Stone Knight! The Hero is going all out?

Being depressed about how small his inventory is, Connor decided to sit for a quick snack. Even though the amount of ration they got from Vanessa's former comrades is more than enough to get them to Roa, Vanessa made sure to warn Connor about eating too much.

"Try to be satisfied with two meals a day, saving ration for an emergency is a must for survival here!"

To which Connor replied with a puzzled face as if speaking the obvious!

"We can always eat earthworms, aren't they common around here?"

With a disgusted face, Vanessa told Connor.

"You eat those things? I know they are edible! It's just that they are the last resort food, we usually feed them to pets and guard beasts like dogs and guard-drakes…"

Connor, who thought that the worms are a staple food here underground, was surprised to learn that people treat them like pet food. He was then intrigued by the Concept of guard beasts so he asked.

"Guard beasts? what are they?!"

Vanessa answered after shaking the image of Connor munching on a live worm from her head.

"Animals or monsters that we use as guards. Dogs and guards-drakes are pretty Common in Roa!"

"I know what dogs are but what is a guard-drake?"

Vanessa tried to describe them as best as she could.

"Alligator-like beasts the size of sheep, They can blend with their surroundings and have a poisonous bite. Their drawback is how aggressive they are, training them is a nightmare! add the fact that they eat almost twice as much as dogs will eat!"

"They sound like a hassle to train, can't they be dangerous to their masters?"

"It rarely happens, the problem is when they face an intruder! Dogs will bark at an intruder and when they attack they usually leave their target alive. Guard-drakes will kill and eat the intruder!"

{Notice: 90 meters to northeast, a hulking cockroach colony is fighting a group of Hulking beetles. The hulking beetle group contains the family we faced before!

Total number of hulking cockroaches 87 green 1 orange

Total number of hulking beetles 9 red 1 purple}

Connor told Vanessa about what Ariel found, she seemed to have a troubled face.

"Hulking cockroaches are doable since they are a bit squishy but the hulking beetles are the problem! Their exoskeleton is as hard as stone and it can damage my claws and daggers and it also prevents me from using life steal or poison magic, since both of them need to hit the creature's flesh, not the armored exoskeleton!"

{Notice: True, with her skill set fighting the hulking beetles is a bad idea! they are like her natural enemy.}

"A bad match-up? Then I will take care of them, you focus on the hulking cockroaches!"

"Do you have any idea about how to fight them or are you just trying your luck?"

Connor showed his quarterstaff to Vanessa with a confident face.

"I bet whacking them with this big old stick is enough, and if not I can burn them with magic!"

Vanessa was confused.

"Those things can easily break stones with their claws! Can your quarterstaff handle that?"

"You bet! This thing is so condensed that they won't be able to break it easily!! Also, I don't think they can survive one hit with the weight of an elephant in their faces!"

"If that's what you think then I guess it's okay, you have Ariel with you after all!! just don't die since I still need you to sponsor the guild!"

Using [Earth Magic] Connor dug a hole and called Vanessa, they will use it as a way to get close to their target.

Even though Connor could theoretically teleport to anywhere in Ariel detection range there is still the chance of teleporting right into something! The consequences of that are still unknown so Ariel strongly advises against that!! There is also that Vanessa doesn't have that much of a range to teleport. With this in mind, getting closer was a smart decision.

Moving slowly underground, Connor and Vanessa approached where the Cockroaches and the beetles were fighting.

"As soon as we get close enough, we will ambush them!!"

without much delay, as soon as they got closer one of the hulking beetles jumped into the ground and started digging straight toward them.

{Notice: A beetle approaches at high speed, we have been discovered!}

Oh shit!

"Vanessa teleports outside! Now!"

[Shadow Magic: Shadow step] Vanessa teleported. Connor tried to teleport Mei first, the ceiling is a good place where she can provide support without fighting directly(Since she can cling to the ceiling with her claws) [Teleportation Magic: Warp] Connor teleported Mei.

As soon as he did that a claw broke the stone in front of him with tremendous power.

With an upward punch, Connor deflected the claw at the last moment.

Thank goodness I have [Enchanting Magic] and [Martial Arts] active all the time!!

Jumping backward Connor used [Teleportation Magic: Mana step] Teleporting to the middle of the cavern. From his mid-air position, he could see Vanessa mowing the hulking cockroaches, Mei's veins trying to stall the hulking beetles that are aiming at Vanessa.

