Lord Of Puppets

(Honestly, I don't really like this.) – thought Thauma.

(Making bombs.)

(This will make use up materials and instantly lose them the moments bombs activate.)

(But it may be the best strategy that could deal with bear beastman.)

(The main problem with that enemy is not his speed or power, it is his defense.)

(The only things that scares that man were the crossbow.) – thought Thauma as it picked up one of the crossbows it made and fired it at the wooden shield, easily piercing object with the shot.

(This is the only thing he really was scared off.)

(But would crossbow bolts really kill him?)

(I saw his defense. It managed to stop the blades with him not even trying to block their attacks.)

(When he was outside, he did blocked attacks from the standard golem.)

(Maybe their attacks could wound him too?)

(But he was able to block quiet easily their hits.)

(There is also the earth magic...I need to destroy that wall AND land a hit at the same time.)

(And if explosions is strong enough, it could possible do both of these things…..Yes…. Yes!)

(This may work out!)

(If I create powerful enough explosion…. No. Series of explosions would also do the job.)

(That man abnormal defense back then…. It could had been 'enchantment'.)

(Enchantment are form of magic that focuses on bestowing powers onto the objects or people.) – thought Thauma as it picked up one of the books nearby that has written on its cover: "Magic for dummies – Basic schools of magic and spells".

(…..Here.)

("Enchantment.")

("One of the main schools of magic that focuses on the art of empowering object or person.")

("Enchantment magic grants the 'target' said abilities or benefit.")

("For example empowering their attack power, increasing their defense or their speed for example.")

("Enchantment are usually focused on either object or person.")

"…."

(Considering how back then he took on the hit with his body, he must had been using 'person' type enchantments.)

(Hm….. Honestly…. Maybe I should learn few enchantments myself?)

(But how strong is his own enchantment?)

(Depending on the mage, the fire power of the exactly same spell may varies.)

(Was that person going all out there? Or was he holding back?)

(Not only him, but what remaining soldiers? The soldiers that were with him.)

(There is also question on how I would caught them off guard.)

(Even if I do make weapon that could possibly explode and take down their defenses in one go, would that kill them?)

(What if the first explosions won't do it and they will keep their guard up afterwards?)

(No…. I need to ambush them and make sure they get destroyed in single go.)

(But how do I do this in the first place?)

(….)

"!"

(Wait…. That is, it!)

(I can just make "that" into a weapon!)

(But I can't mess it up.)

(If I do, then things may….. No. I cannot depend solei on the "bombs".)

(I need to continue researching other things.)

(Especially the Artificial Mana Organ.)

<<Even though I've managed to figure out some ways I could possibly hunt down the stronger invaders by using "tricks" ….. It would still mean literally nothing if I don't grow stronger at all.>>

<<And to become stronger, I will need to perfect the Artificial Mana Organ.>>

<<Well… "Perfect" isn't exact word. More like "upgrade" it.>>

<<There is limit of what I can do with type of materials I have on hand and obtaining any new materials would require me spending a lot of DP on the research.>>

<<The best metal I can use as well is iron or copper.>>

<<Only things I have is wood, mana crystals, mana gem and some other less important stuff like rocks for example.>>

<<With these things I need to create a best artificial mana organ.>>

<<And while I'm at it, I will also focus on growing myself in other areas.>>

<<Specifically in my understanding of crafting and skills related to them.>>

<<One of the things I want to understand more is [Alchemy].>>

<<Unlike crafting, alchemy focuses on many different things.>>

<<Honestly, I was bit confused about at first.>>

<<When I was focused on improving my blacksmithing, Ariava told me that I need to obtain [Alchemy] skill, but I didn't understood why.>>

<<She made me things like simple alchemy to making potions.>>

<<When I've asked her why I was even learning about alchemy in the first place, she told me that.>>

<<" If you want to be a craftsman it is for the best if you at least understand the very basics. You don't need to develop your alchemy at the very high level, but hey.">>

<<"Depending on the circumstances, you may need it, depending on what exactly you want to craft.">>

<<Honestly, after I've started reading books about blacksmithing and magic tools, I've did kind of understood why I need [Alchemy] skill.>>

<<Specifically the [Mana Alchemy].>>

<<This skill allows me to much easier control alchemy in much more specific way.>>

<<And this will be crucial for my future experiments.>>

<<As for the blacksmithing type skills? I will need to learn more.>>

<<I need sharper blades.>>

<<More durable body parts.>>

<<…. No.>>

<<This isn't it.>>

<<Learning how to make sharper and durable weapons and armor is one thing…. No…NO! NO! NO!>>

<<I'm looking this at wrong angle.>>

<<These soldiers, these adventures, they all often used different weapons.>>

<<Sometimes they used the same type of weapon like a sword, but they were different! Some were differently size, length and weight.>>

