Capítulo 85: A Screen for Benki and a Danger for Joe
While Finerg fidgeted with growing excitement, Benki silently observed him. The more he watched little Joe in action, the more he admired him with all his heart.
"I guess it's your turn now, isn't it, Mr. Ukh Benki Furger?"
"What do you mean, Mr. Joe?"
"Mr. Benki, I'll ask again, and please, be honest with me. If I told you I could give you a great benefit, would you accept me as the master of the dwarves?"
"Certainly, Mr. Joe. I've already seen what you're capable of."
"Come here, Mr. Benki, and tell me—would you like to be part of my future army?"
"I don't think I have skills as good as Finerg or Bargaf. I don't think I'd contribute much to your army."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Mr. Benki. I saw how skillful you were during the hunt we joined together and how you acted in every moment of danger and tension. Even in the presence of the Bone-Crusher beast, I didn't see you tremble for a second."
As little Joe spoke, the dwarf Finerg decided to pay attention to his words and was surprised to learn that old Benki performed well on a hunt where the prey were also effective predators.
"Do you know which position is missing in this army, Benki?"
"I have no idea, Mr. Joe."
"Do you really think strength is everything, Mr. Benki?"
"Not at all, Mr. Joe. Strategy is better than brute strength."
"Ah! So you understand what I'm talking about. What does this future dwarven army need?"
"A strategist, Mr. Joe?"
"Yes, Mr. Benki. Someone with a cool head who knows how to act in the most critical moments. And we also need a weaponsmith, someone who can create weapon options even with simple or everyday items."
"Is there someone like that among us, Mr. Joe?"
"I'm talking to him right now."
The dwarf Benki turned his eyes, then his head, looking for someone nearby, while little Joe simply smiled.
"Stop being dense, Benki! He's talking about you!"
"Mr. Benki, if I gave you a single skill option, even just one, what would you choose?"
"I'd like to be one of those who fight on the front lines, but I have little agility and short stamina. If my stamina were better, I could make a significant difference in your future army, Mr. Joe," Benki concluded.
"Come here, Mr. Benki. From now on, you'll be the Armerigus."
"Mr. Joe, do you mean Weaponsmith in the ancestral dwarven tongue? Pardon my bluntness, but why would I be interested in that?"
"Just answer me, Mr. Benki. Why is there so much stuff you consider useless lying around your house?"
"Er… I think my mind isn't very focused, and I end up getting lost in my own inspiration. I suppose that's it, Mr. Joe."
"And if I helped you with that, would you join my army?"
"And how would you do that, Mr. Joe?"
"I can only tell you after you accept being my weaponsmith."
"And what if your ideas don't work for me?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Benki. I'll pay you two gold coins for any inconvenience I cause."
"I don't think gold is a valid reason to risk it, but I'll join your army, mainly because of our friendship."
"And if I told you I could provide invention ideas that could revolutionize this entire country, making everyone want what you produce or invent?"
Benki remained thoughtful.
"If I gave you a single skill option, even just one, what would you choose?"
Benki assessed the opportunity presented by the boy, who seemed to know exactly what he needed. Finally, he replied:
"If I choose on my own, Mr. Joe, I might make a bad choice. So please, choose for me."
🔺😎 [System Alert!] [Congratulations! Benki, the dwarven craftsman, has demonstrated extreme trust in you. Your 🖼️ Screen Creation skill has increased to the maximum level! You now have 50 status screens for dwarves at your disposal. For every 5 dwarf status screens, you gain the right to a micro screen for one of your fingers. Additionally, you can now view external status screens up to level 20 and have earned the Unique Skill of Screen Repair.]
Now it was little Joe's turn to control himself because he wanted to shout, jump, and run—all to express the joy of gaining this new skill.
🔺😎 [System Alert!]
["Congratulations! Your skill for connecting abilities has been corrected by the system. 🔗 Connection Level 4.0%"]
["By enabling Screen Creation, the intelligence link between the Sime System and the Per Joe System will multiply by x3. This will overload the system again, producing unpredictable results. Do you still wish to proceed?"]
"Of course, I want to! Is it my fault the system takes risks? No risk, no reward. Per Joe! Enable Screen Creation for dwarves!"
⬆️ on 🖼️ Screen Creation at Maximum Level 🔗 Connection 3.0% +
⬆️ on 🧠 Intelligence Level 3.30 + 3.30 x 3 = 19.80
💀💀 [Ultra Overload on System! You need to abort this process, or...]
"Change the standard body micro-screen with 3 slots to an undetectable body micro-screen with 4 slots!"
["Modifying standard body micro-screen with 3 slots to undetectable body micro-screen with 4 slots."]["What body area is designated?"]
"Right hand index finger!"
🔺💀 💀 [System Alert!]
["The risk of Ultra Overload remains; the system is still unstable."]["You may lose consciousness at any moment."]
"Per Joe, quickly! Enable Trust Screen Creation!"
["Accessing ability: Trust Screen Creation, slot number 4."]
["Connection established, enabling screen creation. Do you wish to create a screen for the dwarf?"]
⬆️ on 🖼️ Maximum Level Screen Creation / Trust Screen Creation!
Status: Ukh Benki Furger / Dwarven Armorer
💪 60 Kg / Level 1 | 🏃♂️ 5 km / Level 1 | ❤️ 3.0 / Level 1
Skill: Improvised weapon creation.
Sticky trap creation.
🔺💀 💀[System Alert!]💀
["The risk of overload persists; the system remains unstable. Your growth potential will reach critical levels, and the system will self-destruct."] ["You will lose consciousness permanently."]
Suddenly, little Joe stopped fidgeting, realizing this time he had made a huge mistake. He felt there was no time left to do anything else. He sat on the ground under the terrified gaze of his two dwarf friends, who sensed that something had gone terribly wrong.
Sensing her master's imminent demise, Florida immediately summoned the healer ant to do something. The ant detected an energy emission coursing through her master's body. She promptly communicated with her queen, who in turn summoned all nearby worker ants, a digging ant, and twelve archer ants.
They all climbed onto Joe's small body—65 ants in total—trying to form a connection with him to absorb the excess energy surging through his body.
The dwarves wanted to help, but Florida's behavior made it clear that no one else was acceptable to aid in the rescue except those insects.
The messages the two dwarves received on their status screens indicated that the young boy might never get up again, and if he survived, he could be left extremely incapacitated, perhaps even vegetative for the rest of his life.
Then, a burst of energy consumed the small area where Joe lay, and moments later, none of the ants could be seen by the dwarves. Except for a strange child who appeared to be crying over Joe's body, there was nothing unusual in sight, and the dangerous energy had completely disappeared.
Estado de energía semanal
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Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder