My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 66: Afraid

It has been a few weeks since Elian received Living Metal. And given what he knew now, he understood why Jobs were a big deal. Each one represented a change so profound it bled into every facet of a person’s being.

Living Metal lets him liquefy his body. That was all it did. Yet it shifted how he fought, how he dealt with his enemies, even how he lived.

It didn’t seem obvious at first, but the INT boost did wonders to how he approached battle. From comprehension, deduction to analytical decision making, it truly made him smarter.

INT may sharpen the mind—but it cannot fabricate experience. STR and AGI elevate the body but without training, neither would be of any use.

The Winter Wolf Tyrant was the best example. In theory it had enough stats, but it couldn’t put up a fight. All because it was unused to combat. In contrast, Bastion had lower stats but could move far better.

If I am to truly win the crucible, I cannot go in blindly. I would need to plan, learn and experiment. Bianca wants to be my Anchor, so I cannot gamble with her life.

Truly, the boy Elian Reed no longer existed.

Though that was where he started from, he was now a Tyrant competing in the crucible. He fought not to survive, but to go to war with a galaxy’s worth of the most insane bastards that ever existed.

A month ago, all he wished was to get enough money to buy a decent gaming computer.

Now? He was planning to rule not one but two worlds full of sentient beings.

Earth was not going to hand itself over to him. Not when it had plenty of powerhouses.

Fralhame was no different. Even if the ones who came here were cowards, Bastion’s words convinced him that the Fralhame Tyrant would be far more aggressive.

I am fortunate I even have a choice at all.

Given these things, his second Job carried an overwhelming responsibility. It would need to help him protect what he already had, destroy all who opposed him and complement Living Metal in a way that would give the best outcome.

As Elian never even attended classes meant for breakers he had little to no idea prior to actually becoming one. But even then, he had never known that it was possible for them to choose their jobs.

"System. Show me their differences. Make it as detailed as possible."

[Understood. Showing differences.]

___

[Adamant Pathway – Metalweaver]

[Description]

Living Metal allowed you to reshape the battlefield to your will, however, you are still confined by what you are. That ends today. Change your very nature to become what the battlefield demands.

[Effects]

– Allows Living Metal to gain properties of other metals, like density, resistances and conductivity.

– Unlocks: Transmute. Copy a metal’s base characteristics and apply to your own.

– Large boost to Intelligence; moderate boost to Agility and Strength.

– Restriction: Can only use keep and use three different properties at any one time.

___

[Driven Pathway – Dominator]

[Description]

Living Metal for all its adaptability remains inorganic. Not anymore. Now you may bond your metal to organic beings as weapons, armor and even take over their bodies.

[Effects]

– Reduces metal toxicity to be compatible for living beings. Can be restored at any time.

– Unlocks: Enslave. Inject Dominator metals into an organic being and lobotomize it. Allows complete control of a target’s physical body on command. Lasts until removed, or target dies.

– Large Agility boost; moderate Intelligence; minimal Strength.

– Warning: Number of Takeover targets depend on the INT stat.

___

[Forged Pathway – Juggernaut II]

[Description]

Living Metal diverged you from your role. Return to it. You were not meant to control the battlefield; you were meant to trample it.

[Effects]

– Absorbs kinetic energy and mana to generate improved additional armor layers.

– Unlocks: Guillotine II. Burn all excess armor for an even bigger speed and mana boost. Cooldown: 48 hours.

– Large Strength boost; moderate Agility; minimal Intelligence.

– Warning: Armor mass has no upper limit. Excessive buildup may exceed your mana’s ability to move.

___

"Well crap."

I thought they were all determined by one’s talent. Who knew that even talents belonging to the same person behaved so differently.

Elian had three. Adamant, Driven and Forged.

Adamant was like a scientist who always thought about the best way to increase efficiency. Clinical, precise like a scalpel and always sought to improve directly.

The fact that Adamant came up with Heartless suddenly makes so much sense.

Driven on the other hand was like a gangster. It had one goal. And would use anything it could to achieve that goal. Be it yourself, or others it didn’t care. It had the darkest morality of the three.

Bianca was right, Driven will give me what I want. So long as I can pay the price. I should be careful with it.

