Borin had informed Aenon that his daggers would take roughly a week to prepare, along with something else Aenon had no idea about. Although Borin did borrow his abyssal gloves. Aenon had also sent over the soul ring designs, eight of which would be more like wrist bands for his pack. Having nothing else to do but wait, Aenon decided to wait patiently. His initial plan was to go for a few recon missions around the anthill but decided against it.

Aenon did some introspection and found that his most glaring deficit right now was knowledge. He vehemently rejected relying on others, and almost blown himself up on multiple occasions because of it. His disdain for taking favors was still there but based on the System Nurse's suggestion he found an alternative for it—Books. The mansion had an impressive library which was untouched by its former owner. So, he dived headfirst into the sea of knowledge to see if he could fill the gaps in his rudimentary understanding and deductions.

There were hundreds of books in the library, and he had gone through dozens so far. They included topics ranging from history, politics, crafting, and even some advanced magical tomes. The history and political books he put to the side, since he would need those eventually, but it was not his immediate concern. Even the crafting tomes were neatly arranged. He wanted to pick up a craft—most likely cooking—as a hobby. But for now, he handpicked a few books on spell crafting.

He had spent about six days buried in books, and his current read was focused on theory about mana types. Till now he didn't really have a concrete understanding and had been winging it. His assumptions were partially correct, but he was off about a few things. For instance, the little colorful balls he saw using his mana sense were indeed called wisps, but he wasn't sure of their classification or how many types there were. But now finally he had a clearer picture. He pulled up the notes he had made in his System interface over the last few days—a function of the shard in his soul space.

Order Wisp Types | Emergence, Light, Life, Water, Earth

Neutral Wisp Types | Space, Time, Gravity, Energy, Arcane

Chaos Wisp Types | Void, Dark, Death, Fire, Air

The book classified the mana wisps into 3 broad categories, with each classification in turn having 5 mana types. They were divided based on their general nature and each element in the order type had an antithesis in the chaos category. For instance, earth represented stability, while air was the definition of chaos. Same was true for life-death, water-fire, light-dark, and emergence-void. Moreover, you could combine these primary wisp types to create additional ones, such as ice, mist, or lava.

The neutral category on the other hand was a lot more obscure and abstract. Scholars had been trying to study them for millennia, but there was no consensus on it yet. In fact, there were some wisp types that were so unique that they defied classification. These were all lumped together in the arcane category. But one thing that was known was that the neutral aspects were a kind of link between the other types. For instance, Aenon created ice by mixing water and air. But what was happening was that he was removing energy wisps from the water using air. The interaction itself was so subtle that he couldn't sense it yet. The only reason he had managed to detect gravity and space wisps was because they existed everywhere.

Aenon had not seen all the wisp types since some of them existed only in certain environments. Death wisps for example could only be found in graveyards or old abandoned ruins like Neverhelm where many people had lost their lives. Similarly, fire wisps were more abundant around volcanoes, whereas water was prevalent around water bodies. There was a clear link between the environment and mana types, and they affected each other equally. A flame could create fire wisps, and an area rich in fire wisps could cause things to self-combust.

The most important piece of information he learned, however, was that every life form had an innate affinity. Plants for example were heavily linked to life and could generate life wisps. The same was true for animals, such as the Fire Ants, whose affinity helped them convert their internal mana into fire wisps. The enlightened races though didn't have a specific affinity. For instance, humans could have any of the affinities, or in some rare cases have multiple. The reason for this was rooted in a being's soul.

Death mana was created by life wisps getting mutated when in contact with grievances left behind by the dead. Which is why it also led to the creation of the undead such as zombies, who would return to satisfy their unfulfilled desires. In most cases, since these stemmed from fragments of a soul, they turned into nothing but creatures driven by primal instincts such as hunger or anger. But by rare chance—and in some cases careful preparation—one could create sentient undead beings. These were the undead races like draugr and vampires, which apparently was a thing in the Multiverse.

Aenon also confirmed the connection between affinities and personalities. People with anger issues often had fire affinities, while people who were straightforward like the dwarves had earth as their innate.

But Aenon was more focused on one specific mana type that the book just left a passing note about: Void mana. Apparently, it was an exceedingly rare aspect that was seldom found in the Multiverse. The only known location for it was a now sealed dimension that no one had access to. The book stopped talking about it after that, which was strange since there were entire chapters dedicated to every other mana type. He tried digging through multiple books for any other mention about void mana, but it was the same everywhere. Most books avoided talking about it at all and those that did only gave a cursory mention.

