"You are still bleeding, " said Tocai.

G checked his status and saw that he was losing one health point per second. He only had ten mana points, which meant it would take four minutes for him to have enough mana to cast a healing spell like Petals or Lesser Healing.

He glanced at the Sphinx, which hadn't moved since the fight began except to watch him. G pulled out his crude mending kit made of copper wires.

"Wait! Try using the robe," suggested Tocai.

G hadn't thought of that. Why not? He channeled mana into his robe, repairing the slashes first before pushing a little more, imagining the cloth wrapping around his shin and calf and then pulling tight. He felt it shrinking and applying pressure to the wound. It had cost him 2 mana, which was not bad at all. The blood drop icon on his stats disappeared, and he put the crude kit away. It wasn't just about staunching the bleed; it was a moment of clarity for G. Perhaps this robe, could be more than just a tool for disguise—it could be his most valuable asset in this world.

He then looked over to Bitsy, who had sat back on her haunches and was licking the two wounds that still bled lightly on her paws. Her health was still over three-quarters.

Tocai analyzed her again.

Bitsy, grurenderer female.

Level 14

Hit Points: 202 of 240

Mana: 120

Description:

Deep within the darkest caves, lurking in the shadows is a creature of legend known as the Grurenderer. This monstrous beast is an imposing figure, standing at a towering height, with muscles rippling beneath its matted fur. Its forearms are thick and powerful, much like those of a gorilla, and its paws are adorned with finger-like claws that could tear apart even the toughest of armors.

They are typically found in the company of greater beings who raise them as pets to guard their temples and homes. Once bonded to a greater being, they are bound for life, if their master dies, they will also perish given time so great is their bond.

The Grurenderer's true terror lies in its ability to turn invisible. It stalks its prey, biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Victims who have survived an encounter with this beast recount a sense of dread that is all-consuming, as if the very air around them has thickened with malevolence.

The Grurenderer's attacks are swift and deadly. It uses its massive claws to rend flesh and shatter bone, and its teeth are razor-sharp and capable of tearing apart even the hardiest of warriors. Those who attempt to flee from the beast will soon find that it is faster than they could ever imagine, its powerful legs propelling it forward in great bounds that shake the very ground beneath them.

Few have ever survived an encounter with the Grurenderer, and those who have emerged with their lives intact carry with them the scars of a battle that will haunt them for the rest of their days. Beware, adventurers, for the Grurenderer is a creature not to be trifled with.

G realized that although Bitsy was tough and had a high level, the metal spiders and the hobgoblin's sword in Muck Town had no problem cutting through her hide.

He waited for his mana to regenerate, then restored Bitsy to full health. She trotted off to gnaw on a large bone, remnants of a long-forgotten beast, treating it like a plaything. G then turned his attention to the broken constructs. Moving cautiously, he approached the spider corpses, keenly aware of the Sphinx's unpredictable nature. He carefully avoided the one nearest the Sphinx, wary of provoking another enigmatic challenge that could spark a new battle. As he touched the first construct spider, he realized that the interface was different from that of the living spiders in Area 51.

Do you wish to use your Artificer skill to retrieve items from this creature?

G selected yes, and then another prompt popped up.

Do you wish to use your enchanting skill to retrieve items from this creature?

G wasn't sure if the prompts were mutually exclusive or if they stacked, so he decided to select yes again to find out. Two things happened at once: he saw a short list of items in a prompt, and several items appeared and fell out of his hand onto the stone floor.

He quickly picked up the items and then read the list that had popped up.

1 x Flame rune - A small orb that emits a constant flame

3 x Clockwork Mechanism - A small, intricate mechanism that seems to operate on its own once activated.

1 x Acid Resistant Plating - this metal is highly resistant to acid.

G was surprised by the new experience of looting a constructed item and finding items he could use to create other things. He looked at the other broken spiders and gave a slight smile.

As he closed the prompt, an unusual light pulsed inside the remains of the broken spider construct. From its center, a small pulsing white light rose. Tocai analyzed it, trying to determine its nature.

