Soti later, Archie decided to work on the mana-threading exercise. He could easily create a mana string capable of cracking an effigy, which, to be fair, required minimal physical force. Archie generated a single mana string, letting it extend as far as possible while noting the results. The singular mana string was able to extend to a maximum distance of twenty ters, though maintaining it at that length for prolonged periods of ti was very ntally taxing.
Next, Archie retrieved his heavy-duty hamr from his spatial storage and wrapped the mana string around it. Initially, the string struggled to lift the hamr more than a foot off the ground; its weight was too much. However, by channeling more mana into the string, the hamr rose into the air with ease. Once lifting the hamr with a mana string beca easier, Archie created a second mana string to lift his heavy-duty anvil into the air.
This task demonstrated just how difficult mana threading was. As he began to lift the anvil, the first mana string holding the hamr dipped slightly. His improved mana flow control allowed him to regulate the mana flowing into both strings and prevent either item from falling. This highlighted an area in need of improvent.
I need to smoothly flow my mana to handle multiple tasks without one interfering with the other, Archie thought. While the mana cost for creating a single mana string was negligible, maintaining the minimum amount of mana necessary for consistent performance was the true challenge.
Archie then continued practicing by using one string to hold and move either his hamr or anvil while randomly creating another string to lift the second item. This helped him beco accustod to the transition and coordination of mana flow.
Once Archie beca comfortable using a second mana string, he created a third. To make the exercise a bit more challenging, he decided to move around. This proved far more difficult than when he had been sitting and solely focusing on controlling the mana strings.
Archie found himself struggling to even take a step without his mana strings going limp, and his tools crashing to the ground. He closed his eyes and focused on the sense of calm he experienced during his Forgesmith’s Fla ditation session. Releasing a deep breath, he took another step—then another.
Maintaining a calm attitude seems to be the key, Archie thought, as he slowly began to adapt to the complex coordination of movent and mana control.
Archie made it across the cave while perfectly maintaining control over his mana strings and they moved through the air.
Archie breathed a sigh of relief; I’ll stop here for now and go visit the camp for a bit to sell the crap gear.
Walking through the camp, Archie noticed the somber mood that hung over everyone. The dical tents were packed with people bearing various injuries, and he could feel faint traces of mana surrounding them. The mana feels heavy and sickening…No, dark.
Dark mana? Archie thought, recalling how it felt similar to the attacks by the mage and the bulwark’s magic on his shield. As he looked at the wounds of those inside the tents, he realized that he wasn’t the only one to be attacked by them as of late.
Eventually, Archie spotted Michael at one of the larger tents in the middle of the camp, speaking with a man who had short black hair and wore what appeared to be Shadowstalker hide armor. Not wanting to intrude on an obviously private conversation, Archie waited for their discussion to end.
The man quickly noticed Archie’s gaze and spoke to Michael, who then turned to gesture for Archie to join them.
“Hello, I’m Jas,” the man introduced himself, extending a handshake.
Archie accepted. “Archie. How are you two doing?”
Both Michael and Jas frowned deeply and sighed. “Oliver and his cult have started ambushing our hunting groups since yesterday afternoon. They’ve been using E-Grades,” Jas explained.
“So, it wasn’t just who was ambushed then,” Archie said, drawing their attention. “I was ambushed by five of them—two E-Grades and three F-Grades.”
Michael and Jas scanned Archie’s appearance, noting he was unscathed. “How are you okay then?” Jas asked, his brows furrowed.
“They weren’t strong,” Archie replied, puzzled by Jas' expression. “The only challenge was an attack by their mage. It felt like my body was on fire and my brain was in a blender.”
Michael and Jas exchanged thoughtful looks. “You need to co with us,” Michael said, raising an eyebrow from Archie. “That attack was a curse. Rember what I said about people encountering Oliver alone in the woods and then losing their mories?”
Archie nodded, slowly realizing the implication. “It could be the sa curse. But our head healer recently reached E-Grade and gained a skill to remove curses.”
“Alright, sure. Let’s go et this healer.” Archie then asked, “By the way, do you know anyone who buys loot? I’ve got so gear to sell.”
“You can sell it to . We’re in dire need of new equipnt,” Jas replied quickly. “Eric and Angela, our smiths, are overwheld.”
“I can forge so items for you guys if you need,” Archie offered, dumping both bodies and equipnt from his spatial storage. He noted Michael and Jas’ lack of surprise at the five corpses.
“Michael filled you in?” Archie asked, glancing at Jas, who nodded with a smirk.
“How much for all of it?” Michael inquired, examining the gear. “Also, why is that guy naked?”
“I don’t know, just give two thousand for them all.” Archie replied with a shrug, then looked at the dead bulwark, “He was wearing steel armor, and I repurposed it .”
