Joy trudged toward Tyler, her legs heavy under the weight of the steel bars, the burden pressing like invisible chains. She was slowly adapting, each step a small victory in the vast plain's unrelenting sun. As she reached him, the coolness of the shade enveloped her, a welcome respite from the heat. Her body felt exhausted and scorching, muscles strained and burning with fire. Sweat beaded on her green skin, her breaths coming in ragged heaves, mouth agape. With a small hand, she swiped at the sweat trickling from her forehead, the droplets glistening before flicking away.

Tyler saw her and grinned. "Wow, well done," he said, crouching down to untie the vines binding the steel bars to her back. The bars dropped with a heavy clunk, thudding onto the grass. Joy felt her body lighten instantly, the relief washing over her like a cool wave.

Tyler stood up straight as the little goblinth sighed deeply and collapsed onto her back. The cool blades of grass pressed against her skin, soothing the ache, and she closed her eyes, hands spread wide in surrender. A small smile of relief curved her lips, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm.

Tyler chuckled softly. "Feels good, doesn't it? I remember feeling the same way." His gaze drifted back to the system panel, its circular bar inching forward as it combined the weapons he'd instructed. He scratched the back of his head, the other hand on his waist, a frown creasing his brow. *This is taking a bit long, isn't it? It's taking as long as it did when I made the shadow armor.*

He sighed, the panel vanishing with a flicker. His attention returned to Joy, who looked utterly relaxed, her eyes still closed, the picture of hard-earned peace. Suddenly, another system panel appeared before Tyler, its text bold and glowing: Achievement Unlocked: Train pet under punishment +10 AGI pet points.

"Oh, so you also get achievements," Tyler muttered, his eyes scanning the system panel. He re-read the sentence, his brows knitting together as surprise widened his gaze.* Wait, punishment? I'm not punishing this thing. I'm just training her.*

He muttered, "System, what do you mean by punishment? How exactly is this a punishment?"

The system panel vanished, replaced by another with stark text: The pet's agility, strength, and mana have all been redistricted by 70% as punishment for not listening to its master.

Tyler scratched his head with a finger, confusion clouding his expression. "What? But when?"

The system offered no reply.Tyler pressed on. "How exactly do I turn this punishment thing off, then?"

The panel disappeared, a new one materializing: The user simply has to wish it so.

Tyler muttered, "Ok then, I want it to be turned off."

The system vanished once more, another appearing: The effects of the punishment have been turned off.

Tyler sighed as the panel faded, rubbing his temple.* When did this thing disobey me?* A sudden realization clicked. *Was it from last night when I told her to get off me and she didn't? I mean, she wasn't trying to harm me or anything. So does this mean it just turns on automatically?*

He sighed again, shaking off the mixed thoughts, and turned his attention to Joy. She looked utterly spent, her eyes closed, breaths coming in slow, rhythmic waves as if she'd drifted into sleep.

*Now that I think about it, that is probably why those things felt heavier for her. It was because of the punishment.* Tyler took a small step toward her, crouching down to gaze at her relaxed form. "Did she fall asleep?" he muttered softly. "She didn't even get to eat her apple." He sat down beside her, the cool grass yielding under him, her small breaths barely audible beneath the gentle rustle of the tree's leaves overhead.

*I don't want this thing to turn on again unless I instruct it to.* The system panel appeared, its text clear: The punishment will only be activated manually from now on.

Tyler muttered, "Exactly," a small smile curling his lips.

Suddenly, the system panel vanished, replaced by another: Combination complete. A new unique tier weapon has been formed.

Tyler raised an eyebrow, muttering, "Unique tier." He stood up again as the panel disappeared. With a thought, he opened his palm, and suddenly a silver sword materialized in his hand, its silver handle shaped like a katana's but entirely metallic.

The blade stretched a full meter, glistening under the dappled shade. Small rays of light piercing through the branches reflected off its steel surface, casting fleeting glints. The sword was thin, resembling a katana yet distinct, a double-edged blade. It felt remarkably light in his grip, yet the weight promised power and balance.

"Wow!" Tyler said, wonder and awe threading through his voice. He traced his finger over the cool steel of the sword, the metal smooth and unyielding beneath his touch. The sharpness of its edges hummed with potential, the blade hard and tough, radiating durability. He tossed it into the air, the silver catching a glint of light, and caught it firmly with his left hand. "I wonder what kind of stats it has," he muttered.

