Broka 22nd 10,391
There were many things he could make that would aid him. It's not that Kytaligan gave him ideas beyond that of the memories Six lived, rather, the skill of Kytaligan gave Six the tools he needed to create the items he envisioned. But there was an order of operations to things and as far as Six was aware, the Kytaligan golem would be stuck, unable to leave the sealed Ley Nexus. He had time to prepare.
To properly utilize his resources he needed his class, pieces of the knowledge that Kytaligan left in the book implied that class perks fit within the art of enchanting in terms of overall scaling. There was nothing in the transmitted knowledge about Kytaligan’s class specific perks but there was a general understanding of perk benefits upon the art.
Six was certain he lacked a large enough mana pool to use the enhanced cores to their fullest potential. They would still provide a larger response and output than a mundane but until he saw what was available for class perks he would stick to using mundane cores.
So, now that he had access to life mana, he wanted to attempt to create weapons and golems based on life mana. Something to counter the undead spectres that infest the research facility as well as sustain him during the more physical fights.
First, he had to configure the mana core’s internal reservoir into that of life, this involved slowly feeding it life mana until the concentration of life to neutral mana was tilted towards life. It was very similar to natural enchanting and with Six’s skill level so high the enchantment stability and effectiveness were increased by 58%
58?
Six went to his character sheet and put two of his skill increase points into Golem Genesis and felt a ripple run through his body as he was presented with text.
Skill increase: Golem Genesis - Master - 60
Master Skill Evolution triggered
Choose Skill Evolution? Yes/No?
Immutable Bond: Enchantments established by the user forge an unbreakable connection with their subordinates, ensuring absolute loyalty and control. This increases the initial creation mana requirements by 20%.
Timeless Cognition: Enchantments can be granted heightened awareness and intelligence, enabling them to adapt and learn from experiences, making them more versatile and strategic in their actions. This increases the initial creation mana requirements by 20%.
Sovereign Restoration: Enchantments possess regenerative properties, allowing them to repair themselves and their medium over time, healing damage and regenerating charges. This increases the initial creation mana requirements by 20%.
Titan's Might: Enchantments imbued by the enchanter exhibit extraordinary strength and resilience, granting golems enhanced physical prowess and durability beyond their base capabilities. This increases the initial creation mana requirements by 20%.
Arcane Fusion: The user can merge multiple enchantments seamlessly, allowing enchantments to possess a combination of abilities from different sources or schools of magic. This increases the initial creation mana requirements by 20%.
Immutable Bond seemed good. Very situation dependent though. He wasn’t sure on how often he would encounter a person who could subvert his control like that.
Timeless Cognition was also pretty good, it was always good to have intelligent minions. But, Six didn’t need this to make intelligent golems, his skill informed him that with the proper reagents true intelligence could be achieved. It also informed him that golems that were too intelligent could ignore the will of their master. It wasn’t something he wanted to experiment with until he gathered more wisdom. Immutable Bond might counteract golem independence but it wasn’t something that Six could soon combo.
Sovereign Restoration was insanely good, useful not only for its staying power but with the increased mana regeneration his magical golems could output more spells which meant more damage. This was also something he could produce with a well chosen reagent but unlike Timeless Cognition it had no potential for negative outcomes. Furthermore, with his golems being capable of leveling up, giving them regeneration would allow them survive more encounters as long as they were owned by a shrewd master. It also synergised with his own regenerative powers, allowing his creations to keep up with him.
Titan’s Might was a bit one dimensional. Great if he wanted to create a team and society of warriors but Six wanted something more general. He might be able to reverse engineer the effect with Unbound Comprehension but he might not. Not a gamble he was interested in.
Arcane Fusion was also insanely good. Outside of runework It was incredibly hard to layer enchantments on top of one another. Each additional layer represented a huge increase in difficulty. This would allow for maximum optimization in the amount of enchantments he could shove into a single piece. Whatever he made it wouldn’t have a perfect enchantment efficiency but Six wouldn’t have to deal with the imperfections introduced by multiple enchantments. This was something he could overcome with stats and skill though.
He picked Sovereign Restoration, the general benefits to the craft overall were undeniable and now it would be as though everything he created could have two reagent effects.
Evolution choice imprinted: Sovereign Restoration
Technique choice awarded.
