Chapter 166: The Challenge

The Collector shattered itself free from the ice encasing it, red curls of magical energy flickering from its ashen white body as they forcibly broke apart remaining chunks of ice stuck in carapace crevices. It checked its mana reserves.

It was operating currently at 55% of its total mana, having restored 15% over the past hour. This was not at all the 70% threshold the Collector wished to be at for any altercation with a powerful being.

And this being, this tinkerer, was powerful.

The Collector could sense it with utter ease.

The tinkerer standing before the Collector was tall for an average tinkerer, standing at slightly over two meters tall with a wide, stocky build padded with muscle.

He was of the same tinkering variant as the Undead adventurer had been with pointed ears and blue scales framing his forehead.

Some differences, however. Aside from possessing a sturdier build, this specimen seemed to possess more reptilian features. His blue scales were more prominent and grew also on his chin, framing it with a roughly sharp edge. Scales grew on his hands and feet. His tail was thicker and more muscular.

Waves of thick, unkempt black hair speckled with strands of aging white flowed from the tinkerer's head and reached down to his shoulders in a shaggy curtain. His slit pupiled, deep blue eyes were sunken in with dark bags and deep crease-like wrinkles under them.

The tinkerer wore flowing, pale blue robes similar in design to that worn by the Undead adventurer, though the material was far superior, being composed of a pliable ice not dissimilar to Everfrost but much sturdier and much more flexible than it.

The tinkerer was not armed, nor even equipped with anything.

No accessory to hold tools with nor to carry supplies in. He was barefoot and his robes were not at all adequate enough to protect him from the elements.

Yet, the tinkerer was completely fine. Even here in this wintry waste so cold that the breath of life uplifted goblin champions had difficulty adapting to it.

The tinkerer's magical energy was absolutely hidden, obscuring his presence also and allowing him to reach the Collector unawares.

The Collector sensed that the specimen was strong not because of his magical energy, for it was hidden, but because for a tinkerer to be here, to be unaffected by this environment and in good health indicated a vast amount of strength.

Even more so than an ordinary beast, for a tinkerer here would have to rely solely upon their own internal might due to the projection of their mana being thoroughly blocked.

"In all my meditation, I have never seen anyone like you. But I can tell you are blessed. What manner of creature are you, exactly?" said the tinkerer. His demeanor was completely calm with arms hanging limp to his sides, though ready to be raised at a moment's notice. His eyes were almost dead in their stillness and lack of expression.

"A being of evolutionary merit unsurpassed upon this world," said the Collector. "Not a mere 'creature'."

"Hoh…is that so?" said the tinkerer as stared at the Collector with unexpressive eyes and deadpan voice.

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"I do not sense hostility from you," stated the Collector.

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"No," agreed the tinkerer simply.

"And yet, it cannot be that I can allow a tinkerer affiliated with the 'Common Body' to return and inform them of my presence," said the Collector.

"So, what will you do about it?" said the tinkerer.

"You must be eliminated," said the Collector. The Collector's four glowing red eyes honed in on the tinkerer and sensed that an abnormal amount of primal energy was accumulated within him. At a level far exceeding that any tinkerer could ordinarily take in.

The Collector estimated the tinkerer's primal density to be at 50% where the normal tinkerer could not even begin to gain 1%.

This made the tinkerer even more dangerous, for he could project his mana unhindered, but at the same time, made him an anomaly possibly separate from the broader Common Body of tinkering species.

"Yet, you are an abnormal specimen," said the Collector. "Possessing of energies that far remove you from tinkerers."

"That is true," said the tinkerer, and as his lips parted, the Collector could see that the tinkerer possessed sharp, lengthy teeth belonging more to a predator than a tinkerer.

A standoff began as the Collector stared down the tinkerer, its four arms tensed and ready for combat.

Finally, the tinkerer said more than a few words. "I am not here to hunt you, creature."

"Again, I am no mere 'creature'," stated the Collector.

"Apologies. Then, Strong One, I will say this now. I am not here to hunt you. And to the eyes of the Common Body, I am as much a monster as you are." The tinkerer spread his legs in the snow in a stance, his wide feet digging into the ice and his right hand forward with open palm. "But I do desire to do battle with you."

"If you are willing to engage in conversation, then tell me this: what is the purpose of this battle?" said the Collector.

"A test of strength. For that is what I am. One who tests. To test others and myself in battle. I sense that you, too, know what it is like to feel a desire a battle. So, do you accept my challenge?"

"And in the case that a hypothetical arises wherein I refuse?"

"I must still test your strength and soul. But I am willing to lend you my aid across the Rift if you accept. For in battle, I may know whether your soul is pure or not.

If it is pure, then I will guide you across the mountains, for I know its ways well and would not mind a traveling companion. I will protect also those goblins you lead," said the tinkerer. "There will be no killing in this match, should you accept. Hm.

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Rather, I should say I will not kill you, no matter what. You may try to kill me as you wish. I do not care."

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