And the reason why Aenon was so interested was simple, he was pretty sure by now that his own affinity was linked to the void. Even if one was to ignore the not-so-subtle hints by the System Nurse, his pack's ability to consume everything was a dead giveaway. The other type he was keen on was emergent mana, the paired set of void. It was explained to be the most favored aspect by crafters. If one had the affinity, they could mix other aspects and create things out of nothing. Aenon was certain that was what Talia's affinity was.

This would clearly explain why she was being targeted. Creating things out of nothing would be an OP ability for any crafter, and especially blacksmiths. If they could create rare metals using their affinity, they could be a potentially limitless source of strong weapons and armor.

The explanations also hinted why Aenon would be a huge threat that people would like to eliminate. In a way, he and Talia were the two sides of the same coin. Talia was a source of resources, while Aenon could potentially erase them from existence. And add in the fact that he had soul powers…

Unfortunately, unless he could get a hold on some books that detailed void mana, he was out of luck on how to work on that. He didn't have a single Spell associated with it, even though he had used it in the past. The claws he had conjured during his duel with Gorin was one such case.

Aenon was satisfied though. The current things he learned would go a long way in his own spell crafting endeavors. He closed the book and stood up to stretch his legs. This week reminded him of his school days, when he would be buried in books to prepare for seemingly useless exams. But it had at least taught him the ability to focus on a fixed task.

He walked up to the window overlooking the city and took in the strange sight. If someone had told him that he would be leading an entire city at some point in his life, he would have laughed at them. But here he was, living in that absurd reality. He was momentarily lost in thought, before he shook his head and pulled up the quest notification he was yet to respond to.

He had done some studying about Class evolutions too. They were quite common and a way for people to specialize their Classes to suit them better. What wasn't common, however, was the heavy penalty for failure. Those were exceedingly rare, but the few instances that were reported always led to some truly monstrous classes. Thankfully, he at least would not lose any Class progress, meaning his new Class would still be at level 27, but his stats might be rearranged. He looked down at the bracelet on his hand for a while before he resolved himself and made his decision.

Class: Void Stalker | Titles: Unfettered Soul | You are the embodiment of darkness and fear, laying waste to dread-stricken enemies along your path. You have feasted on hope and brought about carnage that shook mortal hearts. But your wanton blood lust has not consumed you. You have forged bonds and protected those who needed it. Thus, your path deviates from a mere emissary of death. Prove yourself worthy by inflicting fear on your enemies, while also eliciting respect from your allies.

Evolution Quest Objectives | Kill 10000 enemies of equal or greater level (0/10000) | Protect your settlement from the coming horde (Time left before attack: 60 days)

Failure Condition: Not completing all objectives within three months.

Reward: Evolved Class tailor fit for your fighting style. The results will vary based on performance.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Failure Penalty: Loss of the Void Stalker Class and the Unfettered Soul Title.

Aenon read the notification three times to make sure he understood it clearly. He basically had to prove he was a destroyer as well as protector, stacking up a veritable mountain of corpses while also protecting his city. He wasn't sure what the quest meant by horde, but he assumed either the System would generate it, or it could also be the result of a dungeon break. But it didn't really matter since this put his upcoming plans on a hard timer. He immediately sent a message via the communication crystal Henry had given him.

"How may I be of assistance, sire?" Henry's formal voice came from the crystal in his hands.

"To my office. Now," Aenon said urgently without much fanfare. He headed for his desk and took a seat.

Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long.

"Is everything alright, sire?" Henry asked in a concerned voice as he entered the office.

"I just received a System quest. Our settlement is about to be attacked in 60 days," Aenon said seriously. Aenon could clearly see the color drain from the man's face as the words registered.

"Are… are you certain, sire?" he asked with pursed lips.

"Unfortunately, yes," Aenon replied but didn't elaborate. He wasn't sure if his evolution quest had triggered the upcoming attack, or vice versa.

"Very well then," Henry responded after some time. "As a settlement owner you can give out a city-wide quest for the defense against the upcoming threat. This would help everyone prepare for what is to come. This would also inform the citizens who are away so that they can make it back in time."

Aenon browsed through his interface and found the option to assign a city level defense quest. He immediately filled it out but held back on releasing it.

