Chapter 16
"... So this is the 2nd floor ha"
I stated as I gaze around the new floor that our tower, [Havre de sécurité] received, after we reached level 3. I was standing atop of a cliff, as I gaze at the scenery before me, as the [Transmission Point] was located above a tall mountain, and near at the edge of a cliff. The 2nd floor is basically made up of tall mountains, rocky plains, rough area, dense forest, and small hills - this information is basically thanks to my [Keen Eyesight], but I only have the overall viewpoint above the cliff, not the whole geography of those places. So in a sense, the 2nd floor of our tower, is purely designated for mining ores.
Taking a deep breath, I then went down the mountain, and started venturing this new, and unexplored place.
After what happened yesterday on the 1st floor, where Yoichi almost died, I then decided not to venture the 1st floor for the time being, not until Lucrane got back from her trip. Until now, Yoichi is still unconscious as he sleep, so I let him be. His injury was now healed, and his condition is now become stable, so I wasn't worried about it much.
As I was bored on waiting for nothing, as all the task are basically being taken by those {Stone Golems}, it then came at me that I should try exploring the unexplored places, on the 2nd floor. Lucrane and I was planning on exploring that place anyway, so why not use this opportunity to do so. Decided, I then went back inside the camp to check on Yoichi, before I started heading towards the 2nd floor.
The floor is uninhabited like what Lucrane said, I also did check it out of precautioness before I go. The mountain where I got teleported is one of the most tallest one among the others, or one among the other gigantic landforms - I wasn't sure yet, if there are others that could compare to how humongous this one is, as I didn't yet explored this area.
Climbing the mountain down wasn't hard, as the slope wasn't that slippery neither rocky, though there are some parts that needed a careful takes when stepping or passing through, but overall it wasn't bad.
As I arrived at the base of this gigantic landform, what greeted me was a wide area of spiky, wide, and tall rocks around. Some of the rocks formed a giant canine tooth, while the others are medium sized sharp teeth. There are some that looks like a claw of a giant beast. There are rock formations where it looks like a gigantic tusk of an animal, with spikes growing around it, while the other are like those pointy shells.
Looking at it, I then gaze up towards the cliff where I got teleported, and back at this spiky place
"This will be an instant death, whoever jump from there to here"
Just imagining a large red tomato falling from above, and splatter below or impaled, will explain how horrifying the result will be, if a living organisms took their life by jumping
"Just thinking about makes me feel nauseous"
Continuing on, I then walked towards a dense forest.
The forest I am crossing is much more of a tropical jungle theme forest, than the forest that I have went into. The trees are much thicker and taller, with vines wrapping around each branches, hanging above the trees. There are moss or ferns that are attached to the tree's trunk or branches. The bushes are much livelier that they field every pathway. Round bushes, long and tall leaves like plant that looks like a fan, and some has the shape similarly like those leaves of a Banana tree.
"And this forest is much more denser, compare to those one I have already ventured"
As I continued advancing forward, I keep brushing from here to there, as the vines around the trees are really loitering around. The vines all differ from their length and thickness, some of the vines are merely hanging from above, while the others are wrapping themselves on the branches of the trees, and walking pass them is really tedious and irritating, as it slows me down.
The pathway where those wild plant are growing also obstructing me to keep advancing forward, so rather than finding a new route to take, I sometimes cut them down with my iron sword, and proceed right after.
As I proceed walking further, I then spot something that the ground floor and 1st floor didn't have, Mushrooms. The 2 Mushrooms I saw sprouted at the base of the tree, near to an intertwined roots. As I kneel down to get a better view of it, I then checked its status
..
<> [Mushroom]
[Description: An edible wild vegetable, found in the deep forest]
I then check the other one.
..
<> [Poisonous Red Shroom]
[Skills:]
<> [Poison]
<> Some things were gifted with beauty, some were strength, some were intellect, but some were born with a touch of death. [Enhancement: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> When intake, [Poison] will be activated, causing the one who intake 0.05% reduction in speed, strength, and reflexes for 3 seconds
[Description: A poisonous mushroom found in the deep forest. Not edible]
The poisonous one has a color of light red, with a hint of a bit shade of red atop of its head, while the other one is painted in light brown color. Both has the same color at their stem, light beige tone, and similar composition or looks to the Mushrooms I known off, back in my world.
After storing those 2, I resumed my exploration.
As I carried on on my expedition, I then stumbled to a bountiful area, with a lot of Mushrooms growing around. The place was covered with thick, tall trees, that is circling around an open, small plot. The trees that are surrounding the open field made a pentagonal shaped, and at the base of each trees were like a bouquet of Mushrooms, rather than flowers. They are growing around the side of each tree, but none at the center, except for that one little luster of white Mushroom.
"...."
Staring at it with suspiciousness, I then glance at the other Mushrooms around the area. Kneeling down, I then observed them each, as I look at their status.
..
[Poisonous Red Shroom]
[Skills:]
<> [Poison]
<> Some things were gifted with beauty, some were strength, some were intellect, but some were born with a touch of death. [Enhancement: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> When intake, [Poison] will be activated, causing the one who intake 0.05% reduction in speed, strength, and reflexes for 3 seconds
[Description: A poisonous mushroom found in the deep forest. Not edible]
The 2nd one I inspected, was a light blue Mushroom, with a dark blue around the tip of the Mushrooms hat, and a bluish green stalk.
..
<> [Blue Wish Death Shroom]
[Skills:]
<> [Death upon Wish]
<> Consumed by wrath, hatred, and agony, a woman wished, prayed, yelled as she screamed to kill her enemy, her source of pain, her only dreadful fate, and her only love to vanish, to dissappear, and to never be seen again. [Enhancement: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> When [Death upon Wish] is use, the wisher need to only wish once, to fulfill its deepest desire. [Flaw: the wish will consume the wisher's life]
<> Has 2% chance of making wish true.
