The next few hours went into arts and crafts. His fangs were too powerful and too new to perform the detailing required. So, back with the stinger, Tetsu nicked pieces of the wood to form a hook.
The skill ‘Rune Tracer’ and ‘Edge Cut’ made carving runes over the root super easy. One wouldn’t let him slip or forget the positioning, while the other dug into the wood like butter. In places where ‘edge cute’ failed, fangs took over.
“Should I break my teeth and use it as a knife?” Tetsu suppresses his inner masochist before he can go wild.
“One issue at a time, please. Let’s plan that after we determine if it shall regrow.”
Talking about issues...
[Ding! Skill: Edge cut has been upgraded to Razor Edge: a refined edge pushed to its limit with razor sharpness. May any blunt spear drill holes in your enemy’s heart. Level: Initiate. Rarity: Epic.]
“Feisty.”
[Ding! You have proven the might of your fangs by devouring every form of vital energy that dared cross your path. Whether it is an animate or an inanimate object. Either you deem it an ally or foe. No morals, ethics, or rules can stand between you and your meal. May they never quench your hunger as you devour this world and the next from what’s rightfully yours. Fangs have been upgraded to Vampiric Fangs. Level: 01. Progress to level02: 0.9%]
“Sweet deal. I am back to being a vampire.”
Sage disagrees with his analysis, making Tetsu pout.
Tetsu’s secret plan or weapon was the rune ‘Devour.’ With his initial experiment failing, he discarded the rune, but now, with the wood burning from the inside out, the rune can help restore it to its prime condition.
The plan is to head deeper into the forest eventually and finding rare wood scattered about is close to impossible. A self-repair rune will go a long way until Tetsu creates his second artifact.
Oh, he was planning on making a lot more.
After taking some guidance from his inner sage. Yes, he would accept free help because of his ego. Tetsu connects one attachment of the wood to another with crooked lines, combining them all into one long stick.
The bottom piece held the smoke orb and some charcoal shards while the second section held the mana-boosting ru’nic circle. The top piece, closer to his chest, held the health-boosting Ru’nic circle and the attachment to it held the ‘devour’ rune.
As a bonus, the rune ‘Devour’ restored the boosting attachments and the charcoal shards with his latest potent smoke.
“We...”
Before Tetsu could admire and praise his amazing luck, a much-awaited notification steals his attention.
[Ding! Congratulations, you have integrated the class Artificer.]
“Oh...! So that’s what they are called. Cool.”
[Artificer: Many dream of reaching the pinnacle of existence, yet no shell has ever been durable enough to withstand the pressure. Even though the shell has failed countless times. For not its fault but that of an Artificer. While beasts and men alike took centuries to claw their way to the top, a single artifact erased their names from history within seconds. A simple stupendous artifact created by a nerdy Artificer during his spare time. Some are tailor-made for you, while others counteract your every move. Artificers are never found on the front lines or at the borders of history. They always settle in the sweet middle spot, almost always overlooked by history. Yet every Hero, king, conqueror, or deity has an artifact tied to their victories, their names. These unseen legends make every artifact. Walk in their path or forge your own. For now, you’ve been deemed worthy of this class and from now on your legacy shall ever be etched into the multiverse records.]
[Ding! Congratulations. Your class; Artificer, has expanded your mana and health pool by one percent. While every creation has the potential to dethrone a celestial, they also contain the risk of erasing their creator from existence. With a bigger pool, may you probe your luck further. Class: Artificer. Level: Initiate --> 01% <--]
“Holy fucking god, this is too much to take in.”
[Warning! Forger class...]
Tetsu didn’t even have to read the rest of it. He gives a mental accent to get rid of the ‘Forger’ class.
“Good riddance.” Tetsu salutes it goodbye.
Sage reminds him that it isn’t gone but merged with his new class.
For a change Tetsu ignores him. Not sure how one ignores a title, but he sure did or thought he did.
[Ding! Artificer has affiliated your shell with a new affinity; Arcane Knot; Some knots take centuries to untie. While not every knot is under the jurisdiction of an Artificer, they held the highest possibilities to unwind or utilize the arcane force. Help might be needed, but never an obstacle. With the Arcane Knot affinity may you tap deeper into the realities of artifacts.]
