Threat Incoming
Quick note: I'm changed Duke LeMonc to Count LeMonc. I realized that it doesn't really make sense for a Duke to hold such little power. The rank of count would fit much better with the kind of power at play right now.
Will update this change in previous chapters in the next couple of days
...
[Jaque POV]
"You guys are doing WHAT!"
"*sigh* I knew it was going to turn out this way."
After giving the two girls a rundown of what is happening and Grampa Edward filling in a few details along the way, we had two very scary presences in the store. One hot, one cold. Seeing that the volcanoes were about to explode, I quickly put my hands up again to try and prevent it.
"While I didn't know too much about it, yesterday, Arius went out by himself to help the store. I don't even know how he got those bruises. We'll ask him tomorrow."
"Excuses, excuses. When facing the son of a count, you don't think to even ask for your friends' help. Don't you think that ridiculous or is it that you think that we can't help."
"No, no, no, I didn't think about that. I'll make it up to you. I'll give you a favour, anything is on the table as long as it doesn't violate my basic rights-"
"Ow ow ow, S-sophia. You don't have to squeeze my arm that hard. Have mercy on this old man."
Seems I couldn't stop the cold volcano from erupting, I simply start there frozen as my comrade in this situation gets dragged off to the back of the room and up the stairs. Once out of view, I see cold blue lights flash and reflect onto the stairs from the floor above. What truly made my spine shiver was that there was no noise to be heard. The pure terrifying silence that occurred in the store caused my body to shiver, my scales scratching against each other proliferating my fear and nerves.
"Hey!"
"AHH!"
"If you do anything like that, I'll ask my good friend to do that to you too."
"Y-yes ma'am."
"And don't forget your promise, one favour."
With a wry smile on my face, I shack my head as Stella goes to talk to Sophia who comes down the stairs alone. Out of worry and curiosity, I quickly head up the stairs to see Grampa Edward drinking a hot cup of water while shivering with clothes completely wet.
"Gramps, are you alright?"
"I'm f-f-fine. Just a-a bit cold. *Sip* I've agreed to let Sophia work in the store for the rest of the week."
After drinking his cup of hot water, Grampa Edward goes into his room to change. I start heading downstairs, letting out a deep breath that the crisis was over.
'Maybe I should get some healing cream for Arius.'
Walking past the two girls who were still chatting, I open the door to leave.
"Hey, Jaque! Where are you going?"
"Off to buy some healing cream for Arius."
"Why didn't I think of that?"
"I'm coming along too. I show him how caring his older sister can be."
"Hey, hey, don't play it off like it's your idea."
"I'm not but I am going to take care of Arius."
Ding ding
"Wait! Sophia, why are you going out?"
"Buy cream. Thank, Arius."
"Ehh, fine. We'll go together."
After an unexpected ceasefire, the three of us stumbled out of the store to go see Arius.
...
[???]
HAa Haaa hAaa Haaa
"Why is the meeting place here of all places?"
Catching my breath as I continued to run deeper into the forest, with each step of the way the clanks of metals could be heard from the large bag I was carrying on my bag. Reaching my limit, I drop the bag as I lean against a large tree.
Haaa haaa haaa Clank Gulp gulp gulp gulp
Opening a flask and drinking its contents, I look around admiring the peaceful nature of the forest.
*Rustle* ROOOAR
Suddenly, from out of one of the bushes, a giant tiger emerges. The giant monster lets out a roar before looking around.
'Cr*p'
Holding the flash to my chest, I stare directly at the beast, still and unmoving. As the monster starts to move around while looking in either direction. Then for a brief instance, its gaze rests on me. I could see the pure intent to kill in its eyes and couldn't help but start shivering.
After a long stare, the monster turns in the other direction before disappearing into the forest.
HAaa haaa haaa
"If I didn't have this stealth artifact, I would be dead by now."
Grabbing hold of the bracelet on my hand that has saved my life many times over, I look at it are it shines a golden tint. Soon, my nerves calmed down and I picked up my bag to get to the meeting spot.
Taking many twists and turns, I soon arrive in front of a specific tree with a certain symbol on it.
"Umm, Esteemed One, are you there? I've done what you need, I've brought all the artifacts."
"Very good. With this, the plan is one step closer to completion."
Dropping from the tree, I see a man wearing completely black with no way to identify them. Seeing the man, I quickly drop to my knees and bow.
"Esteemed One, may I have the divine power and 100 gold coins as mentioned? This lowly criminal has already done the task."
"You'll be done with one more task."
"One more? But, Esteemed One, I've already spilt so much blood for the promised reward."
"One more and the power you desire will be much more."
"Fine, one more I'll do one more but no more after that."
With that, the man drops a paper before me with a map and a name. Raising my head, I take the paper and look at the name.'
"Kliffith Syn? The famous Craftsman?"
"Yes, he holds an important piece of the puzzle."
"Wouldn't he be heavily guarded then?"
"Hmm, that is a possibility but with your stealth artifact, no amount of guards would stop you."
"But, Esteemed One, what about his artifact?"
"It isn't a defensive item, more of a utility item. No threat at all."
"Ok, I'll get it done Esteemed One."
"As always follow the dot on the map."
With that, the man in black grabs a hold of the bag of artifacts before jumping and disappearing into the treeline. Getting up from the ground, I grab the paper of my target before stretching my arms. Checking the dot one last time, I secure my artifact on my wrist.
"Alright, one more. Should be nothing for this murderer."
Getting myself ready, I start walking in the direction of Trillium with the dot on the map showing the location of their artifact. It could already see the gold and power that I could get.
...
[Doherty POV]
"HAAA!"
BOOM!
HAaa haaa haa haa
Pulling my hammer out of a hoe in the ground, I sit down to take a break. Looking around, I could see many holes in the ground created by my training.
'Thankfully, I went some ways away from the city.'
To start working on my untrained body, I needed a lot more training than expected. Still, old habits die hard. My lost strength can be quickly reobtained.
'Hopefully, it's fast enough to meet Maltalor.'
While I didn't know exactly hope many artifacts he had to empower himself, he must have been confident in his power to do something like this.
Standing up, I reach into my pocket and take out the orb of the Creation Hammer. It slowly morphs into a large hammer that floated in front of me.
'Kliffith's words are true, this time we don't have everyone's help. It is better to learn to use it but not need to, instead of needing it but not knowing how to use it.
"Alright, let's do this."
With the hammer floating in front of me, I fully activate my Gigantification skill causing me to grow to over 5 meters tall. Letting out a deep breath, I grab the hammer.
"UURrgh!"
As soon as I grabbed the hammer, white and black gas started erupting from my body. As more of the gas came out of my body, I slowly started to shrink. Finally after shrinking down to 2 meters tall, the gas stops flowing out of me.
"HAaaaaa..."
Let out a deep breath and take in another, I swing the hammer around fluidly as it became one with my body. After a few more movements, I strike the ground with all my might.
BOOOOOMMM!!!
As soon as the hammer hit, a massive crater is created before the ground suddenly contracts and sinks deeper into the ground.
Pheeewwww
"If I didn't use Gigantification, it would have killed me."
Looking at the hammer, I had a newfound respect for it. The Creation Hammer. It had the power of purification, not to be mistaken with holy purification, actual purification where something is made purer or concentrated. When a user wields the hammer, their body also undergoes purification resulting in the body condensing and compacting. Only a person with a strong enough body would be able to take its stress.
'Oh, God of Earth. May I have your blessing...'
...
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Doherty's Fun Fact: The Five Fingers have an odd but useful feature to them, simply holding them won't have any effect on the user but any intent to use them causes them to showcase their power and effects.