“(Alright, analysis complete.)”
I picked up the spear that Jaykal had been using and examined it.
It wasn’t the spiked type club that I usually transform into, but rather a real spear with a blade-like tip extended from a long shaft, capable of both thrusting and slashing.
The heft of the weapon spoke volumes about the raw strength of its previous owner, who had wielded it with ease. The amber-colored tip of the blade, reflecting the sunlight, looked sharper than anything I had seen before.
And the ability of this spear was—.
“(—Specialized for attacking earth?)”
It had a unique effect that increased the damage dealt when attacking earth or anything related to it. The spear was crafted from the claw of a certain behemoth, and it seemed to carry over a portion of the beast’s original power.
“(But how often does one attack ‘earth’? …No, it seems to go beyond that.)”
Analyzing the details of the ability further using Replicant Form, I discovered something surprising. The spear’s effect worked not just on earth itself, but on anything categorized as being “of the earth.”
“(‘Of the earth’… That covers a pretty wide range.)”
To test it out, I took an iron club from my Weapon Storage and tossed it into the air. As it came down, I swung the spear at it in a single motion. The club snapped cleanly in two at the midpoint.
“(Wow, this thing is insane…)”
I was stunned by its sheer power. Even with my strength, I couldn’t replicate such a feat. The spear’s earth-specialized ability was clearly at work. Since iron is mined from the ground, it seemed to fall under the “of the earth” category.
“(The range of targets is vast, and the effect is overwhelming. This is one terrifying weapon. If they brought it specifically to hunt me… does that mean…?)”
I carefully brought the tip of the spear into contact with the end of my whip. The resulting clash was far more powerful than I had expected, a forceful reminder of the weapon’s devastating potential.
If an attack with this spear had landed on me, there was a real chance it could have inflicted serious damage.
The man, who I assumed to be Jaykal, might have seemed reckless at a glance, but his actions betrayed the skill and preparation of a seasoned high-ranking adventurer. He clearly wasn’t someone who underestimated his opponents.
Still, a weapon that instills fear when wielded by an enemy transforms into a dependable ally when claimed for yourself. This spear, once a threat, is now a tool I could turn to my advantage.
“(For now, I’ll use the Replicant Form to investigate the range of its effectiveness.)”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Feeling quite pleased with myself, I stored the spear away and finished dissolving the last fragment of the Trent.
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~ Unregistered Information Log ~
...
Arsenal Armoury Slime has acquired the skill Dissolution Fluid. The skill is being integrated with Solvent of slime.
...
~ End of Log ~
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“(Phew, finally done.)”
I had been eating non-stop since yesterday, but now it was over. Even with a high mana content, wood is still wood. It wasn’t particularly tasty, so I felt exhausted after digesting the Trent tree.
For the record, I had stored a portion of its branches in Weapon Storage. Since they count as clubs, I can store them there. I figured I’d eat them on a day when I couldn’t find other food.
“(Alright, perfect time to relocate!)”
With a quick leap using Jump, I descended the slope in one go and headed into the forest, toward the southern direction the girl had mentioned.
Having driven off Jaskal and his group, my location was probably compromised to other adventurers as well. Moving my base of operations was a matter of urgency.
“(Replicant Form – Mimicry)”
As I walked, I entertained myself by transforming my body. This time, I mimicked an arrow, selecting the best-quality one from my collection.
Suspended in the center of a cube that seemed to cut through the summer sky was a dull-colored arrow.
“(Weapon Storage)”
With a sharp prick of pain, the arrow disappeared. Since Weapon Storage can hold weapons, and mimicry via Replicant Form counts as a weapon, I could store replicated weapons as well.
“(Alright, let’s make about ten more of these while my Life points is still in good shape.)”
Keeping an eye on my Life level, I continued the replication process. Detaching a weapon reduces my Life by the equivalent of its volume, but thanks to my Reserve, I could afford a little leeway.
As my body was cut off in small pieces, the excess Life quickly regenerated, reconstructing my body in no time. To make the most of my Self-Healing, this kind of work needed to be done regularly.
“(Man, I’m glad Weapon Storage isn’t limited to a set number of items.)”
The capacity of this skill is determined by volume—the total combined size of the stored items. It’s not like the old games where you could only carry up to 99 of the same item.
“Piiiyuuu! Hyurururu!”
“(Oh, a bird monster?)”
While walking, a bird-like magical beast flew overhead. Judging by its size, it was probably classified as a large beast.
“(Looks like I’ve found tonight’s dinner.)”
With that thought in mind, I mimicked a bow and pulled out one of my freshly made arrows. Then, with practiced ease—despite typically using a whip—I nocked the arrow.
“(If you think I’ve just been lazing around eating, you guys on the sky are greatly mistaken.)”
While consuming the Trent, I had been training during breaks, and as a result, I’d acquired these skills.
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Skills:
* Compact Thrust
* Shoot
* Sniping
* Dissolution Fluid (NEW)
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There was one skill I didn’t fully understand, but no matter. Time to put them to good use.
“(Shoot!)”
The arrow I had drawn flew at an incredible speed. Thanks to the bow’s abilities, it ignored air resistance and struck the bird cleanly.
“(Whoa, no way.)”
Even I was surprised by the accuracy. Though the Sniping skill provided support, my luck seemed especially good today.
“(Oh, there it is.)”
When I arrived at the bird’s landing spot, I found the massive creature sprawled on the ground, its body oozing blood. Strangely, the arrow that had been embedded in its flesh was gone. In its place, a pale blue liquid trickled from the wound, pooling on the ground beneath it.
I quickly realized what had happened. Replicated weapons dissolve when subjected to extreme force. While a straightforward stab would have held up, the sheer impact of the bird’s fall had been too much for the arrow to withstand, causing it to disintegrate.
I confirmed the death of the bird by poking it with the replicated spear.
“(Well, whatever. Dinner secured.)”
After quickly devouring the bird, I continued my journey southward.