Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode

Upon hearing what Hammer said, Clyde fell silent for a few moments.

Hammer just kept silent without doing anything because Clyde might talk when he was in the middle of doing something.

He could just not focus on answering it. And Hammer also doesn't like someone disturbing him when he's in the middle of focusing on doing something.

'I want to make a good spear. Even though Samuel didn't ask for it - yet - but I'm sure he will ask for a new spear eventually. I saw the look in his eyes when I took out Clyde's sword.'

Hammer grinned at the thought. His hands were itching to make a good weapon like they used to be before the Selection Stage started.

"This is going to be difficult," Clyde suddenly said. "I guess I'll have a hard time going to The All Territory because that fucking Senior Council will block me."

Clyde folded his arms in front of his chest. He saw Hammer staring at him with wide eyes.

"What?" Clyde asked seeing Hammer's reaction that looked terrified.

"You can't say that about the Senior Council!" Hammer said with a stifled scream. There was a hint of fear in his voice that was clear in Clyde's ears.

"They won't hear us. That's the point of this room, right?" Clyde said in an even tone.

"You have no idea how powerful those Senior Councilors are. Some of them were hundreds of years old before coming here! And they might hear us somehow."

Clyde suddenly felt quite uncertain. His strength had indeed increased greatly before.

However, when hearing Hammer's words about some of the Senior Council who were hundreds of years old, it seemed worrying.

With that old age, they must have accumulated a lot of power, knowledge, and experience.

Compared to his eighteen-year-old self, he was nothing to them. Even though he had raised his Stats several times over, Clyde doubted that he would be able to win when he fought them.

Clyde felt he had to be careful, but that didn't mean he had to cower in fear.

"You better control your mouth before you get in trouble. I say that as a friend of yours," said Hammer.

Clyde didn't know since when they became friends. But he didn't bother to ask about it.

"Alright." Clyde stood up from his chair. "I'll be going now. Have you repaired my sword yet?"

"Yeah of course. The sword only suffered a bit of damage. Based on what I can see, the damage to the sword was caused by Mana flow," Hammer said.

"I did kill a Lesser Cerberus by imbuing it with Mana. Otherwise, I won't be able to kill it."

Hammer's eyes widened. "You killed a Lesser Cerberus?!"

Clyde just nodded briefly as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Lesser Cerberus is a very strong monster. If the power of the system is still there, it must be Rated B!" Hammer still looked disbelieving. "And you said you killed it?!"

'B-rated? That's not a problem for me.' Clyde snorted. But didn't say anything.

"I'll be going first. Make sure you always maintain my sword in good condition. I might use it immediately," Clyde said then turned towards the door.

Hammer could only see his back which for a moment then disappeared behind the door.

Hammer shook his head and then sighed. "That kid is always full of surprises. But that's not always a good thing."

In just a few days when he woke up, Clyde had created a commotion that drew the attention of many people to him.

But Hammer knew that the ones paying attention to him were the common residents of the fortress. Hammer still doesn't know whether the members of the Senior Council are aware of his existence or not.

If they haven't, then it won't take long for them to find out about it. When that happened, Hammer didn't know what the Senior Council would do to Clyde.

Hammer took another breath, this time a bit longer than before.

Then he took some materials that he had specially selected. Those materials he could use to make weapons of a higher quality than weapons made with the same materials.

Hammers have eyes that can see the quality of material better than the eyes of an ordinary blacksmith. He could never explain it to other blacksmiths even his subordinates who worked in the same smithy as him.

Because they wouldn't be able to understand even if he tried to explain it.

So, even though they use the same materials, the weapons that Hammer makes can be better than those his men make.

He came out of his room and headed to the workshop. Get to work on making a spear.

~~~

Samuel received a telepathic call when he was practicing using a spear in his quarter.

His spear swing suddenly stopped midair and Samuel had to try to keep his balance so he wouldn't fall over from the sudden stop.

The telepathy did not immediately stop him. He was just so startled that the swing of his spear stopped.

'Yes, sir?' Samuel answered telepathically.

The person who contacted him was one of the Senior Council currently inside the fortress. Samuel knew that he and the other two were still in the fortress even though the other Senior Council were away.

'Sam, I have a task for you,' said Vernik.

'What task, sir?'

'There's a party that just came back from a quest. The party was sent by Archangel Uriel to retrieve an artifact from one of the Ruins. I want you to take the artifact.'

Samuel's brow furrowed suspiciously at the order. The name of Archangel Uriel created a tremor of fear in Samuel's heart.

'Archangel Uriel, sir?' Samuel repeated it with a doubtful tone. Hope he hears something different from Vernik this time.

But of course that won't happen.

'I assigned you to intercept Uriel's assigned party to retrieve the artifacts. The party hasn't reached her domain yet so you don't need to worry too much.'

Samuel sighed. How could he not worry too much when it came to dealing with the Archangel Uriel?

The party that Archangel sent was definitely not a weak party. And even when he managed to kill them, Archangel Uriel would surely search and chase them relentlessly for having seized her artifacts.

Which would be very risky for the secretiveness of this fortress.

'Are you sure, sir? Isn't it very risky and could probably expose this fortress?'

'But that artifact is very important. And you know that this fortress has existed for a very long time without the Celestials noticing so you don't have to worry about it this time too.'

Samuel didn't know what else to say. He didn't want to put his party members in danger anymore.

They had just returned from God Hades' domain and had nearly lost one of their members.

Now he must bring his party to steal Archangel Uriel's artifact. Even if the party carrying the artifact still hadn't reached her domain, Samuel knew that the risk was too high.

'You still have time, Sam. I'll give you a week and will send your party directly to the best place to ambush,' Vernik said. 'And don't forget to bring the new kid, Clyde is it?'

Samuel was surprised when he heard Clyde's name. It turns out that Clyde's name has reached the Senior Council.

'You want me to take the new boy, sir? But he's only been here a month.'

'So what? You've brought him along to God Hades' domain, right?'

It turns out, they already know about it. Samuel felt stupid for trying to hide that from the Senior Council.

'You and your party won't be punished if you bring him with you. I can turn a blind eye to that.'

Upon hearing what Vernik said, Samuel felt he had no other choice but to comply.

'You still have a week anyway.'

'How do you know about this information, sir?'

'Sam, you know more than enough not to ask that. Because we can't tell you about that,' Vernik revised.

Samuel sighed. 'Yes, sir.'

'One week from now.'

After that, the telepathic connection from Vernik was cut off. Samuel slumped on the floor and leaned against the wall.

He was annoyed that the other party still hadn't returned. That makes only the party available for tasks from the Senior Council which are often dangerous tasks.

"But, to fulfill the goal of all of us in this fortress I have to do it."

Samuel gritted his teeth and the look in his eyes that had been reluctant earlier became firm again. He has the resolve and a high sense of responsibility and can't afford to hesitate to destroy the Celestials.

Samuel immediately jumped to his feet and went to meet his party members. And one more person who seems to have caught the attention of the Senior Council.

When he heard that he had to join them, Clyde was both surprised and pleased.

He knew that most likely he would join Samuel and his party on an expedition.

But Clyde also felt suspicious about why it suddenly happened.

~~~