We journeyed overnight towards the Elves continent, with Asha, Ishe, and Eshe, the three elves, still sound asleep. As the sun rises, I checked my status screen once again. My level had already reached 43, and I had managed to unlock and maximize all of the basic skills using the points I had acquired from the goblin horde.
What intrigued me the most were the unique skills, accessible only in specific situations. For instance, the "Mechanical Arm" skill had automatically unlocked when I reached level 2. Another example was the "Mini Gun" skill, which required the presence of 1000 creatures or more nearby and the expenditure of 5 skill points to unlock.
Certain unique skills demand situations that are nearly impossible to attain. Take, for instance, the skill "Nuke," which only becomes accessible through the destruction of one of the moons. Similarly, the skill "Time Machine" remains locked until the requirement of annihilating all living things is met.
Among the unique skills, the "Death Ray Gun" appears to be within my grasp. Its unlocking is set to automatically trigger once I reach level 50.
Asha has awakened.
-- Good morning, Shiro. You didn't sleep, did you? --
- Good morning. I didn't feel the need to sleep. -
Since becoming a truck, I've been relieved of basic necessities like food and sleep. I did notice, however, that my mana steadily depletes while I drive. Luckily, I've already maximized my "Mana Pool" skill, which not only reduces mana consumption but also enhances mana regeneration.
In the realm of MMORPGs, elves are often adept at harnessing magic. Out of curiosity, I inquired of Asha.
- Asha, are you skilled in magic? -
-- Magic? You mean sorcery? Absolutely, although my role leans more towards being an assassin. So, most of my skills revolve around dark sorcery like curses, deceptions, and stealth. Nevertheless, I do possess a grasp of basic elemental magic. --
- Could you teach me? -
-- Teach you? Well, I can try, though I can't guarantee my skills as an instructor. --
I stopped driving, and Asha hopped off my back, standing in front of me.
-- To begin with basic sorcery, you need to learn how to control the flow of your mana. Focus your mana in a particular part of your body, typically your hands. Watch. --
Asha shut her eyes, and in an instant, a soft blue light radiated from her palm.
-- This luminance is a manifestation of concentrated mana. If you happen to release an excessive amount of mana, the light would shift to darker color, indicating overexertion and inadvisable. --
I stretched out my mechanical arm in front of me and tried to focus my energy on my palm. I could feel the mana flowing from my engine to my hands. Then, a dark sphere formed within my palm, emanating a crimson hue.
Asha looked surprised.
-- Dark energy, excessive mana concentration! This is unprecedented. I've never witnessed this before. --
Asha then jumped onto my back and tried to wake up Eshe. I checked my screen to see how much mana it was costing me, but my mana regeneration rate was quite high compared to the consumption.
Esha woke up, and both of them hurried over to see the dark energy. Asha explained to Esha what had happened.
Then Esha started to speak.
-- Dark energy. I've only read about this in books; it's a result of too much energy being concentrated. It can appear darker than usual. --
- So, is this a problem? -
-- Sort of. Releasing too much mana that turns red is dangerous. In the Elvian Kingdom, elves who let out too much mana end up dying because of mana exhaustion, - Asha explained.
- But I don't feel any different, though. -
-- Well, of course, you're a metallic monster, - Esha responded.
-- Esha, why don't you teach him how to use elemental sorcery? -- Asha suggested.
-- Huh!? Why me!? -- Esha protested.
-- Because I said so... -- Asha's tone turned a bit intimidating.
Esha glanced at Asha with a mix of annoyance and apprehension.
-- Alright, alright, no need to get mad, -- Esha relented.
-- Hey, monster, listen carefully. I'll only show you this once. To use elemental magic, you need to constantly release mana into your surroundings while focusing on the element you want to control. For example, like this. --
She pointed her finger at a tree, and suddenly, a water ball materialized in front of her fingertip.
-- See this? By maintaining a constant flow of mana and concentrating on the water element, you can manipulate the water molecules in the air to form a water ball. Now, to release it, you need to expel a larger quantity of mana and infuse it with energy, like this! --
With a forceful motion, she propelled the water ball towards a nearby tree, creating a hole in its trunk.
-- Now, you try... --
I attempted to replicate her actions. I extended one of my mechanical fingers, releasing a steady flow of mana into the surroundings. I concentrated on the water element, but as I did so, something went awry. The ground beneath us turned as dry as sand, causing both Asha and Esha to leap away in surprise. In front of me, a substantial water ball formed.
- So, all I need to do now is release it, right? -
-- Wait!! -- Esha's voice cut in urgently.
