Note 1: No such thing as over prepared.
Inner wear. Check.
Heat-resistant steel chainmail. Check.
New double-layered leather armour that he was heavily involved in its craft with his contracted smith. Check.
2 small wind blast runes and a large one on the back. Check
One reactive antishock wind blast rune at the front to repel forces landed on his torso with another 2 small wind blast rune for emergency evasions. Check
Stone spike runes for each shoulder pad. Check.
The one on the belly was removed for the wind runes. Both layers had all the same runes in case a layer of his armour was torn off or the runes were too damaged. It wouldn't be the first time that happened.
3 resplendent crystals were placed within his upper armour. It was a Blue and 2 Greens.
The Blue wouldn't really be used much since his armour would probably fall apart if he used it but it was a measure that could save his life.
Cost efficiency had always been a bulk of his research limiting factor but it also made him improve his runes to be very easy on the armour itself. It wouldn't lose any durability if he were just to use Greens on an Uncommon set of armour.
Metal greaves with one fire blast and one wind blast rune on the back of both greaves and one water blade rune on the front. A Green firmly place in both. Check
A similar wind burst rune on the sole of each boot. With an additional stone spike rune that can shoot out along with the propulsion of wind. Check. Mana conductive straps connected to greaves. Check.
Stone wall rune on each vambrace. Check.
Steel helmet that covered most of his head with his cheeks covered too with his very own creation. Impact-resistant rune. Check.
Calling it his own rune was a little overdoing it. They were all wind elemental runes he had been playing around with. Compounding a few mini wind runes with the reactive runes has let him create a helmet that can reduce hard impacts that land on his head by automatically activating the right runes around the entire helmet.
It had been complicated work to make it work as imagined. The correct runes had to be activated depending on where his head had been hit.
Note 2: Always keep a water mana ore on you.
Within a self-sewn inner pocket of his shirt under the chainmail was an Uncommon water mana ore. Pretty expensive even though the sea wasn't so far. They were not easy to obtain.
Note 3: Triple check everything.
Mark touched himself all over. Feeling the pieces of his armour in place. Checking his water mana ore didn't drop out.
The bag larger than himself was more than half filled with rations. Writing materials, inscription materials and books. Shovel. Tent. Cloth. Rope. One set of spare clothes.
Multiple pouches firmly strapped to his thighs had his mana ores, potions, his personal inscription and engraving tools, notebook, map and snacks.
A belt with pouches also filled with similar things and a knife as a secondary arm, used to prepare game and cooking or just as a sharp tool.
Finally, his brand new spear.
It was not wooden or metal. It was made of bone.
Specifically, the spine of a Blazing Bull.
Much thicker than he was used to, but he was just able to fully grip it with his thumb able to touch his fingertips. Exactly 2 fifths of a gir long. It still had the runic wind blast rune. He didn't see the need for it to be a rod with a runic metal spear tip
It was already ground down and smoothened out by his blacksmith, together with all the strengthening and shaping that his contracted smith's skills allow.
The spine, now spear, had its natural orange colour and was carved on throughout its body.
The body parts of a monster that uses magic are much more resistant or rather, acceptant of mana of the same element. The Uncommon spear can easily withstand the Rare fire mana ore that Mark had fitted in in the centre.
With help from his smith, the centre of the spine had slots for 3 balls. There was some trick to putting them in place so it wouldn't drop off in the middle of battle. Probably only dropping out if the spear was broken into two or something.
Each section of the spine had been loosened while Mark engraved on them and then put together again to become both of their greatest work.
The power sources of weapons like a mage's staff were usually orb form unless it was an incomplete fragment of a golem's core or something.
The fire mana ore Mark sources from with the help of his company also made it into similar balls of different sizes. He used to use one that was half the size.
One of this size had 3 million mana in it. Unlike a Blue that's fitted into the myriad bracelet is controlled and checked to only contains up to 100,000 mana. This was the one that was fitted into his armour pieces too.
Mark had been offered the choice to get the better cores of some other natural creatures like golems that can absorb ambient fire mana or the even better ones that absorb ambient mana and convert them to fire mana.
He chose to get multiple fire mana ores of this size since he could engrave a fire mana absorption rune or fire mana conversion rune to charge it up.
This allowed his research to further along faster as well instead of getting the core which may increase his fighting capabilities but what use would it be if he were stuck in a room filled with books?
Besides, with how expensive those cores were, Mark had no doubt he would get some lousy fragmented one of a low quality.
Mark headed out.
"Ergh." It had been a while since he had been exposed to sunlight.
