“The design of the helmet lowers my voice, makes it even deeper. Not intentionally. It’s thick. Even thicker than the helmets Earthshakers wear, since I could afford to make the armor damn near impossible to wear with the help of the mana engine.” Grimnir tapped his chest. “The idea came from Maagneil’s usage of our primarch as the mana core. The ‘Dragon Core,’ I call it, because the catalyst used for this uses dragon blood. Your share of the invention. Found a way to stabilize the mana cost, and that is to use two ‘hearts,’ just like your situation.”
The dwarven elite warrior order of the Earthshakers gained their name because their armor was unbearably heavy even by dwarven standards. Every step they took would shake the earth, while their thick plates would ward off any physical threats. Their runic pieces would conjure mana barriers and fill their bodies with power, allowing them to go against even the most talented mages.
According to my dwarven allies, the Earthshakers could be compared to human knights in terms of the prestige of the role. Sure, you had dwarven samurai, but that order was relatively new since it only came into being due to the Revolution Queen. The Earthshakers stood steadfast since the beginning of the first dwarven High King of the united dwarven holds of Ankor-Nazta.
And due to this prestigious nature, the equipment given to these warriors required capable bodies. Their runic armor did have runes to reduce the weight of the armor and increase the wearer’s stats, but you still had to have the stats and skills of a rank C adventurer to even fight in it. It was, in a way, a giant, metal sarcophagus that reduced breathing, vision, and maneuverability. The armor was made with specific skills in mind.
That general theme had always been how Grimnir designed his armor, since he had the SP shop to buy and upgrade his skills to become an Earthshaker, all but in name. That was the idea behind the “power armor” and “steam armor” he had been striving for all this time. To him, his equipment was his power spikes, in other words.
He didn’t have the special elemental circumstances like Tasianna or Vifi, nor a demonic being willing to help him like Ellaine. If Saori’s and my power came from our unique bloodline and mutation evolutions, then Grimnir’s strength wasn’t his stats or skills, but his crafting. His unique skills, granted to him as a Saint of Chihiro, only emphasized that even further.
“My blasthammer is responsible for most of my damage, but I figured, with how dragonkin have a barrier-type skill, I have to find a way to disable them like how Fargryneill can break through it with her dragon veins. You gained a blessing through me to usurp runic mana. I figured I could try something like that.” Grimnir then pulled up the cannon barrel strapped to his body, holding it with his left arm by the handle. “Bows and crossbows both gain power through the [Archery] skill, but guns and cannons do not. The reason why warhammer cannons can deal significant damage is through condensing mana and letting it explode. Your sister knows the principle behind it best, as she similarly uses neutral mana like the explosion of a mana bomb. No runes for this. Enchantments. Ones made to disable mana connection.”
Standing taller than me, Grimnir’s new suit of armor towered over me despite his being shorter. Although I had expected it to look pretty modern or sleek, the lack of ceramic armor and other types of metal in sci-fi settings made it so that the armor still looked pretty rough and tough. Instead of a heroic-looking knight, or the robotic, pristine armor of futuristic soldiers, Grimnir’s “power armor” made him look like a menacing steam golem.
The runic glyphs and glowing mana seams kept the armor from looking too steampunk, bringing it back to the manatech theme the dwarves had. With his blasthammer, that handcannon, and also a giant tower shield even larger than himself, Grimnir became a massive knight guardian to me. A warden of protection with a rhytilic “beard” that could chase people away through appearances alone.
I pulled out my halberd and let it rest on my shoulders as I walked around my training field inside my subspace. “I want to appraise it… but I probably have to look at all the pieces, right?”
“As I said, the Rule of Blood is non-negotiable. There is a limit to how many runes can be placed on an item. Technically, the different pieces of a full set of armor count as separate pieces, but once you put things together, the mana in those runes will start conflicting with each other. So, no, there aren’t a ton of runes on me. There is only a single one.” Grimnir pointed to his chest, making me look at the runic words smashed into the metal plate. “A Dhuinn rune. Because I’m planning on adding the rest once you get that leviathan blood you mother has been holding onto for a while.”
“Ah… my reward for beating Mom’s trial. Still waiting for it, I see?”
“Of course! How often do you get rank S monster blood? This is my chance, lass, so I will wait until I can turn this into my magnum opus. Besides, the main way this armor works isn’t through runes, but through two draconic catalysts I had Tasianna make with the leftover blood you gave me for my rune projects. Used some for the Dhuinn rune, but most of it went into the catalyst fueling this thing,” he said. “One heart dedicated to helping me move in this armor, and another for the fire and ice catalyst that creates the ‘steampunk’ design I used for my previous blasthammer version. Two ‘hearts’ and two catalysts for movement.”
“… That sounds incredibly expensive.”
“But it’s necessary, since my blessing forces me to use smithing, runesmithing, enchanting, and alchemy together to create my ‘best’ works.”
