Unexpected Night

[What are you doing in this late?]

Hephaestus observed Hiner for a while and asked. It was about midnight, but a young man had been sitting on the chair since he finishing meal, drawing something again and again. The system studied a human who was just drawing blueprints without accomplishing anything, 'then what was he working on?.'

"I was trying to create an innovation that could shake the world, but after spent hours on it, I realized it was impossible in this situation. The requirement was high while we need something to ensure our safety urgently. That's why I am trying to prepare the smartest response to the incoming situation. My stupid move will cost villagers' life, then assembling all possible ways was needed."

[Huh? What did you design?]

"Just designing some random things, I preferred our people safety and thought of a metal shelter with holes for shooting arrows, but enemies could also use the same holes to kill whoever inside. I struggle to solve this, no matter what I tried." Heiner signed. "Low in number, that's the real problem. If the children were able to fight, somehow, our survival rate might be boosted. I architectured the gigantic crossbow but they were incapable of pulling the bowstring. Picking one or two from the front line to function this giant crossbow might exposure the destruction of our side."

"Signed." A young man signed then shook his head. "If I can craft something to move on its own, we will be in a better situation."

[You can do it.]

"Yeah, I know it's impossi... wait! What did you just say?"

[I said you can do it.]

"Really!?! How!?!"

[If you upgrade <Extract> skill to next level, you will have a slight chance to extract a soul from any corpses, but at least you can extract one of innate skill from the target. However, you need <Crystalize> skill to turn non-materials into crystals first. So, you can not do it right now.]

"How much reputation points I need to buy <Crystalize> skill and upgrade <Extract> skill?"

[The <Crystalize> skill worth 200 reputation points. It will cost you 400 reputation points for upgrading <Extract> skill. Cheap, right?]

"CHEAP, MY A*S!!"

[Oh? Is that so? I think it's really cheap for a mortal like you to earn such a power of God.]

"Hmm." Heiner who felt unfair before, calming with Hephaestus' words. "Thinking that way, I feel like you are true. Having these abilities is a great fortune to me."

[Yeah, I think so.]

'However, what is the requirement for crafting something with soul?"

[Hmm...okay, I will explain that for free this time. When you use <Extract> and <Crystalize> skill at the same time on a corpse, trying to materialize the former soul. It's to get a complete soul, you usually get a skill or a portion of memory from that corpse, but you will obtain a soul crystal once you succeed.]

[With that soul crystal, you can embed it to equipment or use it as a crafting material, but if you choose the last choice, you can't upgrade that soul. Although the soul crystal containing the dominant soul, its level reset once the vessel dies. As you have already witnessed the power of <Compress> skill, yes, that's how you can upgrade the soul, using the same level soul crystal to upgrade the similar one. However, using a soul crystal as a crafting material will turn it to equipment, the end product, which can not be upgraded but enhanced.]

[For your idea, letting the crafted thing move on its own, the soul crystal is needed, at least, a magic crystal to function as a source of power. You can also use the magic crystal that is containing any magic spell, but the power capacity will reduce by half. But sometimes you need a specific spell for crafting a soul weapon. For example, a flying sword requires a flight spell magic crystal as one of the materials. It can move according to your will as long as its mana does not deplete.]

[To connect your will to the soul weapon, you have to sign a contract by dripping a drop of blood to that soul crystal before crafting. Once it recognizes you as its master, it will know what you want and do as you command. Yawned. I am tired and need to recharge.]

[Activating sleep mode...1...2..3...., The system is in eternal sleep. To wake up the system, you have to spend one reputation point.]

"Sighed, I misunderstood him as a greedy fellow." Seeing the sleep mode, Heiner had aware of his mistakes. "He has to consume energy or something in order to give me information or skill. Perhaps, I should not complain about what I need to trade in the future."

ARRRRGGH!!

"GOBLINS!!! IT'S GOBLINS!"

Hearing the scream, Heiner rushed to see what happened. One of the patrols was killed on the spot, the survivor, holding his left shoulder to stop bleeding, ran to his commander who was just coming. After reporting and receiving the order, a patrol left to ring a bell and inform everyone.

There was a group of twenty goblins slowly approached the village. It was not a significant threat as having fifty or so to fight against them. But there was a problem, among those goblins, a hobgoblin was standing tall and mighty. Heiner was not confident in beating it alone, even ten villagers might have to sacrifice someone to take it down, but no one could not guarantee the success. Seeing a mocking smirked, Heiner hardened his heart and moved forward. The first battle was about to begin.