<<I knew what each does…..>>

<<But why?>>

<<I've made those kind of weapons myself…. But maybe I didn't understood it correctly?>>

<<Maybe focusing on one specific shape isn't the way to go?>>

<<….I need to learn the properly difference about each kind of blade in order to truly create something powerful>>

<<I've picked one of the books that Ariava gave me about basic weapons and armors.>>

<<And without wasting time, I've crafted.>>

<<I've crafted, I've crafted and I've crafted.>>

<<Each day, for weeks.>>

<<I've made different kind of swords.>>

<<One handed swords, two handed swords.>>

<<Short sword, long sword, rapier and saber.>>

<<I've looked though the books that Ariava gave me and even though some weapons had description about them, it was far better to just make them and understand the difference first hand.>>

<<Shorter blades, longer bladers, lighter blades, heavier blades, sharper blades and duller blades.>>

<<Every single one of them had different kind of benefits and effects.>>

<<There are also kind of polearms weapons such as: spears, javelins, halberds, scythes, war hammer and so on.>>

<<And this isn't over yet either.>>

<<One handed axes and two handed axes.>>

<<Long bows and short bows.>>

<<Small crossbow, standard crossbows, ballistas.>>

<<Daggers, hammers, battle gauntlet, flail, shields, maces, and many more.>>

<<There are also weapons specially made for mages.>>

<<Staff, wand, catalyst and so on.>>

<<Shapes, weight, length, form, material and so on. All of it influenced the weapon nature and power.>>

<<And it wasn't just weapons.>>

<<The armors were the same thing.>>

<<I may have no need for the human armor, since I can make my own body into "armor", but nonetheless, this training was more than successful.>>

<<Light armor, provides minimal amount of defense and doesn't weight much.>>

<<Heavy armor, provides high amount of defense, but at the same time it slows down the wearer because of the weight.>>

<<I said I've spent days and weeks crafting….. But honestly speaking? It was far more than just weeks.>>

<<I've lost the sense of time and when I've finally looked back, when I've saw the pile of the countless weapons and armors I've made.>>

<<I've realized it wasn't weeks.>>

<<More than one month has passed.>>

<<Honestly, this isn't the first time I've crafted like this.>>

<<…. This is weird….. But not bad?>>

<<When I was researching golems, trying to come up with new models, I would often forget about time and before I've realized, a lot of time has already passed.>>

<<Honestly, I think I should focus on controlling this thing or else I may have invaders going into the dungeon without me realizing.>>

<<Then again, this time it was worth it.>>

<<After paying much closer attention to all sort of differences that the weapon can have by changing things here and there…. I realize I was still foolish.>>

<<The amount of mistakes I've made so far, when making weapons, when making armors AND when making my golems, I've realized that I've could do things much better if I just…. Made a simple change.>>

<<But why I didn't realized it?>>

<<Only after I've made same weapon few times in a row, a same version of it, I've realized that I've made a mistake.>>

<<Is this the same way with the artificial mana organ?>>

<<Or my golem core? Did I've made stupid mistakes that could be easily just solved with simple change?>>

<<…>>

<<I like it.>>

<<Whenever I make something new, whenever I make improvement, whenever I make failure, whenever I make success, whenever I make anything I just feel…. "Happy".>>

<<Even though I've "failed", I'm sad, but at the same time I'm not?>>

<<Honestly…. I don't really think that failing is that bad? I shows me errors and what to avoid….. So, yea, I don't think it is "lose".>>

<<…>>

<<…>>

<<Ariava once said it before, she said that I'm always "interested" and "curious" when it comes down to crafting.>>

<<She said I "like it" or maybe even "love it".>>

<<She said that I may have found something that "moves" me.>>

<<…>>

<<And she isn't wrong.>>

<<I like it.>>

<<I like crafting.>>

<<But this isn't the only reason why I craft.>>

<<I want to use it.>>

<<The thing that will secure my future.>>

<<The thing that will secure the dungeon safety.>>

<<And the thing that will slay those who dare to stand in my way.>>

<<It will be my craft.>>

<<I will slaughter them all with it.>>

<<They think they can just "tame" me?>>

<<Idiots.>>

<<They are only giving me time to make a weapon that will slaughter them all.>>

<<I'm scared.>>

<<I'm terrified.>>

<<I'm weak.>>

<<I'm aware of all of that.>>

<<I know I could meet my end at any moment…. But I'm not giving up.>>

<<Ariava isn't here anymore.>>

<<I cannot depend on the "luck".>>

<<What I need to depend on is my skills.>>

<<My craft.>>

<<I refuse to be tamed.>>

<<I refuse to be destroyed.>>

<<I want to know!>>

<<I want to know what the world is like!>>

<<I want to know many different things!>>

<<I want to craft many different things!>>

<<…>>

<<And those who dare to stand in my way?>>

<<I will just slaughter them all and feed them to the dungeon.>>