Lastly Forged sounded like a warlord. It didn’t bend. It didn’t change. Like a gigantic hammer it would bash everything till it broke, or you did.

I wonder what kind of mode this one has.

It would have been Ideal for Elian to make the choices just thinking about himself. He gazed up and saw Bianca trembling. Silent was gently pulling her back with her tail. Bastion was trying to reason with her. But she was stubborn.

"I-I just lack mana! That’s all it is! This will work! I know it will! It must! Let go Mom! I need to bring back Fluffy!"

"Bianca, my child, you need to rest. Anymore and you will burn your HP instead of Mana."

"Daughter, please listen to your mother. Look. Elian is deep in thought, he will figure something out. Fluffy will be alright."

"..."

At Bastion’s words, all three of them turned to Elian. Bianca’s eyes were on the verge of tears. She had a look of expectation that screamed of desperation.

Silent and Bastion said nothing, but he could see that both just said whatever they could to help Bianca relax.

"..."

Elian could not answer. freёweɓnovel.com

His second Job would be the biggest factor in his upcoming battles. All three options represented futures that would impact not just him but his family.

What if saving Fluffy meant sacrificing Bianca?

The fear of the unknown. The ability to see futures beyond the present. The INT stat manifested in the ability to contemplate and predict what would happen. It was something Elian never needed to worry about before. And frankly—

I’m afraid.

[Talent: Adamant – activated. Elian Reed is now immune to fear and psychological effects so long as the Talent remains active.]

Sigh. Thanks.

His Talent removed the worry from his mind. By divorcing the emotional consequence, the only thing that mattered was the intent and the goals.

I can accept anything. Anything but Bianca dying.

[Talent: Driven – Salvation mode activated. Elian Reed will never lose consciousness in the face of an enemy so long as a marked target is in danger.]

"What?"

Driven’s new mode activated, and Elian felt a link flow outward. The recipients were Bianca, Bastion, Silent and the golden marble beside the metallic wolf. An invisible green brand covered their hearts.

At the Talent’s activation, Elian felt something inside himself stir.

I was looking at it all wrong. Even if there is a risk, I just need to grow strong enough to overcome it. If I cannot do so through my own power, then I will use even my enemies.

Elian glanced at left over corpse of the Winter Wolf Tyrant. Calling it a corpse was hardly correct as the only thing left was blood splatters and patches of meat and fur. However, despite his weakness, he was one of the Crucible Tyrants.

He wasn’t strong. He was pathetic. But he understood something I didn’t: how to twist the rules to live just a little longer. That part? I’ll take.

Making up his mind Elian toggled the menu in his vision and chose Dominator.

[Driven-Pathway Dominator chosen. Proceed with Job Ascension?]

"Affirmative," Elian replied.

[Second Job Ascension beginning. Entering the Radiant Tier.]

A bright pink light burst from Elian’s chest and soared into the sky. Much like before and an overbearing surge of mana released from his core outward. As if struck by lightning his body stiffened and locked in place.

Pain began to run all over his body. It was as if a sculptor took a red-hot chisel and hammer and used him as a base for a masterpiece. Bits of his body burned and disappeared. New ones were created and grafted.

His black Living Metal, which, incompatible with the new material, surged outward. It left his body in its purest form, a humanoid golem less than 2-meters tall.

The ground quaked, the sky rumbling as thunderclouds suddenly formed.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

Living Metal rippled like an army awaiting the arrival of its king.

And at the center of it all was Elian’s body which glowed red, like molten ore ready to break.

His eyes grew brighter, and flames came out of his mouth. Yet he gritted his teeth in defiance.

Tch. I’ve survived worse. Bring it on.

Despite being in relative comfort, his family seemed more affected by the transformation he underwent.

"Pink, the pup really just entered Radiant. Heaven help those who stand in his way."

"My child, thank you for loving my daughters. As their mother, I am nothing but grateful."

"Elian..." Bianca cried in tears.

When the last of the symbols were drawn the pain ceased. His insides began to rapidly cool. The carved symbols faded. His flesh—ash-colored steel—looked almost human. But the fire in his eyes said otherwise.

"Alright, time to get to work."