Ivan stood with his hands to his side, a contemplative expression on his face as to where he stood now was just on the fields beside the shop. It was the middle of the night so he didn't have to worry about the onlookers that made up the customers, and for once he decided that it'd be a good idea to get some fresh air. Having left the lab and manor he now stood outside with no idea as to what to do.
He was still waiting for Felis to make considerable progress in the mines before dropping the education of the sisters on her. That was pretty much all that halted his plans. Ivan knew that his group was currently as ready as they could be to face the next dungeon, it was only a matter of time. As for who'd be on the team for the next dungeon considering someone needed to be around the shop to man it and activate the barrier if needed. Ari and Claire undertook that position, exclaiming that as the weakest of the group they were afraid of holding them back.
Though it did bring a smile to Ivan's face as he remembered the two telling him to just wait and see until they become warriors capable of fighting beside him. So for now the expedition group would be Tio, Yue, and himself. The mini airship he made explicitly for Felis to travel between work and home had already been completed, built-in with a self-piloting function all she would need to do is press a single button.
A feat surprisingly difficult to get her to do as each time the console flashed with an assortment of colors she went ahead and pressed every button. It was at that moment that Ivan patted himself on the back for not installing a self-destruct feature. On a side note, the submarine-shaped airship had an option to toggle manual controls, an option that Ivan made sure to engrave into Felis' mind as 'do not press until absolutely necessary.' After the airship nearly crashed from her first swipe at all the buttons she became a lot more understanding.
Ari will take care of the shop with Claire's help on the side, Claire's job was making sure Ari and Felis didn't starve to death, and as for Felis, her responsibility was to train the new homunculus and finish the floors she was assigned to.
Which reminded Ivan of the more gimmicky floors, those with just pits of sand sludge that made it difficult to trudge through. Those would probably have to be manually dealt with, not that the Rumebuh couldn't just float over it all. It was just who knows how many precious materials laid under the sand and mud.
Ivan knew Felis might make a fuss of the deal but he made a reminder to himself to stay down there and help her with those floors. Oh, and he wasn't just standing around while thinking of all this, considering there were derivative skills for the regular skills he trained every day in hopes of unlocking as many as he could. As long as there was still room to be made in improving himself then he went for it, monster meat had stopped becoming as beneficial after he ran out of meat he hadn't tried before.
His fist sent a gust of wind with each jab. Kicks create tiny whirlwinds of the earth and sand around him. A lot of the skills he had gotten were for hand-to-hand combat, such as Lightning Field, Steel Arms, Gale Claw, and Limit Break.
Lightning Field was good for cladding himself in electricity, a useful move when dealing with opponents you don't want touching you. As for Steel Arms, it was just simply the reinforcement of strength and power to punches, elbows, and pretty much anything that revolved around using his arms. It was a decent move for someone like him who only needed his fists. Gale Claw was another simple skill, however, its power was undeniable. With its pressurized wind blades, it was able to nearly cut through everything, Ivan's goal with it was to be able to launch the claw as a projectile similar to the monster that possessed it.
With his inhuman body, he decided the best thing would be training them all at once. A man donned in black armor punched his electrically enwrapped fist into the abyss as it seemed that everything around the fist, including the air, distorted to make way. The only ability Ivan didn't use was Limit Break, as the skill scaled with the user. Even if its three times power enhancement was enticing it was an emergency-only skill by his standards because of the intense strain it put on the user.
His mind raced as he worked towards improving all of these skills with the goal of strengthening his arsenal. Any method to immediately improve the efficiency of his training became apparent to him almost instantaneously. As proven by the real-time improvements he made to his stance, posture, and technique. It was a bit of a robotic procedure that creeped out Felis, an emotion he sympathized with.
Though it did sting a bit when she muttered 'creepy' while he was training. All his thought processes worked together to reach that goal, calculating different techniques and methods using either mathematical equations or his knowledge of fighting. Though his 'Abyss' style was unpredictable and caught foes off guard anyone that had any real skill could see that he was just bashing with his brute strength, hoping to catch his enemy off guard and destroy them with his tattooed arms.
For that reason, he sought refinement. Ideally, if he could hone a style that put finishing off the enemy as quickly as possible as the primary function then that'd be acceptable to him. As if his battles did ensue for long his enemies would know better than allow themselves to come in contact with his palms. That was something he could not afford to let happen, he had already gone through great lengths to make sure no one knew his abilities, eliminating dozens of lives of those who had found out just to make sure they didn't spread the information.
