I'm not a goblin Frankenstein's monster.

"The quality is very good, but... it's not quite to my taste," Xia Lin explained.

He is used to actively seeking out weaknesses and striking at vital points in battle, but these two shields are more focused on solid defense or passively neutralizing attacks, which inevitably makes him feel restricted when using them.

"Are there any designs that are more geared towards supporting the offense, or that are lighter and more agile?"

Sinda scratched his messy beard, looking troubled: "Really, it's all gone."

These two are the only decent items I've acquired recently; the rest, the average high-end stuff, aren't even as good as them... sigh!

He suddenly slapped his forehead, causing his beard to tremble.

"Wait! I remember now! There's another decent gadget, kept at the bottom of a box for years. It weighs about the same as your old standard round shield; you might be able to use it!"

After saying that, he rushed back to the backyard in a flurry of activity.

The wait was a little longer this time.

Woody, perched on Xia Lin's shoulder, was getting impatient and muttered, "Could this dwarf have fallen asleep in his treasure vault? Why is he taking so long..."

Just then, Sindar returned, panting, carrying a shield in his hands.

This shield is slightly larger than the previous standard round shield, but it still cannot be considered a medium-sized shield.

The shield has a beautifully curved, dragon-scale-like shape, and its entire body is a deep, dark purple, not from grease, but more like the natural color of metal.

The area in the center of the shield, where some special scales should have been inlaid, now has slight damage and dents, as if it had been impacted by some great force.

Even so, the overall craftsmanship and materials of the shield still exude an extraordinary quality, with sharpened edges and smooth, natural curves.

"Take a look at this." Sinda handed the shield to Xia Lin.

"It was made in imitation of the purple-black dragon scale shield of the famous 'Purple Dragon Knights'."

Of course, it can't compare to the genuine product. The design has been improved, and the materials and enchantments are far inferior. The core scales in the middle are also long gone.

However, the basic structure remains the same. It uses high-quality purple steel mixed with some cold iron, making it both light and tough, which is sufficient to deal with the henchmen in the forest.

If you can find suitable materials later, I can try to fix it even better.

"The Purple Dragon Knights?" Xia Lin took the shield. It was indeed lighter than he had expected. The curved surface of the shield fit his arm comfortably in his hand.

【Purple-Black Dragon Scale Shield (Green) (High-Quality Imitation, Minor Flaws)】

Type: Shield (small to medium)

effect:

Dragon's Might: Can cause nearby enemies to be hindered in their actions due to fear.

Durable: Exceptionally stable when parrying, and resistant to fire, strong acid, and bite damage.

description:

The deep purple shield, engraved with a black dragon pattern, exudes an unsettling aura.

When you hold it, you can feel a faint warmth and a low hum, like the breathing of a sleeping dragon.

"As long as the shield stands, the line stands." — Arges Ironforge, Seventh Shield Guard Captain of the Purple Dragon Legion

"Yes, it's said to be an elite knightly order from a powerful kingdom, and they seem to have some connection with the purple dragon."

The scales in the center of the genuine shield are made from those of a giant dragon.

Xinda waved his hand, clearly not very interested in areas outside his expertise: "In short, it's amazing."

"Of course, if you have any scales from this kind of creature, I can repair it for you for free."

Xia Lin smiled bitterly to himself. A dragon? That's a being that even professionals wouldn't dare to provoke easily. They're overestimating themselves.

At this moment, Woody on Xia Lin's shoulder spoke up: "The dwarf is probably referring to the Kingdom of Cormier."

Legend has it that this place was once an ancient battlefield where elves and dragons fought.

An ancient, purplish-black dragon named Sagro nearly destroyed the entire kingdom, but was later defeated by the heroes of the Cormier people. The dragon shield inlaid with its scales became a symbol of the kingdom.

Later, some knights formed partnership contracts with the neutral amethyst dragons, becoming even more powerful dragon knights—the later "Purple Dragon Knights."

"You could capture a dragon and use it as a mount?" Xia Lin asked, sounding quite fascinated. "That would be so cool..."

"It's not as simple as you think," Woody interrupted his reverie.

"The Amethyst Dragon is proud by nature and pursues knowledge and mysteries."

The relationship between a knight and a dragon requires absolute honesty and deep understanding; they are true partners, not master and servant.

Knights are responsible for negotiation, reconnaissance, and tactics, while dragons serve as the vanguard in direct confrontations.

To become a Purple Dragon Knight, one needs to undergo years of rigorous training and gain the approval of a Purple Crystal Dragon.

Even the most senior knights are entrusted with dragon eggs by dragons, tasked with caring for the young dragons in the secret sanctuary, the "Bauhinia Dragon's Nest." However, gaining the dragon's trust is no easy feat.

Xia Lin stroked the damaged part of the shield, imagining what it would look like when it was intact, and the legends it symbolized about dancing with dragons.

Although it's just a replica and it's damaged, you can still feel a sense of something unusual when you hold it in your hand.

"How much is this?" Xia Lin asked.

Sinda glanced at the missing scale in the center of the shield and thought for a moment: "It's a replica, and the core is broken."

The materials and craftsmanship are indeed excellent... Hmm, fifteen gold coins, that's the lowest I can offer. Consider it a bargain.

Xia Lin nodded without hesitation: "Deal."

He counted out the ten gold coins from the discounted price of the breastplate, plus the fifteen from the shield, and handed them to the blacksmith Sindar.

Then he tied the slightly damaged but extraordinary shield to his left arm.

After a few swings, the weight felt just right, and the curved shield seemed to work well for blocking and deflecting force during attacks.

"Sinda, what materials are needed to repair this shield?"

"If it's amethyst dragon scales, that would be best," the dwarf grinned.

"That's assuming I can become immune to the dragon's flames..." Xia Lin said helplessly, "Are there any alternatives?"

"Ideally, the monster scales should be sturdy, malleable, and lightweight."

"If you come across anything suitable while on a mission, remember to bring it back," Sinda instructed.

Xia Lin nodded, indicating that he had made a note of it.

Then, he took out the broken spear that Jimmy had given him from his bag: "Can this... be repaired?"

Sinda took the broken spear and examined it carefully: "The material looks ordinary, but it seems to have been enchanted with some decent attributes..."

I'll give it a try and see if I can salvage some suitable materials from other equipment.

Xia Lin then took out several gnoll teeth that Guts had given her: "Will these canine teeth be of any use?"

Sinda took it and looked at it: "The material is quite good, but it doesn't quite match the material of this spear."

"You can stay with me for now. Anyway, you break down your equipment every few days, you never know when you might need it."

Xia Lin nodded in agreement.

"Now our equipment has finally been upgraded."

He stretched his shoulders; the silver-scaled breastplate fit him comfortably, and the purple dragon-scaled shield was sturdy and agile. A long-lost sense of security quietly returned.

The dwarf Sindar jingled as he carefully collected the gold coins, grinning as he said, "Alright, all-armored kid."

Don't come back looking so disheveled next time!

"Next time, definitely next time!"