Core of the Mechanoid: A unique skill allowing the owner to imitate the absorption and expulsion of mana of a mana battery. Nullifies arcane corruption accumulation within the body of the user, and turns 50% of all magical damage into Mana. When mana is expended through the use of runes or manatech, increase their mana efficiency, stats, and skill effectiveness while close to the owner by 15%. Allows the owner to crystallize their mana into a temporary mana battery that applies this skill’s effect that lasts a Peolyncian day upon creation, but temporarily decreases the owner’s maximum Mana by 25% for a Peolyncian week. Upon re-usage, resets the timer for full recovery. Skill included: [Body of Earth] [Dwarven Magic Resistance] [Arcane Corruption Immunity] [Mana Control Lv. 10] [Mana Efficiency Lv. 10] [Mana Conduit Lv. 10] [Sage’s Wisdom Lv. 10]
Grand Arcanatechnician: A title granted to a mortal recognized by the Goddess of Change, Ingenuity, and Ambition, whose control had been usurped by individual [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]. Due to usurpation, the effects of this title may only be activated when in the presence of [The Light]’s [Music Resonation]. When creating an item that combines blacksmithing, artificer work, and runesmithing, increases stats and skill potency depending on the effectiveness of the [Arcane Crystal] used as a mana battery or the fuel for the fire. Depending on the enchantments engraved and the elemental charge on the [Arcane Crystal], may vastly alter the end product
“Blacksmithing, arifiicer work, and runesmithing” were clear enough, but where enchanting and alchemy came into play was the creation of his various catalysts. All of them were made using Grimnir’s crystallized mana, and from the sound of his explanation, it really seemed like his armor was made only for him. He was the only dwarf I knew who could ignore arcane corruption like a faefolk, after all.
“I intend to make more of this armor, but for normal people. If we could find faefolk or slimes who can fight as seriously as Tasianna, I could use this design for them, but until I can figure a way to get rid of arcane corruption, this ‘Runic Dreadnoughtus Armor’ is mine alone to wear.” He punched his chest, letting metal echo through the subspace as he chortled with his pride, before pulling his giant tower shield from his back. “The ‘dragon killer’ armor inspired by Maagneil’s plans has been revived in a smaller frame. My cuoso’s rhytilic alloy is used as the base material. And I got the tools to disrupt a dragon’s barrier. This is the trial run.”
“Sure, sure… as long as you can hit me.” I smirked as I got into position. “Though I do have to warn you that I’m not really in the mood. I want to hit something, Grimnir.”
“Ha, sure, I’m still only level 119. I’m the lowest level now in Aurora, and I don’t have the advantage of Tasianna where my stats and skills are beyond my level. Equipment can bridge the gap between people, but it can’t overcome overwhelming differences,” Grimnir said while twisting his wrist. “Afraid you’ll hurt me?”
I nodded. “Mhmm.”
“I started weaker, and that difference kept widening so fast that I couldn’t even keep up, even with skill points. I’m not formally trained as a warrior, nor do I have a special affinity for something. All I have are my skills as a craftsman. I get why you think I’m weak. Won’t deny it.”
“So why ask for a spar? If I go in seriously and stress-test your armor, I will use my [Corrosive Fire]. If you want me to go easy on you, why bother asking for a spar? I can just hit you a few times. If you want a field test, the best way to do it is just enter a hunt. That’s why I wanted you to come over to Frozen Nest. The mana concentration here is so high that rank Bs are common enough for us to hunt without disturbing the ecosystem. There is so much experience for you, Grimnir!”
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“Yes. The dungeons in Inkoran-Tazul are quite good, but going there with only Haruka and Daichi isn’t very efficient. Both of them have been stagnating even more than I have, but they have fully transitioned into their new roles. As an artificer and smith, respectively, they don’t need levels as much as we do, since fulfilling crafting Quests for the guilds will grant them the experience they need for their unique Jobs,” Grimnir replied. “But, lass, I am also one of the party’s main craftsmen. Levels matter to me as I am a main member of Aurora, but I provide the best value in the forge. My strength comes from the weapons I create and the armor I provide for you. No matter Frozen Nest’s wealth, its industrial sector is nowhere close to Inkoran-Tazul’s. If you want production, you call us tazong.”
“Okay, okay, I get your point. Still, you haven’t answered why you wanted to spar—”
“Do I need a proper reason to do so?” Grimnir interrupted me as his armor let out a gust of steam from the back. He slammed his tower shield on the ground, causing its [Defensie Rune: Auracoil] to light up and project a shield around him. “Isn’t it just enough that I want to test my strength against yours? Test my equipment against your martial and arcane might?”
I chuckled and nodded. Sliding my feet against the grainy grounds, I lowered my knees and got into the posture for the Nordor Style spearmanship. “Okay. Then try to keep up and force me into my dragon form.”
