[Unrefined Phosphorus Gold Ore]
Rating: Epic
Quantity: 4.2 Kilograms
Description: An efficient conductor of earthly power. In the right hands, it can elevate a mediocre weapon into a formidable threat.
This was the information on the ore Old Bill had given him. To the untrained eye, it looked no different from ordinary gold. For this reason, the bartender in the first town mistook Genji's gold for this mineral. While Genji didn't know the ore's exact value, it was undeniably precious, considering how rare weapons containing phosphorous gold were. To this day, Genji had only seen two weapons of such caliber.
Genji stored the ore away and checked the map. The destination wasn't far—about four hours away at full speed. After finishing, Bruce nudged Genji and passed back his communication device. Genji had asked Bruce to record the previous fight for analysis purposes. Genji uploaded the recording and the necessary information before setting off into the night.
Halfway into their journey, Genji received a response in the group chat.
Celine:
I think I've figured it out! Everything revolves around anchors and their attractive inertia. For example, Horcruxes act as anchors, pulling the soul back to a preset location once it separates from the body. Substitution dolls, however, require a living being to act as the anchor and take all the damage in the master's place. Essentially, there are ways to counter these abilities.
For substitution dolls, you only need to prevent the anchor from receiving the transfer signal. It can be an isolation barrier, cutting the connection, or even knocking the witch out. They'll all work to varying degrees. If you do manage to knock one out, take some precautions against the common escapes.
I recommend the burial treatment that Enigma shared. It covers most of the loopholes they might try, especially the stake through the heart. I don't know the exact reason, but this severely weakens their soul and makes the journey back to their Horcrux difficult.
Ideally, you should destroy the soul before it escapes, but I know this is highly dependent on your abilities. The alternative is to mark it and follow it back to their hideout to kill the witch as she revives. Due to how the attraction works, they can only have one Horcrux at a time, so you can be assured this is their final life.
Otherwise, hide your face and destroy any traces that might link back to you like blood, hair, or other DNA. I suspect they can use these as a medium to curse you. I'm not kidding! With the principles I've outlined, it's completely possible to use these as an anchor point for their abilities. It's difficult, but not impossible for a powerful witch. Stay safe everyone and good luck on your hunts.
That concluded the lengthy message from Celine. A few others responded to her below, but it was mostly idle chatter. Genji closed the chat and considered how these points applied to him.
The substitution dolls are difficult to deal with since Genji doesn't have any effective ways of interfering with the connection. Luckily, only damage and status effects are transferred, so he can just keep wounding them until they run out of substitutes. Poison is especially effective since it deals continuous damage without pause. And if all else fails, a few slashes always get the job done.
As for the Horcruxes, Genji happens to have an ability that can execute the soul. It might be energy-intensive, but it's worthwhile to ensure a powerful enemy is dead. He also has a certain compass that can lock onto a target when provided with a corresponding sample. The witches aren't the only ones who can use their enemies' DNA against them.
However, this is also the point Genji is most wary of. After all, who can guarantee they won't leave some DNA samples behind in a battle? Unless he kills from afar, it’s difficult to ensure that not even a strand of hair is left behind.
'I could really use a sniper now. Too bad I never found a reliable one. Technology restrictions were tough to get around before and I never needed one since I mastered cutting intent.'
As dawn broke across the horizon, Genji noticed a wagon parked on the side of the road. Squatting beside it was a strangely dressed man who fiddled with a rattlesnake, using various methods to extract its venom into a glass bottle. Once he obtained his quota, he grabbed it by the tail and swung its head several times into the ground before tossing it aside.
As Genji approached, he corked the bottle and stood up to greet him. "Hello there, traveler. Fancy some concoctions? I promise only the beeeeesssst stuff," he finished with a crooked grin, revealing a bronze tooth.
"You're a strange one, you know. I haven't seen anyone as relaxed as you traveling at night."
