Second World

"Yes, that's exactly it," Peniel answered.

Jack nodded, then it was worth it. He then asked, "So, I have to sacrifice a sword every time I do an imprint?"

Evanor was the one who answered, "No, you can decide to break the imprint using the magic furnace or change to imprint another weapon. When you do, the old weapon will be returned to you."

"Yes, and now while you are here. Let's imprint another thing?" Peniel said.

"Imprint another? What for?" Jack asked. "Whirlwind Falchion was my best second sword at the moment. We should wait until I get a super rare sword first."

"I am not saying for the magic weapon. Now that you gain access to this spell and unlock imprinting, you can also imprint your magic Shield spell."

"Magic Shield? Are you saying I can imprint a shield equipment into that basic spell?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say so before? I could have fused a super rare shield from headquarters stock. I have left many rare shields in the warehouse. Now I only have a couple which was loots during the journey here."

"You are quite knowledgable, high fairy," Evanor praised. "Magic Shield imprinting is some sort of secret knowledge, not many archmages know that they can use that feature."

Jack looked inside his back. He only had two rare shields in his bag. He compared the two then took out one that he thought was superior. He then took out his rare mobile blacksmith tools. The shield was at level 35, he could upgrade it to level 46, the limit where he could still use it. If only for upgrading one equipment, he still had enough materials.

Evanor just watched Jack work in silence. This outworlder didn't even ask for permission to do this blacksmith work inside the room.

Jack used Runestone of Probability constantly with every upgrading attempt. When he reached level 45, every attempt required 5 iron ores, 3 steel ores, 2 copper ores, and 1 silver ore. The material requirement had increased again. It even needed silver ore now, lucky his Transformation Prism had yielded him a number of this ore.

Reprisal Knight Shield, level 46/55 (rare medium shield)

Physical Defense: 88

Magical Defense: 69

Durability: 60

Endurance +10

10% chance to return 50% damage to the melee attacker

Damage under threshold is nullified when block successfully, Damage above the threshold is reduced by 60%

"I do it like the Magic Weapon Imprinting?" Jack asked. Both Evanor and Peniel were close to each other so he just stared at the space between them, waiting for either of them to answer.

The both of them ended up answering at the same time, "yes."

Jack put in another rare magic stone, then cast Magic Shield near the magic furnace. The interface came up again. Jack offered the Reprisal Knight Shield. It soon underwent the same process.

"Wait! Does it add a rune to the spell after imprinting?" Jack asked. The Magic Shield had been great even though it was a basic spell because of its instantaneous casting, Jack could summon the shield in an instant when he needed to block. And most of the time, the need to block was very sudden, he couldn't afford one second casting time. He would have to cancel the imprinting if so.

To his relief, Peniel answered, "no, this basic spell doesn't add any rune after imprinting."

The shield soon vanished. Jack cast the spell. A shield made of light with the same appearance as Reprisal Knight Shield appeared. This shield was larger than the standard magic shield spell, so the size increase also added to the benefit.

Finished with his business here, Jack thanked Evanor and left.

After Jack left, a man slowly materialized beside Evanor. His feature was like Janus, with his neatly-combed long purple hair and handsome face. However, his face was more mature, not as young as the one Jack met at the Order of Magi.

"I wonder, why is your interest in that outworlder?" Evanor asked.

"He has the mark of the creator," this mature Janus said. "So are that high fairy and his black sword."

"Isn't the report said they were bestowed to him by the Goddess Serenity? Perhaps that's the reason."

"No. I said the mark of the creator, not the mark of the divine. Even the Gods and Goddesses can't produce such an aura. Notify the other branches. Give him assistance when he needs it. I believe the creator sent him here for a reason."

Jack spent the rest of the night in an inn. Sinful introduced him to an inn at a business district where he had been staying. Sinful said the room next to his was empty, Jack could take it if he like. Jack said he was in the mood for luxury, so he took the most expensive suit, the penthouse.

Sinful was speechless at Jack's extravagance. Sinful said he was curious about the penthouse and asked if he could be allowed to stay together in the room, considering the room should be very large. Jack replied he was tired, he wanted to spend the night alone. He could show Sinful the room tomorrow morning.

Inside his room, Jack took out the Wind Slash Technique Book and learned it.

Wind Slash, level 1/20 (Active skill, range, requires melee weapon)

Sent a wind sword that travels in an arc, dealing 300% wind damage to all in the path.

10% chance to inflict Bleed.

Range: 30 meters

Cooldown: 3 minutes

Stamina: 100

"Thirty meters, it was almost the range of a proper range class," Jack commented. "It even hit multiple targets."

"If you increase this skill to level 5, it will add a second wind sword. At max level, you can send out five slashing energies," Peniel informed.

"Impressive! In a group fight, I can cut down a large number of enemies with this skill. This is a good addition to my arsenal."

Jack finished the night with meditation training before taking his rest.

Early next morning when Jack was doing his morning martial art training, Sinful came knocking. Jack let him enter. He admired the large room while Jack continued his training.

"I will be leaving Tranviste today," Jack said without stopping his training.

"You will? Where will you go?" Sinful asked.

"Back to Themisphere. I have a quest that takes me back there."

"Do you already have an idea where we should go?" Peniel asked.

"I have a couple of ideas, we can talk further once we are back in Themisphere."

"Do you mind if I follow?" Sinful asked.

"Oh? Are you not going to miss this place?" Jack asked.

"I have been here for a while. I will very much like to see what the human country looks like."

"Hm…"

"Are the method you used to cross the border cannot allow you to bring another person?" sinful asked.

"I can, but…"

"If you find it hard to say, let me do it," Peniel uttered, then to Sinful she said, "If you follow, you will just slow him down unless you also have a unique grade mount."

"U–Unique grade…? So that's how you manage to cross over," Sinful said. "Well, I'm not a person who wants to slow others down. I will just go to Themisphere when my level is high enough. But at least allow me to send you off then. I will follow you until the border of this country."

"Okay. Let's go get some breakfast and then we can go," Jack said, finishing his training.

After having a meal, the two went to the city gate. Before they stepped out, Jack said, "wait! I forget something. I will be back soon. Wait here!"

Jack then dashed off at high speed, leaving Sinful who was confused. He wanted to chase but Jack had disappeared behind a building. Not even a minute had passed, Jack was back again.

"Sorry, sorry. We can leave now," Jack said.

Outside, both of them summoned their steed.

"Damn! So that is a unique mount. I'm truly embarrassed if traveling beside you," Sinful said. His mount seemed to agree as it was uneasy being too close to Pandora.

"Let's go," Jack said.

Jack slowed down Pandora's pace to match with Sinful's steed. Jack didn't stop despite seeing new monsters, which puzzled Peniel. The city soon disappeared from their view. Twenty minutes later, they reached a rocky area with little vegetation.

From his radar, Jack saw there were some monsters but they moved away and kept their distance from Pandora. There were, however, some white dots that came from different directions to where they were. These white dots soon showed themselves.

Jack recognized their attires, he had met and clashed with such natives before. They were the Cult of Phobos. As Jack observed the approaching group, he sensed something from his back. But before he could react, his body had already been entangled by a rope with its surface covered by runes.

Jack looked back and saw Sinful was holding the other end of the rope.