Chapter 39: Pocket Watch
Percival had spent some time exploring the entire castle and the rest of the estate.
Dean, meanwhile, felt a strange sense of peace wash over him every time he looked around or gazed out of his window.
Until less than a month ago, he had been fighting for his life, wondering when his body would give out from exhaustion; now, he had been given the chance to live in a castle just as he had always dreamed.
Of course, in the future there would be many ghosts, demons and angels.
Yet at that moment, the entire estate, as far as the eye could see, was empty.
When Percival returned and said there were no problems, Dean decided it was time for bed and lay his head on the pillow.
The fact that this woman, Raviel, had refurbished everything in the castle had ensured it retained its old-world charm whilst gaining a touch of modernity.
"Percival, keep watch all night. Just in case," Dean had said.
To be perfectly honest, the castle was so vast that a touch of paranoia had crept over him.
Still, one way or another, he’d managed to sleep for about seven hours.
Nothing too serious was going to happen this week.
Dean had been introduced to a few servants, a butler and, of course, security; during this time, each of the recruits had been given small houses outside the castle, whilst some had been allocated rooms within it.
Dean had bought new clothes, pyjamas, toiletries and, quite literally, a whole host of other items one could think of, and had managed to make the castle feel truly like home.
By the end of the week, Dean had, of course, come across that familiar sight once again.
In the afternoon, whilst everything was proceeding as normal, Dean was busy eating his lunch.
At that moment, under the watchful eyes of the maids and footmen, a small pool of blood had formed around Dean, and he had written a few words on the dining table:
[The Cosmic Terror, First Beta, Fourth Dungeon!
Title of the Dungeon: Star City Shipyard
Task: Do your work as a ship builder.
Special Note: You cannot leave the dungeon until the job is over.
The dungeon will start in one hour.]
Dean was eating his meal whilst reading the text on this information window, to which he had now become accustomed.
Almost thirty seconds later, when the information window vanished, Dean had taken his last mouthful, drunk a glass of water, and then got up from the table.
"Please tell Mr Leyla that today’s lunch was very good," said Dean.
Immediately afterwards, he left the dining room and began walking towards his own room.
There was something he needed to look at.
There was an item he’d normally have wanted to examine within the dungeon but had subsequently kept forgetting about.
[Pocket Watch of the Unknown]
Dean had no idea what this item was.
The only thing he knew was that, whatever it was, it was powerful enough to put him at a disadvantage, and that it now belonged to him.
After a long walk, upon returning to his own room, the next steps he needed to take had become clear.
Having prepared himself properly and ensured he had enough food in his inventory just in case, he looked at the pocket watch in his inventory and then checked its properties.
[Pocket Watch of the Unknown (S-Grade)
What exactly does it mean for even time itself to forget a person?
What happens when existence itself erases that person?
When the past, present and future have all turned their backs on everything, what remains to be seen?
All these questions will continue to exist, but as long as that person does not return, the answers will remain hidden forever.
This item can significantly alter energy flows and, by channelling the necessary energy at the right moments, create a shield powerful enough to withstand even a limited number of S-Grade weapons.
This item possesses the ability to manipulate the energies of other items.]
Dean had spent some time thinking about exactly how to use this artefact.
Firstly, he was curious about how the shield function would work.
So, to hold the watch in his hand, he took it out of his inventory and then, closing his eyes, channelled both of his energies into the watch.
The moment he did so, he realised that the energies within the watch were indeed spilling out, but in a far more powerful manner.
As this happened, Dean opened his eyes and managed to see a transparent shield.
It was transparent, yet visible to the naked eye.
"Percival," said Dean calmly.
Percival immediately stepped out from his shadow.
"Strike the shield with all your might," Dean commanded.
At first, Percival had been reluctant to carry out this order.
He was now a ghost of equal power to his master, but despite all this, it was still a dilemma.
After all, Percival did not want to harm his master, Dean, just in case.
Nevertheless, Dean’s firm command and his gaze had managed to compel Percival to carry out the order.
Dean stood ready, whilst Percival drew the sword from its sheath, which was fastened to his waist.
Percival tensed completely; a powerful energy enveloped his body, particularly his arm and the sword.
Then the order was carried out:
"BANG!!!!"
It sounded just like a gunshot.
The sword struck the shield, and Percival was sent flying back about two metres across the room, slamming into the floor.
Dean, however, had smiled.
He’d charged his pocket watch with such a small amount of energy that he hadn’t expected it to create such a formidable defence.
Even so, the attack, delivered with all his might by Percival, a ghost capable of killing even Mid-Level ghosts in a matter of seconds, had failed to penetrate the shield.
The attack hadn’t even left a mark.
Percival’s face was beyond shocked. The ghost couldn’t even comprehend what just happened. Although he was smiling because his master would be safe, he just couldn’t understand how he couldn’t even put a mark on the shield.
The Pocket Watch was TRULY impressive.
Comments