“Deal.” Michael shook Archie’s hand. “About commissions… would you be willing to make so armor and weapons for the camp?”
“I can, but not for everyone,” Archie replied. Seeing Michael’s confusion and Jas’ irritation, he continued, “I’d prefer commissions that are unique and interesting rather than mass-producing generic items. Not to ntion, I like fighting, and I don’t want to just forge things every day.”
Jas was about to object, but Michael interrupted. “No problem. I want a fire-attuned greatsword, with the sa dinsions as my current one.”
Archie examined Michael’s greatsword. “An inch and a half thick, seventy-inch blade, twenty-five-inch handle, double-edged.”
“Doable, but I don’t have any fire-attuned materials right now,” Archie said, returning the sword. “Funny enough, I have ice-attuned materials, but no fire. I’ll make it when I find so.”
“Where did you get ice-attuned materials?” Michael asked. “There hasn’t been an ice area on the island that we’ve found.”
“Killed a bunch of goats with ice hooves during my tutorial,” Archie explained. “The environnt was basically Antarctica, so everything was ice-related.”
Michael suggested. “There’s a volcano on this island. You might find fire-attuned beasts or ores there.”
Archie’s eyes widened in mock pain. “You knew there was a volcano and didn’t tell ?”
“Why would you want to go to a volcano?” A voice asked from the side.
Turning, Archie saw a girl with curly brown hair, a white healer’s robe, and a small wand. “Who wouldn’t want to explore a volcano?” Archie retorted. “It’s a volcano.”
“Archie, et Sarah. Sarah, this is Archie,” Michael introduced. “Sarah, can you check if he has a curse? He was ambushed by Oliver’s cultists.”
Sarah chanted a spell, and Archie felt a warm breeze pass over him. “No… he’s perfectly healthy,” she said slowly. “How did you survive an ambush by Oliver’s cultists unscathed?”
“They were weak and overconfident,” Archie said with a shrug, then turned to Michael. “Where exactly is this volcano? I haven’t seen it.”
“Rember the jungle we passed through?” Michael asked. Archie nodded. “Keep going another 80 kiloters.”
“Got it,” Archie said. “Anything else?”
“Can I commission so steel daggers and a compound bow?” Jas asked.
“No problem,” Archie agreed. “But, I’m going to need so string”. This bow will be great practice for shing forging with chanical elents like pulleys. Making a bike will be even trickier, he thought, chuckling.
“Oh, I can have so ready for you when you co back—300 points, though,” Sarah offered with a smirk.
“Sure, but cord them tightly,” Archie nodded, before turning to face Michael after seeing Sarah nod. “Anything else?”
“Ah, one last thing.” Michael said, “Why don’t you stay in the camp?”
Archie scratched the back of his neck for a bit before answering, “I just prefer to live alone and away from noise.”
“Alright, I won’t push you to live here, but would you be willing to help us out if the cultists invade?” Michael asked, making Jas and Sarah turn to him.
“Of course. The camp’s been good to ; it’s only fair that I return the favor,” Archie replied, earning a grateful nod from Michael.
“Alright, take care then,” Archie said before heading towards Evelyn for a bite before he left towards the volcano.
Archie dashed through the jungle from atop the high tree branches, relishing the wind rushing past his face. The jungle was breathtakingly vibrant, filled with fascinating plants and fauna. He had even passed a plant the size of a moped that periodically released a green gas—known as a Dreamspore Bloom. When a Quillbackstalker, a porcupine-panther variant, had approached within its radius, it passed out within thirty seconds, allowing the Bloom’s roots to erge from the ground and latch onto the unconscious predator.
After covering forty kiloters through the jungle, Archie halted, landing gracefully on a thick branch. Sothing felt off. The jungle looked unchanged, but his gut was warning him that sothing was different.
Suddenly, he dodged to the right, nearly slipping off the branch as a whizzing projectile flew past the spot where he had just been standing. Archie spun to his left, scanning for the source of the attack. Nothing… nothing… nothing—until he caught sight of movent.
[Poisontail Monkey Lv 55]
He identified at least ten of them scattered amongst the trees, blending almost perfectly with the branches. Only his Identify skill made it possible to detect their locations. The closest monkey was about a hundred ters away. Archie grinned as mories of battling similar creatures in the Hoarfrost Highlands ca flooding back.
With a determined glint in his eyes, Archie activated Adrenaline Rush and Thorns. Steam rose from his body, but instead of the typical red aura, this ti it was accompanied by thick, corded vines entwined around his limbs. He channeled mana through the vines, causing large green thorns to sprout, twice their previous size yet consuming only half the mana they once did.
