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n?”Words of thanks can often feel empty, so the best thing I could think of is these two blades.”

n“I can’t follow you on your journey, as I need to help Antalya look after this tavern. But these two blades will accompany you, one is for you, and the other is for Ali.”

nSaying this, Greg carefully lifted the long straight sword from the box.

nHis movements were cautious, holding the hilt with one hand and pinching the tip with the other, his expression serious as if he was not holding an inanimate object but a fish that could slip away at any moment.

nThis fish had a lethal spine.

nHoward’s gaze was captivated by the silver line on the blade.

nAlthough he preferred swords, he didn’t mind trying other weapons.

nHe could feel the chill filling the room, indicating that this weapon was no ordinary one.

n“This is called Ripper Mk II, originally Soma’s weapon, a prototype.”

n“After I killed Soma, I took it back and completed the processes my brother Naya hadn’t, adding my own mana edge inscription. Once activated with mana, it forms a layer of mana blade on the surface, protecting the blade and effectively breaking through physical shields. The blade is made from a low mana-conductivity metal, making it inherently counter to mana defenses.”

nDouble defense penetration!

nThe ability to counter both physical and mana defenses, two contradicting capabilities, were indeed concentrated in one weapon.

n“I used some tricks, so while the effect is impressive, the mana consumption is significant. It’s not recommended for regular combat,” Greg paused and then pushed the long sword forward.

n“Now, it’s yours!”

nThis was far from a trivial gift.

nA weapon meticulously crafted by two brothers, and also a keepsake of Greg’s brother…

nHoward shook his head, “The significance behind this blade is too profound. I cannot accept it.”

n“Stop being so hesitant! I debated for a long time before deciding to give it to you! Weapons are born for battle. Would you have such a sharp blade lie in a dark box for the rest of its life?”

n“That would be the greatest insult to it! It was born to sever the heads of ancient beasts!”

nGreg’s eyes bulged, his beard seeming to puff up with his restrained anger, yet Howard could still hear the fury in his voice.

nHe was a true blacksmith.

nWeapons themselves are never to blame; they are merely tools, even if their innate purpose is to take lives.

nHoward looked into Greg’s inflamed eyes, understanding that Greg had likely spent these days in the forge completing the work his brother Naya hadn’t finished.

nHe had said it himself; Ripper had initially been in Soma’s possession.

n“I understand,” Howard paused before slowly nodding.

nThis was not just a gift but a trust bestowed upon him.

nThose peaks that Greg had never seen would now be witnessed by Howard on his behalf.

nHis life had already been shadowed, and now might well be his peak.

nHatred is such—it signifies destruction upon its arrival and departure.

nDestroying the enemy, and destroying oneself.

nReaching out solemnly to take Ripper Mk II, Howard suddenly froze.

n“Doesn’t this blade come with a sheath?”

nHe couldn’t possibly carry around such a heavy box, and given Ripper Mk II’s non-standard specifications, a regular sheath simply wouldn’t suffice.

n“I almost forgot.” Greg slapped his forehead, looked down to rummage through the box, and pulled out a leather sheath that fit perfectly.

n“Here it is, I’ve measured it according to your height; it should fit perfectly on your back.”

nAfter securing Ripper Mk II, Howard slung the sheath over his back.

n“That’s all I have for you. The Cutter is meant for Ali, so don’t even think about it.”

nGreg closed the wooden box and pushed it back under the bed.

n“Although Ripper Mk II wasn’t custom-made for you, its compatibility with you should be high. Despite your speed, a more expansive fighting style suits you better. Plus, your sculpting mana can reduce the consumption of the mana blade, making it easier to wield.”

nNodding, Howard touched the thick hilt of Ripper Mk II, which was longer than other straight swords: “I will cherish it.”

n“That’s good to hear,” Greg smiled and started ushering Howard out.

n“Off you go, I need to get some sleep too.”

n“Alright.” Howard nodded and turned to leave.

nStepping out of the forge, Howard looked up at the starry sky again, but the cold feeling had significantly diminished.

nHe hadn’t walked far when the sound of forging resumed behind him.

