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Torn God: Watcher of Deep Places (Web Novel) - Book 5: Chapter 31 Weapon [Part 1]
Book 5: Chapter 31 Weapon [Part 1]
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
At the moment of your first breath, you wept as the world stood in joyful wonder. Strive each day to weave benevolence with thoughtful action, so that in the twilight of your final hour, those you leave behind mourn their loss as you find serene delight in your farewell. Let your words be the gentle ripple that spreads unity, and the echo of your deeds the steady vessel that carries kindness to all shores. When the last lamp dims, may your spirit rise in quiet fulfillment, while the tears of those you cherished speak of a life fully sown and richly harvested.- The Book of Wise Tellings from the Land of Streams.
Thankfully, my little ruse led to the blame for the elf’s disappearance being laid squarely at the feet of Malik and his incompetent guards. Since I was far from the scene—at least on the surface—I had no apparent motive for freeing her, particularly as I was the one who had brought her in the first place.
I snickered to myself. The knife-ear would survive for generations underground, acting as a font of knowledge for the burgeoning race of new ratmen, distinct from “normal” Beastkin.
Like all worthwhile endeavors, I made sure to have a plan—if it could even be called that. It was more of a countermeasure, reliant on one thing: myself and Larynda. By making ourselves indispensable, I hoped to secure my position in the grand new order. Dissension among the Holder Houses was threatening to tear Al-Lazar apart at the seams before it could even address the threats beyond its walls, so the fledgling government needed a victory. It needed a champion, and I could fulfill that role.
Farzan’s grand strategy was simple: allow the attackers to grind themselves against our walls, slowly wearing them down. However, there was a flaw to this line of thinking. For the besieged to claim a victory, the enemy must abandon the siege, or a relief army must arrive. No such army was coming. Al-Lazar stood alone, and not even its vast wealth could buy fresh allies to this fight. This storm of events and convenient coincidence reeked of years of careful scheming—or possibly the hand of the Divines.
Despite the city’s weakened state—plagued by internal strife, a complacent military, and the complexities of regional politics—Al-Lazar remained formidable. Its enemies would not take it without a fight, and I intended to win that fight, even if I had to slaughter all of the city-state’s foes personally.
To that end, I made several requests. One was to take up temporary residence in one of the towers with Larynda. In surprisingly short order, another request was fulfilled by the city’s craftsmen. It arrived at my spartan quarters in the tower: a long rod of dark metal, exactly my height. An Identify spell confirmed what it was:
Adamantine Longbow
Durability: 9999/9999
Beside it lay a coil of metal wire rope, made of the same heavy metal, intended as the bowstring. Next to that was a barrel filled with solid steel arrows fletched with Gryphon feathers, along with a large black leather quiver. It was the lingering memory of Enkidu that had inspired me to request such a weapon.
Inside a separate case was one very special projectile—a last resort if all else failed.
Even with my considerable Strength, stringing this new weapon was challenging; I had never done it before. I asked a Raqib for a demonstration on how to string a “normal” bow, since he lacked the Strength to assist with mine. He was surly—many of that middling rank often are—and surprised that I did not know something so “basic,” but he was polite enough not to push me too far. Together, we managed.
Contrary to modern depictions of archers in many games, wielders of powerful warbows needed considerable training and Strength. The effete-looking archer is very much a myth. The bow was very much a “masculine” weapon, as higher draw weights were simply unsuitable for anyone lacking the muscle to use them. I, of course, despite my unchanging build, had not such problems. Mine was a Strength beyond mere muscle and sinew.
Once atop the tower, I tested whether I could fully draw the monstrous weapon. Though I could manage it, I could not draw it quickly, and doing so drained a prodigious amount of Stamina. Nor could I hold the draw for long—it strained my reserves with every second. It was almost comical how “gamified” this world felt at times. Not to mention, proper archery relied heavily on instinct and years of experience, and I had neither the time nor the spare skill points to master it overnight.
So, I demanded a few animals already slated for slaughter. The test subjects were massive, six-legged bison-like creatures—heavier and bulkier by far than any normal cattle. Firing my new bow at them demonstrated its terrifying power. Blood and bone splattered as the arrows tore great, gaping holes through their bodies, killing them instantly and embedding themselves several meters deep into the stone behind.
Though the quality of cuts from these kills would be dubious at best, I continued until I achieved what I was looking for:
You have killed Unknown 5 experience gained.
You have learned Bows (lvl.1)
You have gained 1 Strength.
You have gained 1 Dexterity.
If I lacked the necessary skill, I would brute force my way to it. I understood enough about the system to manipulate it in a crude fashion now.
