Apocalypse Healer - Path of Death-Chapter 5B3 - Madness

The Tirac Artificer squirmed, her eyes fixed on the ground as his question rang out.

“We were told you had no use for the corpse and decided to take it when nobody claimed it for days,” the Dwarven Blacksmith answered with a shrug, his face still red from the earlier implication.

“It seemed strange that you didn’t even bother collecting the system drops. We saw others take your things, and…” The Artificer’s scales clattered again.

“We liked what we saw and decided to take the corpse before such a precious treasure turned bad. After all, it wouldn’t help anyone if the resources of a Sacred Beast were to lose most of their beneficial properties.”

While their explanation was still not acceptable—especially because they’d already dissected Electra’s body to work with it—David was more frustrated with the news.

So, everyone just took my drops and everything else like it was okay? He suppressed the emotions raging within him and exhaled heavily.

Calm down a bit—it’s not like I didn’t know about that. As long as I use the Rift Core’s Essence more often, I’ll be able to make up for their thievery.

It was unlikely for most of the Great Horde’s monsters to have dropped something invaluable. In contrast, the Rift Core’s Origin Essence was likely more valuable.

Nonetheless, it made him angry. He’d been busy helping everyone, going out of his way to tend to all patients even when he’d been exhausted, his Source damaged—and that’s how they chose to treat him?

“How about we craft something for you? You have no use for the Mythical Electra’s parts either way,” the Artificer said, her head jerking up, reptilian eyes glimmering with a note of something. “Maybe we could create something customized you can use against powerful enemies, whereas we keep the rest of the Sacred Beast as a form of payment?”

That didn’t sound too bad, but it wasn’t enough to quench his fury. They would still benefit greatly from the exchange, enabling their theft. Furthermore, David was already in possession of a powerful weapon.

Maybe the Artificer noticed his displeasure—or she caught the moment of hesitation—but she continued to ramble.

“How about we use the Core of the Sacred Beast to create a soulbound weapon for you? I know you already have the Obsidian Blade, but we can always create a second one. Your soulbound weapon allows you to dual wield, and with Electra’s fang and the Core used as base materials, we ought to create a soulbound weapon that fits perfectly with the Obsidian Blade. The weapons will complement each other seamlessly!”

She glanced impatiently at him, her eyes narrowing to tiny slits when David didn’t answer.

“You should know that the Mythical Electra is a legend, its strength only limited to the Gold Rank due to the Earthen Union’s restrictions and resources. It may not be a creature on the same standing as Beast Gods before it traveled to the Earthen Union, but most Sacred Beasts can be compared to demigods. If we can unlock Electra’s dormant potential sealed in her Core, we can create a soulbound weapon that can be used until you reach the ranks of a Pseudo-Divinity yourself!”

“But it will be vengeful of you. After all, you killed it,” the Dwarven Blacksmith added with a small smile. “You’ll have to tame it first.”

The anger influencing David’s mind dispersed the longer he listened.

A second soulbound weapon sounded interesting, even more so if it would grow alongside him. But was it really necessary to use the Sacred Beast’s Core for a weapon? David thought about it for a moment. He let various theories and possibilities ruminate in his mind, his back pressing firmly against the chair.

“You need the Core and use it in the crafting process to unlock the items’ ability to grow alongside its user, right?” he asked, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

The Artificer and Blacksmith nodded in response.

“And the Mythical Electra’s materials are at the Gold Rank and of extremely high quality, and they will stay that way if the Core is not used to augment them. Because I killed Electra while it was weakened by the Earthen Union’s restrictions, right?”

They nodded again.

“In that case, can you replicate my Source using the Sacred Beast’s Core? Or craft a soulbound Blood Storage that grows with me?”

Even though Blood was not his greatest issue at this point, some battles required more Blood than others. Having more Blood at his disposal in the war against Void Fragments, Champions, other Gods, and their schemes, David was sure to require more Blood. The more, the better.

Besides, having more Blood would let him practice for extended periods before he’d have to recover. He’d be able to do so much more if his Blood storage doubled.

“And I’ll need a broadsword made from one of the fangs. The Obsidian Blade is excellent—probably all I’ll need once it gains more forms—but that might take a while. Probably too long to wait for, especially with larger enemies crossing my path more often these days,” David added after a pause.

The Giants and, even more so, the Mythical Electra had been a pain in the ass. The Obsidian Blade was great, but it was difficult to kill his enemies with it alone. It required more than the Obsidian Blade to deal lethal damage to larger enemies.

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“And, while I do not particularly mind the scales, you can create armor that covers my body like a second skin. That would be good. And, if you could engrave it with something that allows me to summon and de-summon it at will, I would be grateful,” he offered a faint smile, which widened as he added, “That might be enough for me to forget about your actions.”

Since they took advantage of him, David did not hesitate to return the favor. He was sure to exploit them as much as he could, offering the Blacksmith a toothy grin as the dwarf’s expression soured.

The more David said, the worse the Blacksmith’s expression became, but he didn’t seem to care the slightest bit about the dwarves’ displeasure. They took his things, so they may as well pay a premium for it.