In a split second, Ariel has already marked all the targets locations and prepared a course of action!

[Fire Magic: Fireball] Connor shooted a massive fireball toward the Beetles, stopping them in their tracks.

Connor landed crouching as he looked at the Crimson rose of flame in front of him.

The Beetle that was underground burst out behind Connor swinging its claw at his head.

{Notice: Behind you!}

Swiftly Connor swung the quarterstaff behind him, he managed to hit the Beetle on its torso just in the nick of time to save his head.

The staff impacted the Beetle with a tremendous force, The sound of shattering carcass boomed through the cavern.

The Beetle was sent rolling on the ground with blood spilling from its mouth.

A 2000 Kg of stones accelerated to hundreds of miles per hour using a level 28 [Enchantment Magic]. This quarterstaff hits like a truck, literally!

"A car crash baby! How do you like my monke stick!"

{Notice: This hulking Beetle was one of those we met before!}

Wait! It's the same monster family? Did their number increase?

{Notice: I guess they split the family to hunt! one of them is a bit larger, it may be the father!}

Now that I looked closely I can definitely see the mother I blinded, and that big one is the father, right?

[Earth Magic: Stone spear] Connor finished the beetle just hit.

We are taking them all on! I want to see how much I can fight!

{Notice: You can always teleport to safety! Rampage as much as you can!}

For a moment silence fell and the air stopped moving.

Everyone present turned toward Connor as they sensed the mana moving toward him.

Vanessa though, The amount of mana he is sucking is too great that even I can feel it! What in the hell is this hero about to do?

Some of the hulking cockroaches started to run away, their instinct telling them that something terrifying is about to happen.

To keep up with how much mana I am going to use.

[Pure Magic]+[Magic Control]+[Enchanting Magic]=[Combined Magic: Overclocked Mana Regeneration]

Mana is absorbed by the skin therefore there is a limit to how fast you can absorb it, Otherwise you will suffer burns! I add [Enchanting Magic] to protect myself from those burns when I'm regenerating over my limit!

Those monsters have large steel-like claws, so I better protect myself. In Bluemill I used a gauntlet made from condensed dust, let's upgrade it to stone!

[Earth Magic]+[Enchanting Magic]+[Magic Control]+[Ariel]=[Combined Magic:Weightless and Durable Stone Armor]

I'm going to use the staff as a weapon so I better enchant it!! Let's make it a bit more durable and also increase my swinging speed.

[Earth Magic]+[Enchanting Magic]+[Wind Magic]+[Ariel]+Quarterstaff=[Combined Magic: Weapon Speed Enchantment]

Hey Ariel, I feel like I'm using too many skills, can you handle it?

{Notice: you are now using 37% of my processing power! I don't count on activation so all the magics you used now are triple activation! you can use up to another six triple activations!}

Then let's keep going!

[Enchantment Magic]+[Martial Arts]+[Lightning Magic]+[Ariel]= [Combined Magic: Enchanted Movement and reaction Speed]

Enchantment magic and Martial arts are enough to increase my speed! So to increase my reaction speed I used Lightning magic to increase the speed of my nervous signals, with Ariel fine-tuning of course!

[Combined Magic: Shell Shock]+[Destruction]=[Combined Magic: Stronger Shell Shock]

This is for ranged attack!

[Combined Magic: Earth Glide]

This to move freely in the ground!

[Sound Magic]+[Dark Magic]+[Wind Magic]+[Ariel]=[Combined Magic: Presence Concealing]

This will make it harder for those bugs to keep track of my movement!!

[Holy Healing Magic]+[Holy Detoxification Magic]+[Pain Resistance]+[Ariel]=[Combined Magic: Active Regeneration]

Enchantment magic alone isn't enough to protect me from injuries, Also I feel burning pain all over my body due to Increased Mana regeneration and this will help me keep that in check!

Even though I can use another Combined Magic I better keep some processing power for emergencies!

In the fight with Vanessa, I told Ariel to not strain my body too much! But now I want to know my current upper limits. If I pushed my body to its limit how much power can I achieve? What kind of encounter can I survive if I give it my all? I need to answer those questions to be able to decide whether to fight or run in the future!

This transformation only took Connor about 4 seconds, no one dared to get close due to the rampaging mana around him.

Covered in full Stone-plate armor, Connor's eyes glittered with a blue light as he looked at the monsters.

