bookpower Chapter 108 – New Forms.
Chapter 108 – New Forms.
Chapter 108 – New Forms.
Classification:
Lesser Darkness Armor [ D - ]
Type:
Magical/Inorganic/darkness
Description:
An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a demonic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing dark abilities, amplifying the wearer's potential for destruction.
Classification:
Lesser Light Armor [ D - ]
Type:
Magical/Inorganic/light
Description:
An empty vessel waiting to be filled by an angelic soul. This armor is capable of enhancing light abilities, amplifying the wearer's potential for recovery
Classification:
Twilight Steel Armor [ E + ]
Type:
Magical/Inorganic@@@@
Description:
An empty vessel waiting to be filled by a soul bearing the power of both light and dark. This armor is capable of enhancing both light and dark abilities.
"I can actually identify these now?"
Rusty scratched his metallic head while murmuring to himself. Before him stood three armor types: two ranked D-minus and one E-plus. The two on the sides were far more eye-catching than the one in the middle, which appeared to be a modest upgrade from his current iron body. Though the middle armor was crafted from a new Twilight Steel alloy that would likely improve his defenses, it seemed underwhelming compared to the others.
‘Twilight Steel Armor... that reminds me, didn’t I unlock a new skill at level fifteen?’
Rusty's thoughts raced as he considered his recent evolution. Reaching the threshold had opened up new opportunities, but the potential threats in the area had kept him from checking his system screen until now. Finally, with time and safety on his side, he decided to take a closer look. Usually, the skills he gained during each evolution were tied to his elemental affinities, and this time seemed no different.
Lesser Twilight Embrace
Active Skill
The user calls upon twilight energies to increase their fighting power.
At first glance, the skill didn’t seem particularly powerful. Its description reminded him of the Fury skill, which boosted his physical stats. However, the mention of "twilight energies" and the vague phrasing hinted that it might do more than just enhance his physical abilities. He wouldn’t know for sure until he tested it.
‘Should I head to the training room to try it? Or perhaps...’
Rusty’s thoughts drifted back to the decision at hand. The new skill was intriguing, but the armor options also needed careful consideration. Since acquiring his Iron Body, he had resolved to improve himself using his own crafting skills. With access to new metals and alloys, he might be able to forge something superior - perhaps even using the materials from the black or silvery-white armor, rather than settling for the Twilight Steel in the middle piece.
Then there was the mysterious new chamber that had appeared after his evolution. That, too, demanded investigation. One problem he noted with the armor choices was the materials. Each piece was distinct: the middle armor retained both elemental affinities, while the ones on the sides seemed to favor one element at the cost of rejecting the other. Choosing either of the side options could force him to specialize, potentially losing the ability to wield both elements.
"...And that is why this glorious demonic shell is the best option!"
Aburdon declared as his shouts filled the soul forge main chamber.
"No human - or any of those puny other races - will be able to stand before the darkness!"
“Hah! And what good will that darkness be against undead monsters like the ones we encountered? Light has always been better against such creatures!”
Alexander retorted, bringing up issues with monsters. Their bickering snapped Rusty out of his thoughts. It was clear both guides had strong opinions and were determined to sway him toward the elemental armors tied to their respective elements. Still, Rusty hesitated. He liked the flexibility of using both light and dark elements - a capability he might lose if he followed their advice.
The middle armor suddenly seemed more appealing. It might lack the raw power or specialization of the other two, but it maintained his dual elemental affinities.
Alexander trailed off, but it was clear he had some understanding of what the screen represented. Aburdon, on the other hand, hovered closer, his ethereal form circling the screen as if trying to unravel its secrets.
“How fascinating, what kind of Arch-mage designed this object? It radiates high-tier arcane power...”
Rusty wasn’t sure what to do, but after a moment’s hesitation, he decided to remove his hand from the orb. As he did, something unexpected happened - the white arrow in the center of the screen shifted to one side.
He froze, watching the screen intently, wondering if the arrow would move again, but it remained still. The mystery deepened. Rusty still had no clear idea what this place was or what purpose it served. His eyes lingered on the User Manual icon. It seemed like the obvious place to start, yet when he reached out and tapped the screen experimentally, nothing happened and his iron finger just phased through it.
“Ha ha... Rusty, place your finger on the orb and just do as I say.”
Alexander chuckled after seeing it and it seemed that he had noticed something.
“Oh, do you know what I should do?”
“Probably. This looks like something from my old world...”
“Old world?”
“That doesn’t matter, just place your finger back on the orb and then slowly slide it to the left side.”
“Um... okay?”
He wasn’t sure what was supposed to happen but he followed the instructions. His metal finger was placed down on the orb and slid to one side while still touching it. The moment he did, he could see the white arrow sliding along with his finger movement.
“Ah, it started moving?”
The screen responded to Rusty’s movements, the white arrow gliding across its surface with a surprising smoothness. He paused for a moment to see how it would react, and sure enough, the arrow halted, waiting patiently for further input.
His curiosity grew, and he began rolling his finger lightly across the orb, watching as the arrow moved in sync with his motions. For a moment, he was captivated by the responsiveness, marveling at the subtle control he seemed to wield.
Eventually, he caught himself. This was no time for idle experimentation—he still had no clear understanding of what this summoning chamber was all about.
“Had enough fun Rusty? Sometimes I forget that you’re not even a year old...”
“What do you mean? I’m an adult! I’m already an E rank!”
“Sure... now then, just place the arrow over that book icon.”
“I know!”
Rusty replied, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance at how Alexander seemed to treat him like a child. Without waiting for further explanation, he guided the magical arrow onto the icon displayed on the screen. It seemed obvious to him - if he touched the icon with the arrow, something should happen. Yet, when he did, the screen remained unresponsive.
“...”
“What am I doing wrong? Why isn’t this working?”
He muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
“You probably need to tap the orb now.
“Tap it?”
Rusty repeated as he did not really understand the full logic behind this device. Still, he followed the advice and gave the orb a tap, but the screen remained unchanged.
“No... I mean, tap it twice in quick succession”
“Tap it twice... quickly?”
This magical device was utterly baffling. Rusty couldn’t fathom why he needed to move his finger over the orb and poke it in such a specific way. Wouldn’t it be far simpler if he could just touch the icon directly on the panel?
“Like that?”
He asked, glancing at Alexander.
“Almost. Do it a bit faster, and make sure the cursor stays on the icon”
Rusty sighed but tried again. His first attempt failed as he tapped too slowly. On his second try, he tapped quickly but let his finger slide off the orb, causing the arrow to veer away from the icon at the last moment.
Finally, on his third attempt, everything clicked. The arrow stayed steady, and the screen responded instantly. The white arrow transformed into a spinning hourglass, and after a brief pause, text began to appear on the display. He leaned in, reading carefully. It was a manual - a guide detailing how to use the summoning chamber and what benefits it could offer.