The people scoured the battlefield at lightning speed. Their bounty included thick black crystals, rare and valuable artifacts left from the defeated undead. Only the head of the clan, with his unique Perception and the magic of the dark Mallorns, could read the stats of these black crystals. He even figured out how to use them.
The rest of the Ice Vigor clan members, try as they might, couldn’t read the stats. Several crystals broke and even exploded in the crew’s hands. Alex had to use a Surgical Prana Needle to cure them.
Alex Phoenix dubbed them the Crystals of the Undead. Each carried a rare ability, skill, or enhancement. He had never encountered such skills before, and had no idea they could exist.
He sat in thought, meticulously sorting these black treasures into several piles.
Hmm, it looks like the artifacts are slightly different in shades, Alex thought. I will classify them – Common crystals are gray, Rare are blue, Epic are green, Legendary are gold, Divine are burgundy.
Most of them were gray and pale blue. They read, ‘Funeral Service’ curse or ‘Funeral Crew’ amplification.
How will they affect the living? Alex tried to imagine. These were dangerous puzzles.
The crystals were quite fragile – any excessive interference ended in the destruction of the artifact. Alex studied them with caution, reading only superficial characteristics. Name, degree of value and purpose, spell, curse, protection, and so on.
The crew found ten Epic green artifacts, mostly with spells for healing and strengthening, such as ‘Curative Burial’ or ‘Debuff Consuming Worms’.
There were also three Legendary gold crystals – ‘Grave Daisies’, ‘Black Blood’, ‘Call of the Fallen’, and one ‘Dark Berserker’ of the divine class artifact. Alex immediately stowed it in a subspace pocket, planning to study it in a more relaxed environment.
Despite the risks, Alex decided to try one of the crystals on himself. He selected the rare dark blue crystal, guided solely by his intuition. The dark crystals seemed to suit him best.
The name ‘Web of Darkness’ suggested high potential.
Alex tried to relax, take his time and act carefully. He sat, placed the crystal in front of him and let his surroundings fade from his mind.
The first scan of the crystal with his magical vision produced only frustration. Nothing special, looks like an ordinary lump of coal, that’s all.
When he touched it, however, it began to smolder at the point of contact. Alex noticed, through his magical vision, that the longer he held the crystal in his hands, the deeper the smoldering penetrated. Instead of risking the crystal’s integrity, he put it aside and selected another one called ‘Clear Steps’. This time, Alex waited until the smoldering had almost penetrated the center of the crystal before tossing it in the air and activating the power shield. It banged.
Are undead crystals not suitable for people? Or is it their protection? Are we wasting our time? He thought about Ticktock and his watch modifications. Maybe Ticktock would’ve been able to activate the crystals. Where are you, my mechanized friend? It’s time for you to return. Although…
Alex assumed they could be thrown apart by the explosion of the Reaper for very long distances. He had no doubt they were all right. Just in case, to further confirm his guesses, he addressed his assistant, “Jokeiro, review the list of the clan. I am interested in any information on mechoes.”
“Done. Master Phoenix, no cause for concern. The mechoes are fine. We’ve recently received three hundred and ninety-seven new mecho requests to join the clan.”
Alex exhaled loudly, smiled from ear to ear, and said, “Accept!
“Heck! I’m like a blind man – I see no characteristics, spells, information... What, in fact, am I doing? Nothing!” A bitter taste invaded his mouth. “I act on my instincts... I can't go on like this. I am clan leader, aren’t I? I need to build my platform where all information will be combined and visual, and urgently.
“So, I can create a platform and manipulators with the help of magic. The platform will be a complex construction of many different magic blocks combined into a single whole. The ghostly manipulators will be simple spells. By the way, the seventh Great debuff has been removed from me, so it’s time to celebrate this event with the creation of something new.
“Okay, it’s a done deal,” he stated firmly. “I will create Ghost Manipulators and start assembling the platform in the Igloo.”
Flash’s voice rumbled in Alex’s head. I know you’re going to the Igloo. May I jump after you? It’s good and cold there.
Alex patted his pet and looked around, assessing the situation. He nodded to the female clan members standing guard next to him. They understood him without him having to speak. He marveled at this mutual understanding and admired the well-coordinated work of his people.
He replied to Flash, “Of course, mate. Come with me, as time is running out.” With that he activated the Igloo.
The snowy Igloo was cool and calm as always. With a groan, Flash burrowed into the snow, enjoying its coolness.
Alex waved his hand and made his to the edge of the hideout. An approximation of a plan began to form. He approached a frost-covered rock about five feet in height stopping a yard away. “Right here.”
Then he activated his cheating abilities – The Blacksmith Mage and Two Communicator Pins +.
Alex also turned on the magical lamp behind him. Its brightness was enough to create a well-defined shadow on the sparkling, snow-white rock wall. He raised his hands, splaying his fingers. What if I try to create the manipulators resembling my shadow?
He needed prana, passionate desire, and imaginative thinking to create an artifact. He hoped the Dark Druid’s hidden abilities would help him in this.
It worked. The moment he imagined the manipulators, he received a shock
