The Way of the Outcast (Mirror World Book #3) LitRPG series
Page 12
A leather pauldron and a worn gauntlet had considerably improved my Protection. Another copper bracelet and a faded shirt did the same for Stamina. A handful of copper and iron knickknacks — you couldn't in all seriousness call it jewelry — had positively affected both my Strength and Speed.
Finally, my pride and joy: a moth-eaten woolen doublet. +7 to Heath! If you didn't look too close at me, I could easily pass for a local.
When I'd made level 15, I'd received my five bonus points. I'd decided to wait before investing them into anything. I had it quite good at the moment.
Both Prankie and Boris were already level 14. One more level, and Prankster would get a new ability.
Also, I shouldn't forget that my Knowledge bar was full. Time to reopen the book and see if it had something to offer.
I hurried to pull the fat tome from the bag. Yes! Finally! Page Two wasn't dimmed anymore.
Wait. There was also a sheet of paper inside, folded in two.
The paper was yellow with time, covered in reddish brown spots. What was it doing here? It hadn't been there before!
I closed the book. My hands shook as I unfolded the paper.
Congratulations! You've found Master Brolgerd's Technical Notes.
Warning! You need to be a Mechanic to understand their meaning.
Would you like to study the notes? Yes/No.
Of course I would! What kind of question was that?
The system complied. Soon I was already perusing the ancient manuscript. It was written in a clear, neat handwriting — but judging by the sheer amount of ink spots covering it, whoever had written it was really in a hurry.
Having read a few lines, I realized that I'd been lucky enough to lay my hands on a description of some successful technical experiment.
As I read on, taking in the idea, I began to realize that Army Mechanic was the exact class someone like me needed.
By the simple method of trial and error, using various materials differing in their quality and nature and exposing them to the simultaneous effects of several Bind Lines, I have conducted the following experiment:
By taking a simple tool (the Fix Box), I applied to it three of the following high-grade Bind Lines:
Ph'av, the Binder of Facets
Ghoi, the Enhancer of Essence
Tarim, the Converter of Matter
By improving the tool, I aimed to build a mechanical creature that could function like a living being. A creature like that could then be used to perform certain working functions, chores, etc.
The only person who'd have full power over such a creature would be its constructor himself. This can be achieved by creating an invisible Bind Line between the master and his creation...
As soon as I finished reading, a new system message came up,
Congratulations! You've received a new Ability: Creating a Mechanical Being.
Warning! Building a mechanical creature is a rather involved process which requires large amounts of energy as well as special materials of acceptable quality.
In view of this, we strongly recommend you abstain from activating this ability without due preparation!
All right. That much was clear. And what was on the next page?
Oh. It looked like a sectional blueprint of a mechanical beetle.
Yes! I was right!
Name: A Blueprint of a Scarab
Studying it will require 60 pt. Energy.
Would you like to study the blueprint?
Absolutely!
Congratulations! You've studied the Scarab blueprint by Master Brolgerd!
You've spent 60 pt. Energy
Current Energy: 0/60
Congratulations! You can build a Scarab now!
The message vanished. A small transparent icon appeared in the lower right corner of my control panel bearing the familiar picture of a beetle.
I opened his description.
A Scarab is the simplest mechanical being, Master Brolgerd's unique invention. Initially created to aid mine diggers lay tunnels under the Steely Mountains, the Scarab was later adapted for military purposes.
Skills:
Frontal Antler Ram Blow
Ordinary Blow
The loss of Durability triggers the Scarab's self-destruction by detonating its Energy resources.
Specifications:
The Scarab's level, Durability and Damage as well as the detonation's range are directly related to the quality and numbers of the materials used in its construction.
The Scarab's body is 100% metal.
The Scarab's builder should be prepared to share some of his Energy with it.
Tools required:
The Fix Box
Materials required:
Metal
I finished reading and rubbed my tired eyes. What did they imply? I had the ability but I could only use it once I got back to the continent, was that it? Because I couldn't get the required materials anywhere here.
What a shame. Had I become a wizard, I would now be scorching my enemies with torrents of liquid fire or piercing them with arrows of ice. Instead, I was forced to stare at a useless icon of my newly-acquired skill.
"Wouldn't it be nice to add a new fighter to our group? Guys, what do you think?"
Neither Boris nor Prankster reacted to my words. Both slouched senseless at my feet, fast asleep. They were tired. They needed to replenish their energy levels before the decisive battle with the gym boss.
We'd searched the room already, checking for any secret stashes, but much to our regret found nothing at all.
The old forums said nothing about this kind of thing. No one was too forthcoming to offer any tips. Here in Mirror World, it was considered bad form to discuss stashes and hidden treasures. Everybody knew they existed but every player had to fend for him or herself.
"It's okay, guys. Sleep well. You've done a great job. I'll keep an eye on you."
