War Hammer

Even though David knew he was in an illusion, he still sensed the danger. This was the first time he had truly faced a Zerg, and it was a Level 1 Zerg at that.

He clearly saw the black-green sheen on the Hunter Mantis's scythe-like forelimbs, as well as the serrations along the blades. If he was hit by a weapon like that, even once, he would be gravely wounded.

Sensing the danger did him no good, because he had no control over this body.

Of course, if he did have control, he would most likely turn and run. Against the Hunter Mantis's speed, that would only get him killed faster.

Just as David's heart tightened, the body sprang into motion. It took a small half-step back as the War Hammer in its hands dipped.

With a clang, the hammer's haft struck the Hunter Mantis's scythe. David felt an enormous force hit the body, but it spun and redirected all that force into the War Hammer, swinging it back at the Hunter Mantis.

David didn't know whether this Hunter Mantis was as strong as a real one, but the one before him had already shown him how terrifying the Zerg were. Even the weakest, a Level 1 Zerg, could engage this body in close combat.

This body was powerful, too. It wielded the War Hammer as if it were part of itself.

As David experienced the sensation of brushing past death almost every second, his mastery of the War Hammer steadily improved.

In truth, no matter how someone was taught, nothing could compare to learning as realistically as David was in this illusion.

This body seemed tireless, and the Hunter Mantis was like a perpetual-motion machine. The two kept exchanging blows at close range. Gradually, David's focus sharpened. He felt as if he had become the owner of this body, personally wielding the War Hammer to fight the Hunter Mantis.

A wealth of combat experience surged into his mind, etched into his soul.

War Hammer Mastery (82% proficient). The owner of the Knowledge Light Orb, Amos, had also been an Elite Armored Warrior who'd returned from the War Star. Although a life of comfort had worn away his will, his combat experience remained.

That much was clear from the split-second decision he'd made when facing the unbeatable Froman, captain of the Sirius Mercenary Group. If nothing unexpected had happened, he probably could have escaped unscathed.

What David had gained was a lifetime's worth of experience with the War Hammer. Amos had learned to wield it through one life-and-death battle after another against the Zerg. That experience had transformed into this battle illusion, appearing before David.

David could no longer tell whether he was in reality or an illusion. He was completely merged with this body now, and had to focus all his efforts on controlling the War Hammer as he fought the Hunter Mantis.

Just a moment ago, he'd let his focus slip, and the Hunter Mantis's scythe had swept across his back, slicing open a long gash.

The intense pain made him concentrate even more. It was only one Hunter Mantis, yet it put him under more pressure than he'd ever experienced.

Under that pressure, his battle with the Hunter Mantis was almost identical to the fight he'd watched at the beginning. They traded attacks and defenses in turn.

After an unknown amount of time, the Hunter Mantis's form slowly turned transparent. Then the entire space began to shake violently, and the War Hammer in his hands started to fade as well.

David instinctively tried to hold on to the War Hammer. To him, it was part of his body, and its disappearance felt as painful as losing a limb.

"Haah, haah, haah!" David gasped for fresh air. It no longer smelled of blood and decay. The illusion had vanished, and he was back in his bedroom.

His clothes, which had grown damp and then dried after he practiced the Eighteen Forms of Body Technique, were now soaked with sweat again.

He clenched and unclenched his empty hand. After fighting for so long in the illusion, he found it deeply unsettling not to feel the War Hammer's haft in his grip.

"Shadow Servant, open the Attribute Panel!" He pressed a hand to the Shadow Servant and gave the order in his mind.

He then saw that War Hammer Mastery (82% proficient) had been added to his abilities.

But he knew very well that even though the Attribute Panel listed War Hammer Mastery (82% proficient), he was still a long way from actually wielding the War Hammer at that level. He would need to keep practicing.

The difference was that his training would take much less time. What had taken someone else decades of experience might take him only days.

He didn't rest just then. Instead, he wanted to continue merging with another Knowledge Light Orb. The one he planned to absorb next was only at the beginner level, so his body should be able to handle it easily.

Although the Heavy Axe Mastery (33% beginner) Knowledge Light Orb wouldn't help him much, learning to use another weapon might come in handy.

With that in mind, he again ordered the Shadow Servant to move the Heavy Axe Mastery (33% beginner) Knowledge Light Orb into his body.

This time, the illusion was perfectly ordinary: a Training Room, where someone wielding a Heavy Axe was practicing.

The standard techniques for using a Heavy Axe were practiced again and again, over and over, almost like hypnosis. With War Hammer Mastery at the proficient level of 82%, David found practicing with the Heavy Axe very simple.

When he opened his eyes, he felt this fusion had been the quickest. Of course, that was only how it seemed in the illusion. Time in the illusion was completely different from time in the outside world.

Even if he practiced for years in the illusion, only a few minutes would pass in the outside world.

This kind of experience transfer through the soul and mind was completely beyond scientific explanation. All he could say was that the Shadow Servant's abilities were astonishing.

After two fusions, David felt mentally exhausted. He washed up, changed into clean clothes, and, without even checking the time, collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

When David woke, he checked the time on his Identity Bracelet. It was already four in the afternoon.

He rubbed his empty stomach. He'd eaten so much Fortified Meat today, yet he was ravenous again.

If he hadn't come into a large number of Credit Points, he might have worried that he'd eat himself into poverty.

Ever since he'd started practicing the Body Technique, ordinary food could no longer meet his energy needs. Only Fortified Meat could replenish what his body used up.

When he arrived at the first-floor dining room, he saw Myron dragging his legs along, trembling with every step.

"Myron, what happened to you?" David asked, looking at him with amusement.

"David, don't just stand there—give me a hand! I did the Eighteen Forms of Body Technique ten times. Ten whole times!" Myron said plaintively, as if David were his savior.

David went over and helped Myron up. He could certainly understand what Myron was going through.

The Eighteen Forms of Body Technique took a lot out of you, let alone doing them ten times in one day.

"Emma, prepare some extra Fortified Meat for Myron and me," David called to the Smart Butler.

"Yes, Master!" Smart Butler Emma replied as she set to work.

By the time David helped Myron sit down, two generous plates of Fortified Meat had already been set on the table.

"Hey, Myron, you really did get them to send over Level 1 Fortified Meat!" David said in surprise, looking at the meat, which was completely different from what he'd had before.

"Of course. My father can get Level 1 Fortified Meat easily. He just has to ask, and someone will send it over," Myron said casually.

There were plenty of groups in Peilan City that went out to hunt Zerg. Almost all the Level 1 Fortified Meat was sent to bigger cities farther away, where it could fetch a higher price. But if Bernard, the mayor of Peilan City, wanted some, it was no trouble at all.

David marveled at the benefits of power as he popped a piece of Level 1 Fortified Meat into his mouth. The feeling of energy dancing across his tongue made his hungry body sing.

"Where's Uncle Gallen?" Only after his hunger had eased did David notice that Gallen was nowhere to be seen. He couldn't help asking.

"Uncle Gallen said he was going out to look into the Sirius Mercenary Group. The group sure had some nerve. My father said their battleship has already been captured. Apart from the mercenaries who attacked you, the whole group has been wiped out!" Myron said with a grin. He always had the latest news.

His words were full of contempt for the Sirius Mercenary Group. Even if they were all Armored Warriors, they still needed to know who they could provoke and who they couldn't.

Even Myron had to watch himself in his daily dealings, careful not to cause trouble for his family.

David didn't have much of a reaction to the Sirius Mercenary Group. They had attacked him, but they'd also brought him a fortune, along with Electronic Warfare at 98% mastery.

Of course, as his enemies, they were better off dead than alive.