Mana Spirits: Tiny Mana Elemental

Level: 6

Hit Points: 0

Armor Class: 10

Speed: 0 ft., Fly 30 ft. (hover)

Description:

The mana spirits are ethereal creatures made of pure magical energy, with no physical form or substance. They are born from the intersection of mana laylines, where they are spawned and move around in a seemingly aimless manner. They radiate a soft, pulsing light that shifts in color depending on their current state of energy. Despite their lack of physical form, these spirits exhibit a vague semblance of life and consciousness. They seem to wander around almost as if curious, yet lacking in direction or purpose. They are drawn to sources of mana, and will instinctively seek out the nearest concentration of magical energy.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Damage Immunities: Poison, Psychic, All non-magical

Condition Immunities: Blinded, Charmed, Deafened, Exhaustion, Frightened, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned

Senses: Passive Perception 10

Languages: None.

Mana spirits are immune to poison and psychic damage, as well as conditions such as blindness, charm, deafness, exhaustion, fright, paralysis, petrification, and poisoning. They have no offensive capabilities, and do not pose a direct threat to any creature. However, they are essential components in the creation of magical constructs, as their energy can be harnessed and infused into inanimate objects, giving them the semblance of life and intelligence.

Enchanters who wish to create magical constructs often seek out mana spirits, capturing them in containers and using their energy to imbue their creations with a false spark of life. Mana spirits have no means of resistance, as they lack a physical form, and can be easily captured by those with the right knowledge and tools. However, some consider the practice of trapping these spirits to be unethical, as it is seen as a form of enslavement.

"G, it is like me!" exclaimed Tocai. G could feel the excitement in Tocai's voice.

G re-read the description, which had a lot more detail than any he had seen before. "I don't know, Tocai. You're a magical entity, and I think that's different. Although it looks a lot like you, perhaps you're related? Also, I believe you are actually alive, while these are more like a simulacrum of something that might be alive but not really alive themselves," G explained. He couldn't help but wish he could talk to Doctor Reamus again. He had so many questions bouncing around his mind.

"Hey, do you think you can use its body?" asked G.

"No, well, yes, but it would be like moving to the robes. I think it would only give me a little more time on the quest. It's not powerful enough to hold whatever I'm becoming. Also, I don't want to be a spider, nobody likes spiders," said Tocai, now sounding unhappy about it all.

G looked up at the Sphinx, that would probably work to hold Tocai's form, but there was no way they were going to tangle with it and live. Even if he could defeat it, which he highly doubted at this point, the body would probably be destroyed in the process like the spiders. It was a level 25 creature, and he could feel the aura of menace around it. It could also use mind magic. G had no understanding of that at all.

Taking a deep breath, G stopped thinking about it. He didn't want the creature to read his mind if that was a thing the Sphinx could do. He looked at the mana spirit again, and as he watched it, he started feeling something for this glowing creature. He wanted to reach out and take it, but he held back. He had no idea what it would do or what the Sphinx would do. However, it called to him on the same level as his druidic feelings for animals, just different. Whereas those urgings had felt like nature calling him, this urging was magic calling him. He watched as the mana spirit drifted towards the Sphinx, then around it, and through the massive closed door behind it, as if the door wasn't even there. Interesting.

He looked around at the other construct spider remains and went to each of them one by one. This time, he used two hands so the items wouldn't fall to the ground. He found several more items. He totaled it all up.

6 x Flame rune - A small orb that emits a constant flame.

14 x Clockwork Mechanism - A small, intricate mechanism that seems to operate on its own once activated.

2 x Acid Resistant Plating - this metal is highly resistant to acid.

2 x Arcane Crystal - A small, fist-sized crystal that glows with a soft blue light. It can be used as a spell focus for arcane spells.

3 x Arcane Conduit - A small metal device that channels magical energy. - Can be used to boost the power of a magical effect, adding to the effect's duration or range.

2 x Arcane Lens - A small lens that magnifies arcane energies. - Can be used to increase the range or area of effect of a spell or to grant a construct sight.

He noted he had only 54 slots left in his inventory. Each necromancy item, which he had intended to destroy, occupied one slot. He glanced at the necromancy scrolls again, resolving to dispose of them as soon as he found a safe place; their malevolent energy felt all too wrong to retain.

He looked over at the metal spider corpses and, with effort picked them up one at a time, leaning back and willing all five into his inventory. Each spider took up a single space, but they were probably more valuable than that green goo he had found in the necromancer's lair. If he had to ditch something, it would be an obvious choice.

He then looked over at Bitsy, who was chewing on the bone with loud crunching noises. G went over and removed the last goblin corpse from his inventory and placed it on the floor for her. She had definitely earned it, and it was another space free in his inventory.

His mana was fully restored, so he asked Tocai, "How is your mana?"

