Unfortunately, I was not able to make detergent with mana-festation. After getting healed by Jeremy I’d gone down stream of the river near camp to wash off the robe. I had tried for a few minutes to make the cleaning substance, but found that I was completely unable to. I could make a puddle of mana that acted like a fluid, but whenever a drop broke off from the greater whole it just fizzled out of existence. This had led me down a bit of a rabbit-hole of testing the limits of the skill, and what I found was actually pretty interesting.
Any weapon I made with the skill was made entirely of one material. I wasn’t actually sure what that material was, or if it was just mana in it’s purest form, but by all accounts it acted like a metal. I could make soft materials, like I had when I’d conjured a pillow a while back. The skill seemed to understand my intent when making an item. This had naturally led to seeing just how much my intentions effected what I was creating, and as it turns out it governs pretty much everything about the item.
I could make floppy swords, a blanket that was really flexible yet very heavy, a dense brick of mana that was extremely heavy, and I was even able to make a small cloud of mana that quickly dispersed and disappeared.
Sadly, I wasn’t able to make any chemical compounds or anything else of that nature. Anything I made was made up of the same magical materials, and while I could change it’s physical properties I couldn’t make anything like acid for example.
After I’d finished up testing what exactly I could and couldn’t do with the skill, I’d gone back into camp to grab something to eat, but was cut off when Blair had spotted me entering camp. She had stopped what she was doing and ran right up to me.
“Did you find any strong monsters?” She asked, hopeful. That hope quickly faded when she saw that I was not dragging the carcass of a beast behind me.
“I did, but none that would have been good for armor making.” I say.
“What did you find?”
“Kobolds.”
She glares at me. “Those are perfectly fine for armor making. Their scales probably could have made something sturdy.” She finally seems to notice the robe I was wearing and grabs the sleeve, inspecting it. “Where’d you find this?”
“It was worn by one of the kobolds.” I say, gently tugging my arm back down to my side. She lets go of the sleeve and lets me reclaim the limb.
“If you find anything else like it, bring it to me.”
“Why?”
“So I can study the craftsmanship. It would probably be pretty useful for you if I could make more things with enchantments like that siphoning one you got there. By the way, do you think you could turn that off? It’s making my mana regenerate way slower than it should.”
“Oh, sorry.” I say, though I didn’t know how to turn it off. I instead dump mana my into it until it is full, but even then I can feel that it is drawing in mana from her and refilling my own reserves. I just take the robe off, hanging it over my shoulder instead. “Is that better?”
“Much. Now go and bring me something to work with!” She announces, before marching off to get back to her work.
The one to find me next on my quest to find food was Roderick, the head guard of the camp. This was my first time seeing him since I’d watched him and his team take out a goblin city. It felt like it had been forever ago, but in reality it had only been a few days.
“River, do you have a second?” He asks, talking quietly.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Come with me. I don’t want anyone else hearing this.”
I follow him out to the edge of the city, and a bit beyond that. Once we are somewhere that he thinks nobody will be hearing us, he stops and turns to me. “What level are you?” He asks.
“Why do you need to know?”
He sighs and double checks that nobody is nearby before continuing. “Some of the camps near us have been reporting that there is somebody on floor two killing hunt parties right as they enter the floor. An archer managed to inspect him before retreating, and as of 12 hours ago he reached level 10.”
I grimace, having known something like this would happen eventually. Somebody was bound to take advantage of the easy targets eventually, and it seems somebody finally gave in to temptation. “Do you know where he is right now?”
“He was last sighted camping the entrance to floor two that is directly north of ours.”
“Do you think he’s still there?”
“Probably. He only got there an hour ago and they are still sending their strongest in hopes of dealing with him quickly. Do you think you could deal with him?”
“Easily.” I say, immediately realizing how cocky that probably sounded. “I’m level 19.”
A look of shock appears on his face, but disappears a second later. “Then it shouldn’t be too much for you. I’m sure all the nearby camps would be extremely grateful if you could deal with this person.”
