Chapter 8: "Utility Enchantments: Practical Spells for Extraordinary Situations"

Welcome, esteemed reader, to the chapter on utility enchantments—a comprehensive guide to crafting practical spells that can aid you in diverse situations. Within these pages, we shall delve into two fundamental enchantments: the Explosive Burst and the Blinding Radiance. These enchantments have been meticulously designed to equip you with offensive and defensive capabilities, enabling you to triumph over obstacles and gain the upper hand in challenging scenarios.

Explosive Burst:

Description: The Explosive Burst enchantment harnesses the raw power of elemental forces, granting you the ability to initiate a controlled detonation.

Effects: Upon activation, the Explosive Burst enchantment unleashes a sudden surge of energy, generating a powerful shockwave that propels objects in its vicinity outward. This controlled explosion can be employed to demolish barriers or incapacitate adversaries.

Blinding Radiance:

Description: The Blinding Radiance enchantment channels the mystical energies within, radiating a brilliant and dazzling burst of light.

Effects: When activated, the Blinding Radiance enchantment emits a brief yet dazzling luminosity. This intense radiance disorients and temporarily blinds anyone within its range, presenting you with a precious window to either evade or engage your opponents.

These utility enchantments bestow upon you unparalleled versatility on your journey. The Explosive Burst enchantment empowers you to create controlled explosions, enabling you to surmount barriers and dissuade adversaries. Conversely, the Blinding Radiance enchantment provides a means to momentarily disorient and blind your foes, granting you a strategic advantage in combat or when evasion becomes paramount.

It is imperative to bear in mind that these utility enchantments are not suitable for permanent item enchantments, owing to their intrinsically volatile nature. They are spells that offer transient yet impactful effects—explosions and flashes of light. Exercise prudence and caution when employing them, as their powers possess both destructive potential and disorienting qualities.

Embrace the boundless possibilities that enchanting affords, and allow these utility enchantments to serve as invaluable assets on your chosen path. Remember, these spells serve as conceptual foundations, and their tangible manifestation will depend on the caster's ingenuity. With practice and continued study, you can unravel more intricate and potent utility enchantments, thereby expanding your arsenal of practical magical spells.''

Ethan looked through the rest of the chapter, it was mostly a bunch of examples of other spells, how one might make use of certain spells for certain situations. He wondered if he could make something like what the book described, it would be pretty useful to be able to create magic handgrenades.

He closed his eyes in concentration and thought of explosions. He envisioned the destructive potential he sought to capture. The memories of action movies and scientific documentaries played in his mind, providing glimpses of explosive power and its impact on the world.

In his quest for understanding, Ethan thought of the principles behind an explosion. He delved into the science of combustion, the rapid release of energy, and the shockwave that followed. He explored the concept of stored potential, waiting to be unleashed in a spectacular display of force and chaos.

As he contemplated the nature of explosions, Ethan considered the key elements that defined their destructive power. Heat, pressure, and rapid expansion formed the foundation. The release of energy, whether through a chemical reaction or some other means, created an abrupt and violent transformation of the surrounding environment.

Lost in thought, Ethan's mind became a canvas upon which the vivid imagery of an explosion unfolded. He envisioned the sudden burst of flames, the shockwave rippling through the air, and the chaotic scattering of debris. He imagined the destructive force tearing through barriers, shattering the tranquility of the surroundings, and leaving behind a scene of destruction.

With those images clear in his mind, Ethan began to conceptualize the enchantment that would emulate the explosive power of a hand grenade. He imagined harnessing the energy of a contained blast, channeling it into a vessel that would unleash its destructive force upon activation.

The enchantment took shape in his mind—a burst of energy contained within a magical sphere, pulsating with raw power. Upon activation, the sphere would detonate, releasing a torrent of magical energy in all directions. The force of the explosion would be akin to a concussive wave, capable of inflicting damage and disarray upon anything caught within its reach.

As Ethan visualized the enchantment, he became aware of the intricacies involved in its creation. The delicate balance between storing and releasing energy, the precise timing required for the detonation, and the controlled dispersal of the blast were all crucial factors to consider. He knew that the enchantment must be crafted with precision and care to ensure both effectiveness and safety.

Basic enchanting

Cost

New spell learned:

Essence blast

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10 essence Points

Ethan's eyes widened with a mixture of elation and disbelief as he successfully mastered a new enchantment. However, the cost of its implementation weighed heavily on his mind. With only four uses before depleting his EP reserves, he realized he needed to exercise utmost caution. This enchantment proved more complex and perilous to create than he initially anticipated.

If his concentration wavered even for a moment during the crafting process, the enchanted item could explode right in his face. Determined to avoid such a disastrous outcome, Ethan rose from his seat and made his way to the cabinet containing the crystals. While there were still a fair amount remaining, he foresaw their scarcity in the near future, which added another factor for consideration.

Ethan deemed the crystals to be the optimal foundation for his enchantment. Carrying the entire box to his worktable, he pondered alternative options, like using a jar filled with metal shards as shrapnel. However, the notion of such brutality, causing harm and tearing apart goblins, sickened him.

