I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1204: The Gold of Engineering

As the Canyon stabilized, Northern walked out of it. Before the stabilization, under Maw’Thoraxis’s rule, it had been a reality-warping terrain designed to trap people in the maws of death—where even if they didn’t die from other monsters, they’d die from simply existing in the canyon. The thing was a layered belly of digestion, and the bastard monster had infused each layer with its core.

Northern’s analysis of the terrain revealed that Maw’Thoraxis had been feeding on every monster in the Canyon. That was why their life cycles were short and they were always reproduced again.

’Really a disturbing monster, honestly…’

The canyon finally gave way to an open region, and he stepped out. Beyond it stretched a field of brown grass—or something that looked like wheat.

He stood amidst it, casting his perception abilities to note where the others were. Since he was currently low on essence, he had to be careful with expenditure.

In the sky, he could see the threatening storm of the Thunderhead Dreadnought, slowly approaching.

“Looks like he’s managed to locate me…” Northern’s head turned. “As for those other two… how’d they end up so far away?”

Northern could sense Eskedar and Chrys’s location—both seemed to have emerged from a different end of the Canyon. They seemed fine, and his two Echoes were still with them.

He considered dismissing them for the sake of essence expenditure but decided against it. The coast wasn’t clear.

The next moment, though, Northern’s brow furrowed.

His two Echoes vanished—barely a second after he’d been thinking about this. Not only that, he’d been surrounded in a single moment.

The afternoon was sharp, the day star cool and pouring down with vigor—it was a new year, after all.

In this brown meadow, it didn’t look it, though. Everywhere was clear and stagnant, oblivious to the celebration of seasons. And even though Northern’s face had hardened—surrounded as he was—any journeyer with him would’ve thought he was being paranoid. Because he still stood alone in the brown field.

Northern looked at his hands.

“I’ll have to move my hands and legs because of low essence. To think I just said I could never get low on essence.”

[Analyzing the Corrupted Domain took more than I calculated, and the Broodmother’s Catacombs caused significant essence loss as well.]

[Right now, your essence is at 10%.]

“How long until a hundred?”

[At least one hour.]

Northern’s head dipped in relief. Then he glanced forward and raised his chin.

“I didn’t come to fight anyone. I came to see my mother and my father. I wish to be taken to them.”

’Based on how Shin made it sound, there shouldn’t be any cause for aggression…’

Northern stood there, arms raised. Then men in lusterless black armor and grey capes materialized from thin air. Each held a greatsword nearly their own height—imposing blades that looked like they could shatter massive rocks with a careless swing.

The Knights approached cautiously. One seized Northern’s hands, bringing them behind his back. A black metal ring slipped over his clasped wrists. Immediately the ring grew like a disease and spread, covering his entire arms in a lattice of black shackles.

[Analyzing…]

One of the knights peered at Northern through dark, hollow eyes.

“We will escort you…”

Northern’s lips curved.

“No problem. But ah, wait. I really don’t like getting bound. Can you help me… you know what? I’ll just do it myself. Don’t want to stress esteemed knights like you…”

As he spoke, he tore his hands free from the strange shackles. The thing reverted to its original form—just a simple ring—and clinked against the ground.

Northern massaged his wrists, his expression harmless.

“I think those few seconds already gave me an allergic reaction. Tsk.”

Still smiling…

“Is it okay if I go with you unbound?”

The Knight who’d spoken earlier looked at the others behind Northern—something like fear and confusion flickered in the glance.

Northern’s smile widened.

“I promise I won’t cause a nuisance. Shin is my father.”

The Knight exhaled.

“Okay.”

“Oh, and please—my subordinates. I believe they’re in your custody. Two of them. They’re my subordinates, so I’d like to see them later?”

The Knight’s thick voice rumbled out.

“After you’re cleared.”

Northern shrugged and followed the Knights. They passed a small settlement—mostly cottage designs built sparsely around a river system. They passed through and soon navigated winding cliffs, then arrived at a haven of enormous castles built into large, tall cliffs.

The clan’s architecture gleamed ancient gold. Northern’s gaze swept over the cliff-face castles as they walked, his mind automatically cataloging the engineering marvel before him.

’To carve structures this size directly into solid rock… the excavation alone would be astronomical.’

In his previous life, he’d studied methods for underground construction—tunneling, shaft sinking, rock bolting. But those were for mines, subways, bunkers. This? These were entire fortresses hollowed from mountain faces. The precision required to maintain structural integrity while removing that much material, to ensure the remaining rock could bear the weight of additional structures built atop the carved spaces…

His eyes traced the flowing lines where castle met cliff, noting how the architecture seemed to grow organically from the stone rather than simply being carved into it. No visible stress fractures, no signs of settling or collapse despite what must be centuries of weathering.

They’d need either incredibly advanced cutting technology—which shouldn’t exist in a world like this—or something else entirely. But then, there were people with unique utility talents.

’I certainly don’t miss being an engineer!’

They came to a stop. Northern halted his thoughts, glancing around. A large contingent of Knights moved through the area.

If Northern didn’t know better, he’d say they looked like they’d just taken a beating. Their movements were stiff, their formations loose—shoulders sagging beneath armor that suddenly looked too heavy.

’They must’ve been attacked by monsters too… Koll’s strategy was to distract every nation, especially those with paragons, to break communication. So they could be…’

Northern’s eyes narrowed.

’Nahhhh… Something’s definitely wrong. I’m getting a bad feeling…’

His gaze sharpened.

[I will run a wide-scope analysis of the entire mountain range.]

His brow furrowed.

’There’ll be no need for that.’