Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
You can also read on my website:
tlmasters.xyz
I'd really appreciate your support. Every membership helps keep me motivated to continue translating and releasing chapters consistently.
*****
Fenyx hesitated for a moment, looking at Eitri with a serious expression. He issued a pre-emptive disclaimer: "Even though this is armor and a weapon, it is also a manifestation of my magic. You may look at it, but you are not permitted to study or dissect it!"
"Understood!"
The Dwarves held a profound reverence for weapons and equipment. Hearing Fenyx's words, they didn't find him stingy; on the contrary, they felt a surge of respect for his protective attitude toward his gear. Of course, the most important factor was that until they actually saw the armor, the desire to research it hadn't yet taken root in their minds.
Under Eitri's curious gaze, Fenyx summoned 'Incursio,' keeping it in its longsword form.
Eitri was momentarily stunned by Fenyx's method of summoning the weapon out of thin air, but his professional focus was immediately diverted to the blade itself. He abandoned his ale, leaning in close to Fenyx to stare intensely at the weapon.
Fenyx handed the sword over. He could dismiss the summon at any time, so he wasn't particularly worried about Eitri refusing to return it.
In the hands of the massive Dwarf King, Incursio looked more like a toy than a legendary weapon. Eitri didn't mind the scale, however; he handled it with extreme care, observing every detail of the craftsmanship as more Dwarves crowded around him to get a glimpse.
"A metal I've never seen before..."
"And a forging method I've never encountered..."
"Wait, it's not just made of metal. There's something else woven into its structure!"
"It... it almost feels like it doesn't belong to this universe!"
Fenyx couldn't help but glance at the last Dwarf who had spoken. Technically speaking, he was right; Incursio was not a product of the Marvel Universe.
"How does it become armor?" Eitri asked as he handed the sword back to Fenyx. He had studied the blade for a long time and could tell it was unique, but he couldn't grasp the mechanics of the transformation.
"Incursio!"
Fenyx set aside his backpack containing the Vibranium and stepped into a clear space. With a low shout, he completed the transformation.
As the silver-white armor encased Fenyx's body, a collective gasp rippled through the gathered Dwarves. This radical change was clearly something they hadn't anticipated. One after another, they began to swarm toward Fenyx, desperate to inspect the suit. The scene threatened to turn into a chaotic riot of inquisitive giants.
"Everyone, back off!" Eitri roared.
The authority of the Dwarf King instantly quieted the room, which allowed Fenyx to suppress his sudden urge to take flight to escape the mob.
"My sincerest apologies," Eitri said to Fenyx. He stepped forward and carefully examined the silver-white plating, offering a sincere compliment: "Truly remarkable craftsmanship. Whoever forged this armor must have been a legendary smith."
Fenyx couldn't recall exactly who had created the Imperial Arms in the world of Akame ga Kill!, but he readily acknowledged that Incursio was a masterpiece.
However, looking at the armor now, Eitri clearly regretted the promise he had made earlier. He had never expected the suit to be this intriguing.
"Well... about that..." Eitri rubbed his coarse, massive palms together, a hint of a blush creeping onto his giant face. He lowered his voice and said, "Is there any way you could let us examine this suit properly? I give you my word as a King—we won't damage a single scale."
"No."
Fenyx's first instinct was a flat refusal. He was still far from a point where he could do without Incursio, and the idea of someone "researching" it made him deeply uncomfortable.
Seeing his resolute stance, a wave of disappointment washed over Eitri and the surrounding Dwarves. Some of them even began shouting offers:
"We are willing to pay! Whatever you want—weapons? Gold? Name your price!"
Forging equipment for Asgard was a lucrative business; while the Dwarves might look unkempt and soot-stained, they were actually incredibly wealthy.
"I'm sorry," Fenyx said. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head again.
In truth, he knew that completely destroying Incursio would be no easy task. Throughout his many battles, the armor had been damaged before, but it possessed a self-repairing quality. As long as he dismissed the skill and left it for a time, it would return to a pristine state. Fenyx wasn't sure if this was a system-enforced mechanic or because the armor was technically "alive."
"Is there really no way?" Eitri looked at Fenyx with a piteous expression. "We only wish to understand the techniques of a master. We would never, ever harm your armor!"
Eitri was persistent. He knew that if he missed the chance to study such a unique artifact, the missed opportunity would haunt him for centuries.
"Fenyx..." Thor looked on with a conflicted expression, wanting to plead on Eitri's behalf but not knowing how to broach the subject.
Looking at the two of them, Fenyx's brow furrowed in thought. He remembered the power of 'Zafkiel: Dalet' (The Fourth Bullet).
Back when Tony Stark wanted to study the armor, Fenyx had refused because Tony had intended to dismantle it, and Fenyx had no guarantee it could be restored. But now, with the ability to rewind time, he could restore the armor to its original state even if something went wrong.
However, since Incursio was one of his core abilities, he spoke with serious caution: "First, you must understand that this equipment is summoned via magic. It is likely the only one of its kind in existence, making it beyond precious."
"Furthermore, I cannot take it off. I can only switch between the sword and the armor. If you truly wish to study it, I must be present at all times. No tests are to be conducted without my explicit permission."
Deep down, Fenyx harbored a hope that perhaps the Dwarves could replicate the armor—or at least its core effects. If they could, he could commission a suit for Skye. Combined with her vibration powers, she would become a force that very few on Earth would dare to provoke.
He didn't hold his breath, though. Incursio came from the system; if his abilities were that easy to copy, SHIELD and Hydra would have been fielding armies of 'Explosion' mages long ago.
"No problem!" Eitri agreed instantly, his excitement palpable. He grabbed a massive mug from the table and raised it in a toast. "You shall be the greatest friend of the Dwarves!"
Beneath his silver visor, Fenyx twitched his lips. A friendship earned simply by drinking didn't exactly feel like a rare treasure to him.
Fenyx eventually dismissed Incursio and took the opportunity to pull the Vibranium from his bag. He showed it to Eitri and said, "This is a very special metal from my home, Earth. I'd like you to take a look and see what kind of equipment would be most suitable to craft from it."
Eitri took the piece of Vibranium and examined it. After several long moments of silence, he suppressed his initial surprise and said, "This... this will require testing."
(End of Chapter)