Capítulo 52: Strengthening his army
"Lux, I think we should go back to Leaf Village." Viel stated.
"Why? We did just kill a Rank 5 Alpha Monster by ourselves!" Lux said.
"We succeeded in doing so only because we were lucky. If Bael's skills weren't as suitable, Ghulven wasn't blind or I didn't have my Blood Tattoos; we would have died." Viel explained.
Lux was left pensive for a few moments until he also reached the same conclusion as Viel. They won because the conditions for them were too far favourable.
If something didn't go according to their plan, they would have been eaten by Ghulven.
"We can come back when we are stronger. After all, the Savage Lands don't have a restriction like Leaf Village of only Beginners access." Viel said.
"It's true. I didn't think about it." Lux replied.
They both went towards the exit, and when they passed over Ereban's statue, its avatar came out of it, again.
"I see, so you have killed Ghulven." Ereban's avatar said. "I can still remember when 'I' made it. Not bad for a first experiment."
Viel and Lux's jaws dropped when hearing Ereban's avatar. Ghulven, an existence that nearly killed them, was just the first experiment.
"Anyway, I must tell you two things. First, don't come back again with that pitiful strength of you. The base and upper floors were nothing but a small residential area that Ghulven decided to protect. What awaits you on the lower floors can't be compared to that. At least be a D-Ranker when you come back."
"Second, as you proved your strength subjugating Ghulven and the rest of the chimeras, following the original's instructions I have activated the Teleport Crystal. You can come back without the need to make whatever journey you made to get here." Ereban explained as he handed them two black gems.
""Thanks senior."" Viel and Lux said at the same time, just for Ereban's Avatar to disappear again without a word.
….
Viel and Lux rode Flasty and headed to Leaf Village. Thanks to their knowing already the way, it just took them seven hours to get back.
When they arrived at Leaf Village, the sun was starting to set.
They both dismounted Flasty and when they were about to part ways, a small golden comet struck Lux in the belly.
"Big Brother Lux! You are alive! Did something happen to you? Did you encounter a powerful monster?" Colette asked excitedly.
"And you Big Brother Viel! Did you find what you were searching for?"
"Calm down Colette. You nearly knocked out my little brother." Viel said as he extended his hand to help Lux, who was on the floor after Colette propelled herself to hug him.
"Sorry. I was just worried about you. You disappeared without telling anyone anything for almost three days."
"We are sorry. We didn't tell anyone because we didn't want to worry you." Lux explained.
"Big Brothers, why don't you come with me to the inn? The rest of the Goldensalyer party are there. I think I also saw Viel's Master, Randolph."
When Viel heard his Master's name, he started running toward the inn.
"Sorry Lux. This is very important."
Viel reached the inn in no time and searched for his Master, who was drinking a beer with Grandma Annie.
"Hello master." Viel said.
"Oh! Who do we have here? I thought my disciple decided to leave this village forever after he departed from which I didn't know anything." Randolph said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Master. It was needed to be done, if not some junior would have tried to come with us or follow us."
Randolph merely grimaced and downed his beer in one gulp.
"Three more beers. Charge it to my ungrateful disciple who still can't learn the most simple things." Randolph said to the inn owner.
"Darling, sit with us." Grandma Annie said as she handed Viel one of the beers.
"Tell us, how was your adventure."
Viel started telling them what transpired the past two days in Ereban's Lab. When he told them that he and Lux killed 40 Rank 4 Monsters, Randolph spilled his drink.
"WHAT!?" Randolph said while Grandma Annie looked at him in disbelief.
"It was difficult but we were able to kill all of them." Viel said.
The inn owner gave Randolph another drink, which Viel paid.
And when he told them about Ghulven, both Grandma Annie and Randolph spilt the drink at the same time.
"It's not that I don't want to believe you, is just that I can't." Randolph said.
"Darling, even for a party of Grade A Apostles would be difficult to kill a Rank 5 Alpha Monster." Grandma Annie explained.
Viel didn't say anything as he took Ghulven's Beast Core outside of his Storage Ring.
When Randolph and Grandma Annie saw it, they couldn't help but be surprised.
"How did you do it? Randolph asked.
"I'm just built different." Viel said as he took a sip of his beer.
"I think you deserve this." Grandma Annie said as she handed him a bunch of candies.
"Thank you Grandma Annime!" Viel said.
"Hmph…How can I, your master don't give you anything after this…I know! You can ask me for anything, and if it is in the scope of my abilities I will do it. I promise it." Randolph said.
Many would think about asking for Blood Moon, or to make Randolph make something for you.
And Randolph would do it as he has promised it, something sacred for the dwarves. But Viel knew that his Master would be disappointed with him.
Also, Viel could make them himself. If not know, in the near future.
Viel would ask for something that would benefit him in many ways.
"Master, I would be very grateful if you assist me in forging something." Viel said.
"That's what you want? Just that?" Randolph asked.
"Yes, Master. I don't need more." Viel replied as he bowed his head.
"I knew I wasn't wrong when choosing you as my disciple," Randolph said. "I will gladly assist you. Not as a master, but as a fellow blacksmith."
Viel showed his respect to his master as he brought him another beer.
