[Omen of the Witchblade] Chapter 136 – Iron Rewards

“At least you’ve got honor,” Mel said to the punch-drunk Battlerager. He swayed on his feet. If Mel didn’t kill him, his wounds would. The end wouldn’t be pretty.

For all that she hated him, he deserved a warrior’s death.

Mel looked him over, shaking her head. “So much potential, wasted.”

A Magi in his shoes would have been nigh impossible to fight. He took his power for granted and got what he deserved.

In the end, Dernerd didn’t beg or grovel. Mel was certain that there was nothing in the Shardrune that would make an arrogantly proud orc like Dernerd beg for his life.

Charlie scooped up Mel’s twinblade, keeping at a distance. Mel locked eyes with her, and the Necromancer tossed over the weapon.

Mel used it to deal the killing blow.

“Live by the sword, die by the sword,” Mel said, making a clean stroke aimed at his neck.

You defeat [Dernerd (Battlerager) (Iron Rank)]

You gain extra runes of Divine, Mist, Blood, Serpent, and Omen aspect experience for slaying a higher rank opponent.

You gain extra Battle Points for slaying a higher rank opponent.

Your [Condensate] Mist aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 6)].

Your [Agility (Mist)] attribute advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 11)].

Your [Blood Magic] Blood aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 5)].

Your [Tempest Heart] Divine aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 6)].

Your [Crown of Glory] Divine aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 2)].

Your [Strength (Divine)] attribute advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 6)].

Your [Gaze of the Serpent] Serpent aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 9)].

Your [Bane of Tartarus] Omen aspect skill advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 7)].

Your [Arcane (Omen)] attribute advances to [Copper Rank (Grade 7)].

Mel knelt down and touched the orc’s shoulder. “I wonder what kind of loot you’ve got.”

Would you like to loot [Dernerd (Battlerager) (Iron Rank)]?

It was like hitting a treasure pinata. A variety of materials sprang out of him, including a surprisingly large amount of pristine quality alchemy ingredients.

(1) [Gemini Bracer] has been stored in your inventory.

(50) [Iron Rune Coins] have been stored in your inventory.

(1) [Novice Alchemist Permit] has been stored in your inventory.

(10) [Perfect Managlass Bottles] have been stored in your inventory.

(8) [Pristine Blue Herba] have been stored in your inventory.

(8) [Pristine Red Herba] have been stored in your inventory.

(8) [Pristine Green Herba] have been stored in your inventory.

(6) [Pristine Violet Herba] have been stored in your inventory.

(3) [Pristine White Herba] have been stored in your inventory.

(1) [Pristine Alchemical Supply Box] has been stored in your inventory.

“He’ll make for an excellent skeleton minion,” Charlie remarked with a tone of professional interest, studying the orc’s remains. “Oh, he dropped a mace? Must have treated his axe terribly for it to be temporarily decayed so easily by [Beyond Death].”

It seemed that his weapon went to Charlie rather than Mel. That was fine by her. Though that did make her wonder what else Charlie got. Clearly, Mel’s loot was almost entirely alchemical ingredients.

She was going to put those alchemy ingredients to good use.

“Charlie?” Mel asked, looking over the headless body. “Did you get any alchemy ingredients?”

“An excessive amount, yes.” For once, the Necromancer wasn’t paying Mel much attention. She was busy preparing the body with [Necromancy]. It was an eerie sort of magical harvest that popped out additional piles of loot, so it was like looting the guy twice. “Why, can you use them?”

“Witchblade gives me alchemy knowledge, so yeah. It’s why I didn’t trash the alchemy station that the potions shop owner had. While it has clearly been abused, I can still use it.”

The purple magic faded from Charlie’s fingers as she turned towards Mel. Looking down, she opened a suspended window into her own inventory space then reached inside, reorganizing some items.

Charlie removed one of her many storage rings and tossed it over to Mel.

Mel caught it. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“A gift. Keep it.”

[Bone Storage Ring]

(Copper Rank, Armor)

(Uncommon)

A bone ring enchanted with the power to hold a limited number of items within a magical pocket dimension. This item was modified with ritual magic.

Imprint: Impart mana to access inventory space. Modest item capacity.

Imprint(Spliced): Additional inventory space.

Mel was intrigued to learn that the bone ring accessed an entirely different type of subspace. It did not connect to her [Exile Storage Ring] that she could see. Even more interesting was that instead of the formless gray, the space was the color of ivory.

Contained within were small piles of alchemy ingredients that Charlie gave Mel.

That’s a touch disturbing, Mel thought. I never thought much about how these storage rings are like wearing miniature vaults on my fingers. Anybody could steal one and take everything I own.

At the same time, Mel noticed that all the alchemy ingredients were missing from her rather messy storage. It wasn’t until she remembered her [Belt of the Indomitable] that she understood why.

[Belt of the Indomitable]

(Copper Rank, Armor)

(Legendary)

Forged from a plateau beast’s sturdy nature and an indomitable witch’s Blue, Green, and Violet tinged Deeds.

Imprint: Reduces cooldown of Agility bound aspect skills. Raises defense against physical damage. Greatly increases resistance to Yellow aspect skills. Contains inner pockets linked to a pocket dimension for alchemy potions and ingredients.

Requires: [Agility (Copper Grade 10)]

Mel whispered to herself, “It’s free real estate.”

Charlie thinned her eyes at Mel. “Did you say something?”

“No.”

“Are you lying to me?”

“Yes.”

Surprisingly, that relaxed Charlie’s tense posture. Mel shrugged and examined her fingers. She now had four rings, with no suggestion that the System was going to limit her.

I’m not normally a jewelry kinda gal, but this is something I could get on board with.

