bookpower Chapter 116 – Over Points.
Chapter 116 – Over Points.
Chapter 116 – Over Points.
Gleam perched on a nearby table, her antennae twitching as she observed Rusty’s unmoving body. The eerie silence of the hidden chamber was broken only by the faint hum of latent magic. Then, without warning, his frame began to tremble.
She chirped in alarm and lept back as Rusty’s iron body convulsed, cracks forming along its surface. A soft glow emanated from within, flickering between shades of deep purple and silver. The transformation had begun.
Rusty’s armor shifted, the old iron plates shedding like molted skin, revealing a refined, gleaming metal beneath - Twilight Steel - an improved alloy infused with both shadow and light. Ethereal wisps danced along the edges of his plating for a moment, giving him an almost spectral appearance.
Gleam chirped in awe, her eyes reflecting the glow of the new body. Rusty slowly lifted a hand, flexing his fingers as he adjusted to the changes. His frame felt lighter yet more resilient, the magic coursing through him more potent than ever before.
“( •̀ ᴗ •́ )و “
Gleam cheered, fluttering closer as she examined his new form. The changes were minimal but it was clear to her that her friend was now a lot stronger. The helmet was slightly more angular and the plating a bit thicker. Rusty turned his gaze to her and once his sight returned he spoke out.
“Gleam, I’m back!”
Rusty looked at his friend whom he had not seen in months. He wasn’t sure how long he was gone for but now he was back and their adventure could resume. As he adjusted his new body he felt stronger, faster, and more dexterous. The twilight steel shimmered under the light of the chamber that Gleam conjured up.
‘My shell hasn’t changed much but it does feel a lot better, how does my status look though?’
Quickly he brought up his status screen to see what he was working with. Only after inhabiting this steel alloy form could he glance over his stats and he noticed a few things that were out of place.
Name:
Rusty
Classification:
Twilight Steel Armor [ E ++ ] L1
Type:
Magical/Inorganic
Hit Points [ HP ]
361/361
Magic Points [MP]
283/283
Special Points [SP]
70/70
Strength
150 [ E ++ ] { + 6 }
Agility
127 [ E + ]
Dexterity
126 [ E + ]
Constitution
150 [ E ++ ] { + 11 }
Intelligence
131 [ E + ]
Wisdom
133 [ E + ]
Willpower
132 [ E + ]
Durability
D
First of all, a few of his stats seemed to have reached the limit of E rank. Constitution and Strength had always been his top stats, and both were now at 150. It was already clear to him that E-rank stats were divided by increments of fifty points, whereas when he was an F-rank creature, that number had been thirty-three. However, some strange brackets appeared next to those two capped-out stats, perhaps indicating that he had more of them than met the eye.
‘I should probably ask Aburdon and Alexander for advice, but first...’
Just like before, he should have received one more skill. He had gained Mana Sense previously and had hoped that this time, he would obtain a skill that would allow him to cast spells like Gleam. However, upon glancing at his system screen, he was disappointed to find an entirely new skill - one that had nothing to do with mana at all, but with fear.
Basic Terror Aura
Active Skill
When activated, this skill generates a region around the user that terrifies their foes. Enemies unable to resist its effects will be rooted in place for a short duration.
‘It could be useful... I suppose...’
In short, this was a crowd control skill that would allow him to momentarily stun enemies around him. He assumed it would only last for a second or two and was likely more effective against weaker foes, as stronger ones with high willpower would probably resist its effects.
‘I’ll need to test it against some goblins perhaps?’
“ ( ⊙ _ ⊙ ) “
“Oh sorry Gleam, I was just looking through my skills.”
As he was going through his status screen, he noticed that Gleam was staring at him with intent.
Strength
150 [ E ++ ] { + 9 }
Agility
129 [ E + ]
Dexterity
130 [ E + ]
Constitution
150 [ E ++ ] { + 15 }
Intelligence
134 [ E + ]
Wisdom
136 [ E + ]
Willpower
135 [ E + ]
Durability
D
As expected, his over-points continued increasing despite reaching the usual limit. He knew that once he advanced to D-rank, his stats would reset to something close to level one. However, there was a hidden boost that ensured higher-ranked monsters were always stronger, even if their displayed stats appeared lower.
‘Great. Gleam and I have both evolved now, and we have the more important blacksmith’s head too. I should finally check out what Ferndale has to offer. I’ll have to decide whether it’s good enough to become my new lair.’
