Where the towering Root Bear had stood, there was only a fresh mound of soil. Subtly steaming. The air still crackled with residual energy.
[Root Bear defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +800 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 19]
Nightclown grinned and collected the scattered coins. It was 350 coins. Pretty decent numbers. But, more importantly, he had secured his prize.
He pulled the shimmering green leaf from his inventory. The [Sense Spinach]. It pulsed gently in his hand. A vibrant green, like a cartoonish spinach. He immediately read its description.
[Sense Spinach]: A super rare, mystical consumable that permanently increases Sense by one star. Consumption is immediate and irreversible.
Just as he had expected. Without hesitation, he brought it to his mouth. And bit a large chunk. It tasted like concentrated freshness and raw energy. He chewed. Swallowed.
A notification immediately appeared.
[Sense has permanently increased by one star!]
[Sense: ✪✪✪]
[Effect: Increase perception range by 50%; increase danger detecting sensitivity by 100%; reduce the energy consumption of sense-based skills by 50%.]
Nightclown grinned again. A wacky triumphant expression. The permanent boost was excellent. Higher perception range. Sharper danger sense. Nice!
As for the energy consumption of sense-based skills... the only one that fit the description was just [Inspect!] skill. And its energy consumption was already extremely low. Ah, well... It might be great when he had more skills later.
Nightclown refocused to his current task. He was supposed to acquire a piece of [Finger Bamboo]. He surveyed the remnants of the Root Bear's rampage. Broken bamboo stalks lay scattered. Their green husks split and splintered.
The monster had certainly made a mess. But it had also inadvertently cleared a path. He knelt. His keen hare eyes scanning the debris. He needed a suitable pieces. No! To be safe, he needed several pieces more.
His hands quickly brushed aside smaller splinters. He located an intact stalk. Thick and straight. With the characteristic segmented appearance of a [Finger Bamboo]. With a decisive snap, he broke off a usable length.
He repeated the action four more times. Each selection was made with practical efficiency. Each piece was firm. Without cracks or significant damage.
He checked his inventory. An entry of [Finger Bamboo (x5)] had been added to the Raw Materials column. Good. He was ready.
Without lingering, Nightclown turned and retraced his steps. The South Forest had provided a useful experience. Both in combat and material acquisition. The path back to the Toon Forest Village was a familiar one now.
He moved swiftly. Soon, he reached the familiar southern gate of the village. Bypassing the sleeping Guard Bulldog. Who barely stirred and just opened one eye.
He made a direct route to Mr. Gorhammer's Smithy. He could already hear the sounds of the distinct clang of metal on metal that emanated from the building.
Inside, Mr. Gorhammer, the massive gorilla blacksmith, was again at his anvil. A big hammer in his massive hand struck a piece of glowing metal again and again. The anvil itself seemed to sigh with each strike.
The gorilla looked up as he entered. "Ah, Little Bunny! Back so soon? Did you find what you needed?" His voice was a deep rumble. Like distant thunder.
"Yes, Sir! The [Finger Bamboo]." Nightclown confirmed. Pulling one of the chosen pieces from his inventory.
He also retrieved the required [Mystic Iron Ore] and a small pouch containing 50 coins. He placed them all on the wooden counter. "I'm ready for the [Ambusher Blowgun], Sir."
Mr. Gorhammer picked up the bamboo. Weighing it in his hand. He then eyed the ore. A glint flashed in his cartoonish large eye. "Excellent! This will be a fine piece. Wait a moment."
The blacksmith then began his work. He took the materials to a smaller, secondary anvil. He placed the [Mystic Iron Ore] in a roaring forge. The flames turning it molten red in seconds.
With a flourish, he grabbed a hammer that seemed to inflate in his hand. Growing to absurd proportions. He placed the solitary [Finger Bamboo] on a small, perfectly round anvil.
Instead of the usual forceful strikes, Mr. Gorhammer began a series of rapid-fire, almost musical taps.
Clink! Bonk! Boing! Twang!
The bamboo didn't chip or splinter. Instead, it stretched and compressed. Elongating and compacting. Like a rubber band being pulled and released.
The molten red [Mystic Iron Ore] seemed to melt on its own. Forming a shimmering, iridescent liquid. One that Mr. Gorhammer painted onto the bamboo. With a precise flick of his wrist.
As the liquid metal touched the stalk, it hissed. Not with steam. But with tiny, cartoonish bubbles. Which then popped in a twinkling sound.
The gorilla's movements were a blur. He spun the blowgun. Tapped it. Blew into it like a trumpet. Causing it to vibrate with a high-pitched whirrr.
He plunged it into a bucket of water that instantly turned to ice. Then back to steamy water. Then to what seemed like sparkling soda.
Sparks flew from the anvil. Tiny, glittering stars and hearts that faded into the air. He polished it with a fluffy cloud that appeared from nowhere. Then he smacked the blowgun with a flat hand.
