Chapter 278 - Ridiculous Segways

"So, tell me," the Mech God suddenly spoke, "How did you find the tile?"

At that moment, the three of them were walking to who knows where. The Mech God led the way, after all, and didn't bother saying anything about their destination. Although Rynold had an idea, it was only a guess.

"Really?" Rynold asked, failing to believe that the Mech God was vying for a pleasant conversation, "That's the question you wanted to ask? I'm sure you already know the answer, so why not just get straight to the point? Instead of, you know, going through hoops."

"I would get straight to the point if you'd at least answer the damned question."

Rynold sighed, unsure of where the Mech God was going with this conversation. But, in order to smooth things over, Rynold knew it would be better to cooperate.

"Fine, fine," Rynold answered half-heartedly, "I saw the lines on the ground. They're Mana conduits. Or, at least, that's what I think. They transfer Mana from a central Mana Crystal to anywhere on this island. Excessive, sure, but it does the job."

"Good," the Mech God nodded, "You're not as ignorant as I thought."

"Whatever. What's your point?"

"That, dear mortal, was the second step in sensing Mana," the Mech God rightfully explained, and with his haughty and arrogant tone to boot, "I'm sure that you're aware of having felt the intense aura of Mana. The feeling you get of being overwhelmed. It's like you can't put into words the feeling you get when you're standing in front of it."

"I'm guessing that's the first step."

"Ah, so it is," the Mech God agreed, "While you know it's there, it's not the most accurate measure. You can sense it, get a feeling of it, but that's as far as you can go. Fortunately, the technique you had learned is like a microscope built into your eyes. It fine-tunes your vision to see Mana instead of just sensing it. Of course, at its current level, you can't see everything just yet."

Rynold nodded, understanding and agreeing with what the Mech God had said.

"By everything, I'm assuming you mean the ambient Mana all around. Yeah, no. I can't see anything apart from the obvious that's there. It's useful but not entirely dependable."

"It's good that you see it that way," the Mech God noted, "It makes you not so complacent as you seem. Skepticism is good, considering the place where you need to go on your mission."

Now was the first time the Mech God ever said something about where he needed to go. The mystery and suspense had been unnecessary for the longest time now. Rynold didn't care for the warnings and dangers the Mech God said. Rynold was just eager to get down to business.

"Are you finally going to tell me what I need to do?"

"In a minute," the Mech God pushed it for later once more, "There's one last thing I want to give you before you leave."

"I don-"

"I know what you're going to say, okay, and let me stop you before you go ahead and reject my help," the Mech God interrupted Rynold's response, deeming it foolish, before Rynold could even say anything. "You have no idea what dangers await you. But I do. So believe me, you're going to need this."

At that moment, Rynold fell silent. He only now realized that the Mech God wasn't fooling around or asking any favors. There was no backhanded request to this already complicated situation. The god was helping, as unbelievable as it was.

"What have you got for me, then?" Rynold asked, his tone this time around much softer.

"Oh, here we are."

The Mech God then suddenly stopped before the most nondescript entrance. Rynold would've easily walked past it because there didn't seem to have anything interesting there. But, hey, this island was the Mech God's, after all. If anyone knew anything about this place, it would be him.

"Where is here, exactly?"

Rynold looked around, unsure where on the island they were. There didn't seem to be any signs or distinguishing figures in and around the place. If anything, this street was just as empty as the ocean surface.

"Pretty neat, huh? I've designed this area to be just like the rest. Anybody wouldn't think twice about looking here. But, even if they did, they don't have the key."

As soon as the Mech God said that, he placed his hand gently on the building wall. And, at that moment, the wall glowed, and the ground beneath their feet started to descend. It was far from a spacious platform. But it fit the three of them perfectly well.

"This is..."

"My armory."

With a smile on the Mech God's face, he introduced a large area dedicated to weapons of different classes and kinds. Rynold could barely maintain a train of thought as soon as he caught sight of what would be the best weapons armory he had ever seen. All of which was, in no doubt, made by the Mech God himself. The weapons here would outclass anything that's out in the world, easily.

"Is it really okay for you to show all of this to us?"

Crimson remained polite throughout their entire walk here and only said something now. Even he knew that showing them the Mech God's armory was too much. And, if Rynold could put two and two together, he'd agree too.

"It's fine," the Mech God dismissed Crimson's worries. "It's not like the two of you would steal anything from here. And, even if you did, you'd die without me here. The security measures I built here could even kill a high-class Elemental. Maybe even more."

Rynold couldn't tell if what the Mech God said was true or not, but he sure wasn't going to stick around and find out.

As soon as the platform landed on the ground level below, Rynold chose to stick close to the Mech God. Crimson did the same, of course, not even considering going out on his own. All the while this was happening, the Mech God didn't seem to have a care in the world and proceeded to go about his business. To which Rynold didn't mind at all.

And, after a few minutes of aimless wandering, Rynold suddenly called out to the Mech God. "What exactly are we looking for?" he asked, looking upon racks and display cases of different but exquisite weaponry. And, as much as he appreciated all that eye candy, Rynold wanted to get a move on.

"It's somewhere here, I assure you," the Mech God answered, keeping his pace, "It must be somewhere in the back. It's a small device and barely used too. Hard to explain and demonstrate without having it in hand."

"Is that it?" Crimson asked as he pointed to a small device presented in a small glass display case.

"No," the Mech God answered after giving it a slight glance, "But good eye. That was a gadget I devised to fight against incorporeal beings. You know, ghosts and such."

"Do you even need something like that?" Rynold asked, keeping up with the Mech God all the same, "I'm pretty sure ghosts wouldn't even breathe when you're in the room."

"That's a fair point to bring up and no, I don't need it," the Mech God answered, "Ghosts are tricky to deal with for the likes of you mortals. But, we gods don't really need to go through that kind of trouble. Just being within a ten-meter radius of them would kill them on the spot."

"Then, why make it?"

"Oh, well," the Mech God paused before answering, knowing that his response would be awkward, "We have a lot of time in our hands. With living millennia and being immortal, you got to fill up the time one way or another."

Rynold felt appalled by the answer, but he just as easily understood. Gods and mortals, there was a fine line between the two beings. Time was something the gods have plenty of, not that all mortals were in any rush to live forever.

"That's fair, I guess," Rynold acknowledged, "But, can't you at least tell me what we're trying to find? Even the vaguest of descriptions would help."

"No need, we're here."

"The fuck does that mean?"

Swearing shamelessly, Rynold looked to the pile of boxes tantamount to a small hill. Rynold couldn't really hold back his awe the moment he realized they had to look through all of this.

"Relax," the Mech God shook his head and chuckled, "This'll only take a second."

Just like that, the Mech God's closed his eyes, took a second, and opened them again. He then moved towards the pile and singled out one smack dab in the center. He pulled, confident that the pile wouldn't topple over, and opened the box on the spot. From there, he pulled out a small orb and raised it high so that it glistened in the light.