[Description:]
<> Blessed by God or blessed by fate, neither or both, this single thing was born by miracle and luck, and sprouted deep within the forest it hid.
"..... Just for a 2% chances, she exchanged her life just to curse or kill her lover.....?"
I then grab the [Blue Wish Death Shroom], and stored it to my [Storage Ring]
"If that is bravery or insanity, she has my deep respect and pity"
I then glance at the other Mushrooms, and survey them. This other was was completely soaked to a black ink, from its stalk to its hat, it's utterly covered in black.
"I got a bad feeling about this one"
..
<> [Vendredi Noir] (French translation for black Friday)
[Skills:]
<> [Dés du sombre Destin] (French translation for dice of dark fate)
<> Luck was a gift to those who are blessed, misfortune was given to those who are cursed. Now tainted by the abyss touch, only bad luck comes to those who looked back. [Enhancement: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> When consumed, the one who intake will be given 50% reduction in luck for 3 days. [Flaw: 1% chance of great fortune]
[Description:]
<> An ominous and edible Mushroom that grows deep in the forest. Beware of its taste, as it keep a danger to its palate.
".... This is a nasty one, I'll take it"
After storing the 3rd Mushroom, I then inspected the 4th one. The next one has a pecualir shape on it, it has a parasol shape hat with a curve body, and some hanging small orbs in a thin thread like lanterns around it. At the edge of this Mushroom's hat, has a sickle like shaped thin hair or spikes, growing around it. Coated in cotton white from its hat to its stalk, this mushroom is quite stunning to watch.
Awed to its beauty, I then hurriedly checked its status
..
<> [Shi no Utsukushi-sa] (Japanese translation for beauty of death)
[Skills:]
<> [Slave Charm]
<> An ability to take what yours from others, to grab hold to what you seek by looting. [Mastery: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> Anyone who got charm will be unable to resist the charmer for 10 seconds. [Flaw: can only be use for 2 people for 3 times. 10% succession rate against those who have strong mental fortitude]
<> [Death by Love] (cough cough death by snu snu cough)
<> Love is a beautiful gift and a divine grace, but a choking reality and a agonizing fate. [Enchantment: 0/ 0 (maxed)]
<> Those who are fallen by the [Slave Charm] will lose 5% of their vitality for 3 seconds.
[Description:]
<> A once beautiful plant was now tainted by the sickness of those who bear hate. Now carved from their agony, it was now born to those who seek fortune from others worth. An edible plant. Beware, sometimes those who bear beauty, have thorns sharper than sword.
".... Even roses have thorns ha, how stunning"
Saying that, I then stored it. Discerning the area, it seems there were only 4 different kind of Mushrooms sprouted in this area, and all of them bore death or misfortune. Seeing that there are no other Mushrooms, I then picked them all up and store them to my [Storage Ring], we might use them in the near future.
After I finished picking and storing all of the Mushrooms, I then gazed at the one remaining one
"... Now then"
Closing the distance between me and that 'not so suspicious' Mushroom, I then stood beside it. Gazing at for a bit, I then scrunch down. Glancing it from side to side, I was then able to have a proper look to what kind of Mushroom it is.
"A..... Jewel?"
I puzzledly questioned. The said Mushroom has a luster of white color, that looks like a polished gem or jewel. Though it doesn't reflect light, neither shone when hit. After examining it at every angle, I then checked its status
..
<> [Mushroom]
[Skills:]
<> [Unknown]
<> Unknown
<> Unknown
<> [Unknown]
<> Unknown
<> Unknown
<> [Unknown]
<> Unknown
<> Unknown
[Description:]
<> "Just a normal looking mushroom, why not take a bite? I promise about the taste, not the after effect"
"..."
Truly, and completely concern about this amushroom, I then sigh and stood up
"Let us wait for Lucrane, and not be greedy here"
Saying that, I then left the area where the Mushroom was. Why I didn't picked it? Well, because I don't know what will happen if I did picked it, so rather than over thinking about it, I rather ask Lucrane about her opinion regarding this Mushroom, before I harvest it. Though it is quite a shame to leave it here unguarded, and no surveillance.
Sigh
Sighing once again, I then turn back and summoned my Mythril sword out. Moving forward to the front of the Mushroom, I then cut the area I pass through.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Slashing some of the plants in the area for me to easily find this spot, if I ever wanted to come back
Thunk! Thunk!
I then carved some sign in the tree trunk, to let me know that I pass this area, if ever those plants I cut may grow back. Afterwards, I then store the sword back in the ring, and continued moving forward.
....
As I carry on and further explore this wide, thick forest, I then stumble to a large pillar which is twice my height, but it was broken, so I can't really say for sure how much taller this thing is. And beside this pillar, was a remnants of something placed beside it, as some still stuck debris of stones still remains, but one thing for sure
"It's a wide one, and truly thick too"
I then closely walked towards the pillar. Staring at this unknown structure, I then raise my right hand, clench it into a fist, and
Tok Tok Tok
And knock on it, to see what it is
"So it is made from stone"
Well duhh, even from afar you can see it was made from stone, but that is not what I am trying to find here, but rather
"Isn't this place suppose to be the newest floor, added to our tower? So who build this? Where did it come from? And how much time did it pass, for it to look like this?"
Asking such question, I then gazed at this stone pillar. With discerning eyes, I then shook my head as to sway such thought, and moved on
"Whatever it is was already gone, maybe even forgotten, so what is the use of thinking of the past, that can't be brought back"
Saying that, I then resumed my exploration, and went much further ahead.
...