Despite her warning, I went ahead and transferred mana to the water ball, causing it to surge forward with remarkable aggression. The ball tore into the soil beneath it, hurtling directly towards the mountain in the distance.
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted as the water ball made contact with the mountain's peak. The summit was obliterated in an instant. Just as I was processing the spectacle, The status screen suddenly materialized in front of me.
/ Level Up /
// You have acquired the new skill "Death Ray Gun" //
The enormous explosion abruptly roused Isha from her slumber.
-- Is it morning already? --
As I checked my level, I was taken aback to find that it had surged to level 51. Asha and Esha were at a loss for words, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
Driven by my curiosity, I turned to Alex for an explanation.
- Alex, why did my level suddenly jump to 51? -
-- Your level increased as a result of defeating three thousand mountain wyverns and twenty-three humans. --
- What!? Does this make me the antagonist in this world? -
-- Shiro, we need to depart immediately, -- Asha urged.
-- You monstrous being! Look at what you've done! You've destroyed the Evac Mountain. Humans and Dryads will undoubtedly hunt you down! -- Esha exclaimed.
Without hesitation, Asha and Esha leapt onto my back, and I accelerated away from the scene with urgency. It seemed that sorcery wasn't quite suited for me.
As we hurriedly fled from the site, I noticed a couple of adventurers nearby who had also spotted us. With a sense of urgency, the elves promptly pulled up their hoods to conceal their pointed ears.
--- Is that a monster!? ---
A burly figure clad in heavy armor leaped in front of my path as I drove, causing me to halt abruptly to avoid colliding with him.
The adventurers then approached cautiously, their eyes scanning over every inch of my metallic form.
- I'm not a monster... -
Their reaction was a mix of astonishment and surprise, causing them to distance themselves from me.
--- It talks!!! --- The heavily armored man exclaimed.
--- I've never seen such a creature before, --- the swordsman remarked.
- My name is Shiro. I'm a truck. -
--- Truck!? What kind of creature is that? My name is Arthos. I'm a gold-class adventurer, a paladin by profession, --- the heavily armored man introduced himself.
--- I'm Urdis, a silver-class adventurer specializing in swordsmanship, --- the swordsman added.
Esha suddenly leaped from my back and aimed her sword at Arthos.
--- Adventurers! ---
Asha intervened swiftly, stopping Esha from taking any aggressive action. Arthos glanced at Asha's ears, his expression revealing a moment of recognition.
--- Elves... Wait a minute... we're not adventurers of the Royal Guild! --- Arthos clarified.
- Royal Guild? - I inquired.
--- Yes, there are two types of adventurers in the human realm: the Royal Guild and the Public Guild. The Public Guild is an international guild system established about ten years ago, before the Third Great War. It comprises various races that undertake missions as a means of earning gold.
However, after humans conquered the four continents, they established the Royal Guild, which exclusively enlists humans. The sixteen human kingdoms provide monthly payments to adventurers associated with the Royal Guild. These adventurers are tasked with hunting and eliminating other races they perceive as threats. --- Arthos explained.
Esha lowered her weapon, and the tension in the air began to ease.
- I see. So where are you two going? - I asked.
--- We're heading north. We've received a mission to hunt down the monster that destroyed the Viridis Forest. Even the soldiers of the Northern Kingdom and the adventurers of the Royal Guild are pursuing this creature, making it quite a formidable target. --- Urdis responded.
- Why is this monster considered so powerful? - I inquired.
--- We're not entirely sure. However, based on the reports, the Dryads have emerged within the Northern Kingdom. They've demanded the capture of the monster; otherwise, they threaten to curse the land, rendering it infertile and unable to yield crops. ---
With that, the two of them mounted their horses and resumed their journey to the north.
- Alex, where is the Viridis Forest located? -
--- The Viridis Forest, also known as the Great Northern Forest, is situated 500 kilometers to the north of your current location. ---
It suddenly struck me that Im the one who had destroyed and cut down the trees in the Northern Forest. Well, regardless, I decided to continue driving south.
I had recently unlocked the Death Ray Gun skill. Perhaps it was time to test it out soon...
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Zunish, the king was enjoying a cup of tea while gazing out from the balcony of his castle. The scenic beauty of Evac Lake and the surrounding landscape captivated his senses.
--- There's nothing more exquisite than the view of Evac Lake, bordered by the stunning Evac Mountain, --- he mused as he took a sip from his cup.
Suddenly, an immense explosion shattered the tranquility. The king dropped his teacup, his eyes widening in shock as the summit of the mountain crumbled before him....