It didn’t take long for Jack to convince Bastian to help him craft the Identification Lens using the micro-adjuster. The smith was also fascinated by the item, so he agreed to work on it with a strange enthusiasm. Sure, Jack could finish it himself, but it would be inconvenient and too time-consuming for his taste.
Hearing the term “Technopolis” made Bastian immediately emit his aura like a puffed-up cat, warning Jack not to mention it in his face ever again.
A few days were required for Bastian to study the design, which Jack used to accelerate his study to unlock the path of Arcanist. Money hadn’t yet returned to him in ample amount, so he was forced to delay his business intentions.
Being a graduate student, Jack was granted the second level of accessibility to the school’s library, allowing him to get his hand on a few more advanced titles. Meinhard had already taught Jack the basic stuff thoroughly, so it didn’t take Jack too much time to reach 100% progress on the system’s interface.
The skill nodes were unlocked, revealing the branches of Arcanist mastery, including fire, earth, air, water, light, and lightning. Jack giggled at the skills name, more specifically, the lack of creativity in naming them. Windbolt, Firebolt, Waterbolt, Earthbolt, Lightbolt, and, unsurprisingly, Lightningbolt. Jack reckoned the founders of the Arcanist faction had either thought they were being funny or they were just a bunch of lazy nerds.
Eager to try all of them out in his next practice with Thomas, Jack immediately put some points into Firebolt and Lightningbolt.
Firebolt (Herald, Active, Magical Damage, Multiple Targets)
Description: The simplest attacking method with fire.
Level: 1 (Requirements for next level: Spr >= 11).
Mana cost: Low mana per use.
Cooldown: 5s.
Effects:
Deal Fire damage upon impact.
+10% Fire damage.
Lightningbolt (Herald, Active, Magical Damage, Multiple Targets)
Description: The simplest attacking method with lightning.
Level: 1 (Requirements for next level: Spr >= 11).
Mana cost: Low mana per use.
Cooldown: 5s.
Effects:
Deal Lightning damage upon impact.
+10% Lightning damage.
Relatively speaking, Arcanish must have been the closest thing to the magic system of the previous world No. 146, for power in that realm was also channeled through elemental mastery. The rebirth may have introduced Jack to a new world with a greatly expanded magical structure, but with Arcanist specifically, Jack had even managed to impress Meinhard, not with his usual quick learning capability but with his seemingly out-of-nowhere comprehensive understanding of the faction’s core principles.
Jack proceeded to calm his mind and put his right hand forward, directing it at a big rock in the distance. As he channeled the mana inside his body, as well as the concept provided by the System, the temperature around his hand increased, and the flame appeared, swirling itself into a ball of fire. With a simple thought, Firebolt was released. The projectile wasn’t exceptionally fast, but enough to be effectively utilized. At the contact point, the fireball splashed out, burning a large chunk of the rock’s surface.
Jack stared at his hand nostalgically; it was also the first magical spell he had ever cast in his life.
Thomas, having heard the blast, ran to the sight and opened his eyes wide at the big black burned mark. He had vaguely realized Jack had somehow been awakened through his friend’s advanced teaching lately, but he had reckoned his friend to be of either Warrior or Artificer due to his involvement with the forge.
“Watch this,” Jack said with a smile.
With a similar move, a blue Lightningbolt the size of his finger was unleashed. This time, the blast came with a thunderous sound, its speed so fast Thomas didn’t even have time time to blink. The surface of the miserable rock was now cracked with a web-like pattern.
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Jack could see the awe in Thomas’s eyes. He knew he was playing a dangerous card by revealing such a secret to his friend. It might prove a double edge sword later on, but for now, in order to gain Thomas’s trust, he himself had to trust his buddy first.
“How was it?” Jack asked.
“That was FREAKING AWESOME!!!” Thomas screamed, tossing his arms and legs around. Yes, Jack was also excited about this, but not to that extent.
“You will be able to do it someday,” Jack said with an assertive voice, putting his hand on Thomas’ shoulder.
The Horvarth child nodded his head continuously. Ever since that day on his return to Oxdale, he had been blaming himself for not putting more trust in his little boss. Seeing Jack diligently and unwaveringly training him afterward had given him even more motivation to press himself onward.
