<h4>Chapter 20: New Gear</h4>


    As the tigerfish essence coursed through Ss''s body, he felt an intense surge of energy that quickly turned into a familiar searing pain. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as his muscles spasmed and convulsed. Rathgar watched with concern, but unsure of what to do.


    Ss''s body began to change, adapting to the essence he had consumed. His muscles grew leaner and more defined, streamlining his physique for speed and agility. The pain intensified as his bones and joints shifted, aligning themselves for optimal movement.


    Ss gritted his teeth, trying to endure the agony as his body transformed. He could feel his senses sharpening, his reflexes quickening, and his mind bing more alert. The essence was enhancing his physical capabilities, but at the cost of enormous pain.


    Rathgar stepped forward, cing a hand on Ss''s shoulder. "Are you alright,d?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.


    Ss nodded, unable to speak as another wave of pain crashed over him. He focused on his breathing, trying to ride out the torment as his body continued to change.


    After what felt like an eternity, the pain began to subside. Ss straightened up, his body trembling from the ordeal. He looked down at his hands, noticing they felt lighter and more dextrous than before. He seemed to have better control over his fingers.


    "How do you feel?" Rathgar inquired.


    "Different," Ss managed to say, his voice hoarse. "Faster, more agile. Like my body has been optimized for speed."


    Rathgar nodded. "That''s excellent news,d. I was afraid I would have to take you to the nurse''s office."


    [System Notification: You have acquired a new skill: Aqua Rush]


    [Aqua Rush: Increases swimming speed by 100% for 10 seconds (50 mp)]


    Ss was practically speechless as he stared at the skill description. That would be so useful if he decided to hunt bigger fish in theke or if he fell into a raging river.


    Ss checked his stats screen for changes and he noticed his agility went up from 17 to 20.


    "Now that that is over, we can move onto the real project," Rathgar said.


    "What''s that?" Ss asked


    "Forging your gear, of course!" Rathgar said.


    "Wait, I would like to help. You don''t happen to have any books on artifice, do you?" Ss asked.


    "Who do you think I am? Of course, I have books on artifice. I may not look like much of a reader, but I have a small library of books on my trade," Rathgar replied.


    "Can I borrow only the books I would need to help you with this project?" Ss asked.


    "Absolutely. I''ll be right back," Rathgar said.


    Rathgar handed Ss 3 books.


    "I have two abilities that allow me to read books quickly with perfect recall," Ss exined.


    "That''s incredible," Rathgar said.


    "Give me an hour and I''ll be ready," Ss said.


    Ss studied the books for an hour while Rathgar made sketches on pieces of paper.


    "Alright, I''m ready," Ss said.


    "Let''s get to it then," Rathgar said. "Besides armor, what do you want to make?"


    "Actually, I have several ideas. I want a swim suit. Something that will give me protection in the water when I fight magical beasts but won''t make me sink like armor would. I want a set of armor for when I''m out of the water. And I want a pair of gauntlets and a war hammer," Ss said.


    "That''s a tall order,d. But if you have the time, we can do it. We''ll be working fairlyte. Are you going to be able to manage that with your sses?" Rathgar asked.


    "I should be able to make it through one day. I''ll just sleep extra the next day," Ss replied.


    "That''s the power of youth, I suppose. Ok, let''s begin."


    Ss and Rathgar began their ambitious project, diving headfirst into the intricate craft of artifice. They started with the steel armor, carefully selecting the right materials and meticulously crafting each piece.


    Rathgar''s expertise guided Ss through the process, teaching him the nuances of shaping metal. As they worked on the breastte, Rathgar shared a story from his past.


    "You know,d, this reminds me of the time I crafted a set of armor for a young knight, much like yourself," Rathgar began, his eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "He was so eager to prove himself, to make a difference in the world. We worked day and night, pouring our hearts into every piece."


    Ss listened intently, his hands never stopping their work. "What happened to him?" he asked, curiosity piqued.


    Rathgar smiled, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "He became a hero, Ss. He fought off a horde of banshees that was attacking a town all by himself. He saved countless lives, but at the cost of his own. That armor, it protected him until the very end."


    The story hung in the air between them, a reminder of the weight of their craft, the importance of every hammer strike and every infusion of essence.


    As they worked, Ss''s newfound knowledge from the books he had studied came into y. He suggested established techniques and design elements that Rathgar could see himselfing up with.


    Together, they forged a suit of armor that was both sturdy and flexible, allowing for maximum protection without sacrificing mobility.