Though in the end, he knew it'd be inevitable that he'd one day meet a foe that could see through his deception. In which case he'd bust out the water-based transmutation if he didn't already start with that. The only way Ivan could think of exposing his creation and destruction is if he destroyed a barrier or spell right in front of someone using his bare palms. The glowing tattoos and sparks tangling his arms would surely be an indicator of that.
Ivan held a metal ball in his right palm, staring at it before it dissolved into a liquid with the spark of his right arm. Before it began to burn him he threw the liquid as swiftly as he could, the water transmutation circle glowing as the iron melted liquid flew from his hands. He watched solemnly as the flying liquid became a rain of a hundred tiny needles, stabbing a nearby tree.
This was just a little something he came up with when operating his processes, as for the usefulness of such a move he didn't know. As if he intended on using it on an enemy their first instinct would be to move out of the way if he threw anything at them. Though a more deadly process could be recreated with his left hand, one that could be used for restraining a foe alive so long as he was careful.
The idea was to come in contact with the person he wanted to restrain with his left arm, the tattoos would then glow as the alchemical process began to take place. From there it seemed plausible to him that he'd be able to use the iron in said person's body to give form to sharp objects, needles, razors, blades, so long as he didn't overdo it then it was possible to restrain the enemy. As for what would happen to the person should they resist while having all those sharp objects underneath their skin? Well, that's up to them so long as they don't make any sudden movements.
It was this ability that once again seemed to serve no purpose, as his left arm could contort a person's body to render them incapable to raise their hands or take a single step. But for torturing then it seemed very eligible.
'Iron sand huh…' Though making weapons out of blood and water were cool and all, their durability was nothing to be proud of. And with the abundance of iron sand that could be found in the world, it'd be better to just use that instead to form stronger weapons.
Ivan held his left hand against the earth, grains of iron sand started linking together to form a line. Sparks flew from the ground as a sword formed sticking into the ground. He pulled the blade out of the ground before swinging it a few times. If that's all it took to make a decent sword then he was going to produce a lot of them for enchanting and selling in his store. The sword dissolved back into sand as it entered his right palm.
He repeated the process, this time creating a wall of iron to protect his front side. The sand wove fluidly under his palm, taking the shape of several objects before returning to the ground. The range seems to be the downfall of the ability, ten meters. As for how useful it would be in combat? Well, they were better than stone barricades, a thirty-two-foot whip of iron sand seemed quite deadly as well, especially when the sand was spun fast to create a chainsaw-like effect.
With Air Dance upping his speed and Steel Arms strengthening his fists he truly achieved the touch of death. Close the range, create barriers of iron sand to defend him from projectiles, and blow up the target in the palm of his hand. That seemed to be the play to him. The derivative skill Aerodynamic would be useful in changing his trajectory suddenly by bouncing on the air-compressed plates created. Essentially he had become the world's deadliest pinball.
Ivan let out a breath as finally after hours of abusing his physical skills the strain of it all was starting to reach him. His labored breaths exhausted steam from his mouth as the cold air brushed against his face. With all of the resistances he had and Ambrosia, he digested he had no way of getting sick, hell the insulated armor would tank everything before it even got to him anyway.
He laughed aloud at how funny he found the sudden change. Just months ago he was peacefully reading his research books while browsing the internet, waiting for his mother to call him down for dinner. And now here he was talking about torturing and murdering his enemies, fighting gods, and attaining a strength greater than shaking the air with simple blows of his feet or fists. Ivan wondered what his mother's reaction would be to all that, would she even still accept him as her son he wondered…
This was why he didn't even feel like returning. His mother missing her son should be enough for him to return? He didn't even think that sentiment applied when the circumstances changed so much. Did a mother love her child because they are her child, or because they are them? He didn't know.
Sometimes he thought things would be better if he wasn't there to burden her, she was still young. She had a life of her own that she didn't get to fulfill because of her duties. It was a shit way to repay her for everything she did, that he knew. And if not the sole selfishness of the feelings he felt then what was it?
Would he still love his mother if she left for a year and came back as a warrior that told tales of her many conquests and grueling battles? Would her disposition have not changed in light of those events? And at that point was she still the same person?
It was a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts' that certainly did seem selfish to come to a conclusion based on his personal feelings. Which is why while there was trepidation, there was also a bit of excitement in him to see if he could even adjust back to such a life.
Attaining all the ancient magic could lead him back home, that he knew. But his intent was that they only existed as an assurance of his strength. If he ever felt the desire to return home then having them on hand would be useful.