“Yikes once again!.” Tetsu whistles. “So there’s more to being an Artificer?”
Tetsu waits for his inner sage to respond. Before he mustered up a taunt or an apology over the awkward silence, a new notification confirmed his next response.
[Ding! Based on the current path taken and adding into count the current achievements, your title...]
“Oh, no you don’t.”
[... GlyphSage is being...]
“Just stop right there.”
[... Upgraded...]
“Decline, decline, decline.”
[... to Saint RÆ.]
“Ah! Fuck. No!” Tetsu’s frustration jumbles his words. “Delete it, no, take it back. I did all the fucking work. Why does he get to level up before me? Scratch that. Why does he ever have to level up? I had to forget how to fly because of him. Fuck! Now I remembered it again.” Tetsu scowls at his screen. “This is fair. No! Super unfair. I did the work.”
Tetsu furiously scrolls through his screen and checks every inch of his system to find a way to decline this generous upgrade.
He didn’t want a cockier sage or saint. He would rather have their physical manifestation to pound some fists into. His ethics and principles be dammed.
Murder was the name of the game, and Tetsu would create new ways to kill every sage in the multiverse.
Gore shall be redefined and Sherlock will never see him coming. He shall be bestowed with mighty titles such as sage slayer or one shot, one sage, but before all that, one last question needed answers.
“So more than one person works on a single artifact?” Tetsu receives a hypothetical nod from his inner saint. “Each unique and professional in their field.” One more nod. “From one to any number of artificers.” Another nod. “The more the better, the better.”
Saint understands his babble and nods in agreement.
“Is there? No. They are folks who can make an artifact on their own and surpass a combined effort of artificers.” He makes a statement and gets another affirmation. “But it’s super hard.”
This got him a shrug, maybe.
“It definitely is then,” Tetsu confirms. “Materials, blending materials, and what else? I can’t keep relying on others. I need to get stronger and learn those stuff by myself. More work.” He sighs.
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With a flick and tick, Tetsu twists the attachments and snaps them all into a four-foot-long stick.
Saint Ræ moderated the flow, while Tetsu blasts the artifact with his arcane knot affinity. Blue blazes of ethereal hue seep into the artifact. The runes glow sky blue with a silver lining, etching the runes permanently into the wood.
[Ding! Skill; Rune tracer has been upgraded to Etched Rune: A Monarch shall never stride from his word. Either its given verbally or in writing. Once drawn into existence, may your word never retreat. Strengthen every rune you create by your willpower. With a strong will, may the runes created by you, remain eternal.]
[Cost: Based on intent. Level: Monarch. Rarity: Common.]
“Ha, finally.” Groans Tetsu. “Less time carving stuff up. It was weirdly calming, though.”
[Ding! You have unlocked the Artificer interface.]
Tetsu gets a new window option below his status menu. “Fuck! I completely forgot about my stats.” He smacks himself for not checking sooner.
He skipped from one experiment to the other while focusing on the stats that mattered. The rest he zoned off with the system, helping him blur the rest of his screen.
Down here, Tetsu goes through his status one by one before he checks out the new interface. All his constant efforts going down the drain derailed his drive. Once the negative numbers rolled in, he stopped looking at his status screen altogether. If no one else supports you, you gotta support yourself. Plain and simple.
“Wait, a lot has changed. But how?”
Saint reminds him that he is an Artificer now, and by default, they are super-organized beings.
“Thanks.” He bows to his new class. “I do suck at organizing my stuff and I do know its importance.” He bows deeper. “At least some around here helps.” He sends a jab toward Saint.
Name: Tetsü .K .Tenco.
Race: Human {---} Level: 01 | Initiate |
Class: Artificer & Tracer
Affinity: Rune Force ; Arcane Knot.
Bond: N/A
--*--*----*--*--
[STATUS]
Health Pool: 26/84
Mana Pool: 90/140
Fatigue: 46
--*--*----*--*--
[INDIVIDUAL STAT’S]
Dex: 24 :: Flex: 4 :: Flash: 2
Stamina: 3 :: Rex: 16 :: Fort: 4
--*--*----*--*--
Senses: 17 :: Regen: 23 :: Tork: 14
--*--*----*--*--
Will power: 27 :: Perception: 56 :: Intellect: 52
Luck: 02
Free Points: 04
--*--*----*--*--
Titles--: Solitary Vanguard; Fanatic Rever; Saint RÆ, Novice Craftsman.
