Using the pets of Pandora, Alpha, and Beta, we have pushed through the path toward the Capital City. Thankfully, we didn't encounter the Gate Guardian as that would make us waste more time. It's good that it's gone now, though.
When we are almost at the gates, we immediately have to avoid contact with the other players. Not only do they have some surveillance in Nexus, we just don't want the Nexus to catch the wind on us.
Luckily for us, there are barely any players exiting and entering the gates. I still warned everyone to at least take caution in case some people take notice of us.
Since we didn't have much baggage and we paid for the toll, we were able to enter safely without the need for any kind of trouble. It's nice that things are not that troublesome for us.
The moment we passed through the checkpoint, we immediately rush towards the mansion without hesitation. The elves followed us as well as they don't know where we are going except for the destination's name which is my mansion.
When we arrived, we can still hear the tinkering of the hammer in the smithy. Compared to the smell back when I was still Bladeheart, the smell of the ironworks is much stronger than before.
I grab the handle of the gate of the mansion. Since I put a protection spell before that will deflect any intruders in the process if they try to enter in any way without my permission, I was a bit afraid the gate will reject me.
But the moment I held the gate...nothing happened. I even tried to do it again and again in case things were not working well. Seeing that it allowed my presence in, it seems the ownership remained to be mine.
I opened the gate, allowing everyone to enter the mansion grounds. The hammering also stopped, which means Almira who was busy earlier has stopped working. When everyone is inside the gate and I have closed it again, the door on Almira's workshop opened and it revealed Almira wearing a sweatshirt and baggy pants. The apron she used and the gloves she was wearing are all in her left hand, as she went outside to check the people who went in.
As soon as her eyes landed on us, she frowned and she immediately went an offensive stance.
"Who are you, people? How did you all get in without the owner's permission?!" Almira is ready to go and smack some heads if necessary.
"Woah there, calm down Master. It's us, we just returned. Don't get hostile on us, please."
Almira was startled after hearing my voice and approached me, with a big frown on her face.
"Bladeheart? Is that you?"
"The very same, though I abandoned the name Bladeheart already as that was my alias. I am now called Manato. We are back now."
"Really? Wait, you guys might be impostors, show me something that will convince me that you are indeed Bladeheart before."
I nodded and pulled out the Versatile Weapon.
"Here, check it out. You have seen my weapon before, I doubt you will still suspect me as an impostor with that," then I handed her the Versatile Weapon.
She inspected the weapon from its intricates and also on its status panel as well.
"Can you show me the main ability that is unique to this weapon?"
I grab the Versatile Weapon and freely changed its form to any weapon I wish it would become which then solidifies that I am indeed Bladeheart.
"It's indeed you. But...I am quite sure you are quite strong before, how come you seemed like you have gotten a lot weaker than you use to be? Also, your face has changed as well. I saw your face before, it's not like this. What is going on? Can you go ahead and explain everything to me?"
"Yes, yes. But first, let's get inside the mansion for now. We have to avoid the prying eyes of the public for now.
...
...
...
Almira closed down her shop before she decided to talk with us. Currently, I am handing them new weapons and armor appropriate for their levels and equipping them. I have plenty of them stored in the mansion as a means to recycle them for later but soon scrapped the idea as I go on and produce more high-level quality items. They might not have worn their last outfits which helps determine who they were before right now, but with their new looks, it is clear that they have been carrying the same demeanor as they were before when they used their last bodies. And besides, she noticed Riko immediately since Riko didn't change her face that much when she was still using her avatar as Dolly.
I also started explaining stuff, to Almira so that she is not out of the loop as well and well, she didn't expect the situation as well.
"Crazy. I thought only the stories in literary works and fiction would something like this happen but it is happening right now to the people like you. As someone who has seen many crazy things, this one is more crazier than I thought."
"See, which is why I didn't expect you to believe us right away," Rika chuckled.
"But I will. You, people, have been my customer in some repairs and stuff and you can say that you all are my patrons even though you barely use any of my works due to how frequently this guy makes stuff that I am not opposed to, but knowing you all, I know you guys are not the type to lie on their situation and to also power down just to escape something like that, that takes real dedication as well, which is why, I can see you all making a decision as well."
Almira then turned to look at the elves with a slight glance at Pixie sitting on Renatta's hair.
