[Chapter 160] Plumbing

After I cleaned up the bloodbath, Dreag explained to Vitruvius how to use his new abilities and he found out how they worked quickly. The only thing is, I warned him that if transformed in my workshop, I would be wearing his pelt.

I walk outside as I don't have to worry about the tabaxi stealing things, my turrets ready to disintegrate him if that happens. As I take a deep breath, a shadow knight runs over to me as another pulling happens in my mind.

"The pipeline trenches are already finished?!" I ask in disbelief. I would of at least thought it would take a few days, not a few hours. He nods as he points at the long winding holes covering the plain, the flowers gently moved as they were in the way. I smile and nod as I walk towards an area specifically near the edge of the wall. Inside is a large-square hole, tall enough to fit an apartment.

I hold out my hand, the shadows jumping to life around me as I activate Absolute Shadow. Parts fill the hole till they fell it halfway, black smoke floating from the rest of the empty space. I pick up the slime again as I toss him in, "Do your thing!"

"Meeeewwwwww...." is all I here as he plops into the hole. He immediately begins the work as he fits parts and pieces together, his slime form covering each piece in a purple sheath. After about 10 minutes, he pieces everything together to reveal a large black rectangle. The rectangle has grooves covering the outside and a large empty hole aiming towards the trenches.

As the purple slime climbs my leg and sits down onto my head, I admire the machine. 'I still find it amazing I was able to create this, but now I won't be using it for my house alone. It can completely destroy waste in milliseconds as it vaporizes the particles. All I need to do is add two souls and this should be good.'

I place my hand onto the machine as 2 white souls appear within, causing the grooves to glow with a bright light. It sits silently as I know it should, can't have it distracting others in the city.

I look at the hole and then look at the trench, people having moved out of the way so the shadow soldiers could complete their jobs. Kids and now even the adults look at the machine, curious about its functions.

I hold out my hand as I take a deep breath, remembering the blueprints in my mind as I mentally prepare for what I am about to do. Suddenly, my slit eyes open as determination floods within them. I shout inwardly with all my might, 'Absolute Shadow!'

I hear people scream as darkness crawls across the field, enveloping the beautiful field in shadows. The darkness gathers inside the trenches as it starts molding, solidifying. I stare at the shifting shadows with concentration painting my face.

'Come on! Come on, come on, come on!' I think as my eyes slowly begin to turn red. It was hard to restrain the Vine Raptor Queen but I could at least see what I was grabbing. This time, I have to rely on the blueprints in my head as I manipulate as many shadows as before. Not just that, I also have to design the pipes so they all connect smoothly, so my brain feels like it's melting.

A few moments later, I sigh in relief as I flop onto my back. I breath heavily as a smile forms across my face, "Done."

I close my bloodshot eyes as I relax, the pain nothing but a dream. I would of cut off my pain receptors, but I didn't want to risk damaging my brain.

After a few moments, I get up, or try to at least. I notice that some people around me are helping my up as worry fills their eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"What was that?"

"You okay?"

I smile as I feel their careful assistance to help me up, reminding me that there are still many good people. I nod as I stand up, "I'm fine, I was just using some magic to create plumbing."

The people look at me with shock as they see the large system of pipes that fill the once empty trenches.

"This is plumbing?! But it looks so foreign..."

"Of course it looks foreign, have you seen the lord's house?"

Everyone falls silent as they look at me when the same little girl that asked many questions before walks up to me, her tiny horns giving her a cute look.

"Ar-are you really our king?" She asks nervously, clearly unsure even after being told by my follower. I crouch down as I smile at her, my sharp teeth shining in the light. "And what makes you think I am not?"

She looks at me as she stutters out her answer. "You-you are outside a lot. King's usually stay inside with a lot of guards."

I nod, seeing her point. Most kings here have plenty of strength, but they don't visit their subjects often in order to maintain an image of superiority. This usually gives their subjects a nervous feeling as their king seems like an all-mighty being, unseen but always there.

I pat her head as I stand upright, "Don't worry, I'm not like the other kings."

She smiles as while nodding, "You seem a lot nicer than them."

I smile an even brighter smile as I look at her cute face. 'Even at 15, I have to resist the urge to pinch her cheeks. That is quite a powerful effect she has.'

I turn around and look at the pipe that is covering the hole of the waste incinerator, the empty holes around it indicating that the pipes are unconnected to the frame. I walk over as I make some industrial bolts and begin to tighten them myself. Metal creeks as I turn each one, only stopping when all of them are connected.

'Can't have Slime Winter do everything or else I will become useless.'