Anguirel

Chapter Ten: Anguirel 

**As Taranis walked alongside the Company, his mind buzzed with excitement about the sword he had claimed. He could feel a strange energy coursing through him, and the anticipation of discovering its true potential was almost overwhelming. After they found a clearing to rest, Taranis slipped away from the others under the guise of checking the surroundings. He wanted a private moment, away from prying eyes.

Taking a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs, Taranis opened his system interface.**System Notification:** *Artifact Detected: Anguirel!* *Initializing Artifact Functions...*Taranis watched in awe as the screen shifted, revealing new information about the legendary weapon. His heart raced with each word that appeared.**Artifact Functions:** **Name:** Anguirel **Effect:** Enhances Endurance and Strength by 20, enhances Health by 100 **Penalty:** Luck -10Taranis blinked, the revelation hitting him like a wave. "Anguirel... so that's its name," he muttered, a mix of excitement and trepidation coursing through him. "It doubles my endurance and strength—but at the cost of luck?"He considered the implications of this newfound power. The boost to his strength and endurance would make him a formidable warrior, yet the penalty to his luck worried him. "Does that mean I'll attract more danger?" he wondered aloud, his mind racing with scenarios. Would he stumble at critical moments? Would enemies seem to target him more often? The thought made him uneasy.But despite the concerns swirling in his mind, a thrill of excitement surged through him. This was a legendary artifact! The boost to his abilities could turn the tide in their quest to reclaim Erebor. He could be the hero he had always dreamed of being."Stay focused," he told himself, shaking off the doubts. "This is an opportunity. I can't let fear of bad luck hold me back."Closing the system interface, Taranis returned to the group with a surge of confidence. He walked with new purpose, and when he rejoined Thorin and the others, he spoke up with renewed vigor."Ready to move on?" he said, his voice steady. "We have a long road ahead of us."Thorin nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "We'll need every ounce of strength we can muster. Let us continue."As they set off again, Taranis couldn't help but glance at Anguirel, now resting at his side. It felt right, as if it were meant to be his. The burden of the sword's history was heavy, but so was the weight of the choice he had made to wield it.With each step, he resolved to use this power wisely, to balance the boon of strength against the shadow of misfortune. Taranis was ready to face whatever lay ahead, trusting in his own abilities and the strength of his companions. After all, a great adventure awaited them, and he was determined to see it through to the end.