“I’ll handle it.” I say, before realizing something. It was currently nighttime, meaning I couldn’t see the sun. “Which way is north?”
__________
Adam sat in the tree as he waited for the signature flash of light that indicated someone had entered the floor. He was perched only about 20 meters from the entrance, close enough to see anybody coming in but far enough to not be illuminated by the light of any torches they may bring with them. Nobody had come through the entrance for nearly 3 hours now. He would likely need to find a new entrance soon.
Just then, he spotted the flash of light he had been waiting for. Nocking an arrow, he took aim at the mage that had arrived. He wore brown robes and had long staff in one hand. Adam raised an eyebrow, wondering if he had made it himself. It didn’t matter. Adam released the arrow, sending it straight towards the ground in front of the mage. He didn’t want to kill him, as that would just be a waste. Since he couldn’t get any experience from killing those yet to evolve, he needed to make a game of it. He needed to make it a true hunt. Experience gain was a lot slower this way, but it was better than trying to get through that terrible tenth trial on floor 3.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
The arrow landed at the feet of the mage, though it hadn’t even made him flinch. The mage looked in his direction, but through the darkness Adam knew there was little chance he could be seen. At least, he’d thought that. After having to leap to another branch to avoid a ball of mana shot his way, he was beginning to think maybe this wouldn’t be as boring as he’d thought. That put a smile on his face, as that only meant more experience for him.
__________
My mana bolt impacted the tree near the archer, the dim light that came off of the spell having given me a better view of my attacker for a brief moment. He’d hopped to another tree, but had still been easy enough to track. With perception being the focus of my soul stat I could see well enough to track a moving object in the dark. Given that I had no light source on me, the archer likely had some way to see in the dark as well.
I send a few more mana bolts in his direction, each one with not very much mana put into it. If it was true that his level was so much lower than mine, then I wouldn’t need to hit him with anything particularly strong to do some decent damage.
The archer managed to shoot a few more arrows my way, each one easy enough to side step. He seemed to realize long distance attacks would have a hard time hitting me, so he began making his way closer to me by hopping from tree to tree up in the branches.
In an effort to take me out in one swift strike, he leapt from the top of the trees, a short sword pointed right for my head as he descended. A flash of magic appeared around him as his speed increased even more. I stepped to the side just in time to dodge the attack, and while he tried to retreat brought my staff down directly on his skull.
He wasn’t knocked out thanks to probably having a relatively high body stat for his level, but he was dazed enough that I had time to conjure some thick handcuffs around his wrists before he recovered. I also summoned chains around his legs for good measure. If he had run away then the restraints would disappear after getting too far away from me.
Making the two different items at once was really pushing what I could manage with the skill, as the concentration needed for both items to keep their shape was not insignificant, but I had good enough control over the skill to keep them solid.
The assassin made a few angry sounding noises, accompanied by several profanities, but I ignored him in favor of just dragging him back to the floor entrance. He tried to break free a few times, but with just how much higher of a level I was he didn’t really stand much of a chance of getting away. He seemed to realize this and just silently accepted his defeat.
When I made it back to the first floor, I was immediately surrounded by the highest leveled members of the group I had gone to help. It was understandable that they had struggled to take this guy down considering that none of them had even reached level 10.
When I had arrived at this outpost, I had barely even spoken to anybody before heading down to the second floor, and the only person I recognized was Hassan, the leader of the outpost and the only one I had spoken to thus far.
“Thank you.” Hassan said, shaking my free hand. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble for you. Do you need any healing?”
“No, I’m fine.” I say, shaking my head. “I didn’t get hurt at all.”
“That is good to hear. I hadn’t expected it to be so quick though. Did you manage to catch him guard?”
I explained all of what had happened after entering the staircase, but truth be told there wasn’t much to tell. I had just gone in, hit him on the head, and had taken him prisoner. After explaining the story, and did have one question to end it.
“So what do you want me to do with him?” I ask.
The question makes everyone silent, and I had been expecting the silence. If they didn’t have an answer I already knew what I would do, but maybe they would realize on their own what was necessary.
