SSS-Rank Engineer: Only I Can Create Legendary Weapons

The return to their camp was both happy and strangely tense. Percy hoped Barty was hungry because they stopped by the river and caught a lot of fish.

This trip was already a massive victory in his eyes with all the things he learnt for Arete and all the materials he gained from the kills. He would be making and testing a lot of his Hermetics skills once they stopped in Carmen town.

As for Arete, his Fighting spirit had come a really long way. Not only was he very close to being able to use his spirit at any time, he also knew how to use it with a weapon now.

The feeling of being one with Thalos' katana still lingered as they navigated the forest. It felt like a brush of his fingers against the bush was enough to cut, and the previous uncomfortable chill of the weather was now just normal to him.

He was certainly on the way to learning the first two techniques in his father's Blood Demon school, but first he had to grow his spirit.

Once his spirit was grown enough, he could split it between his sword and skin and train the way Thalos trained. By testing his will to cut against his will not to be cut.

Thalos was a bit ahead of him, checking the surroundings casually with his grey eyes. But Percy now understood that the dark forest wasn't as hidden to those eyes.

"We should be out of danger for now. But don't relax, Percy. Remember to cultivate that sense of urgency in calm moments."

Percy nodded, walking a bit faster to get closer to his dad.

"I'll do my best."

"Sooo, you'll master it tomorrow?"

They both shared a laugh. His talent for using his Fighting Spirit was obviously caused by his [Dragon Fighting Spirit] that he got from Nyx, so he couldn't immediately master everything.

But he could learn new skills faster. Percy suspected Thalos already knew there was something special about him though. The last fight with the Ashfangs would have confirmed it.

Thalos glanced at him once.

"So, um… what were those things you threw at the Ashfangs? The little metal balls."

Percy did his best to avoid doing anything that would be suspicious.

"They were stun balls, made from a special powder I've been developing at home. I only made a few but they seem very effective."

"Very effective? They practically made that Ashfang unable to defend itself for almost five minutes. That's enough time to kill twelve Ashfangs."

That was true. If not for the fact that his Spellbolt jammed, Percy could have riddled the Ashfang with holes while it struggled with the stun effects.

"It's… pretty dangerous, yeah."

Silence lingered as their feet crunched through the dirt. Percy knew he probably had other suspicions, but Thalos wasn't the type of guy to pry into other people's business.

There would need to come a time when he told his family about his reincarnation or even at least the system. He worried that it would unsettle them, Hecate would truly know that she never had a chance to raise her son.

But was that really true? He had been affected by the world's norms and cultures. He appreciated their politeness and hospitality. This was his home now, and he wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Especially not Earth, he probably would have died somewhere in a ditch if he was reincarnated back on Earth. The chances of making it back to wealth without his memories were infinitesimal.

So he appreciated being born here, with power, a good family and a proper chance to make something out of himself. Most people never got such a chance. Lena and Kari were trying to secure that chance for their families with him.

The person that wields the power often holds the possibility of creating hell or heaven for everyone else. Nyx created a heaven for him, and now it was his turn to try and do the same for the people of this world.

Because there was no way he could repay Nyx for what she did for him. He was pretty fucking amazing but he wasn't a god.

What he could do was pass on the favor and help someone else. Then after that all he could do was hope that person would help another person.

It was a futile hope, there was nothing people loved more than themselves. Some people even felt entitled to the good that others did for them, and still lived with an every-man-for-himself mentality.

Percy climbed up a high slope, nodding his head. If you thought too much about how life really works you would run yourself mad.

He would do right for himself and his family, and hope one day they could forgive him for keeping such a secret.

Soon they arrived back at camp. The plants Thalos used to hide it obscured the light of the fire and the man hidden inside. Barty's eyes brightened when they returned unharmed.

"I guess the brat didn't slow you down, Lord Thalos."

Percy scoffed, setting down all the things he cut out of the Ashfang lizard.

"I'll have you know that I killed most of the things we fought out there, old man."

"Really?"

Bart turned to Thalos, who simply nodded and handed him the fish they brought. They were clean and silver-scaled with barely any damage to the body.

"Ohhh, these are some good-looking fish. We'll eat well tonight it seems."

"Oy, Barty." Percy tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you forgetting to praise me? You saw Thalos' approval. I killed two Ashfangs, mostly by myself."

"That mostly is doing some heavy lifting, kid."

Percy rolled his eyes and took out the spices as well as the organ they cut from the Silksong Moth. He handed them both to Barty without thinking much about it.

The man got down to preparing a delicious meal for them, handling the flames with precision. He provided well-cooked fish first for them to dig into.

"What do you think, Thalos, brat?"

They both looked up from their plates, faces splattered with oil and bones. Thalos didn't even try to look dignified. He gave Barty an enthusiastic thumbs up.

"Not too much seasoning on the fish, but I can taste everything. If I cooked this myself it wouldn't be half this good!"

Percy shrugged, eyeing the delicate fish carefully.

"I mean, it's alright. The lemon adds a lot that I didn't expect though, I would like more spice, though."

Barty clicked his tongue and stretched out a hand.

"If you don't like it, give it back."

"No, fuck off. I'll fight you for this fish."

"Hahaha, doesn't sound like you think it's just alright." Barty laughed heartily. "Give me. I mashed up some spices with olive oil, I'll put some for you."

Percy gave up the plate unwillingly, eyeing Barty the whole time as he applied the special red sauce.

Barty made a motion to throw the fish into the fire, then laughed as Percy nearly pounced on him.

"It's a joke, relax."

He took the plate back from the old man with a glare.

"Don't play with my fo—"

He paused after tasting the fish with Barty's special sauce. He looked from the plate to the man's wide grin.

"I'm going to need that recipe."

Laughter filled the camp for a long time, they talked and feasted for almost an hour, deciding not to eat the Moth today.

"We'll eat it tomorrow afternoon maybe," Thalos said. "As a roadside snack."

"How long until we get to a Carmen?" Percy asked. "Not that I'm in a rush, I'm enjoying the trip so far."

Barty shuffled into his sleeping bag, yawning deeply.

"Two or three days at most."

"We'll stay there for a day, then get back on the road," Thalos added. Then he grinned at Percy. "Our next stop after Carmen will be Sonea. We'll get your first sword there."