The stats suddenly appeared beside the double-edged sword:

Lightning Sword: 500 ATK + 100% AGI

Skills: Lightning Thrust - Fire lightning at the target when activated. Only works with thrusting attacks. Mana consumption 100. Cooldown 1hr

Lightning Agility - Once activated, user is able to match lightning speed for 30s. Mana consumption 50

Passive skill when equipped - Lightning attacks do 50% less damage to the user.

"Whoa," Tyler breathed, his heart racing with excitement, a grin spreading across his face.* This thing's incredible. These stats, they're pretty awesome. 500 attack? And the skills… they're pretty bizarre. I can actually strike an enemy with lightning if I activate the skill. And with Lightning Agility, I can move as fast as lightning itself.* He re-read the passive skill, recalling how it stayed always active, requiring no mana, halving any electric attack's damage against him reduced by 50%. He muttered, "The mana consumptions are a bit much, but it's totally worth it."

Tyler swung the sword in a wide arc to the left, then to the right, and back to the left, his movements flowing with surprising agility. The blade sliced through the air, generating gusts of wind that rustled the nearby grass and branches. A faint crackle of electricity danced along its steel edge, sparks flickering like trapped lightning, catching Tyler off guard. He held it steady in his hands, the hum of energy vibrating through his palms. *This is surprisingly good, he thought. If combining items always results in overpowered items like this, I should do it all the time.*

His mind drifted back to the shadow armor, the curse, the emptiness it brought, a void that swallowed feeling itself. A chill crept up his spine at the memory, unfeeling and hollow. He shook his head sharply, banishing the thought. "Well, not everything good may come out of combining these things, I guess," he muttered, refocusing on the sword's gleaming surface.

But can this thing be enhanced?" He grinned, an enhancement stone materializing from his inventory with a soft glow. He pressed it against the blade, excitement bubbling as he thought, This thing is going to have 200% agility, it might even move faster than lightning itself. It might even have an attack of 1000. Come on, come on, come on, you can do it. Channeling his mana, the stone shattered, fine blue dust swirling into the sword like inhaled stardust. A system panel appeared, its text glaring in red: Weapon cannot be enhanced.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Tyler screamed, "Damn it, come oon! This could have been so incredible. Why the hell did it have to be… unenhanceable?"

*well, it's still pretty powerful I guess. I mean, I can hit a person with lightning. Never thought I'd have that kind of skill. Lightning has a lot of voltage, like an outrageous amount, so I don't think a lot of people can survive this, even in this world.*

Tyler tapped his finger against the sword, the panel's glow reflecting in his eyes, a question bubbling to his mind. *At my current agility, I should be able to move at the speed of sound. I mean, it said that when I upgraded the Hexhorn Armor, which increased my agility by 80%, but when I leveled up a lot, I should be at that 80% without the Hexhorn Armor. I mean, I am an A-rank. How fast is sound, anyway?*

Suddenly, the system panel appeared before Tyler, startling him as it often did. It answered his questions in the most unpredictable ways. sometimes ignoring them, other times responding unprompted.

The speed of sound in air is approximately 1,235 kilometers per hour (1,235 km/h).

Tyler's mouth gaped open, and he muttered, "1,000. wait, 1,235 kilometers? What the hell?" A surge of pride flooded through him, overwhelming and exhilarating. He laughed, the sound echoing in the plain. "I'm that fast? I'm faster than a freaking car. I mean, I always knew that, but damn, I didn't think I was this fast…"

*Just by equipping this sword, my speed also increases by 100%, and I can even boost my agility by turning on the skill that allows me to be as fast as lightning for 30 seconds.* Tyler tapped his foot on the grass, the blades crunching softly under his boot as thoughts tumbled through his mind. Suddenly, another idea sparked, bright and insistent.* Wait, actually, I could also combine two combined items, right? I mean, its not like the system said, I can't combine an item that's already combined. I could make another lightning sword and combine it with the other one, and maybe then I can get an even more powerful item and who knows, maybe I can enhance that one.*

With a thought, Tyler tried to combine three more steel-fang daggers, but the system panel appeared, its text stark: Cooldown: 2 hours left.

Tyler placed his hand on his forehead, realization dawning like a cold dawn. "Oh, I almost forgot," he said, chuckling ruefully. "This skill has a cooldown. I got too excited. Looks like I'll have to do it after two hours."

