Few days have passed. Cecilia and Zane at the hideout.
"I know you have the exploding sticks. But how do you plan to use them?" Cecilia asked.
"I plan to create maximum chaos with it. Not only on the western side, but I plan to bring chaos throughout Capricia."
"Initially, our assigned task is only on the western side, but I think it would be much better to create greater havoc throughout the city. It will increase our odds of survival. Besides, I don't want to put my odds at someone else."
"Furthermore, I want to settle some debts with the Nobles."
"How do you plan to do that?"
"Hmm.. have you heard of the legend of the Trojan Horse?"
"Trojan Horse?" Cecilia baffled.
"Yes. In short, it was a story about an unsiegeable city due to its mighty high walls. Armies couldn't break through the city no matter they tried."
"However, there was a man who thought of an idea. The only way to open the gates and let the armies go in is through the insides."
"So he concocted a plan where their armies left the land. When the city found out about it they investigated and saw that the armies were gone. The only thing remaining was an exquisite wooden large horse."
"When the king saw this, he was amazed at the craftsmanship. He thought of it as the gift from the gods."
"So he brought it inside the city to celebrate their victory."
"Soon, the night fell, and the guards were drunk and inattentive due to their recent celebration. Suddenly, the wooden horse started making sounds. One by one, the strongest warriors started to come out. They had hid and waited inside the horse until the right time."
"When they came out, they attacked the city from the inside and opened the gates. Soon the armies got in and burned the city."
Cecilia was enthralled with the story. Its uniqueness made her wonder where Zane got his knowledge and wisdom.
"So, you plan to put the dynamite inside the horse and send it to the Nobles?" Cecilia then asked.
"YES! Exactly!" Zane with a grin.
"The only problem you have is that you are no craftsman," said Cecilia without hesitation.
Zane felt a stabbing sensation in his heart, "Yes, thank you for being brutally honest with me."
"Anyway, we still have a month to spare. I believe with if we do try our best, we can at least create some good pottery. We have the materials ready from our previous project."
Cecilia thought for a while and said, "One thing you can do is to inlaid some precious stones on the pot, so no matter how ugly the pottery is, they will take still take it without hesitation."
Zane nodded with Cecilia's recommendation. 'How hard could pottery be?' he thought.
...
A few hours later.
"Yep, this is freaking hard," Zane groaned. This was his first time doing clay pottery, and it ended up in a complete failure.
Meanwhile, Cecilia's pottery was also horrendous. Cecilia's pot ended up in a much worst state than Zane's. When Zane saw this, he snickered at how ugly her pot was.
When Cecilia heard Zane's laugh, she grabbed her sword and cut Zane's pottery into two. She then smiled and said, "Now you have two."
"Very childish."
"I am only 16," Cecilia shrugged her shoulder.
...
Another few more hours passed. Zane completed his pot. Although it wasn't as horrible as the first one, it wouldn't pass for the nobles. Heck, even a slave wouldn't accept it.
'Shit. There is no way this will work.'
'Ding! How could I forget the system!'
Zane checked his Passive Skill tab. There he found what he was looking for. Not only that, but he found quite a few passive skills that he didn't know he had.
Hand Crafts 0/100
Metallurgy 1/100
Metal Working 0/100
Tailoring 0/100
Cooking 5/100
Leatherworking 0/100
'I only have three skill points remaining. They are all too precious. I haven't even found an active skill that I can use.'
'I'll prioritize first.'
'Ding! You have added 1 skill point to Hand Crafts.
Hand Crafting: Increases your skill in basic work that includes required manual dexterity or artistic skill such as pottery, carving, glassblowing, bead working, paper folding, embroidery...
When Zane saw the list, his eyes widened, 'OH shi...'
The information hit him in the head like a bullet. Soon, he passed out.
After a while, Zane heard a name calling him.
"Zane!"
"Zane!"
"Zane"
Soon he grabbed his head. He asked Cecilia, "How long was I out?"
"Just about a minute! You scared me! What happened?"
"I was just too tired. Give me a moment to rest."
...
After an hour of rest, Zane went back in front of his manual pottery machine. Soon, his hands weaved through the clay like an experienced hand that has been through almost thousands of times.
Cecilia looking at him, was shocked to the core. Zane's pottery was like an art weaving through the clay mud, bringing them to life with every stroke of the hand.
Zane then looked at her and just simply smiled.
"Tss.. Get back to work," Cecilia jealously said.
...
A week after, while waiting for the pottery to be dried, Zane went to exchange Arena points. It was another massive building, with the number of guards relatively abundant. He even saw two Awakened guards patrolling the perimeter. Inside the building, the place looks like a bank comparable to earth. Zane stood up on one of the booths.
