Chapter 61

Lucifer crawled back to the camp while thanking the gods that he had an almost endless supply of refined mana. It took more than an hour and on the way, he met another scouting party, led by a 3rd-tier goblin who was proficient in mana manipulation. They missed him by a hair's breadth as one of the followers almost stepped on the still-battered Stone's body.

"The next step is to find mana-ashwood's ash. Damn it! Where are we supposed to find it, maybe possible on land but here in the fucking Abyss?! The druegar village is way too far… The goblins will not have one. Well, maybe… Nope! Hmm…" he ardently attempted to come up with an idea. In the end, only one option was left, "Dafur! He is the single chance I have… Jarka will have to help me fetch him."

The way back was long and dangerous. As he crawled close to the camp, his mind was slightly overwhelmed by the massive increments of information recently, resulting in a massive boost to intelligence. His perception sphere range almost tripled and nearly the whole base was fully visible.

He 'saw' every nook and cranny, every goblin. He adjusted his mind quickly, filtering most of the information.

His sudden headache receded and he could continue his adventure.

The outside of the tent was only guarded by two dozing, drunk goblins. He quickly slipped inside and noticed that there was an Orc with Scout-Durza, though Jarka and the third druegar were gone. The only people sleeping were the dwarfs, including Dafur.

"What in the Nine-Hells? I wonder if this is really a stroke of luck or something else is in play… Something will go wrong! I would bet my left nut on it…" Lucifer pessimistically muttered.

He observed the calmly sleeping Dafur. His body had fully accepted the crystals and merged with them. The skin around them was crystallized too.

The shaman probably sought to create an unlimited supply of low-grade mana crystals. Not a bad idea. However, when you are literally living in a sapient mana crystal, it did not seem so important.

Next, Lucifer examined the twins. Both of them were profusely perspiring, heavily breathing and appeared in great pain.

"Hmm… They are already dead. They have even less time than me… They would need to find a 6th-ranked wizard-class or a 5th-tier Monster willing to help them," he shook his non-existent head.

He conjured a weak [Flux Bubble] and popped it near Dafur's ear. He just waved his hand as if driving away a fly and rolled over.

"For fucks sake!" Lucifer shaped a purple stick and smacked him hard in the head. Dafur rapidly sat up, massaging his hurting head.

"What?! What?! Yea, master! I am… Oh…" the confusion in his eyes cleared up. "STONE! I'm so happy to see ya!" He cried as he picked him up and hugged him. Luckily, the [Flux Shield] held. "Ya won't believe what happened. The bastard shaman tried to make mea a slave! Slave! I'll roast him!" He jabbered, not giving Lucifer the opportunity to even write.

"Gods dammit!" He formed another purplish bubble in Dafur's mouth, finally silencing him.

"Hmpf! Hhmmpf!" Dafur released Stone's body, his hand shooting to his filled mouth.

A purple stick appeared before his eyes. It slowly levitated down on the ground and Lucifer wrote, "Stone is sleeping. Lucif… Partner writing. Do you have mana-ashwood or its ash? I have no time to lose."

Dafur quietly read the words. Then he blinked a few times. Then he deeply frowned. Then he blinked again. "Luci? Isn't that…? Wait, Partner? Stone sleepin'? Stone can sleep?" He wanted to say, but only 'Hmpf! Hhhmmmpf!' came out.

Lucifer rolled up his imaginary eyes and wrote another line, "I can see that you have many questions. I don't care. You have some mana-ashwood ash?" He highlighted the last sentence.

Dafur shook his head but indicated he wanted to say something.

"Be quiet!"

Dafur rapidly nods several times, "Yy!"

"Fine!" Lucifer dispelled the bubble.

"I haven't. But the sham'n shoulda hav' som'. But I don't know if it's ash…"

"Can you take some?"

"Mayb'?" Dafur replied with an unsure tone and looked around for the first time, noticing the sick dwarfs. "Can ya help them?"

"No. And nobody here can. I wonder why you are so well."

"I have a talent, Crystallizer. It's odd… I gained it thanks to the knowledge of Stone's existence. I can connect to mana crystals." Dafur touched the crystals on his chest. "Ya know, it hurt so much… That crazed bastard. He tortured me… He said I'm his slave! I even accepted it for a moment! But I won't give up! A measly Druegar'll never break a Dwarf! Never!" He shivered and almost yelled.

"Fucking! UNIVERSUM! So this is your 'notice', huh?! A natural enemy! BITCH!" Lucifer cursed the Universum as Dafur chattered.

[*whistling*]

Lucifer ignored the sudden journal message, calmed and hit Dafur's head with the purplish stick. "Go and find some mana-ashwood! I can hardly move now… Long story. Now, go!"

Dafur nodded and left the tent. Lucifer grinned. He liked when minions did what they were asked for.

Lucifer scanned the surroundings and practised the [Weak Fluxkinesis] as he had nothing better to do.

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Encyclopaedia Stonia

Sorcerers

A battle-hardened wizard. For what they lack in research capabilities, they compensate in brawn and raw power. Sorcerers are often the first line of defence in most of the kingdoms in Orbisia.

Except for dwarves and subsequent sub-races, like druegars..

The most significant difference between wizard and sorcerer is that wizard will dissect you alive, while sorcerer will just burn, melt, explode, freeze,… you while alive.

Devils

An Ethereal sub-race from Negative Energy Realm. It's said that a certain god (Mallum, God of Evil, but pssssht!) created several races on his own and Devils were one of them. But, it's not a confirmed rumour. They are considered cunning, brutal, and magical arts experts.

Mana-wood

A mana-infused wood, either existing naturally in the wilderness or made by craftsmen proficient in mana-casting expertises. Of course, natural manawood is much more durable and has way better properties, but is also much rarer. Not as rare as mana crystal deposits, but enough to make the finder fairly rich, if he is not murdered and robbed blind.

Each type of wood (ash, oak…) has slightly different properties. The same goes for manametal and other mana-infused materials too.

Mana crystals are materials on their own. Stone's existence is completely unusual in that it is his 'sub-race'. Normally, it does not matter which mineral they are from.

It interacts with mana in a certain way and due to that, it is easier to process. It also serves as a low-grade alchemical or spell-casting ingredient.

Elves are suckers for this type of wood, and if they find you sawing a naturally grown manawood, they will use you as a fertilizer. Literally.

A legend says that the elves are evolved trees, but it's taken more like an insult and joke than a truth. Needless to say, it's a very popular joke with dwarves.