We are unsure what to do for a moment, but then.

[Congratulations!]

[You have fulfilled the prerequisite for the function: chat room]

[Use this to be transported to a virtual reality where you can discuss secrets.]

[This ability surpasses time, ensuring all conversations will happen in an instant]

[Warning: although this can be used for political secrets, it cannot be used for long distance delivery of political secrets and such similar things. The system does not involve itself in political matters. Any such attempts will result in restriction of the chat rooms, and future interactive abilities]

[Have fun!]

Reality seems to bend and before the two can react, they find themselves in a blank white room werein there is nothing else.

"Cool." The kobold says casually seemingly disinterested in the function.

Although it seems quite useful, there is after all, the more pressing matter from across one another after all.

"So who were you?" He asked, and I looked at him curiously. And a little suspiciously.

He explained further. "From what Sindri and Brok said, only certain, special people were chosen to test this new system?"

I nodded. "I was under that impression as well. " I agreed once I understood where he was coming from.

If only special people were chosen to test this new fangled system, then obviously meeting a fellow player was like meeting a fellow genius.

And knowing who you were working with is important as well.

"Earl, marquis of Rudalius, or Gamoceras, depending on which name you want to use for the territory."

As I state it, the kobold's eyes widen, as a surprising amount of respect lit his eyes as he grabbed my arm.

"Earl!? As in, the man who led an expedition to hunt down a drake?" He shouted.

Oh yeah, that.

"I did technically do that, but there was an S-class adventurer there you know." I stressed, only for the kobold to snort in disbelief.

"Yeah, I heard he was distracted by the appearance of another one!" He said with a look of awe on his face.

"I just want to remind you that I only managed to do so thanks to the people of the territory." I tell him in order to douse the awe.

I've always found the credit misplaced for that. I didn't hunt it alone after all, but with a small army in tow.

The kobold snorted and rolled his eyes. "Sure. Anyway, I always wanted to make something for you" He said,.

"You were a dwarf?"

"Mm. Name was Philly."

"Philly?" I ask, as something clicks.

A famous dwarf named philly whose patron gods are Sindri and Brok, and even has a skaven friend named cheese steak...

"You're Philly of the Biif family?" I asked astonishedly.

Now it's his turn to be flattered, as he looks happy.

"You know of me?" He says, clearly proud.

"How could I not? Philly and cheese steak, an infamous duo. Did he die too?"

"Nah, he came to find me after I died. Told my patrons that I needed cheese steak to continue helping me gather materials and they agreed to guide him to me.

"I mean, by the gods, you were one of the most famous up and coming craftsman. You just made Duke Bergstrom's son an amazing A-level great sword! I hear that it was made with a firebird's tail feather and that it cut through the hordes of the north like butter!" I exclaim.

"Well, given quality material, any weapon smith could make something decent." He said humbly.

He does seem a little embarrassed, so why stop?

"And I hear that you made just the most wonderful little little contraption for the prince the other day?" I added on.

"Alright, alright I get it." He stopped me after I marveled over four of his creations.

"I am genuinely amazed by all your works though. What happened. "

He shrugged. "I pissed off the Filthy Hand."

The filthy hand! "You mean tat necromancy organization?"

"Yeah, that one. Turns out cheese steak broke in and stole one of their most prized possessions one time and handed it to me to use in the process of making the young duke's blade. Obviously they couldn't go after the duke's son, much less the one in the north, so I became their target. " He gave a toothy grin.

"I costed them big time though. Didn't go down without taking down the leader of their operation, and more importantly, the pinky of the filthy hand."

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"I gasp. "And you were complimenting my efforts earlier?! I heard that bastard was S-level!"

He shrugged. "Well, my forge has the core of a magma elemental of the S tier in it. They were counting on a quick strike attempt, and didn't think me decisive enough to blow up my forge and all my creations.

HA! Showed them."

""Anyway, enough about me, let's arm you!" he announced and pulled something out, much to my confusion.

"This is...?" I asked confused, as I stared at the tiny hammer.

Perhaps an amulet of some sorts. But why make it if he thought I was dead?

The dwarf now kobold seemed to know what he was thinking and explained it."I made this before you died. At the moment I had hoped to surprise you with a gift. I knew that my skills were well appreciated across the empire, so I was sure you'd receive it well at least." He said, clearly confident in his skills. Dwarves were often like that, confident in their work. It was one of their positives.

"You got to bring it with you?" I asked, mostly confused but slightly suspicious.

"Courtesy of my patron gods, Sindri and Brok. I can't use these weapons myself, but I can find worthy users, or even their previously intended masters should the opportunity arrive. I had assumed that I would have to find it a new master, but luckily it seems that luck is on my side, hmm?"

"Then I shall accept it gratefully. I don't suppose you could explain how to use it?" I said to the delight of the kobold, though it was restrained, typical of a dwarf.

The kobold sighed helplessly.

"I did my best, but unfortunately Ryu Jin Bang is beyond my own skill. When I attempted to use the fragment to create a new weapon, the quality went down a few grades, and unfortunately is currently an A rank weapon. It doesn't help that what I used was barely a sliver."

He sounded so disappointed, leaving me speechless.

He's right, but to hear it said so casually...

Were other dwarves to hear this, they may faint from pure rage.

The dwarf turned kobold continued on.

"Still, I managed to retain my primary desire for the weapon, and the essence of the divine weapon." He handed me the weapon with a warning.