--*--*----*--*--
Creation -X-
Artifact I ;
--*--*----*--*--
Skills: [Overlay(Monarch/Legendary)], [Conqueror’s Stride(Conqueror/Epic)], [Echo Vault(Warrior/Rare)[01/01], [Etched Rune(Monarch/Common)], [Mana Injection(Initiate/Common)], [Tag Along(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Smoke orb(Initiate/Common)[01/01], [Rune Curve of Resonance(Warrior/Uncommon)], [Expert Deceit(Initiate/Rare)], [Tracker(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Razor Edge(Initiate/Epic)], [Resource Radar(Unique)].
Skills Tomb: [Incubate drops(Initiate/Rare)], [Mana Injection(Initiate/Common)], [Match Stick(Initiate/Common)], [Spot water(Initiate/Common)], [Spark(Initiate/Common)], [Relaxing Wind(Initiate/Common)], [Detect(Initiate/Common)], [Florist(Initiate/Common)], [Explosive Fist(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Death Run(Initiate/Rare)],
-*--*----*--*--
Ru'nic formations: [Vapor(Initiate/Common)], [Spark(Initiate/Common)], [Breeze(Initiate/Common)], [Fire(Initiate/Common)], [Info(Unique)]:{Condition: Intent}, [Lightweight(Initiate/Common)], [Speed(Initiate/Common)], [Target(Unique)]:{Condition: Love/Hate}, [Overload(Unique)]:{Condition: Contain}, [Swirl(Initiate/Common)], [Escape(Initiate/Common)], [Launch(Unique)]:{Condition: Impact}, [Devour(Unique)]:{Condition: Will/intent}.
-*--*----*--*--
Bound Items: [Crystal Mold Pants {Gift}], [Vampiric Fangs {Karmic Bond}]
-*--*----*--*--
Increment: [By pants (Initiate/Rare): Dex: +13. Flex: -7. Flash: -10. Stamina: -10. Fort: +20. Défense: +24. Level: Initiate. Rarity: Rare.], [By Rune Tracer class: Perception: +7. Tork: +4. Regen: +4.], [By Artificer class: 1% increase on Mana & Health pool.], [By titles (Solitary Vanguard & Fanatic Rever: overall 2% Stat growth], [By Saint Ræ title: Wisdom: +30. Perception: +20. Intellect: +20.], [By Vampiric Fangs: Skull toughness: Level 01.]
Tetsu gets a bit overwhelmed by the list. He thinks for a while and deletes his entire Skills tomb folder. Too many skills are never good and there was no point in picking up those skills down the line. If he needed, he would whip something out based on the situation.
Next, Tetsu rearranged the skills he had based on what he would use the most and on what he would like to advance. Basic knowledge he acquired from every Kung fu movie ever made. Familiarity, flexibility, power, and whatnot.
“You stay, you go. What are you? No thank you. No… Don’t go, go.” Tetsu fiddles with his screen, rearranging the skills based on what he wanted to concentrate on more. “And done. Hmm… not bad.”
Skills: [Resource Radar (Unique)], [Echo Vault(Warrior/Rare)[01/01], [Smoke orb(Initiate/Common)[01/01], [Expert Deceit(Initiate/Rare)], [Etched Rune(Monarch/Common)], [Tag Along(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Tracker(Initiate/Uncommon)], [Overlay(Monarch/Legendary)], [Conqueror’s Stride(Conqueror/Epic)], [Rune Curve of Resonance(Warrior/Uncommon)], [Razor Edge(Initiate/Epic)], [Mana Injection(Initiate/Common)].
