People in the Reca Chronicles worldview collectively call unique (U) grade skills and traits ‘soul imprints.’
Soul imprints are formed by mixing all elements constituting an individual—their philosophy accumulated over a lifetime, way of thinking, qualities, knowledge, desires, ego.
That’s why, as the ‘unique’ expression implies, a one-of-a-kind ability unique to the world is born.
Soul imprints are broadly divided into four systems: continuous, transformation, trigger, and manifestation.
Continuous are permanently maintained soul imprints.
In game terms, passive skills.
From simple body enhancement to Multi-Arm (U) that makes a third or fourth arm sprout permanently and never disappear, these belong here.
Transformation is a kind of buff ability.
Soul imprints of the system that temporarily allow special abilities to be exerted belong here. The Thousand-Man Slayer’s Impenetrable Fortress (U) is a representative transformation soul imprint.
Trigger can be seen as active skills.
The Sword Saint’s unique skill that allows space-transcending slashes, Flowing Dimension Slash (U), is a representative trigger type.
Manifestation is the power to realize something imbued with various special powers.
The something created could be a living being or a tool.
Shadow Butler (U) that summons an all-purpose errand runner or Death Stalker (U) that manifests a beast chasing a hated opponent to the ends of the world belong here.
Mainly, continuous and transformation are classified as traits, trigger and manifestation as skills.
However, being abilities that maximize individuality, bizarre forms of soul imprints that absolutely can’t be confined to these four systems occasionally appear.
For example, the unique trait Multi-Phantasm Executor (U) that combines continuous and trigger soul imprints.
The one the newly recruited Kurt will acquire, Dismixer (U), belongs to trigger.
I called such a guy for an interview.
“Kurt, I hear you’ve been visiting the residence of the alchemist dispatched to Grand Valley by the library and receiving teachings in your spare time?”
“…Where did you hear that, Aiden-hyung?”
“Opportunities to come to Grand Valley aren’t that common. While building rapport with various artisans this time, I naturally heard about you.”
“………”
“Bernhard seems unaware you’re studying alchemy that diligently— is there a reason to hide it so thoroughly?”
“If I tell Grandpa, he’ll obviously nag me to focus only on blacksmithing. I tested the waters last time, and that’s the vibe I got.”
The conflict between the grandfather and grandson inheriting the Schlegel bloodline was mentioned in the original too.
Bernhard, who dug only the blacksmithing well his whole life, wanted his grandson Kurt to focus solely on hammering too. Kurt rebelled against that.
Dismixer (U) was a unique skill that could manifest because Kurt chased two rabbits: blacksmith and alchemist. Fully utilizing that skill’s power, he reached the supreme realm as an artisan, so in the end, Bernhard was wrong.
“With Epio appearing, the mission given to your clan has vanished. Now, even if you honestly say you want to pursue alchemy alongside, it should be fine?”
“No need to convince like that. I’ll just prove it with results.”
Kurt snorted.
In the original, to prove his path was right, he left his grandfather, became independent from Grand Valley.
And regretted it his whole life.
Because less than a year after starting his journey, he heard his grandfather’s obituary.
I can’t let him experience such a tragic thing.
Thus, I decided to persuade Kurt.
“Once you leave Grand Valley this time, who knows when you’ll meet Bernhard again. If there’s a knot, it’s right to untie it now.”
“………”
Perhaps my words struck a chord.
Kurt sank into deep contemplation.
And after a moment, nodded.
“Since you say so, I’ll talk with Grandpa once.”
In conclusion, it resolved amicably.
Far more than I expected.
“Alchemy, you say?”
“Yeah.”
Bernhard looked greatly flustered.
But soon, he smiled faintly and shook his head.
“You’re about to leave Grand Valley soon— even if this old man says something, you won’t listen. Go ahead and do as you like.”
“…Grandpa!”
An unexpectedly favorable reaction.
Kurt beamed.
After the conflict with his grandfather resolved smoothly, Kurt focused solely on honing his artisan skills. After about two weeks like that, he successfully manifested Dismixer (U).
It was around then that Bernhard came to me.
“Aiden. I have something to say. Originally, this is a story to tell Plebelziam’s user… but Epio is still too young. And you seemed deeply interested in the secret history from a thousand years ago, so hearing this might help you somehow.”
“What story?”
When I asked, Bernhard got to the point.
“The material composing the demonic sword Plebelziam, Meteor Gold, is an excessively amazing metal. They say no means in this world can heat or bend it. Meaning processing itself is impossible by ordinary methods.”
“Indeed….”
It’s a doubt I’ve had too.
In the main story, Plebelziam’s sword body never broke at all despite any strong impacts.
Meaning the blacksmith who first heated Meteor Gold and shaped it into a sword, Ernst Schlegel, used unconventional means.
“Among Ernst’s wills, there’s this passage. Processing Meteor Gold is only possible when the Schlegel bloodline and the true owner of the dragon-slaying sword combine forces. As a mere dull blacksmith, I couldn’t figure out what that specifically means.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. When Epio and Kurt grow up later, I’ll pass it on.”
“Thank you.”
Now that he had truly conveyed everything, Bernhard’s expression was much more relieved.
Melkina.
