novelraw Chapter 33: Completing My Arsenal
Chapter 33: Completing My Arsenal
It wasn’t that I recognized the title of the book, but the content was about a legendary figure—an apostle—who spread the word and existence of a god to the masses. The story followed a man named Ezekiel, a cunning and charismatic individual who built an entire religion from the ground up. Through his words, he managed to convert even the most skeptical minds, convincing them to believe in a god of his own creation—a god that was, in reality, himself. By doing so, he gained faith from the masses and established a powerful cult of believers.
As I flipped through the pages, the potential of the concept struck me. Although Ezekiel wasn’t a particularly strong figure on his own, if I were to possess him, it could unlock some intriguing possibilities.
Forming a cult, huh? I thought, running my fingers over the leather cover. Creating a loyal following of devout believers wouldn’t just grant me influence and resources; it would also establish a stable power base. More importantly, it would provide a continuous supply of plausibility through faith. If I could convince people that I was a prophet or a chosen one, it would resolve the biggest hurdle in utilizing my class’s full potential.
I couldn’t help but grin at the thought. Faith was a powerful force, especially when it came from a group rather than a single individual. A cult composed of divine warriors wouldn’t just be unique; it would be unparalleled in providing me with plausibility.
Of course, it wouldn’t be as simple as declaring myself divine. Earning that kind of unwavering loyalty and devotion would demand careful planning, charisma, and a compelling narrative that could resonate with people on a deeper level. Luckily, Ezekiel’s strength lay precisely in those traits, managing to amass a devoted following that persisted even after his death.
If I could use Fabled Vessel to channel Ezekiel’s abilities, I might be able to set up a network of believers among divine warriors. In scenarios where brute force wasn’t an option, manipulating the masses could be just as, if not more, effective. I’d seen how easily people could be swayed when faced with danger or uncertainty. If I could offer them hope—or at least the illusion of it—they’d follow me to the ends of the earth.
But that was easier said than done. Even with Ezekiel’s charisma at my disposal, founding a cult in Istellia’s divine realm was a risky endeavor. No god in their right mind would tolerate the emergence of a new faith in their own domain; it would siphon off the very resource they depended on. Faith wasn’t just power for the gods—it was currency, sustenance, and authority. As a former God-King, I was more familiar with this than anyone.
Fortunately, there were loopholes. Hidden workarounds that only someone with my knowledge and perspective would know and even think to exploit.
You have acquired a new vessel: [Ezekiel the Divine Apostle].
I closed the book and tucked it under my arm. The concept was promising, but I must plan meticulously before proceeding with this. It would be best to wait until I’d reached Gimmel rank before laying the foundation. Only then would I have the strength and status necessary to begin the first whispers of my own faith.
Putting the thought aside, I scoured the rack for more storybooks of legendary figures, even those figures who could be considered morally black in their life, to fill up the number of vessels I could possess with my signature skill. Whether they were good or bad, I didn’t care about their morals. What I cared about was getting their powers.
You have acquired a new vessel: [Merlin the Grand Magus].
You have acquired a new vessel: [Kaelen the Beastborne Warden].
You have acquired a new vessel: [Uldrek the Blood Berserker].
You have acquired a new vessel: [Argus the Lantern Seer].
You have reached the limit on the total number of vessels you can currently possess.
Your Mind has increased by 1.
Fast Reading has leveled up.
What, there’s a limit?
In total, I had ten figures that I could possess… I presumed that in order to increase the limit, I had to do class advancement again. Class-related signature skills leveled up based on the divine warrior’s rank rather than through repeated use like ordinary skills.
“Ten is more than enough,” I muttered.
Additionally, I realized that some figures with similar skillsets to the ones I already had—like Ivan the Blademaster—wouldn’t register as a new vessel because I already had Alric the Sword Saint. I could only imagine that Fabled Vessel only recognized legendary figures with distinct powers.
That actually made sense. There was no point in acquiring duplicates, especially when I had limited slots. The skill seemed to filter out redundancy on its own, as if it had some built-in criteria for what qualified as “legendary.” It wasn’t just about fame or raw strength—it was about uniqueness. Stories that stood out. Individuals who shaped history in ways no one else could.
I mentally reviewed my current lineup. Each figure brought something different to the table—whether it was manipulation, martial prowess, foresight, mobility, raw magic, brute strength, or what have you to fill in the gaps for all sorts of specialized scenarios. I was starting to cover a wide tactical spectrum.
