Chapter 103

Chapter 104: Enchantment Experiments and the Returning Deity (Four Updates, Please Subscribe!)

“Experimentation” is a common occurrence for adventurers. Testing magic spells, trying out new skills, or experimenting with newly crafted magical artifacts all fall under the category of “experimentation” for these brave souls.

But experiments are usually conducted within the Dungeon, specifically in the peripheral areas of each floor. Not only to avoid urban security issues but also for secrecy. Some things just aren’t meant for public knowledge.

Izay was no exception. On the edge of the eighth layer of the Dungeon, inside a certain cavern…

The square-shaped cavern Izay now stood in had only one entrance/exit, completely devoid of other people, though a few Murder Ants were aimlessly wandering around.

Glancing at the scattered Murder Ants aimlessly patrolling the cavern, Izay found the perfect experimental subjects. For him, battling monsters from lower levels was like playing a game. His main goal was to test the quality of his weapons.

Thus, the Murder Ants, with their tough exoskeletons, became the top choice for experimentation.

Pulling out the two longswords costing seven thousand Valis each from the sheaths on his back, Izay gave them a couple of casual swings.

“Too light…”

For someone accustomed to using spears, swords always felt lacking somehow. But that wasn’t an issue. After all, he knew a trick or two of the famous Shaki Eight Cuts. Wasn’t it just about having hands?

However, Izay didn’t rush in immediately. Instead, he raised the longsword in his right hand first.

“Let the Curtain Fall!”

The unique incantation was chanted by Izay, and magic began responding to his will. His right hand started emitting a faint glow, and a mysterious blue Starflame rose in his palm. He didn’t put much effort into it, merely maintaining enough mana to cover the longsword.

At this moment, the “mystery” began to take effect.

Silver-white arcane runes quickly spread across the hilt of the sword gripped in his right hand. At first glance, there seemed to be some indescribable pattern, but upon closer inspection, nothing could be discerned.

The process lasted several seconds. When the arcane runes had spread across the entire blade, Izay ceased the magic.

“The enchantment succeeded…”

Holding up the longsword for inspection, what was once an ordinary sword now emitted a piercingly sharp aura. The faint glimmer of the arcane runes interplayed with the phosphorescent glow of the cavern, symbolizing the enhancement of this weapon.

Izay had a vague feeling that even without chanting magic, he might still be able to enchant weapons. Though the effects would likely not be as good as when utilizing magic.

“Jiiiii!!!”

At this moment, the Murder Ants in the cavern stirred, sensing the brief surge of magical energy from just a few seconds ago. They had noticed the human who had intruded into their resting place!

Their mandibles clicked menacingly as they began advancing toward Izay.

The nearest Murder Ant launched an attack, leaping into the air before charging straight at Izay.

But it was too slow.

With a simple sidestep, Izay evaded the attack.

“Hmm?”

Another turn, and another Murder Ant’s ambush from behind was avoided.

Soon, the Murder Ants swarmed around Izay…

Perhaps “entangled” wasn’t the right word. It was more like Izay was toying with them.

If he had the mood, he could play with them like this all day.

“Ji!”

But then, a flash of silver light appeared, followed by a crisp clanging sound. A Murder Ant let out a painful squeal as it was sent flying by Izay.

His left hand, still holding the longsword, remained aloft.

“Can’t break through the armor?”

The hard shell of the Murder Ants was as tough as armor, something that standard rookie adventurer gear couldn’t penetrate. Izay had expected, with his overwhelming ability values, to slice it cleanly in half.

But the noticeable notch on the blade of his left-hand sword told him otherwise.

“You wish.”

“Let’s try the enchanted one.”

Noticing the Murder Ant raising its right arm towards him, Izay arrived before it, reacting faster.

Its claw drew a white arc in the air, rushing directly at Izay from the front. However, Izay was far quicker than it. With an attack speed beyond its reaction time, he severed the claw at the forearm.

Aiming for the hardest part of the carapace — the head — Izay tightened his grip on the right-hand longsword, swinging the glowing blade diagonally!

“—!”

The sensation of the blade cutting through the hard shell lasted only a fleeting moment. Then there was no more resistance. The blade slid through like cutting tofu, or perhaps more accurately, a banana?

After all, cutting tofu wouldn’t even produce that initial sensation.

Izay casually swung his arm, and with a swift “swish,” the blade exited from the other side, cleanly bisecting the Murder Ant.

“The attack power has increased by at least several times…”

Though it still couldn’t match true upper-class equipment, for rookies, this enchanted longsword was undoubtedly a purple epic-grade weapon.

Sweeping through a few surrounding Murder Ants with ease, Izay didn’t bother picking up the Magic Stones, lost in thought.

The enchantment experiment was undoubtedly successful. After being enchanted by Izay, the overall strength of the original weapon increased by a certain multiple based on its own properties.

Several times the strength boost corresponded to several times the value increase!

Judging by the strength of this enchanted longsword, it could easily be used by an upper-class adventurer exploring the middle layers.

An upper-class adventurer’s weapon, even a slightly better one, would cost hundreds of thousands of Valis at minimum.

And this longsword itself? Just seven thousand Valis…

“Whoa! A profit difference of dozens of times with a single spell!?”

Izay could already see himself becoming the biggest unscrupulous merchant in Orario.

“Hold on, it’s too early to jump to conclusions. A weapon’s value isn’t determined solely by attack power; durability matters too… Let me try another spot.”

Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down, Izay set off for a new round of tests with the enchanted longsword.

It was premature to draw conclusions. Additional magic did have a certain degree of damage to the weapon itself.

Similar to how casting spells on oneself rapidly drained physical and mental stamina.

How long could a seven-thousand-Valis longsword withstand the enchantment? That was still a question mark.

And there were still weapons worth ten thousand Valis and fifty thousand Valis to test…

Meanwhile, on the surface.

Beautiful cirrocumulus clouds dotted the sky, sunlight streaming down.

The warm sunlight illuminated the West Street, where amidst the bustling crowd and several horse-drawn carriages, a divine presence mixed in, accompanied by attendants.

The deity casually bought a small trinket from the roadside, wearing a fedora and smiling.

“Orario, I’m back~”