"You three are elves huh? It's been some time since I have seen one before. I bet you all are also looking for the people you guys have separated from, yes? I think I can tell you some information I got but I am not sure if it was real news or not and you guys might need to take it with just a grain of salt. According to the info, I heard some elves are currently seen before due to the recent war they have been having with the Lycanthrope tribe. Right now, I heard they are currently going to ask for help with the Dark Elves as the situation is a bit harder to deal with as well."
"Huh?! Where? Can you tell me the location?" Renatta stood up, surprised but intrigued at the information.
"Just wait a minute as well, you guys will have to be careful as well. According to my sources, it seems the Lycanthrope tribe has fallen under the bewitching stance and I think I have also got a theory on what is happening there as well. Manato is your real name, right? Yeah, seeing the Versatile Weapon's state and the weapons you guys have swallowed, I think this will give you quite an interest."
"What do you mean? I frowned."
"Check the Versatile Weapon's skills that are gained from devouring, I think I have info on something that will change the state of completeness to the skill number 14."
I turned to look at the skill 14 that she was talking about. I wasn't paying attention to their numbering which is why I wasn't aware much of what skill was she talking about.
----------------------------------
[Blood Covered and Sinful Versatile Weapon]
Weapon Level: 40
[EXP: 49,000/150,000]
Type: Weapon Equipment
Rarity: God Tier
Series: Seven Deadly Sins' Weapon Series
Equippable at Level 0
Equippable By: Versatile
STR: +2000
AGI: +2000
DEX: +2000
END: +2000
INT: +2000
Special Trait: Blood Mark: Every 20 hits, a Blood Mark will be imprinted on the enemy that cannot be cleansed unless the marked enemy will be killed or 5 minutes have passed without attacking that marked enemy. Marked enemies will lose HP based on the damage done when the mark was inflicted and will heal the user's HP by 100 per stack. Blood Mark will stack 20 times.
Embedded Skills:
1. Regeneration Level 1(Max: 10) - Every Basic Attack will recover 1% of your mana. The recovery rate will increase at every level.
2. Sharpness Enhancement Level 5(Max:20) - Basic Attacks will have an additional 500 damage. The damage will increase at every level.
3. Physical Penetration Level 4(Max: 5) - Basic Attacks will have a 40% chance to ignore defense. The probability will increase at every level.
4. Defense Reduction Level 3( Max: 5) - Basic Attacks will have a 30% chance to inflict Defense Reduction debuff on the enemies. The probability will increase at every level.
5. Double Pain Level 1(Max: 10) -Physical Attack Skills will have an additional 100 damage. The damage will increase at every level.
6. Berserk Enhancement Level 6(Max: 10) - Damage dealt during the status "Berserk" is active increases by 60% and decreases the defense harshly to 60%.
7. Mana Conservation Level 10(Max 10) - Magic and Physical skills that need mana to activate will have a 95% mana consumption reduction and cooldown decreases by 1 second for all skills. The effect will increase at every level.
Special Skills
1. Devour - can devour weapons and armor to level the weapon. It can change its appearance depending on what weapon is previously devoured. Some items and soul artifacts can also be devoured. Devouring the weapon counts as Amalgamating.
2. Change Form - can change to different forms of weapons currently available.
3. Vampiric Lifesteal -normal attacks coming from this weapon can heal the user's HP by 10 every hit. This skill won't activate if it was a skill used, only normal attacks are counted. It can be used in all forms.
4. Skill Extraction: all the devoured weapons with embedded skills on them can be extracted if devoured by the Versatile Weapon. There is no limit to skills that can be extracted and learned but you can only extract one skill from one weapon.
5. Scale of Defense: Every 1000 mana used by the user will generate one stack of Shield that can block 2 physical and magical attacks. Can stack up to 10 stacks.
6. Electric Defense Reduction: Normal attacks can trigger reduced defense to the enemy for 2 seconds with a 1% chance to activate. It can stack up to 5 times.
