Engraving the Power of Magic

[You have acquired the class skill Magic Engraving F.]

"Magic Engraving?"

Tud, who had been throwing a fit like it was impossible just moments ago, now handed over an excess achievement reward. An additional class skill, no less. Vulcan was surprised, but he warily wondered if this one needed ranking up too. Fortunately, no such message or system alert appeared.

It was a proper gift, intact and all.

"What the hell is thi…?"

It was a new skill, but it didn't seem all that different from the ones he already had. Vulcan already possessed engraving skills and magic imbuement skills, after all. Just as he furrowed his brow and was about to voice his doubts, new information unfolded before his eyes.

Lists of things he could do with Magic Engraving appeared.

"Ah…!"

Though called Magic Engraving, the things it could etch were quite varied. Patterns imbued with specific powers, letters—it could handle all sorts of them.

"So, just engraving this will let me use these powers?"

- Yeah. But it'll have to be precise.

Regular magic imbuement worked by drawing magic circles to grant magical effects. This, however, invoked magic through patterns and letters infused with power. Naturally, this was at least a cut above.

This is insane.

No, not just a cut above. From Vulcan's quick glance, the additional effects of Magic Engraving rivaled the high-end options on top-level gear.

If a skim already showed this much, what crazy abilities might lurk deeper? He couldn't even imagine.

Plus, it layered on top of a piece's base options. Custom-tailored engravings considering the gear's options and the wearer's combat style? That'd be like wearing an extra high-grade item. And it wasn't limited to one piece.

With this, it's possible.

But the real reason Vulcan was thrilled went deeper.

I can engrave skills too…

It solved his biggest weakness: the lack of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠offensive skills. He could imbue and use attack skills directly on gear. With enough mana, he could spam attacks like any combat class while hunting.

Sure, regular crafting could produce items with option skills, but with heavy restrictions—specific skills only on specific items.

But any skill on any gear? High-level, high-grade combat classes would have nothing to envy.

No. I could become a one-man army.

His chest swelled. Picturing himself wielding items and skills without class limits sparked endless ideas.

Weapon switching was already his forte. Engrave psychokinesis or telekinesis on one? Armor on and off in a flash, even mid-battle. Swap gear parts on the fly, unleash different powers whenever.

Mages did similar gear-switching tricks, after all.

"Let's see. Mana stone processing tools for engraving… pricey, but doable. Metal powder and alchemy mana ink? Check. I can start right now."

Excited, Vulcan hit the auction house immediately. Mana stone tools were expensive, but the rest was cheap or producible on his own. Prep done in a flash.

"Gah?!"

Vulcan activated Magic Engraving amid high hopes, but not even a single stroke in, his mana evaporated. Extreme fatigue hit; his legs buckled, and he ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠collapsed to the floor.

"What the…?!"

- You thought it'd be easy?

Sentence arts and runes aren't just about mimicking shapes. You need deep understanding and enough mana to infuse the power. Dragon Eye covers comprehension, but with your piddly mana pool, even one letter would take forever. And whether it'd work properly? Doubtful.

Vulcan stared blankly between his gear and himself. Tud snorted as if it were obvious.

Magic Engraving for sentence arts and runes wasn't child's play.

"Then why give me something I can't even use?!"

Vulcan yelled, feeling unjust, but it was probably par for the course. His own fault for not checking closely, and if he could etch these on gear already, it'd shatter balance.

- You begged for it, didn't you?

"Still, you should give something usable…"

- It'll sort itself out with time. Quit whining. Or engrave crude human magic instead of high-level stuff like sentence arts or runes.

-

"Eh…? That's possible too?"

Tud brushed it off vaguely with "time will fix it," but tossed a hint this time. Skip the pinnacle—sentence arts and runes—for now, and etch human magic instead.

"How? Engraving spells means magic circles, right? Just draw them the same? Or…?"