The winter cold didn't even bother him.
Classing with Body Warmth gave him a 100% increase in body temperature regulation speed and his average body temperature. After evolving to Master, it raised to 200% since he was not dumb enough to evolve immaturely.
When it was cold, his body temperature would naturally rise to comfortable levels without any mana or magic in place. When it was warm, his body temperature would decrease accordingly as well. It couldn't decrease well at first but the evolution with Internal Heating which was tier 1 had let him gain the ability to do so.
That's the reason why he needed to have most of his equipment heat-resistant. Even his clothes are custom ordered by a pretty famous tailor in the city, made from heat-resistant fabric. Further inscribed with the simplest heat-resistant rune but mainly a cooling rune.
It was just fabric so he could only inscribe using mana inscription pens. They didn't even take much mana so he didn't need to have a power source for it. He could just run the pen over the same rune once it ran out of mana.
Internal Heating had stayed true to Mark and even evolved along with him. His first Core Skill.
Life's Warmth. A tier 2 skill.
As long as his heart still beats and his body still has warmth, Mark can still fight, move and his health wouldn't run dry till his warmth runs out.
It was an all-in-one skill.
With fire mana, it was a weak enhancement skill. Probably equivalent to an untiered enhancement skill if there was such a spell.
At the same time, when it was cold his body would consume a little more stamina to raise his body temperature further. Letting him increase his stamina consumption of any kind of movement or even no movement at all. But, he still gets a tiny physical enhancement all round.
The cooling rune on his shirt serves to make his body cold hence, warming up to get an enhancement.
It actually didn't matter whether it was summer or winter. When it was cold out his body just required more stamina. When it was warm in summer, he actually gets stronger from the rise in temperature.
Now the heat was already strong enough that it exuded from him and raises the temperature of the surroundings if he uses the skill with mana instead of letting it be a passive of his Fortification and skill. With his Heat Perception, Mark had a pseudo-perception spell.
An area of effect skill was the first step.
A perception spell is the second step.
With both of that, Mark was on the way to a Domain spell. Only the best of the best mages had them. One would be invincible in their own domain. Well, relatively.
Still, he is far away from achieving such a spell compared to Rimestone. No, Ebony.
That's what one might think.
Mark was certain that sooner or later, this skill would cause his Physique to change. Attaining his very own Physique.
He had already introduced and been introduced to the expedition party he hoped on to. Travelling alone was suicidal as one may never know what may appear.
An expedition party is only considered as such once there were at least 30 people in the party and runs differently from a normal party of 5.
Mark paid to hop on as a traveller. He didn't have to fight on the front lines or carry out any duties this way.
The expedition was to somewhere underground of Bubble Hills.
Led by a level 188 Master Warrior who is said to be somewhat fluent in water magic.
All expeditions last pretty long and cost quite a lot. There were the caravans, the supplies, the pay for the party members.
Add-ons like Mark were welcomed as long as they paid since they really needed whatever funds they could get their hands on. More often than not, the expedition doesn't earn much if they don't have accurate information.
Apparently, they were going after a lair of mud golems for their cores. Hence the barrels of phos and also other supplies and equipment for underground expeditions.
Mark didn't interact much with the expedition party since he was just tagging along. It didn't stop him from chatting and making good impressions on the notable members like the leader. Connections were important.
Who knows if the good impression was what saved him if others had to choose to save a random stranger and a stranger that they have a good impression of?
Introducing himself and making known what company he was from was good enough for an impression. He was a small-time potion maker which should increase his value in the eyes of the expedition party.
There was another traveller who'll be sitting in the same caravan as him. It was someone fully covered in a robe that had body language clearly saying "Don't talk to me." so Mark only introduced himself before taking a random corner.
With the person's size and figure, it should be a man. Or maybe a Beastwoman or a young beastman. The person's heat signature didn't match its figure. Mark probably sensed wrongly with them just curly up against the caravan wall.
"...Mongrel." The response had been unexpected.
Mark nodded in reply but no conversation started. He doubted the person was calling him mongrel, it sounded more like an introduction.
After some bustling around and waiting for people to gather, the expedition party continued on their way.
They shouldn't be making any more stops until Teld, which would be their final stop before actually starting their expedition.
After the tourney in Crust Deposit City, Mark returned to Cielfast City which was just neighbouring it. It was 2 weeks by the standard caravan and that brought him closer to Bubble Hills.
The expedition convoy probably wouldn't move as fast due to how much stuff they were carrying but these roads are safe and they planned to travel a little at night since they had so much phos for lighting anyway.
