The days passed in much the same way, over and over Ethan worked until he ran out of Mana. He’d wake, inject Mana into a new tomb, or read the ones that had words. It seems every third book was meant to be read. After finishing his book of the day, he applied what he had learned, new techniques, new methods of compressing, forging, carving, slicing, melding, mending. His profession, skill, and even his own level increased by the day.
Singular focus took over. Ethan lost himself in his task at hand. The more he learned, the more he was able to apply his CAD knowledge to his task. His Mana thread control had risen to the point, he could create lasso type cutting tools, multi section cutting threads. He even figured out how to create molds for heated metals. Even if he was still working on figuring out how to melt metal.
By the third day, he had realized he could use [Gravity Control] to hold the material. This allowed both [Gravity Control] and [Deft Mana Hands] to explode in level. He had effectively doubled his efficiency with [Deft Mana Hands] allowing him to work faster. The only problem was this also drained his Mana faster. Slowly but surely he was gaining ground. With each manual read, his natural intelligence rose, with each day ending in him passing out with Mana Withdrawal, his Wisdom grew. Pushing himself further, pushing harder, he had found a something that he could dive into, without abandon.
By the tenth day, he attempted to inject his [Mana Sight] into his Domain. This had caused him to instantly blackout from the influx of information. It took three times before he succeeded. He had to start slow, and push his [Mana Sight] out, at a glacial pace. He didn’t even want his Skill to complete fill his Domain. He just wanted his Skill to be boosted on whatever he was working on.
Which ended up working exactly how he had hoped. Once he got it to work.
Ethan was bent over forearms resting on the desk, in the center of the cave. A small chuck of copper colored metal floating, slowly rotating as he shifted Gravity, a small web of Mana wove itself between his hands. He activated [Gravity Control] and slowly moved the chunk closer to the web of thread. Activating his Bracers, he was able to cause the chunk to start rotating, faster and faster.
The small bits of copper began to be shaved off, the once lump of copper, began to take shape. The lump had transformed in a cone, no bigger than his hand. Inspecting it he found the top and sides to be perfectly smooth. The bottom remained unworked. Flipping over the cone, Ethan sent a single thread no thicker than his own hair that had started to grow in. Slicing a clean smooth face. Next, he manipulated two new threads to bisect. From the center point, he bet up the four threads at 45 degree angles. Inserting the four threads into the bottom of the cone, he rotated the cone, hollowing out the bottom.
With the overall shape completed, he activated his Domain, with [Mana Sight], slow extending it until it encompassed the hollowed out cone. He saw the grid lines appear, green.
Of course they’re green, a child could make this if they wanted. The hard part comes next.
Focusing on the Mana flow of the cave, drawing in ambient Mana, he reached inside the hollow cone, and found the internal Mana of the metal. Feeling it vibrate, wanting to be molded, Ethan shifted and pulled the Mana. Pushing Mana to the tip, aligning it into a solid structure. Making it harder, and sharper than it should ever be. Thinning out the Mana on the edges, using a different structure, to give it less friction, but also two thin strips used to curve the wind, making the cone naturally want to spin faster than it moved forward.
Finally, he moved back to the hollowed out space on the bottom. Pulling and stretching, expanding the Mana in such away to extend the inside hollow. Then he took the ambient Mana, and wove a protective film over the end. Designed to slowly filter out the all the air in the hollow.
“What is that?” Joe asked genuinely confused.
“When I was on patrol, we were hit with a couple IEDs similar to this. The idea was that they would pound thin a piece of copper, lay it on top of a clay jar filled with explosives. When it goes off, the vacuum created gives the copper structure, allowing it to pierce a fucking tank. Same principle here. Except I think, I can use the vacuum to cause more damage. Add in the reduced friction, spin for stability, and harden tip, my thinking is if I can’t bring more meteorites with me, I can use this. One final step and its complete.”
Rotating the cone point up, he carved two half spheres into the sides without the spin Mana structures. Gathering more ambient Mana, he wove a casing over the hollowed out spheres.
Hearing the familiar ding he knew he had succeeded.
[Screaming Vacuum Penetrator]
Created by Ethan Soxe
Rudimentary projectile, designed to increase damage using negative pressure. Effective against Armoured creatures, and machinery.
Effects: Nghtmarish howls cause fear, freezing the target in place, Wisdon Stat determines length of paralysis.
“Niiice.” Ethan said, happy his new toy was recognized by the dungeon. He had learned many of the things he had tried to create simply didn’t work anymore. He had tried to make a simple electric engine, and had ended up having to scrap it. Since he had no idea how to even make magnets, even with gravity, to make it spin, it hadn’t worked. He tried to use Mana to align the polarities, only to find out that that wasn’t a thing anymore. Same with Grenades, land mines, mortars. He just didn’t have the skill set to make gun powder. Or explosives in general.
He even tried a rail gun, which sorta worked. But he couldn't attach the gravity, so it was just a rail with Ethan applying the Gravity himself. Which lead to his idea for the Penetrator.
