"Shouldn't Mai be the one responsible for testing cursed tools?"
Maki looked at Eichi with a puzzled expression.
Maki and Mai had completely different development paths.
Maki pursued strength, hoping to become someone powerful enough to overcome any obstacle.
Mai, who did not have a strong desire for power, developed in the direction of cursed tool manufacturing.
While maintaining a certain level of self protection, she would also create and maintain cursed tools for Maki.
That was why Maki found it strange.
Why would a task like testing cursed tools fall to her?
"Mai will test the cursed tool together with you, but since this cursed tool requires combat testing, you are more suitable."
"Is that so? I understand."
After hearing that combat testing was involved, Maki said nothing further.
The fundamental reason Maki pursued strength was to protect the peaceful and happy life she shared with her sister.
Therefore, once she heard combat was required, Maki agreed without hesitation.
"Is this cursed tool an umbrella? What is its function?"
Maki took the cursed tool and opened the umbrella.
She immediately noticed that it was surprisingly complex.
Several umbrella discs were installed along the umbrella pole.
The pole, umbrella discs, and ribs all showed clear assembly structures.
After only a few glances, Maki frowned.
This cursed tool looked too complicated.
Complexity itself was not bad.
However, complexity usually meant more things to pay attention to.
It meant more troublesome operation or additional restrictions.
For example, modern standardized firearms.
Were they very advanced?
Not necessarily. Many military academy students could design firearms with better performance than standardized models.
But why could those weapons not be widely equipped?
Because their structures were more precise, their failure rates were higher, and maintenance was more troublesome.
Compared to standardized equipment, those weapons were too delicate.
Just like how the tools workers prefer most are not expensive ones, but those that are durable, reliable, and difficult to break.
"This cursed tool is the Special Grade cursed tool, Thousand Machine Umbrella."
Eichi reached out and took back the Thousand Machine Umbrella, beginning his explanation.
"This cursed tool was designed with the premise that the user can handle most types of battles. Its goal is to allow people with obvious Technique shortcomings to deal with various combat situations through it."
Eichi fully opened the Thousand Machine Umbrella like a normal umbrella, then twisted one of the umbrella discs.
The umbrella surface immediately hardened, releasing clear Cursed Energy fluctuations.
This Special Grade cursed tool, Thousand Machine Umbrella, was forged from multiple cursed tools containing Techniques and curses.
Therefore, it possessed more than one ability.
The material forming the umbrella surface could freely adjust its hardness.
It could switch between normal hardness and maximum hardness under the automatic control of the umbrella's internal mechanism.
From the outside, the umbrella ribs looked normal.
However, the inner side of the ribs carried a Technique that increased sharpness.
Because the umbrella pole, umbrella discs, and other internal structures were extremely complex, stronger materials were used wherever possible to maintain structural strength.
Areas that lacked suitable materials were reinforced with magic by Medea.
Therefore, although it looked like a fragile umbrella, its durability was fully guaranteed.
"For example, after fully opening the umbrella surface, twist the first umbrella disc."
"The umbrella surface will harden and can be used as a shield."
After saying that, Eichi summoned Nue and had it release lightning.
When Nue released the lightning, Eichi slightly crouched and positioned most of his body behind the Thousand Machine Umbrella.
"Looks pretty good."
Maki rubbed her chin and commented.
After demonstrating the shield form, Eichi stood up and pushed the partially extended umbrella disc all the way to the top.
Instead of stopping after opening like a normal umbrella, the Thousand Machine Umbrella continued to extend upward until everything gathered together.
"After pushing the umbrella disc to the top and fixing it, the umbrella tips gather together."
"The Thousand Machine Umbrella then becomes a spear."
The original umbrella surface automatically rolled up after transforming into spear form, so there was no need to worry about the umbrella looking messy when retracted.
Eichi held the spear and thrust forward repeatedly.
After demonstrating the transformation and sharpness of the spear form, he began introducing the next form.
"Look carefully at this middle umbrella disc."
"After aligning this umbrella disc with the umbrella pole here, twist the middle umbrella disc."
"At that point, the umbrella pole will move to the side, while the ribs and umbrella surface lock into place."
"This becomes the scythe form."
Although it looked complicated, when in spear form it only required two twists of the umbrella disc to complete the transformation.
The speed was very fast.
In scythe form, the sharp inner ribs became the blade of the scythe.
This form was suitable for harvesting weak Cursed Spirits, or for surprising opponents during battles with stronger enemies.
After demonstrating the scythe form, Eichi transformed the Thousand Machine Umbrella back into spear form.
He kept the top umbrella disc unchanged, then pulled down the middle and bottom umbrella discs.
Because each umbrella disc connected to multiple ribs, the Thousand Machine Umbrella underwent a much larger transformation this time.
The top umbrella disc, along with several ribs, remained open.
The other ribs were pulled downward by the remaining two umbrella discs.
Finally, the top of the umbrella pole was pulled by the ribs and opened outward.
A weapon appeared.
It resembled a double bladed axe, yet also looked somewhat like a knight's greatsword.
The ribs formed the blade, while the umbrella surface became the sword body.
If the tip of this greatsword were planted into the ground and Maki stood behind it, the wide sword body could completely hide Maki's tall and slender figure.
"This is good."
Maki lifted the greatsword that Eichi had planted into the ground and swung it several times.
The weight was not heavy.
The blade was wide enough to deal with larger Cursed Spirits and could also be used for defense.
Not only did it look imposing, it was both offensive and defensive. A very practical form.
"I've introduced the large forms. Now let me show you some smaller features."
Eichi transformed the Thousand Machine Umbrella back into its original umbrella form.
"Look here."
Eichi pointed at the bottom of the umbrella.
The base of the umbrella pole had golden decorations, adding a luxurious touch to the mostly white Thousand Machine Umbrella.
The handle extended straight downward.
Unlike ordinary umbrellas, it did not have a curved hook for hanging or easy gripping.
The handle also had multiple buttons.
Eichi pressed one of the buttons.
Then he held the center of the umbrella pole near the umbrella discs with one hand and grabbed the bottom handle with the other.
He pulled forcefully.
Swish.
A blade emitting a cold gleam was drawn from inside the umbrella pole.
"The blade of this sword originally belonged to another cursed tool."
"After that cursed tool broke, Medea incorporated it into the Thousand Machine Umbrella."
"Although this sword cannot ignore hardness like the Split Soul Katana, it still has very strong armor piercing capability."
After speaking, Eichi pulled several steel pipes from his shadow.
With a single swing of his right hand, the steel pipes were instantly cut apart.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)