"I have 72% mana," replied Tocai.

His familiar only received about one mana point per minute, whereas G was getting five. He looked at the Sphinx again, which was still watching him. G recast his travel buffs and sat down on the floor in the center of the room. He began going through the prompts, blinking for his attention on the side of his vision.

You have gained experience:

1 x level 5 hobgoblin crossbowman - 50exp

2 x level 6 hobgoblin - 240exp

6 x level 6 construct spiders - 720exp

He received a great deal of experience points, although not enough to reach his next level in the Artifact Hunter subclass. He was close, needing just under 500 more experience points to level up.

"Hey, can you summarize the skills that changed since we last talked about them?" asked G.

"Yes, Tidal Wave, Briar Patch, and Whip of Thorns went up one skill level each, increasing your damage output by 1 point for each spell. Your skills in Stealth, Perception, Finding Magical Artifacts, Identifying Magical Artifacts, and Enchanting Magical Items went up one skill level. The last set of skills improved as you were looting those constructs," explained Tocai.

G realized that he needed to spend some time studying these skills and having all those magical bits from the spiders in his hands made him want to create something if he ever got out of this mess.

He worked on his robe next, discontent with how his shins had been easily injured in combat. Such vulnerabilities could cripple him quickly. He did a mana cleaning of himself and his clothes first, then observing his image reflected on his character screen, he decided to overhaul the dark, brooding aesthetic of the elder dark elf robes. Although he appreciated its cyan highlights, the robe hindered his movements and added unnecessary burden during escapes.

He stood and channeled mana into the robe, envisioning a skin-tight under armor that included a sleeveless shirt extending past his shoulders and matching silk pants for unrestricted movement beneath the robe. Pleased but not finished, G then imagined transforming the outer garment into a Western-style duster trench coat with two back slits for easier running. He designed a robust button clasp system to secure the front, which he preferred to leave open, showcasing the dark cyan jabot beneath.

As he watched the transformation in the character window, the black robe morphed into a dark, sophisticated duster coat that merged cowboy flair with the stealth of Phan's dark-elf leather outfit. A dark cowl, edged with a black hexagon pattern, shrouded his face, deepening his mystique. The coat, cinched at the waist with belts, offered both structure and flexibility.

The shoulder pads were hexagon-patterned material resembling black widow chitin, which echoed the cowl's detail. He fine-tuned the design to ensure the hexagon pattern on the shoulders matched that on the cowl, enhancing the overall cohesiveness of the attire. These pads were both protective and looked good, adorned with a hexagon pattern traced in cyan. The interlocking design of the chitin provided a blend of defense and movement, its sheen hinting at the robe's magical enhancement.

He worked on the arms next, his arms encased in black sleeves and ending in black gloves with thickened backs, ensuring agility while highlighting the attire's readiness for confrontation. He increased the thickness of the sleeves, thinking of the goblin armor pieces that shifted their density around the forearms and elbows. The entire outfit was unified in black, accentuating its kickass allure.

He thought about his old leather boots, but the robes didn't work with the footwear, so he left them as they were.

Now improving defense, he visualized leather pads extending from his knees to his ankles, blending seamlessly into his boot tops. The duster's fabric thickened in response, coming down a few centimeters below the top of the boots. After fine-tuning the design and altering the outer layer to all black with darker cyan highlights, he felt satisfied with the appearance.

G moved around to test the new design, loosening the shoulders under the arms and widening the slits in the back of the coat to enhance his mobility and reduced stiffness in the knees. He added a bit of extra material at all the joints of the inner clothes to allow free movement. He wanted to add some metal armor, but he hadn't gotten the robe to absorb anything other than organic materials, such as leather, cloth, and the magically enhanced spider's chitin shell.

He then spent a few minutes testing the transformation between the elder dark elf robes and his new trenchcoat model. It initially took several attempts to master the conversion, costing nearly fifteen mana each time. But by the end, he was confident he could complete the transformation in just under one minute. The whole modification process took over an hour, but the result was an ensemble ideal for someone who appreciated a blend of classic cool and more modern tech vibe. He smiled as he looked at himself in his character screen.

Bitsy pushed her nose against his side, indicating that she was ready to go as he pondered other improvements. G nodded to her.

"Are you ready to do this?" he asked, Bitsy sniffed loudly in what G thought was agreement.

"Alright, let's do it," G said, determined to finish whatever this was as he walked again towards the Sphinx.