An hour or so came right after, after I left that unknown stone pillar behind, just outside of the thick forest
"..... What the"
I then arrived and saw a giant ancient temple, a much bigger one compared to the temple we found in the [Valley of Ruined City], where that disgusting monster sprouted out of nowhere, and where that nightmarish tale Lucrane told me about originated.
Even with my [Keen Eyesight], I can't really see it clearly, but I could still observe it. The temple in front of me wasn't that battered, but there are signs around it that time did pass it. Some cracks around here and there could be seen. The temple has the same design like one of those ancient tribal groups, or whatever back in my world.
"I think it was called pyramid-temple"
The said temple has 7 levels, based on the wide level area that looks like a pathway above the staircase, and a temple above it, or look like one. I can't clearly see the top of it, as my [Keen Eyesight] can't further reach than what I could see, but atop of this structure has a temple like shape on it. Build in a perfect symmetrical shape, and a well-carved design.
The temple has a wide gate with tall walls upfront that is protecting it, with a curved door. The wall has wide corridor or pathway underneath, with 4 pillars supporting the ceiling for it not to crumble down. In front of the gate was an extended, long porch, with 8 pillars supporting the wide roof.
At the side - above the gate - was a small totem or a sculptured monster, or something, but seeing that they are broken beyond recognition, we can't really say what it is, but it has two opened legs with 3 sharp claws, and a long tail, and another 4 fingers that was cut from the rest, was placed just a distance from that statue.
Looking below, I then saw a vast maze just below the temple. The structure of the how the maze was made was completely overwhelming, and truly built in complexity. The said maze cover the whole temple, making it look like the last line of defense or something, before reaching the temple. The said temple was a bit at the high ground. Staring at the temple, I then took a glance at my left, then at my right, before I moved forward.
Before reaching the temple, there is a wide plain, a thick grown meadow with a seeming accountable numbers of trees, around to be seen. The grasses in the meadow reaches till my waist, so fighting here with an enemy, especially those who are good at sneak attack and are nimble, is hard to be fought off.
The vastness of this meadow was truly massive, as it cover and surrounded the whole temple in each side. Transversing the meadow was peaceful and quiet, so I was able to have a relaxing walk, though it was a bit longer than I expected.
After crossing the meadow which took me a lot of time to cross, I then arrived at the temple. Arriving there, I was then greeted with a large thick wall, with a wide staircase at the center. At the front of each side, near the staircase, was a statue of a well-carved snake that has 2 heads.
I then closed the distance between me and the staircase. Arriving there, I then took a deep gaze at it before I sigh, and left as I turn to my right.
There aren't any monsters around the temple, or to be precise, around the whole 2nd floor, but transversing an unknown structure like this is much better to be done with a companion, to look behind your back for any unexpected things to happen.
Sighing, I then moved and leave the area. As I walked to the right side of the temple, I then noticed an area that is a bit gleaming. As I leaved towards that area, I then saw a wide, and flowing river behind the temple.
The said river is connected to the back of the temple, then moved towards an underground tunnel. Gazing at this, I then decided to follow it, to see where is this river connected to. After I moved away from the temple, I then proceed on continuing my expedition.
.....
Another hour or so passed as I moved away from the temple, as I followed the pathway of the river, I then stumble to a huge lake. The lake is vast and could be compared to the huge lake we found outside the tower, where we then got chased by those ghost monsters, and climbed above a hill to a rest for the night, and away from those monsters.
This vast lake I found has a medium sized mountain beside it, with 3 peaks. There is also a small island just a distance from where I was. Seeing such beautiful scenery, I then gazed up and realized that it's almost lunch. Realizing that, I then decided to take my meal here.
After I found a good place to take a rest, I then took some branches to make a camp fire, by cutting some in the nearby tree around the lake. Afterwards, I then lighted it using the most premitive way when creating a fire without any lighter in hand, or Lucrane with her fire magic.
I first cut some of the edges of the woods into thin fiber, to be use as a fire starter. I then cut some thick branches into halves. By using the cut side of one of the branches, I then made a small hole, just enough for the thin branch to be placed. After that, I then placed the dry leaves I gathered, and made a fire pit, or what you call a tinder nest. After that, I then placed a thin brach at the small hole I made in one of the chopped branch, right after I place some fiber on it, sat down to make myself comfortable, place the thin branch between my hands, and then
"[Quick Reflexes]"
Invoked one of my skill, and started rolling the thin branch between my hands. Thanks to the my skill [Quick Reflexes]
Spark Spark Spark
It only took some seconds for me to create a fire, though it was merely some small sparks. After it smoked, I then bended my head to the right, near the smoked part of the branch, and
Fooo~! Hooo~!
And started blowing it. I then took some dried leaves and folded them, before I place them atop of the small hole, of course I made a small gap for the wind to enter, and started blowing again.
As the fire grows bigger, I then slowly placed it to the fire pit, and let it grow even more.
Spark Spark Spark Spark
After I made my camp fire, I then took out all the items I needed for cooking. From my [Storage Ring], I summoned a small grill that is made from 6 small, but thick iron metal, that is placed in a parallel order. I then also took out a fork right after.
I then placed the small grill atop of the fire, and the meat I just cut into a long, thin size, and brushed some of the Chicken Oil.
Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle
"!!"
While grilling the meat, I then suddenly realized something, which made me face palmed myself, and lower my head
"I didn't left any food for Yoichi"
Sizzle Sizzle Sizzle
Spark Spark Spark
....
Gulp
Fuah~
After I took my meal and drank some water right after, I then took a bit of break, and enjoyed the view of the lake. After a few minutes pass, I then went towards the lake, and started washing all of the utensils I used. After cleaning the dishes, which is just a spoon, fork, and a plate, I then stood up, gazed for a little bit of time at the vast, beautiful lake, before I turn around and started heading out again. I needed to finish my expedition, even if I can't explore the whole 2nd floor, right before evening.
Entering the thick forest, I then carried on.
....
Walking for another hour or so, I then arrived at one of my destination, at the base of the mountains I saw when I was atop of a cliff. I was planning on visiting at least one mountain while I am here, so I picked the nearest one, out of all the other tall ones in the area.
The mountain that I am standing near at was mostly composed of rocky surface, and big boulder sizes rock formation, from the base till the top of this huge stone landform. And at the base of this mountain was merely made of rough, and spiky ground. There is an area at the foot of the mountain that is plain, though are rocks laying around, and some small boulder scattered around, but the said area is much more easier to transverse, than the others.
I then summoned an Iron Pickaxe, and headed to that plain area. As I arrived to the front of the plain area, beside at the base of this huge landform, the body of the said mountain, I then touch it and took a feel. The surface was rough and
Thunk! Thunk!
And hard, so mining in this section will be tough. Knowing that, I then walked a bit further as I keep poking it with my pickaxe, to find the most suitable place to dug.
Thunck!
Sigh
Sighing, I then halted as even how much I stroll around the area, there were no soft spot for me to dug, though except for this one that isn't that hard than the rest, neither to soft. And I can't go around this mountain, as this lanform is massively big, and I only came here to look and try a few swings from here to there, for a reason that I am bored, and thought that maybe practicing a bit before we start mining will be good.
Standing as I gaze at it for a moment, I then touched the spot that I found, which was the most soft one compared to the others. I then grab the pickaxe with both of my hands, correct my posture as I moved my left foot forward, bended a bit, and then
Swoosh
I then swung the pickaxe I am holding from the right, with all I have, starting from the side then raised it up, and brought it down, aiming at this huge landform surfaces, but
Thunk!
"!"
But my swing just bounce back, at it hits that spot. After it bounced back, I then tried once again. Correcting my posture, I then tightly grip the hilt of my pickaxe, but this time, I placed my right hand at the top of the hilt, just below the head of the pickaxe, while my left just above the end.
Fooo~
Taking a deep breath, I then invoke one of my skills
"[Quick Reflexes]"
And
Swoosh
And swung my pickaxe again. Slowly, I descended my right arm till it reach where my left hand was, to create more momentum to my swing, by giving it more power as I swung it down, and then
Thanck!
But it still repelled it back.
Fooo~
Taking a deep breath, I then change my posture. This time, I move my left foot forward, hold the pickaxe with my left hand atop, and right below
"[Swift Nimble]"
"[Quick Reflexes]"
After I have activated 2 of my skills, I then
Woosh
Swung my pickaxe again. Lowering my left hand till it bump to my right, to add more push to my swing, my pickaxe then hit its mark
Tunk!
But my attack just bounce back.
Foo~
A bit irritated now, I tightly grip my hold to the pickaxe hilt, bended a bit lower, widen then gap between my legs, and
"[Untouched]"
"[Feather Touch]"
"[Swift Nimble]"
"[Quick Feet]"
"[Quick Reflexes]"
"[Shadow Dash]"
[Untouched] has been used]
[Invasion] has been activated for 30 seconds]
[Feather Touch] has been used]
[Weightless] has been activated]
[50% weight reduction for wearing [Leather Armor]
[10% weight reduction for wearing [Steel Armor]
I then activated all the skills that boost my speed I have in hand, and swung my pickaxe will great force.
Swoosh
Thunk!
"!?"
As I applied a great force to my swing, with the boost of my speed just to hit the spot I mark, the reaction it gave back at me pushed me back. Shocked for a bit, I then frown, moved my left foot back as an anchor, griply grasp the hilt of my pickaxe so it won't slip, and swung it again
Woosh
Thunk!
Gritting my teeth, I then swung my pickaxe again
Thunk!
And again
Tank!
And again
Thwack!
And again
Thanck!
And again. I swung my pickaxe for almost a dozen times now, but all my attempt bore no gain, as the spot I thought was soft, turns out to be tougher that I expected. It wouldn't budge, neither cracks with all those furious strikes I did, this thing simply doesn't want to submit.
Swoosh
Thawck!
Completely frustrated, I then attempt another push again to the left. Swinging my pickaxe with all my force to my left
Thunk!
It then got repelled once again, but this time, I used this situation as I slid my left foot to my left, and twist my body at the same time, and swung my pickaxe in that momentum, and stump my left foot. I then raised my pickaxe as I swing, and brought it down with great might towards that spot
THUCK!
"!?!"
Slip!
"Woah!"
Swish
Thud!
Thunk! Thack! Tok! Tak!
"For every action (force) in nature, there is an equal and opposite reaction" a word spoken by one of the famous scientist back at my world, Sir Isaac Newton. And just like what he stated, after I swung my pickaxe with all the force and strength I could muster, plus the momentum I used and the buff I got, I then got push back after my pickaxe collided to that spot, causing me to surprisingly let go of the pickaxe I was holding, and stumbling down as I lost my footing.
Pickaxe flew a bit further to where I was. Truly taken aback to what happened, I then corrected myself as I sat down, and gaze up as I panted
Haah hah ahah hah
"The hell"
....
After what happened at the base of the mountain, I then grab back the pickaxe that slip from my hand, and stored it back to the [Storage Ring], and started heading back to the [Transmission Point], to teleport me to the ground floor.
...
It took me a great time before I could get back, to where I first saw that suspicious looking Mushroom, as I transverse back the pathway I took from the [Transmission Point], towards the mountain.
I also picked some edible Mushroom in my way back, for some additional ingredients for new ingredients, or something where we could use this on.
