Chapter 877 (2/2)
Randidly chuckled. “It’s certainly better than the previous two. So the idea is just to make a series of slanted hoops and fit them all together? But how will the whole thing fit together.”
Wendy gestured at Randidly’s stump irritably. “Just install a base. Then slide each piece on top of the next. There is some slots for them to slide together, but they will be small so as not to restrict movement overmuch. If that doesn't’ work, magnetize the different metals and stick them together. I just hope you have a good blacksmith.”
Randidly grinned. “That won’t be a problem.”
When he returned to Earth, Randidly was delighted to see that Sam had responded in the affirmative, so he sent a time in six hours and began to work in earnest to forge more of these improved metal.
It was a rather optimistic estimation of the time it would take him to work, but Randidly wanted to push himself. Already, the time until the challenge against Donnyton’s Squads had fallen to nine days. His arm needed to be made as soon as possible so he could begin to try and master the use of it.
In addition, once Randidly had his new arm, Randidly wanted to head down to visit Neveah. Both to see what was keeping her, and to rapidly Level himself to Level 49. He would take some time to consider his approach before he formed his Fate, but he saw no reason why he shouldn’t rise to 49 like most of Donnyton’s other elites.
Those extra Levels would give him some extra Stats, which would give him an edge. Plus, Randidly would probably earn a Skill from the more dangerous aspects of his Class at Level 45. If he obtained something completely ridiculous, Randidly wanted to have some time to Level it to a useful state.
At exactly six hours and twenty-three minutes, Randidly felt Sam’s tread walking up the path toward his hut. Likely the older man was already impatient to know why Randidly had called him out and headed over to investigate. Randidly rolled his eyes, sympathizing somewhat with Regina Northwind.
Outside of armor and forging, Sam was something of a willful child. Randidly and he would end up walking back over toward Sam’s work area anyway, to come over here now…
Well, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was focusing on this last ingot…
Randidly allowed Cruel Indignation of Yggdrasil to fall and began to use Refine repeatedly to purify the mixture. Very quickly, the color shifted to the now very familiar silver with crimson and emerald speckles. Breathing through his teeth, Randidly poured the molten metal into the mold and settled back to the ground with a sigh.
When he allowed his plant arm to fall limp, it collapsed into the ground and began to slowly smolder toward ash. He looked at the gleaming stack of ingots and smirked, in spite of himself.
This metal… even if it's just an arm, this will be the most powerful equipment that I could ask for…
There was a knock at the door. Randidly got up and brushed himself off. With a wave of his hand, he gathered all of the ingots into his ring. Then he wondered whether he should try selling Sam some of the metal to make his equipment.
It was a good idea. Because of the methods used to make the metal, anything made with it would be innately sympathetic to Randidly’s images; after all, those images infested every inch of the metal.
Yet Randidly had sensed that although Sam was amused by Randidly’s earlier rejection of his creation, it had now shifted to a personal challenge for Sam. To offer him such an easy way to achieve what Randidly wanted now…
Randidly pressed his eyes closed. Would it not also inhibit Sam’s growth? Part of the reason Randidly had rejected was to warn Sam away from relying on the Darksteel to create powerful armor. It was ultimately a dead end, forging wise. By the same token, simply providing an easy answer to Sam was not ideal.
After all, the ingots were likely just as strong as Darksteel, and possessed none of the drawbacks. They had it now, but such a perfect solution wouldn’t be available in the future. Forcing Sam to find his own Path was probably Randidly’s best course of action right now.
Besides, Sam would see the material when they worked on Randidly’s arm. If he thought that was the best bet, if his pride wasn’t an issue, he would simply inquire about it. At that point, Randidly would need to make a decision. But not quite yet.
Is this truly what will happen the longer I wear the Crown? Randidly wondered as he opened the door to speak to Sam. I will be slowly consumed by worries about preparing others for what is to come…?
But I suppose it’s better that I be consumed than I let my sense of urgency slack, Randidly thought, his determination that had dispersed somewhat at the lack of sighting of the Creature firming once more. The foes we face are not just the ones we can see, and the ones the System has promised us. And I need to be ready. We all do.