This Machine God Tribe serving as the Dragon Horse Cult’s headquarters has the ability to assimilate and camouflage with the surroundings. Compared to Pendic’s stealth function, concealment is relatively inferior, but fuel efficiency is far superior.
Dragon Horse Cult vice-leader Aliki Wi Gates stood atop the camouflaged Melkina.
Above her head, a bird-like wind spirit was summoned, floating.
Aliki was a spirit summoner on par with Continent’s Twelve Heroes, and if focusing all efforts on detection, she could grasp all changes within a 3km radius.
With leader Hagel having lost his left arm and unable to move fully, vice-leaders Tikus and Aliki had returned to Melkina, the cult headquarters, pouring efforts into protecting Hagel.
Suddenly, Aliki’s cat ears perked in displeasure.
“…Rain coming?”
With the variable of rain, detection accuracy greatly drops too. Whether using the wind spirit or the cat beastkin’s exceptional hearing.
But how to put this.
It wasn’t just a bothersome anomaly.
Kwaang!
“…!”
Lightning struck.
Directly on Melkina at that.
Kwaang!
“Wh-What is this?!”
And not just once.
Basically, the mobile fortress Melkina is fully equipped against lightning-attribute attacks. One or two bolts aren’t that threatening.
Kwaang!
But if not one or two, it’s a problem.
“…A archmage’s spell attack? Even in rainy weather, firing lightning this continuously?”
Not ordinary.
If lightning keeps hitting directly like this, there’s risk of temporarily downing all Melkina functions.
She hardened her expression and sharpened her senses.
Shwaaaa—
However, with thick rain pouring at some point, it was hard to pinpoint the spell’s origin.
Not due to her ability’s lack.
Kwaang!
Because,
Kwaang!
This wasn’t a spell attack or anything—100% natural lightning.
Kwaang!
「…Excess power causing abnormalities in 67% functions.」
Kwaang!
「Switching to 78% auto-repair mode. Resident personnel, prepare alert posture against intruders.」
Kwaang!
「Language. Function. Abnormality. Detected… Entrance. Blockade…」
Aliki bit her lip realizing the mechanical voice cut off.
With abnormalities in Melkina’s functions managing the entire mobile fortress, seizing advantageous high ground in battle against assailants is hard too.
Shwaaaa—
Amid the pouring rain, a group approached inside Melkina evading Aliki’s senses.
None other than Aiden’s party, concealed using Formless Robe (S-).
Kwaang!
‘Heavenly punishment.’
Watching the unnaturally Melkina-targeted lightning, I was convinced.
The time I sent letters detailing the Sun Cathedral incident to those who would know the Schnifelt family, via Grand Valley’s chief.
By now, just when they’d grasp the facts.
In other words, timing where heavenly punishment starting isn’t strange.
“…It won’t end with just a few bolts. Hagel will take big damage too, temporarily incapacitated. Let’s go.”
I approached near Melkina evading the watcher’s eyes, Aliki.
“Time to test the new ability, Kurt. Show your potential as an alchemist!”
“Leave it to me.”
Kurt nodded confidently.
The door blocking entry into Melkina is made of ‘extreme earth iron,’ an extremely hard metal.
Normally, to pierce extreme earth iron of this thickness, something like Chesa’s First-Void is needed, but.
Before unique skill Dismixer (U), metal durability or whatever is useless.
Kurt’s hand touched the fortress entrance.
Jjeoeok!
And right after, the extreme earth iron door split wide left and right.
“Better than expected.”
I smiled in satisfaction.
Kurt’s unique skill, Dismixer (U), is the ability to disassemble and reassemble metals or mechanisms as desired.
Even fully excluding the high utility as an artisan, it’s a power that couldn’t be more fatal to Machine God Tribes who attach metal to cores and make it their bodies. Even ‘Machine Emperor Lutlemis,’ one of Ciencia Continent’s ‘Ten Pivots’ and strongest combatant among existing Machine God Tribes, would have to be cautious before this ability.
No matter how low Kurt’s level.
「Very fear.」
Respinel on my back also shuddered her core, guessing Dismixer’s utility.
We entered inside Melkina.
I said to Kurt.
“There’s a room in the center with energies of various elements felt. Guide us there, Kurt.”
“Okay.”
Kurt nodded without hesitation, closed his eyes, and placed a hand on the wall. After a moment, he looked at me and said.
“Like you said, hyung, there’s a warehouse-like place in the middle. Head there?”
“Yeah.”
Cheolkeok!
Suddenly, Kurt used disassembly to instantly create a shortcut. We advanced through the path Kurt made.
Chesa approached and asked me.
“…Aiden, what did that kid just do?”
“Kurt has innate talent for grasping structures of things. ‘Genius’ doesn’t suffice.”
“That means…”
“What you’re thinking is right.”
“…!”
Just now, that guy thoroughly grasped mobile fortress Melkina’s structure with S-grade trait Ultra-Precise Structural Analysis (S)‘s power.
Using Dismixer (U) to disassemble Melkina’s mechanisms, paving a highway toward the destination.
Suddenly, we arrived at a cavity.
It was the warehouse where items busily collected by the Dragon Horse Cult were gathered.
Hagel could use First-Void in Part 2. Underlying that was voraciously consuming elixirs raising elemental affinities.
In short, this place was a goldmine.
“Take it all.”