If you listened closely you could hear a sizzling sound coming from him as mana is sucked into his body! Seven cannon shells appeared behind him as if they were shining stars.

Ariel, register this as a mode!

[Battle Mode: Stone Knight] has been added.

I can't physically keep this mode for long, My skin is literally burning and my bones are rattling. Let's test what I can do!

{Notice: 8 Beetles remaining with a danger level of red and one with a purple danger level. The danger levels are calculated with The normal fighting power and without the quarterstaff! In the current situation, the danger level might have changed!

Re-calculating...The normal beetles are white, the father is now green!!!}

[Combined Magic: Stronger Shell Shock] release!

As soon as Connor released his magic aiming for seven of the weaker beetles, he jumped aiming for the last one of the eight. The earth shattered with a BOOM! under his legs as he jumped with monstrous strength.

With how much speed and strength he put into his body and armor, Connor blasted right through the beetle he aimed for, shattering its body into a storm of gore.

The shells managed to take the other seven in the blink of an eye. The father Beetle saw his entire family explode and went into a rage.

The magic Connor used to hide his presence was useless as it wasn't able to hide the huge amount of energy and chaos Connor released with one charge.

The hulking cockroaches that were fighting Vanessa gave up and they started running for their life. Who would want to stay this close to that monster! A raging agent of destruction.

The father beetle, blinded with rage, swings his right claw at Connor, a hit that can tear through armor easily.

[Teleportation Magic: Blink Dodge] Connor teleported about half a meter to the side dodging the Beetles attack.

"You have the strength but you're too slow!" With an upward swing with his quarterstaff, Connor severed the beetle's right arm.

Still not giving up, the father beetle coughs Connor with his left hand trying to crush him, even though it's a monster you could see the blood rushing to its eyes from rage.

"You're putting a good amount of power into your grip! sadly that would mean nothing if I did this!!" [Combined Magic: Stronger Shell Shock] The Shell hit the beetle's elbow cutting the arm off.

"See! you didn't have enough time to even crack my armor!!! What would you do now?"

The beetle tried to bite Connor with his large mandible but alas, the difference in power between him and Connor now is just too great.

With one swing Connor tore its head off, As the beetle corpse fell to the ground he looked toward Vanessa.

Is he looking at me? No, he is looking behind me.

Connor teleported behind Vanessa, straight in the middle of the running cockroaches.

"Why are you running? Come back Exp!!!!!" Connor yelled.

[Fire Magic: Fireball], [Lightning Magic: Chain lightning] Casting magic left and right Connor killed as many as he could before they managed to run away. It only took one minute to finish them.

As Vanessa approached him Connor's armor disintegrated and he fell to his knees breathing heavily. Lighting a torch she could see, Connor's skin has become deep red, his eyes are bloodshot and veins are visible in an uncomfortable way all over his body.

"Oh~ shit...I feel like my heart is about to explode…"

"What was that? didn't I just tell you about the danger of using too much mana? What if you lost control over it!!!"

Connor coughed blood…

"Don't worry… just strained my body over its limit…"

Vanessa hurried and took three potions from her shadow storage. A green potion for stamina, A red one for health, and lastly a blue one for mana.

"Drink those!! they will help you…" Connor couldn't move so she helped him to drink the potions.

"Don't worry...I have pain resistance and my regeneration combined magic is still active…"

Vanessa's eyes opened wide and she yelled at Connor.

"Combined Magic? Double activation? and that armor? What did you use???!"

"I used eight… Eight triple activations…" As soon as he heard that Vanessa couldn't help but punch Connor in the face.

"You bastard do you want to die??? how do you even do that!!?"

"Don't punch me now, I'm half dead… I guess this is what happens when you have pain resistance and could not feel much pain… I did end up causing too much damage to my body…"

{Notice: You have leveled up! check your stats.}

-----------------------------------------

Name: Connor Von Eric Hakai Monke . Level: 22

Age: 24 Race: Human.

Social status: The master of the Von Eric family, The master of the Von Eric Hakai Monke family.

Class: Hero, Divine Slayer. Portfolio: Destruction.

Titles: Toxic gamer, Merciless, Another world traveler, Tamer, Partner of the gold dragon Kinryuu, Destroyer.

