Skill obtained Refine Metal: Folding
Skill level up, Mana Sense 37 > 38
Skill level up, Refine Metal: Folding 1 > 6
Skill level up, Fire Resistance 14 > 23
Skill level up, All-Weapons Proficiency 28 > 30
Will-o'-Weal - Novice Rank, Intermediate mastery expanded
Please, I can explain the re-expansion! It was probably on the thirty fourth cube or so that it occurred to me how having to make these cubes for every 40 x 20 centimeters of stone would get tedious and kinda expensive, very fast! And making smaller cubes might help keep the cost from blowing up, but that would make the crafting process increasingly tedious instead, and is therefore inapplicable. The same can be said for increasing cube size in exchange for less demand on cube supply as that would increase cost exponentially.
So considering my skill sets, I figured it is much easier to alter the spell instead, with one lazy but rather effective approach; that is by greatly increasing the capabilities of one Weal-Life instead. Quality over quantity, one cube for more area covered. It is perfection! If a god of being lazy while still getting things done very well-ly exists, I believe they would highly approve… oh, and note that Heat Resistance didn't level up, even after spending time inside of a smithy, stupid Threshold!
'Inspect, intermediate mastery only please. Thanks!'
** DING **
Will-o'-Weal—By providing double the mana cost, a control Core—if none are present—will manifest on the caster's hand while a tiny Pseudo-Mana Core will manifest within each creature, improving their Mana Control. A pseudo-karmic mana thread connects the control Core to each and every summoned creature and anyone holding the core may utilize to freely communicate with them—10 conjured creatures may now combine into one larger greater existence that are 5 times more effective than the sum of all 10 smaller forms combined.
Previously one Weal-Life can cover an area of 40 x 20 centimeters, and go as far as 10 centimeters deep. Ten of them in 2 rows of 5 would cover an area as large as 80 x 200 centimeters. 5 times that is 400 x 200 centimeters, or—resized to a more manageable way—800 x 100 centimeters. So, by my calculation about two cubes for every one meter of tunnel dug—said tunnel being 3 meters tall and 4 wide—much more preferable than needing upwards of 80 smaller cubes. Not to mention they will have enough extra mana to use their other functions, Light for example.
Surely it is very noticeable how this fusion is a matter of exponentially increasing their quality, where 1 + 1 equals 5 instead. Allowing them much better control and power… Still not very smart though.
Stepping out of Agus's Enchanting Chamber, I stare at the setting sun while stretching away non-existent muscle stiffness. Even so, the act itself feels great! Now then, I wonder how Henry and the miners are doing? He better not have more things for me to do, as I wanna see that weird tunnel very much.
I can Sense plenty of people around our kill zone below, but no Henry or anyone who seems to be Shaping Stones. Blink—opting to appear on the stairs, out of anyone's line of sight this time. I calmly walk down and exit into the room. As expected, by appearing this way I can attract less attention. As proven by how only less than five people even glanced at me, and even then only for less than a quarter of a second... Are 50 cubes enough? Are we ready to start digging?
"Zen!" Jennifer yelled, from across the room. Ah, she was outside the range of my Mana Sense when I was checking in from above previously… well, so much for laying low. I watch her wave her hands in a come here gesture.
Blink, I've been identified anyways. Stepping out of the spatial tunnel within polite range of her, "what? Did you not notice I was trying to be discreet!?"
"Su~re," she say, extending the word as a tease. "One look at your smaller armor plates and everyone knows it's you. Besides, what purpose does play-acting as a ninja do for you?"
I guess she's right, so I shrug and ask. "So, how deep have they dug?"
"Maybe like 70–90 or so meters… They needed to rest a lot, and they are having trouble keeping the walls at bay." She replies. By my estimate, they've been working for about 8 hours now, maybe less if they need constant rest.
"Okay… So, can I go in? The westward tunnel they dug is right there, and it's calling to me~." I jest and make voices. "Come in Zen~, we want you inside of us."
"Stop being weird!" Jennifer said with a chuckle. "Sure you can go, it's not like anyone can stop you. But did you complete your Henry-given-quest? Because I believe that is very important, right now, they're resorting to manpower as a way to continuously infuse the growing walls."
"Of course the quest have been completed, I just need to report it." I grin while half of my armor flows into its spatial storage, rarely is my face covered by armor nowadays. Opting to simply wear them in the form of a simple breastplate, and only taking more out as the situation necessitates—or when I feel like it. "Well, see you later then!"
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Blink. Why walk when you can teleport, or fly… Which reminds me that I should unlink—there is a rare dungeon drop that allows this—with Gon and pass him off to Mini… My musing was cut short at the sight of a human line, standing on alternating side of the tunnel, about every 10 - 20 meters or so apart. Each touching the walls in their own individual ways; some simply sitting on the floor, other leaning onto the walls, one partly embedded himself into the stone. I walk by him while making extra sure to keep my eyes straight ahead.
Huh, wait a moment. They're stuck here keeping the walls under control while I have just the right thing to help. Thus I had to once again keep my eyes straight as I walk back to approach the first person in line. Taking out two cubes I greet the man. "Hi, I'm gonna embed these cubes into the walls. They'll hopefully maintain the infusion for us. So you're gonna need you push your mana infusion deeper in to free up about 10 centimeters of infused stone on the surface."
