Stale

No longer within the infinite arena, I've returned to normality.

As normal as it gets anyways, but it's time to see the results. Jotun laid face first in the stone and dirt field like a toddler that just fell, her hair was dirtied and bristled in many uneven cuts now that I can properly see it. After she picked herself up the system began compiling the results of the Match.

| PvNPC - Jotun vs Cobalt |

| Results - Forfeit, Winner: None |

| Notes: After combining a huge series of magic and magic circles, Jotun was intimidated by it going off... to avoid the pain of being hit by the spell she opted to forfeit before hand, before it could properly take place however... Cobalt imploded due to an extreme pressurization malfunction of the Mana Core causing both to die. |

FUCK.

I fucked up the spell!

DAMNIT!

I wanted to see what it would fucking do... but no, I just had to fuck it up didn't I? I fucked it up so bad that... UGH. Nevermind... Well, maybe Scarab got some good data from that.

But first, I got to honor my adversary in this duel as tradition dictates.

- " Good Game, Jotun. Well Fought. "

" Uh... likewise. You are... a lot stronger than I prepared for. "

- " Thank you, I did expect lots of growth from you too... and you surpassed what I thought you'd be able to do, I'm surprised. "

" Of course... I'm not going to pry a lot into your techniques or gear but... I just want to know, what is that Chant you used? "

- " I... don't know. It just felt right, my mind was heavy with a head ache and I could barely think... somehow I pulled that out. Well, enough about that. Anything scheduled for today? "

" No... just rest. "

- " That always sounds great to me, but I think you should take a load off... I got some work to do. "

" Like what? "

- " Well, first off I got to find... actually you don't have to worry yourself about it, tonight I'll be making Skew- "

" Nonono NO! You are either going to tell me, or I'm going to follow you around all day! Got it? No getting stronger than me without my knowledge, got it?!?! "

- "... fine. Whatever. I'm going to be implementing more advancements to aspects of Syn, Scarab, and my own body. I'll be forging more Nanites with Scarab for use of crafting gear, I think that will take most of the day. "

" ... I don't know about those weird words you always use but... alright then. "

- " Are we good? Jotun? "

" Y-... Yeah. We are. "

- " That's a relief to hear... I'll... see you tonight? Make some skewers? "

" Sure... I'll see ya then. "

Fine. Now we can get back to business.

I'm going to need to create a new chassis for Syn, it will grant general improvements to everything I need from him as a turret and it will apply to the smaller turrets.

Next I need Scarab to serialize the effects of Stygian Bronze due to him being the only artificial being capable of digesting it through the various weird circumstances around it.

Then I'll be going through heavy body augmentations, due to the influx of cultivation ideas coming into StarDuster from various games around that ideology there is a really high amount of stuff I can now do.

If I have time after all of this, I'll likely craft... some sort of weapon. I don't know what is going to be of use in a war like situation but eventually I'll be mass producing something that anyone can use.

So, I take a quick walk to my preferred area for crafting... and without further ado... let's ge-

" Excuse me, Cobalt... but, I would like to have a word with you... if you don't mind ".

That sentence battered my soul away, an interruption from my crafting... a sin punishable by death, but I'm in a good mood. Looking behind me, it seems that Prine has decided to come and talk to me.

- " Prine right? What's up? "

" Yes... I uh... I wanted to ask, I need some fighting advise... I'd like some professional training, Jotun is a good sword fighter... but she doesn't know much about magic or spear fighting. "

- " I see, you want some training. Well I could probably give you some advise, right now I'm crafting... but I already know what I'm doing by heart so I could probably multitask. "

" T-Thank you! I'm very sorry for interrupting your work, I won't let you down! "

- " Don't worry about it. "

I set up my crafting station, AKA a sheet on the ground, and I edited the ground using alchemy. It became clay, red and dense... with some white powder I'll be able to mark foot work and other such things.

- " Alright, stand on the clay platform "

" Yes! "

- " First, a quiz. Ready? "

" At any time! "

- " First question, Why do you fight? "

" To prove to myself, I can carry my families name! "

- " Second Question, which is more important in a foot soldier... intelligence, strength, agility, or equipment? "

" Stre-... no wait, int- no... a foot soldier follows orders, so intelligence doesn't matter, strength can't be compared to those with better equipment, agility is useless in an all out clash... and fancy equipment gets soldiers killed first. So... what's the answer? "

- " Your thinking is right for the most part, strength is rarely needed in a soldier considering equipment can outperform it... and equipment is a target for the soldier, intelligence wouldn't be useful if they follow orders and finally agility isn't useful in clashes... well, there is one thing you didn't consider. "

" What's that? "

- " Those who specialize. "

" I think... I kinda get it but... I'm still a little confused? "

- " Jack of all trades, master of none. Those are who die first without contribution. So you need to consider how specializing in those specific things I mentioned compares to a Jack of all trades. "

" Hmm... that's... confusing, I'd assume compared to a jack of all trades... equipment is best? Because it can enhance every aspect of a person to be better? "

- " Well, your wrong... but good try. The answer is intelligence. You can kill a strong opponent, you can kill one with good gear and even take it, you can kill a fast opponent... but an idea can't be killed until everything is. "

" Ah! I see! If an opponent is really smart and notices a weakness... then he will tell everyone he can, and they will all be much more useful in comparison! "

- " Exactly! You go- "

* Bang *

FUCK.

I fucked up, I accidentally mixed gunpowder with mana liquid instead of crushed material, Kaboom! There goes my body modification stuff...

After the smoke settled, I'm left dyed head to toe in black along with Prine. My mistake, just some simple magic to clean us up... unfortunately I'm set behind a little bit, money wise and time wise... I'll likely not be able to get a weapon craft.

It wasn't anything huge, a small detonation and smoke screen... localized entirely within about 7 feet of me, looking at my health I took 12% worth of damage. Prine is covered in soot but doesn't seem to be damaged unlike me, Scarab was safely distanced while he is processing Stygian Bronze.

Syn was covered in a bit of soot too, but shortly after he automatically cleaned himself off. His new chassis is really good, allowing him many quality of life changes and a huge increase in stats.

Alright, time to start over I guess.

- " Sorry about that, it seems I made a bit of a mistake. Shall we continue? "

" I would appreciate that... I am running low on time though, and I wouldn't want to distract you further. "

- " I see, alright then... maybe more in the future? "

" That would be great, I'll see you around! "