This region snowed from time to time during winter due to the proximity with Hoarfrost Glade but the current conditions seemed decent enough.
The average level of the expedition was over 150 and with a total of 88 people there was nothing Mark should be afraid of as they got closer to Trailane Plains.
3 hours in and one of the carriages got stuck in a pothole due to the heavy weight being carried and also the poorer conditions of the roads here.
They needed more warriors to push it out than they thought. Delaying them some.
Mark didn't relax.
Constantly checking his bearings, the direction they were going, the surroundings, the weather.
Note 4: Expect the unexpected.
Experience on the field had taught him that things only happen when you start to relax and hope for things not to happen.
It was high noon.
They stopped for the Brawn Rams to rest. They were one of the best choices that were easily domesticated for heavy loads. Although they only managed to get those around level 90 it was already pretty good.
Those rams had way more pulling strength and stamina than any level 150 Master Warrior.
Mark stretched and joined the afternoon hunt for dinner tonight.
A personal note that didn't make it into his travel notes was to always bring a thick cushion for carriage rides.
Note 5: Obtain and consume anything from the wilds before touching rations.
He didn't find anything but wild vegetables. They followed the roads and didn't go into the woods so it wasn't unexpected that there was nothing to hunt.
About to move out when he was alarmed by a speeding shadow entering his carriage. He got the less bulky knife out from his belt swiftly and squatted in a defensive position.
The robed figure landed and had his arm out to show Mark the bird he hunted.
"Share." The thick arm of the person told Mark it was a human man as far as he could tell.
With no more disruptions, it was a quiet but bumpy journey.
Dinner was poultry stew with the vegetables he found and some souper bread.
The man showed his face. Dirt-coloured hair. A relatively young man, his expression was constantly taut.
He was missing an arm and a leg. No wonder his heat signature was weird.
"Thanks for sharing your hunt."
"And your vegetables."
Mark slept sitting upright. Weapon never too far away.
It was a peaceful journey. For 2 days.
It was late afternoon of the third day when he leapt out of the carriage along with Mongrel who was a Warrior. One of his bag straps is always hooked on his arm and gripping his spear laying between his legs was all he had to do to get everything along with him.
Mongrel's quiet nature was understandable if he was the type to hold it in rather than in a constant state or anger.
The carriages toppled on their side just after the both of them leapt out.
Before Mark could think 'what are the lookouts doing?' he had to dodge a fast and sharp projectile to his head.
Mongrel just swiped it away with a sword.
They were surrounded.
Mark focused on scanning the area and understanding what just happened.
Their attackers were people.
Earth mage or at least, earth magic was used.
The left side of the road was raised all of a sudden which, at the speeds the rams were going, was enough to send the entire convoy flipping onto its side.
Some physically weaker members were crushed or had trouble getting themselves out of the heavy cargo. Injuries were sustained by most that were riding or resting inside the carriages but their injuries shouldn't be too heavy unless they were unlucky.
The woods were right by the roads here, the attackers were hidden. Well, not anymore.
Listening to the conversation between the expedition leader and the man who showed himself let Mark put together a story.
A similar expedition party got wind of the location of one of the mud golems' lair. Not surprising.
The two expedition parties already had deep conflicts with each other. It wasn't the first time they were attacked or even defended from sneak attacks from each other.
A woman was involved in the two leaders' talk. Not uncommon.
Mark quickly sieved the information he had.
They were busy talking but it's likely they were getting surrounded as the leaders spoke or have already done so and are waiting for a signal.
If it wasn't the first time, chances are, they aren't going for the kill. Just to mess with profits and or delay the expedition party so that they could get to the lair first. The toppled carriages alone would push them back by a day. The wounded legs of the rams would push them back even further.
Mark never put complete trust in the thing known as 'chance', it was note 4. The dumb fools were making too much of a racket. Carriages full of food were toppled over and spilt out.
Rhoats were very common here but they were not active in this season. The bigger predators are out at this time of the year.
A loud screech resounded through the forest as if to answer his doubts. Those that aren't busy getting out from under cargo all looked up.
It was already dim from the foliage but whatever made its presence known completely covered a portion of the sky.
Wings that shadowed the sky together with a fat round body and thin tail. It was a flying fish.
It was raining blood droplets that are larger than an entire carriage.
Whatever it was, it managed to fly past Fifth or Fourth Tide.
What bad luck.
Mark didn't hesitate anymore, he grabbed the level 100 warrior who called himself Mongrel and they dashed away undercover.
A few things made him decide to run away from the group.