"What of my requisition? Are my weapons ready yet?" Aenon asked. The week was almost up, and he hoped that Borin was done.

"Ah, fortunately they are, sire. I was about to inform you about it during lunch but given the circumstances I will expedite the process. I will send a word for Master Emberforge to bring your order," Henry said with a bow.

"Good. And what about the citizen leveling process? How is that coming along?" Aenon asked about the refugees from Jadefall. He had stopped calling them refugees and formally given them all citizenship.

"Remarkably well sire. The average level is about 17 and should touch 25 by the end of the month. In sixty days, should Adventurer Ignar's mission be successful, it should reach about 35," Henry replied.

"That is good. I will try to ensure the horde is dealt with before it reaches the city, but should I fail, we need every able-bodied citizen be strong enough to protect themselves," Aenon said. When he sensed Henry hesitate for a bit, so he asked, "What is it?"

"I know you tend to shoulder the burden by yourself, sire. But a settlement defense quest is not something one man is expected to face. It is a common occurrence in the Multiverse, and dare I say we are quite good at it since most times our leadership is the first to escape when things turn bleak. The fact that you intend to stand with us for the defense is assurance enough," Henry said with a sad smile.

Aenon could sense the turmoil within his soul as he was no doubt recollecting some painful memories. Aenon didn't pry, assuring the man instead.

"I will not be standing with you. I will be leading the assault, and you will only be responsible for the clean up after," Aenon replied with a smile on his mask.

The older man gave a complicated stare before bowing and taking his leave to prepare. Once the man left, Aenon went over the draft once again, making some minor adjustments while he waited. After 20 minutes, he heard a knock on the door.

"Why is the bloody mansion up in an uproar? Felt like I stepped into a disturbed hornet's nest," Borin said as he carried a bundle under his arm. He walked up and unceremoniously sat down on the chair opposite Aenon.

"Maybe this will explain it," Aenon said as he finally released the quest to everyone.

The dwarf's half-burnt eyebrows shot up as his eyes glazed over, no doubt reading the quest notification.

"By ma pappy's beard, what's wrong with this place? I came to this planet to rest me old bones, and I have seen more action in a few months than in many years back on…," Borin cut off.

He seemed agitated by what he almost let slip, but Aenon ignored it and changed the topic.

"Which is why I need my daggers sooner rather than later. I have a lot to prepare for," Aenon said while pointing at the bundle on the table.

"Ahem. Right. There ya go," Borin said with a cough as he slid the bundle across the table. "It be my best work so far. So don't ya dare ruin it. And let no one else work on it but me."

Aenon gingerly unwrapped the outer leather, which was coated in a thick layer of oil to keep out moisture. The wrap had multiple layers to it and the inner ones had some runes engraved into them. When he finally unraveled the last layer, he momentarily forgot to breathe. Aenon had never seen such an intricate work of art before.

There were four pieces that lay before him. A set of daggers, and a pair of gauntlets. The metal surfaces were all matte black and had a very fine inlay of gold all over that was so intricately detailed, it might as well be a masterful painting or calligraphy. The dagger handles were made from some kind of clear crystal, although one was blue, while the other was red. Those too had fine inlays of some other metals he wasn't knowledgeable about.

The gauntlets too were master pieces, each covering him up to his forearms without restricting his joints. Aenon figured out where his Abyssal Gloves went. They were used as a base for this new metal reinforced piece. The metal was so closely woven, it looked like a tailor had made them and not a blacksmith. He put one on to get a feel for it, and it completely blew his mind away. The fingertips could transform into viciously sharp claws with mere thought. Plus, it was like wearing a breathable fabric glove rather than a metal gauntlet. But he could clearly feel how sturdy it was and was sure it could deflect blades with ease. The description was updated to reflect this change.

Reinforced Abyssal Gloves | Hand Armor | Ancient | The byproduct of enhancement by a Savant level smith, these gloves have integrated leather from abyssal predators and been reinforced with metal plates. The gloves are highly resistant to tear damage and can withstand incredible blunt force attacks. Furthermore, metal claws can be summoned that can be used for attacking or climbing terrain.

"Bahahaha. Wish I could see your face but the look in your eyes says it all," Borin gloated with pride at his work. "I noticed you have unarmed fighting skill. Thought these gloves might suit you better."

