The Manaverse

North East Penthouse

Granite City

After the creation of his first smithing project, Jut moved on to making Stone ingots next. It was a rather easy process. All he had to do was increase the heat of the forge, heat the ore to a high enough temperature and channel his mana into the grate the stone cylinder full of ore sat on which somehow aided in removing the impurities. Then, once the ore had melted sufficiently, he poured the resulting liquid into the rectangular ingot molds. He would set the molds off to the side and wait until they were cool.

If there was a way to empower the ingots, Jut didn't know what it was and his skill was silent. The Lore on the recipe was no better, not even offering him a hint. He tried to use a red chip just like he did on his hammer, but nothing happened. The red chip bounced away after he tapped it. So, Jut made as many ingots as he could and figured he would look into empowerment later. He was more concerned with learning how to be a basic Smith first.

All in all, it took around five and half hours for Jut to make all of his ore into ingots due to his limited mana pool. As it required three chunks of ore to make a single ingot, the process left him with sixteen ingots and two ore chunks. He was happy he got so much ore from the Survive the Wave Quest and few more pieces from the dungeon. He was going to have to farm the dungeon later though. Sixteen would just not be enough for all the things he wanted to try to make.

When Jut was waiting for his mana to recharge and his ingots to cool, he went over each of his features in greater detail and tested their limitations when and if he could.

The Personal Map was first because it was the one least able to be tested. He couldn't explore any of the black areas so all he could do was examine what it showed in better detail. As he hadn't explored the map at all as a Normal Ranker, Jut wasn't sure how different it was now.

The map had two modes. One was "Simplified" and showed the area he wanted to see as a two-dimensional outline of walls. It honestly reminded him of the maps in old school RPGs and first person shooter games, with obstructions being just another green line on the black background. Jut saw this to be very useful when his party would be exploring or moving quickly through rough terrain.

The second mode was the "Complex" variant. This mode showed the world exactly as it was, in color and three dimensions. Jut zoomed in on his penthouse balcony area. It was shown it in near-perfect detail to how it was at that moment. He could even change the angle of the view and look up at his tower from the street level, or see into his penthouse's windows.

Jut looked over the image of him sitting on his couch, moving in real-time. He watched as he waved and the little him in the image waved too. However, it was only what he could see with his eyes that was updated like that. The rest had to be based on his Lore, which was constantly updating. He knew this to be true because he was able to pull up the view of Derrick's booth.

Derrick had moved his booth that morning, but the last time Jut had been by that spot was before it had been taken down. His map still showed the booth as it was on the day he had seen it despite him knowing it wasn't there anymore. The same was true for the orphanage and that single room on the first floor he had visited when he met Truman.

As for people, Jut could see Brick on both versions. However, he appeared the same on both. His teammate was a small, blue dot on the map. As he didn't know which direction the soldier was facing, there was no directional indicator either.

The rest of the Crusaders who weren't in his party, including the crafters, were also small dots on the map except they were green. Everyone except Brick was in their residences, either in the living spaces or in their bedrooms, likely sleeping.

When Jut saw that he could see the team, he explored his menus. There were new options.

Character Sheet

Skills

Inventory

Armory

Party

Map

Conversations

Quests

Lore Book

Recipe Book

Guild

Jut examined Party and Guild immediately.

Party was exactly as he expected. It listed him and Brick with little images of himself and the solider. Brick's resource bars seemed to be current, unlike the map. It also showed that he had three available slots in his party. Jut couldn't wait to see them filled during their first dungeon run.

The Guild menu said "Radiant Crusaders" at the top in an elegant script. It also showed the image and name of everyone who had committed to being a Crusader so far.

Jut Zoak

Brick Almight

Joy Armstrong

Diggy Highfield

Isabelle Wynters

Derrick Harrison

Wendy Stephens

Crimson Star

Truman Harding

Jut was looking forward to what the nine of them would create. He was already dreaming of a building where they would meet and craft. While the penthouses were nice, they were meant for parties to live in, not whole teams to use as an office space.

Jut could contact all of the Crusaders through his communication system. He could do that by opening the Conversations option. It also had a list of the Crusaders' names. As he had only used the texting option with Brick so far, only Brick's name brought up a chat log. Everyone else's name initiated a drop down menu listing Audio, Text, and Visual communication options. He didn't contact anyone as it was getting late and he didn't want to bother them.