If it was a large number of monsters, he would definitely stay and depend on the numbers that the two expedition parties had.
A singular beast of the sea that could cover the sky and fly past the Tides? Not even worth consideration.
The large group would just be a bigger target, it was time to disperse. Those people wouldn't even be able to protect themselves.
The shadow from afar just kept getting closer. Mark was afraid. The mana overflow of Vitality only slowed him down. His shoulder's felt heavy, every step felt heavy.
All his wind blast and burst runes on his armour had been activated already, leaving the fire ones on his greaves alone since it was a forest and he didn't want to gain attention.
Almost tripping himself from the unfamiliar speed.
"Go there." Mongrel pointed to the right.
There were fewer trees there but Mark's body already moved instinctively.
"Get down!"
Mark's body followed the call again, his instincts compelled him to follow. They lay flat against the floor, Mongrel stabbed his sword deep into a tree and Mark copied by stabbing his spear into the floor.
Not a moment later, the world shook.
The shadow dived bombed from right where the carriages were, the earthen floor couldn't take it and fell apart.
If the expedition party was smart, they would've scattered and left their cargo alone for their lives.
Despite putting so much distance, Mark and Mongrel fell as the ground beneath them was not spared.
Fortunately, it seemed like it wasn't hollow underneath the forest. The flying fish only created a very wide and deep crater.
As always, the Empire's knights only just arrived.
His body didn't feel good from the vibrations of that fall. They were slanted as his spear held him from falling down the steep crater.
"Grab tight." Surprised that Mongrel could move already, he was laying close to the steep ground. Throwing Mark onto his back after he pulled his spear out from the tilted ground.
Mongrel climbed up the slope with ease, only a hand and leg gripping the floor with his drawn blade in his mouth.
By going to the right like Mongrel had said, they were currently in the fish's blind spot. None of them would survive the battle between the knights and the fish. The shockwaves or side effects of their battle would be enough to kill them.
A single flap would be enough for the fish to catch up but it was injured and the knights were here to hold it down already. Mark didn't get a good look but there didn't appear to be many knights, so the giant fish should be a single stray that managed to get past them.
Too bad even the knights' attacks were causing the ground to shake and Mongrel had trouble moving like that.
Another lucky thing was all the creatures around were probably scared off already.
A blast of water shot into the sky behind them.
It started raining water blades.
Already where the ground was relatively flat, Mark was running on his own feet. Slowing himself down for Mongrel to keep up. He had to conserve his own stamina as well.
The area of effect was too huge.
Mark stood his ground, now wasn't the time to stay hidden. There was no purpose already and they were probably not even hidden to the fish and knights.
Spinning his spear above head over and over. The new runic circle wasn't cast over and over again but a singular one expanding. The seemingly solidified flames from his Fortification where his fire magic or fire mana to be accurate was 200% more stable.
His skill, Kindle which was used to Class was trained in his wooden house under the sheets. Control had always been his focus, along with mana efficiency that noble mages might not have.
Swiping down just in time for his completed rune to spew out spears of fire to crash into the falling water crescent blades. It took tens of his flame attacks to disperse a single water blade.
Mongrel could only watch as Mark busied himself with burning a tree or two down. Drawing a circle on the floor and getting Mongrel not to move from it while he continued running around and drawing on the dirt ground with his orange spear.
His final stroke was done right after he entered the circle he drew for Mongrel.
The ground glowed orange as the temperature rose. Mongrel couldn't feel the shockwaves reverberating through his body anymore.
Both of them were drenched in sweat with cuts and bruises across their body, though mud covered those too. Armour didn't cover everywhere. They didn't even take any direct hits.
"Yo-your spell ran out! It's still raining blades!" Mongrel got into his low stance. Mark noticed an axe fell from under Mongrel's robe, it was connected to Mongrel by a rope.
Mongrel had seen the blades of water cut through trees and earth like bread, it wasn't anything he could handle.
"It's okay." Mark rested his spear against his shoulder as he sat.
Grabbing dried jerky from his belt pouch and handing one to Mongrel.
"We're pretty far out and the knights seem to be handling themselves well." The huge water blade about to reach them suddenly served to the side and dug into the ground right outside the larger circle Mark had drawn. Then it evaporated as steam rose from the deep cut in the ground.
"We'll be fine if it's just some random, non-commital attack from the fish."
Flames rose around them, it was like a fence as the fires don't dance or move as Mongrel knows it to. Then it covered them in a dome like a birdcage.
"This is my domain." Mark relaxed while he ate and watched it rain blades of doom.