Five minutes passed in this whirlwind of nonsensical, yet highly effective, blacksmithing.
Cammy, the floating Toon Camera, didn't miss the chance. It captured everything from several different angles.
Mr. Gorhammer finally presented the finished product. With a triumphant grin and a flourish that made the blowgun shimmer.
"There! The [Ambusher Blowgun]." He announced in booming voice.
Nightclown took the weapon. It was sleek. A deep forest green with metallic accents that glowed faintly. It felt perfectly balanced in his hands. Lightweight yet sturdy.
He brought it up to his eye. Peering down the barrel. It was perfectly straight. The bore was smooth and clean.
A notification appeared in Nightclown's HUD...
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Ambusher Blowgun]
[Ranged Weapon] updated.
He quickly opened his status panel and checked the description of the new melee weapon.
[Melee Weapon: Ambusher Blowgun]
[Tier Quality: ✪]
[Characteristic: Shapeshifting (1/9)]
[Description: A sturdy blowgun, designed for stealth and precision. Perfect for neutralizing targets from a distance without drawing attention. Capable to be fused with eight different types of ranged weapons. Each fusion will increase the tier quality.]
[Damage Type: Piercing]
[Special Ability: Stealthy Strike]
Excellent. This was a significant upgrade to his tactical options. He checked the weapon's special ability, [Stealthy Strike].
[Stealthy Strike. Enhanced stealth and camouflage. Each successful strike from hidden position will result in 50% more damage.]
Nightclown's grin went wider. The silencing effect was particularly appealing for a Rogue like him. He had chosen the correct weapon.
"Thank you, Mr. Gorhammer." Nightclown said. A hint of genuine appreciation in his toon voice. He then thought of the next logical step. "What about ammunition? What kind of darts can I use with this?"
Mr. Gorhammer chuckled. A rumbling sound from his chest. "Ah, yes, the projectiles! Can't have a blowgun without its sting, eh? Come this way, Little Bunny."
He gestured with his massive thumb towards a side room of the smithy. It previously went unnoticed by Nightclown due to its unassuming door.
He led Nightclown inside. The toon hare followed. Stepping into a space that was less a smithy. And more a mad scientist's laboratory. Cross-bred with a candy factory.
In the center of the room stood a contraption that defied conventional engineering. It was a bizarre, multi-limbed machine. Crafted from polished brass and gleaming copper. With bubbling glass tubes, whirring gears, and small, expressive gauges that blinked like eyes.
A funnel-like opening sat at the top. A chute at the bottom. And a small, glowing display panel on its side. It even had a tiny, perpetually spinning propeller on its roof. Smoke, smelling faintly of blueberries, occasionally puffed from miniature chimneys.
"This, Little Bunny, is the Projectileomatic 5000!" Mr. Gorhammer declared with a proud gesture. "You can use this beauty to craft almost any projectile you can imagine. So long as you have the right materials. Just feed it what you've got, select the projectile type on the screen, and let it do its magic!"
Nightclown approached the machine. His ears were twitching with intrigue. He pressed the glowing panel. And a holographic menu appeared. Displaying various projectile types. He selected [Blowgun Darts].
The menu then prompted him for materials. Three things... A base material. An effect material. And a coin.
He recalled the materials he gained from his previous dungeon runs. He had plenty [Chomper's Teeth] and plenty [Jelly Cubes]. He decided to experiment.
He took one [Chomper's Tooth], a surprisingly sharp, triangular piece of bone. And a wobbly, translucent [Jelly Cube]. He dropped both, along with the toon coin, into its designated place.
The Projectileomatic 5000 immediately whirred to life. With an exaggerated swoosh as it sucked the materials inward. The glass tubes began to bubble furiously. Changing colors from green to purple to bright orange.
Gears spun with comical speed. Making a sound like a dozen tiny wind-up toys fighting. The entire machine shook violently. Vibrating off the floor for a moment before settling back down with a thump.
It buzzed for a few seconds. A high-pitched electronic whine. Then a small bell dinged. And ten darts shot out of the chute at the bottom. Landing neatly in a small, padded tray.
Nightclown quickly picked one up. They were slim, bone-colored darts with a translucent, gelatinous tip.
A notification appeared in Nightclown's HUD...
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Weakening Bone Dart]
[Projectiles] assigned and updated.
[Weakening Bone Dart]
[Type: Blowgun Ammunition]
[Tier Quality: ✪]
[Effect: Inflicts [Weakened] status on target. Reduces target's Strength and Defense by 50% for 12 seconds. It does not stack with itself. But duration resets.]
[Description: A dart crafted from a [Chomper's Tooth] and a [Jelly Cube]. Effective in weakening foes, making them easier to handle.]
Nightclown grinned again. A wide, toothy hare smile. This was excellent. A weakening effect would be invaluable against tougher enemies. Reducing their offensive and defensive capabilities significantly.
And he still had other ideas for combinations...