When Wolf returned to the glade, it no longer looked like a peaceful green patch. The Demonic Converter’s manipulation of corpses left eight deep trenches, which scarred the originally lawn-like clearing. A ten meter wide ring of ash surrounded the giant tree, along with a dozen freshly puppetized carcasses.

They were a ragtag bunch; the unimpressive elites among the Demonic Beasts the Demonic Converter lured over with its rain of apples. Even the plant knew they were trash, and didn’t bother hiding them in the ground. Instead, they stood as bodyguards right outside the burned area.

I should ignore the tendrils. Wolf realized he could simply plow through these corpses. He once again had his full assortment of defensive spells, along with four Subtle Scapegoats, to preserve them long enough to thwart Demonic Converter’s tricks.

Awakening his senses, Wolf charged, brandishing Book. Such a desperate enemy didn’t warrant delay, nor fancy tactics.

Demonic Converter dropped all its apples; a last ditch effort to summon a monster powerful enough to kill Wolf or drive him away.

It failed.

Wolf dispatched the puppets before the tree dispelled his third Scapegoat. Then, after five grueling hours of hacking and two long breaks, Wolf finally brought down the Demonic Converter.

It’s twice as tough as the Tenth Order one, even though they are only a single Order apart. Star Body elixir will be ready in twelve days. Once my transformation is complete, I’ll be able to take down an Eleventh Order Demonic Converter in mere minutes. I hope.

Wolf looked at the rotting stump, then at the giant trunk.

“Look, how about you save yourself some suffering? Surrender and let me find the Monster Core on my first attempt. Otherwise, I’ll have to hack at you for two weeks. Neither of us wants that.” Using simple arithmetics, Wolf realized he’d get stuck here for a long while before he found the Monster Core. By then Cube of Fusing will finish the Star Body elixir.

The Demonic Converter remained silent at Wolf’s merciful offer of suicide.

“Yeah. I wouldn’t surrender either.” Wolf sat down on the ground and regulated his breathing. “While there’s life, there’s hope. Who knows, maybe your grandpa comes over to save your ass, well, trunk.”

Master, you are talking to a dying plant, which doesn’t understand your words. Silver pointed out, aware that Wolf wasn’t under the Demonic Converter’s influence.

Yes. But it understands emotions. Wolf replied, however, his little egg shook the front of its shell.

You don’t need words to convey emotions. Even if you remained silent, this weed would’ve gotten the same message from you - that it’s a pain in the butt and that it’s wasting your time. Which I think is the wrong approach, while we’re discussing it. You’re actually telling your enemy how to hinder you most effectively and asking them not to do it for their sake. Since you’re already sentenced it to death, it naturally—

Silver. It’s fine. I never expected it to surrender. You can think of it as my wishful thinking. Wolf felt a headache coming.

Master, are you now speaking your thoughts with that other mouth? Are you unwell?

I think you need to take a nap, Silver. Please.

The egg harrumphed, but remained silent.

Wolf paused for a moment. After confirming Silver wasn’t interested in any idle chitchat, he focused on his problem.

Tearing this tree apart for twelve days would be a waste of time. There must be something better I can do with my time… Wolf rubbed his nose in frustration, coming up with an optimal way to use his time.

What should’ve been three miserable days flash by.

Instead of dismembering the Demonic Converter, Wolf moved away from the fallen tree and scribed two Spell Formation inscriptions on the flat of Book’s blade, one on each side. Both Spell Formations focused on making it easier to chop down big, tough and bulky things. Trees, for example.

The first was a basic Honed Blade enchantment, which made Book produce an immaterial cutting aura, becoming razor sharp.

The second enchantment was a bit more complicated. Its name was Executioner’s Sword. With it, Wolf could redistribute Book’s weight, making it gather at the hilt during the swing and move it towards the tip right before impact.