"Why yes, I get that a lot." The man set down his bottle, grabbed a machete and a glass jar, and approached a nearby cactus. Then with a wide swing, he hacked off an arm and held the jar up to the plant. A thin stream of liquid flowed out, slowly filling the air with trickling sounds. This lasted several minutes until the cactus ran dry.
The man returned to the wagon, fumbled around for some bottles, and mixed their contents into the jar. He stirred the concoction with a metal spoon before offering some to Genji, which the latter politely declined.
"Such a shame. You're missing out," he said before contently chugging half the jar. "Ahhh that hits the spot. Nothing beats a blend of cactus juice first thing in the morning. Anyway, where were we? Ah yes, peddling. Would you like to buy some tonics?" The man pulled out a red, blue, and green vial from the cart.
"Depends. What do they do?"
"One heals you, one protects you, and one gives you freeeaaakkyy powers. Everything you would need to handle these parts."
"Sounds interesting. Can I try them first?"
"Of course of course." The man took out three tasting dishes and poured a drop on each.
Genji pricked his finger and slid the red drop over the wound. The liquid evaporated immediately, revealing perfectly unblemished skin. The tonic worked faster than Genji's potions, but it provided significantly less healing overall. It was a decent first-aid measure, but it wouldn't help with severe injuries.
Next was the blue drop, which left a faint energy film over his skin. It was flexible and soft to the touch, like a piece of silk. Genji flicked the film and felt a fraction of the force dissipate.
Finally, there was the green drop. Before he could use it, the medicine peddler stopped him. "You want to drink this one," he explained.
Genji scrutinized him for any signs of deceit before carefully dripping it onto his tongue. Upon evaporation, the fumes wafted up the back of his mouth and his pupils heated up. The effect of negligible, but for a split second, Genji had thermal vision.
"Interesting. I'll take three of each."
"No problem. That'll be 116 rupees please."
"I'll trade you this instead," Genji said, tossing over a bottle of his own.
"What's this? An elixir of your own? Why didn't you tell me you were an alchemist as well? Unfortunately, I don't have much interest in your work. There's no point in studying something when I can't recreate it."
"Why don't you test its effects first?"
The man followed Genji's suggestion and his eyes immediately lit up. "That's some strong stuff right there. On second thought, these might come in handy. But you'll have to give much more than that for an equal trade."
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Genji threw over two more vials and said, "That's the most you'll get out of me. I know my stuff. It's way more potent than yours. Your tonics might be useful in combat, but mine will save lives."
*Tsk* "And this is why I hate dealing with other alchemists. Always impossible to extort and overvalue their creations."
Genji pretended not to hear the last sentence, took his items, and continued his journey without a glance back.
----------------------------------------
After a few pits and stops, Genji arrived at a remote workshop near a river. The side of the building was open, like a garage door, allowing copious airflow. The grinding of metal and the clanking of gears came from this side, accompanied by the strong odor of grease and oil.
Genji approached and noticed an older man with a gray goatee working on a mechanical horse. Steam and exhaust hissed from gaps in its frame, only to be dispersed by a nearby electric fan. The mechanic stroked his goatee habitually and muttered incessantly about possible ideas.
Genji knocked on the building walls and walked in. The mechanic looked up and dismissively waved at him. "Not now. I'm busy."
Genji nodded back and found a seat in the disorganized workshop. He was no stranger to those immersed in their crafts, so he didn't mind the wait. Astros curiously nudged a discarded scrap before hopping on Bruce's head and leaning his device on the nightbane's ears. Meanwhile, Genji took out the newly purchased tonics and began distilling them.
Drop after drop fell into their respective chambers as Genji separated the components. Once completed, Genji picked up a vial and swirled it against the light. This continued for some time until a delighted exclamation sounded from the mechanic.
"Eureka! Finally a working prototype!" The man danced around for a few seconds before he finally noticed Genji, at which he awkwardly stopped. "Oh, you're still here?"
"Yes. A certain alcoholic sends his regards. Said something about an exchange." Genji brought out the ore and placed it on a stool.
