LATEST UPDATES

Published at 27th of November 2023 07:44:07 AM


Chapter 23

If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again




[B1] Chapter 23: Farm Tools with a Mind of Their Own

 

 

Emerging on the other side, his eyes quickly spotted a slumbering figure of the girl. Lilith lay there, eyes closed. 

 

Approaching her, he couldn't help but whisper softly, "She looks less like a fierce lioness and more like a harmless  kitty." The funny comparison lightened his mood. But he didn't dwell on it for long.

 

He soon turned his attention to the potatoes he'd laid out earlier. To his astonishment, they'd sprouted much more quickly than he'd predicted. 

 

Crouching down, he cautiously plucked one up, examining the tiny, green 'eyes' that had emerged. "One sprouted 'eye' per hole, that should do the trick," he whispered, recalling an old farming tip.

 

Leaving that batch, he headed over to the obsidian shed to check on the second set. He discovered, these were slower, having barely begun to sprout. He reckoned they’d need another day or two. Placing them gently into a box set to the side, he then turned to the tomato seeds. Seeing they'd finished fermenting, he drained away the water, preparing them for drying.

 

After finishing his work in the obsidian shed, Theo returned to the Abyssal Well, holding the box of potatoes. He decided to place the potatoes where their siblings had grown more quickly, hoping for similar success. Pouring water from the watering can over them, he ensured they would have a fresh start.

 

He carefully gathered the already sprouted potatoes into the box, being mindful of the slumbering demoness nearby. Not wanting to disturb her peaceful rest, he quietly transported half of the potatoes to the obsidian shed, preparing for the task ahead.

 

Settling down inside the shed, he reached into the box, retrieving the knife still showing faint traces of tomato pulp. This was the same knife he'd used for the tomato seeds. With practiced motion, he began slicing through each potato. Under the eerie radiance of the farm, the metallic blade gleamed, showing his unwavering dedication to the task.

 

He took great care to ensure each piece he set aside had at least one 'eye' sprouting. From the 11 potatoes, given the number of eyes they had, he was able to carve out approximately 92 seed pieces. The tender shoots were signs of life, green and eager to grow. 

 

Soon, he had a considerable collection laid out before him, each holding the potential for new life. The sprouting 'eyes' gazed back at him, indicating their eagerness to grow. 

 

As Theo looked at the seeds, a thought crossed his mind. 'I wonder if these normal seeds would even grow in this not-so-normal farm of mine.' He wasn't entirely certain, as this was his first attempt at introducing earthly vegetation to the demonic soil. The possibility of failure remained.

 

Nevertheless, he couldn't shake off the urge to give it a try. 'If these seeds don't take root, I'll have to experiment with other ordinary seeds to see if they work or not. Only time will tell.'

 

Dusting off his hands, he rose and strode purposefully to the other side of the shed. There, his fingers brushed over the tools one by one, finally settling on a particular item: [Helltiller's Spade]. 

 

This was the first tool he needed to prepare the land for planting. Without hesitation, he grabbed the dark, formidable-looking spade, intricately engraved and emitting an otherworldly aura. 

 

Holding the Helltiller's Spade, Theo felt its energy move around him. He directed his thoughts towards it, willing it to prepare the demonic land for his freshly separated potato seeds. The spade responded almost instantly.

 

As if resonating with his intentions, the Helltiller's Spade began to unleash its unique power. Almost magnetically, it flew from his grasp, covering the distance to the intended plot of land several meters away and began to dig, dark-arcane energies enveloped the soil. 

 

The ground reacted, writhing and shifting as though it were alive, directly under the influence of the spade's magic. The tool ensured each plot was of the right depth and spacing, preparing the land for planting without any manual effort from the boy.

 

The sequence was mesmerizing. Watching this interplay of soil and spade, Theo murmured, "This is perfect..."

 

After finishing with the Helltiller's Spade, Theo gazed at the prepared ground. It looked pristine, like a newly-wed bride nervously adjusting her veil before the first big night, awaiting the potato seeds to lead the way. 

 

For the next step, he required another special tool: [Sower's Abyssal Pouch].

 

He didn't need to search for it. With a simple thought, the pouch was there, resting in his hand. 

 

Carefully, Theo directed his thoughts towards the pouch, instructing it to store the separated potato seeds. In response, the pouch's maw gently opened, like a creature awaiting its meal. One by one, the seeds vanished into its depths, stored securely for their imminent planting.

