Chapter 99: Ideas
Edgar stared at the final line. "...Unique Trait?"
The Soul Blade was not the main part. He could tell the sword was what the Headless Guardian used.
However, what caught his attention was the Summon Bell.
He gave a quick look at the bony structure of the Guardian and noticed a bell hanging on its side.
Edgar pointed at it and said, "Use it."
The Headless Guardian did so without the slightest hesitation. It detached the bell from its waist and rang it gently.
Ding! Ding!
The melodious sound of the bell echoed throughout the area before a clear dark azure mist appeared around the Guardian.
Something made of bone quickly began to take shape beneath the monster, lifting its body into the air.
In just a few seconds, a horse made entirely of black skeleton was summoned, which the Guardian rode.
Edgar’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
"...A mount?"
The skeletal horse pawed at the ground.
CLACK.
Its hooves were formed from polished black bone, while pale azure flames drifted from its empty eye sockets and nostrils.
Unlike the grotesque horse the Headless Nightmare had once ridden, this creature carried no flesh.
It was nothing but an immaculate skeleton forged entirely from Soul Essence.
A familiar screen returned, giving more information about the mount.
---
Unique Trait: Summon Bell
The Headless Soul Knight possesses the purified Soul Bell.
By ringing the bell, it may summon its bound Soul Steed.
The Soul Steed consumes Soul Essence while manifested.
If destroyed, it will automatically regenerate inside the Tower of Souls.
---
"...Interesting."
Edgar slowly circled around the mounted Guardian.
He noticed that the horse wasn’t physically connected to the rider. It had truly been summoned.
’Does that mean the bell itself is the real equipment?’
His gaze shifted toward the small bronze bell hanging from the Guardian’s waist.
Edgar rubbed his chin. "...Can you dismiss it?"
The Headless Guardian raised the bell once more.
Ding!
The skeletal horse immediately dissolved into countless wisps of pale blue light.
Within seconds, nothing remained beneath the Guardian except empty ground.
"...Summon it again."
Ding!
The Soul Steed reappeared almost instantly beneath it.
Edgar couldn’t help smiling. "...Convenient."
The item was so good that Edgar was tempted to just take it for himself.
’Well, I can always take it if I ever need it.’
’So Commander Soul Guardians don’t all evolve the same way.’
The albino gorilla had inherited its overwhelming physical strength.
The Headless Knight had inherited its weapon and even the mysterious bell.
That meant every Commander could produce an entirely different Soul Guardian depending on what made it unique in life.
’That’s a good thing.’
Taking in a deep breath, Edgar ordered the two Commander-level Soul Guardians to stand guard outside the Fortress.
The Albino Gorilla Guardian jumped off the Fortress Wall with surprising ease, while the Headless Guardian did the same.
’....’
Looking at their athleticism, Edgar really wondered why they had not done this before.
’...Perhaps the bombardment from the towers made them cautious.’
Edgar ignored them and began refining the other Soul Guardians.
---
After refining four more, the quota of ten Soul Guardians was filled.
To make more Guardians, Edgar would have to upgrade the tower.
’For now, it’s more than enough. I don’t need too many monsters around the Fortress.’
This world was truly fearful of the Nightmares. Anything that even closely resembled them was attacked relentlessly.
If word about the Soul Guardians got out, then there was a high chance the Church and nobles would come after him.
Edgar tasked the four new Soul Guardians with roaming around the area and trying to find any sources of minerals nearby.
’If I can find anything worthwhile and in abundance, then I can use it for trade.’
Musing to himself, Edgar finally reached the warehouse, where the artisans were working on their project beside it.
When they saw him, they all bowed deeply. "My Lord."
Edgar nodded his head and glanced at the project. "How far are we now?"
"The enormous basket is ready, my lord." Virgo, the head artisan, responded respectfully. "We are almost done stitching the drake hide."
Edgar nodded his head and examined the progress himself.
The giant woven basket had already taken shape. It stood nearly two metres tall and was reinforced with several layers of thick vines.
His gaze then shifted toward another corner of the warehouse.
Two artisans were carefully stretching the drake hide across a large frame.
The hide was taking the shape of a balloon that could vaguely be made out.
Running his fingers across the surface, he could immediately tell how durable it was.
’This thing is tougher than leather.’
"If everything goes well," Virgo continued, "we’ll finish stitching it in two days."
Edgar slowly nodded. "Good."
He stood up and looked at the enormous basket once again. "...Have you reinforced the bottom?"
"We have."
Virgo pointed underneath it.
"We added another layer of woven vines beneath the frame. Even if several people stand inside together, it shouldn’t collapse."
"Excellent." Edgar smiled faintly.
One of the younger artisans couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer.
"My lord..."
"Hm?"
"...What exactly are we making?"
The other workers immediately pricked up their ears.
They had been building everything exactly according to Edgar’s instructions, yet not a single one of them knew its purpose.
Edgar looked at the half-finished project before answering.
"You will know soon enough."
Edgar gave the project one final inspection before turning to leave.
The moment he stepped outside, he looked toward the distant grey fog beyond the Fortress.
While he was staring at the grey fog, Gordon walked toward him curiously.
"Is something bothering you, my lord?"
Edgar turned his head and paused.
He remained silent before speaking. "I have never properly toured around my Fortress."
He stretched his body. "Would you mind preparing three horses for us and calling Andrew as well?"
The young-looking old veteran blinked.
"Are we going now?"
"Yes." Edgar replied. "Right now."
The blond boy was really eager to check something that had been on his mind for quite some time.