[Mmm… Mmm… one left? Wow!]
From beside the corpse I watched the fae like creature appear in my vision. His voice still distorted as it was when I had first heard him.
My glare hardened as I watched the creature fly around me. Inspecting me.
It was disturbing, yet I knew I could not do anything. Every instinct that I had was screaming at me to be wary.
To not do anything to anger this being. But even then I couldn't help the small glare that found its way out.
[Ah… I'm sorry for the delay. The higher ups thought that <££\£€~€£¥&:&;$>]
'What… what was that?' It was like almost the entire part of his speech was gurgled. I couldn't understand a word that he had said.
The creature must have noticed my confusion as it mined a coughing gesture before continuing.
[I apologize… I forgot that I was in the presence of such a… lower being. Anywho, you have survived the second phase of the tutorial. Only one more floor to go before you make it to the actual tower!]
"One more, can I get information? Anything?"
[I guess a bit won't hurt. It's not everyday that someone survives this difficulty. The third and final stage of the tutorial is an elimination mission. No prep, no open world, just you and an opponent]
I nod before turning to my open status, another question in my mind.
"These points, what can I use them for?"
[oh yes. I knew I was forgetting something.. the point store. There isn't much in there that you would want other than the runes and maybe a few items but j can bring the list up for you and if that's all I'll take my leave]
I nodded, watching the screen pop up as simultaneously the creature popped from existence.
Most of what he said was true, that being that most of the items in the store were not of use to me.
But there was a something… something that I almost salivated at.
It was expensive, taking up a whole thousand points but it would be worth it.
A basic blacksmithing set. And even then it would only be usable for th e time in between now and the third trial.
Yet that was all the time I would need. I looked down to the weapon in my hand. The numerous daggers that I had collected.
Even the hide from the animals I had hunted. Every part would be useful in creating something much better than what I would have.
And as I was dragged through the portal. The suction force too much for me to resist. I found myself dreaming of the sword I would make.
A phantom giggle in the background cheering me on.
…
I found myself in the same white room. The plain bed and simple sharpening station still there just as I remembered.
"Hah" I sighed, relief washing over me as I felt the healing properties of the room take over.
The various burns and cuts that I had endured being healed. Of course I felt all of the pain but that was overtaken by the relief I felt.
All of them had been there for too long, most of the time even just moving would agitate them but now, after enduring a little pain, they were gone.
I plopped myself onto the bed. Burying myself into the covers as I once again brought up the points shop.
With a drag of my fingers I found the set that I wanted and bought it without hesitation.
A loud clanging sound echoed through my ears before I looked around. It was wonderful.
Everything that I needed to forge my own sword was there.
However it was then that I saw in the corner of my eye something.
[2:23:55.21]
Reading it for a second revealed that It was a timer. Although it was a bit confusing for a bit I found that it basically said that I had two days, 48 hours before I would be deposited into the next mission.
I couldn't dally anymore. I needed to start right now if I wanted enough time to make the sword that I wanted.
…
I started the fire, the box bursting into blazes. Usually I would feel the heat but right now it only felt slightly warm.
A smile lit my face at that, it meant that I wouldn't be as physically challenged when creating like I was right now.
However I shook that thought from my mind almost immediately as I grabbed the daggers from my waist and started the process of removing the leather from them.
All of them were made of steel meaning that once I had taken the leather from them I could melt them down into an ingot.
And that was exactly what I did as a moment later they were all starting to melt.
For a moment I needed to wait, I couldn't rush this. But it wouldn't take long either.
Minutes later it was molten and I was ready for the next step. I took a mold, one that had come with the package and poured it into there.
Of course it would take about 14 hours approximately before I could use the steel. At least that was what I had expected but some unknown instinct was telling me that that was wrong that I could do something about that.
'Mana' A strange voice echoed through my head, it took a moment but I finally remembered whose voice it was.
A smile lit my face when I had remembered, it was the same lady that had held me, that had protected me so much.
But how… how was I supposed to use my mana for this. No solution came to mind, yet I did not give up on the idea.
It was one given to me by her. I would not disregard it.
For a moment I closed my eyes, the mana welling up within me before I pushed it towards my hand.
The lines around me grew brightly before it had completely consumed my hand. I walked towards the ingot and reached down.
My hand touched it and for a moment I was ready to recoil back in pain. To feel the pain of thousands of degrees of metal. Yet I didn't feel that.
It was as if the heat was being consumed by the mana. Though I felt no difference. Nothing in my hand nor in my mana was different.
However when I looked down at the ingot of steel I found it to be at the perfect temperature. And without thinking I picked it up.
For a moment I was surprised before I found myself grinning.
I didn't have to use tools to manipulate this. Well to make stuff with it I would but I could pick it up with my bare hands.
That would allow for me to hold it and maneuver it around with much more precision.