BXBX NOVEL Chapter 64: Poor Spoils
Zeus considered the stones for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Can I absorb the mana from these Mana Stones?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
[Of course, I can help with that,] the system responded, its voice tinged with a smug satisfaction. [And let me enlighten you--absorbing the Inferior Mana Stones is actually better for you.]
Zeus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why is that?" he inquired, genuinely curious about the reasoning behind the system's suggestion.
The system's tone became a touch condescending, as if it were explaining something painfully obvious. [It's because Inferior Mana Stones contain more mana overall. Sure, Intermediate Mana Stones are valued for their purity, but when it comes to raw quantity, those Inferior Stones are where the real power lies.]
There was a brief pause, and then the system added with a mocking chuckle, [And besides, with me converting all that mana into the purest form possible, why settle for less? Especially when we're dealing with someone as pitifully poor as Vesperin. I mean, look at this--3,000 Inferior Mana Stones? Is that the best he could do?]
Zeus couldn't help but smirk at the system's arrogance. "I see your point," he mused, a smile playing on his lips as he considered the implications.
With a decision made, he quickly commanded, "Absorb all 3,000 Inferior Mana Stones. As for the Intermediate Mana Stones, I'll keep those for currency--maybe they'll be useful for trading later."
As the system got to work, the once-lustrous Inferior Mana Stones began to lose their sheen, becoming dull and lifeless as their energy was drained away.
Zeus watched the process with satisfaction, feeling the mana flowing into him, though he couldn't help but wonder, "So, how much mana did I get from these Mana Stones?"
The system's voice, dripping with its usual arrogance, responded with a nonchalant, [Only 30.]
Zeus blinked in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up. "Wait, what? From 3,000 Inferior Mana Stones, I only got 30 mana points?"
The system, ever the shameless braggart, let out a haughty chuckle. [Oh, you poor, naive host. You do realize that these are 30 points of the purest, most refined mana imaginable, right?] The system's tone shifted to one of mock pity.
[Honestly, you should be thrilled to have gotten even that much--especially considering the shabby quality of those stones. Let's face it, Vesperin's stash wasn't exactly top-tier. He really should be embarrassed.]
Zeus couldn't help but roll his eyes at the system's tone but decided to let it have its moment. "Alright, alright, I get it. Pure mana, great value, I should be grateful."
[Exactly,] the system continued, its voice smug and self-satisfied. [If it weren't for me, you'd be stuck with a bunch of mediocre mana, but instead, you've got something truly valuable. You're welcome, by the way.]
Zeus let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, thanks," he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He then turned his attention back to the spatial pouch.
"Let's see what else is in here," Zeus muttered to himself, his curiosity still piqued despite the underwhelming haul so far.
He began rummaging through the pouch, pulling out a few cultivation manuals. His fingers sifted through the items, but it quickly became apparent that there wasn't much of value left inside. A hint of disappointment flickered across his face as he realized this was all Vesperin had to offer. "Record all of it," Zeus instructed, his tone flat.
[Sure,] the system responded, a smug undertone in its voice as it documented the contents. [Not that there's much worth recording, but hey, a job's a job.]
Zeus couldn't help but ask, "Are any of these cultivation manuals any good?"
The system didn't bother to sugarcoat its response. [Nope,] it replied bluntly, with an air of disdain. [Just a bunch of garbage about necromancy, puppet-making, and the like. Honestly, I'm surprised Vesperin thought these were worth keeping. If I were him, I'd be embarrassed to carry this around.]
Zeus sighed, feeling a twinge of disappointment. "I see," he murmured, the letdown evident in his voice. He had hoped for something valuable or at least useful, but it seemed that Vesperin's spatial pouch was as unimpressive as the man himself.
With all the corpse puppets destroyed and Bork dead, the opportunity to acquire a body double had slipped through his fingers. And with Bork gone, the remaining corpse puppets in the village would soon wither away.
Zeus sighed again, the weight of missed opportunities settling on him. "Maybe using a corpse puppet isn't the best idea anyway," he mused aloud, the thought more for his own consideration than anything else.
[Oh, so you're finally seeing reason?] the system interjected, its tone dripping with sarcasm. [About time you realized that relying on those decaying things wasn't exactly a long-term strategy. Besides, I always thought golems were a classier choice--more durable, less... smelly.]
Zeus chuckled despite himself, the system's shameless arrogance managing to lift his spirits a bit. "You might be right. Maybe I should explore learning how to make a golem instead. They're certainly more versatile and durable."
[Now you're talking,] the system responded, its voice brimming with approval. [With a golem, you'd have a real powerhouse at your side, not to mention something that wouldn't fall apart after a few hits. And let's be honest, it's a much better reflection of your style--strong, imposing, and just a bit flashy.]
Zeus smiled, considering the potential benefits. The idea of crafting a golem had its appeal, and it certainly seemed like a better investment than relying on something as unpredictable as a corpse puppet. "Yeah, you're right," he agreed, his mind already starting to plan out his next steps.