AN: Chapter 10, "Hammer time!!"

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The next day, Erwin's mana sense had reached level 6. But he still couldn't tell the difference between the elements. He decided to leave aside as he had other things to do for the day.

After eating their breakfasts, they moved all the tools, items and materials Erwin had gathered to the garage.

“You know, you suggested us to explore the town while you work on the equipment, but before that I think we should gather a lot of water from the river with jerrycans or other big containers and store it, so we can avoid going to the river too much. We should do that while the... 'little fckers' like you call them, decide to come back” said David.

“A pretty good idea” replied Diane.

“Before you leave, you can already take these” said Erwin as he handed them a machete each. “I'll try to make some kind of seath for them later.”

“Thanks. What else do you intend to make?”

“David, you're our defender, you need armor. I'm not talking about chainmail or full plate armor, I will reinforce some clothing with metal and other materials to protect the vitals. Also, when you're done with the water you should look for a bike helmet, I will reinforce it later. I will also try to make a shield for you. For Diane and Greg, reinforced clothing.

Once you start exploring the town, go toward the north north-east, around 1h away from the base, and look for sport stores for shin guards and elbow pads, and head protector used in martial arts. I didn't have enough room yesterday, I also forgot to look for sturdy working boots so search for some of your size. If you can, look for a police station, for guns, and for anything we might have forgotten now.”

“We will take care of it. I look forward to what you will make for us, also, my spear suck” said Diane.

“Of course I intend make better weapons!! And some protection for my pets, yes.”

“Well, looks like you will be very busy. We will leave you now, see you later!”

“Take care.”

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Erwin told his pet to stand guard at the entrance, and started to organise everything he had gathered. The manual tools on one side, the battery powered ones next, the glues and adhesive products on another place, the things to be dismanteled here, and the things that would be reinforced there, and so on. Then he carefully analysed the blowtorch, looking for any kind of damage. Satisfied with what he saw, he tested it... from behind a cover, using a makeshift plier with a 4m long handle.

Since there were no problems with the tools, he started to work on the equipment, and to make things easier he buffed himself. The new spears were the easiest to make, since he found a lot of bladed object and sturdy poles in the ruins. The ones he made for Diane and Greg were very sharp and longer than what they had been using until now. The one for David was a bit shorter and heavier, with a longer blade. He also made a long and thin spear for himself, since he should avoid getting close to his opponents. The makeshift blade he used was heartlessly discarded.

Then he started to think about the protective gear for David. Even if he was a healer, there were still things magic couldn't do. He could mend cuts and broken bones, but there was probably nothing he could do about a severed limb. Some injuries could instantly put someone out of combat even if they weren't life-threatening, and some others would lead to certain death, instantly or not.

To avoid certain death, the head, the heart and the neck must be protected. If the limbs and the joints are damaged, the battle ability will seriously decrease, and that can lead to defeat. A strike to the crotch will lead to defeat as well. Using the blowtorch, he cut some spare parts of carbody from the garage in strips of specific lengh, then pierced them. Afterward he bent them in specific shapes. He wanted to do something similar to a roman legionnaire armor.

Skill aquired: Mathematics

You can make faster and more complex calculations

He used twice the amount of metal strip necessary to double the thickness of the armor, triple thickness around the chest and the spine. However, for the neck protector he would have to wait for David to come back with the bike helmet. He did the same for Diane and Greg, but without increasing the thickness of the plates and they were completely sleeveless, since they were the agile kind of attackers.

The interiors were padded with strips of protective clothing. He used strong glues to put everything together. The strings to open and close the armor were on the sides, and all strings used to keep the differents parts in place were well hidden from view and harm when the armor was fastened. The size wasn't a problem since he was already familiar with the build of his travel companion.

You have gained the Crafter title

The things you make will be better, and learning related skills will be easier

He had just finished the third armor and was taking a break when the guys came back.

“We brough you presents” said Greg as he came in. “So, how was your... day? You've got to be kidding me, did you seriously make these? Whoa...”

“I think the presents I have for you are better than the presents you've got for me. David, Diane, try these. This one is for you Greg.”