It felt niche, but usable Magic Engraving was pure profit. Vulcan's eyes sparkled as he pressed Tud, who reluctantly answered.

- Enough! You're noisy as hell. Here, take this!

"Extraction?"

Another class skill. He should be thrilled, but the description left Vulcan with a wry expression.

Great for pulling skill or option data for Magic Engraving, but the last lines made his heart sink.

"Rare or higher only…? That's a money pit!"

Rare gear? Regardless of level or options, the grade alone fetched at least a million won.

And he had to blow one up per extraction attempt? Vulcan was dumbfounded, speechless.

Plus, only on owned items. Even junk Rares went to auction, not destruction. His eyes shook.

- I gave plenty, didn't I?

"Sigh. Figures for my luck."

He wouldn't unless desperate or mass-producing Rares later. It soured his mood, but gains were solid regardless. Level up, rank up, and priority buying rights on canyon mine ores.

Funding was the issue, but played right, it'd net big monthly cash. Or stockpile crafting mats.

- Huh? Not finishing the bow?

Vulcan accepted it, cleared his mind, and tidied up, content. Goals met; time to leave the forge—every minute cost money.

But Tud questioned curiously. He'd made special arrows but left the bow nearly done, unstrung. No string material even pulled.

Vulcan's answer was pure him.

"Gotta source materials now. Stuff to bend a steel bow and string steel arrows ain't cheap. Gray Mountain Troll habitat's nearby—their tendons should work."

Viable bowstrings for steel bows and arrows? All pricey. Wood bows or bone recurves had cheap alternatives, but steel required troll or ogre tendons, specially processed Arachne silk, etc.

Normally, Vulcan'd carve a simple wood bow. But steel for a reason: Gray Mountain Trolls in Kuzar Mountains.

Weaker than regular trolls in strength and regen, but tyrants around here. Perfect for now; swap strings later if needed.

"Time to tackle postponed homework."

Refreshed, Vulcan stored his items in the warehouse. Auction? Nah—his rule: no auctions when dazed. One slip could cost big.

"Earth god makes second. Bit late, but whatever."

Now, the reason he'd come to this village: deliver the letter to the temple of Jatann, god of earth and rock.

Vulcan chose Kuzar as his third advance base partly on Tud's advice, but mainly for the large Jatann temple—one of the major faiths.

Originally, post-Schnell Village experience, he'd planned to solve their issues for support first. But Tud's sudden class quest delayed it till now.

"…Huh?"

Arriving at Jatann's temple, Vulcan could only gape in disbelief. Just a peek and greeting, and it was all so direct.

"Thank you. To solve our long-standing issue so swiftly…"

He'd expected entry with Legend Incarnate effect and two Divine Marks. But they knew him already, praising his feats lavishly.

Retroactive application?

Simple reason: Miners blabbed his deeds; temple confirmed Spirit Land reopened.

They'd rejoice, but the land's unstable, imbalanced energy was their chronic headache. Priests of earth and rock sensed it keenly.

Others might not notice—slower plant growth, less ore yield—but to them, an ancient task.

No disaster yet, but ley line instability irked them. Hence a major temple in this backwater.

"No, just did what needed doing…"

They'd watched Spirit Land post-opening, tracking users—except Vulcan, first in.

Soon after, earth's energy normalized as Vulcan returned. Suspicion on him, but he holed up in the forge. They waited anxiously.

Then he showed, explained (truthfully on effects, if not full story). Mystery solved.

"!!"

Priests aside, Jatann acted first—like Roona and Kabura. Direct blessing conveyed divine will.

- These guys for real!!!

Tud fumed again, but Vulcan smirked secretly. No apostle ambitions, but free blessings? Why refuse? Solid permanent buffs.

"Please accept this, our humble token."

"Whoa! No need for this. Thank you."

He scored Jatann's Divine Mark and Bracelet of the Earth as tokens of goodwill. Came to handle potential Kuzar quests alongside the letter—jackpot.