It wasn't really necessary. According to the rules, the zombies could only respawn several hours after the boss' death. And it would be a good idea to put those hours to good use. You never know, all those secret treasures might reveal themselves to me during that particular period.
There were no skeletons left behind. The Ghoul's aggro zone was way out of reach. I could take a break too. Now was the perfect moment to stock up on my new improved ammo.
One of the skeletons — which must have been either a herbalist or a harvester, judging by his sickle — had dropped a necklace with +2 to Speed. This was nothing, of course, compared to my earlier trophy: a copper chain with +6 to Strength. And as according to the game's rules, I could only wear one necklace simultaneously, the latter one was at a definite disadvantage.
It was made of ten tear-shaped beads strung on a fine black thread. Its quality was immeasurably higher compared to the Swamp Monks' "jewelry" which didn't even deserve the name. This one had been made by human hand, you could see that straight away. Okay, maybe not exactly human but a sentient being's, nevertheless.
Its Durability was a meager 3 pt. Could my altering the item improve the beads' stats? I didn't care much about their shape. If you remembered the kind of boulders I'd used on the Monks...
Where was it now? Let's have a look... aha! Found it.
The necklace was heavy. Completely oxidized. The beads were massive. They were bound to improve Damage.
I studied the necklace for any obvious defects. It looked as if it had been broken quite a few times in the past, its thread all covered in knots. I wasn't a jeweler but even I could see they should have used a thicker one.
Finally I found what I'd been looking for: a loose knot, about to come undone. What if I tried to tighten it up... gently... yes!
Warning! You're trying to alter an item's nature without possessing the necessary skills, recipes or blueprints!
Probability of ruining the item: 99%.
I continued tightening the knot. It looked as if instead of altering it, I might just fix it. How would that affect its na
ture? Still, 99% of potential failure was a lot — even though it was exactly what I hoped for.
Warning! You've destroyed an item: a Copper Necklace!
You've received:
A Copper Bead, 8
Reward: +2 to Knowledge
Current Knowledge: 2/60
My losses: two of the beads and the thread itself. I wasn't worried about the latter, but the loss of two potential slugs wasn't good news. Still, I could live with it.
Now. Let's upgrade it. My recent Stamina boost had brought my Energy to 500. I could afford to use some to activate a Bind Line.
Where are those tools now? Time to use them!
Having parted with the required 50 pt. Energy, I watched, transfixed, as my hands secured the tear-shaped bead in the wambler. Flash! The new improved bead lay in my hand.
It felt weird. A bit like when I had first used the automatic parking system. You pressed the button and the steering wheel began to turn right and left on its own accord; all you had to do was step on the gas and press whichever buttons the computer told you to press. Admittedly, I'd done so with mixed feelings: the fear that I was about to hit something combined with the latest-technology thrill. Home sweet home...
But I digress. Wake up, Olgerd. This isn't home anymore.
I shook my head, focusing on the blob of copper in my hand. What did we have here?
Name: a Copper Bead
Durability: 10
Warning! Every successful hit will now decrease the item's Durability 1 pt.
Excellent. And Damage? +2! I'd been right, then. These were even better than the Monks' ones.
Let's do a few more. Another 350 Energy, and I'd have seven excellent bullets for my slingshot. Energy wasn't a problem. I could always bring it back up. But my chances of defeating a strong enemy would grow exponentially. In our line of work, every point could make a difference.
After a few minutes, my Energy bar dropped to 100, then began refilling — slowly but surely. If I only had some food or even elixirs! Not to mention Stamina stones. Gloom and his guys had well and truly fleeced me. I didn't even have a stale crust of bread left on me.
Never mind. Better not mention it.
I was about to place my tool kit back into the bag when I noticed that one of the tools in it was highlighted. Had I done something wrong? I needed to check.
Ah, so that was their so-called Fix Box. What a name. Those game designers had some funny ideas.
The Fix Box was a slim casing about five inches long and a couple of inches wide.
The moment I touched it, a small translucent panel appeared in my mind's eye. A vertical line divided it in two. To the left there were two gray cylindrical columns, reading 1%. They were marked respectively as Volume and Quality of Source Materials. Both looked very much like the charge icon of a cell phone.
To the right, there were four of my bag slots, containing the iron and copper beads and the two types of arrowheads.
So that's what it was, then! Did this mean I did have the resources necessary to build a Scarab, after all?
I could sense my own face dissolve in a smile. I rubbed my hands. Let's try it.
I highlighted an arrowhead and gingerly moved it into the left half of the panel.
One of the cylinders sprang to life, reporting something. Oh. It looked like I celebrated too soon. Not even 0.5%!
Okay. And if I moved all of them at once?
Meh. Just over 11%!
After a moment's hesitation, I pressed Confirm. I didn't need the arrowheads, anyway. I'd been toying with the idea of using them for my slingshot but the system kept flashing an Unfit for Purpose message. In real life, that guy from the YouTube video would have found a way of using them. Which confirmed my suspicion that the game developers had only a very vague idea of how to use a slingshot.