Instead, Jut moved on with his examination. The Spacial Armory was exactly the same as before. He had replaced all of his underlayers with fresh clothing that morning. The only major difference was his new gear.

Head: Leather Helmet, Normal Rank

Ears: N/A

Shoulders: Leather Pauldrens, Normal Rank

Neck: Empty

Chest: Leather Jerkin, Normal Rank

Back: Leather Cloak of Constitution, Stone Rank

Hands: Leather Gloves of Strength, Stone Rank

Wrists: Leather Bracers of Constitution, Stone Rank

Belt: Leather Belt, Normal Rank

Legs: Leather Leggings, Normal Rank

Feet: Leather Boots of Agility, Stone Rank

Ring Right: Stone Ring of Wisdom, Stone Rank

Ring Left: Empty

Right Hand Weapon: Short Sword, Normal Rank

Left Hand Weapon: None

Jut smiled. His absolute favorite feature of the Armory was that it allowed him to hide his helmet yet retain the protection it offered. He didn't even feel like he was wearing it when the toggle was clicked to hidden. It was like it had become fully invisible.

Naturally, he moved to exploring his Inventory next. This was where his real tests began.

What Jut learned was that each slot was its own spatial dimension. They had to be as that was the only explanation as to why his gross and soiled clothing didn't contaminate anything else within the storage. He could also hold up to nine hundred and ninety-nine of each item placed into the inventory regardless of size. He tested that by picking up rocks from the grounds outside. Lastly, he learned that the inventory hand no limit as to an item's size, shape or weight.

While on a bathroom break with Lily, Nox and Gunther, Jut found an abandoned car at the edge of the Safe Zone. He decided to try and store it. To his delight, he could store the sedan and it only took up one slot. However, he had to have the Inventory's window open and he had to be able to touch the car while touching the window at the same time. He couldn't open his pouch and touch the car to store it. It disappeared in a blink as if it hadn't been there at all once he figured it out.

Getting the car out was just as easy and restricted. He had to have the window open and choose to take it out. It would materialize on the ground before him. The catch was his desired location for the car had to be flat and clear.

Jut tried climbing onto a building's roof and taking the car out to see if he could use it as a weapon by dropping it, but the car materialized on the ground two stories down. If there was anything in the space that would be taken up by the car, he would get a warning notification and the car would remain in his inventory. So, he left the car where he had originally found it. It wasn't operational and even if it was, he didn't have the keys nor did he know how to hot-wire a car.

To put anything into or take anything out of the inventory through the pouch, he had to be able to hold the Item. The only other real limitation to the inventory was amount of different items it could store sitting at a maximum of forty. While he wasn't going to complain about having such a convenient feature, it filled up very quickly. He currently only had five free spaces. Jut moved on after taking up another slot with his new Stone Ingots.

Jut's Lore Book and Interface were the same as they were at Normal Rank except for the amount of information that he could look up and see had increased. Jut's theory was that the combination of the two being Stone Rank was what allowed him to identify people, creatures, and objects. He couldn't test either in any way other then to read the Lore Book or make information popups appear in his interface, so he didn't waste anymore time on those.

The last feature was one Jut was a little nervous to explore. He decided he would ask anyway. And, as no one was home but the pets, he spoke aloud.

"Okay, Alex. I've finished reviewing my other Features. There's only one more. You asked me to wait. I have. Will you be ready to share your upgrades soon?"

My processing speed went up.

Alex was a very quiet guide. They only spoke when spoken to most of the time. When they did interject, it was usually when they considered it to be something Jut would deem important. So the message wasn't an unusual one. But for some reason, he felt like this one was shorter than it should have been. He also doubted that was the only change the Guide had experienced.

"And?" Jut's tone was only a little stern. It was mainly an act because they know what he was thinking.

This whole experience has been confusing and fascinating. I went from something that only executed its programming to someone who is able to think. I don't think you can understand what it's like to suddenly have thoughts, memories, and nothing else...

Jut's expression and tone softened at that. It was accurate that he didn't understand. He could only imagine it, at best.

"I understand that I have no idea what you went though. However, what does that have to do with what upgrades you got when we reached Stone Rank?"

