randolph looked at Lux with a dumbfounded expression before roaring in laughter.

“Hahaha! Yes, you’re right!” Randolph patted Lux’s shoulder in a good mood. “As my Disciple, you are bound to create Legendary Weapons. This is something I expect from the person I have chosen.”

Lux grinned because he was only just a step away from achieving his plan. Now that he had stroked Randolph’s ego, it was now time to strike while the iron was hot.

“Master, I will be honest with you, I have a feeling that the Mosquitoes growth is suspicious,” Lux said. “There has been no record that such a thing has happened in the past. Something must be causing it, and the secret lies in the North end of the Figaro Garden.”

Randolph rubbed his chin because he couldn’t refute Lux’s hypothesis. Just as he said, there had been no incidences in the past where a mosquito swarm of such magnitude had appeared in the place where Insectoid Monsters roamed.

Although the Elders of the Village looked calm on the surface, deep inside they must be very worried. A Mosquito Monster outbreak wasn’t a joke, and compared to the Undead outbreak they had experienced not long ago, this one was potentially more dangerous.

It was so dangerous that the houses which still didn’t have basements that the residents could hide in, had no choice but to cooperate with the Earth Mages of the village. These Earth Mages used their magic to dig an underground shelter to be used for an emergency, in the off chance that they didn’t have time to go to the main shelter.

“Lux, I know that your main purpose in asking for Blood Moon is to take advantage of the situation,” Randolph stated. “However, as one of the Elders of the Village, I still have to consider the well-being of everyone that lives here. If I lend you Blood Moon for a few days, are you confident that you will be able to deal with the Mosquito Swarm?”

Lux smiled as he held up two fingers from his hand.

“Without Blood Moon, my chances to accomplish my goal is only twenty percent,” Lux admitted. “However, if I have Blood Moon, my chances will rise to sixty percent. Master, I think it is worth it to take a gamble.”

“I know you have Skeleton Summons to handle the dangerous stuff for you, but can you assure your safety in this mission?”

“I can.”

Lux patted his chest with confidence. He had no intention of dying in Elysium because he knew that his grandma would be sad. So more than anything else, he had always prioritized his safety above all others.

This was why he wanted Randolph to lend him Blood Moon. It was to ensure that his mission would become a huge success.

“Very well,” Randolph relented. “I will lend you Blood Moon, but only for a few days. After you finish this expedition, you will not ask me to lend it to you ever again. Do I make myself clear?”

Lux nodded. “Yes, Master!”

The two talked about the details of how Lux would safely accomplish his mission. Hearing his plan made Randolph scratch his head in disbelief. He had thought that Lux had only planned a simple means to keep himself safe, so he was surprised to hear that his Disciple also planned to hide in the underground tunnels of the Ant Nest to ensure that no mosquito would find him.

After knowing that his sole Disciple was truly going to play it safe, Randolph lent Blood Moon to Lux with peace of mind. As long as the Half-Elf wouldn’t risk his life to fight against thousands of mosquitoes, the Blacksmith of Leaf Village was willing to entrust him with the greatest creation that he had made in his lifetime.

“Ah, Master, I need another favor from you,” Lux said after receiving Blood Moon and re-equipping it in Diablo’s equipment slot. There was one more important thing that he needed to do in order to maximize the rewards of his expedition.

“Well, as long as it’s not unreasonable, I will think about it,” Randolph replied. Since he had already agreed to lend the Half-Elf his weapon, a little favor wouldn’t hurt.

Lux smiled as he told his Master the contents of his favor. After hearing his request, Randolph nodded his head in agreement.

Now that his goal has been achieved, Lux made preparations to enter the Figaro Garden under the cover of darkness. The mosquitoes were more active around this time, and Lux was sure to find them instantly.

Looking at the Beast Cores that had been gifted to him by the parents of his friends, Lux planned to upgrade his Skeleton Party and have them attack the mosquitoes, and collect as many monster parts as possible during his expedition in the Figaro Gardens.