Still… I couldn’t help but wonder what other legendary figures were out there. Surely, there were vessels with stranger powers—ones that could manipulate time, bend the laws of physics, or even interfere with divine authority, just like the legendary classes I could’ve chosen. The idea of acquiring them sent a thrill through me.
But for now, they wouldn’t be useful to me since I didn’t yet have the necessary plausibility to possess these figures. Thus, I closed the final book and stepped away from the racks. Stories of might and myth might be within reach, but it was time to return to something more practical.
I made my way over to the counter, where the storekeeper stood with hands neatly folded. She looked up from her notes as I approached.
“Do you have a skill book for Mana Sense and an uncommon-rank active movement skill?” I asked.
The clerk adjusted her glasses. “Let me check,” she said, walking over to a locked shelf behind the counter. After a moment of scanning through the titles and flipping a few covers, she returned with two books in hand. One was bound in a cool, deep blue leather, while the other was a vibrant green with the image of winged boots embossed in silver.
“This one’s Mana Sense, a fundamental skill for perceiving mana and initiating basic spellwork,” she explained. “And this is Wind Rush, an uncommon-rank movement skill. It’s particularly useful for agile divine warriors who rely on speed and sudden repositioning to stay ahead in battle.”
I inspected the two skill books. Since my class wasn’t a magic-focused class, the only viable path for me to tap into magic was either by consuming a skill book like this, or temporarily possessing a legendary archmage. Between the two, the former was cheaper and more practical. Sure, I could try to learn magic the traditional way through formal instruction or grueling self-study, but that would demand time—something I didn’t have the luxury of wasting.
As for Wind Rush, it would be a solid addition. My current movement skill, Predator’s Step, was passive and situational. While useful, it wasn’t enough when I needed an active burst of movement to close gaps or escape ambushes. Wind Rush would allow me to dart into position or outmaneuver enemies at a moment’s notice.
“Perfect,” I said. “I’ll take them.”
“Very well. That will be eight hundred soul coins in total,” she replied.
Oof, that’s quite expensive… Despite this, I nodded and retrieved the coins from my inventory before placing them neatly on the counter.
The clerk gave a satisfied smile, counting the coins swiftly before sliding them into a drawer behind her. “Thank you for your purchase. May the skills serve you well,” she said, handing me the two books.
I didn’t waste any time and immediately used them on the spot, causing the two books to disintegrate into streams of glowing text that surged into my body. A warm, tingling sensation coursed through me as foreign knowledge embedded itself deep into my soul.
You have acquired a skill: [Mana Sense Lv.1].
You have acquired a skill: [Wind Rush Lv.1].
[Mana Sense]
Rank: Uncommon
Type: Passive
Grants the ability to perceive ambient mana in the environment. Enables detection of magical presence, fluctuations, and the general flow of mana.
With Mana Sense, I could finally perceive the presence of ambient mana. Faint particles drifted through the air like motes of dust in sunlight—unseen to the naked eye, but now gently brushing against my senses. But sensing and manipulating mana were two entirely separate domains. Just because I could perceive the flow didn’t mean I could grasp or shape it.
Still, it was a necessary first step.
[Wind Rush]
Rank: Uncommon
Type: Active
A sudden burst movement technique that propels the user forward with explosive speed.
While Wind Rush was a simple skill, it was precisely what I needed. I could already envision its applications in combat—suddenly lunging toward an unsuspecting enemy or dodging an attack at the last possible moment. That extra burst of speed could mean the difference between landing a strike and getting struck.
After giving the clerk a polite nod of thanks, I turned and made my way toward the exit. Though my muscles ached from the day’s training, I didn’t head straight to the inn to regroup with the others. Instead, I took a short detour through the marketplace, seeking out an herb vendor and a general store. My goal was to acquire the necessary materials to brew at least five doses of the Elixir of Harmonic Balance for future uses.
Between the crimson thornleaf, azure mistflower, and a handful of clean glass vials, the total cost came to 550 soul coins.
Soul Coins: 435
The hard-earned stash I’d built up from clearing scenarios, looting, and—on occasion—“stealing” from others was now nearly depleted. I could only internally sigh while thinking about how to get more soul coins along the way to the inn.