The mysterious mushroom was still there, unmoved and untouched. Not wasting any more time, I then summoned my sword and moved forward
Slash! Swoosh! Swish!
On my way back to the [Transmission Point], I cut some of the growing plants in the area, while also marking some of the trees to let me know that I have been here, so I could spot this place easily when I get back.
Thawck! Think! Sling!
Making an X symbol to the tree bark, I then proceed moving forward.
It just took me another hour before I reached the summit of the mountain, I first got teleported from. Standing at the [Transmission Point], I then clicked some button to a nearby pillar, and clicked the ground floor button. A bluish light then engulfed around me, before I got teleported out, and sent back to the ground floor.
Arriving at the ground floor, I then headed back towards the camp to check the condition of Yoichi. As I arrived there, I then silently and hurriedly went beside Yoichi.
He was still unconscious at the moment. Gently placing my left hand at Yoichi's forehead, to check his temperature, I was then relieved that his was doing fine. I then went outside right after. Straightly headed to the chairs outside the camp that are made from chop trees, I then sat down.
Taking a deep breath, all I needed to do now is wait for Lucrane to come back.
.....
"And that what's happened when you were gone"
"..... I see"
She said in a calm tone, after I explained to her what happened inside the tower when she was away. Lucrane then cross her legs and stated her inquiry
"So, what happened right after?"
"You mean the next day?"
She then nodded
"After that, I mostly just lazed around as I lay down and took some nap, or practice my swordmanship and train myself in the time being. Yoichi for the whole day didn't yet wakeup, so I was alone here as those {Stone Golems} just work all day, so it was completely boring, especially that I can't hunt some monster during that time in the 1st floor. I didn't continue exploring the 2nd floor, as it will take time for me to transverse the whole floor all by myself, so I-what?"
I asked, as Lucrane attentively listened to me, while she lean her cleft cheek on her left hand, and place her right arm atop of her left hand's elbow, and smiled as she looked at me
"What?"
She replied in her whimsical tone. Frowning to her abrupt action, I spoke
"Why are you grinning about anyway?"
She then tilted her head to the left, and made a much bigger smile as she looked at me, which made me annoyed for some reason.
"So you are telling me that my little [Sub Manager], is being bullied while I was away? Oh poor you~"
She teasingly said, as she made this sarcastic expression. Though irritated, I tried not to get provoked by her invitation, and voice out
"The enemy is 4 times my levelz with much powerful skills in its arsenal, and with its additional pack that it leads, so of course I will be no match against it"
"Heeeehh~, reason"
"Shut up"
Giggle
Sigh
"Well whatever anyway. Those {Gray Wolves} are basically a pain to deal with right now, they also went further to what we expected to be, well, if we did put some expectations on them"
Lucrane then strengthen her posture, and crossed her arms
"It is indeed become quite further to what I expected, but nevertheless still a good fruit to be harvested"
"What do you mean?"
"In the simplest term possible"
"You really think I'm an idiot ha"
"We just need to tame their alpha, for those {Gray Wolves} to follow us, right? Simple isn't it?"
"Well easy for you to say but yeah, I think that would work. So, can you do it?"
"Would I suggest it if I can't?"
I then shrugged as she asked that
"So, where is that odd Mushroom you saw anyway?"
"It's still at the 2nd floor by now, why? Do you know it?"
"Just by hearing your report, I can't say for sure I do, but my [Tale of Knowledge] might have some inkling on it, so I wanna see it up close"
"Well can't you just search it by asking that book, or tapping some keywords or something on it?"
"I don't know what you are saying, but I get the idea. [Tale of Knowledge] works only if I saw what I am trying to figure out. It means if I saw it with my own eyes, that is the only time it could give us the full details of what kind of thing it is, only exception are those that are yet to be written, or first in hand discovered items"
"I see"
"Exception also including those items that are particularly mysterious, or to say, items that are made from the unknown, or literally unknown. Gift from God may or may not be included in such exception"
"Why not? Aren't those items basically the same with those unknown ones?"
Puzzled I ask
"It is because those items that are gift from the Gods themselves, sometimes tell us what it is, and sometimes doesn't. Example of those items that appraisal skills can be use is, the [*Holy Sword: Caliburn]"
"[Caliburn]?"
'The name seems familiar'
"The [Holy Sword: Caliburn] is the 2nd of the 8th legendary swords, that was crafted by the Gods themselves, or blessed by them"
"8? That many?"
Baffled, I asked
"Yes"
She nodded
"The [Holy Sword: Caliburn] was crafted by Pugna, the [Legendary Blacksmith], and was bless right after his creation, as the Gods was awed by his workmanship. Pugna then gift the legendary sword to King Arthur Pendragon, the first king that became an emperor of the long lost empire.
"Wait, Arthur?"
"Yes why? Does the name ring a bell?"
"Of course it is, it is a legendary figure in our world, the king who reign the whole Britain, though none knows if he did exist or not, but his name resound the whole world, and became one of the central figure of an irreplaceable man, that represents what a king truly is, or something the likes"
"I see, but in here, his one of the kings that reign with both sword and words, so he was referred as [The Sovereign]. If you remember, I told you about the first emperor who discovered the secret of the tower right? That is basically him, with his trusted magician, Merlin, the [Ancient Magnus]. But sad to say that during their discovery, Merlin died, so it became much more tough to unreveal the mystery, that the tower hids"
"Does King Arthur has Knights around him?"
"Yes, why?"
"Let me guess, his best friend is Sir Lancelot"
"Well, you are right about Sir Lancelot, but he wasn't really foretold as the best friend of the king, but rather a trusted right hand man of his"
"Is there Sir Gawain, and Sir Tristan?"
She then nodded
"How about Sir Bors, and Sir Bedivere?"