Even after giving Mel a storage ring, Charlie had more than anyone else Mel had seen. Even her ears had silver ring piercings, though Mel wasn’t entirely sure they were anything other than simple accessories. They didn’t quite have the glint of silversteel that most storage rings were made from.

When Dernerd’s body was finished being converted into an undead skeleton, the [Dim Orcish Blood Vials] were offered to Mel as well.

Her [Sanguine Coat] was looking ragged and thin. She had drawn on it a lot to use [Blood Magic]. Instead of instantly consuming the vials as she wanted to, Mel put them into her new bone storage.

Mel looked thoughtfully at the skeleton. “You know, for an Iron, it was odd that he didn’t have any [Health Potions] on him. They wouldn’t have saved him, but it would’ve made our job a lot harder.”

“He was probably too concerned about turning a profit rather than being battle ready at all times,” Charlie said. “He wasn’t too smart for lashing out at me, anyway. Doubtful it was the first time he’s done that.”

Mel looked at the orc’s thick skeletal remains. Even as a pile of bones, he was significantly larger than Mel was. “Boy, he thick.”

“Yeah.” Charlie grinned excitedly.

“Got yourself a new tank?” Mel asked with professional interest.

“I really hope so,” she answered with genuine enthusiasm, reminding Mel of that general Asleton adorable weirdness that Sylvie typically exuded. “Most of my minions started out as Mundane humans that took significant effort to grow when I didn’t know what I was doing. It’s radical to work with Iron orcish bones.”

“Radical, huh?”

Rather than be embarrassed by her outdated vernacular, Charlie doubled down. “Like, totally tubular man.”

The skeleton rose to his feet, larger and thicker than any of the Necromancer’s previous minions. He looked around slowly with green fire blazing in his empty sockets, then knelt obediently toward Mel.

Growing curious, Mel looked closer at the minion.

[Undead Orc Minion (High Copper Battlerager)]

“He kept his evolved class,” Charlie remarked thoughtfully. “But his rank is limited by mine. At least I won’t have to grow his frame.”

“I was about to say, he sure doesn’t seem Iron rank to me. Makes sense that you can’t have a summon stronger than you.” Mel folded her arms. “At least it’s not like that annoying game logic where you barely manage to beat an awesome boss who later decides to join your party. And when they do, they’re about as strong as a square of wet toilet paper. Not that fancy two-ply stuff either. We’re talking hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant half-ply.”

“Fortunately, he isn’t that trashy.” Charlie stepped over to Mel, giving her a close look. “...Ah, I should’ve healed you first.”

Mel waved off her concern. “It’s just a little cut. Kinda looks cool on the cheek like that. I look like an anime protagonist or something.”

“A touch more badass,” Charlie said in amused agreement.

Mel was suddenly uncomfortably aware of how isolated they were. Deep underground. Surrounded by Charlie’s aspect power that could probably bury them alive at any moment while sparing Charlie.

If she wanted Mel dead, now would be an ideal moment. Mel’s mana wasn’t doing so hot despite the greater reserves. A tension rose in the air between them.

If I was Other Mel’s killer, I’d attack now while I’m at my weakest and my guard is down, she thought to herself. Mel didn’t stare at Charlie, but as she opened her inventory and perused it, she kept the woman in her periphery the entire time.

It would be too easy for Charlie to kill her and blame it on the orc. After all, dead orcs tell no tales.

The Necromancer could literally make bodies disappear.

“...I’m surprised you didn’t let an Iron take me,” Charlie finally said, watching Mel closely.

Mel started and turned to look at her. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I just didn’t think you would remotely care.” She looked away, and began equipping the skeleton with a large shield, a new mace and some chainmail.

For some reason that Mel didn’t understand, that made her mad. She entirely forgot that Charlie might be Other Mel’s killer for the moment.

“You thought I would let you be stolen?!” Mel closed her inventory and stepped right up to Charlie. In typical Mel fashion, she somehow managed to loom despite being nearly a foot shorter than Charlie. “Do you really think I’m so horrible and irresponsible?”

Taking a step back against the tunnel wall, Charlie’s sapphire blue eyes widened with surprise. “I wasn’t at all sure, Mel. I’m used to…being on my own. You can be interested foremost in your own affairs.”

Mel gritted her teeth. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to let you, or any of my friends, be taken. That’s complicit with slavery. I’d rather die fighting a Silver than let them take you. Sure, I can be a little selfish at times, but if you aren’t taking care of yourself first, how can you take care of somebody else?”

Charlie stared at Mel as if she was an entirely different person than she remembered. “You’d die fighting a Silver for me?” she asked, as if she wasn’t sure she heard Mel right. “Or for any Magi?”

“Bitch, did I stutter?”

“Which is it?” Charlie pressed. “For me, or you’d do this for any Magi?”

Mel’s anger gave way to confusion. She threw up her arms. “Does it matter? I wasn’t going to let him take you. Whether he was Iron, Silver, Gold, Frankincense, or fucking Myrrh.”

That seemed to decide something important for Charlie. She moved intimately close, but the ground around them shook and rumbled, tumbling stones and clods of dirt into the room.

A heavy stone dislodged from the ceiling, landing right between the two, forcing them apart.

Mel straightened the brim of her hat, doing her best not to look Charlie in the eye. “I think he might have called for reinforcements. I’m down to show another Iron how the Magi do things, but I don’t like our odds if we’re surrounded. Can you get us to the surface farther away from the shop?”

Frowning, Charlie nodded. Looking up, the halo’s steady glow illuminated her fair features and troubled expression.

The new orc minion stepped in to shelter them under his large shield. The dirt and rock parted around the rising wave of gravestones as they rose to the surface.

Which is it? Mel thought. Guards coming to throw us in jail or more Iron rankers looking for blood?