137

Demon Statue

**Standard item level: Level 4**

**Main materials: any of the four elements, heavy stone, ruby, demon blood**

**Description: Summon a demon to fight for you until it is destroyed or the energy is exhausted. The demon's strength is determined by the item level...**

Looking at the instructions in the holy text, Forseti fell into thought.

The so-called alchemy of the holy text usually involved potions, but this was clearly an exception; it was a statue.

The materials were not difficult to find. Stones and gems were ordinary, and while demon blood was once troublesome to obtain, the war in Vanaheim made it easy to collect. In fact, Forseti had already gathered a lot.

As for any of the four elements, it referred to the forces of earth, water, fire, and wind.

Forseti thought for a moment, and immediately summoned a divine flame in his hand, which he placed on the formula of the demon statue.

Although the holy text looked ordinary, it had many incredible characteristics. For instance, only Forseti could see the contents and light effects of the holy text, and it was impervious to any dirt.

Even more impressive was that the holy text seemed indestructible. Forseti once considered using it as a shield, but the holy text explicitly forbade this.

Perhaps it could be destroyed, but a little flame certainly couldn't do it.

**115% replacement for elemental flames**

The material seemed fine.

Forseti took a stone from Shilut's stash and put it on the holy text for identification.

**42% replacement for heavy stones**

Forseti frowned and tried another piece, but the replacement rate remained low.

"Shilut, spit out a stone," he said.

Shilut opened his mouth, and a torrent of stones poured out. "Wow—"

"Enough, stop!" Forseti quickly said, looking at the huge stone that now occupied almost half of the room with a headache.

"...Can you eat some more?"

"Buzzing."

Shilut shook his head, clearly disgusted by the stones, which were like excrement to him.

Forseti had no choice but to take out a hammer and break off a piece for the holy text's appraisal.

**133% replacement for heavy stones**

He was pleasantly surprised by this high degree of substitution and patted Shilut's head with a smile, praising him.

Forseti then selected demon blood and rubies, both of which he had in stock.

Given that this was his first attempt, Forseti used moderately good materials. The demon blood and ruby he chose were each more than 70% replacements.

After selecting the materials, Forseti began crafting according to the recipe.

The process was divided into three steps: carving the demon statue and its runes, injecting demon blood and magic gems, and finally, injecting the flame.

The first step was the most troublesome. Although Forseti had studied painting in his previous life, he had never sculpted.

And his painting was rudimentary.

Carving was difficult for him, and he wasted over a dozen stones. Fortunately, Forseti's Blade, an indestructible dagger, made cutting the stones easier.

Late into the night, Forseti finally managed to carve a simple demon statue. The recipe listed seventeen demon forms, and Forseti chose the simplest one.

The demon statue was not large, just longer than his vertical palm. It depicted a common demon form: a horned, tailed, hoofed figure without wings. Forseti's rough carving made it look like a cheap, hastily made figure.

The statue was engraved with indented lines, some runes, some resembling blood vessels, all converging in a round hole in its chest.

It should work...

Forseti placed the ruby in the round hole.

As the gem was embedded, the runes on the statue began to glow. Forseti then poured demon blood into the gem, and the blood spread through the statue's lines, lighting them up.

Finally, Forseti held the statue in his palm, igniting it with divine flames.

After a while, the statue's body sealed, and the lines, blood, holes, and gem all melded together, making it look like a regular statue.

He identified it.

**Completion: Excellent**

**Item Level: Level 3**

It seemed his carving skills were still lacking; despite the good materials, he only achieved an excellent completion.

Nonetheless, a third-level item was still useful. Forseti looked at it once more and put it away.

After a night of rest, the next day, after completing the warrior's daily drills, Brunnock challenged Forseti again.

"Three moves." Forseti subdued Brunnock with three moves. "You maintained your best record."

"Four moves tomorrow! Absolutely!" Brunnock declared before turning away.

At noon, Hermond brought a large, plump fish of an unknown species. It was over a meter long and had a big sword.

"Snack! Forseti, let's try fire-grilled fish," Hermond said with a smile.

Forseti replied, "Just so you know, my control over the divine power of flames is still a bit rusty, so don't blame me if it burns."

"Just come over here."

Forseti had no choice but to comply. He lit the flames with both hands, trying to keep them at a low and stable temperature to roast the big fish.

Fortunately, the fish seemed resistant to the heat, and it was cooked just right, emitting a delicious aroma.

As everyone ate the fish, Hermond suddenly said, "After this meal, Forseti will leave our team."

Everyone was stunned. "Why?"

Forseti, the deputy captain, could fight, heal, and even grill fish. He was the team's battle and logistical support, and no one wanted him to leave.

Forseti himself was surprised and looked at Hermond in confusion.

"Of course it's a promotion," Hermond smiled, handing Forseti a scroll. "This is an appointment letter signed by Lord Odin. Forseti, from now on, you are the Captain of the thirty-fourth combat squad."

He added casually, "I heard this team has had bad luck. They lost the entire army in two consecutive battles. On the day of the second reconstruction, the deputy captain died, and now the captain is dead."

"That's terrifying... Could it be cursed?" someone muttered.

"I think they were just too weak. With Captain Forseti, things will be different."

"Alas... no more convenient barbecues in the future," everyone murmured.

Brunnock's face fell, and he hesitated before saying, "Forseti, is our agreement still valid?"

Forseti smiled, spread out the appointment letter, and said, "Of course it is. You just need to worry about surviving ten moves against me."

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