Chapter 68: Forged for All Battles
It was quiet again.
The same meadow that had hosted battles, drills, and experiments now shimmered faintly with residual system energy. Isaac stood at its center, cross-legged, his interface glowing in front of him like a second sun.
Two skill nodes pulsed at the top of the panel—both flickering with steady power.
[Simulacrum Forge – Rank S][Living Armory – Rank S]
"These two… belong together," Isaac murmured.
Simulacrum Forge allowed him to replicate any item he'd touched. Living Armory let him wield anything with terrifying fluidity. Alone, they were powerful. But together?
They would become something much more.
[Skill Fusion Protocol – Rank EX] – ActivatedTarget Skills:– [Simulacrum Forge – Rank S]– [Living Armory – Rank S]
Proceed?→ Confirmed
The fusion burned through the interface like fire made of thought—gold turned violet, then deep blue, then pure white.
Fusion CompleteNew Skill Acquired:
[Armament Phantom – Rank S+]
You are the master of every blade you imagine.
– Active: Conjure spectral replications of any weapon, artifact, or item you've wielded or seen– Duration: 3 minutes per conjuration– MP cost scales with complexity– Can summon multiple weapons at once– All techniques from [Living Armory] apply– Passive: Enhances transitions between real and conjured weapons
You are no longer limited to the weapons of this world.
Isaac tested it immediately.
One thought, and a spear flickered into his palm. A bow hovered near his shoulder. A sword, heavier than steel but perfectly balanced, danced in his grip.
He flowed between stances—blade, gauntlet, twin daggers. Each one as smooth as breath.
Behind him, Lira watched in stunned silence.
"…Okay. That's scary."
Isaac gave her a sidelong glance. "I haven't even started."
But then a different thought struck him. A moment of clarity.
[Clawing Swipe – Rank D – Lv. 5][Rot Pulse – Rank C – Lv. 3][Spiral Rend – Rank C – Lv. 2]
They had served him once.
But now? Compared to [Armament Phantom], they were little more than training tools.
[Skill Fusion Protocol – Rank EX] – Mode: Decompose
[Clawing Swipe – Rank D] → +10[Rot Pulse – Rank C] → +100[Spiral Rend – Rank C] → +100
Total stat gain: +210
He closed his eyes and let the energy settle, then began redistributing.
+100 to Endurance
+100 to Intelligence
+10 to Willpower
The numbers shifted—and surged.
[STATUS – Soulbound Host: Isaac]Level: 20HP: 5,860 / 5,860MP: 3,320 / 3,320Strength: 487Agility: 486Endurance: 586Intelligence: 664Willpower: 496Charisma: 487Luck: ???Moonlight Affinity: 6
He lowered his stance. The air around him shimmered with silent potential.
A new era of combat awaited. And now, he didn't just wield weapons—he was the weapon.
And every piece of power he'd claimed, refined, and reforged…
Had led him here.
—
Lira tilted her head, watching him with narrowed eyes. "…Is it just me, or do you look… different?"
Isaac blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You look…" She squinted, then burst out, "Handsome. Like, annoyingly handsome. What did you do?"
Isaac frowned. "I didn't—wait…"
He pulled open his interface, eyes darting to one line.
Charisma: 487
"...Oh no," he muttered.
Without hesitation, he activated [Armament Phantom – Rank S+], conjuring a mirror-shaped replica of a relic he'd seen in a noble's estate. Polished silver surface, flawless frame.
He leaned in—and recoiled.
"Wh—?!"
Gone was the vaguely rugged, exhausted wanderer. In the mirror stared a man with sharp, symmetrical features, high cheekbones, a defined jawline, and depthless black eyes that shimmered faintly beneath tousled black hair. His skin was smooth, unblemished, and somehow touched with divine glow.
He turned to Lira. "I look like a romantic villain."
She smirked. "Now you notice?"
"This is a problem," Isaac muttered. "People are going to think I'm some tragic noble prince."
Lira grinned. "Or a seductive death spirit."
Isaac groaned. "I should've put that last ten points in Willpower…"
"Too late now, pretty boy."
He snapped the mirror shut and dispersed it with a sigh. "If someone tries to write a ballad about me, I'm setting it on fire."