"Hello Mr. Black Hair Lone Wolf from Umbra," said the beautiful woman behind the glass.
"Hello, you do know me? "
"Yes. It will be terrible for me if I don't know the famous warriors in Capricia."
"Oh, thanks for the flatter, but I did not know that I have the fame. In any case, I am here to use my merits. Here is my badge." Zane handed his stone badge.
"Let me check." Soon, the woman took his stone, and under a magic lamp, it showed his points.
The woman was shocked, "You have 13,251 merits. This is the first time I have seen this many merits. Most of the Elites have only around 1000 to 2000 points."
Zane has been running solo with his arena battles. Most battles give about 500 merits points divided into five participants.
"I am a bit in a hurry. Can you send me the list of what I can purchase?" Zane said.
"Yes, forgive me, give me a moment."
The woman double-checked again, but it was the same amount. The woman went back to her manager as well to show the points, but even the manager was surprised about it.
"We received confirmation that it was the right amount. Here is our list of Mantras."
Zane took the list from her hand and looked into it.
#1 10,000 Burning Sun Mantra Full Copy
#2 10,000 Shatter Flame Mantra Full Copy
#3 10,000 Golden Fury Mantra Full Copy
#4 ....
#16 8,000 Divine Sword Mantra 1/3 Copy (Broken)
When Zane saw the list, he was astonished, "Is it possible to see the Mantra face to face?"
"Sadly, we can't do that. We can only give you a brief description."
'Would have been nice if I could see them and use identification.'
...
#55 Two Head Gaia Mantra 1/3 (Broken)
#65 3,000 Zed's Slaughter Mantra 1/3 Copy (Broken)
When Zane saw Zed's Slaughter Mantra, he was ecstatic. He found another copy of his Mantra, and it is much cheaper than some of the mantras.
"I will take the Zed's Slaughter Mantra" Zane immediately ignored the whole list.
"Sir, just letting you know that the #65 is a broken mantra. It can cause you harm and destroy your foundation."
"Yes, I will still take it."
"It is also non-refundable."
"I understand the risk. Do you have another copy of this?"
"Let me check our records. Please wait a moment." The woman stood up and left Zane alone.
A few minutes later.
"It seems that the first copy was sent given to the Higher Nobles. The second copy was given to the guards. The last copy is the one we have."
"I understand. I will purchase it."
"Give me a moment. Let me fetch the Mantra for you."
After waiting for an hour, the woman had the copy of the Mantra and passed it on to Zane through the glass window. She reminded me, "Please don't reproduce or share; otherwise, the authorities will be chasing you," she chuckled thinking, 'who will be crazy enough to use a broken mantra?'
"I understand. I know you guys have Skills meant for Awakened that are for sales as well. Can you give me the list as well?"
"Yes, let me fetch for you," the woman wasn't shocked at his request, he knew his skills have reached the Awakened level.
...
When Zane saw the list, it was quite shorter.
#1 20,000 Wind Reaper
#2 20,000 Grand Explosive Fire Fist
#3 15,000 Thousand Punch Sutra (Broken)
#4 15,000 Blade Hand
#5 10,000 Echoing Fist
#6 10,000 Blood Berserk (Broken)
....
#14 2,000 Tiger's Roar
#15 1500 Mantis Slice Kick
..
After looking at the list, there is only one skill that he thinks can be useful.
"Can you give me the introduction to the Blood Berserk Skill"
"Yes. The Blood Berserk Skill doubles your attach, speed, and concentration at the expense of burning your own life. This is an experimental skill. It causes you further harm and can cause...."
"I want it. Please bring it to me."
While walking back, the woman shook his head. In her mind, Zane is quite suicidal. Two of his choosing were both broken.
She thought, 'It is bad enough to have one, having two? It just guarantees death.'
Soon, she passed the orb to Zane.
Zane was confused.
"What is this orb for?"
The woman chuckled, "This is an Awakeners Orb. It the first tier of Knowledge Orbs."
"Knowledge Orb?" Zane asked.
The lady whispered, "Just you and me, in some larger cities, I have seen stronger Knowledge Orbs but those are given for higher nobles only. Sadly, here in the City of Capricia, we only have the these first levels."
"How do you use them?"
She smiled, when you poured your mana in the orb, "the Knowledge inside the orb transfers both information and sensation directly to your soul. These knowledge becomes a guide to whoever uses them."
She further added, "The higher one's talent, the faster one can learn the knowledge."
Zane then, "Let's say that there is a chance I have a poor talent."
"You must be jesting. At your caliber, it is just quite unlike for that to happen," she laughed, thinking of Zane's joke.
"But answering your question, for those with poor talents, unfortunately, it will be just a waste for them."
'Oh shit!'
...