You gained 1000(+150) experience points for reaching Master status in Enchantment.
That last 1150 bumped him up to 37834 experience. Charles had told him the leveling threshold and Six knew the next one was at 45500 so that left 7666 experience points to gather to hit level ten. Roughly fifteen spectres, maybe more now that he was a higher level.
There was an instant where he regretted spending that time assisting with the townhall but he saw that thought for what it was, nonsense.
Skill increase: Mindfulness - Initiate - 3
He needed to grind up 7666 experience and that meant getting back out there. But he needed to stop off in town for some enchanting supplies and he needed to get a new suit of armor going. He laughed, so much for being a hermit.
When he and Nibbler emerged from his cave it looked like midday. He suddenly tuned into how tired he actually was, pulling an all-nighter after a dungeon dive, but now he was basically doing inventory management. He could rest after the easy logistical stuff.
When Six entered her smithy Ravna was midway working on a giant two handed sword, hammering rhythmically. The small woman looked up and smiled at him before shouting, “I’ll only be a half hour at most.”
He nodded and her hammering continued away.
He went outside and sat down and watched the people from afar, taking his pipe out for a puff. He wasn’t chilling for but five minutes before a young vrill boy came running up causing Six to return the pipe and furiously bat away the clouds of smoke.
“Sir Six, my master Harriet has finished your first commission and she has sent me to bring it to you!” The boy bowed and held out a long cloth wrapped package.
SIx could see the kid quivering but grabbed the bundle and flicked the kid a copper. “Thanks.”
The kid ran off and Six unwrapped the package to reveal a beautiful bow. Blood red in colour the wood of the bow appeared deeper than possible through the translucent crimson as he inspected it.
- Blood Bow -
Rank: Enhanced
Rarity: Unusual
Weight - 4 KG
Durability 900/900
Traits: User can spend 0.15% of maximum health to increase speed of launched projectile by 1% up to a maximum of 500%
Nice. He would have to enchant this carefully. But not yet, he had to grind and hit level ten.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
He stowed the bow away and quickly grabbed some food before heading back to Ravna’s
She had finished the current stage of her project and she sat drinking tea in her smithy, staring at the forge. Six got straight to the point, there was no time for flirtations. He showed her the ingots he’d retrieved from the facility.
Her eyes bugged and she smiled like he’d never seen before. She picked up a stillver ingot and turned it over, examining it with oohs and aahs. She held the glassteel with a trepidatious glance.
“Do you think you could make me full plate out of this?” he asked.
“Yes. There’s enough immortal steel here to create an entire set for you. Alternatively I could use multiple combinations of the higher quality materials to create a mismatched material set.
“What would you suggest?”
“I am not a combat classer but I would tell you to commission the immortal steel full plate and I’ll use a tad of the stillver as a reagent in my forging. I think it's just what I need to progress and it will get me sharp enough to work on the weapons that you should create with the rest of those materials.”
Six nodded. “Alright immortal steel full plate it is, in the meantime. Do you happen to have a spear?”
She nodded and passed him one she had resting in the back. “This counts as one job.”
He nodded. “So that's twenty left after the full plate? It's going faster than I expected.”
She nodded. “You’ve been busy.”
“Too much to get done.” Six made a face. “I just want to sit around and smoke weed to be honest.”
“I can tell,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “You smell smoky.”
Six shrugged. “Is it a problem?”
She shook her head, no.
Six yawned. “When should I expect the set to be ready?”
“A week and a half? Maybe two? I have a project for Alison I have to finish first.”
“Oh, that sword?”
“Yea, she brought me a bunch of steel and an enhanced branch of a blood tree. Wanted a sword made out of it.”
Six grimaced. “Did she now?”
“...Yes? She's been having trouble with that Amog fellow and she wanted something that could tilt the scale.“
He breathed a sigh and relaxed. “When will you be done? Enchantments take best right after the finishing stage.”
She raised her eyebrow at him with a grin on her face. “Perhaps you should discuss it with her before you play around with your magic. Are you sure you want to help?”
“Perhaps she should discuss it with me before she commandeers my materials.”
“Your materials?”
“I don’t know anyone else who has killed a blood tree recently.”