The mechanic took out a magnifying glass from his toolbox and examined the surface veins. "Genuine alright. Guess Bill still has sharp eyes after so many years."
"The exchange?"
"Hold on. Before that, help me test my prototype first. It's not every day I make something like this."
"And how do I do that?"
"Is that even a question? You have a horse, I have a horse. What do horses do? They run. So what better way than a race?"
"Sounds troublesome. Can I just get the item and go?"
"No. You need to race me if you want your reward."
Genji sighed with exasperation and picked Astros off Bruce's head. "Alright, you heard him. Let's get this over with."
Bruce opened his eyes and gave the mechanical horse a strange look. Although Bruce barely qualified as a horse, given his blood-morphing abilities, he at least is a living creature. But that thing? It's debatable if it could even run. Plus, why in the form of a horse of all things? Wouldn't it be much easier to create a car or something similar? 'I'm surrounded by weirdos. First the coward, now the machine. Can't I meet a normal horse to show off to?'
The mechanic mounted his creations and pushed down on the foothold. A cranking of gears and chains sounded as the eyes gradually lit up. The rumble of an engine and plumes of exhaust filled the room as the machine took a few wobbly steps. The creation gradually stabilized, allowing the mechanic to ride outside.
"We'll go around the hill, beneath the hanging overpass, through the canyon, and follow the road back. The first one back is the winner."
"If we're going to make it this complicated, why don't you tell me the prize as well? I should at least get something for not throwing."
"My favor. Isn't that enough of a reward?"
"No thanks. I prefer something more concrete," Genji replied, faking a yawn.
The mechanic stared silently at Genji for a few moments before asking, "You don't know who I am, do you?"
"Should I? Honestly I don't care that much. I'm just here because the alcoholic recommended me. I figured he wouldn't scam me after all the help I gave him."
"Ha, I like you kid. In that case, let me throw in access to my personal collection. How about that? Is that enough of an incentive?"
"I guess. It's better than nothing, even if I don't know what I'm getting."
"Alright enough talking. Get ready. We start on go." They got into position and the mechanic counted them down.
"Three."
The man leaned forward and dug his feet harder into the pedal.
"Two."
Exhaust fumes grew thicker and the roaring of engines sounded.
"Go!"
The man suddenly burst forward, leaving Genji behind with a peal of laughter. "So long sucker! Only an idiot plays fair!"
It took Bruce a moment to react before he also launched himself after the mechanic in annoyance. Meanwhile, Genji shook his head in dismay, questioning if the half-second head start was really necessary. 'It's not like he got much distance from that. Why is he like this?'
Bruce quickly narrowed the distance, forcing the mechanic to push his creation harder. For several moments the two horses were neck to neck, but Bruce eventually won out when a strange clank sounded from within the machine.
The mechanic's face twitched, but he refused to relent. The engines grew louder and the metal frame warmed from exertion. The legs blurred like never before as the creation forced itself to keep pace with Bruce.
Bruce considered going faster to spite the mechanic, but Genji quelled those thoughts with a light pat. 'Leave him some face, won't you? He's giving us a present after all.'
As such, they rounded the hills, zoomed through the shadows cast by the overpass, and dashed between the canyon walls, all while the mechanic grew red in the face. Screws and metal sheets broke off behind him, riddling the land with scraps.
The frame at this point was hot enough to cook an egg, but the mechanic's pride prevented him from stopping. He clamped down harder and pushed forward with all his might.
The clanking of internal gears became jarring amidst the booming engine, indicating severe damage within the construction. Genji gave a sideways glance and patted Bruce again, indicating he could speed up now. They were on the home stretch, so the difference wouldn't seem too big.
Bruce understood and unleashed half his speed, reaching the finish line instantly. A second later, the machine's front leg dislodged from its joint, hurling the mechanic forward. The man skipped across the ground for a dozen meters before crashing into the side of his house.