“How’s the training I’ve been asking you to do?”
“Hmm, it doesn’t seem to be working, even though I have not missed a single step,” Thomas said, scratching his head worryingly.
Jack thought about it with a frown on his face. He had been using the knowledge from the System and Legacy Orb to introduce Thomas to the path of Nightblade. Under Jack’s ever-watchful eyes, the faction-specific mana manipulation method was practiced without any obvious mistake. Still, the result hadn’t been promising. Hard, the boy had tried, but his progress at mastering Presence of the NIght remained unchanged.
Something feels wrong, Jack thought to himself.
“Boss?” Thomas called out.
“Oh well,” Jack said. “From now on, I’ll be showing you some of Juan’s moves and how to perform them.”
Seeing Jack point his hand at the rock again, Thomas was delighted.
After a few days, Bastian had finally agreed to personally craft Identification Lens for Jack.
“This item,” Bastian concluded, “is very unique.”
Jack nodded. It’s a System item, duh.
It’s simple yet complicated at the same time,” Bastian continued. “What strange is that you yourself have to participate in the crafting process.”
Jack didn’t reply but instead quietly watched the smith preparing the required materials. Bastian was slowly learning what Meinhard had, to question Jack’s intentions less, as long as they got something out of it.
The Micro-adjuster was activated, and the piece of Light Essence was sunken into the spherical device. After a short while, it was scattered into tiny particles, floating inside the crafting space. Then, the soft material used to make the cover was added in, and Bastian began the dance of his fingers, shaping the item in accordance with the instruction.
Finally, Jack stepped forward to add the finishing touch. Per the System’s request, he had to assign his own signature mana signal to the item, creating a secret link for it to work in his favor. Unfamiliar with the needle-like function of the machine, Jack eventually took more time than he would like to finish this step.
“I can’t stand the way you toyed with it,” Bastian berated as he turned the Micro-adjuster off.
“Oh, as if your half-ass instruction was any helpful,” Jack responded.
“Bah, and I thought you were the smart one.”
Once a scholar himself, Jack could confidently conclude that Bastian should never stand on the podium. No wonder Jack has never seen any other apprentice; they must all have left right after the first day.
Bastian carefully used a pincer to pick up the two newly crafted lenses, put them on a sterilized glass frame, and brought it to Jack.
“Can I try it?” The old smith asked.
Jack was about to nod when a notification table appeared.
WARNING
Identification Lens is a product that can only work for the user of the System.
Jack instinctively snatched the lenses back. Something ugly seemed bound to happen if Jack let it be used by others. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, though. The System item was meant for the returners after all; the Reset Clock, for example, would be useless in the hand of anyone else.
“Yikes, I’m not gonna steal it from you or anything!” Bastian frowned.
Though annoyed, the old man still dutifully turned around and put away his precious Micro-adjuster, then rewarded himself with a cup of fresh beer. Bastian didn’t bother thinking about it too much, for the experience of crafting such a peculiar item was enough of a reward in itself. It was quite an eye-opening event for his forging life.
Jack carefully grabbed both sides of the item with two of his fingers, then put it on his eyes. The pair of lenses gave his eyeballs a cold touch, then a feeling of the two merging together. Jack blinked but didn’t feel the uncomfortable contact of wearing lenses for the first time. As he put his fingers close to his eyes, though, the item easily came out.
Jack took a step back and tested the item by looking around. With the Artificer’s knowledge already equipped, info tables popped up instantly and continuously as he commanded them to, revealing descriptions of any item's characteristics, as well as its effects.
Micro-adjuster (Tools, ???, ???, Upgradable)
Description: A necessary tool for any skillful Artificer.
How to use: ???.
Effects:
Analyze small items and make adjustments at Artificer’s will.
*Some information cannot be displayed due to insufficient knowledge.
Jack tried it on Bastian.
Name: Bastian Kahl.
Race: Hybrid.
Age: 64.
Rank: High Crusader.
Level: 31.
Faction: Artificer.
Strength: 83.
Agility: 46.
Spirit: 190.