    They began with the breastte, hammering the heated metal into shape. Sparks flew as they worked, the steel slowly taking form. Rathgar showed Ss how to properly temper the metal, ensuring it would be strong yet flexible.


    Next, they crafted the pauldrons and vambraces, each piece designed to provide maximum protection while allowing for a full range of motion. Ss marveled at Rathgar''s skill, watching as the master artificer transformed raw steel into works of art.


    As they worked on the greaves and sabatons, Ss infused the metal with small amounts of tigerfish essence, imbuing the armor with enhanced speed and agility properties.


    Next, they tackled the swim suit, a unique challenge that required a delicate bnce of materials. They experimented with various fabrics and leathers, testing their buoyancy and resistance to water.


    They created a suit that would allow Ss to move swiftly and efficiently through the water while still providing ample protection against aquatic threats.


    The gauntlets and war hammer were the final pieces of their project. For the gauntlets, they incorporated razor-sharp ws, carefully crafted from the finest steel to slice through even the toughest of hides.


    The war hammer was a formidable weapon, its head perfectly bnced for delivering devastating blows. One side of the hammer was t, designed for crushing and bludgeoning. The other side featured a sharp, pointed end, perfect for piercing through even the toughest of armors.


    As the night wore on, Ss and Rathgar poured their hearts and souls into their creations. The forge''s mes cast a warm glow on their faces, illuminating the determination and passion in their eyes. They worked tirelessly, fueled by a shared love for their craft and a desire to create something truly extraordinary.


    Finally, as the first rays of dawn began to peek through the basement windows of Rathgar''s workshop, they stepped back to admire their handiwork. The armor gleamed in the early morning light. The swim suit, sleek and streamlined, promised to be a formidable asset in Ss''s aquatic battles. And the gauntlets and war hammer, powerful and precise, were ready to be wielded in defense of the realm.


    Ss performed essence revtion on his new gear to find out it was all tier 8. While that wasn''t going to bring him up to Tiffany''s level, it was a vast improvement over the tier 10 training equipment. His gear would get stronger as he acquired and absorbed more essences into it.


    Ss packed up his newly forged gear, marveling at the craftsmanship and the power he could feel emanating from each piece. He donned the swim suit and armor, the weight of the metal aforting presence against his skin. The gauntlets, he attached to a leather strap, slinging it over his shoulder, while the war hammer found its ce strapped securely to his back.


    As he made his way back to his dorm, the armor clinked and nged with each step, announcing his arrival long before he reached the door. Ss winced, realizing the noise would likely wake his roommates, Jace and Rowan.


    Sure enough, as he stepped into the room, three sets of eyes blinked open. Not only were Jace and Rowan there, Lyra wasying on the floor where she had slept. Jace was the first to speak, "Ss? Where have you been? Are you alright?"


    "I''m fine. Sorry to worry you all. I was working on some gear with Rathgar," Ss said.


    "Rathgar? Who is that?" Rowan asked.


    "Professor Ironforge. The artifice professor," Ss said.


    "Huh. I have yet to meet him and I make a point to meet everyone. He''s never in his office," Lyra said.


    "That''s because he''s always at the forge," Ss said.


    As they took in the sight of Ss, standing tall and proud in his new armor, with the gauntlets and war hammer at the ready, their expressions shifted from concern to awe and excitement.


    Rowan sat up. "How did you get him to make the gear for you? The university normally makes you put your name on a waiting list."


    Lyra, was on her feet, circling Ss and examining every detail of the armor and weapons. "This is incredible craftsmanship," she breathed.


    Jace, now fully awake, bombarded Ss with questions, "What''s it made of? How did you make it? Does it have any special properties?"


    "Do you want me to tell you or show you with a soul link?" Ss asked.


    "Tell," Rowan said.


    "Tell," Lyra said.


    "Show!" Jace demanded.


    "Yes, Jace, I''ll show you." Ss initiated a soul link with Jace and passed the memories on to Jace.


    "Now that Jace has been appeased, I will tell the rest of you what happened. For one, I''m not sure how I got him to help me make the gear. Ever since we fought the tigerfish at theke, he''s been kind of watching over me, like a close uncle."


    [Soul Link leveled up! Soul Link skill is now Level 2. Multi-Link unlocked!]


    [Multi-Link: User can link with multiple participants without eye contact, as long as prior soul link has been established with each participant. Allows for short range mentalmunication]


    Ss felt a rush at the acquisition of this new skill. Mentally acknowledging the upgrade while outwardly ignoring it, Ss continued to tell them about the night he had spent with Rathgar making the gear. He told them about their design choices, the tigerfish essence, the swim suit, and more.