1157. Limit Breaker
[Amplification] could not be used to empower Atelier technology.
The revelation appeared on day seventy-two when Frost was left scratching her head as to why, no matter what she did, combining [Amplification] with another Aspect of Technology resulted in an explosion.
However, that did not mean it wasn’t possible.
More accurately, it wasn’t [Amplification] she was trying to combine with Atelier technology. It was the [Resonating Bell]. The [Resonating Bell] allowed one to amplify the input source, whereas [Amplification] could convert a Skill to an Amplified State.
With these limitations in mind, she was still able to find a use case for both.
Reverberating Toll
< Aspect of Technology | The Head >
< Whisper once. It will echo forever more >
< EFFECT: Amplify the input source by up to 10x. The larger the bell, the greater its [Silencing] effect becomes >
It was a jade bell with black smoke crawling across the surface. The size of the Reverberating Toll determined how large the input could be amplified by. For instance, a one centimeter by one centimeter variant could double the input. But reaching the maximum multiplier of ten required the bell to be ten meters.
While it did not work with Atelier technology, it certainly worked with physical and magical phenomenon. For instance, the Talons, when equipped with a [Reverberating Toll], could deal upwards of 5,000 damage, to even 10,000 depending on the type of Talon they were using.
Indeed, the Reverberating Toll was highly effective for amplifying projectile-based weapons, or systems for that matter. This meant that the Star Cannon – which was used to ferry Moons and Canisters across the Nex Megalopolis – could reach into distant territories.
Moreover, since this affected force projection, it was invaluable for weapons. Gravity hammers could even be empowered by this, since it was merely enhancing the crushing effect, rather than the gravity.
She planned to implement these into the weapons of the Black Wings, as well as Atelier machinery.
Inflow Direct and Caldera Industries can benefit from this by a massive margin. If it’s them, maybe we can create a ship strong enough to brave the ocean when the time comes. If the Stars can interpret my Will, then they should already be moving to collect an order for the Reverberating Toll.
That said, the final Aspect of Technology she created was a green gemstone that was no larger than a fist.
Limit Breaker (I-V)
< Aspect of Technology | The Head >
< Unbounded by the imposed limitations >
< EFFECT: For one minute, increase a chosen Skill’s level between 10 to 50 levels. Gain a Mastery effect temporarily. If the Skill has already achieved Mastery, gain an [Amplified] variant >
< ADDITIONAL EFFECT: Gain up to 50 additional Overall Levels. Duration may be extended depending on Willpower >
//////// < EXTREME WARNING > ////////
< Will induce paralysis and fatigue for up to 48 hours depending on the level of Limit Break >
< Remember, Soul Quality (levels) is limited because people cannot hold more Light than their bodies can handle. Think of a body as a vessel. Overfilling it will cause it to break >
< This can bring a Moon to a Beholder’s level, but it will not necessarily mean they will be stronger than a Beholder >
< It is also quite redundant for you >
You didn’t need to add that last part.
“Contrary, knowing you, you’ll consider it.”
Forty-eight hours of paralysis is a heavy price to pay. It’ll synergize well with our safeguards. It just won’t work for me, since I have the stamina to fight across multiple days. Besides, I excel in drawn-out fights anyway.
* * *
Finally, on the eightieth day, Frost pivoted to creating weapons. Enoch and Kissaria were invited into the chamber to assist with the creation process. She had planned to also summon Ifrit and Samyaza – the other two T4 Artificers – but they were not specialized in creating weaponry.
If anything, they specialized in altering and destroying these weapons.
Still, she had called upon Samyaza. Frost’s Atelier Item was Die Agnosis, but it had been made redundant since she possessed a Progenitor Art that superseded it. She concluded it to be a good idea to have her personal Atelier Item altered.
That said–
Firstly, she had to get the others to visit an Impulse Artificer to have a blueprint of their Atelier Item made. Then, these blueprints had to be sent over to Frost, where she could finally begin creating the perfect weapon for each of her companions.
Kissaria was there to repair any damage or imperfections, whilst Enoch provided flawless feedback regarding the weapon’s capabilities, and its compatibility with its wielder. Jury was still working on her own thing in the background, fiddling away at the bite-shaped molds.
As for Joy?
She was the second tester.
By giving her a plethora of weapons to swing, she was bound to eventually find something she liked. However, it was difficult attempting to harvest a blueprint from her since her heart didn’t have a developed desire.
Children were prohibited from having Atelier Items designed for them. It was not uncommon for children parading as Adventurers to seek out an Impulse Artifice. Children were impressionable things who jumped on every trend and believed in the words of the most popular Adventurers.
Typically, these Adventurers were also those who possessed an Atelier Item.
It was not always because of childish antics. Some sought Atelier Items for the sake of elevating themselves from difficult situations. One can imagine the heartbreak these children experienced. Often, they’d move on to Syndicate work, or travel to the Maw of the World in search of precious artefacts.
Unbeknownst to them was that if ImpulseWorks had created an Atelier Item for them, then they would have either ended up an unrecognizable stain along the ground, or wished they were.
Indeed, Atelier Items, like the Gifts, were known to eat away at a person if they were incomplete. Sometimes, it made them dependent on that item, such as in Res’ case…
… And Nav.
* * *
Hence why Joy could not have an Atelier Item curated for her.
The girl didn’t mind, nor did she throw a tantrum as children typically did when they were not enabled. Joy was too pure for that, though Frost wished she could at least appear disapleased.
But that thought disappeared when Joy gravitated towards her with her head held high, and her sleeves trailing on the ground by her feet. Her dazzling eyes seemed to say: “Pat me!”
*Pat*
“You’re such a good girl.” Frost hummed. “Alright. Enoch. Kissaria. Let’s get down to business.”
The group of four huddled around the Whitelight Apparatus. They had moved a ring-shaped table to surround the installation. Atop the sturdy table were an assortment of tools and workstations, such as an anvil, a forge and a quenching pool to name a few.
Enoch’s appearance was different than usual. In the place of her buttoned, two-piece suit was a thick red top. It was padded with a layer of leather, chainmail, and steel. Faint scars and fresh stitches, which blended with old ones, made it clear that this top had seen its use in battle before.
Frost believed that she was taking proper precautions. Enoch would not be able to survive one of Frost’s attacks. A sword could mortally wound her. But that theory went out the window when one looked past her top…
… and noticed the puffy shorts she wore. They were so short that Frost was hesitant to call them shorts at all. Noticing this, Enoch smirked at herself and flicked where the cloth squeezed her supple thigh, and suddenly–
“Roll on pants? I’ve never seen that before. Did you make it?”
“Gam…?”
Kissaria scoffed before answering for Enoch.
“Sick and tired of repairin’ this and that. Made em’ retractable like a wrist blade. Give it a tap and it curls riiiiight up to the thigh. Could it be longer? Probably. But that ain’t my problem. Least you got somethin’ down there.”
As the Artificer responsible for the repair of Atelier Items, Atelier products and even artefacts from Kingdoms, she has seen her fair share of moronic repair requests. Her skill was best suited for invaluable equipment. However, since becoming involved with the Nexus, she had been bombarded with requests from low-ranking Blessed and Adventurers who had nothing to do with the Nexus.
Kissaria could have easily rejected these earlier. But at the time, she felt obliged to contribute to the Nexus. Additionally, the sudden influx of requests fed into her pride.
“… It’s fine, right? Ain’t gonna skin me like what yer kids did to the Fallen Beholder fellow?” She flicked blonde strands of hair away from her face and patted her apron. “Friends that know a friend, who knows a cousin, who knows a Blessed, who knows a Healer, and who knows a Moon… Surely that’s more than enough degrees of separation for you to not give a single fuck about?”
“I’m actually more surprised you even took those requests in the first place. Also, try not to swear in my daughter’s presence.”
“… Ya. Gotcha.”
Joy stared at Kissaria inquisitively. It was rare for her to make eye contact with people, but for some reason, Kissaria seemed to be an exception. After a moment, Kissaria broke away from Joy’s eyes and clicked her tongue, annoyed by Joy’s attention.
Suffice it to say, she wasn’t a fan of children.
As for why...
“Penguin?”
… Indeed. For whatever reason, children would always call her this, even though she looked nothing like a penguin at all. A vein popped along her forehead as creases formed along her face. She visibly aged several years ahead, and she struggled to keep her hands still.
“I’ll be reeeeeaaaaal careful, alright…” She resisted the urge to utter a slur beneath her breath.
“Quite the icebreaker.” Enoch reminded them of her presence. “Amalgam. Aside from the Atelier tech, I don’t believe we have gone over what we’ll be using as a base.”
“These.”
Several green crystals scattered along the table. The Artificers were immediately enamored upon inspecting the crystals.