Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 82: The Shape-Shifting Galaxy Watermelon Knife

Once his freshly washed hair had been dried by the breeze, Leon got to his feet, patted the dust off his pants, and glanced around. After confirming there was no one else nearby, he pulled from his System Backpack the Galaxy Watermelon Knife—a weapon he had endlessly complained about.

Holding it in his hand, Leon felt an almost irresistible urge to slice open a watermelon. Shaking his head to drive away that ridiculous thought, he took a closer look at this peculiar Galaxy weapon.

Its light weight and ergonomically designed blade, paired with an edge that gleamed with cold light, gave it an intimidating presence. The deep purple finish even lent it a touch of elegance. Looking closely at that purple coating, Leon could make out faint specks of starlight hidden along the blade.

Gripping the knife tightly, he swung it twice through the air. A faint whooshing sound followed each strike.

Next, he pulled out a piece of wood and pushed it into the soil just deep enough so it would stand but tip over with little force—perfect for testing the knife’s sharpness.

If he could slice through the wood cleanly without knocking it over, it would prove the knife’s edge was razor-sharp. But if it merely toppled, Leon would have to consider other uses for this weapon.

Once everything was ready, Leon positioned the blade horizontally, stepped forward in a reverse lunge, and slashed with a flick of his wrist. The resistance was so minimal that cutting through felt like slicing tofu.

What delighted him even more was the sudden speed boost he felt. His strikes came faster, sharper—almost like someone was pushing him from behind. Yet the control remained entirely in his hands, both when unleashing power and pulling back. This was clearly the +6 speed bonus listed in the knife’s attributes.

The wooden post was now in two pieces. One half still stood in the soil, slightly tilted, while the other had fallen to the ground. The cut surface was smooth as glass.

Inspecting the blade, Leon saw it was spotless—not even a speck of sawdust clung to it.“This sharpness… not bad.”

At last, Leon felt a flicker of appreciation for the Galaxy Watermelon Knife, whose unimpressive appearance had long disappointed him. After all, a weapon without sharpness—no matter how pretty—was nothing more than a decorative piece.

“But how do I trigger the extending and retracting feature?”

Having tested its sharpness, Leon now pondered how to use its special ability. It was his first time encountering a weapon with such a function, so he had no clue where to start.

However, the moment he thought about extending it, the blade began to grow—shooting out like bamboo after rain. In the blink of an eye, the once forearm-length knife had stretched to over a meter.

Its transformation was more than just a change in length. Its weight increased, and its attributes shifted.

Galaxy Watermelon Knife (Level 12 Knife): 50–70 damage, +2 speed, +1 crit, +10 weight, Trait: Extend/Retract.

“So that’s it—controlled by the wielder’s will. Extend or retract, and the weapon’s stats adjust accordingly. Interesting.”

Excited, Leon redefined its form again. At his command, the blade kept extending, its weight pressing harder and harder on his wrist. Finally, he could no longer hold it with one hand and had to grip it with both. By then, the handle was long enough for four or five hands, and the blade stretched over four meters, its width also increased. Apart from its basic elongated shape, it now looked less like a knife and more like a giant galaxy-colored door plank.

Galaxy Watermelon Knife (Level 12 Knife): 110–150 damage, –5 speed, +200 crit power, +100 weight, Trait: Extend/Retract.

Leon sucked in a breath. That damage alone crushed the stats of other Galaxy weapons, and the +200 crit power meant any critical hit would deal a terrifying seven times normal damage—truly monstrous.

Of course, such extreme power came with drawbacks. The sheer weight and reduced speed made it almost impossible for him to swing the “door plank” effectively. It was well beyond the limits of normal human use.

Fortunately, the knife could shift forms at will. At Leon’s command, it shrank until it resembled a medium-sized Chinese cleaver used in kitchens.

Galaxy Watermelon Knife (Level 12 Knife): 30–50 damage, +8 speed, +20 crit, +50 crit power, Trait: Extend/Retract.

This cleaver form was Leon’s favorite. In Pelican Town, most kitchen knives were narrow-bladed Western styles, each designed for a specific type of food—troublesome and inconvenient. Leon was used to the versatility of a Chinese cleaver, which could handle nearly everything. Now, with this shapeshifting Galaxy weapon, he had the perfect all-purpose tool.

As for whether using such a rare weapon in the kitchen diminished its prestige—Leon didn’t care. Tools and weapons were meant to be used, not displayed.

Back home, this was normal. A keyboard could serve as both computer accessory and improvised weapon. A steel wool scrubber could clean the kitchen and still bring joy in other… unexpected ways. People gave tools extra purposes all the time, often with great results.

“Your new weapon seems interesting. But I’d prefer you not extend its use to the kitchen. If you take it against monsters, you wouldn’t want to taste something in your food later that isn’t part of the ingredients.”

The sudden voice nearly made Leon swing his cleaver toward its source.

“Wizard Rasmodius? What are you doing here?”

Thankfully, he suppressed the instinct and, recognizing the face, asked instead.

“Checking in on you. And reminding you of something,” Rasmodius replied, still wearing his wizard’s robe and hat. Compared to when Leon first met him in the Wizard’s Tower, he now also sported high boots.

“What is it?” Leon asked, puzzled.

“I discovered that the Sewer Drain was deliberately damaged. I’m not here to accuse you. I just want to confirm—was it you who got in that way?”

“It was me,” Leon admitted without hesitation. Even if he lied, Rasmodius could simply ask Krobus and learn the truth. Lying over something so trivial would only offend a powerful figure like him.