-*--*----*--*--
Ru'nic formations: [Info(Unique)]:{Condition: Intent}, [Devour(Unique)]:{Condition: Will/intent}, [Lightweight(Initiate/Common)], [Speed(Initiate/Common)], [Target(Unique)]:{Condition: Love/Hate}, [Overload(Unique)]:{Condition: Contain}, [Launch(Unique)]:{Condition: Impact}, [Escape(Initiate/Common)], [Vapor(Initiate/Common)], [Spark(Initiate/Common)], [Breeze(Initiate/Common)], [Fire(Initiate/Common)], [Swirl(Initiate/Common)].
His gut said unique tags had the most potential. They also were tailored to the person which meant his moves would be hard to copy and even harder to follow. The rest he skipped by. Info gave nothing on stuff he wanted to know, like what is freaking Karmic bonds?
Many questions Info couldn’t probe, he let them be and went on to things less complicated.
“Now for you.” He checks the artificer Interface by commanding the creation slot to open.
Creation -X- A1
Creation I: Enter your new creation.
Name: A mental command and it shall be named.
Description: Enter any description you desire. Remember that your description will help other users utilize this artifact to its full potential.
Bond: Soul bound? Transferable? Pick? Conditions?
Encryption: Creator: Tetsu. K. Tenco. Handover: N/A.
Run diagnosis to determine its status: Y/N.
Note: - After every improvement, make sure to run a diagnostic to figure out the artifacts awaken strengths and weaknesses.
Tetsu probes the assistant icon for more information.
{Assistant: Make and hand over the artifacts to your assistant while they take care of the tedious paperwork. As an Artificer, you don’t have to worry. A simple encryption is enough to reveal its creator, and you shall always have the upper hand.}
He naturally accepts the diagnostics.
>(Running diagnostics over -X-)<
Tetsu goes through a vague analysis of the wood used in the creation. Its obvious weakness is fire and it also showed the four functions it can perform.
The detailed breakdown of its level surprised him and which level of attacks could destroy or render the artifact useless.
The artifact truly sucked as anyone in their late initiation can break it as a toothpick, but the diagnosis by the screen ruled.
An option or more of a mental command was enough to add parts of the diagnosis straight into the description. Not that typing was a thing anymore. He imagined, and the system did the rest. No typos, no filth, and no translation required. Just dump your ideas and it shall do the rest.
The dream of every writer.
After playing with the interface, Tetsu didn’t have to think twice about adding all the tags to the description.
Encryption being the most tricky part and yielding no results from info, he skips it. No one needed a part popper during a victory run.
Bonds were simple. If he selects soul bond, the first person or creature to bind it with their mana will be the sole person who can use this artifact.
Transferable meant one can hand over their control to another or they lose control over the artifact after death. AKA: the best option for artifacts.
Another can never use soul bound. The artifact dies with the user. Even if it remains, it’s just a glorified, invincible rock. Still a rock. Because of this reason, the creator can never use the artifact if he makes it Soul-bound. Some kind of balance or system-enforced rule to mess with Tetsu.
‘Pick’ meant anyone who picked the artifact could use the artifact. In between a fight, if your opponent snatches your stick away from you, he can beat you to death with your own weapon.
“I didn’t know you couldn’t do that!” Tetsu shrugs and gets a heavy sigh from Saint.
Earth never had mana to bind an object to its owner. If it had, then the thieving industry wouldn’t have endured and, by extension, humans wouldn’t exist.
“I’m sure we will find a way to steal, even with mana.” Tetsu wasn’t worried.
That’s the one thing we excel in, more than the goblins.
Conditions also meant conditions. The artifact will only work if the user meets certain conditions. Based on the artificer’s whims, the conditions can be to kill a million people or kill himself.
What? Tetsu wasn’t in the mood to imagine a happy scenario right now.
System fuckery made the bonding process easy. Tetsu had no clue how the interface worked, but he sure as hell wanted to learn to make bonds. And make Kile one he can never refuse.
“Does the master need anything?” He mimics Kile. “Dance for me monkey, hahaha.” Tetsu forces a menacing laugh. “Something for the future, brilliant, well-versed Tetsu. Who hopefully knows more about what the actual fuck is happening?” Tetsu scans his surroundings, still skeptical and still blaming his pal Kile.
Coming down to the most crucial part.
The naming ceremony.
Tetsu did what any normal geologist would do. He gave it a ridiculous name which gave tongue twisters a knot they can never untwist.
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