"Weapons can be fused to create new forms."
This was quite interesting.
Ryan took his Death Penalty revolver out of his personal space and placed the two pieces of equipment together.
The moment the ice-blue sword touched the Death Penalty, it was as if molten iron were pouring madly into the gun.
In an instant, the sword in Ryan's hand vanished.
In its place, a series of dark blue patterns appeared on the revolver.
Ryan gently turned the cylinder in his hand.
Bang!
A bullet emitting a frosty aura flew out.
When it struck the wall, it instantly condensed into a deadly sheet of frost.
"Is this considered enchanting the gun?" Ryan muttered under his breath.
The gun retained all of its original power and now carried the special abilities of the Lament of the Dead. Its lethality against souls increased dramatically.
Ryan separated the revolver from the sword.
Although the Death Penalty's power increased when fused, it reduced his flexibility in battle.
After all, the Lament of the Dead could only maintain one combat form at a time.
Many of the sword's abilities, such as devouring souls and enslaving the undead, could only be activated by killing an enemy at close range.
This made it far more effective as a cold weapon.
When attached to a firearm, however, its abilities were little more than icing on the cake, unable to display even a tenth of their true potential.
"It's possible to integrate several cold weapons," Ryan thought, stroking his chin.
A weapon capable of transforming into various forms could adapt to all kinds of combat environments in critical moments.
The potential was immense.
Putting away the greatsword, Ryan turned his attention to another matter.
---
[Book of Black Magic]
In ancient times, humans, gods, and powerful magical creatures coexisted.
The world was peaceful—the gods protected humans, and the different species lived in harmony.
Until one day, the gods began to vanish one by one.
Without their protection, long-suppressed racial conflicts erupted into war.
Humans, the weakest race, were hunted, enslaved, and used as food by countless monsters.
It was only with the birth of magic that humans gained the strength to stand against magical creatures.
While the boundaries between magical disciplines are blurred today, in that ancient age, magic was clearly divided into white and black magic.
White magic was devoted to healing and protection.
Black magic was feared for its curses, deadly arts, and destructive power.
One of the greatest figures in the history of black magic was Augustus, the ancestor of the craft.
Augustus was a mortal who rivaled powerful demigods and legendary monsters; he was one of the strongest black magicians in history.
The Book of Black Magic was compiled by Augustus himself based on his lifetime of study and mastery.
There were three volumes in total, and Ryan had obtained the first.
He felt the vast, intricate knowledge flood into his mind.
While the magic book he had acquired from the witch was merely an introduction to the magical world, this book was the key to its entirety.
It contained knowledge of black magic, necromancy, alchemy, potions, curses, and enchantments—like an encyclopedia of the magical arts.
Though the first volume did not contain the most devastating spells, it would serve him well for a long time.
"A great harvest," Ryan murmured.
A powerful magic weapon and a complete inheritance of black magic were worth far more than any pile of gold coins.
Leaving the cave, Ryan returned to the Copper Mountain.
It wasn't in his nature to leave such a treasure untouched.
It wouldn't be useful to carry it around in its current form, so...
"Sacrifice!"
In an instant, the piles of copper coins and copperware vanished.
In their place, an exquisite bronze basin appeared on the ground.
"A basin?" Ryan frowned and cast a spell.
Identification is one of the most basic spells. It can determine the origin, material, and function of an item.
Although it was simple, it was extremely practical.
However, it only worked on ordinary objects and low-level magical items.
For more powerful artifacts, the spell could reveal only partial information.
After casting the spell, Ryan understood the purpose of the basin.
The Bronze Cornucopia could continuously absorb magical energy to produce copper coins and fine copperware.
Moreover, from time to time, it would generate a magical mineral imbued with special energy—perfect for forging magical equipment.
"That's not bad," Ryan thought. The Book of Black Magic even contained alchemy inheritance, making this discovery even more valuable.
After sacrificing the copper mountain, Ryan turned to the large dog sitting nearby.
The dog was obedient but seemingly useless to him.
Rather than waste it, he decided to make use of it.
He placed his palm on the dog's head.
The moment his sacrificial power activated, he felt resistance—a rejection and a struggle.
The previously docile dog's expression twisted into a ferocious, hostile snarl.
"Huh?"
Did this thing actually have its own consciousness?
Ryan frowned. He had thought the dog was just a special alchemical construct.
But weren't alchemical creatures supposed to be absolutely loyal to their creators?
Why would this one resist?
—