Archie activated Savage Charge, targeting the monkey in the group's center. Closing the distance in an instant, he grabbed the monkey by its tail as it was shoulder tackled off the branch and delivered a devastating punch to its head. The force of the blow shattered its skull, leaving five deep puncture marks across its face.
As Archie regained his balance, four other monkeys flung their poison-tipped tails at him, hitting both his chest plate and sleeves. However, their attacks barely scratched the surface of his armor. Archie released a guttural roar, activating Taunt and freezing the monkeys in place.
Archie quickly leaped toward the immobilized group and smashed their heads with brutal efficiency. Monkeys really have barely any vitality, Archie thought as he finished off the stunned foes.
After three seconds passed, the remaining four monkeys regained their senses and scattered in different directions, realizing that Archie was too much for them to handle. Just as Archie prepared to give chase, he heard a series of distant roars within the jungle and the sounds of stomping getting ever so closer.
Archie spotted in between the trees three massive gorillas charging toward him, their charge tearing up the ground and uprooting trees in their path. Each was packed with dense muscle, their bodies covered in dark fur. Towering at twice his height, the creatures bore a glowing symbol or two across their bodies, each symbol pulsing with a familiar energy.
[Spiritglyph Gorilla Lv 66]
[Spiritglyph Gorilla Lv 67]
[Spiritglyph Gorilla Lv 65]
Archie clenched his jaw, then flooded his body with mana and stamina, surpassing the 40% limit on Adrenaline Rush. The thorns along his limbs grew an additional three inches in size. He inhaled deeply and unleashed an even louder guttural roar that reverberated throughout the jungle, freezing the gorillas in place for a few monts.
That was all the ti Archie needed. He launched off the branch with such force it cracked beneath him. Activating Savage Charge, he appeared in front of the middle gorilla and delivered a powerful punch to its face, imdiately following it up with Relentless Flurry.
By the ti the other two gorillas broke free from their paralysis, the middle gorilla's upper body was minced. The remaining gorillas charged at Archie, sigils on their right pectorals lighting up. Archie was ready to land another hit on the middle gorilla but quickly noticed the incoming attacks. He managed to dodge the right gorilla's punch but was struck by the left, knocking him two ters back.
Archie smiled as he steadied himself. I will learn how to create that Greater Physical Resistance rune, he thought, eyes alight with excitent. As the Greater Physical Resistance rune essentially negated the damage from the gorilla’s punch and let him deal with the force of the blow.
He lunged at the left gorilla and unleashed another barrage of strikes. This ti, the gorilla’s skin hardened visibly, gaining an earthy grey hue, and a glowing earthy grey sigil appeared on its back. Probably increases defense. I’m going to need to study them later, Archie mused.
Pushing his boost to 45%, he cracked through the gorilla’s hardened defense with his Relentless Flurry. Steam, now exuding a reddish hue. With a final strike, he punched through the gorilla’s head.
Turning to face the last gorilla, he watched as it released a deafening roar and slashed itself across the sigil on its chest. A sickly, dark green liquid oozed from the wound and coated its body. Poison, Archie guessed.
He activated the Lesser Ice Reinforcent enchantnt on his gauntlets, causing the tips of the thorns to take on a blue hue. Both combatants charged at each other. For every blow the gorilla landed on him, Archie retaliated with four more. The Greater Physical Resistance rune shielded him from most of the damage and only made him deal with the knockback.
Each of Archie’s blows unleashed waves of ice, freezing the dark green liquid clinging to his fists. Despite his efforts, so of the toxic fluid splattered onto his armor, causing it to sizzle and lt. A few quick pulses of mana, however, restored his equipnt to pristine condition.
Archie ducked beneath an overhead swing from the gorilla and countered with a powerful uppercut to its neck. A loud crack echoed through the jungle, silencing the wildlife around them.
Archie stared at the three dead gorillas and deactivated all his skills, lightly exhaling. "Not bad," Archie said while sending the three gorilla corpses into his spatial ring. He would use them to learn how spirit magic could be used for his forging.
Archie looked at his notifications and smiled.
*[Poisontail Monkey Lv 55] has been slain – XP has been given. 540 Tutorial Points given*
***
*[Poisontail Monkey Lv 56] has been slain – XP has been given. 560 Tutorial Points given*
*[Spiritglyph Gorilla Lv 65] has been slain – XP has been given. 715 Tutorial Points given*
***
*[Spiritglyph Gorilla Lv 67] has been slain – XP has been given. 737 Tutorial Points given*
*Your Class has reached Lv 57– Points allocated, 4 Free Points*
*Your Class has reached Lv 58– Points allocated, 4 Free Points*
*Your Race has reached Lv 60– Points allocated, 3 Free Points*
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