Even though he had advanced significantly and was now approaching D-rank, he was well aware that he was still far from truly strong. Many adventurers of higher ranks existed, with D-rank being quite common - often the rank where many seasoned veterans ended up. Realistically, he probably wouldn’t feel comfortable unless he reached C or even B-rank.
“Oh right, before we go Gleam... take a look at this.”
“ ( ╹ -╹)? “
He was about to leave this hidden chamber made by the thieves guild but then remembered that he had made a present for Gleam. Rusty reached into his inventory and pulled out the desired object. In his hands was a newly crafted piece of armor - Gleam’s very own protective plating.
Gleam’s antennae twitched as she examined the delicate craftsmanship. Rusty had fashioned the armor to complement her natural agility while enhancing her durability. The plating covered her thorax and parts of her legs, ensuring she remained as swift as ever while offering protection against stronger foes.
“( ˶ᴖ ᴗ ᴖ˶ )”
She touched the piece of armor with her antennae and then performed a happy little jiggle. Rusty chuckled at her enthusiasm and asked if she was okay if he helped her put it on. After a resounding nod they spent a few moments getting it on. They were still traveling and it was much safer if she had it on.
“How does it feel? Does it feel uncomfortable?”
“ ( •̀ ᴗ •́ )و “
For a moment he was worried that he had gotten the dimensions wrong. It was his first time crafting armor for a creature as small and nimble as Gleam, but from her enthusiastic response, it seemed he had done well. The twilight steel plating fit snugly against her exoskeleton, providing protection without hindering her movement.
"Good, then we’re ready to go."
Rusty said, stretching his limbs one final time. His new body still felt strange, but it was undeniably an upgrade. His grip on weapons was steadier, his movements sharper. He glanced around the chamber once more before turning to the exit. Gleam fluttered onto his shoulder, her new armor shining under the light coming from Rusty’s eye sockets. With everything prepared, there was only one thing left to do - return to the outside world.
‘This should open the path forward.’
They stood in the hidden chamber built by the Thieves’ Guild. From the outside, the tunnels had seemed like a dead end, but after activating the mechanism here, Rusty heard a deep rumbling - signaling that the path forward was beginning to open.
“Get ready, Gleam. We don’t know what’s out there, could be more undead, or maybe another one of those strange spiders!”
“ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧”
For now, Rusty chose to remain in his current body, keeping the Ogre and Wrath on standby. In his right hand, the poleaxe he had fashioned earlier appeared, its enchantment giving it a crimson glow. In his left, he gripped a shield. After inserting his Thieves’ Guild coin, the stone wall outside groaned as it slowly slid open, revealing a passage beyond. Retrieving the coin from the slot, he finally left the chamber behind and their journey into the unknown resumed.
Rusty tightened his grip on the poleaxe, and Gleam crouched slightly, ready to react to any sudden danger. Dust swirled into the corridor as air from the newly revealed tunnel rushed in, carrying the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic - blood, perhaps?
He took a cautious step forward, his enhanced frame making barely a sound against the ancient stone floor. Then, without warning, light flared to life as torches lining the walls of the corridor ignited one by one, their flickering flames casting restless shadows. The passage stretched into the distance, and the steady glow of the torches made it clear: a long road lay ahead.
Gleam’s antennae twitched as she scanned their surroundings, pressing her small body closer to Rusty’s shoulder.
“( ⚆ _ ⚆ )”
“You don’t like it either?”
The two stopped for a moment, waiting for the rumbling to subside, their gazes fixed on the distant passage ahead. Aburdon and Alexander remained silent as the quartet listened intently. Then, just as expected, something stirred in the darkness.
“Hah, were they drawn by the noise?”
Aburdon chuckled as creatures began to emerge from the cavern before them.
“It’s never easy, is it?”
Alexander’s voice resonated within Rusty’s mind, his light flaring slightly as the approaching figures became clearer.
“Those look like... rats?”
Rusty muttered as the torchlight finally illuminated their new foes - giant rats. A swarm of them scurried forward, their numbers stretching into the shadows beyond. Their sizes varied, some no larger than a housecat, others as big as a large dog. Foam dripped from their gaping maws, their jagged yellow teeth gleaming as they let out sharp, menacing squeaks.
“( •̀ - •́ )”
“Impudent?”
Rusty chuckled slightly, nearly laughing at Gleam’s odd word choice but there was no time to dwell on it. While the rats had numbers on their side, that was all they had. Rusty stepped forward, poleaxe in hand, eager to test his newly enhanced body.