"These are definitely something," Aenon responded quietly, still trying to comprehend what he was wielding.

"If ya have this reaction at the uncompleted piece, I wonder what ya will do when it be actually finished," Borin said with a mysterious smile.

"Incomplete?" Aenon asked with confusion.

"I get a feel you can sense mana. Give it a shot," he asked while pulling out his smoking pipe.

When Aenon used his Mana Sense, he realized that the gold inlay wasn't just decorative. The design was based on runes, and these came remarkably close to the ones burnt in his mind. But more importantly, there were some gaps in the design. Like it needed more runes to complete the pattern.

"I use a now dead rune script for my creations. The symbols are lost to time, but some of us dwarven folk remember a few scribbles. This incomplete junk is nothing compared to what my ancestors could forge. I been trying to figure out the missing runes for decades," the dwarf said in a melancholic tone.

Aenon digested what Borin just said, the dire implications coalescing in his mind. If what he said was true, Nocthrya had passed on the entirety of this lost runic language into his mind. No wonder he could barely understand what it all meant. Aenon decided to hold off on revealing this to the dwarf.

"In any case, this is exceptional work Borin," Aenon said with genuine respect for the craftsman.

"Bah. Just put it to good use. Now, name the daggers. The gauntlets were a derivative of your gloves so they already have a name. But your weapons won't be complete till you formally acknowledge their existence. In old times, we would have a proper ceremony for this. Names hold power, my people used to say. And since these beauties have soul ore in them, it will imbue them with your Aura. Just don't go calling them stabby or something. I will melt them down again if ya do," Borin said while smoking and waiting in anticipation.

Aenon looked down at the blacksmith's work with wonder. He always thought that the weird stuff that happened when he named things was associated with his powers somehow. But it seemed there was a deeper reason behind it. But for now, he needed names. Names to impress upon the world the weight of what these objects represented.

He put on the gauntlets and picked up the daggers. He felt the soul ore thrum within the metal. Though not alive, he felt their restlessness. They were a set, and now somehow, he felt like they were a part of him. They used to be called Goblin's Anguish and Goblin's Woe. But that description was inaccurate for what they were now. He thought long and hard before coming up with something.

"I shall name them, Wrath and Gluttony," Aenon said with smile. As he said the words, he felt the world pause like every other time he named things. But unlike before, there was a difference.

The world didn't resume immediately, while the daggers vibrated and glowed with a blinding light. A cold current ran through his soul, as he felt something click into place. He suddenly felt like he had regained a missing limb, a limb he didn't know existed. He cast Identify on his new weapons.

Void Stalker's Wrath | Dagger (Main hand) | Unique/Growth | Forged from the remains of a soul imprinted dagger that caused anguish to the Goblin race, this weapon has been enhanced to the extreme. The addition of runic formations, and the remains of a cursed weapon allow this weapon to add a stackable bleed debuff to all enemies. The status effect cannot be removed while in combat. But the weapon hungers for more since it has been baptized in the soul essence of the Void Stalker. Soul bound to its master, the dagger will grow with the wielder, destroying all enemies in its path to quell its master's wrath.

Void Stalker's Gluttony | Dagger (Off hand) | Unique/Growth | Forged from the remains of a soul imprinted dagger that was the woe of the Goblin race, this weapon has been enhanced to the extreme. The addition of runic formations, and the remains of a cursed weapon allow this weapon to add a stackable mana drain debuff to all enemies. The status effect cannot be removed while in combat. But the weapon hungers for more since it has been baptized in the soul essence of the Void Stalker. Soul bound to its master, the dagger will grow with the wielder, consuming all enemies in its path to satisfy its master's gluttony.

Aenon felt pure ecstasy flowing through his body as he regarded the weapons. The rarity said they would grow with him, which was a boon he never expected. The addition of his Class name confused him though. Especially since he was supposed to be upgrading it soon.

He gently caressed the blade's edge to feel the sharpness. It was like a razor, yet it refused to pierce his skin. He knew instinctively that neither dagger could be used to harm him, even if someone tried stabbing Aenon with them.

Aenon was pulled out of his reverie when he felt a presence observing him. The world was still frozen when he had brief flashes of someone with blonde hair. He got the feeling that whoever was observing him was smiling. He shook his head to dispel the feeling when a notification popped open—a clear message from the System Admin.

Ah! My little predator finally got his fangs!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.