With that, the lightning sword vanished into his inventory, its absence leaving a faint echo of energy in the air. Tyler turned his gaze to Joy, who was sleeping peacefully on the ground. He muttered, "Right, time to go back to training, or maybe I should just let her rest a little more." He shook his head, resolve hardening. "Nah, I should train her some more. If I go hunting with her, she'd be in danger the entire time."

He took a step closer, crouching down beside her, his shadow falling across her small form. "Joy, Joy, wake up."

Joy slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the light. "Hmm?" she said, her voice thick with sleep, a drowsy murmur escaping her lips.

She pushed herself to sit up with her small hands, a yawn escaping her lips, revealing the tiny fangs in her mouth, small but unmistakably sharp. Tyler materialized a vial from his inventory, filled with clear water that caught the dappled light. "Here," he said, offering her. "Drink some water."

Joy blinked, her wide eyes fixing on the vial. It was so pretty, glass, a material she'd never seen, smooth and translucent. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, and she recognized it as water, a rare treasure in the monster zones, usually savored only during rain.

She accepted it slowly with both hands, her fingers wrapping around the cool surface. Tilting it to her mouth, she drank deeply, the refreshing water sliding down her throat with a subtle metallic tang that added an unexpected flavor. She drained it all, a soft hiss escaping her lips, like someone savoring a strong sip of whiskey.

Tyler chuckled softly, and the vial vanished from her hands into his inventory with a faint glow. Joy let out a confused "Huh?" her palms opening and closing in surprise at the sudden disappearance. But she knew it was her human's doing, he had this strange power.

Tyler then materialized an apple in his hand and offered it to her. She snatched it quickly, sinking her fangs into it with aggressive bites, juice dripping from her chin. Tyler muttered, "Looking at your small body, someone would think one apple is enough for you."

Tyler straightened himself and said, "All right, these things should be easier for you to lift now. Come on, give it a try"

Joy just looked at him as she finished eating her apple, devouring even the core with a final crunch. Tyler sighed, rolling his eyes, and muttered, "Oh man, this thing can't understand me. How do you train a monster that can't even understand what you're saying?" He gazed at Joy, lost in thought, his mind racing to figure out how to bridge the gap.

Joy stood up with a groan, her small body stretching. She approached the steel bricks, eyeing them curiously, then easily lifted one with both hands, the metal gleaming in the dappled light. Tyler tilted his head in surprise, watching as she toddled over and handed it to him with outstretched arms, her expression expectant.

Tyler took it, making it disappear into his inventory with a shimmer. "Thank you," he said. Joy smiled, her eyes sparkling as if waiting for more. Tyler awkwardly placed his hand on her bald head, petting her gently. She closed her eyes, leaning into the touch, enjoying the attention. Tyler noticed something , she reminded him of a puppy, loyal and eager.

Joy then ran quickly to the other bricks, lifting both with a grunt and walking back to offer them to him. Tyler took them, absorbing them into his inventory. *Huh, what if I tell her to bring me something heavier?* he thought, a spark of curiosity igniting. He continued petting her as he pondered, his fingers gentle on her head. Joy put both hands behind her back, her posture relaxed, looking as if she was savoring the moment.

He smiled and said, "Let's play a game." Suddenly, a steel bar materialized a few feet away from him. Joy turned to look at it, her wide eyes curious. She went to lift the steel bar, but as soon as she turned, Tyler was further away, about 30 feet now. He watched her, hoping she would run to him, the dappled shade of the tree casting shifting patterns on the grass between them.

Joy then suddenly ran, her small feet tapping against the ground at a rapid pace, her legs blurring like a cartoon character in motion. Tyler's eyes widened, surprise flashing across his face. In just a moment, she reached him, not even breathing heavily or showing any signs of tiredness. With a smile, she handed him the steel bar.

He took it and said, "Wow, you're pretty fast," petting her gently. Joy closed her eyes with a contented smile, leaning into the touch.

Tyler then said, " So she likes that. I can simply just put them on the ground and tell her to give them to me. Simple as that. Almost like playing catch. But I'll have to make her bring me something heavier and increase the distance each time. Now, what should I give her that's heavy?"

After putting some thought into it, moments later, Tyler had filled the blanket with lots of steel bricks and tied the vines to her again. As he waited very far away, she could still see him, standing at the fallen tree where she had started earlier, she looked at the vines tied to her waist. She remembered when Tyler stopped her from ripping them off earlier.