"They are indeed one of the [12 Knights of the Round Table], how did you know?"
Sigh
Sighing, I then replied
"[King Arthur and his 12 Knights] is a famous folklore in our world. Their names are been used in many ways in different genre. So yes, they are truly well-known individual in our world, so hearing them here is quite a shocked to me"
"For me also, I never really thought they also exist in your world"
"How come? Didn't you said that are a lot of my kind that was summoned here? So how come you didn't know"
As I asked that, for some unknown reason, Lucrane then frown with disdain at me
"That is a rude thing to say to a woman you know"
"Huh?"
I was truly puzzled to her words, as I didn't know the cause of her soreness
"Your kind is indeed not uncommon to this worldz but still rare, and they pops out every 800 YEARS. So telling me, a woman, that I should have known about your fairy tale lore or something, regarding those coincidental names, suggested that I am old, so it is indeed rude word to be asked"
With my mouth a bit agape as I was speechless to her words, I then retorted
"800 years gap...?"
I said as I felt such information, peculiar
"What?"
I then shook my head and replied
"It's nothing, but for you to know about some of them, suggested that you indeed one, isn't it? So in short, you are really an ol-gahhhh!"
I exclaimed, as something just hit my head. Looking to what it is as I hold my forehead, I then saw a rolling Potato.
"Did you just throw a Potato at me?"
"Say that again and I will kill you"
"Yeah gran-"
"Say it, and I will kill you"
Gulp
Lucrane spoke as she swiftly closed the distance towards between me and her, and pointed her sword at my throat. I felt chill towards her as she said that, which made me stopped teasing her, and surrendered
"Yes ma'am"
"Good"
She then unsummoned the sword from her hand, and went back to take a sit. Sitting down, she then crossed her legs and spoke
"I'll forgive you this time, but there will be no second one"
I then nodded. Awkward silence then befall the two of us
Ahem
"So"
Trying to sway such uncomfortable quietness, I then tried to voice out my inquiry
"Y-you said about 8th legendary sword right, so what are others anyway?"
"..."
Lucrane then stared at me for quite some time, before she responded
"[The Dragon Slayer, Gramr] was wielded by Sigmund, the [Dragon Slayer], the 1st legendary sword. 3rd was [The Divine Bearer, Zulfiqar] that was owned by Prophet Muhammad, the [Sword Saint]. 4th was the [Blade of Divine, Durendal] that was owned by Roland, the [Guardian Knight]. The 5th legendary sword is wielded by Perseus, the [Demi-God], the [God's Blessed Sword, Harpe]. The 6th is [Storm Wrath, Ame-no-Habakiri], which is used by Susano-o, the [Storm God of the East]. The legendary 7th sword was used by Yamato Takeru, the [Bearing Sword General], [Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass Cutter], and lastly, [Asi, The Legendary Sword of Rudra], was the main weapon of [Rudra, the Storm God of the North]"
She then added as she crossed her arms
"4 of them were blessed by God, that was either gift from them, or a blessing given to those they have acknowledge, while the other 4 was wielded by them. [Gramr], [Caliburn], [Zulfiqar], and [Durendal] was among those swords that was blessed zwhile [Harpe], [Ame-no-Habakiri], [Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi], and [Asi] are those weapons that was wielded by the God's themselves"
"I see, legendary weapons ha, how amazing"
"Indeed they are, but not all could wield those said weapons, even their own descendants"
"Really?"
"Indeed. Some says that they weren't merely chosen, some says that they weren't really born from the same blood, and some says that they are merely the defective product, Mordred is the prime example of this"
"Mordred? I have heard that name, isn't she the child of King Arthur?"
"You mean he, not she. Where did you get the information anyway?"
'From a certain gacha game, that makes some famous man into a thicc and hot waifus'
"And he also isn't the legitimate child of his, he was more in fact an adopted one"
"Adopted?"
"This is just some rumors, but it was said that Mordred bears the blood of the Queen Guinevere, King Arthur, and Sir Lancelot"
"Wait, what? 3 people? Threesome perhaps? So kinky"
"Threesome? What is that"
"Ahem! Just slip of the tongue, don't mind it"
I said, as I avoided an eye contact with her
"Whatever. Mordred was the child between Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, it was the highest betrayal between the woman King Arthur love, and his only trusted Knight that he sees as his brother. After the two made love under the [Blood Moon of Sabbath], Queen Guinevere then slept with King Arthur"
"Why?"
"Well, if idiot was a person, then she is one, as she tried masking her affair, by letting King Arthur's blood run through to the unborn child"
"What? I'm confused"
"It was said that she was tricked by a [Witch], that told her that if she bore a child with 3 strong blood lineage running through its veins, during the [Blood Moon of Sabbath], then she just carried the child that will soon be a God. Believing such word, the queen tried doing so. She trick and allure Lancelot to her arms, as she knows the he bore a strong affection towards her. As Lancelot bears the blood of a strong Knight, Queen Guinevere tried using that as one of the materials"
She then added
"After they made love under the dark red moon, she then made love with her husband right after. But unknowingly to her, right after the child was born, both her and Lancelot was then beheaded in front of the public, and was branded as traitors. The king himself did the execution for both his lover, and brother. Mordred was then entitled as the child of traitors. Even though he was mistreated like that, right after his 18th birthday, he was then took in by the king as his next descendant, which was a hope from him to liberate himself from the stain his parents holds, but he was merely used by the king to be shamed in front of the masses, and make him worthless to all the citizens of that country. For 20 years of being a servant to the king, one of his father, the shocked upon knowing the whole truth made him mad, and ended murdering the king on his sleep"
"That is bullshit"
I voice out as I disagree
"Hmmm?"