After answering a few more questions, the guys agrees and did as requested, promptly, I spend 50 mana and conjure one greater Weal-Life. I had given this method a lot of thought; by having the person give my Weal-Life access to the surface, the simple creatures can simply do its intended purpose while a human's sapient intelligence can adapt as needed and gradually withdraw his control from Weal controlled surfaces. Minor mistakes were made and small parts of the walls had grown, but it was easily fixed.
The creature first assimilated into the cube on my hand, I can Sense it depositing its core in the cube's hollow interior—almost filling it up with only a tiny gap left behind—before I press said object onto the wall, where it extends its control and the 5 centimeter cube slowly sink into the stone. Leaving behind a few millimeters of metallic protrusion approximately half a meter below the ceiling. I made sure to let my intentions be known by the creature, it's responsible for this half of the tunnel and to act as a light source during off-combat. I repeated the process on the other side of the tunnel. Thus successfully freeing the first one meter off of the man's control. Now rinse and repeat every meter.
Zen: Agus, can you order more cubes from the smiths? We're gonna need a lot more. Like hundreds! Maybe even thousands
Agus: Yeah sure. You better reimburse me later
Zen: Sure sure
Zen: Rather, place the order with multiple crafters
A few minutes later, 25 meters of the tunnel walls are freed from requiring human spellcasters; relieving two people from their current boring responsibilities. I was just about to leave and acquire more cubes when someone yelled from further down the tunnel, "Mr Zane, why'd you stop?"
Of course it's the guy half embedded in stone. Nonetheless, it is only polite to reply. "I ran out of the cubes, but we have inquired for more to be put up for production… though, hmm, we don't really need them in the short term." I figured I can just cover all parts of the walls dug so far with uncubed Weal-Lifes and relieve these people from their current situation. They look like people leashed to a spot while waiting for their phones to charge, just without a phone… I kinda understand their feelings.
100 mana every meter. My mana pool is still at 17,940—note to self; devour things—I can manage conjuring 179 greater Weal-Lifes, that would cover 89.5 meters. With SYMPHONY's boost to my resource regeneration; I can manage that amount in another 13 or so minutes while on the move, or a bit less than 9 if I stop to meditate. Not to mention how my method of substituting human infusions with Weal-Lifes spreads by word of mouth, which meant everybody along the line had been informed before I even got anywhere nearby. That is definitely a timesaver, and I verbally praise the people near me for their timely assistance… 86 meters, that is how deep the tunnel runs for—no need for meditation after all. And by the time I caught up to the miners and stoneshapers, my arrival was expected.
"You're kinda early." Henry says once I come within standard talking distance.
"Eh, you can't rush perfection. But if you're already perfect, why slow down." I reply smugly with a wide grin. "But honestly, it was more of an experiment. That it actually works the first time around is purely awesome foresight on my part." … or luck, I thought to myself.
"Sure~, Mr I only have enough material for the first 25 meters." He replies in not-kind. "But great job finding a way, we'll see how it is when put to the test against our local enemy."
"Yeah, me too." I'm the one who made it. So I am even more interested in seeing how they last under heavy duty. "Speaking of enemies, why are you in such a rush? Preparing to properly automate infusing the walls is not something we can easily complete in a few minutes, not hours even. What do you expect to achieve when the workday ends and everyone gets off work?"
"Do you expect them to stay here all night? I mean, I'm as excited as you are to go see what's down there, but not at the risk of our friend's lives, or well deserved rest." I continued as he kept silent. To be honest, I too was very eager to dig on; but being made to stop and craft those cubes gave me time to think things through, thanks to having multiple thoughts. Our defense may be adequate for now, but we're not prepared to venture forth. At least not until we stock up on more of the cubes, assuming they work as intended. Which meant we need to give them a trial run or two, or more. And maybe make several plans regarding what to do when the Quagxytes come-a-haunting.
"... yo--yeah, okay fine. So~ What now?" He asks, looking lost. Maybe partly to sate our thirst for the magical unknown and partly from getting carried away by the situation—as we have been spending these few days rushing to get our new recruits defense ready—that we end up rushing to start the excavation. But no har—
"Quagx—ARGHH!"
"RUN!!"
"HELPPP!"
"BLINK AWAY—" a familiar voice commands.
"DIE YOU MOT—RAHH…"
"—EVERYONE WHO CAN BLINK, GO!" Henry finished his sentence amidst the chaos.
Some people Blinked away as instructed. Some tried to fight back—with mixed results. Unfortunately, my presence provided a mere few but significant enough numbers of these creatures the power they need to slaughter ordinary people. "EVERYONE RUN AWAY, DON'T FIGHT BACK!"
It's at times like these that having multiple lines of thought comes in very beneficial; Magico Disk to control the weaker copies, VLoS any chance we get—the spell knows my intent to only attack the enemies—for additional single target spells, plenty timely heals and Blink, while remaining in perfect control of my melee combat skills. "DON'T BLINK AWAY FROM NOTHING, USE YOUR LEGS TOO!"
"Don't run blindly! Focus on staying away from Zane-copies!!" Henry yelled, not as loud as previously due to there being less uncontrolled screaming. "Zen, keep aggro-ing them!"
It's utter chaos!