Arena

The employees dispatched from the research agency worked from East Sa Geum Island.

The security agents rode motorboats and scouted the area while the other employees set up barbed wire fencing on East Sa Geum Island.

I figured that their plan was to wrap it seamlessly in barbed wire and raise the dairy cows from Arena inside of it.

The ship came by every day and brought building supplies like barbed wire and food, and brought tons of food for the eagles too.

Now, every time the ship appeared, the rake eagles nearly drooled and flew in circles around it.

With that much food, the rake eagles were growing noticeably every day.

The two sets of parents that were already adults, number one, two, seven, and eight, were already three times as big as a normal rake eagle and looked like giant monsters.

The other babies weren’t as large as their parents but looked to be about as twice as big as a normal rake eagle.

They were continuing to benefit from my growth acceleration skill so catching up to their parents was just a matter of time. 𝙛𝘳𝘦e𝓌e𝗯n𝗼ѵ𝙚l.𝒄𝚘𝑚

“With this many, if you combined the power of all ten, don’t you think you could hunt wyverns too?”

“It would be a stretch without a finding a way to pierce through the skin of a wyvern.”

A way to pierce through….

Then again, Cha Ji-hye was right. Without a level of attack equal to using a weapon imbued with aura, you cannot pierce it.

The rake eagles had talons like that could be considered lethal weapons but they were a bit lacking if we wanted to catch a wyvern.

“Hold on, do you think there’s some weapon for the eagles?”

“There should be gear, like the armor of a horse, which can used on animals.”

“Now that you mention it I’ll have to take a look.”

I happen to have 1,300 karma with nowhere to really use it so I’ll look for some gear and equipment for the eagles.

“Summon board.”

I then said to the board that was summoned.

“Show me gear I can use for the eagles.”

Then the words began to wiggle on the board. Two items were listed.

-Showing items that can be used on rake eagles.

- Steel rake: a weapon that can be attached to the feet of pet birds. These are sharp steel blades that are worn on the bird’s talons. (-100)

- Steel armor – animal-use only: armor that can be used by all kinds of animals. (-100)

‘Hm.’

Just two items.

But I didn’t really like them.

The steel rakes aren’t very useful for rake eagles whose talons were already as strong as steel.

The steel armor did seem like it would help with defense but wearing defense tools that are made of steel meant it would likely hinder their flight speed.

“Nothing I really like.”

“What is there?”

“Steel rake and steel armor for animals? Just those two is all.”

“Items that you can get with karma are only based on things that exist in Arena. Ironwork weapons from Arena that isn’t industrialized, are very expensive, and instances where they are created for animals is pretty rare.”

“I guess so. But it would still be nice if there was a tool imbued with magic or something.”

“How about instead you create something in Arena? Have a magician and a blacksmith commission it for you. That should work.”

“Ah, I could.”

In Arena I was a noble with the title of count and had my own land. With my standing, I could always commission something like that.

“Hm, then is there nothing else for me to buy.”

I feel a little let down.

But then, Cha Ji-hye suggested something completely different.

“How about you try a skill synthesis?”

“Skill synthesis?”

“If you use ingredients that are items made for animals, don’t you think you’d get a skill made for an animal?”

“…….. Huh? I suppose so.”

Why hadn’t I thought of that?

“I’ll buy the steel rakes.”

I said to the board.

-You have acquired the steel rake. Along with the name of your pet, say ‘arm and the weapon will be applied to the pets’ talons. Say ‘disarm’ and the weapon will disappear.

-Remaining karma: +1,200

“I’ll buy the armor too.”

-You have acquired the Steel Armor – Animal-use only. Along with the name of your pet, say ‘wield’ and the gear will be summoned. ‘The gear will disappear when you say ‘un-wield.’

-Remaining karma: +1,100

For now, I bought one of each.

But then I had a thought to dress up one of the eagles once before using it for skill synthesis. Because I was curious how it would look.

“Number one, come here!”

When I called, number one screeched and came shooting like an arrow to me.

I was petting its back which number one enjoyed.

‘Now, shall I arm you?’

“Number one, arm; number one, wield.”

Then, heinously long daggers attached themselves onto both of number one’s talons.

Not only that, but all over its body the armor strung itself together as small pieces of steel locked in place to look like scales.

“Wow……”

I was in awe at number one with its weapons and defense gear on.

With that big build, number one’s entire body being wrapped in the steel made me feel danger like that of a mythological creature.

Number one was slightly uncomfortable but it must have become accustomed to it quickly because it didn’t notice the weapons or gear on its feet and body much.

“It is impressive.”

Said Cha Ji-hye. It was the first time in a while that she had this expression as she looked at the impressive looking number one.

This expression of her being in such admiration, it was the first time since she saw Sylph use the Mosin-Nagant.

Cha Ji-hye was petting number one’s back which was wrapped in armor as she said.

“I think it would be better if there was a seat on the back.”

“Ah, right. If there were handles too it’d be easier to steer.”

“That is also a good idea.”

“I’ll have to ask the blacksmith when I get to Arena and commission one.”

I’ll have to check out a magician too since it’d be good if they could put a magic that would make the armor lighter or increase the strength of the gear.