"How come a man like King Author could be killed by a child? Just because he was asleep? King Arthur already went upon battles right? So he should at least sharpened his senses, to the extent that he could know that there is someone who is trying to kill him, right?"
" No one knows, what was written in the history is what everyone will proclaimed as the truth. It doesn't matter whether those are lies or not, all the matters is that what was written should be believe in"
Sigh
"What a joke"
After that discussion, Lucrane and I then went inside our camp, and directly headed towards Yoichi
"His been sleeping for almost a day now, I still don't know why"
"....."
Staring at him, Lucrane then went on a deep thought. She then kneeled down beside Yoichi, and took a much closer at him
"Yoichi is going through the phase of [Shinkai]"
"What?"
[Shinkai] is a stage where a monster evolve to a much stronger and higher form, a [Specially Super Rare] skill but
"Doesn't a Yoichi needed to reach level 50 to evolve? Yoichi is still at his 30s, so how? Isn't this way to quick?"
"That..... I don't know also, but I'm pretty sure this is [Shinkai], as I have seen such phenomenon before"
Lucrane then stood up and crossed her arms, and turn her head towards me as she added
"It is either Yoichi is a special case, or something triggered it, but seeing he was only bitten by that {Gray Wolf Alpha}, so I guess we don't really know what gives, but we can at least have a lead"
"You mean that alpha?"
She then nodded
"There is might be something that {Gray Wolf} has, that the other {Gray Wolves} doesn't, any guess?"
"Now you have said it.....!! There is actually one"
"So there really is, what is it then?"
"It is much better for you to see it yourself, let us go the control room"
She then nodded. The two of use then leave the camp, and headed straight towards the control room.
As we arrived there
"I just noticed this right after I checked all the {Gray Wolves} in that area, as they became way too much stronger, that I have anticipated them to be"
As I said that, I then tap the biggest dot in the 1st floor, which indicates the alpha of those {Gray Wolves}, and added
"And by the time I inspected the [Status Screen] of the alpha, I was utterly shocked to what I found"
"About what?"
"About this"
Click
<> [Gray Wolf Alpha]
[Name: Iratus Lupus]
[Lv 78]
[Vitality: 43, 200]
[Exp: 46, 640/ 69, 100]
[Skills:]
[Race: Wolf]> (clicked)
<> [Forgotten Lost Soul] [?????]
Just like me, Lucrane was also taken aback to what she just saw, right after I unrevealed this {Gray Wolf's} secret
"A [Forgotten... Lost Soul]?"
"I was also speechless when I saw this, I don't know how it happened, or what reason it came to be but, I think this explain its rapid growth"
"Well, that really explains it, but for another [Forgotten Lost Soul] to be summoned right after you got here, this nothing but-"
"Fate?"
"Might be, but we can't say that this is just a mere coincidence also"
".... Well whatever it is, I was planning on capturing this one"
"You did? Why?"
"For a reason that this monster could boost our tower's defense, isn't it?"
"But it almost fuck you up"
"Then we just need to double that up"
"And how, if I may ask?"
"Well"
Scratching the back my head, I then embarrassingly stated
"Well, I am still weak in comparison to you, so I am hoping that you will beat this guy up for me instead"
"So you are pushing all your problems to me ha, what a man you are"
"Give me a break"
Sighing to her teases, she just chuckled to it.
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
Gramr: The Sword From the Volsunga Saga
The Volsunga Saga of Icelandic lore tells of a warrior named Sigmund. At his sister Signy's wedding, Odin appeared as he was wont to do and thrust a sword, Gramr, into a tree. He declared that anyone who could remove the blade would find no better weapon in all his days. All the guests tried and failed to remove the sword, all save Sigmund. The king wished for the sword, but Sigmund refused to part with it because it was a gift from Odin.
Sigmund used the sword in several battles until it was broken in two. Signy kept the two pieces of the legendary sword and passed them down to her son Sigurd, who became a renowned figure in his own right. A dwarven smith/warrior named Regin came to stay with Sigurd to train him. During this time, Regin told Sigurd about the dragon Fafnir and asked him to slay the dragon to retrieve its treasure. Anyone familiar with Tolkien's work will see where the inspiration for The Hobbit came from (although of course Bilbo was not asked to kill Smaug). Sigurd found Fafnir and slew him with a single thrust.
Zulfiqar: A Gift to the Prophet Muhammad
This legendary sword, given to the Prophet Muhammad by the Archangel Gabriel, passed to Ali ibn-Abi Tahib, the Prophet's first cousin/successor according to Shia Islam. Ali had struck both the helmet and shield of Talhah ibn Abi Talhah al-Abdari, the best warrior from Mecca during the Battle of Uhud, breaking his own weapon in the process. As a result, he was given Zulfiqar. The sword is said to have similar powers to Excalibur (extra strength, an extraordinarily sharp edge, and divine light), though only when wielded by a devout Muslim warrior, and in fact, it was given to the Prophet as a weapon to defend the Islamic faithful.
Some mountain passes bear the name Zulfiqar because the Prophet Muhammad is said to have used the sword to carve them. The saying "lā sayfa ʾillā Ḏū l-Faqāri wa-lā fatā ʾillā ʿAlīy" (There is no sword but the Zulfiqar, and there is no hero but Ali), an invocation from the Prophet, often appears on talismans, in praise of both the legendary sword and Ali himself. The weapon is depicted on many flags and insignia as a scissor-like blade, but a more plausible variant is a simple scimitar that has its tip split into two pieces.
Durendal: The Sword of Roland
This legendary sword features prominently in the stories of the legendary warrior Roland. This military general was in service of the Frankish/Lombard ruler Charlemagne (r. 768 – 814 CE) His most notable excursion was the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778.