Ravna looked at him, impressed, then she shrugged. “I can’t exactly give the branch back at this stage.”
Six waved a dismissive gesture at that. “That's ok. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But I do think I have a right to tinker on that sword, aaaaand it will definitely increase its power and help tilt that scale.”
Ravna was starting to come around, Six could see it in her expression.
“Come on, it’ll be a nice surprise.”
“If you really want to help you should go fight with her.”
Six’s good mood left him. “I have no wish to fight for others.”
“Yet you allow her to fight for you?”
“How is she fighting for me?”
Ravna looked at him as if he was an idiot. “Amog is styling himself as a warlord. Do you think he would let you come and go as Alison does? Do you think he would take one branch instead of everything you held? It is common knowledge what direction you live in and there are those of us who know exactly where you call home. Do you wish for Charles to be tortured until he led Amog to the only competent enchanter in over a week of travel?”
“Why is it common knowledge what direction I live in?”
“You think people wouldn’t talk about the ley master blood mage hermit who killed a koatl shaman, grew a smithy, and brought a magical blood log reagent to help the entire town?”
“Hmmm. That makes sense, I suppose. But I’m busy right now, maybe after my current goal. Now should I show up to enchant the sword or not?”
She narrowed her eyes at him in frustration. ”Tomorrow night, I should be finishing the blade. Come then.”
“Aight, thank you.” He stored the rest of the ingots back up and got ready to continue on with his day taking a deep breath and sighing.
“Big sigh,” she said, “You ok?”
Six nodded, “just tired. Didn’t get any sleep last night.”
“Lucky girl.”
“Not like that,” Six fumbled but he still smiled at the comment.
He went to leave but she held him back to take his measurements “one more time,” then he went back to his cave to finish the day off. He was tired but not enough to impede his skill. It was time to enchant some things. Yet, when he closed his door, he decided that enchanting in that state would be foolish and promptly curled up to sleep
Broka 23rd 10,391
Waking in the morning he performed his routine, stretch, train, and meditation through visualization.
Then he began to create the logical beginnings of his undead loadout.
He first wished to start with a new, more reliable weapon.
He had the new Vital Surge and could always imbue that spell if he needed. He had three technique choices available to him and those would significantly change how he would create his weapon but overall, the life spear he intended to create would be temporary. Still this was a good opportunity to test his new skills.
But first, he selected the awarded technique prompt and was presented with some options.
For reaching Apprentice rank in Enchantment you have been awarded a technique selection:
Rune of Illumination
Rune of Resilience
Rune of Elevation
Rune of the Beetle
That was it. No descriptions beyond the names. He had a light spell so illumination was off the table, even though it may have some sort of divination effect. Elevation sounded like a movement rune but too constricted to, well, elevation. Who knows what the beetle rune did, probably something to do with beetles though. So Six picked the Rune of Resilience.
Rune of Resilience:
Physical and Mental Endurance: This rune enhances physical and mental resilience, granting individuals or objects the ability to withstand physical strain, fatigue, or mental stress. It bolsters their stamina, allowing them to persevere in demanding situations.
He was immediately hit with another series of prompts.
Minor Rune of Resilience upgrades to Moderate Rune of Perpetual Resilience:
Protection against External Forces: Healing and Recovery: When incorporated into enchantments, the Rune of Resilience aids in healing and recovery processes. It accelerates the natural healing abilities of individuals, hastens the mending of wounds, or rejuvenates physical and mental energies.
Moderate Rune of Perpetual Resilience upgrades to Major Rune of Perpetual Resilient Protection: The Rune of Resilience provides a defensive barrier against external threats, such as physical attacks, harmful energies, or curses. It strengthens the natural defenses of individuals or objects, making them more resistant to harm.
Major Rune of Perpetual Resilient Protection upgrades to Magnum Rune of Four Fold Resilience:
Psychic and Emotional Resilience: In more advanced applications, the Rune of Resilience can enhance psychic and emotional resilience. It helps individuals endure psychic attacks, resist mental manipulation, or remain emotionally stable in challenging situations.
Each evolution felt like his brain was rolling but it quickly passed.
His skill in Enchantment informed him that he lacked the many thousands of mana it would require to even inscribe the major rune much less the magnum. Still, it was something to work towards.