Health: 231/1865

Mana: 750/2920

Stamina: 285/1522

Strength: 34 ,Dexterity: 36 ,Speed: 36 , Magic: 42 ,Luck: 18

Constitution: 40 ,Wisdom: 34 ,Intelligence: 40 ,Charisma: 32 ,Will: 34

Martial art Skills:

[Martial arts: Level 22],[Mace Arts: Level 8], [Throwing: Level 1],[Sword arts: Level 17], [Pain resistance: Level 24],

Evocation Skills:

[Fire Magic: Level 20], [Water Magic: Level 10], [Wind Magic: Level 21], [Earth Magic: Level 29], [Lightning Magic: Level 12], [Light Magic: Level 6], [Dark Magic: Level 10], [Pure Magic: Level 26], [Enchanting Magic: Level 30], [Sound Magic: Level 10], [Magic Control: Level 26], [Enslavement Magic: Level 2], [Teleportation Magic: Level 6], [Shadow Magic: Level 1].

Restoration Skills:

[Holy Healing Magic: Level 20], [Holy Detoxification Magic: Level 12]

Taming Skills:

[Taming: Level 9], [Shapeshift: Level 10].

Draconic blood Skills:

[Draconic Physic: Level 14], [Draconic Senses: Level 11], [Draconic Stomach: Level 4]

Ariel Skills:

[Ariel: Level 26]= [Appraisal], [Sentient], [Analyse], [Encyclopedia], [Minimap], [Ego], [Inventory]

Hero Skills:

[Patron of the holy maiden: Level 7]

Curses from the god of creation:

[Plot armor: Level 3],

Destroyer Innate skills:

[Destruction: Level 30], [HeAw%=DeLoAw%: Level Unknown].

Registered Combined Magic:

[Combined Magic: Overclocked Mana Regeneration]

[Combined Magic: Mana Regeneration]

[Combined Magic: Active Regeneration]

[Combined Magic: Weightless and Durable Stone Armor]

[Combined Magic: Weapon Speed Enchantment]

[Combined Magic: Enchanted Movement and reaction Speed]

[Combined Magic: Shell Shock]

[Combined Magic: Stronger Shell Shock]

[Combined Magic: Earth Glide]

[Combined Magic: Presence Concealing]

[Combined Magic: Monke's Stick]

[Combined Magic: Blast Furnace]

Battle Modes:

[Battle Mode: Stone Knight]

Active Skills:

[Ariel: Accelerated Calculation, Magic Calculation, Internal Chanting, Vital Record, Mental protection, Accelerated Thoughts, Ego, Appraisal, Sentient, Analyse, Encyclopedia, Minimap, Inventory]

[Enchanting Magic: Reinforced Body], [Draconic senses: enchanted perception], [Draconic Physic: Draconic Vigor], [Draconic Stomach: Iron Stomach], [Martial Arts: Body Control], [Pain Resistance: Lessened Pain]

Active Combined Magic:

[Combined Magic: Mana Regeneration]

[Combined Magic: Active Regeneration]

[Combined Magic: Monke's Stick]

------------------------------------

You're like a task manager! Anyway, I feel sleepy...wake me later...

Connor fell asleep from exhaustion.

…

…

Connor opened his eyes in a dark room, he couldn't even tell up from down

"Dear, You forgot your spare clothes!" Connor heard the voice of a woman calling him.

As he turned around he found himself in a house with a beautiful young woman facing him.

She handed him a leather bag...supposedly containing his clothes.

He was in a shabby home but it felt weirdly warm, this is his home.

"Thanks, honey, I will definitely need those! This time the mission might take a couple of days!"

The woman walked to him and held his hands.

"Dear, please stay safe and don't push yourself too much!" The woman is clearly worried about him.

"Don't worry it's just bandits, we are superior to them in number, arms, and armor! They usually surrender the moment they are surrounded so we rarely suffer injuries!"

He can feel it! This is his wife and she is worried about him!

After giving her a farewell kiss he exited the house.

Walking down a street that is both strange and familiar a voice rang in his head.

{Notice:}, {Notice:}!

A sharp pain, deep in his chest, Connor started to feel dizzy.

{Notice: W..k}

The pain kept increasing, it became harder for him to breathe.

{Notice: Wake!!}

The scenery started to fade in front of him, turning into pure darkness.

{Notice: Wake Up!!!!}

Connor's conciseness started to slowly fade away.

{Notice: [Lightning Magic] say allow!}

Connor could hear the voice but couldn't understand what it's meant!

{Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}, {Notice:ALLOW!}...

Ariel kept repeating 'ALLOW' over and over inside Connor's head to what seemed like infinity… Until he repeated it!

