Chương 15: A Pompous Ass

*Bam!*

[You have lost 5 Hit Points]

[Hit Points: 25/30]

Henry's back slammed into the wall with a force that caused him to arch while his internal organs shuddered at the impact. He slid to the ground but had no time to catch his breath or grimace at his pain because the Automaton's fist came at his face next.

Henry dived to the side but he had barely got away. The Automaton's fist struck the wall and the wind from the impactful contact brushing against his face caused Henry's eyes to widen at the danger he was in.

'Damn it!' Henry swore and then brought to mind the Stat Points he had received minutes ago.

Unlike the last time, he now understood how to use them and knew just what he needed in this fight.

'I'll put 3 into Agility and 3 into strength!'

[Strength: 11 ——> 14]

[Agility: 7 ——> 10]

Henry's muscles gained even more strength and his body felt lighter which was fortunate because the Automaton came at him again with its eyes glinting with an even deeper red. Like it was annoyed that it had not yet accomplished its task. It became even more intense and relentless in its attacks.

Henry believed that the Automaton didn't have thoughts or emotions of its own and whatever it was showing was just an extension of its creator. Sure enough, when he chanced a glance at Elminster's face, he found the old man glaring with his arms folded impatiently.

The next time a blow came at Henry, he sidestepped instead of dodging completely and when the Automaton's forearm stretched in front of him, he grabbed it and pulled hard.

The strength increase he had just gained from his Stats proved very useful as Henry succeeded in his pull and then jumped to sink a knee into the Automaton's metal jaw. Rocking the creature and causing it to stagger a few steps.

Henry followed up, clenching his fist, he put in every bit of the strength in his body into a massive punch that launched the Automaton into the wall with an impactful *Bam!*.

Henry started to grin but that slipped off his face when he saw the Automaton stand to its feet almost immediately with a readiness to attack again. It was not human and felt no pain so unless it was completely damaged, it would continue to attack until it accomplished its task.

Henry's frowned but decided not to wait for the Automaton to try again. He dashed forward and bashed the Automaton with his shoulder but instead of staggering, the Automaton stood its ground and in a move of mechanical precision, it clocked Henry in the side of the head with a punch.

[You have lost 3 Hit Points]

[Hit Points: 22/30]

Henry's eyes rolled up but he kept his consciousness and by locking in his knees, he also did not allow himself to be sent flying. The relentless Automaton struck at him again and this time, Henry was able to dodge and retaliated with a massive upper-cut.

*Bam!*

His blow struck his mechanical opponent's mechanical jaw and rocked it with such force that its head was knocked back, revealing a delicate groove right where the head met the structure meant to act as the Automaton's neck.

Pulling back his fist, Henry clenched and in a move whose speed was guided by his increased agility, he delivered his blow against that delicate groove before the Automaton could drop its head back in place.

*Bam!*

*Creak!*

Henry's fist broke through the groove and sunk inside the creature's neck, detaching that spot from it's head and as he pulled out his hand, he saw the light in the Automaton's eyes dim as its body lost power. With multiple creaks, it fell to his knees before slumping to the side in a metallic crunching *thud*.

[Kill-Reward: 10 Exp]

"Tsk," Elminster let out, "That's my fault for making the power source so easy to reach."

Henry's eyes flashed in annoyance.

"Easy?"

Elminster ignored him.

"Well, I have more Automatons. Each one stronger than the last."

Elminster prepared to snap his fingers and Henry knew he couldn't allow that.

"Wait!" He yelled.

Henry considered drawing out his gun, the normal revolver, and firing a shot but knew there would be dire consequences if he failed to make the kill and he was not confident that he could.

If Elminster could summon an Automaton with the snap of his fingers and could threaten to summon even more, then surely he could protect himself against a bullet. More so since he was apparently someone who made a weapon as Magical and deadly as 'The Hydra's Sting'.

Elminster raised a brow at Henry's outburst,

"Oh? Have you finally come to your senses? Will you surrender what is mine?"

Henry glanced at his inventory interface with 'The Hydra's Sting' locked away until the completion of this Quest, and smiled wryly,

"I wish I could. But I can't."

"Well, then, let's continue. Your corpse will be far more cooperative, I'm sure."

Elminster readied to snap his finger again and Henry threw his arms forward,

"Wait!" Henry cried out, "At least tell me why you're doing this?"

Elminster frowned,

"I already told you."

"Yes, yes. You said you want 'The Hydra's Sting' back but you haven't said why. Was it stolen from you? Is that why you're so… upset?"

Henry was going to say 'crazy' but decided to hold off on that.

Elminster's fingers pulled apart and he stroked his white beard,

"No, it wasn't stolen," he said gruffly, "But it might as well have been?"

Henry let out a sigh of relief that the old man was at least speaking instead of summoning and he took a small step forward,

"How so?" He asked.

Elminster was silent for a while and then he scoffed,

"They conned me, alright? What's it to you anyway?"

'This old bastard!' Henry thought angrily, 'You just tried to kill me, I have every right to ask questions!'

When he spoke though, he picked a more diplomatic approach,

"Well, if you were to kill me, how could I be able to rest in peace when I don't even understand why I died?"

Elminster eyed him with his piercing blue eyes and then let out a resigned sigh,

"I suppose you're right. A quick history lesson and then we'll get right back to the killing and the taking."

"Sounds good," Henry said immediately just to get him to keep talking.

He walked forward and watched as Elminster prepared himself to speak.

Eventually, Elminster took a deep breath,

"I've made many weapons, armor pieces even intricate jewelry pieces to adorn clothing and offer extra layers of protection, but I seek no monetary gain. I only seek to further my artistic pursuit and build upon every creation so the next is better than the last.

However, like any Craftsman, I couldn't completely forgo wealth. I mean, materials don't come cheap. So I lent —not sold— my weapons to anyone who could match my price. And many did because everyone knows, Elminster Eltugard is the best. You can't see a fine work that isn't either made by me or compared to the ones made by me.

Of course, all comparisons fail. No one does it better than me."

'What a pompous Ass,' Henry thought.

"But I've never heard of you," he said instead.

Elminster snorted,

"And where do you live?"

"New Freudein," Henry said.

"Bah! Of course you haven't heard of me in such a backwards town. I doubt you lot even see a lot of magic there. In fact, how did you get your hands on 'The Hydra's Sting'?"

"Continue with your story, Old man," Henry said. Some of the annoyance he had kept in his mind so far seeping through.

"Fine. Not like I care anyway. I just want it back.

So where was I? Ah, yes. I lent my creation to the worthy ones who could match my price or exceed it in a bidding war but there was an understanding that it was only a lifetime deal. Once the one I lent it to, dies, the Weapon was to return to me.

But those bastards proved sneaky.

They devised contracts to make sure I couldn't harass them. Stipulated that I was not to seize any of the weapons outside of my workshop which meant, I had to wait for them to be brought to me.

But I was a step ahead of them. My creations are mine after all. I place failsafes on all them, causing increased strain to their wielder as the years go by. Increased weight, increased mana consumption. Basically anything that will force them to seek me out to have a tune-up."

"That's crafty of you," Henry said.

"Yes, I thought so too.

I was sure it would be enough but those bastards found subpar Craftsmen to bypass my failsafes. Not entirely but enough to make them wieldable so years go by and I can never get them back because they will never seek me out.

So occasionally, I send out Invitations. Hoping to ensnare the foolish ones to seek me out and meet their end or return my property.

Which brings us to you and to what will surely befall you if you don't Give Me That Gun!"

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