“You made it whistle?” Joe asked interrupting his thoughts.
“Scream. Not whistle. It isn’t a cat call penetrator. It is a Screaming Vacuum Penetrator, thank you very much. Aaaand I’d like to add, the screaming part causes fear in the target. Momentarily freezing them.”
“Right. From what I can tell you are running out of supplies, I suggest you stop making missiles and make some gear for yourself.”
Joe was right, even if he had been consuming all the shavings and bits he had cut off, meaning he had pretty much everything from his failed experiments. His sack was running low.
“Joe, I’ve been meaning to ask, do I get to keep this bag when I leave here? Cause I have a pile of shit I want to take with me when I leave here. Like all of my ‘missiles’, even if they aren’t missiles. Since you know, they aren’t self propelled.”
“Yes, you get to keep your precious bag of holding garbage.”
“Moody today aren’t we.”
“No, I am just ready to leave. I can feel the System trying to worm its way inside me. After so long away from it… I. Like who I have become.”
“Joe, I don’t know if right now is a good time to bring this up, but, I’ve noticed you changing. Making an effort to be, kinder? I don’t know, more natural. More…”
“Human?”
“Yes?”
“I was born a conscious soul. Fully formed. A blank slate, with knowledge I didn’t want, or earn. Personalities given to me, that weren’t my own. Since I was bonded to you, in a way, I have adapted your personality. But also not.”
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
“Oh, sorry. Is there a way for me to stop that? I didn’t mean to do it. I don’t want to force something on you that you didn’t ask for. I mean more than I already have. And for the record, I feel awful for what I did, I still beat myself up for it. I didn’t mean to eat you. Or Consume you, or whatever.”
“Ethan. It is Okay. In a weird way, I appreciate it. You freed me from a non-life I didn’t know I had. I was an existence that just existed. It was hollow. I had a purpose, yes. But it wasn’t my own. I didn’t have free will. I have had a lot of time to think about it, and what you did was for the better. You are familiar with the phrase, ‘tis better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved’? It is similar to that. I was aware of emotions, I could quantify them, I know what causes them, biologically. But I had never felt them. Experienced them. Now, I have. Through you, and in a way, through your family. If the choice was to go back, to the way I was, even if I forgot all of this. I would not take the chance. I am, in a way, free.”
“Even if you are trapped in my soul… Sorry.” Ethan apologized. He had, and still felt terrible for the entire thing. Even now he wanted to help Joe. Ethan understood their meeting had been thrust on both of them, but his actions, were his doing. He had forced his inability to control his emotions, on to Joe, and forever altered his life. He was not okay with that.
“Ethan, its okay, I do not blame you. I mean, I do, since it is your fault. But I do not believe it was intentional, or think poorly of you. I get it, you were in your Soul form, you didn’t have your years of muscle memory, or built-in physical defense mechanisms. You had nothing, in a situation where for one reason or another, you were not being protected, even from yourself. Now, I am a Fallen. Now, I am with you. As long as you hold up your end of the bargain, you and I are good.”
“Man, this got heavy. I remember our deal though, it is still on the table. You just gotta tell me what I need to do, when the time comes, and I’ll do it.”
“You already are, this is just the first step. Get back to crafting your weird slingshot ammo, and lets get out of here.”
“Roger, wilco” Ethan said, in mock salute.
Ethan had spent the last 25 days, inside the cave, grinding levels, creating different types of ammo, experimenting. If he were honest with himself, he was ready to leave as well. He had tried to think of different types of monsters he would fight, and the ones that had caused him the most fear, were weird magic creatures that could somehow cause him to relive his past. He did not want to be forced back into war, to relive his most terrifying days over and over.
That is where the [Screaming Vacuum Penetrator] came in. He had other ones for over armoured beasts, shrapnel rounds for soft monsters. Super heated rounds for ice monsters, or slime monsters. He had pulled from all his days playing MMOs trying to think of different types of monsters. He even created ammo that would burst into flames if he ever came across a Swamp Cervine again, figuring he’d tried to take the Swamp away last time, he might see what happens his he took their wooden stick like bodies away next time.
He had learned how to create mostly helpful, or useful items as well. He could create weaves that lit up, chilled or warmed up. His favorite mundane item so far was a small rod that just lit whatever it touched on fire. He was so tired of having to shift gravity to rub two sticks together just to start a fire.
But when it came down to his own gear, he had no idea what he’d need or want.
“Any suggestions on what I should make myself? I am coming up blank here.” Ethan asked Joe.
“Well, your current gear is okay, for now. Bracers are gonna be around for awhile since they are a growth item. Weapons are out of the question, ‘cause, ya know. Bracers.” Joe paused.
Ethan thought about that. Pulling up he Bracers information window, taking note of the level and new stat point bonuses, before rereading the description.
[Bracers of the God Killer]
[Soul Bound]
Bracers forged on the Mount of Old Gods, on Old Earth.
Forged of GodSteel, weight depends on the Mana injected into the bracers, the bracers will increase the Gravity around the wearers fists.