“No way, you really made armor? I'm wondering just how good you are with your hands.” said Diane.

“... You do know that what you just said can be taken the wrong way, right?” asked Greg.

“But I'm sure you guys are smart enough to take it the right way!” she replied with a bright smile.

While the 2 were bantering, David put the armor on.

“It is nicely done. It's a little troublesome when trying to raise my hands high, but it probably won't be much of a problem. It feels really sturdy.”

“But it's still crude. And here I though you would make me a revealing, sexy armor like in tv and video games, I'm disappointed.”

“Hahaha, I would love to, unfortunatly, boob armors are death traps. But you know, there is the saying 'the best defence is offense'. In that case, this saying applies as well: 'the best armor is no armor'! Fighting in the nude will save your life. Worry not for we are here to watch your back. Carefully.”

The 3 guys chuckled a little, then went back to testing the new armor and weapons. Meanwhile, Erwin took a look at the things they had brough back. There were the shin guards, elbow pad, knee pads, boots, and the bike helmet. They also got medical supplies from a pharmacy. Since it was already late in the afternoon, he decided to stop crafting for the day and looked at his status.

His 'crude equipment crafting' skill had gained 4 levels and he gained 3 points in dexterity. Sine he buffed himself during the whole crafting session he gained a level in 'agility' and 'strenght enhance'. Most important things, is that he gained a level from crafting. He realised that it wasn't necessary to fight to level up, a very important things in this dangerous world. After sharing his discovery, he decided to put the bonus points in dexterity.

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Since he got some free time, he decided to use it to increase his mana sense, so he decided to take a stroll with his pets at the outskirts of the ruined town, while the others went back to the base.

He switched between trying to feel the mana in the air, in the forest, in the town, in the mana core, and finally within himself while casting buffs and debuffs on himself and his pets. He would even order Sadira to poison him and Ras so he could use detoxification and healing magic. He gained a level in detoxification magic, and surprisingly, 3 more in mana sense. The fact that he switched his focus between very differents sources of mana and moving mana was probably the cause.

This continued until night. After another grinding session with Diane, he healed himself one last time and went to bed. Just before sleeping, on a whim, he tried to move his mana again, and he felt a difference. He cast agility enhance on himself and noticed something. The mana consummed was slightly different from what he used to feel.

While concentrating on his mana more, he noticed many differences, 8 in total, as many as the differents magic elements. He cast strenght decrease on himself, and this time it was a mana different from the one used for the buff. He assumed the first one was mana with the light element, and the other, mana with the darkness element. He also noticed that the elements didn't move the same way. Remembering the feeling, he tried to move the dark mana.

You have gained a new skill:

Mana manipulation

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NAME:Erwin RusselRACE:HumanAGE:18GENDER:MaleLEVEL:20BONUS POINTS:00Titles“Boss killer”, "Healer", "Barbarian", "Crafter"LIFE:298/298REGEN RATE:100%STAMINA:295/295REGEN RATE:100%MANA:445/445REGEN RATE:100%STRENGHT:40CONSTITUTION:47AGILITY:48DEXTERITY:60INTELLIGENCE:70SPIRIT:65WISDOM:47CHARISMA:48FIRE:15/01WATER:15/20EARTH:15/20AIR:15/00LIGHT:15/00DARKNESS:15/00ARCANE:15/00CHAOS:15/00RESISTANCES:Poison(0%) - Illness(2%)-CONTRACTED SERVANTSTYPELEVELSadiraSpider17RasWildcat14TRAITSRainbow magicSKILLSTYPELEVELHealingActive04DetoxificationActive02Enhance: strenghtActive07Enhance: agilityActive07Decrease: strenghtActive06Decrease: agilityActive06Mana manipulationActive01Mana sensePassive10Crude equipment craftingPassive05ParkourPassive04LinguisticPassive14MathematicsPassive09PerceptionPassive03SPECIAL ABILITIESTYPELEVELContractorActive02

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AN: Experimenting with magic, who can resist it? And Erwin has an advantage in this field!!