“But because it isn’t an item you’ll have to individually store them in the virtual space and dress them one by one.”

“After I create it I’ll have to use karma to itemize it or something. Of course that’s when I have the karma to do so.”

“For now try the skill synthesis.”

“Ah. right.”

I cleared the steel rake and armor that number one was wearing.

“Skill synthesis.”

-Please choose skills or items you wish to synthesize.”

- Skills available for synthesis: spirit summons (Sylph), spirit summons (Kasa), physical strength buff, guider, teleport, vision buffer, animal taming.

- Items available for synthesis: AW50F, Neilson H2 (Qty 2), magnum 357 (qty 4), Neilson R8, steel rake, steel armor – animal-use only.

*Items used for synthesis will be consumed.

“I synthesize Sylph and steel rake.”

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Sylph) and steel rake.

-Synthesis successful. You have acquired rake wind (synthesis skill).

-Steel rake will be consumed.

-Rake wind (synthesis skill): attack enemies by creating a sharp wind with talons. Only usable by animals tamed under animal taming (assist skill).

*Entry level 1: cool down 60 minutes.

“Ohhh!”

“Did something come of it?”

“Yes! A very good skill!”

I explained to her about the new rake wind skill.

“If the cool down is 60 minutes, you can only use it once an hour. I’m curious how powerful it is.”

“I’m sure the cool down and power will be better as the levels increase. For now I’ll keep trying to synthesize.”

For now, I used another 100 karma to buy one more steel rake.

Then I tried the skill synthesis again.

“I’ll synthesize Kasa and steel rake.”

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Kasa) with steel rake.

-Synthesis failed.

Disappointingly, it failed this time.

Perhaps because they’re birds, it matched with Sylph, the spirit of wind, but doesn’t seem to match with Kasa, the spirit of fire.

I continued attempting to synthesize with other skills.

Guider, teleport, vision buffer, animal taming. But the synthesis failed with all these assist skills.

But when I synthesized with the physical strength buff it created yet another new skill.

-Synthesis successful. You have acquired talon strength (synthesis skill).

-Steel rake will be used.

-Talon strength (synthesis skill): strengthens the talons to be strong and sharp. Only useable on animals tamed under animal taming (assist skill).

*Entry level 1: talons become strong as steel.

‘Nice!’

I rejoiced with fists pumped.

Following that I used the steel armor as a synthesis ingredient.

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Sylph) and steel armor.

-Synthesis failed.

-Synthesizing spirit summons (Kasa) and steel armor.

-Synthesis failed.

After that, the physical strength buffer, guider, teleport, vision buffer, animal training, synthesis also all failed.

With no choice, I returned the animal armor for karma.

Remaining karma 1,000.

‘Huh, I don’t need the AW50F anymore right? I should exchange this for karma too.’

It took 3,300 karma to itemize the AW50F. When I exchanged it, 1,650 was refunded back to me.

Altogether, I had 2,650 karma!

For now, I’ll have to use this to raise the levels of the skills I got today.

After much consideration, I raised the talon strength to intermediate level 1.

-Using 1400 karma to raise talon strength (synthesis skill) to intermediate level 1.

-Talon strength (synthesis skill): talons strengthen to become stronger and sharper. Only usable on animals tamed under animal taming (assist skill).

*Intermediate level 1: talons become as strong as diamonds.

-Remaining karma: +1,250

‘Damn.’

When I upgraded it from entry to intermediate, the explanation changed from steel to diamonds.

All ten of the rake eagles I had would now have talons as strong as diamonds.

“I will invest the remaining karma into raising the level of the rake wind.”

When I said that to the board, a light shone out from the board again.

-1000 karma will raise rake wind (synthesis skill) to entry level 5.

-Rake wind (synthesis skill): create a sharp wind with talons to attack enemies. Only usable by animals tamed with animal taming (assist skill).

*Entry level 5: cool down 1 minute

-Remaining karma: +250

The cool down decreased from 60 minutes to 1 minute.

Since I could use it once every minute, it was like the power of the skill had been exponentially upgraded.

I felt proud because I thought I had used the karma well.

My ten rake eagles now had talons like diamonds plus long distance attack capabilities.

With these abilities, not only are they good for aerial movement but they boast incredible fighting prowess.

Going forward, if I master the talon strength and rake wind, in a fight against an average examinee they may not lose.

‘If I master the animal training, I can train 2 more animals, shall I try to tame a stronger beast this time?’

Rake wind was a skill only usable by bird type pets.

But not the talon strength. If it’s an animal that I tame, then it doesn’t matter what kind of animal it is.

It doesn’t matter even if it’s an animal like a tiger or a wolf.

I asked Cha Ji-hye.

“What animal do you like?”

“I like cats.”

“Hm, cats…… I don’t know if there’s a cat worth training.”

“Is that what you meant? Then a beast more useful in battle than a cat……”

“No, you said you like cats so I’ll train a cat.”

“No, what I meant was……”

“For you, I’ll definitely pick a cat.”

“You asked what I like, not in that sense…”

“A cat for sure.”

I declared matter-of-factly and felt glee while watching Cha Ji-hye get flustered because of it. This is what I lived for.