Never mind. This was definitely better than nothing.
The Fix Box is 11.4% full!
Quality of source materials: 8.35%
Feeling like a hapless lab assistant, I studied the miserable results. Both were deep in the red. As I eyed them, I glimpsed a flash of bright green in the lower right corner. The first Scarab was ready for building.
That was good, of course. Its quality was a totally different question though.
Wait a sec... of course! I was an idiot! The Box's menu recognized the beads too, didn't it? And they'd been altered, right? What did that mean? It meant that item altering was the way!
I had a bagful of useless steely junk with me! Just think I was about to get rid of it all!
Grinning like an idiot, I slumped to the floor next to the sleeping Boris and made myself comfortable. Prankster too was fast asleep, curled up on his friend's broad back. Each had about 50% Energy left.
"Sleep tight, guys. I'm gonna do a bit of magic. If everything goes well, we just might have a new group member."
Chapter Twelve
Warning! You're trying to alter an item's nature without possessing the necessary skills, recipes or blueprints!
Probability of ruining the item: 99%.
Warning! You've destroyed an item: an Old Sickle!
You've received:
A Rusty blade, 1
A cracked wooden handle, 1
Reward: +1 to Knowledge
Current Knowledge: 45/60
Congratulations! You've received Achievement: Breaking is not Making.
Reward: +1% to your chance of receiving Knowledge
The Fix Box is 100% full!
Quality of source materials: 8.15%
It looked like that was it.
I'd spent the last forty minutes "altering items' nature". 25% of all the metal junk was gone. I just hoped it was worth it. Then again, what did I have to lose?
Admittedly, the 'quality of source materials' had fallen a little. It must have had something to do with the items' low Durability: most of them were a measly 2 to 4 pt. You couldn't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.
In the meantime, my pets had restored their Energy. Ditto for myself. I just hoped it was enough to summon the new addition to my traveling menagerie.
I double-checked all the figures. I'd really done everything I could. So I pressed Activate.
My Energy dropped 250 pt. That was okay. Fair enough.
You've built the simplest mechanical creature: a Rusty Scarab!
New skill opened: Control
Current level: 1
Congratulations! You've received an Achievement: Beast Unseen!
Reward: +1 to Intellect
Current Intellect: 3
Congratulations! You've received Achievement: Rusty Steel is Still Steel
Reward: +1 to Intellect
Current Intellect: 4
Congratulations! You've received Achievement: Tin Pan Army General!
Reward: +1 to Intellect
Current Intellect: 5
As I read it, my back erupted in goosebumps. What was that now? Just by pressing a button, I'd opened a new skill and earned myself a considerable Intellect increase? And got myself three achievements in a row? Was it a one-off or was this normal in Mirror World?
I hurried to open the skill's description.
Control is a highly important skill for every army mechanic which allows him or her to control mechanical creatures.
The skill's level equals the number of the mechanical creatures the mechanic can control simultaneously.
The skill's growth depends on the frequency of its use.
Boris hissed furiously, distracting me from reading. I hurried to close the messages and swung round to the sound.
Jesus Christ almighty! What on earth was that?
Name: a Rusty Scarab
Type: a Mechanical Creature
Phew. "It's all right, guys. He's one of us."
I walked all around the strange beast, studying it. "Oh well. Only a mother can love someone like you."
His size surprised me. Considering the realistic amount of materials used, it didn't sum up. The m
etal junk I'd used had been nowhere near enough to have built this behemoth.
He wasn't that big but he was still about the size of a washing machine. I'd expected to see something much smaller. And I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't pleased!
His body was large and fat, shaped as a squashed oval, the shallower part of it being his undercarriage. About waist high, he had six powerful legs and a rough five-pointed crest on the front of his head. His back was protected by an armored sheet of several pieces of metal fused together. The monster's entire body was covered in red spots of rust.
I opened his stats: very decent. Despite the word "simplest" in his moniker — and especially considering the low quality of source materials — the guy was quite impressive.
Name: a Rusty Scarab
Level: 8
Technical stats:
Protection: 35
Speed: 2
Durability: 750/750
Frontal Antler Ram Blow: 150.
Other Damage: 15
Blast wave damage: 450 (range: 6 ft.)
How cool was that? We had a second tank!
Immediately my mind offered me a very interesting tactical picture. The Scarab would enter combat first, dealing the first hit and pulling all of the mob's aggro to himself. As the mob tried to break the Scarab's metallic shell, Boris would enter the scene, followed by Prankster and yours truly.
I couldn't wait to try him out. Still, I needed to restore my Energy first. Once that done... Ghoul, just you wait!
Chapter Thirteen
We rattled and clangored all the way to the location boss in his corridor. It sounded just like the Just Married tin can concert. My scarab wasn't the stealthiest of creatures, that's for sure. No good taking him on recon missions.