Banished from the herd, I was actually a member of a very rare species. ~With the unique skills that only I can use, I can grow and evolve quickly. I will become an unrivaled monster~ - Episode 54: Sla's Making

Episode 54:  Sla’s Making

“(Alright, here we go.)”

I’ve returned from the battlefield with the Hydra to my home in the flower field. The space feels a bit cramped now due to my {Evolution}, so I find a spot and take a breather.

“(… I really won, didn’t I?)”

Earlier, the afterglow of victory and the excitement from {Evolution} had me too occupied to fully grasp it, but now it’s finally sinking in. I defeated a Sovereign Beast and gained power comparable to theirs. This realization and joy are slowly spreading within me.

“(… Time to get started.)”

After savoring the joy, I shift focus to my original goal.

“([Intensified Warfare])”

I break a nearby branch and activate the [Skill]. 

The ultimate goal is to create Hydra weapons, but I’ll start by getting used to weapon-making [Skills]. 

So, it’s time for information analysis. Previously, I used [Weapon Creation] right from the start, but the result was a creepy object. This time, I’ll properly prepare before attempting it.

“(Hmm, I see, I see—)”

I read the information from the branch and look for a suitable weapon type. 

From the weight, sharpness, hardness, and flexibility of each part to its special properties. The overall conclusion is:

“(This branch isn’t very suitable for a weapon.)”

Well, it’s wood, after all. If it were thicker, it might have worked as a blunt weapon. But since I broke off the less mature end, that’s not feasible.

“(However, I figured out what it’s most suited for.)”

So, I proceed to create that.

“([Weapon Creation], activate.)”

I infuse |Mana| into the wood and start transforming it. 

This is the second time I’ve done this. I’m progressing better than the first time. 

The key factor seems to be that I can visualize the final shape in advance and focus on adjustments, rather than just accumulated experience.

“(… This should do it.)”

After a while, the branch is completed as a weapon. All unnecessary parts like knots and leaves have been removed, and it’s become a perfectly straight short spear. 

It is quite different from a typical short spear. Although it’s only a few tens of centimeters long and entirely made of wood from tip to butt, it’s still a short spear by classification. 

I adjusted it to be as hard and sharp as possible and added an effect to enhance its piercing power.

“(Alright, let’s try this within the [Territory].)”

I decided to move to a different location. 

Currently, I can only narrow the [Territory] to at least ten meters. If I turned the plants I cultivated into weapons, it would be a mess.

“(This should be a good spot.)”

I walk about a minute from the flower field toward the direction of the Forest Turtle’s habitat and stop at a place with a larger rock.

This time, I’ll try turning the rock into a weapon.

“([Territory], add conditions.)”

I set ‘Masterwork’ and ‘Mass Production’—both effects assist in weapon making—into the two available slots of the [Territory].

With that, everything is set.

“([Territory], activate. … Hmm, the consumption rate is quite high.)”

Activating [Territory] continuously consumes |Mana|. 

Without any ‘Additional Effects’, it was about one unit per second, but now it’s consuming nearly three times that amount. 

Since I’ve tested various [Skills], my |Mana| has decreased significantly. 

I brought Mana Fruits… so I won’t run out of |Mana|, but I still need to be cautious.

“(First, let’s transform this rock.)”

The analysis is already complete. 

Now, it’s just a matter of weaponizing it.

“([Weapon Creation].)”

|Mana| infused deep into the rock, transforming it from the inside out. 

The changes are obvious, and the rock turns into a rectangular shape with a grinding sound that would seem unusual to most onlookers.

It took a bit more effort than the branch, but the rock was successfully weaponized. 

I made a club this time. It has a thin handle, while the rest is thick with protrusions from the middle to the tip, resembling a club that demons might use.

The approximately five-meter length adds to its resemblance to an oni’s metal club.

“([Weapon Storage].)”

I store the club and absorb the fruit on my body into myself. 

Despite the thorns caused by the [Territory], there was no particular change in its effects. As soon as I absorbed the fruit, my |Mana| began to recover rapidly.

This yellow, tomato-like fruit has a rare quality of restoring |Mana| when eaten. 

Humans call it Mana Fruit and it’s traded at a high price. 

Since Paula told me about its effects, I’ve offered it to her during her training several times. And it turned out to be useful in an unexpected way.

“(I’m getting used to this, so it’s time to move on to the Hydra weapons.)”

Even if I make mistakes, [Intensified Warfare] can correct them to some extent. 

There are plenty of them, so I’ll go with the mindset of trial and error. 

I deactivate the [Territory] and take out the Hydra’s remains. 

Each head is almost turned into a separate weapon, with two swords, a spear, a whip, and a hammer lined up in front of me.

By the way, the whip also has the lower body attached, giving it a significantly longer reach.

“([Intensified Warfare])”

First, it’s time to gather information. 

Even though it’s still in the process of being made, it’s a high-quality weapon, and the analysis is still ongoing.

“Amazing, so when the Beast Rank is high, it turns into such high-quality material.”

I muttered as I observed the Hydra’s bones, which combined the flexibility of wood with the solidity of stone. 

The performance of the other parts is also outstanding, making every bit of it top-notch material for weapons. 

Every powerful weapon I’ve seen so far has almost always used Grand Beast material, and now I understand why. 

With such excellent material, anyone would want to make a weapon out of it.

Well, with the Hydra, though, if you mess up the processing method, it could end up as a cursed weapon that poisons its wielder.

“(… Alright, the general plan is decided. I’ll start by finishing the whip.)”

Having decided what kind of weapon to make from the Hydra, I store away the other weapons . I reactivate [Territory] before channeling |Mana| into the whip.

“([Weapon Creation])”

The whip began to transform with a fleshy sound. 

It’s much harder to manipulate than the previous materials, but thanks to [Territory], I can manage it somehow.

First, I perform bl00d extraction. I focused on expelling only the moisture by absorbing the toxicity into other parts. 

Then, I packed the remaining meat around the bones and carefully evened it out to prevent any unevenness. 

After that, I tightly stretched the skin over it.

The skin is covered in hard, fine scales and will likely cause lacerations on those it strikes.

However, that alone wouldn’t be enough to ensure the attack power. So I arranged fangs at regular intervals along the whip.

These fangs, which were the medium for [Hundred Poison Fangs], contain a fierce poison that can deliver various types of deadly toxins even from minor wounds.

For the weight at the tip, I used a large fang synthesized from four fangs.

Since the tip is where the whip’s power is highest, this should cause significant damage to anyone struck by it.

Finally, I attached the handle, using an iron club previously used by the Hobgoblins.

“(The special effects are the hundred poisons and the remaining two… enhancing flexibility and poison strength should be good.)”

With this, the Hydra weapon number one, the poisoned whip, is complete.

It’s a weapon that fully utilizes the material’s traits… or rather, it’s exactly the same as the material’s traits.

From what I saw with [Intensified Warfare], the connections between parts are well done and there are no concerns about strength.

This can be considered a success.

“(Alright, onto the next weapon!)”

And so, I enthusiastically continue my mad weapon-making.