Perhaps it was his own squeamishness, but he believed he had not yet reached the point where resorting to such measures was necessary. He possessed knowledge of modern weaponry, knowledge that could be employed if he chose to do so. However, he hesitated to introduce weapons of mass destruction into this different reality. Simple exploding crystals were one thing, but designing nefarious weapons intended for widespread devastation was an entirely different matter—at least, in his personal judgment.

Selecting a large crystal from the box, Ethan cradled it in his palm, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Focusing on his task, he wielded the crystal knife, carving the rune with precision. Setting the knife aside, he pressed his finger against the rune and closed his eyes, holding the spell firmly in his mind. Activating the enchantment, he sensed the familiar sensation of something leaving him—an immense amount of energy.

But something was amiss. He realized too late that simply letting the energy flow freely would not work in this instance. His eyes shot open, and in a split second, he flung the crystal through the doorway into the forge and instinctively sought cover behind the worktable. Moments later, a resounding boom echoed through the building as the crystal exploded, shaking the entire structure.

Stone fragments rained down from the ceiling, cabinets toppled, and bookshelves cracked, scattering books in disarray. Ethan's ears rang, and he felt disoriented as he slowly rose to his feet, surveying the chaos he had unwittingly caused. "That... That was foolish," he chided himself. Glancing at the shattered crystals strewn across the floor, he let out a sigh of disappointment.

Bending down, he overturned the box, revealing two large crystals that remained intact. This realization brought forth two truths: he had only a couple more attempts remaining, and he needed to depart from this place soon. As crafting supplies dwindled, so did his means of self-defense. Moreover, if he were to survive encounters with the goblins, he yearned to continue his experimentation, necessitating the acquisition of new materials.

A wry chuckle escaped Ethan's lips as he acknowledged his preoccupation with the prospect of being unable to tinker with objects rather than his own safety. With careful deliberation, he carved the rune into the next crystal and placed the other crystal gently on his bed. Placing his finger on the rune, he closed his eyes once more, determined to regulate the flow of essence into the crystal. The energy surged, eager to fill the crystal, but with steadfast resolve, he managed to temper its influx. Slowly, he infused the crystal with energy through the rune, the process demanding both time and unwavering focus. Standing motionless for what felt like fifteen minutes or more, his limbs grew weary from the sustained position.

Exhaling with relief, he opened his eyes and observed the faint glow emanating from the crystal, signifying the trapped energy within. Handling it with extreme care, he set it down and took a few moments to relax and formulate a plan.

Despite the simplicity of his plan, there was little else to be done. He concluded that he would swing open the door, toss the crystal outside, and swiftly close it again. Sometimes, simplicity proved the most effective strategy. Gathering his belongings, Ethan gingerly picked up the crystal and approached the door. The pounding from the goblins had ceased, allowing him a brief moment to gather his courage. In one fluid motion, he swung open the door using his elbow, activated his wand, and peered outside.

To his astonishment, a horde of green creatures flooded his view, with Gachok positioned amidst the center of the small army. The sudden burst of light from his wand momentarily blinded the goblins, and he caught sight of Gachuk bellowing something before a few arrows clattered against the door. One arrow even struck his chest but was deflected by his armor, causing him pain. The impact snapped him out of his initial shock, and without hesitation, he hurled the crystal toward Gachuk before swiftly retreating and closing the door.

Within moments, another deafening explosion rocked the area as the crystal detonated outside. A chorus of screams—filled with panic and anguish—pierced the air. Despite their intentions of enslaving him, Ethan felt a wave of remorse wash over him. The sounds of crashing and crumbling hinted at the possibility of parts of the cavern collapsing.

Never before had he taken a life prior to his arrival in this world. Yet in just a few short days, he had ended more lives than most soldiers do throughout their entire careers. Overwhelmed by the realization, he vomited where he stood, unable to muster the energy to be concerned about the mess he made.

Eventually, silence descended outside, and a notification screen popped up.

Notice:

Rewards

You have killed 27 Dark Goblins

54 Essence points (EP)

Notice

Rewards

You have earned a new achievement

Goblin slayer

You have trampled a small army of goblins.

They will think twice before messing with you again.

2 Specialization points (SP)

5 Essence points (EP)

Title

Goblin slayer

Goblins of all shapes and sizes both hate and fear you.

With a heavy sigh, Ethan closed the screens, unable to bear the thought of rewards at that moment. Instead, he cautiously peered out of the door, his wand casting light on a scene of absolute devastation. The goblins had been obliterated, their bodies torn apart in a gruesome display. His gaze darted around, but there was no sign of movement. If any goblins had somehow survived the explosion, they had likely fled long ago.

A surge of bile rose in his throat, and he vomited once again, struggling to regain control of his stomach. The stench in the cave was overpowering, and even with his eyes shut tight, the horrifying image of the dismembered bodies lingered in his mind.

It took a considerable amount of time before he could gather himself, finally managing to step back inside and firmly close the door behind him. He knew there was a possibility of more goblins on the way, and that he should seize the opportunity to escape while he still could. However, all he could think about was finding respite and lying down for a while.