After a failed invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, Roland held the rear, allowing the Frankish forces to retreat through the pass. Roland was equipped with Durendal, a blade infused with — according to The Song of Roland — several sacred Christian relics: a tooth of Saint Peter, a tassel from the shroud of Mary, and the hair of Saint Denis. This legendary sword was said to have the power to cut through solid rock, similar to the Zulfiqar. Roland carried this blade along with his signaling-horn Oliphaunt. Astute Tolkien readers might see the inspiration for Boromir.
Harpe: The Sword That Killed Medusa
This Greek weapon had several wielders: Kronos, Zeus, and Perseus. It was a short, curved blade with a sickle-like protrusion, originally used by Kronos to kill his father Ouranos for his cruelty, at the behest of Gaea.
The same thing would happen to the next generation of Gods: Kronos ate all of his children, except the youngest one, Zeus. Zeus' mother Rhea birthed him in secret and placed a stone in swaddling cloth. Kronos ate the stone and, in some versions of the story, Zeus used the Harpe to cut open Kronos' stomach and release his five siblings, who became the Olympian deities. Kronos and the other Titans, meanwhile, were cast down to Tartaros.
Later, Zeus' son Perseus took Harpe and, after tracking down the Gorgon Medusa, decapitated the monster with this legendary sword made of adamantine/diamond. Some sculptures depicted Harpe as a straight sword with a sickle-like protrusion, but others have made it resemble an Egyptian khopesh.
Ame-no-Habakiri: Sword of the Storm God
This sword was used by the Shinto kami of storms, Susano-o, when killing the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. The most common variant of the story appears in the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters). Susano-o was always envious of his elder sister, the sun goddess Amaterasu. In a fit of pique one day, he flayed a horse and threw its body into a weaving loom before excreting on the floor of the palace. He was exiled for this act and found himself in Izumo province.
During the storm god's wanderings, he came across a couple grieving the impending abduction of their daughter Kushinada-hime. Their other seven daughters had already been taken and devoured. The culprit was none other than the eight-headed serpent Yamata-no-Orochi, who took yearly sacrifices. Susano-o, seeking to redeem himself, agreed to kill the creature. He instructed the couple to make eight barrels of the strongest sake possible and place them on raised platforms with eight gates around them. The serpent came and drank the sake, and while it was distracted and trapped by the eight gates, Susano-o severed all the monster's heads and tails.
In one of these stories, another sword was embedded: the Ame-no-Murakumo (Cloud Cluster Sword). Susano-o gave this sword to Amaterasu in reconciliation. Later, it was renamed the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which we'll discuss momentarily.
Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi: The Grass-Cutter
This legendary sword is part of the three imperial regalia of Japan, along with the Yata-no-Kagami (mirror) and the Yasakani-no-Magatama (jewel). As discussed above, this sword was a gift from Susano-o to Amaterasu. She passed it, along with the sacred mirror and jewel, to her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto.
The sword (at this time still referred to as Ame-no-Murakumo) was given to a warrior named Yamato Takeru. As the story goes, Takeru was on a hunt, and a rival warlord saw an opportunity to kill him by setting fire to the tall grass and preventing his escape.
But Ame-no-Murakumo gave its wielder the power to control the wind, as Takeru found out when he attempted to cut the grass to remove the fuel. With deft swings, he sent gusts of wind to push the fire away from him and back toward his enemy. In commemoration of this feat, he named the legendary sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, or "Grass Cutter"
Both the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi and the Ame-no-Habakiri are known in Japanese myth to resemble tsurugi or ken, an early straight-bladed double-edged sword, rather than the more distinctive tachi or katana. Modern media often depicts these weapons so that they more obviously resemble Japanese designs.
Asi: The Legendary Sword of Rudra
Unlike most of the other swords we've discussed here, Asi is purely from the realm of myth. Its story is detailed in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata from ancient India. Before humanity was created, the universe was in chaos — a common theme in many ancient myths. The gods, or deva, were in a struggle against the demons, or asura.
The deva were doing rather poorly, so they turned to the supreme deity Brahma for help. He performed sacrifices to create the ultimate, primordial weapon, manifested in the form of a razor-toothed beast that glowed brighter than any object in the sky. The creature then transformed into the sword Asi.
Rudra, the god of storms and one of the avatars of Shiva, took up this sword and singlehandedly routed the army of the asura and reasserted his rule over the world so that humans could exist in peace. The world was first cleansed in a flood, then the sword Asi was passed down to the hands of Manu, a figure analogous to Noah.
[{<><><><>|×××××××××××××××××××|<><><><>}]
^°^°^°^°^°^°[צXTHE EXP THEY GAIN FOR 2 DAYSX¦×]°^°^°^°^°^°^
7 exp - - - > 1 tree for 30 minutes (Stone Golem) - - - > 2 days (7 (24 x 2) x 2)= 672 exp
5 exp - - - > 10 fishes for 1 hour (Lucrane) - - - > 2 days (5 x (24 x 2) = 240 exp
5 exp - - - > 1 lane of crop (35) for 4 hours - - - > 2 days (5 x 35) x 6) x 2) = 2, 100 exp
7 exp - - - > 1 piled fire wood (500) for 1 hour (Vince) - - - > 2 days (1 day each only) (7 x 500) x 2) x 2 (golems) = 14, 000 exp
Total = 17, 012 exp for 2 days
(17, 012 ÷ 2 = 8, 506 exp each)
Due to the [Shōnin no Omamori] flaw he will be receiving: 4, 253 exp
Balance: 5, 002 exp (from the last level up)
[Status Screen]
[Name: Vince Stubborn] [Sub Manager]
[Level: 21]
[Exp: 2, 955/ 6, 900]
^°^°^°^°^°^°[צXXXXXXXXXXXX¦×]°^°^°^°^°^°^