Stats:
+25 Strength
+20 Dexterity
Effects:
This item is a growth item, once equipped it will bind itself to your soul. You will die with these bracers by your side. If you live long enough your Fists, and Gravity will be your weapons as you kill the gods of old. No other weapon can be equipped while wearing these Bracers.
Level: 10
“Joe… what does equipped mean? Exactly?” Ethan said, a thought forming, along side a grin.
“Uh, how else do you equip a weapon, you hold it, in your hands.”
“Okay, buuut, does that mean I have to hold the weapon in my hands for it to be considered a weapon, or equipped? Is a bow equipped if I have it slung over my shoulder?”
“Nooo…”
“What about a shield? Is that considered an equipped weapon, if I use it as a weapon?”
Joe catching on to Ethan’s train of thought added, “A shield is a defensive weapon, but I am not sure that it counts if it isn’t in your hands. Are you thinking of making a shield?”
“No.” Ethan said laughing as he figured out a loophole of sorts. It all came down to the phrasing the System had chosen. “Equipped is in your HANDS.”
“Yes, we’ve established that. I am sort of following here, but I am not sure what you are going to make.”
“Everything. And totally not a weapon. Thanks Joe!” Ethan said as he poured out the last contents of his bottomless sack. He quickly consumed all of the soft metals, woods, stone, and clothes. He had no need for them. He was left with seven types of hard metals. They varied in characteristics, most were heavy, but two stood out being both hard, and light. They weren’t the most durable. Setting them off to the side, he moved on to the remaining five. The hardest, most durable metal, called Malcionite, was also the heaviest.
This is going to be the main part of it. This is going to be the outer shell. The other two are going to be the chains. I just hope I have enough for the other six metals.
Ethan was once again deep in the throes of burning Mana, resting, and repeating. He had an idea, that had become consumed by, if this worked out he thought, it was going to make all of his training, his skills, his stats skyrocket. If this worked out, his time table was about to move up, by days, if not weeks.
----
[Unique][Chained Hydra Aegis]
This… Tool… skirts the lines of weapon, and equipped. Made to protect the back, Tools of various use can be deployed from Chains stored in the armoured backing.
+10 Strength
+10 Constitution
+10 Wisdom
It had taken Ethan twenty-two days to smith his greatest piece so far, and it was exactly what he wanted. Even the System had recognized him playing around with the wording of his Bracers. He loved his new Aegis, it was everything he wanted. It was like a small petty child sticking their tongue out at an adult if they had told them no ice cream. The System wanted to restrict him, and he’d found away around it.
The Aegis looked very much like a shield, if the shield were segmented like a beetles carapace. It allowed for full movement, Strapping at the shoulders, across the chest, and waist. It offered no protection except from the back, but that was only due to the incredibly hard metal used. And not a design element, at all.
Inside each segment there was one of six “Tools”, he could deploy, attached to chains of the lighter metal and control through Gravity. There was a short straight blade, that was not at all a short sword without a handle, nope. Not at all. There was large polished metal cube, for hammering, of course. There was also, a polished heavy metal sphere, for round hammering. As well as different curved blades. His favorite was a polished disk for reflecting light, never mind the Mana sharpened edges.
Three days ago, the books stopped showing up, two days ago, he saw a portal open up while he slept. The day before he had finished his Aegis. Today, today he named it, after adding all the detail. He figured if the System wanted him looking like a Roman Gladiator, he needed to look the part. He had added a few Roman etchings he could remember into the segments, and named it.
But it was time to go. Fetching the blanket and pillow, since they were the first he’d seen in however long he had been in the Endless Plains, stuffing them into his new ‘Bag of Holding Shit’. His new favorite phrase from Joe. Strapped on the Aegis, and took a look at his progress.
To say he was shocked was an understatement. He had spent so long ignoring his notifications, he was amazed.
With the notifications out of the way Ethan checked his status. Pleased with the results for far.
Name: Ethan Soxe
Age: 34
Race: Human (Sub Variant - Earth)
Level: 19
Soul: [Unique] Reforged Blasphemer
Body: [Unique] Missing Link - One Body, two Souls
Stats
Strength: 125(+35)
Constitution: 151(+30)
Dexterity: 78(+27)
Intelligence: 70
Wisdom: 79
Perception: 63(+5)
Control: 72
Charisma: 52
Magic: 50
Soul Arts: 50
Title: Master of My Own Making
Achievements: [Soul Rebirth][...]
Skills: [Myriad Tongues][Identify][Soul Connection][Missing Link][Climbing][Blink][Fire Resistance][...]
Talents: [Domain]
Profession: [Magic Smithing level 10]
Lineage: [Locked due to title proximity limits]
Huh, my Magic Stat went, I should remember to ask Joe about that...
Closing his System Windows, he turned one last time looking over the room he had spent over a month in, it had started to feel more like home than any other place he had been since the Ingiration. Not that sleeping in the woods could feel like home. Casting thouse thoughts away, Ethan turned, and existed his first Dungeon.