Chapter 87: Battle Axe
The answer was a battle axe.
It was a weapon built for both slashing flesh and breaking bone.
Heavy enough to stagger a monster, sharp enough to cleave through armor.
Wade finished the last of his drink and stood.
The decision was made.
He would buy the axe, and then run another dungeon. With the war coming, every coin, every trade, and every boost of strength counted.
He grabbed his tray, dropped it off with the attendants, and headed for the stairs that led down to the guild store.
The building’s lower floors were quieter, the din of conversation slowly fading away from his hearing.
Before long, he arrived at the guild store.
Inside, rows of glass cases lined the walls, each one displaying weapons, armor pieces, and enchanted items.
Behind a long polished counter stood attendants in their uniforms, each busy with their own customers.
He stepped toward the side of the long counter, catching the attention of the attendant stationed there.
The man was tall, middle-aged, with a thin face and eyes that spoke of experience.
"Good morning," the man said, his tone polite but businesslike. "How can I help you today?"
Wade rested his hand lightly on the counter, eyes roving the cases behind the man.
"I’m looking for a weapon," he said.
The attendant smiled faintly, already reaching for the catalog crystal embedded in the desk. "Of course, sir. What kind?"
"Something that can cut through armor," Wade said, "and still break a golem’s leg if I hit it hard enough."
The attendant’s brow arched slightly, the faintest spark of intrigue in his expression. "Ah," he murmured. "You’re in the market for power, then."
"You could say that." Wade nodded once. "I’m specifically looking for battle axes with both cutting and bludgeoning capabilities."
The attendant gave a practiced smile, gesturing towards the now lit catalog panel.
"We currently have three available battle axes that meet your specifications," he said smoothly. "All of them are double-ended, with an axe on one side, and a hammer on the other."
"They’re both suited for both cutting and crushing. Let me show you."
He tapped the panel, and three glass cases slid open along the display wall behind him.
Inside each hovered a weapon suspended in a thin sheath of containment mana, spinning slowly for display.
The first axe drew the eye immediately.
It was beautiful, far too beautiful, in Wade’s opinion, for a battlefield weapon.
Its crescent blade gleamed like polished silver, etched with intricate swirling runes.
The haft was black steel, wrapped in red leather, and every edge looked carved with the obsessive care of a noble craftsman rather than a soldier.
The attendant spoke with reverence. "This one’s called Ember’s Edge. Gotten from Drakhan Rage dungeons."
"It has a nice cutting force, where every swing grows progressively heavier, multiplying damage output. It’s one of the finer pieces in the guild’s armory."
Wade’s eyes flickered with faint interest, but only for a moment.
Beautiful or not, he needed practicality, not vanity. He focused, whispering, Observe.
A glowing blue box appeared before him.
[Ember’s Edge]
[Type: Battle Axe]
[+25% increase in damage every consecutive hit up to 3 strikes]
Wade frowned slightly. The enchantment wasn’t bad. But he’d seen firsthand how fast-paced dungeons could be.
Battles rarely gave the luxury of stacking hits. Against dragons or golems, he needed explosive power and utility, not incremental damage boosts.
He shook his head. "It’s impressive," he said, "but not for me."
The attendant inclined his head courteously, unfazed. "Of course, sir. Then perhaps you’ll prefer this one."
He moved to the second case, gesturing with a faint smile.
The axe inside was... plain. Unceremonial, almost humble-looking.
The blade lacked the ornate flourish of the first, just well-forged steel with faint scuff marks from what looked like prior use.
The haft was wrapped with simple brown leather, the hammer side rough and utilitarian.
"This one," the attendant said, "has been in our stores for a while now. Bought from an adventurer from another city."
"And what does it do?" Wade asked.
Instead of answering, the attendant tapped what looked like a rune on the display.
A soft pulse of mana rippled across the glass as the weapon shimmered faintly, then vanished from the case, reappearing instantly in the attendant’s hand.
Wade blinked.
"Recall," the man explained, holding up the axe. "The weapon can be called back to the wielder’s hand from up to fifty yards away."
"Costs ten mana per recall. Convenient, efficient, and reliable. Especially when disarmed."
That made Wade’s brows lift.
He confirmed it himself.
[Unnamed]
[Type: Battle Axe]
[Weapon can be recalled to the user’s hand from up to 50 yards for 10 Mana. Cooldown: 3 seconds.]
He narrowed his eyes, intrigued. He remembered vividly, the moment in the dungeon when his sword had been sent flying from his hand, and how close that had been to disaster.
This axe could fix that.
He imagined it, throwing the weapon, teleporting into the air, and calling it back for a follow-up strike.
He leaned slightly closer to the display. "That’s good," he murmured. "Very good."
The attendant nodded, pleased with his reaction. "A sensible choice, sir. Functional and affordable."
"Let me see the last one first," Wade said.
"Of course."
The attendant gestured towards the final case. Inside it, the last axe floated in shadow.
Its blade was pitch black, and its edge faintly serrated. The hammer end was heavy, shaped like a skull, and the weapon radiated a dark aura.
"This one," he said softly, "is Grimhewer. Gotten from the Undercroft Peaks dungeon and is a favorite among certain... adventurers."
"It’s not officially cursed, but..." he hesitated, "it’s not exactly blessed, either."
Wade raised a brow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning it hits hard. Very hard," the man said. "Guaranteed critical hit every three strikes. But it has a tendency to... drink blood."
That made Wade pause. "Drink blood?"
"Figuratively, sir," the man added quickly. "It amplifies its edge with life force, from enemy or wielder, depending on luck. Not many are brave enough to use it long-term. After all, they could fall down dead at any moment."
Wade regarded it silently, then activated Observe.
[Grimhewer]
[Type: Battle Axe]
[Every third strike automatically lands a critical hit. 50% chance to consume 20 HP from wielder upon activation.]
He stared at the floating text for a long moment, weighing the trade-offs.
The sheer power was tempting, but he also knew that for him, losing control of even five HP at the wrong moment could mean death.
He looked up at the attendant and shook his head. "Not this one."
The man inclined his head. "Then the recall axe it is?"
"Yes," Wade said without hesitation. "It’s perfect."
"Excellent choice, sir. That will be thirty-five thousand coins."