Unfortunately, Book lacked a slot for inserting Monster Cores to power its enchantments. So, to use these tiny Spell Formations, Wolf had to provide the Internal Energy himself.

Still, he was satisfied. In theory, Honed Blade should halve Wolf’s Internal Energy consumption while increasing Book’s cutting power.

The only thing left was to test it. Wolf smirked, admiring his handiwork. They say that time spent sharpening your ax is never wasted. I guess we’ll find out.

I think it’s true, Master. Silver naturally had an opinion on the subject. You plan to cut down thirty-two Eleventh Order trees and six Twelfth Order ones. Before, you preserved your energy, because you lacked potions to restore it. But with this Ghost Shroud of yours, you hoard your energy and don’t let it flow out freely. This way, by the time you reach the next tree, you should recover any Internal Energy you spent.

Wolf let out a heavy sigh and rolled his eyes. Silver, why are you telling me things you heard from me?

I’m comforting you, Master, because you seem to doubt your own wisdom.

I didn’t— Thank you, Silver. Wolf helplessly thanked his little companion for her good intentions, then returned to the Demonic Converter’s fallen trunk.

The tree’s leaves were just as vibrant as before Wolf cut it down. Just by relying on its Monster Core and surrounding World Energy, the Demonic Converter seemed like it could live indefinitely, despite being stumped.

Wolf took a deep breath.

“Feel free to move your Monster Core into a convenient location after you change your mind.” Wolf paused for a moment, then swung down. He sent a surge of Internal Energy into Book, activating Honed Blade, but not Executioner’s Sword.

The Sword cleaved through the trunk tougher than steel in a single slash, leaving behind nearly a meter deep gash. Wolf immediately followed up with a second strike and a thin slice of Demonic Converter fell down to the ground, dissipating into black rot.

Wolf frowned. These two slashes used a quarter of the energy I use on Mighty Slash. Meaning eight of them use as much as a First Order maneuver, that’s much higher consumption than expected. I can only unleash four to five hundred of these before burning up all my Internal Energy. Meaning, I should stop after a hundred. But this one strike slashed all the way through the Demonic Converter, saving me a lot of effort.

He was dissatisfied, not with Book, but with how tough the damn plant was.

Finding the Demonic Converter’s Monster Core took six days because Wolf stopped using Book’s enchantment as soon as his Internal Energy dropped below three quarters full. Still, those one hundred strikes were enough to cut through Demonic Converter’s six meter thick trunk twice, before Wolf was forced to fall back to brute force.

Thinking of the unnecessary waste of time, Wolf inspected the shiny emerald gem he held between his fingers. The next Eleventh Order Demonic Converter is a week away. Cube of Fusing will finish its production while I’m mid-way, and I’ll drink the Star Body elixir right away. Since I’m going to be stuck inside a folded space while my body adjusts, I can at least refine this Monster Core…

Wolf planned his next steps, then made good on his plans. On the third day, a solid metal flask materialized in Wolf’s Ring of Holding. The container was opaque, and Wolf couldn’t see its contents.

He willed the vial into his hand, grunting in surprise. It’s half a cup, but it weighs twenty kilos. How the hells am I supposed to drink this?

Wolf opened the stopper and saw a pitch black surface inside the container. He swirled the flask, and the elixir flowed like water.

It’s surprisingly fluid. Wolf frowned at the paradoxical concoction, then sighed with relief. I expected I would chew on metal cubes or something, considering how torturous the first three stages were.

He tried to smell it, but couldn’t sense anything. It has avarium in it, so it’s no wonder it doesn’t release any odors or reflect light.

Since he had little choice, Wolf climbed a nearby tree. He opened a folded space, entered it, and prepared for a brief seclusion.

No point delaying it. Wolf downed the flask’s content.

The elixir struck Wolf’s stomach like a ten ton hammer. The youth doubled up, clenching his abdomen.

Master, I think you should’ve sipped on it. Silver suggested, but her advice came too late.