Chapter 702

“Oh god, this hurts so much. There really is no kindness in this universe,” Ben complained, feeling a pain deep in his core that was completely separate from any of the nerve endings within his flesh, getting no sympathy from his girlfriend beside him.

“You deserve this,” She said in a singsong voice, not able to muster many feelings for a suffering of his own creation. “You seem bound and determined to damage your soul, you literally knew this could and would happen if you weren’t careful.”

“Ugh, I was hoping I’d just get another level of soul expansion instead of going the opposite direction.”

Quiet you.

“So how bad is it then?” Thera sighed, wanting to know the extent of the damage to his soul, even if she couldn’t help but get silence at first. “Ben, tell me already.”

“A ten percent decrease to both my mana and vitality.”

“...Yeah, we’re going to see Yuzu if we can find her.”

“Sure, but later. You know we’ve got our priorities today.”

“I kind of wish you’d treat your soul like it was a priority!”

“Hey, it’s not like I’m taking in any more mana right now and it will heal on its own eventually so there’s nothing to worry about. Besides, you know I’ve been waiting for this, there’s no way I’d cancel.”

“Fine, but when we’re done I’m dragging you out to them. I swear, half of the reason you want me to become a soul mage has to be so you’d have one around.”

“There’s lots of good reasons to want you to become a soul mage, I’m not turning my nose up at any of them. Now come on, this is going to be exciting.”

He tried to keep his complaints to himself from there as he dragged her along through to the gate network. After all, that was a very special day for him and he didn’t want to keep Thera thinking about something that really was due to his own poor planning when it should have been so exciting. The gods' time to pay up had finally come and they were going to get to see the mythic items of the world.

Tools that were seeing constant use due to the need to slaughter the demons who had made their way into the world along with whatever other uses they might be put towards, he may have only known about a couple already but he was more than prepared to examine them all in whatever detail he could, nearly quivering in anticipation by that point as he just imagined what he’d get to see as they went through their first gate to the dwarven city beyond and made their way to what looked to be a castle.

Huh? Myriad, I’m literally always polite one hundred percent of the time though?

Genuinely so hurtful that you think so low of me. It will be fine.

God, I want bestowal so freaking bad at this point. I have one enchanter job left to choose from currently, please please please let me get the skill if I take that one. It would mean so much to me.

It was a prayer he didn’t have much hope for but still couldn’t keep himself from feeling with everything he had as he imagined all of the things he might create if he could only get that skill but did his best to regulate that desire to the back of his thoughts as he focused on the mythic item in his hand. Sitting at the high end of the spectrum, he knew he had to test it.

Materializing a lump of iron, Ben tossed it lightly in the air before swinging the sword down, not even feeling as it cut through like there was nothing there but leaving two halves to fall to the floor.

Immediately he tried again, materializing mythril that time and applying the strongest defensive enchantments he could create, only to get the same result as he gazed at it in wonder. It was clear why its sheath needed such a ranking, anything less and the sword was certain to fall through it from the weight alone.

Still though, there was more he wanted to try and he turned to Thera for his next attempt. “Could I get you to make a small barrier and fill it with darkness for me? Preferably making both spells as strong as you can please.”

She did as he asked and once more he attempted to cut through, watching both spells dissolve despite the massive power that was put into them with the same ease as everything else, with a flash of annoyance crossing Thera’s face for that fact while the sword’s current wielder grinned and the king laughed.

“Not so simple, is it?” He asked. “Though I’d appreciate some care. It can cut beyond its reach and I’d rather not have to rebuild my home.”

“Not to worry, I won’t pour a drop of mana into this thing, I can imagine that might kill some goodwill. There’s just one more thing I want to test.”

Using a skill the god who made it couldn’t have expected that time, Ben actualized a basic board, not bothering to define it down to any molecular level and instead focusing only on its shape and strength as it floated in the air before him before he sliced through, feeling the instant hit to his mind as he did and flinching for the pain it brought.

Okay, could have expected that but it still sucked. Still, good to know I can’t count on the skill if I somehow end up on the wrong end of that thing.

With his examination and testing done though, Ben gave one more bow before handing it back.

“Thank you for giving me this time, I deeply appreciate the opportunity to look over such a wonderful item.”

“The thanks belongs to my god for both making it and allowing this meeting but I have no doubt she appreciates it. I hope we’ll enjoy the chance to host you a bit longer in the future.”

“Should the chance come I’ll look forward to your people’s hospitality, but for now there’s a few more places we need to be today so thank you, it was a pleasure.”

The pleasantries went on only a little longer before the two were able to leave, Ben already excited to get a look at the rest for whatever depths they might contain.