“I...” Hassan trails off. “If I am being honest I had hoped he would die in the fight. We are not equipped to keep him prisoner.”
“It’s not too late to kill him.” I say, shrugging.
The looks I get in return are a mix of pale faces, disgust, and a few who seem to understand that it has to be done. Thankfully, Hassan is among those who have the solemn yet resolved expressions.
“That may very well be for the best.” He admits. “Though, I would prefer if we could do it somewhere else. I don’t want others seeing what we must do.”
“If you say so.” I respond. I start walking back down the stairs behind me. “Follow me please.”
Me and Hassan walk down the stairs, with me dragging the now thrashing assassin behind us. He had clearly not been expecting the death penalty to be ordered so quickly.
“You can’t do this!” He shouted. “This is murder!”
Thankfully we had already made it to the second floor, so nobody else had to hear his screaming, but I had to admit it was making me pretty uncomfortable.
“This is not murder, this is justice.” Hassan replies, his face hardening with resolve.
“I deserve a trial! You can’t prove the things I am accused of!”
I yank hard on the assassins chains restraints, facing him towards me. I glare at him as I speak. “You don’t get a trial. You don’t get a second chance. You tried to kill me, and that is enough reason for me to kill you.”
That shuts him up for a brief moment, and before he can continue, Hassan speaks.
“What is your name?” He asks the man.
The assassin pauses, conflicted. “Adam.” He says after a moment.
“Well Adam, I must say you really messed up. You are going to die now, and you will await judgement day. I will make sure you get buried, but beyond that I offer no more kindness.”
After we have reached a point far enough away from the entrance to the floor, I hold the assassin still and look at Hassan. “Would you like to do the honors?”
“No, you won the fight, and you deserve the experience.” He shakes his head.
“I’d rather not look at it that way, but if you want to then just know that you would benefit far more than me. I am level 19 after all.”
Both Hassan and the assassin stare at me for a few seconds before Hassan nods. “Very well then. I will do it.”
Hassan doesn’t seem to have any weapons on him, which makes me wonder for a moment how he is going to do it, but I get my answer a moment later when he places both hands on either side of the restrained mans head. Both hands glow, and the next 30 seconds are filled with shrieks from the assassin as Adam uses whatever spell that is to kill the man. The white light of his magic makes me think he must be a healer class. Had he found a way to pivot the class towards a more damaging skill set?
I don’t ask, as in the moment I feel like it would be super inappropriate. After the assassin slumps over, Hassan lets out a deep breath, and I pretend not to notice the small tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wipes it before reading the system message in front of him. His eyes glow immediately after, and his body seems to pulse with energy, but it only lasts about half a second before he is back to normal. Something about the healer seemed different, and it takes a moment for me to pinpoint exactly what it is.
“Did you just evolve?” I ask.
Hassan takes a moment to adjust to what I knew was an influx of stat points. After taking a moment and a deep breath, he responds. “Yeah.”
“What kind of class did you chose?” I ask, genuinely curious. I was almost certain he would have been offered a class related to that life draining spell he had just used, but whether or not he chose it was a mystery.
“Combat Healer.” He says, shaking his head. “I didn’t want to pick something like that, but it has become very clear recently that we need some way to defend ourselves.”
“I’m glad you came to that conclusion.” I say, nodding. “Things are a lot different than they used to be. We can’t just give any random person a weapon capable of defending them anymore. We need some people strong enough to defend those around them.”
“Is that why you have strived for such a high level?” He asks, looking up at me.
I think about that question for a moment. I would be lying if I said that was the truth, but why did I feel such a need to raise my level and practice my skills? Part of it was definitely that I loved the thrill of fighting, but there was definitely something else to it.
“To learn more of what I am capable of.” I say, shrugging. “I spent my entire life before the system wanting to know why things worked, and I even dedicated my career to learning the fundamental rules of the universe. With how things are now, and how clearly impossible some of what I’ve seen should be, it has become blindingly obvious to me that I have so much more to learn.”