27. Nanoblade

Jake visits Arnold, who bluntly asks him to infuse metal orbs with Jake’s destructive arcane mana. After negotiating, Jake examines Arnold’s workshop and discovers ultrathin carbon-fiber nanoblades and that Arnold has reached D-grade with a machine-related god’s blessing. Jake agrees to the exchange: mana for orbs in return for a blade-based weapon.

Jake charges the Aluabsorbant orbs, each requiring about 3800 mana to arm. After extensive infusions, Arnold assembles a weapon using a nanoblade and a handled enchant that auto-coats the edge in mana. Jake receives a D-grade-requirement Nanoblade Sword (Uncommon) and takes ten charged orbs, agreeing to report their effectiveness.

Traveling back with One Step Mile, Jake returns to Haven and heads to his valley. He finds Hank and workers excavating far deeper than planned for the alchemy cave, using earth-moving abilities and storage devices. Hank reports Miranda confirmed the Pylon’s influence reaches downward sufficiently, though she is prioritizing lateral coverage of the Fort.

Jake supplies potions to the crew, instructs them to monitor the time tree and immediately consume any ripened bananas for Agility, then proceeds to the cavern entrance. He accepts the prompt and enters the D-grade dungeon, Undergrowth of the Deepdwellers, his first since the tutorial.

The viewpoint shifts to Sylphie, who sweeps through a forest battle using powerful wind blades and a protective Green Shield. Guided by her mother’s call, Sylphie leaves the stronger three-tailed foes to her parents while she dispatches lesser enemies. She notes her “Uncle” previously slew the area’s boss, humorously doubting his strength because he “just plays with a smelly pot.”