Novel Top1.OR G
Aside from the skeleton that I just summoned, I also tested the other available skills, especially the [Corpse Bomb]. Of course, I didn't use the skeleton I just summoned and fought earlier as it would be a big waste for me to use that little guy as fodder for an explosion. So to test it out, I summoned another undead and this time, the one that was summoned was a zombie. Unlike the skeleton, it didn't have the same qualities as the skeleton nor do it have the comparative ability to wield weapons and fight effectively like the skeleton from earlier.
So instead, I used the zombie as the ammunition for [Corpse Bomb]. Compared to my expectation, the [Corpse Bomb] is not that strong in explosive radius and destructive capabilities. Perhaps the reason why the explosion is not that strong is just that I only used one single undead and since it has the option to use multiple, perhaps the explosion will amplify if I use multiple undead in one explosion.
I also tested the durability of the skeleton and its ability to fight a player by sparring with Sigma. And to my surprise, they are toe to toe with each other, easily blocking their attacks altogether, leaving the situation to be in a stalemate. Still, Sigma hasn't used her full ability so it should be natural. Still, I still can't believe that even on Sigma's way of fighting without moving, the skeleton is able to cause Sigma to dodge once and that is already something else.
"That skeleton is something else. I am even tempted to go all out earlier while fighting against it. It was hard not to unleash my whole power when your enemy is quite good and it's giving their all too. I didn't expect you to summon one so good immediately.
"Indeed, its talent is like a veteran warrior that coincidentally got revived by my ability. Still, I am happy enough with the new things I learned. This will boost my ability and fighting style a little bit more."
Especially with the class reset of the Versatile Class, I needed more skills than ever and without the usual passives and skills I usually use, I have to do it back to square one. Once we are back at the camp, I will have to sort out all the skills that were rebooted and relearn them again. Without the extra SP I earn every level up, I am stuck with all of my skills with how much I used them. I just wished they fixed this absurd amount of EXP intake to level up so that I can properly level up like a normal player. If not for the Versatile Weapon, I would have already deleted this account and started over again.
After doing the testing, we returned to the camp. We thanked Chase who remained awake waiting for us though it also didn't take long for everyone to wake up one by one.
It felt like a few weeks have already passed but we just spent at least a minimum of 3 days. It didn't take that long to begin with, it just felt like that since so many things happened and the flow of time in the Alternate World is different than in the real world so things were just not the same.
Just like before, everyone used the Snow Carriage while I remained as the main watchdog to everyone while riding on Mizuchi but perhaps the worst has already come to pass, things have already calmed down. The only thing that remained in the same gaze I felt behind my back. Even though we are zooming here all around, I can still feel the shivers that seem like someone is watching me behind my back.
As much as that made me puzzled, I have no idea who is that person or entity. I can't detect its presence and I even doubt it was a monster since if it was, it should have already left after losing interest in me and moved to another target but this one is just different. But I have no way of knowing what it was and all I can do is just endure that feeling of someone spying on you. Perhaps, sooner or later, it will disappear.
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Nove l B(in).C OM
When we arrived, its around noon when we made it back to the camp. The carcass of the turtle is still there but compared to before, it was already missing a large chunk of meat and shell. It was like it has been eaten by something bigger and disappeared without finishing up the whole meal. But I doubt that was the case seeing how many workers are still dismantling the huge carcass and transporting the flesh and the shell every time one is successfully excavated.
The soldiers even panicked when they saw Mizuchi at first and thought that they were under attack. However, as soon as they saw us, they immediately calmed down and made a salute before returning to their jobs.
Sigma went ahead to look for Almira and since I am curious about what she is planning to do with all those ingredients she asked for Sigma and the others to gather, there is something that made me curious about what she is about to create. Is it the same thing she made back in the past timeline? Or is it something else?
Sigma asked one of the soldiers and they immediately pointed straight to the makeshift camp that is made for traveling blacksmiths. It's the only different tent out of all the tents so it was also clear that she was there.
Once we know her location, we went inside the tent. There, we can hear the sound of clashing metal and the smell of melting iron all around the place. The place is also scorching hot and compared to a normal room for smithing metal, this is just enough to burn your whole skin. Thankfully, the cold weather lessened the effect of that allowing it to be a bit more tolerable but it is still abnormally hot.
"Is it okay to disturb her while she was smithing, Bladeheart?"
"No. She already knows that we are here but it was not a good idea to disturb her while she is working. It is much better for us to not do that and wait for her to finish her job or for her to invite us in and that will be safe enough to do."
And so, the two of us waited as Almira focused herself on hammering the metal on the anvil before soaking it in the water and then putting it back again to the forge. Once she finished that, she will move to another metal and start doing it the same. Her movements are fast but precise and firm. There are no wasted movements and all of them are done perfectly.
We waited for around an hour before she stopped and pulled out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it up using her finger's flame magic.
"You guys can come in."
I turned to look at Sigma and nodded before we went inside.
"Hello, Almira-san. I am here to turn in the quest that we received a few days ago from you. We all gathered every single one of them directly from where they should be taken and came back as soon as possible."
She then opens up her inventory and pulls out a sack containing all of the materials that she and everyone else gathered up. I can feel my Versatile Weapon shake in anticipation when the sack went out. I grip the handle of the Versatile Weapon to avoid the Shadow Dragon to activate its bottomless stomach's greed and devour them all.
Even Almira noticed it and she slightly smirked.
"Heh, looks like it is indeed complete since even the beast inside the weapon of Bladeheart is getting excited."
It looks like Almira already knows the presence of the glutton Shadow Dragon and its existence inside the Versatile Weapon.
"Um, may I ask for one thing though, is it alright?"
"Yes," Almira took a puff before she turned to look at Sigma.
"Just what are you going to do with these items? Based alone on the items that we gathered, I don't think this was meant to be used to create a weapon. We don't have any metals here and even if we did, I doubt it is even enough to create any weapon."
That was unexpected, I never thought she will ask that. Knowing Almira, she won't tell it but...
"You want to know what I am going to use these things for? Sure, I can tell to you. Just don't tell anyone about it as it was confidential. Do you want to know too Bladeheart? If not, you can go and leave as what I am about to say is something else."
"Wait, I am also curious. I will be staying."
Almira grinned and pulled out one of the items on the sack and the one she picked out is the Elder Lich's heart, [The Dead Man's Heart].
"The reason these things were gathered is for me to create a weapon that will be capable of canceling the effects of being an immortal. In short, I am making a weapon that is capable of ending the life of an immortal."