“We could create armor using Electra’s scales and bind it to the Sacred Beast’s Core. However, as mentioned before, you will have to tame the Mythical Electra to make full use of the Core. We may be able to alter and temper the Core, allowing you to bind it to your Source, thus expanding your energy reservoir, but we—or rather, I—have never done that. I don’t know how the tempering will affect the Will left behind in the Core,” the Artificer explained seriously, her eyes glimmering with something akin to wonder and excitement.

“Taming it won’t be easy. After all, Cores of Sacred Beasts are similar to Fragments, albeit complete. All they lack is a flicker of divinity to attain godhood. But as difficult as it may be, I am sure it will be useful if you manage.”

Somehow, the guilt and embarrassment had been replaced by excitement. David couldn’t tell when exactly it happened, but the Tirac Artificer was a lot more into the idea of creating a wide variety of things for him than anyone else.

“That’s madness. The broadsword is no problem, but altering and tempering the Sacred Beast’s Core to attune to his Source will be—” The Blacksmith shook his head.

Whether it was madness or not hardly mattered. A new weapon, armor, and the potential to acquire and transform the Core of a demigod was definitely worth it. Taming the Sacred Beast’s Will sounded rather tame, but David did not believe for a moment that it would be a simple ordeal. The Sacred Beast’s Will would likely crush him if caught unaware. Thus, he would have to prepare for it.

“How long will it take to finish everything?”

“Months if you’re lucky,” the Dwarven Blacksmith responded without hesitation.

The Tirac Artificer, on the other hand, thought about it for a while. “The sword shouldn’t take too long. A few weeks at most. The Core, on the other hand, will take longer. While we know what you need—properties similar to the Blood Storages we’ve created for you—we will have to work more cautiously this time. One mistake and the Beast’s Will will swallow us. Binding the Core to the armor—once both are complete—will also take time. Probably close to two months. So, overall, you’ll have to wait a few months before everything is done.”

That would take longer than he would have liked, but good products needed time.

He nodded slowly, only to be interrupted by a growl.

What was that? David’s eyes narrowed and he looked down as the growl resurfaced once more. It was his stomach, growling louder the second time.

He’d just eaten a bag filled with baked goods, so why was he hungry again? David was not a foodie, but he’d always eaten. In the last few weeks, his eating habits had suffered a great deal, yet most meals contained monster meat and aether-infused vegetables. They were more nutritious and fed him for extended periods. Even the buns had been stuffed with monster meat and nutrient-rich vegetables.

David thought about it for a moment, cocking an eyebrow as a possibility surfaced in his mind.

“I can wait for a few months, that's no problem. However, I want the Sacred Beast’s meat. Keep the other fangs, eyes, scales, venom glands, and everything else, but I want the Mythical Electra’s meat,” he declared suddenly, his reasoning simple.

If the Artificer and Blacksmith preserved the corpse properly, the Mythical Electra’s meat ought to be the most aether-rich, nutritious ingredient to consume. It’d fill David with everything he needed.

As long as that’s what the Energy Pathways require. He thought.

It was no more than a theory, but the Energy Pathways were part of his body, which needed nutrients and energy to be reinforced. Thus, by logic, the Energy Pathways would require the same. Origin Essence alone was not enough. His body was also in dire need of more nutrients to make proper use of [Reinforce]. The more—and the higher the quality of—the nutrients and energy at his disposal, the better the results.

Or so David theorized.

Had he failed to reinforce the Energy Pathways because he hadn’t eaten in days?

Even if only a theory, David considered it a plausible explanation. It was definitely worth trying. And, if it worked well enough, that meat could drastically accelerate his progress. After all, it was the best he could get his hands on.

One way or another, the meat of a Sacred Beast was bound to be invaluable.

“The meat? We wanted to—” the Blacksmith muttered grimly, but a pointed look stopped the dwarf in his tracks.

“You took my things away. I don’t care what you planned to do. The Sacred Beast is mine!” David snarled back, having had enough of the Blacksmith’s nonsense. “If you don’t want to create armor, a sword, and whatever else for me, that’s fine. Return everything to me in its original condition and I will seek other Artificers and Blacksmiths in the surrounding Familias. I’m sure they will be more than happy to work with me.”

He knew they couldn’t return everything to him. Not in its original state, at least. The materials had already been harvested—some tempered, others already crafted into armaments and other goods.

“Whatever,” the Blacksmith grumbled, clearly dissatisfied. So be it.

“You won’t find anyone with our expertise in the nearby Sanctuaries. I may not be at the Gold Rank yet, but I have two Unique Classes that allow me to use monster materials better than everyone. I may not be a Prime Champion, but you should know my work well enough to tell that I am good at what I’m doing,” the Artificer said, her voice a nudge colder than earlier. “And once I advance—which is sooner rather than later, as I work with the Sacred Beast’s corpse—I will be able to create masterpieces unlike anything you have seen before.”

“Including the Obsidian Blade.”

David nodded slowly.

“In that case, I’m glad to be working with you,” he said, meeting the Tirac’s eyes. “But you better not offer me any empty promises.”