{Notice: 3, 2, 1, Not Clear! SHOCK!}

{Notice: 3, 2, 1, Clear! SHOCK!}

{Notice: 3, 2, 1, Clear! SHOCK!}

{Notice: 3, 2, 1, Clear! SHOCK!}

{Notice: 3, 2, 1, Clear! SHOCK!}

…

Connor slowly opened his eyes

He was sleeping topless beside a fire. An Exhausted Vanessa was sitting at his side.

Mei is scratching his face and squeaking loudly.

He had a horrible headache.

Ariel, what happened?

{Notice: I was about to speak! You really scared the hell out of those two!}

Wait, Really what happened?

{Notice: Just moments after you fell asleep your heart stopped beating. A cardiac arrest!!}

What!? Why?

{Notice: The strain on your body was great and the moment you relaxed your heart just gave up on life!}

I thought I had great constitution stats? I know the strain was big but to that extent?

{Notice: Physical strain, Mental strain, Magical strain, Nutrition strain, All combined to gather managed to make your heart give up. I suggest you start training since It appears that your human body can't handle the stress of your stats.}

So what do you suggest I do?

{Notice: I did analyze Mei and discovered that she has a mana stone inside her, A crystal that pumps mana just like how the heart pumps blood! those hulking beetles also had it!}

How will that help me? Sell it and get better equipment to protect me?

{Notice: No! [Draconic Stomach] can digest them! Combining it with [Draconic Physic] I should be able to force a Mana stone to form inside you!}

Do you want to turn me into a monster?

{Notice: this alone isn't enough to turn you into a monster, It will help integrate mana into your natural biology and it will enable your body to interact directly with mana without the need of magic formula!}

Did I ever need a magic formula?

{Notice: I was doing the calculation on your behalf and chanting internally, From Alice's memories humans and dwarfs in this world can't use magic directly like demons and elves! They are forced to use magic incantation, formulas engraved into staffs and wands, scrolls...It's like your old world human can't use electricity without the proper tools!}

Demons? So Vanessa has a magic stone inside her?

{Notice: In monsters, it's called mana stone, in humanoid, it's called Mana Core!}

Connor looked at the Beetles corps in the distance. Those things could use magic?

{Notice: Yes! They could use Confusion magic! Magic that interrupts the thinking process. They used it on our first encounter and now it seems that it's an ability that all hulking beetles have!}

And I was safe from it thanks to you!

{Notice: I was able to block it with [Ego]}

Vanessa woke up as Connor tried to stand up, she was confused a bit.

"Wait, you're awake?"

Connor explained what happened to her and discovered that she was giving him CPR(Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) When Ariel used [Lightning magic] like a defibrillator and shocked her too.

After that, with Vanessa's help, Connor learned how to extract Mana Stones from monsters and ended up with a total of 10. He ate them all!

After a few hours, Ariel gave the report.

{Notice: Construction finished, A weak Mana Core has been constructed on the right side of your chest! It's weaker than a tenth of Mei Mana Core but it's a start!!!}

Hooray!! Good job Ariel!!

How do I increase its strength?

{Notice: A normal Mana Core Increase in strength when the creature levels up or uses magic! It works like a normal heart, training it to make it stronger. Your case is a bit different! Your Mana Core is artificial so it can't be strengthened by normal means!}

That what can I do?

{Notice: Simple! We formed it by eating other creatures Mana Cores, so we level it the same way!!! Devour as many Mana Stones as you can, and I will use them to strengthen your Mana Core!!!}

Seems simple enough! Until My Mana Core is strong enough I will refrain from pushing my limits, unless it's a kill or be killed situation.

That's it!

Vanessa called Connor, they have entered Roa's caves, they are now just a few hours from their destination! Some Glowing mushrooms are growing on the walls emitting dim light.

Those mushrooms were planted in the ceiling above Roa City to provide enough light so creatures with at least night vision could see, of course, the street has its own lighting!

When mushrooms grow they send spots in the air that get carried to the cave close to the city!

Since they are Close now, Connor used his shapeshifting to turn into one of the assassins that were with Vanessa. This is to hide his identity. He then dropped a Hulking cockroach corpse and gave it his appearance, Ariel installed small pulsing magic in the corpse using [Pure Magic] To act as the reason for (The hero might still be alive)

Connor's new form is that of a dark elf with long white hair and yellow eyes.

Now dragging the Hero's corpse they head toward the city.