nDing—

nDing—

nDing—

nLike a series of chime bells, a legacy unbroken.

n…

nTime always seems to pass quicker than Howard anticipated.

nThe three days flew by in a flurry of activity.

nWith such a short span of time, even if Howard practiced relentlessly, the improvement would be minimal.

nSo, during these days, Howard decided to set aside his training.

nWhen you have sufficient funds, external resources are always the quickest way to enhance your capabilities.

nAlthough Howard’s space ring didn’t contain many items, a few were genuinely valuable assets.

nHe had specifically brought some magus-related items when he departed from the Oli Kingdom.

nFor instance, several scrolls that couldn’t be opened by brute force, and a staff that looked like a withered branch.

nThe former are spell scrolls that can be activated with mana for immediate use.

nThe latter is a wand of average craftsmanship.

nWhile magi in the New Continent often differ from those Howard was familiar with, there are similarities.

nFor example, combat magi who specialize in energy-based mana or those research-type magi who always stay quietly in their towers conducting their studies.

nTheir weapon of choice is generally a wand, made from materials with excellent mana-conductivity properties or derived from spellbeast materials, hence holding significant value.

nShould Howard find an opportunity to sell it, the wand could fetch thousands of gold coins.

nA well-trained energy-based combat magus can be far more formidable on the battlefield than a magus of the same level, capable in extreme cases of matching a whole army’s worth of force.

nHoward gleaned these insights from Antalya.

nAs a qualified energy-based magus herself, Antalya has a keen eye for appraising items, rarely making a mistake.

nGiven that Howard’s deal with Nula was already half-exposed, he didn’t care much about revealing more.

nSo, he simply took out everything from his space ring, selecting a few items he couldn’t understand to consult Antalya, who indeed provided him with answers.

nAntalya didn’t inquire where the items came from, but such blatantly obvious matters hardly needed questioning.

nBesides confirming the usage of the magic scrolls and determining the value of the withered wand, Howard also spent some of his accumulated gold coins to purchase several magic potions.

nThese potions were not expensive, yet they possessed somewhat peculiar functionalities.

nFor instance, a magic potion named “cat,” closely related to its name, provided night vision.

nOr, to put it more accurately, it granted low-light vision, allowing one to see clearly in dim environments.

nApplied like eye drops, it took effect immediately, lasting about half an hour per use, with a bottle offering around ten applications for just thirty gold coins.

nAlthough potent in its functionality, this potion had poor sales in Breeze City.

nIn fact, all magic potions struggled on the market there, but the “cat” potion was among the least popular.

nIn a setting where night was synonymous with danger and wild beasts, this potion, despite its broad applicability, remained unsold.

nHoward stumbled upon a batch of these unsold potions, snagging a relatively significant bargain with five bottles, saving nearly twenty gold coins in total.

nIn addition to the “cat” magic potion, there were also “aqua lung,” “wolf,” and “rabbit,” with effects that temporarily increased breath-holding capacity, enhanced sense of smell, and enhanced jumping ability, respectively.

nEach effect was quite impressive on its own; however, none found practical application in Breeze City.

n“Wolf” and “rabbit” potions sold a bottle or two at best, but with no rivers or significant bodies of water nearby, the logic behind stocking “aqua lung” potions was baffling.

nSpending nearly five hundred gold coins in total, over a hundred of which was borrowed from Antalya, Howard sold some less useful items from his space ring.

nDraining his wallet dry, he finally gathered enough funds.

nWithout securing quests soon after their departure, they might have to brace for sleeping outdoors.

nAmid these meticulous preparations, Nula finally knocked on the door of the Gold Coin Inn. .

nIt was a quiet afternoon with few patrons in the tavern.

nHoward sat lazily in a chair by the door, soaking up the sun, while Vivia swept the floor and Antalya organized the ledger.

nHaving kept a mental countdown, Howard felt no surprise when Nula actually appeared.

n“You’re here,” he said, looking up at Nula’s striking face and nodding.

n“Seems like you’re ready,” Nula remarked, her surprise evident upon seeing Howard’s calm demeanor.

n𝘳𝘦.𝒸𝑜𝘮

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