"Be careful, it still retains the characteristics of Ryu Jin Bang, so it's-"

Thud!

"-Heavy" He finished as the thing forced me to the ground.

Mostly by surprise. With some effort, and using the vines to steady myself and grip the weapon I managed to hold it.

The kobold showed an embarrased expression.

"Originally, I wanted to make it so you could put it in your ear, but seeing how heavy it is..."

"I'd probably get my skull crushed this way." I said frankly and the dwarf sheepishly nodded, before his mouth opened in realization.

"Wait, we're both monsters now. Since that's the case, then when you evolve again, maybe you'll be strong enough to do that!"

"Maybe." I say, somewhat unsure and mostly unconvinced.

We'll have to see how far these evolution go first.

"How do I make this grow?" I asked, given that the hammer was still this tiny size,

"You'll have to communicate with the weapon spirit. It's a fragment of a divine weapon, so it already seems to have developed a bit of its own personality. "

"Alright"

Probing into the weapon, I find the spirit rather immediately, or rather, it finds me!

'You are my new master?"' It asks. It has a rather carefree personalty.

'Yes.

'Very well. Let us go and smack everyone!'

'Smack? Bonk!' Appears ore.

Uh oh.

'I see we are kindred spirits, young weapon spirit! Indeed, let us go and bonk together!'

'Bonk!' Ore says excitedly as it begins acting up, taking the form of an iron glove, wrapping around the hand that holds the hammer.

The kobold looks taken aback, as if he had not expected this, so I explain the situation.

Hearing this, he looks rather excited.

"And you say you did this by fusing it into your evolution?" He asked excitedly and when I affirm this he grins wickedly.

"Well now I know how to guide my next evolution. You are as every bit great as they said you are." He added out of nowhere.

"Ahem. Growing?" I say, choosing to ignore the excessive compliment.

"Well, it should be easier since the weapon spirit likes at least one of you.

The word I imagined is 'yeuoi!' It's important to imagine the specific size when you do this, or else its going to grow a little too large. If I made it properly, the largest it'll grow is about 30 meters tall."

"That's huge!" I exclaim but he looks disappointed.

"THe original is said to be able to pierce the heavens. My shoddy work only managed to reach 30 meters." He said, looking disappointed.

"Well, it's more than enough for me, whom is not a demigod level being. Yeoui!" I command, and indeed, the hammer grows.

It becomes a one handed hammer, and when I command it once more-

"Yeuoi!" It grows into a two handed sledgehammer.

"Perfect, thank you!" I thank the craftsman.

"Oh, that's not all." He says, looking surprised that I thought that was all.

"I addeda shielding function too. Someone sent me a fragment of some mysterious turtle shell fragment, which I incorporated into the center of the staff. See? Use appraisal on it."

[AA mysterious shell fragment that seems to belong to an ancient bygone era.

Hint: Its aura is a sacred one.

Perhaps a higher level of appraisal could reveal more.]

"Mysterious right? It seems to come fro an older era, and given the hint, I assume it's from one of them famous ass eras. It's likely thefragment of an innately sacred being.

It's good stuff."

"And you used it on a hammer." I deadpan.

Dwarves. Using the most precious of resources for the most simple of things I think the old man at the mansion would've cried if he saw this.

Gotta love them.

"It's only a fragment. If I didn't use it then, when would I?

Anyway, I pulled in an eastern specialist and we managed to weave runic and formations together to create a strong barrier, that strengthens over time, on the condition that one does not leave the formation.

I'm told it channels taizu or something. Whatever, I managed to weave it with runic and create a nidhoggr effect, and whenever you injure someone, they taste nidhoggr's poison, and the more blows you strike, the more his attack effects your enemy.

And for your real enemies, and not casual ones, I instilled his root eating ability, so that every blow eats at their foundation, ensuring even if they escape, that their foundation is ruined, and that as long as you outgrow them, they will be a danger no longer!"

"... Have you ever considered the reason why your stuff goes down a level from expectation is because you instill such outrageous abilities.

"Phili huffed proudly. "TO be a craftsman is to challenge your abilities. How can I grow if I am content to stagnate. It may not be as great as I wanted it to be, but I can always improve it.!" He said stubbornly.

Eh, I just wanted to provide my own insight. It's clear that he's chosen his own path.

"As grateful as I am for this, we should probably now discuss breaking out."

The kobold Philly chuckled. "I wouldn't worry too much about it. I already planned for the elves. After all, amongst them pointy eared bastards, the one that caught me was an A-rank rogue. I'd be stupid not to plan for him."

He chuckled. "We won't have to worry about them. I've been observing them for the last few days. I'm not sure what, but there seems to be something quite valuable to them deeper in the basements.

Originally, I planned to send an automated golem holding a sufficient explosion there to distract them, but you say that they are under assault by the officials correct?"

I nod and he narrowed his eyes. "In that case, I'd argue they are sufficiently distracted. Though, I'd say this is a perfect opportunity then, wouldn't you think?"

"Oh? I'm listening." I say, with a hint in my mind. If he suggested what I thought he would suggest, it would be to our benefit. After all, these elves are our enemies.

"I mean, if its so damn valuable, I'm sure it'd be a valuable material." He leaned in, with a sharp smile on his face.

"And if you really want to dig into your enemies bottom line, what better way then to eat the meal someone else has already set up, aye?"

The kobold look suited the former dwarf, I decided

He may be of dragonic descent, but that sharp grin was more like that of a shark who sensed blood in the water.