22

Tucking the compass away, I spoke to Lisa. "You can step out now; I recommend some food and a glass of water."

Nodding, Lisa staggered towards the couch and flopped down, groaning while rubbing her head. Turning towards Komainu, I started talking to her as I prepared to leave.

"Keep an eye on Lisa, please and make sure she gets some food in her."

Nodding, she darted and wrapped me in a tight hug before speaking in a voice that quivered slightly. "Please be careful; you lost your arm last time, don't get hurt again."

Looking down at her, my eyes went wide. I didn't know she could do that, but it made sense, given that she was a guardian spirit.

Encircling in her a hug, I replied. "Of course, I promise I will always come back."

Searching my face for any signs of a lie, she eventually nodded before heading into the small kitchenette to prepare Lisa some food.

Flipping out the compass, I vanished and appeared in the alleyway outside. I just needed to grab Oni Lee then I could leave Earth Bet. It would suck to abandon Taylor, but at the end of the day, she was a fun project, and that's it.

Periodically looking down at the compass, I followed the red needle as it guided me toward the boardwalk. I presumed it directed me to the house Oni Lee was in when Jack Slash found him.

As I walked, I spotted PRT vans whizzing by me, lights off. Raising an eyebrow, I wondered if Armsmaster survived. I hoped he did just because he and Dragon were cute.

If he didn't, and he most likely didn't, because Caldbolg ll to the chest was not something that most people could survive. Then it would be a bit sad, but I might be able to resurrect him.

Almost immediately after that idea came to my mind, dozens of blueprints presented themself; Anything from a simple scroll that could call back the recently dead to a serum that could provide simple immortality.

As I peered back down at the compass, I swore. The needle was pointing behind me towards the PRT vans disappearing around the corner.

It seemed they had already bagged Oni Lee, and given that their headquarters were reasonably close by, I doubted I could grab him and escape before reinforcements arrived.

That left me with two options. I could grab him as they left the city for whatever place they imprisoned him, or I could jump their headquarters.

The headquarters would be difficult, but a Birdcage transport would most likely be harder given that I was now down quite a few batteries.

In fact, if I attacked the headquarters, I could pick up an entire pack, given the lack of transports ferrying villains out of the city recently.

That meant step one was getting more Dust; I needed the PRT to be off guard, and giving them a day or so to get Lee settled in would provide that.

Making a small Dust Filtration system would be an excellent start. I would need something to acquire it as well as filters and magnets. I could buy all of those at a nearby store.

It would be nowhere as good or efficient as it is in Endless Legend due to the fact that it will be hobbled together on a small scale.

The system in the game was massive and most likely at least two to three stories tall. Mine would be around two to three feet. Counting my walk toward the boardwalk, I started searching for places I could buy supplies.

Spotting a small shop that appeared to sell everything from butterfly nets to hacksaws, I stepped inside after checking my funds; I had plenty.

As I peered around, I saw a tall, lanky male figure pop up from behind the counter. "Hello! How are you doing today!"

The man practically shouted before leaning forward and grinning. He had a wide bucktoothed smile and appeared around his mid-thirties with slightly greying hair.

Walking up, I started to speak. "I am looking for metal poles, very thing mesh, and magnets. Do you have all of that?"

The man gave another broad grin before scampering off. I waited at the counter for a few minutes tapping my fingers on the counter before he returned.

Stacked high in his arms was precisely what I had asked for. Plopping it down on the counter, he quickly scanned all of it up before looking at me and stating the price.

"The total will be 1,326, would you like a bag with that?"

Chuckling at the obvious question, I nodded, withdrew the exact amount needed, and slid it over. Putting the money in the till, the shopkeep quickly and efficiently bagged the items before handing them off.

"Have a great day!"

"You as well," I replied as I walked out. It was fortunate I had a strength buffing power, or I would have toppled over already.

The first step to setting up the filtering mechanism would be to set up a small base by the bay. Chain teleporting, I soon arrived at one of the many unused ships.

I removed my supplies from the bags and spread them out on the ship deck. It took a few firm hits from the palm of my hand to break apart the magnets.

The next step was dropping the steel poles in the bay. They sunk to the bottom, and I now realized I would need to jump down to build it properly.

Shucking off my clothing, I hopped in the muck-filled bay and soon had the poles affixed to the ground. Teleporting out, I grabbed the mesh and packed the fragments of the magnets between mesh layers.

This time being very slow, I dropped back down into the bay and tied the mesh between the pillars. Shaking it a few times, it seemed firm and would require somebody actively messing with it for it to break.

As I hopped out, the Grimoire's power swelled, and new knowledge pushed at my mind. The Prime Arcanum expanded to encompass further information.

Holding my hand in front of me, I conjured up an illusion using naught but mana, and with a simple flick of my wrist, the illusion started to shift until it was a man dancing across the ship deck.

As I peered around, I noticed what I had missed before. There was mana in everything from the scraps of steel to the bay itself. Looking at the mana around me, the water nearly blinded me.

