"Welcome! How can I help you, sir?"
After taking a second to process that there was a lab-coat-wearing young lady instead of a witch in front of me, I quickly stated the reason for my visit. "I'm looking for something containing information bout the mist element. This seems like the only place that could possibly have it in Mensch."
Her eyes suddenly lit up, now scanning my body as if I was more than just a customer, now I was a customer she would try her best and suck dry.
"Is that so? Well, you're in luck, young man! We just so happen to probably be the only store in the nation that would have a book for you. However, I have to warn you, it will be quite expensive. We only have one copy, after all."
The white-haired lady was testing the waters, trying to figure out if I would even have the funds needed to purchase the item. In this situation, I had a feeling that acting small and weak wouldn't help it, it would be much more in my favor to act like I knew what I was doing.
"You don't have to worry about the costs, as long as the price is fair. If not, I will find another way to get my hands on the knowledge I seek."
To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing at all. Money wasn't my forte at all, so I could only hope that my serious eyes would convey the story and that, maybe, she would be a bit desperate to sell something, as it didn't appear that the store was all too popular.
The woman just rubbed her hands as she continued to present me with the facts of the matter, "Of course! We have a reputation to uphold, after all. Now, for just 200,000 USD, the book 'Matter of Mist' will be yours.
"... excuse me?"
It wasn't that I didn't expect it to be expensive, but 200 grand? In what world would that be legal?! Noticing my reaction, the saleswoman's mood dampened by quite a bit, as she began to doubt that I would truly be able to afford it.
"Tsk! Do you want it or not?"
Scratch what I said earlier, somehow the happy, energetic woman had turned into a complete mafioso, with the only thing missing being a cigarette. I wouldn't even be surprised if she suddenly started squatting down.
200,000 USD was a lot of money, even in the world of hunters. Having already looked up the prices of other books that dealt with specific elements, there was not a single one that couldn't be bought for 50,000 USD or less.
There was no question about it that the mist element was incredibly rare, at least in Mensch, but to pay four times the price? Still, it wasn't like I had much of a choice, and even more, it wasn't like I had worked that hard for the money either.
"I want it. Please."
"Oh! Well, I'll go and get it right away sir! Please do wait here, and do take a look around if you want to while you wait!"
Another extreme switch had happened, with the woman now back to being the energetic and professional clerk she had been when I arrived, as she quickly made her way to the back of the store to retrieve my book.
Looking around the shop, there were a lot of interesting items and artifacts. Everything from books, to essences, to even weapons that boosted the power of specific elements.
Sadly, my little tour didn't last long as the clerk returned with a big, purple book in hand. So I paid her the massive sum of money she wanted, while feeling the pain of losing enough money to feed a family of four for years.
==========
'Matter of Mist' was truly interesting. Not only did it review the information and characteristics of my element incredibly in-depth, but it also had a lot of spells and skills that one could use the element to conjure.
There were so many things I wanted to learn, but the most important insight it gave me was something I had started to think of even before.
When I used [Detonate] on my clone, I had a very weird feeling of my mind switching into another substance before blowing up. Sadly, it was followed by the sensation of losing my life.
However, putting this in reverse, I had inspected the process of when sub-me transformed into Bobby. It wasn't a process like when the god had reconstructed my body, where he forcefully compressed and realigned my bones and muscles.
Instead, the same thing had happened where sub-me's body would become almost ethereal before switching forms. With the confirmation from the literature I just bought, it now felt so incredibly obvious.
The mist element was, for some reason, the basis of the Skills that came with my Main Manual. It even seemed plausible that I got the element because I had chosen the [Trickster] Manual. So, a new idea popped into my head. If my clones and [Materialize] were both based on mist, what was stopping me from not transforming, but instead just adding something to my body?
Planting my feet in the training room, I started to visualize the process I wanted to make a reality. A cloud of mist started to conglomerate on my back, quickly changing forms as I willed it. It wasn't that hard, after all, I already fully comprehended what I wanted to add.
*Flap!*
A majestic pair of black wings were added to my back, naturally moving as I commanded them to. I could feel every muscle, every feather that was now a part of me.
"Mirror, up!"
As per my order, the AI in the training room made a huge mirror come up from the ground, covering the whole wall.
'Shit... That's just...'
It was a bit weird that I couldn't see my wings when I stood in front of the mirror, but when I turned around and looked at my back, I got to know the reason why.
Instead of the massive, glorious wings, I had expected, there was a tiny pair of raven wings, mimicking the size of an ordinary bird.
It was just stupid to look at. A pair of wings whose span didn't even cover half of the width of my back.
'Guess I need some practice...'
****
[3rd person Pov]
"So, the bringer of light survived... That changes things..."
"Yes, unfortunately, that seems to be the case, Lord."
Sitting on a huge black throne, a horned, red humanoid was currently talking to one of his subordinates who had a surprising report to give. The large demon didn't react all too much, almost as if this was just a minor inconvenience that they had to deal with.
"So be it. And we have still made no progress with the negotiations with that sickening human? Or I guess he might not be human anymore..."
Once again bowing her head, the elegant demon, wearing a white dress with a spiderweb pattern, had to disappoint her lord once more.
"My apologies, Lord. He has still yet to accept any of the terms we have suggested. Just yesterday he wiped out another one of our spies at the academy."
Rubbing his chin, the lord had an intrigued look on his massive face, "I see. Well, it might be even more suspicious if he suddenly decided to cooperate with us, now that 200 years have already passed."
Standing up, he suddenly opened up eight, blood red portals in the dark throne room, where eight very different demons quickly stepped out.
Each one of them took a knee in front of their lord and pledged their allegiance.
*For the glory of our lord!*
With all of the different counts being of different sizes and appearances, it was clear that they had very different purposes.
"Listen up, counts of the superior race! This marks the day of our rise, the day where we will prove our excellence to the world!"
Suddenly, a big mirror appeared in front of his hand, showing a world of ice and snow.
"As all of you know, our invasion of Tella has already begun once more. Because of the alliance between Mensch and Aldon, we will begin by usurping the harsh lands of Kurat! This will be our home for a long time, a base where we will bless the worthy humans with our blood, and annihilate the ones who refuse! Our brethren have already begun to infiltrate their leadership, now all that is left is for you to join them!"
*Yes, my lord!*
"Erzal, you will be the first to be sent over! I expect you to use your abilities to gain complete control of the fool who thinks of himself as a king. Do not disappoint me, and don't make me regret making you the first count to go."
Bowing even lower, making her long, black hair point to the ground, the succubus spoke with confidence, "I will not disappoint you, my lord! Your trust is worth more than my life!"
Taking a stand, showing off her impossibly seductive body and bat-like wings, a huge, sadistic smile appeared on her face, knowing she would finally get to have some fun.