"Ow ow ow ow," he hissed, pulling himself out as the dust settled. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a large road rash that bled lightly. "That was not how it was supposed to go."
"Was it worth it? You destroyed your creation and now you have to deal with this pain," Genji asked, approaching on Bruce.
"Absolutely. I don't regret a thing. Would do it again if I had the chance."
"Whatever." Genji tossed over some bandages. "Let's talk about my reward."
"Sure. Wait for me inside. I need to clean these wounds."
----------------------------------------
40 minutes later, the mechanic entered with all his limbs wrapped in gauze bandages. He winced with each step, making no attempt to hide his discomfort. In fact, he might even be exaggerating his reactions to remind Genji.
"Are you sure you wrapped it correctly? It seems pretty loose to me. How about I help you out? I'm a doooccctttooorr. You can trrruuussstttt meeee. I'll tie it up niiiicccee aaaannnddd tiiiggghhttt." Genji retaliated, sounding extremely unreliable.
The mechanic shivered and quickly walked past him. Genji followed with a disappointed sigh, causing the mechanic to increase his pace. He led Genji to an unremarkable trapdoor and gestured for him to open it.
Genji obliged and they descended a dusty set of stairs. When they reached the bottom, the mechanic unlocked the door with a key, revealing a basement lined with display shelves. Each shelf held a golden weapon and its corresponding ammunition, for a grand total of eight.
"Take your pick. But you only get one," the mechanic said with a proud grin.
Genji browsed through his choices and narrowed the options down to three. The first was a semi-automatic crossbow with its own magazine slot. Just load the cartridge and he would be good for 12 shots.
The second was a strange armguard that held two retractable shredder blades. The contraption was designed to fire when the arm performed a specific motion, allowing the user to operate it without occupying a hand slot. The blades were also curved, enabling them to efficiently grab and pull in the surrounding flesh for tearing.
Finally, there was a portable cannon that fired large explosive rounds. Not much needed to be said here - it's a literal cannon!
Genji favored the armguard the most, but he knew it wouldn't do much for him. At best, it might fetch a decent price afterward, but Genji wanted something long-term. "Do you have something else? These don't particularly interest me."
"Oh? Then what is your ideal firearm?" The mechanic asked in an intrigued tone.
"Preferably something that can shoot from really far. The further, the better. I don't need any fancy mechanisms or tricks. Just pure power."
"Do you have a concept design I can work off of?"
"Give me a blueprint paper."
The mechanic fetched the supplies and Genji began sketching. Although he was no artist, he'd studied modern firearms enough to make a rough diagram. After an hour of work, he presented an exaggerated sniper 2.3 meters in length with an estimated weight of 50 kilograms. "Something like this will do."
The mechanic's eyes twitched at this design and rubbed his forehead, trying to soothe the headache that spawned from interrupting this mess. "What the hell! I'm a craftsman, not a miracle worker. If you want a miracle, you should have asked god!"
Yet despite these words, the mechanic couldn't help but feel a sense of interest kindling within him. He'd never worked with something like this before and his innovative spirit wanted to dive right in - to tackle this challenge head-on and understand the underlying principles. However, he would be a fool to take on this herculean task with no compensation.
Genji noticed this hesitance and placed a potion in front of him as encouragement. "I don't know if you've met the medicine peddler, but these are things even he covets. One sip and you can reattach a broken limb. Two sips and you can survive a grievous injury. Three and you will die from overdose."
The mechanic glanced at it and forced himself to look away. "Not enough. It'll take more than that to bribe-"
Before he could finish that sentence, Genji placed another one beside the first. Then another. And another. Until the mechanic couldn't resist the temptation any further and hurriedly wrapped his arm around the pile, afraid that Genji would retract the offer. "I'll get started right away. Come back in two weeks."
Then he quickly shooed Genji away, all while crackling to himself. If one didn't know better, one would assume the man had gone mad. "La la la la medicine, medicine, all so lovely medicine. La la la la la."