Armouring Up(chapter 9)

prevously in chapter 8

After leaving his storage, he entered the door to the right, which turned out to be his living quarters. This included everything he needed to live, including a kitchen area, living room, and a library, at least that was what he liked to think. This room, although not lined with bricks, was decorated with other items. After picking up a small fur which he used as a pillow, Henry turned off the lamp, which flickered, before entering the last room, which had a large stone desk as well as some storage, some tools, and a chair. This was his workshop, where he worked, and the small island in the pond was actually his farm where he grew his enhanced plants, as most of them died in the car crash. In fact, the ginseng was the only plant he could get before his car exploded, so yeah the men in black where his mortal enemies.

After turning on the lamps, yes lamps, this room had two lamps, which he used to light the room, he placed materials he was gathering as he then started to work. But his eyes laid on a black mask, a mask resembling a plague doctor's mask with a white wig which was made from the fur of an animal, which was the intention he had when he made the mask. Yes, this was a mask he made with his skill. The mask was, of course, not made at once, but rather it had to be made in separate parts, two at a time since his skill only allowed him that way. At least it had good effects.

[ Name: Plague Doctor's Mask ]

[ Grade: 3rd ]

[ Description: The Plague Doctor's Mask is a menacing artifact crafted from the bones of a formidable brown bear, its surface dyed with extracts from Walnut Hulls for a dark, foreboding appearance. Featuring a peak with a crude filtration system and eyes made from sleek black sunglasses, it shrouds the wearer's face in an air of mystery and dread, reminiscent of the plague doctors of old. Additionally, a luxurious white fur from a lynx has been added as a wig, adding to its eerie allure. ]

[ Effects: 50% enhancement to stealth capabilities, +45% filtration efficiency against airborne toxins and pathogens, +50% obscuring of facial features ]

[ Durability: 100% ]

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Chapter 9

"With this mask and this new jacket, I should be able to at least last a couple of days before I am swarmed by SHIELD agents," Henry thought as he saw the several parts of the jacket he was working on. Yeah, the organization chasing him was shield, which was an acronym, but he still wasn't able to get the full name of it. Placing the mask down, Henry began working on the jacket. In the past month, Henry had picked up some skills, such as sewing, skinning animals, hunting, and farming, which was mainly attributed to the botany videos he had been watching, as well as other survival skills. These skills allowed him to sew the scales of crocodiles into pieces of wearable clothes, although the design wasn't that great.

However, he wasn't looking for fashion but function, and this seemed to be doing the job. After waiting for the cooldown of his alchemical weapon, which had, of course, leveled up in the past month:

[ Name: Henry ]

[ Mana: 100% (1 mana lasts for 1 minute, 1 mana can be recovered every 1 minute) ]

[ Class: Alchemy: lv.2 (88%) ]

[ Skills:

Potion-synthesis: You can synthesize two plants/materials by melting them together using mana, as long as the materials do not possess two opposing qualities, with a 95% chance of getting a second-grade potion, a 40% chance of getting a third-grade potion, and a 1% chance of getting a 4th-grade potion. Tier: 5 (94.5%) ]

Alchemical-Weapon: You can combine two or more materials to create a weapon which, depending on the materials used, will have different effects as long as you know how the weapon works. Cooldown: 6 hours. Tier: 3 (34%) ]

After the cooldown was finished, he immediately did the finishing touches on the jacket, which made the whole thing complete, causing a floating screen to appear.

[ Name: Shadow Scale Jacket ]

[ Grade: 3rd ]

[ Description: The Shadow Scale Jacket is a sleek and stylish garment crafted from the supple hide of a fearsome alligator. Its jet-black scales provide exceptional protection against physical harm, its surface dyed with extracts from Walnut Hulls for a dark appearance, while the wooden buttons and natural fiber strings add rustic charm. The jacket features a luxurious fur neck and convenient back pockets designed to securely hold flasks and test tubes. ]

[ Effects: +50% physical defense boost, +50% agility enhancement, +50% stealth camouflage ]

[ Durability: 100% ]

"Another effect that increases my stealth, not to mention the agility increase and the defense boost." Happy with his new creation, Henry then went to create more potions for his journey back to civilization for the first time in a month. "And I am not leaving until I get a 4th-grade potion," he thought to himself, as he did just that. And if the smile on his face was anything to go by, it looked like he had some success. After he was done with his potions, he focused his attention on a belt, a belt specifically designed for carrying his potions without breaking. He had already had this idea for a long time as he hunted a moose for its hide, although calling it hunting was misleading as it was more of poisoning than hunting. He poisoned the moose's food, but he just convinced himself that the reason he didn't hunt the thing was because he wanted to preserve its hide not because he was afraid of it.

The hide was already cured and dried, so all he needed to do was use his skill to actually make the belt, which he did, and much to his relief, it came with the effect he wanted.

[ Name: Shadowhide Alchemist's Belt ]

[ Grade: 3rd ]

[ Description: The Shadowhide Alchemist's Belt is a meticulously crafted accessory designed to securely hold small test tubes without risk of spillage or breakage. Constructed from the durable hide of a moose, which has been carefully dried and refined, the belt's surface is dyed with extracts from Walnut Hulls, lending it a dark, rich coloration. This belt is essential for alchemists on the move, providing convenient storage and easy access to their precious concoctions. ]

[ Effects: 50% durability enhancement, +50% spill-proof containment, +50% breakage resistance ]

[ Durability: 100% ]

"Looks like my current limit is 3rd-grade items," he sighed as he then checked his equipment. "Everything seems to be in order, guns have enough ammo," he sighed as he checked his guns. Yes, guns. Being chased by an organization that has the government in their pocket, it's not that hard to get guns, from them at least. So yeah, he had a Glock and some ammo. After today's work was finished, a tired Henry, who was burning from popping vitality potions, could be seen exiting his workshop as he turned off the lamps. Before he could be seen arriving at the pond, he removed his shirt, revealing some metal strapped to his waist, wrists, and ankles. These were, of course, weights, each one of them 5kg, and in total, he was wearing 25kg extra weight for the whole day. And it's exactly what you think it does.

It was for training, to build muscles up until he finalized a potion to permanently increase his muscles. After removing his weights, Henry cracked his neck as he took a dip in the pond to bathe before he went back to his bedroom. He then popped a potion, which actually filled his hunger and thirst before going to sleep. The next day, Henry woke up and did his new routine, which was checking on his growing plants before checking his equipment. When everything was ready, Henry put on everything he prepared, feeling light due to his new jacket. He smiled, "This feels nice," he thought as he then put on his waist belt before loading his potions into his belt and his small wrist belt.

-scene change-

In the middle of a road in nowhere, Henry, now decked out in his new equipment, could be seen walking along the roadside. Of course, he wasn't wearing his mask yet. Nonchalantly, every 10 minutes to 1 hour, there would be a car which he would signal to hitch a ride, but they would pass him. As he cursed, "Fucking damn it, I should really make my own source of transportation," he groaned, kicking a random pebble which hit a random lizard, killing it. Eventually, a truck stopped near Henry as the door opened, "You need a ride there, young boy?" a voice sounded. Henry then looked into the car, where he saw the driver, the most disgusting man he had ever seen, wearing a wife-beater, sweating, and so fat he could barely fit into the seat of his car.

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A/N well, another chapter, hope you guys like it, and ah, yeah, this will not going well.