For reaching Journeyman rank in Enchantment you have been awarded a technique selection:
Rune of Wisdom
Rune of Illusion
Rune of Nexus
Rune of Resonance
Illusions were too passive and while they could incapacitate, Six was looking for more tangible effects. The Rune of Wisdom most likely increased aspects of a target's wisdom stat but Six passed over it for the same reasoning as Titan’s Might. It was now a matter between Nexus and Resonance.
Nexus implied a single point and linkages, a web of connections with a center. While Resonance implied a synchronization, a uniformity.
Six selected the Rune of Nexus and was once again hit with a series of upgrade prompts.
Rune of Nexus:
Energy Convergence: This rune serves as a focal point for the convergence of energies from various sources. It gathers and concentrates energies, creating a potent and concentrated force at the nexus point.
Minor Rune of Nexus upgrades to Moderate Rune of Amplifying Nexus:
Power Amplification: The Rune of Nexus amplifies the power and magnitude of the energies converging at its point. It magnifies the effects and strengths of spells, rituals, or enchantments executed within its vicinity.
Moderate Rune of Amplifying Nexus upgrades to Major Rune of Perfect Nexus:
Ritual Facilitation: When incorporated into rituals, the Rune of Nexus aids in the gathering and channeling of energies. It facilitates the smooth flow and integration of different energies, allowing for the successful execution of complex or demanding rituals.
Major Rune of Perfect Nexus upgrades to Magnum Rune of the Ever Folding Nexus:
Dimensional Connections: In advanced applications, the Rune of Nexus can serve as a bridge or gateway between dimensions or realms. It enables the traversal or communication between different planes of existence, allowing for interdimensional travel or interaction.
Nice. Last one.
For reaching Master rank in Enchantment you have been awarded a technique selection:
Rune of Transformation
Rune of Amplification
Rune of Warding
Rune of Control
He knew he would pick Control as soon as he saw it but considered the others briefly.
Transformation might be able to produce movement but he figured it would be more likely to alter to shape and other properties rather than energy states.
Amplification might stack with his Rune of the Ever Folding Nexus but he doubted that was worth it.
Warding might stack with his Rune of Four Fold Resilience but again, it didn’t seem worth it.
He picked Control.
Rune of Control:
Object Manipulation: The Rune of Control can be used to manipulate and control objects or elements. It allows the user to manipulate objects remotely, influencing their behavior or directing their actions. This can be employed to activate functions, control the movement of weapons, or even manipulate the environment to gain an advantage.
Minor Rune of Control upgrades to Moderate Rune of Dominate Control:
Domination of Magical Energies: When inscribed on magical items or artifacts, the Rune of Control grants the ability to control and manipulate magical energies. It can potentially allow the user to redirect, absorb, or amplify magical forces according to their will, enhancing their spellcasting abilities or altering the effects of magical phenomena.
Moderate Rune of Dominate Control upgrades to Major Rune of Commanding Dominate Control:
Command and Influence: The Rune of Control can enable the user to command or control certain creatures. It grants the ability to establish a mental link or dominance over specific types of beings, such as animals, spirits, or summoned entities. This allows the user to issue commands or direct their actions to a certain extent. In more subtle applications, the Rune of Control can enhance persuasive abilities. It grants the user charisma and persuasive power, making it easier to sway the opinions, beliefs, or decisions of others through speech or presence.
Major Rune of Commanding Dominate Control upgrades to Magnum Rune of Unquestioned Control:
Mind Control: The primary effect of the Rune of Control is the ability to manipulate the minds of others. It enables the user to exert influence over the thoughts, emotions, or actions of individuals, compelling them to obey commands or altering their behavior to a certain extent. This can range from subtle suggestions to complete mental domination, depending on the strength of the enchantment and the willpower of the target.
Holy shit all of this was a lot of information.
All of these runes were stronger than he was expecting, especially once the master technique evolutions were brought into consideration. Even if he was thousands of mana away from using the higher ranked runic evolutions.
Now, to actually fucking enchant.
His rune of Four Fold Resilience offered healing properties but in the form of increased regen, that was an entirely internal effect and wasn’t something he could use to combat the spectres, so he began on a different form of enchanting.
He would imbue the minor cycle spell Vital Surge into the spear.