 

Now, it was time to sow.

 

He positioned himself near the prepped patch of soil and focused his thoughts on the abyssal energies within the pouch. Like a patient maestro commanding an orchestra, Theo directed the seeds to be released. The pouch's maw opened wider, and from within, a torrent of seeds cascaded out. 

 

They didn’t scatter randomly; rather, they seemed to move with a life of their own. It was a spectacle to behold. The seeds, now free from the pouch, floated gracefully towards the 1x1 plot. 

 

Guided by an unseen force, they navigated towards their destined spots in the soil. As each seed found its place, it burrowed into the soil with an uncanny accuracy that was both beautiful and devilish.

 

Standing back, Theo observed the magical dance of seed and soil, controlled by the abyssal energies. Every potato seed was perfectly sown, at just the right depth and spacing. Arranging them in six neat rows, it was an embodiment of precision, all thanks to the capabilities of the Sower's Abyssal Pouch. 

 

Calculating the spacing in his mind, he figured the 92 seeds would require a plot just over 230 square feet – not even a fraction of an acre.

 

He sighed, "Didn't even manage to plant a complete acre's worth." Realizing the relatively modest amount of space his seeds occupied, he was all the more aware of the vastness of the unoccupied space around him.

 

As they settled into their new homes, the potential of what they might become remained a mystery, given Theo's doubts about normal seeds thriving in his abnormal farm.

 

Having done a good job with the seeds, Theo looked over to the familiar spot in the shed, noting the pouch had returned to its usual place. However, with the land now prepared and the seeds sown, his attention turned to watering. His mind darted to the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can that was near where Lilith had been taking her rest.

 

Walking towards the abyssal well, he noticed that Lilith's mood seemed better; the gloomy aura around her had lessened, replaced by a slightly intense focus on him. Her eyes had that obsessive glint he had grown to recognize. 

 

Their eyes locked for a brief moment before Theo, in a bid to lighten the mood, asked, "Hey, feel like helping me water the field?"

 

A teasing glint in her eyes, Lilith stood up and stepped uncomfortably close, almost trapping him with her presence. She whispered, "Maybe... If you let me have a tiny sip of your blood."

 

Suppressing a chuckle and trying to maintain a hint of personal space, Theo responded, "You always try that, don't you? But no, not for just watering." He could feel her warm breath on his neck, making him a bit uneasy, but he managed a soft smile. 

 

He was used to her playful demands, but today, he was more into playing along. He also wanted to check on her, gauge her mood, and ensure she was alright. She was, after all, his guardian and ally.

 

Gently pushing her back and moving past her outrageous demand, he grabbed the watering can and noticed something surprising. The second batch of potato seeds, which he had drenched in the abyssal water, had sprouted way quicker than expected. "Seriously? It's only been less than an hour... how are they already grown?" He was genuinely taken aback.

 

Grasping the unique properties of the abyssal water, Theo focused on transferring the newly sprouted potato seeds into his golden vault. In response, a shadowy hole materialized beneath the sprouts. They vanished into it as if being swallowed by darkness. 

 

Almost instantly, an image of a spacious chamber popped into his mind. In the wide space, he spotted the sprouted potato seeds neatly tucked away in a corner. Though this capability surprised him, he knew he had other tasks to attend to.

 

He then signaled to the [Helltiller's Spade] to prepare more land. Even from where Theo stood, he was amazed at how he could direct it. The spade obediently began its task, tilling and turning the land. 

 

Simultaneously, upon Theo's mental command, the Abyssal Bloodstone Watering Can took flight. It soared gracefully over the land, letting out generous droplets that showered down, caressing and nourishing each crop in every 1x1 patch of land.

 

Meanwhile, Lilith watched with a hint of surprise. Her eyes glinted with wonderment. In her mind, she mused, "I've teased this mountain man, calling him just a farmer, but this... I never thought such things could be possible with his newly awakened class." 

 

After watching the magic of his farm tools for a while, Theo decided it was time to prepare more potato seeds. He made his way to the shed and began the familiar process. With a well-used knife, he carefully sliced the potatoes, ensuring each piece was of the right size. Each slice was then stored away in his golden vault with a simple thought.

 

As the Helltiller's Spade finished its work on the land, a series of notifications flashed before Theo’s eyes.

 





Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!


COMMENTS