You mean, when YOU reached Stone Rank. Even if I am technically Stone Rank too, that wont matter once you reach Copper Rank, will it...

Jut's eyes opened wide in realization. They didn't believe he would pay the cost to keep them around. He didn't blame them. Despite knowing he would, even then, it had to be hard it believe in someone you barely know. Especially if your fate was tied to theirs.

"We will both make it to Copper Rank and beyond. Or die trying. But, for me to effectively understand how to best utilize your new upgrades, I need to know what they are. Please show me."

Jut was sympathetic for his Guide. He was. However, he wasn't going to miss out on fully utilizing his System granted features. He just wouldn't allow that. He wasn't sure what the hold up was.

Fine...

Between one eye blink and another, a ball of white light appeared in Jut's vision, floating three feet in front of him. It had depth to it, and the light didn't shine on anything in the room. It reminded Jut of a certain fairy that always demanded to be listened to from one of his favorite games.

The small ball of light flitted across the room as if it was exploring the world around them.

As I said, the most useful upgrade is my processing speed. It will increase the amount of Lore I can find and how quickly I can find it, as well as run faster, more accurate calculations. Look at your HP bar.

Jut did. The one hundred percent blurred and showed the number two hundred and twenty briefly before fading back to a percentage.

"So, you can start to show my actual numbers now?"

Yes and no. The problem is the number isn't 100% accurate. Closer to 97% accurate while your health is stable. Unlike showing a percentage, which will always be accurate. With that degree of uncertainty, I would prefer to not risk it.

"I would hate to think I still had three health points left only to die because I really only had one. Best stick which percentages then. How would I display the percentage with out you?"

It would take concentration and Will, that's all. But, as we discovered with activating your non-equipped Skills, seconds can be valuable in combat. The rest of the time, you'd just see a bar.

As you can see, this metaphysical body was the rest of the upgrade. Only you can see me and I cannot interact with the world.

Their orb body flew up and floated in Jut's face again, about as far away as he considered comfortable speaking distance with anyone else.

"How far away can you go from me, and do you see the world in real time or from my current Lore?"

It's all in real time. Can you see Lily's tail? Its tip is wiggling.

Jut could not see Lily's tail, or Lily at all. When he crept forward, the cat looked up at him from a sitting position behind the couch and tipped her head. Her tail tip was indeed twitching in anticipation. Jut found out why too.

Nox's tail appeared in a lazy flop right in front of Lily, who batted at it playfully. His tail then swayed out of view lazily once more.

Jut looked up at Alex who answered his other question.

I can only go as far away from you as you can see. This, however, applies to the full distance. For example, I can travel into the rooms below us or the elevator. I practiced going into Brick's room while he was gone and you were asleep. I also stop sharing your senses when I emerge from you like this. While I can still access that information, I no longer experience the sensations.

Jut had a hunch as to what Alex's problem was now. They were afraid of what Jut would think of their capabilities. He had to admit, the idea of someone floating into his room, that he couldn't see, who watched what he did, was a little creepy. But, he did have some practical applications for it when the barrier went down he was already considering, like having Alex scout ahead of them.

"As long as I don't have to accidentally discover Lore of Brick's naked body, I'm good with you exploring to your heart's content. Please try to respect others' privacy though..."

I'll keep anything of that nature I stumble upon in a separate, marked section of the Lore Book unless I think it is imperative you know... And of course. I'm not a pervert.

The problem with text was that Jut couldn't tell if Alex was embarrassed, indignant, or apathetic. However, when the white glow changed to a light pink hue and Alex floated further away from him, he guessed it was all three.

When Alex realized Jut noticed that change, they immediately flew directly at him and disappeared into him once more.

And THAT is why I didn't want you to see...

Jut grinned. "Oh, come on. I know you're not a pervert and it's good to see what you're actually thinking. Besides, this means you can leave the room when your bored with what I'm doing, right?" He said with a chuckle.

I guess that's true. I need some alone time now...if you need me, I'm diving into your Television Lore.

Jut blinked, shaking his head in disbelief. He did understand the need and had his own desire to keep Smithing.

"Sure. It's time to make a weapon now." Jut said, pulling a Stone ingot from his inventory. He was anxious to begin making his own weapons, so he turned and went back to the crafting room. Nox followed him and took up his usual space just inside the door.