Gale Steps. Activating my rocket boosters, I launched myself right at Grimnir and threw a thrust at him with my halberd, striking his shield. The moment I did, a green rune lit up and caused my attack to rebound at me with a sonic shockwave.
With my posture broken, Grimnir lowered his blasthammer and held it against his shield like a spearman holding up a shield wall. Without a spear tip, he thrust the blasthammer forward, causing my [Foresight] to warn me to dodge, prompting me to use the rebound momentum to plant my halberd on the ground and jump on it, swinging on it like a pole dancer to dodge his strike as it released a shotgun blast of mana.
Hmm? The blasthammer didn’t change form, though.
The overall design of Grimnir’s blasthammer hadn’t changed, as it still had a large, rectangular head that wasn’t made to be swung quickly, but intended to strike and kill with one hit or to transform into its gun form to land a decisive killing blast. Yet to shoot blasts out of his weapon, he needed to transform his weapon, so why didn’t he need to do it now?
‘Mana is gathering around the hammer,’ Hikari reported, having used [Mana Eyes] as I was staring at Grimnir’s strange change. “A mana crystal, no, probably one of Grimnir’s batteries was placed inside. Mana is gathered around him and then released. Two runes are inside, and I presume it’s the same ice and fire ones he had on his previous blasthammer.”
As I was trying to figure out this new weapon, Grimnir swung his weapon as I was about to appraise it, forcing me to use [Air Walk] to jump into the air before using [Dragoon Dive] to counter. As my strike forced Grimnir to activate [Defensive Rune: Pavise], I gnashed my fangs and lit up all the scale-dust that had spread around him, causing an explosion large enough to consume his entire frame.
Dodging back, I started to slowly walk around the blast, waiting for Grimnir’s next move as the flames started to turn purple. It might not be a virulent toxin, but [Corrosive Fire] could still be acidic if I wanted to, and with the power of my flames, it could eat through armor pretty easily if it didn’t have enough [Inferno Resistance]. Relying on your armor was a waste. He had to have used auracoil to protect himself.
As if to confirm my guess, a bright mana shield flickered through the ash cloud as Grimnir charged through, flying towards me with flames and steam shooting from his back. My rocket boosters, was all I could think about, but to copy nature and transform them into tools was just how humanity worked. Honestly, a pretty nice idea to use that steam to overcome that pile of metal’s main weakness of being too heavy.
Guy really invented jet boosters, but Daichi probably gave him that idea.
Flicking my fingers, I sent my molted scales flying, creating a barrier in front of me as Grimnir struck them with his hammer, causing the mana around the hammerhead to explode. My [True Draconic Barrier] wasn’t broken, but I noticed my mana connection with them was shaking.
As Grimnir landed with a knee-shaking thud, he swung his shield at my scale wall, releasing another explosion that made me lose control of them entirely. As the scales fell like leaves, Grimnir slammed his shield down and took out his mana cannon and shot it, causing my body to jerk to the side as I suddenly remembered the last time I was directly hit by a mana ball.
Steading myself, I swung my halberd at his chest, but steam suddenly shot out of his left arm. Letting go of his cannon, he grabbed his shield with enough speed that it made me wince for a moment, thinking he was trying to punch me. Instead, he raised his shield again, protecting himself again to counter me with a rebounding shockwave.
Prepared for his rune, I recovered from the attack immediately and began banging against his shield again, utilizing the rebound to just gain momentum for my next attack, even if there was a delay on them. I might not have learned any new abilities from my training with my dragoon order, but they still finished instilling the last bits of fundamentals I couldn’t learn from Yorshka and Farron in time.
“How to breathe when I attack,” “How to dodge while holding the spear upright for a counter,” “How to conduct myself during an aerial battle,” and so many other lessons the dragoons had to learn themselves. Sure, I probably wouldn’t turn into a master spearwoman in the time span I had on Miononbolax, but this was all for Hikari anyway. She had to learn it more than I needed to, and I could just piggyback off her training.
Besides, I didn’t need to become a master as long as the person I was facing didn’t have any formal training himself. Even with his runic armor boosting his stats, he still was too slow in my eyes.
I kept bashing his shield with ever-increasing strength as he attempted to hit me with his blasthammer, eventually forcing him to release steam from his arms again. Just like before, explosive speed pushed his arms to finally keep up with my own agility, counting my blows. Noticing this, I started using my nimbleness to dash and fly around him, striking from whichever angle or direction I could see.
Although it was brief, Grimnir managed to block a few attacks, but I eventually managed to break through his defenses and hit his armor. I even switched over to Hikari to have her use her silver powder to sharpen my strikes and leave behind freezing ice to slow down his armor.
Heat started to build up inside his armor as I forcibly cooled down his armor, ruining the flow he had until now, before I kicked his leg, knocking him onto one knee, before using my halberd to pry open his helmet, revealing his sweating face beneath it.
