Code Collector

"You have a great group here," Jake said as he scanned the Codes Allen just gave him. "I never expected for you to actually finish it. This is a task that requires months of effort from at least a four-member party."

Allen only sighed and rolled his eyes. "I don't really have any time to talk at the moment. I'm just gonna go–"

When Allen was about to turn around and go, Jake interrupted him.

"Not yet," Jake said. "You still need something else. Although you did actually get the number of Codes I requested, I assume you had a hard time doing it?"

"I did," Allen said.

He didn't. The Snake's Blessing allowed him to easily grind Codes that would require others months and months to collect. Life was so much easier for him that even he himself took it for granted.

"I think so too," Jake grinned and pulled out a large metal case. He placed it on the coffee table and opened it, revealing several items inside. "These are my gifts to you, so we may continue this partnership for a longer time."

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Allen snorted. 

The contents of the case were luxurious items that were crafted by the Hunters in the higher worlds. Comparing these were clothes from Earth, the items were of couture quality. This was no joke.

"What are…" Allen trailed off. 

"These are the gifts I received from my uncle," Jake said. "He's a Hunter and he wanted me to follow his footsteps, a man of great quality that has been loitering in Eternity for years."

"You have an uncle that's in Eternity?" Allen gasped. "That's cool."

"Yes, and my brothers are almost there too," Jake said with a rather bitter tone. "And since I'm still quite far from there, I need you to work hard. Same amount of Codes, take these things and leave. I have a meeting."

Jake stood and smiled. He turned around and was a second away from walking when Allen said.

"No," Allen muttered dominantly. "If these were from your uncle, and I wear it, that would make me a thief. I was always thinking of how you would dispose of me. I assume it's part of your plan. I'm not gonna take these."

"You're sprouting nonsense," Jake crossed his arms and scoffed. "You'll be in the forest where nobody else is when you're doing work for me. Who would see you in those?"

Allen froze, slowly forming an O with his mouth. For a moment there, he confused working for Jake and becoming the Wandering Trader. It was funny to him that he even snorted and started laughing excessively.

"Are you done now? My meeting is starting," Jake said. "And look, if you really don't like these, you can just not accept them. Or you can customize them since they're weapons and items. You can craft, remember?"

For the second time around, Jake had a point. If he takes all these items to his Crafting Table, with their quality, he can create something grand out of them. This was a great plan, and it didn't come from himslef but the man who gave it to him.

It was now that he can say that his trust for Jake had grown significantly. The man could frame him up with the idea that he thought, but he even suggested an alternative way just so Allen could accept the items.

Jake was a wise man and he was devious, he just lacked the physical power to actually do something. His wits and his mind was something Allen had to copy, especially when he poses as the Wandering Trader. He needed a heavy load of wits that he currently lack.

Jake left Allen, and Allen left the mansion. He returned to the forest to where he scanned all the items Jake gave him.

He got four Rare grade items.

< White Saber Eye Earring >

< White Sabertooth Pendant >

< White Saber Fur Wrist Wrap >

< White Saber Claw Pendant >

Looking at the items, it was obviously from a single beast that his uncle killed in a hunt. It was sent to a craftsman and the parts were made into these items, creating four pieces with different stats and effects.

Allen wanted to test the items first. He equiped the earring that says it enhances attack speed by twice the degree, and he then equipped his Sunset Dagger. If the effects were as the description stated, he should be able to hit the mark three times in a second.

The boy stood in front of a random tree and swung his blade. 

Slash. Slash. Slash.

The bark of the giant tree was charged with three lines, all struck in a second. This made Allen smile, admiring the result of the equipment.

Perhaps the only and biggest setback of this item was its sheer size. It was no joke that it was an eye of a beast by its marble-like size. If Allen would wear this even in the forest, he will attract unnecessary attention.

The second one was the tooth pendant. It was a fang of the beast the size of a thumb. The craftsman who made this bore a hole on the thicker side of the fang where the thin golden chain passed through.

In the description it states that the fang would increase the damage. While Allen saw that his damage was increased in his interface, it didn't stop him from testing the output in real life.

With the same tree, he slashed the blade once. He hit right above the first line of his three slashes earlier and he could see that his damage did increase. The cut was now deeper and slightly wider than earlier.

When he combined the earring and the sabertooth, his attack would slow down to two per second, but the damage output was still high. Though the fang was smaller than the earring, it was still big and would still slow Allen down.

He moved on to the third item, the wrist wrap. He wondered what it was, but he later realized it was basically a band for the wrist. The description stated that it also enhances the attack speed by twice the amount, he tested it too.

He took the earring and the sabertooth pendant off and he slashed on the tree, creating three slashes just like earlier. He smirked and decided to wear the earring.

In theory, he should make six slashes in one second. He went in and tested it immediately.

Slash. Slash. Slash…

"It worked!" The boy cheered with excitement after seeing six new cuts on the tree. His attack speed was increased and if he wears the sabertooth pendant, his damage would also increase. This was a huge steal.

"The last one," Allen said while lifting the last item. It was a pendant like the sabertooth but it was different from the rest. While they looked like their counterpart when they were part of the saber, this item was named as a claw but it was a small ring that was oddly shaped.

Allen pursed his lips and pondered why the shape was different. It looked like it was shaped to be some sort of bowl for something. It didn't even have a chain, it was just a pendant placed inside a small pouch.

The boy's eye widened when a realization came to his mind. He gasped and pulled the sabertooth pendant, raising it in his eye level and looking back and forth from the claw and the fang.

His hands slowly moved together and he inserted the fang onto the ring like some sort of cap. It didn't even took him a lot of time before the two fit together.

< White Saber Fang & Claw >

The description was updated and it was now called Fang & Claw. It says that it increases damage and movement speed by a lot, so it was a pretty important item to have. Allen will benefit from it greatly.

The boy equipped all his items and tested it all immediately. He ran around the forest with as much speed as he could. It was exceptionally greater than his original speed, making him smirk in amusement. He could make this work if he wants to.

He also tested his damage. He slashed through the forest, creating multiple heavy cuts on the bark of the trees. Jake was a man who seemed like he's friends with the forests. If he would see Allen doing this, the man would not hesitate to kill him.

But whatever the man thinks, it didn't really stayed with him. What he feels now was greater than his fear of being buried alive by Jake.

Perhaps he also needed this. After all, he lacked power and speed. When he's out there being the Wandering Trader, he needed to be agile and strong. This equipment was what be needed.

And he will not hesitate to use all of these as much as he can. If that's what it takes to become stronger, he will do it.