7. Curse of the Dead: 0.1% chance to cast the debuff [Corrode] to the enemy. It will last for 4 seconds.
8. Mana Regeneration: Normal attacks will increase the mana regeneration to 1% and will stack to 10.
9. Russian Roullete: In gun form, shoot a random bullet that will inflict one debuff from the following list of debuffs [Poison, Paralysis, Sleep, Bleed, Blindness, Skill Seal]
10. Incomplete Rhongomyniad: Fires off a beam of light that inflicts true damage in exchange for half of the HP of the user. (Will change to Rhongomyniad after certain conditions are met)
11. Weapon Attraction: When a weapon from the Seven Deadly Sins series is detected, the Versatile Weapon will resonate and signal the user of the presence of the weapon.
12. Vanagloria: (Pride Exclusive Skill): the user will forcefully transform its weapon into a Shield and Spear form and applies [Taunt] to self. Once attacks are received, the user will receive Invincibility for 3 minutes but cannot move from where they activated the skill and will be forced to remain in position. Once the damage that has been received has been accumulated, it can be used to fire back to the enemy with a 2x multiplier on damage dealt. It can only be used once every 48 hours. (If conditions are met, will transform to The Fallen Star's Pride)
13. Blood Weapon: The weapon will be covered in Blood that will last for 5 minutes. It has no cooldown but will consume 99% of the user's HP. Double the weapon's current stats and increases the weapon's [Devour] damage.
14. Devouring Hunger(Incomplete): (Gluttony Exclusive skill): Summon the incomplete Devourer of the Abyss that will allow the user to utilize and fight using the Devourer of the Abyss. Has a 35% chance to devour the target whole while fighting a low HP enemy which will result in either a permanent increase of the Versatile Weapon's stats or heal the user's HP. Since it was in an incomplete state, the user can only use this skill 5 times a month. (Once conditions are met, will transform into Hunger of Beelzebub)
15. Mammon's Curse: (Greed's Exclusive Skill): Absorb the enemy's permanent stats and convert them as temporary buffs to the user. The stronger the enemy, the bigger stats can be devoured. Some of the devoured stats will be permanently lost to the enemy and the user will gain the devoured stats permanently. You can gain the devoured stats once every month. The other effect will remain the same. Additionally, every kill will now double the bronze, silver, and gold gained from killing enemies.
16. Song of the Sloth: (Sloth's Exclusive Skill): Plays music that calms the nerves of the enemies who can hear the melody. Allies will be buffed in various effects depending on how long the song has been playing while enemies will get debuffed more the longer the song plays. The enemies will enter a passive state that even normal attacks will not cause them to activate their lethal phase, allowing for a safe attack process. However, playing this song will make the user vulnerable to attacks and the music cannot be stopped until the piece that has been playing has ended. Ensure the user has a backup when fighting.
[Further special skills are not yet discovered, please let the weapon devour a few weapons with abilities]
Note: A weapon forged by an unknown material from an unknown civilization. Can devour and change form depending on the wielder's will. Said to be a weapon made for the gods that hold tremendous power but it ends up in the hands of the mortal.
Second Note: Because it has devoured and digested a weapon that belonged to the Seven Deadly Sins, the Versatile Weapon can now be considered to be part of the Seven Deadly Sins' weapon series. The sleeping beast of the weapon has now partially awakened.
Third Note: After devouring and imprinting itself from the blood of the Pendragon, the weapon has partially unlocked the sealed powers hiding deep beneath.
Fourth Note: Devouring another weapon that belonged to the Seven Deadly Sins increased its power. The Sleeping Beast is getting developed and it's already recovering a partial amount of its powers.
Fifth Note: Requirements not met. Will reveal it once the requirements are fulfilled.
Special Note: After the restrictions have been lifted, its true power has been slowly unleashed. Even the creature sleeping inside is starting to grow stronger as well. No one knows whether it is a bad thing or a good thing. One thing is for sure, the weapon is getting stronger before we know it.
Restriction: Cannot be dropped, cannot be sold, cannot be traded. Bound to the Owner
Bound: Manato Tsukasa
Durability: Null
------------------------------
"The [Devouring Hunger]? What of it?" I turned to look at her.
"I think there is something similar to that weapon currently being used by the chieftain of the tribe since I heard the guy has started to devour anything gourmet nowadays and it was pretty sudden. After all, he wasn't like that before. Not only that, but it seems his wife has changed as well."
"So you are saying..."
"Yep. A new weapon of the Seven Deadly Sins series has fallen into the wrong hands once again. I think you should reclaim it while it hasn't bare its fangs too much."
Foll𝑜w current novels on fre(e)w𝒆bnovel