[SKILLS & ABILITIES]
MECHA OVERLORD CLASS SKILLS
Rooted in the System’s Original Abilities
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🔹 [Mecha Forge]
[Level: 1]
The user can create basic inanimate mecha-like constructs by reconfiguring existing sources of matter and energy.
Note: Higher skill levels allow for faster creation, larger and more powerful mech-structures, and greater construct complexity.
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It was the only skill displayed, yet the moment Declan read its description, his eyes immediately lit up.
’Mecha Forge...’
He silently repeated the unfamiliar name, and with every rereading of the explanation, more possibilities began forming in his mind, causing his heartbeat to gradually quicken.
’It allows me to reconfigure matter and energy into inanimate mecha-like constructs...’
Without hesitation, Declan reached toward a sturdy branch extending from the tree beside him.
Gripping it firmly with both hands, he applied force until...
CRACK!
The branch snapped free.
It was approximately one meter long, and its size made it comfortable enough to hold.
’Now, how do I use it.’
Declan thought and the panel flashed in the nest moment.
[To activate the skill, simply call out the name.]
"Activate Mecha Forge."
The moment he uttered the command, golden light suddenly emerged around his hands.
The strange energy flowed into the branch, spreading across its surface as unfamiliar runic patterns appeared, glowing with a faint azure light.
They continued expanding, covering every inch of the wood for nearly thirty seconds as the transformation process progressed.
Then...
FLICKER!
A brilliant flash erupted from the branch, causing Declan to instinctively close his eyes and nearly lose his balance.
He quickly tightened his grip, waiting until the glow disappeared before slowly opening his eyes.
"It...It actually changed?"
The rough wooden branch was gone.
In its place was a sleek metallic staff, forged from a smooth golden alloy that reflected the fading sunlight.
It was the same size as before, but its smooth surface looked almost like glass while still feeling as strong and heavy as steel.
"This...This is Arcane!"
The Ember Race possessed a mysterious energy capable of producing phenomena that defied ordinary understanding, and those phenomena were made possible by the energy called Arcane.
That was the only thing that could explain what had just happened.
Before he could examine the weapon further, however, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion suddenly crashed over him.
His legs weakened, and he collapsed against the branch, breathing heavily.
The golden panel appeared before him.
[Energy Left: 20/30]
"So, reconfiguring matter consumes my energy.
He had barely finished speaking when,
HOOOOOWWWWLLLLL!!
A beastly howl echoed throughout the forest, and every hair on Declan’s body stood on end.
He immediately turned toward the direction of the sound, but he found only darkness.
"They’re waking up..."
Without wasting another second, Declan climbed down from the tree. If he wanted to survive the night, a simple staff would not be enough.
A staff overwhelms enemies through repeated blows which requires great physical strength, and that was something he lacked.
He needed a weapon that could end a fight the moment he found an opening.
After dropping onto the forest floor, Declan briefly stumbled before regaining his balance.
His hands immediately began searching through the loose sand and scattered debris surrounding the tree, and less than a minute later...
"I found it."
A pointed stone.
Sharp enough to bruise the skin.
He continued searching until his fingers eventually brushed against a severed vine.
’Perfect.’
Taking both items, he quickly climbed back into the tree, and picked up the stone.
"Activate Mecha Forge."
Golden flames once again surrounded his palms, and the same runic patterns spread across the stone.
However, unlike the branch, this transformation required noticeably more time.
Finally, the glow vanished, and the ordinary stone was no more.
Instead, it had become a perfectly forged metallic blade shaped like a narrow triangle.
Declan carefully ran a finger along its edge.
The moment his skin touched it, a thin cut appeared, and he yanked his hand back.
"It’s incredibly sharp."
"This is perfect."
Now...Only one final step remained.
This time, he changed his method.
He placed the metallic staff across the branch and positioned the newly created blade against one end, leaving enough space between them.
After wrapping the vine around the connection point, he held all three materials together.
"Activate Mecha Forge."
Golden flames erupted once more, but this time, the process demanded far more from him.
Sweat rolled down Declan’s forehead as his teeth clenched tightly.
An intense exhaustion spread throughout his body, as if something was draining every ounce of energy from him.
Still, he endured and finally,
FLICKER!
The transformation completed, and Declan immediately collapsed backward, only for something to land against his chest.
Startled, he reached out and caught it before it could slip from the tree, but the moment he looked down at what was now in his hands, a slow smile spread across his face.
"Finally."
With nothing more than a branch, a sharpened stone, and a vine, he had created the weapon he needed to survive:
A spear!
[Host has discovered a New Creation Path: Long Branch/Bamboo + Sharp Stone + Vines = Spear!]
[That is very creative of you, Host.]
The System’s praise warmed his heart, even if only for a moment.
His expression soon became serious again as he inspected the weapon carefully.
The spear was well balanced, long enough to keep claws and fangs at a distance, and sharp enough to pierce flesh.
It was an excellent weapon...for someone who knew how to use one.
Unfortunately...Declan was not that person.
He had never fought before, nor even held a spear, so charging into the forest to challenge a beast directly would be nothing less than suicide.
His gaze slowly moved across the tree, and then an idea formed.
’I’ll stay here. If anything wants to reach me, it will have to climb, and that exposes its head.’
’I’ll only need one properly timed strike into a vital area to end whatever it is.’
’The tree will be to my advantage.’
Decision made, Declan climbed even higher into the dense canopy.
The broad leaves concealed his body from anything searching below.
Lying flat against a thick branch, he held the spear with both hands, its sharpened tip aimed toward the trunk beneath him.
Then, he quietly waited.
Night had fallen, and the true rulers of the forest had begun their hunt.
Whether Declan would survive as the hunter, or perish as the hunted, the answer would reveal itself ten hours later, when the first rays of dawn crossed the horizon.
But fate had no intention of waiting that long as barely four hours passed before something stopped beneath his tree.
SNIF!
SNIF!
GROOOOWWLLL!