That night, Viel spent 50 gold coins in beer for his Master and Grandma Annie, who would have thought that little granny drank almost more than Randolph.
…..
The next morning, Viel was in his inn's room checking his gains from Ereban's Lab.
He tried to use one of the Beast Cores obtained from the chimeras, but something happened.
—-
< Ding! >
< Rank 3 Beast Core detected! >
< Necrotic miasma detected in the Beast Core. >
< It may hurt you if you absorb it. >
< Do you wish to consume the Rank 3 Beast Core? >
< Yes / No >
—-
Viel selected 'No' as he wasn't sure about absorbing it. Who knows what could happen to him? It was never mentioned in the original story.
So he decided to use them on his summons. If he couldn't get more powerful, his companions would.
Even so, if he were to use all the Stat Points accumulated so far, he would reach mid-Grade A Apostle. And if his forces were stronger, he would be able to gain higher rank Beast Cores more easily.
So this time he spared no expense.
First, he finally decided to upgrade Jör. He used all the 40 Rank 4 Beast Cores.
Jör started emanating a green ethereal energy that enveloped him like a cocoon. After a few minutes, it broke and from its interior, a giant serpent emerged.
Jör now seemed older. He grew from 120 cm to 350 cm in length, he also grew in breadth.
He lost all of his ethereality and became fully material.
His scales were still purple, but with a pale shade in them. His eyes were those of a predator. And his two big fangs protruded from his mouth.
"Watch Papa! I grew a lot!" Jör could look like an adult monster, but he was still a 'child' inside.
—-
< Jörmungander >
"My venom will rot the world, hiss."
– Named Soul Familiar
– Rating: C+
– Talent: Demigod
– Progress (100/3000)
Health: 10000/ 10000
Mana: 10000 / 10000
Strength: 300
Intelligence: 400
Vitality: 250
Agility: 500
Dexterity: 550
Active Skills: Poison Shot, Bite, Mana Devour, Venomous Cloud, Venom Fangs (!), Petrifying Venom Gaze (!)
Passive Skills: Soul Venom, Poison Immunity, Poison Healing, Corrosive Aura, Spiritual Camouflage (!)
Title: World's Venom, Venomshaper
—--
< Venomshaper >
– Enhances the potency and versatility of venom-based abilities.
– Grants a 30% boost in the effectiveness of all poison-related skills.
– Allows the manipulation and shaping of venomous energies, even the enemy ones if their rank is the same or lower than you.
—--
"I have something for you. Courtesy of Grandpa Randolph."
Viel took out the small chest Randolph gave him after making the Bood weapon set.
He opened it and inside were two silver fang guards.
Viel took them out of the chest and put them in Ferto's fangs.
—--
< Serpentine Venomguards >
Armor Type: Fang Guards
Rarity: Mythical
Damage: 100-225
Passive Skills: Fang's Embrace, Silver Enchantment, Indestructible
—--
< Fang's Embrace >
– Enhances the potency of the serpent's venomous attacks by 20%.
—--
< Silver Enchantment >
– Renders the guards resistant to corrosion and deterioration.
—--
< Indestructible >
– Guarantees durability and longevity.
—--
They were a masterpiece that could rival Blood Moon.
"Jör, can you still turn into your ethereal form?" Viel asked.
"Yes, Papa!" Jör replied as he turned transparent.
"Perfect." Viel said as he patted his head.
Next Viel used 40 Rank 3 and 40 Rank 2 Beast Cores from the chimeras to upgrade Ferto.
—--
< Ferto >
"I will protect what needs to be protected"
– Named Arcane Sentinel
– Titan Guardian
– Rating: S-
– Progress (45/2800)
Health: 80000/ 80000
Mana: 13000 / 13000
Attack Type: Arcane Damage, Titan Energy
Strength: 710
Intelligence: 620
Vitality: 700
Agility: 570
Dexterity: 530
Defense: 1100
Active Skills: Arcane Barrier [Ex], Arcane Nova, Arcane Blast, Mana Heal, Accurate Slash, Shield Charge, Titan's Wrath, Runic Fortress, Inferno Slam [Ex]
Passive Skills: Blessing of Fire, Blessing of Mana, Intimidating Presence, Reflect Damage, Enhanced Resilience, Unyielding Bulwark, Titan's Might [Ex]
Title: First Guardian, Knight of Valor, Titan's Inheritor
—--
Ferto went up to S- Rating and had the stats of an upper-mid-Rank 4 Monster.
Ferto was his first companion, his First Guardian. He can't let him be weak. Ferto's denfense was his defense.
And last, he decided to upgrade Aurora. As she wasn't one of his summons but a knight under him, he couldn't directly use Beast Cores like with the others. If he wanted to upgrade her, he needed to give her Beast Core so she could devour them.
Viel gave Aurora the 40 Rank 1 Beast Cores. She devoured them quickly and a light started emanating from her body. Just like with Jör an ice cocoon surrounded her, but this time she didn't come out.
Viel didn't give it much importance. If she needed more time to get stronger, she should have it.
Even so, he still decided to visit Vermora, the Ant Queen to ask her about it.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder