Host-Bound Spiked Gauntlets of the Spectral Horror [ Legendary - E-grade [ Adaptive ] ]

  These magnificent gauntlets have been crafted of vampire iron and are at one with the person who provided their blood for their creation. At the heart of each gauntlet is a shining and shimmering white gem, known as a shimmer stone, that works as a conduit for spiritual energy, or aether, allowing these gauntlets to channel the spectral energy as well as traditional energy types. The gauntlets are also lined with tungsten spikes capable of penetrating the hardest armors and hides.

  [ Adaptive ] This Trait, when applied to an item, indicates that with proper care, attention, and resources, the item can continue to grow alongside its user.

  Provides: +1000 AP, +30% Armor Piercing, chance to induce fear on hit, 2% Energy Leech on hit, and +100 attraction to ogres

  Aaron’s eyes glimmered as he read over the impressive gauntlets, until he got to the end, that was.

  “Wait a fucking minute. Attraction to ogres? Why? Why was that necessary?”

  Sooty had come by and was cackling at his side. “Aye, bossman! Ogres are gonna think ye a fine rump steak with those on. Ye gonna be swatting them away!”

  “Not helping,” Aaron growled. It wasn’t the worst thing he could think of, but he really didn’t want ogres finding him attractive… not any more than they might already find him when he was at his plumpest.

  Shaking his head, a bad feeling swelled up in his gut. Vampire iron took traits from whoever provided it with their blood, didn’t it? He wondered if this was Oozagh's blessing? Or maybe the work of his [ Foul Ichor ]? Either way, it was undoubtedly linked to his relationship with Oozagh in one way or another.

  “Fuck me. I really, really hope this doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass.”

  “Something wrong?” Tog said, worry in his words. “Does my work not impress you? I’m terribly sorry if I have failed in this regard.”

  Tog’s reaction was a far cry from what it had been when they first met, and Aaron briefly wondered if it had something to do with what he did, but dismissed the thought. There were more pressing matters to concern himself with.

  “No. They’re great. In fact, they’re better than great. These gauntlets are nothing short of amazing. It’s just… no, never mind. You do an amazing job. Worth every credit.”

  “Thank you. I’m glad you like them. You can find me here most of the time, if you require any more jobs completed before the trials end,” Tog beamed.

  “Cheers, mate. But I doubt it. I’m all work from here on out,” Aaron said, waving and turning. “You might not even see me again.”

  “If we don’t, good luck in the multiverse!”

  “You too, mate!”

  “Happy?” Clem smiled, bobbing alongside Aaron as he walked. “I told you I have all the best contacts. Tog is easily the best blacksmith in here.”

  “Yeah, they’re great.”

  “Sooo….”

  “You want more soul-strengthening food, right?”

  Clem nodded, and her bunny ears twitched.

  “I really should have been more careful when I got to know you,” Aaron sighed.

  “Whaaaat?”

  She liked to play cute and innocent, but he had seen her true colors. Clementine was nothing short of a shrewd business mogul, and he had a feeling she was going to earn herself quite the reputation.

  “Kidding. I’ll cook you up something.”

  “Well, you’re probably right,” she grinned. “I have a habit of getting good deals.”

  “Tell me about it,” he muttered to himself, and they exchanged a few more words as they made their way back to their respective workstations.

  In truth, Aaron really wasn’t bothered. He was thankful for everything, but he didn’t want to get stuck in the kitchen for too long. It was hard to focus with how itchy he was to get back into a trial.

  He really wanted to test his new gauntlets out. Hell, he had barely had a chance to test out [ Soul Shattering Strike ], or use it as a combo properly, and was dying to do so. Not only that, but between the Skill and the new pair of gauntlets, he had a feeling he was going to be causing some trial mobs a lot of pain.

  Oh man, I need to knock out a Trial of Dominance. Also, I wonder what Yendal is gonna think about all of this?

  But he had to stop himself short of running off. He still had the last of his ingredients to cook out, and they were his best ingredients. And whilst he was in a hurry, he figured he might as well get his cooking done first. After all, if he applied himself, it should provide him with some nice advantages and buffs. Once that was done, he could focus all of his attention and remaining trial time on clearing as many trials as possible.

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  Stepping into his kitchen, Aaron got to work with a devilish grin. There had been a specific dish he had wanted to make for some time now, and he had just the ingredients to do it justice.

  Of course, he was still terrified that the ogre side of his cooking would come out in it. It wasn’t the end of the world, but he did like the idea of others being able to eat his food, even if he was cooking for himself. But he could hide behind his fear of cooking grotesque dishes forever.

  Like a madman, he got to work throwing together all kinds of incredible ingredients. He used more care than he had previously, but it wasn’t as if he ever intended to just disregard what he had learned from Oozagh.

  Throwing stupidly powerful ingredients together for the best buffs possible was a cornerstone of Oozagh’s style, and he included it in his own as he got to work, using the best of everything he had, including his Legendary Astral Bison Chuck Steak.

  As he weaved all these ingredients together, he used both his spirit touch and regular cooking methods. He even measured some ingredients and took care when adding them.

  With the bison, he slow-cooked the Legendary meat in his new Mythical pot, which he filled with his energy-rich [ Foul Ichor ], and threw a literal treasure trove of rare herbs and spices into it.

  The fumes were incredibly powerful, even forcing Aaron to shy away from the boiling pot at times.

  He stoked the flames with [ Oozagh’s Breath ], infusing mana and aether into the Skill. The flames grew brighter, sparkling even, and he could sense that some of the energy from his breath had seeped into the food itself.

  His goal was to create the perfect dish that would help push him over the line and, hopefully, beat several trials in a row. And as such, he used everything within his disposal, pouring it all into one mindblowing meal.

  He had to think this through, as the Legendary meat wasn’t respawning anytime soon, and the rarer ingredients always took longer. But it was big enough that he could comfortably cook several serves with it. He just wanted to make sure they were the best serves he had ever cooked.

  Continuing to cook, his eyes turned white, and he poured more and more of his energy into the food as he did. He had actually had a small insight as he helped Tog craft the gauntlets with his aether. The golem was constantly pouring energy into his work as he crafted, and Aaron realized just by watching him how much it improved the quality of his work.

  But unlike the golem, Aaron wasn’t just pouring mana into his cooking. He was pouring aether in as well, and thanks to the gauntlets, he had even more aether to use in his cooking. Although, the metal gloves that extended down over his forearms were a little chunky to use in the kitchen.

  Oh well, probably best I get used to wearing them.

  Luckily, his Perception and Dexterity were inhuman, so he could avoid knocking things over with the tungsten spikes protruding from his fists as he cooked.

  And gradually, his meal was coming together. The meat was so very soft and tender, falling apart as he jabbed it with a spoon.

  He even used the skills he learned from Yendal, as he measured with the help of [ Perfect Measurements ], getting not just the absolutely perfect volume, but also weight. This Skill was used to delicately craft the perfect shortcrust, and he folded Epic rarity butter into the deliciously smooth pastry. It was a masterpiece. Everything was coming together so perfectly, and he grinned like a madman as he put the final delicate touches on his pièce de ré·sis·tance.

  “A-a-amazing. So beautiful…”

  He stared in awe and, with feverish hands, picked up the baking tray and inserted it into the oven.

  He watched over it like a concerned parent as it baked. Soon his mouth was watering like Niagara at the sight of the pastry puffing up and turning golden.

  It was as if he had seen a vision, and now the pieces were falling into place, and he couldn’t be happier with the result.

  This was something else. Something incredible. Something beyond normal human comprehension.

  A pie worthy of divinity.

  “Now that’s a fucking pie, mate.”

  Experience rewarded for discovering a recipe!

  Ichor Braised Bison Meat Pie [ Legendary — E-grade ]

  So deliciously soft and tender, this is a pie of the ages. When you bite into the flaky, buttery crust, you are met with a rich, herb-infused gravy that works as the perfect vessel for the hearty, yet moist and umami-rich bison meat. For a moment, the world stands still for anyone who tastes this perfect dish, for it is a masterpiece that is truly mindblowing, and few can even comprehend it. Buffs and bonuses? Heh, they mean little in the face of such culinary art as this. This is a dish cooked by and for ogres who have transcended their tribal roots and taken on something far more delicate. However, caution is advised, as the sheer richness of precious herbs and spices still makes it dangerous for most species to consume.

  Provides: Special Effect—True Girth.

  Aftereffects: Death.

  Conditional: Requires all active energy organs.

  Ding!

  [ Ogre Gastronomist ] has LEVELED UP!

  44 → 46

  Purchasable Skill Available!

  “True Girth?” Aaron muttered, a slight wavering concern in his words. “What’s that…”

  True Girth.

  A special condition devised by rebellious ogres who wanted to store additional energy within their bodies without growing too much larger. When perfected, True Girth can allow the user to store energy in adipose tissue without growing as large as ogres normally do. This condition also increases the density of energy stored significantly, but some ogres see it as sacrilege.

  “I have a feeling Oozagh isn’t going to like this…”

  However, despite the fact that his patron god was likely to be unimpressed, Aaron saw the dish for what it was. A significant improvement in his energy storage.

  He had made five servings, and at least one had to be saved for Mo’han. Sure, he had considered a dish that would buff up his Stats against the asura, but he dismissed that thought.

  Ultimately, Mo’han was always going to be stronger based on pure Stat power. If he wanted to beat him, he had to do it his own way. And having a shit ton of extra energy sounded just right.

  Of course, Mo’han also had a lot of energy, but his build was quickly coming together, and he had a feeling that if he played his cards right, he could drag the fight out and turn it into his own.

  “This is going to be fun,” he grinned and turned toward the trial dial.

  It was time for some proper training, but first things first—a new Profession Skill, and time to spend his free points.

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