“Haa, haa, haaaaaa… I surrender,” Grimnir finally said as he fell onto the ground, panting out loud. Taking out some water from my subspace, I handed him the glass. “Thanks, lass. Also, thanks for indulging me.”
Smiling reservedly, I nodded. “A nice surprise with all those changes, but as I said, you have to be able to hit me to do anything. It’s the same issue I saw with Maagneill’s Gundam. You might have incredible tools that can counter somebody, but strength, speed, and defense are all too important. There is a gap that can’t be bridged so easily…”
“How did it feel?” Grimnir asked, causing me to tilt my head before I understood what he meant.
Touching my neck, I frowned. “I felt that chill of death, again.”
“We’ve faced plenty of threats together, lass. Things that kill us with a swift lightning strike, or through poison-laced blades that can target our weaknesses. Another trial in our journey, and another enemy that cannot wait to kill us. Are you afraid?”
“What? Are you teasing me right now? Scared… sure, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Afraid for yourself, or for everybody around you? The distinction is needed because you act differently depending on which of those questions are more important to you,” he said, causing me to smile nervously as I couldn’t disagree with him. “War is around the horizon again, lass. The fish freak declared her intent against Aurora, just like her father did.”
I looked up, noticing the bright red face Grimnir had. His brows were furrowed so much that his forehead wrinkled up like an old grape. What was this anger directed at, and why did he force me to spar with him despite how clear my victory would be? Whenever he was angry or sad, Grimnir would drown himself in his work, as this was his preferred manner to let out steam, but he never once asked to fight to unwind himself.
I could see how furious he was, but why did he want to fight so badly?
“You won’t be dying on my watch, you hear?” he declared, standing up again. “Nor will I allow the people around you to face Goddess Death. I declare this not only as a member of Aurora, but on my pride as the Saint of Chihiro. So, walk, Hestia. Walk towards the incoming war with your head held high and don’t worry about the casualties, because these hands of mine will make armor and weapons that will protect the people you lead into battle.”
“… You know I don’t want a war. Whether it be against the demonkin, Folschreck, those damn Shiterno cultists, or even those Caedhulens who want me dead. It’s just something I can’t accept.”
“You don’t need to tell me that again, lass. Everybody who knows you knows your stance against mass casualties. You want things to be focused between a small set of people, and that only those who have a vested interest in the outcome of the battle should participate. Yet, you’re so greedy that you also want to prevent harm to your allies, to the point that you would rather fight things by yourself. Hah, you show it here and then, despite how much you’ve developed to actually include others in your battle. Yet, even if your Profile has developed to make you our strongest cleric and supporter, you always kept going down the path of a single-fighter. Like how you decided you had to fight the Prince of Envy yourself, because you had the tools to deal with him. Bit selfish of you to make us worry about your success, no?”
“That’s just how my sloth works, Grimnir. I will always put my friendship over myself, because I know I wouldn’t be able to function if I were to lose you guys because of my goals. Akasht was enough of a wake-up call. If I want to do what I believe is right, then I will have to be ready to see people I love die. As long as I am weak, that is.”
“You don’t get to say you’re weak, lass.”
“From your viewpoint, saying I am weak must sound horribly modest, but I have an entire family that constantly reminds me of my place. I am weak, again, because I am born a dragon.” I touched my neck, feeling the phantom pain of when all of them broke within a second. “My past self is telling me to run away and gather my strength, but I’m old enough to understand that sometimes you just can’t avoid conflict. Somebody’s threatening my mother, and another is trying to wage war against my family. Don’t worry, Grimnir, I already made my choice.”
Grimnir’s eyes softened as he nodded before bursting into a chortle. “Then I have to apologize, lass. I worried too much, huh?”
“Hey, that worry of yours is something I hold dear. Honestly, if you didn’t, then who knows how long Vifi would have needed to break out of her shell. I don’t need you to be strong, Grimnir. I need you to keep being you and make more equipment to protect all of us. As you said, you can make that happen, right? This power armor won’t be the last.”
“Ha, not this time, lass. I’m joining this battle,” he said with a snarl. “I’m paying those leviathans back, and I’m not letting those demonkin get their chance this time. So bring me that blood, and I’ll finish this armor. The blood I’ll harvest from anything trying to kill you will feed many more runes for you to use.”
Sheesh, he really is angry.
“But!” He picked up his helmet and placed it back on. “We can worry about that for later. Lass, your ‘healer’ is awake.”
“… Ah, so that’s the second reason for the spar. You really were just trying to get me to cool down, huh?”
“You know I’m not good at making up lies…”
“As I said, being blunt is good!”
And I’m also just happy to have you with us, again, Grimnir. Make sure to remind Bleidla that you’re the only gunsmith and power armor maker in this world!