Ivan walked back to the manor, flashing his eye to the scanner that barred entry to the gate. He observed the drones that had been circling the sky nonstop in night vision mode. Nodding in satisfaction as he made sure that they were well stocked with mana to continue their activities. He looked up in the sky as Felis' airship descended into a separate docking area from the garage.
Her arrival marked that dinner was soon. Ivan put aside the thoughts that littered his mind as he pressed his eye again to another scanner at the front door, smiling as the lock turned green and the door opened to let him in.
Once in the entrance, he turned to his right to face the coat hanger, pressing the hidden button that had been put on the bottom of one of its legs. The wall behind the coat hanger opened up to reveal a different room that did not match the usual aesthetic of the house. Chrome walls made up the room, pipes, and valves adorning the walls as at the end of the room sat a desk of the same shiny steel. Fourteen display monitors hung on the wall above the desk, narrowly hovering over the keyboard that was laid out. In front of it was a normal office chair with wheels, however, it was the figure in the chair that Ivan came to see today.
"Hey Talos, are we doing well here today? No suspicious figures or anything of the sort? I know Labori had to deal with some rather exuberant customers today so I was just making sure they hadn't come back or anything for revenge."
Ivan spoke to the twelve-foot bronze robot that was in charge of the security. Felis had insisted on giving them all names after hearing about Ivan and the others going around calling them droids. As for who was Labori, that was the droid that stood in front of the shop and dealt with security. Equipped with a taser baton and advanced handcuffs that drained the wearer of mana he was a good guard against adventurers and unruly merchants, nobles were not even worth mentioning as one punch would be all it took for it to kill them.
"BEEP-BOOP-CWEH-NUOH"
Ivan nodded as he pretended to understand every word this guy was giving him, judging by the tone of the beeps he just assumed that everything was taken care of. He walked up to the bronze giant before opening a hatch he had installed in its ankle, he closed the hatch before leaving a dozen mana crystals Felis had brought on the table.
"Well here's your food for the day, thanks for the hard work as always. And if you ever need any help you can talk to me or Felis. Oh and here's Labori's pay as well, and this time please do not eat it!"
Ivan threw an extra sack full of mana crystals as he reprimanded the giant for his earlier acts. According to Ari, the droid Labori had just randomly fallen over during work, it was at that time that she had to fight off any of the customers that tried to kidnap it.
Talos beeped before storing the mana crystals in its stomach compartment, as for whether or not it understood his message he didn't know. Rather than a consciousness, it was just a basic AI program that ran these droids. Nothing too complex as their tasks were to simply take care of unwanted guests and report anything suspicious.
If he had to gauge their strength then Talos was the weakest despite his large size. Its size was after all just a byproduct of Ivan trying to stuff as many parts into it so it could smoothly operate as the head of security. Aside from a self-destruction feature it had no offensive capabilities except maybe its heavy body.
As for Labori, its strength rested in using the tools it had been given a longer with the nimble and lithe body it had that prioritized weaving between attacks and bending to reach openings. Aside from that, it was a glass cannon that could be dealt with using a few fireballs.
Ivan left the room as he hit a button on the way out, mechanisms locking as the false wall set itself back in place. If Talos had to, he could press the same button and leave the room, that was just in case he had to report something when someone wasn't near a communication device or he had something that needed specifying.
At first, its appearance creeped the others out besides Felis and Tio but after getting used to it they could only see Talos as a friendly giant. Not long after he became a pet rather than an automaton, which was quite an interesting development to Ivan who had observed the whole process from afar as entertainment.
Unfortunately, Labori didn't receive the same treatment, another development that made Ivan feel bad for the little guy.
Ivan greeted the others that had gathered around the table. Taking a seat at its head as Yue declared her rightful place on his lap, much to Felis' displeasure. It seemed Claire had won the privilege of cooking today's meal. At least that's what he assumed when he saw he walk out of the kitchen skillfully with four plates in each arm, even one that sat comically on her head.
Both he and Felis were great eaters so she always made sure to make a lot of food for them.
"Alright, let's dig in folks!" Ivan's resounding cry affected the mood of everyone else, they all lifted a for before plunging it into their meals, smiling brightly before digging in.
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Robots are pretty cute huh... Sorry I was in a bit of a stump as to what to write today. You see I haven't finished the fourth volume as I've had less time because of work and writing. I'll try my best to fit it into my schedule, even if I have to stay up later than usual. So once again, I apologize for the shoddy chapter
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