She gazed at Tyler's small figure ahead, and Tyler waved. Tyler was surprised as he saw her waving back. It felt a bit awkward, but in a small way, he was glad that she was learning. He put his hands on his waist, the grass crunching softly under his boots as he shifted. *Right, while she's training, I should craft some more things. I do have some materials after all.*

Tyler took a look at the recipes one more time, the system panel glowing faintly. *What? I thought I had a lot of materials, most of these recipes I didn't do are just missing one ingredient.* He sighed in disappointment, the sound carrying on the gentle breeze. Then he spotted an accessory recipe that had all the ingredients: Tempest Bracers. He recognized the Mr. Slime core among them, a smile spreading across his face. He muttered, "Craft Tempest Bracers."

The system immediately started crafting, a circular loading bar filling quickly in front of him, its progress pulsing like a heartbeat.*I totally forgot about the core of that slime boss monster. It was kind of different from the others. Since it's a boss monster, this thing has to have some pretty good stats, right?*

The system panel appeared: Crafting successful.

With a thought, Tyler equipped the bracers. They appeared on his wrists, silver and glistening, almost as if coated in a very thin layer of glass, catching the sunlight like polished mirrors.

The system panel appeared beside the bracer on his left, its text glowing steadily: Tempest Bracers:

Def - 150 Skill: Absorption - A skill that absorbs force from physical attacks. This force can be redirected back to enemies when the force accumulated has reached the maximum limit which is 100%. Can only be used in one move - mana consumption none.

"Oh," Tyler said in surprise, his voice laced with wonder. "This is a pretty good skill. So this thing can absorb the force of physical attacks, and I can use that force back on my enemies in one attack." He paused, brow furrowing. "How exactly does it work? Do I just block with these, or....let me test something out."

Tyler hit the bracer on his right arm with his left hand. A loud ting echoed from the impact, the bracer vibrating slightly before stilling. A small blue panel flickered beside it, reading 35%.

Tyler smiled, curiosity sparking in his eyes. He hit it again, the ting sharper this time. The panel updated: 52%.

*I get it now, he thought, a grin spreading. *That's how it absorbs force. It's a pretty good accessory. I don't even feel any strain in my arm from my own punches.*

He started repeatedly hitting the bracer, each strike building the charge until it reached 100%. The bracer began glowing with a faint blue hue, pulsing softly like contained energy.

Tyler said with a smile, "OK, let's see what you can do." He looked around the wide plain for something to hit, scratching his head. The only thing nearby was the fallen tree. He shrugged. "Well, I can only test it here, so…"

He advanced upon the fallen tree with deliberate purpose, the weight of accumulated power thrumming through his veins like the heartbeat of a storm god.

His fist drew back, coiled with the raw might he had always possessed, even before ascending to B-rank, he could shatter wood with a single blow, splintering it into oblivion. But now, infused with the bracer's seething reservoir of force, he pondered the cataclysm that might unleash.

With a resolve forged in the fires of curiosity and strength, he channeled the intent, his arm a thunderbolt in human form, and struck with the fury of a titan awakening.

A thunderous boom erupted, shaking the earth as if the heavens themselves had cracked open. An almost invisible force, a rippling distortion in the fabric of space, surged from his fist, a wave of unbridled devastation. The tree didn't merely splinter; its fragments hung in the air for a heartbeat before disintegrating into fine dust, scattered like the ashes of a vanquished foe.

The ground beneath buckled not in a simple crack, but in a vast, gaping scar, a colossal tunnel gouged into the soil, revealing the dark, moist underbelly of the earth in a wide, ragged furrow that stretched forth like the claw mark of a primordial beast. The shockwave whipped through the air, tossing his hair and clothes in a wild gale, as if the wind itself bowed to the power he had unleashed.

Stunned by the spectacle of destruction, Tyler stood frozen, his breath caught in his throat. "Whoa," he muttered, voice barely above a whisper amid the settling dust. "This thing is pretty awesome." He gazed at the bracer, its surface pulsing with latent energy, and summoned an enhancement stone from his inventory, its crystalline form shimmering like captured starlight.

Pressing it to the bracer, he watched the process unfold, the stone crumbling, its essence infusing the artifact. The system proclaimed in glowing script: Enhancement successful.

Emboldened, he repeated the ritual on the other bracer, and success crowned it once more. Now the bracers could accumulate up to 200% force absorption, their defense fortified to 300, a bulwark against the world's fury.

He pushed further, enhancing again, and astonishingly, triumph struck a third time. They surged to 400% force capacity, defense soaring to 600, transforming them into relics of legendary might, ready to defy gods and monsters alike.

"This much power and no mana consumption?"

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