The water, except Shards, held the largest amount of mana I had ever seen. I then dipped my hand in it and started to pull. A torrent of mana began to flow into my body, and I was forced to stop unless I wanted to blow myself to bits.

As I looked back up, I saw the illusion was still dancing and had gone from merely prancing about with a sword to elegant ballet. It seemed that it held a degree of sentience.

My next step was the hardest thing one could do without stepping into the realm of godhood—a simulacrum, a being that was the duplicated creature for all intents and purposes.

There was a downside; the being was imperfect and was not as powerful as the original. Flipping through my new knowledge did not tell me how weaker they would be, just that they would be less powerful.

Focusing, I poured mana into the air in front of me. It wasn't easy, even when making a copy of myself. However, after a few minutes and a small light show, standing across from me was me.

It was buck naked, not that there was much to show given the skeleton form, but it was still the principal of the matter. I raised my hand to conjure a robe when he clicked a small pen, and he was grabbed in my red robes with Liam's Staff of the Magi in a flash of light.

"No need; I can keep this running for pretty much forever so long as we don't get into a fight. I don't have any of the Grimoire items."

Frowning, I was a smidge annoyed at that, but having multiple of me was excellent for the pure utility alone. Speaking, I took a few steps closer to look it up and down.

"So, what can you do?"

Spinning the staff lightly in place, it responded. "Pretty much all the magic you can do. I am running on about half a tank, though."

That appeared to be the drawback. They could reach the same peaks as I could, but their reserves were much smaller. Carting around a multiple of me would be inconvenient as well.

"In that case, 3.0, I need you to set up defenses and renovate this ship. I want it in tip-top shape."

Sighing, 3.0 looked at me with a clear sign of exasperation on his face before twirling around to do as I asked but not before shooting back over his shoulder.

"Really 3.0? There isn't even a 1.0 here. Won't that get confusing?"

Waving him off, I replied. "Nah, besides, it's pretty simple; I'm 2.0, your 3.0, and so on. Also, no simulacrum. I don't want to deal with that mess!"

"Bo! Spoilsport!" Shaking my head at his antics, I left. I would be back to collect Dust, but I did not doubt that he would set up more Dust strainers. We always tended to focus on economy before anything else.

That meant my next step was to jump into the PRT headquarters. I would need backup, and who better than me, me and me? Excusing that bit of fun, I would still need a solid plan.

Chain-teleporting back to the apartment, I let myself in. Lisa was fast asleep on the couch, and Komainu was entering herself with the TV but was clearly bored.

I could put aside my plans to nab Oni Lee for now. I would need to wait anyway; trying to jump the PRT headquarters myself was stupid. Setting next to Komainu, I threw an arm around her shoulder before speaking.

"I was thinking, what if you and me and some one-on-one time? I give you some proper teaching about Magecraft."

Grinning, she hopped off the couch and dashed to the table, pulling out a pair of chairs. Lisa stirred slightly, and I decided to let you; if she wanted to join in, she was free.

Setting down, I grabbed a few pieces of paper I had bought much earlier and a couple of pencils. I wasn't the best teacher, but I would do my best. I decided to start with a simple explanation of Magecraft

"Magecraft is the reenactment of Mystery. You are doing what is possible with natural means through unnatural methods. For example, if you were to take time to reforge a sword until it was much better, that is natural. If you were to use Reinforcement, you get the same effect but via an unnatural method."

"Seeing as you don't have Magic Circuits, a fair bit of this will be improvised. You aren't human, so you would cast much like a Phantasmal Beast, of which Magecraft is a downgrade."

Looking confused, she waited until I was done and set down her pencil from where she had taken notes. "If what I do is better, why teach Magecraft."

"That is simple, utility. Your innate abilities may be much more powerful, but things such as Hypnosis or Formalcraft are useful no matter what."

As I spoke, the Grimoire grew again; the power settled in my bones like it often did after such significant power. At this point, Lisa had shuffled over the blanket draped around her and was sitting her head on the table.

Grinning, I gave both of them a pat on the head and ignored Lisa's tired grumbling as I continued to teach Komainu Magecraft.

Powers Gained

Arcanum (Additional) x3

Add a level to one Arcnum per level purchased

[3] You may enchant material objects in numerous fantastic manners depending on your other arcana. You may craft illusions out of raw magic that will fool sleepers and inattentive mages. You may give form and substance to mana, making the immaterial, material, at least for a time. You may use spells to draw mana from the environment into yourself, empowering you further. If the need is dire, you may unleash your raw mana in the unique form of celestial fire.

[4] Your spells may now be used to rend the magic of your enemies into nothingness, or allow you to feed on the mana hidden even in base materials. You are suffused with raw magic, and may sculpt it into any shape you desire, or command it as one would a trained animal. You may revitalize extinguished natural nexi of mystical energies or drain similar places of their power. [5] You may create a simulacrum of a beings, animated by your power and subject to all of your commands. You may steal the mystical energies from others through your spellcraft, and use it to your own ends. You may create Hallows; nexi of mystical energy, though this requires great effort. Alternatively you may instead create mystical dead zones where no mage may regain their expended energy.