READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 25: Empower
Unlike the previous times, Zyrus didn’t use the corpse for sacrifice.
Even with his vast experience, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to manifest a void domain with the time he had left. Hence, he had to think of another method to increase his overall fighting prowess.
“Slice ‘em up,” Zyrus waved at the Ophidian warriors that were standing nearby.
In the short time when Zyrus was recovering his mana and stamina, the three warriors had almost finished dismembering the corpses.
“Stand guard.” he gave them a simple command and walked towards the corpses.
There was nothing remarkable about the Verdara beetles besides their claws and wings. Zyrus observed them for a while and conducted a series of experiments.
The claws were thin and razor-sharp as expected. However, due to their lightweight and imbalanced shapes, they were not suitable to make a flying dagger. The wings were lightweight and had a resilient nature. Even after using the claws, he was unable to tear them apart.
‘The claws are too small to be used as daggers, as for the wings, they’d make a good armor but they’re too little in quantity’
“Come here,” Zyrus beckoned one of the Ophidian warriors as he fumbled with his cube.
Although he was unable to use his inventory, he had the cube to store these spoils. And if he got lucky, he might figure out a way to make something out of them by using the cube.
After spending some time on earth he was no longer clueless about the cube. Although he couldn't control the cube, he could at least predict the cooldown and limitation of its ability.
A white light flashed by and a bundle of leather gloves and a ball of string appeared in front of him. Since they were common items, he should be able to use the cube within a few hours.
Zyrus instructed the confused ophidian warrior to stretch out its palm, and slipped the leather gloves on its hands.
Satisfied with the result, he weaved a string along the claws and threaded them with the gloves' fingers.
“Move your fists,” Zyrus nodded as he looked at his crude work.
Although the ophidian warriors were strong, their lack of weapons held back their full potential.
‘If they’re able to fight like this, it wouldn't be a waste to spend a couple more days and make proper weapons,’ Zyrus smiled in satisfaction as he observed the ophidian warrior whose hands were moving in a blur.
“Good, you can go ba- eh?” Zyrus squealed when he saw a sudden message pop up above the ophidian warrior.
[Congratulations! You have discovered a hidden ability of the Balaur Summoner]
[With each new rank of your summon you can discover another hidden skill]
[Current highest rank of the summon: 1]
[Skills unlocked: 1/1]
[Congratulations! You have discovered the skill: Empower]
Zyrus read the message with wide eyes. He had thought that his class could only be improved in the second ring.
On the first ring, class-related functions were forbidden. Even someone like Aurora, a system administrator, could do nothing but accept this. Never in his wildest imagination had he thought that he'd get a class skill before going to the second ring.
‘Well, unique classes are called as such for a reason,' Zyrus chuckled inwardly and opened the skill description.
[Empower: You can use monster remains and other mana infused objects on your summons. The skills can be used more than once corresponding to their rank]
[Note: Depending on the assimilation rate with the summoned creature, the skill's effect may vary]
[Note: The changes are irreversible]
“Oh well, looks like it’ll burn a hole in my wallet,"
Without any second thoughts, Zyrus immediately used the skill on the claws of Verdara beetles.
“EMPOWER.”
As he commanded in a voice filled with mana, a golden halo appeared on the pair of claws, and bit by bit, they merged with the ophidian warrior's hand. The summoned warrior yelped in pain due to the assimilation. But not long after, its expression was replaced with excitement.
A pair of crimson blades jutted out from its green knuckles. They had become shorter and more refined compared to before.
Zyrus was intrigued by the skills result. It was no easy feat to transplant an object into a summoned creature. The empower skill would require an astonishing amount of resources to showcase its full potential. He would have to work harder in the future to scour enough supplies, but he knew the final results would outclass his investment.
He didn’t know about the maximum number of creatures he could summon, but he was certain that he would be able to create an elite army of his own.
With a similar procedure, Zyrus used the remaining pair of claws as well. Now, all three of his summons had a decent weapon on their hands. The sharp and lethal blades combined with their agility created a synergistic effect.
‘Looks like I can implement the next step of my plan much sooner than I’d thought,’ Zyrus thought as he observed the warriors spar with one another.
He ordered them to fight against one so they could get used to their new fighting style. As a result, he was certain that his summons were more than capable of handling a Verdara beetle on their own.
“Go left, kill the single ones and if you encounter a swarm, run immediately. Collect their claws and wings in this,” Zyrus tossed a bag towards them and asked,
“All clear?”
The trio nodded in response and vanished like a blur through the door. He was now left alone in the shelter room.
Zyrus sat on the metal bed, the only intact object in the room, and planned his further course of action.
In about a week he would have to return to the sanctuary. For the time being, his two goals were to kill as many beetles as possible and expand his troops. Apart from this, he wanted to lay out the foundation for the void domain.
Now that the first goal was partially taken care of, he decided to focus on the latter.
There were two reasons behind his choice. First, he wanted to develop another power using his source of origin. He was taking his baby steps when it came to the matter.
Although the spatial stab was powerful, he wasn’t able to use it in a fight. The skill was very inefficient unless he was betting everything in one blow.
The other reason was, of course, his lack of aoe skills. In his past life, it used to be one of his strong suits since he was a mage.
The beetles' speed and poison immunity left him in quite a predicament. His poison breath could kill them with prolonged exposure, but in these vast tunnels, it would be a pipe dream considering their speed.
He had theorized some aoe spells like spatial storm and gravity field, but they would require an astonishing amount of mana and understanding about space.
Domains, on the other hand, were a different matter. It was a signature move of arcanists. At the peak of his power he had created a domain called the Eternal prison.
Zyrus didn’t pay much attention to it as it functioned similarly to the grand aoe spells. That was until he fought against the Eternals.
His domain was one of the few powers that worked against the self-proclaimed immortals.
He lied down on the metal bed as he recalled his past battles. Just the knowledge from the arcanist's inheritance wasn't enough to create the void domain.
Unlike other high-level spells, domains didn't require much mana to cast. The requirements to cast a domain were quite simple and not at the same time.
One can cast a domain by using a related object and enforce their will on the set area. Naturally, the might of the domain depended on the factors above, the core of the domain and the caster’s will.
For example, a fire mage can use a volcanic rock essence to cast a magma domain. The domain would manifest as per the caster’s will. He could convert the earth around him into a field of lava or increase the temperature of the surrounding air. At higher levels, he would be able to create toxic gases as well.
According to the arcanist text he had read, the domain possessed the ability to control mana in a closed environment. The caster's spells and other abilities would be increased by several folds in his own domain. On the downside, if the opponents possessed a stronger will than the caster, they could use their will and wrest control over the mana.
In theory, it was possible to gain control over someone’s domain as well.
Zyrus had once obtained a rare material called the prison stone. As its name suggested, the rock was used in confinement formations. By fusing that rock in his staff he was able to cast eternal prison.
The domain more than deserved its mighty name. Once affected, even the Eternals were unable to break free from its restrictions in a short time.
After all, few beings in the sanctuary had a stronger will than him.
'Let's get started then,' Zyrus held the cube in his hand and started reading with concentration.