Chapter 257 - Real Mule

The team were getting used to this universe, regardless of how its crimson features weren't so easy on the eyes. The wonders of this place outweighed the dangers, so for once, they weren't as hesitant to be outside of the protective walls of the castle. This universe became Timothy's because of dumb luck alone, that's what he figured, so it was best to make the most use even out of such luck!

At some point, he even started memorizing the types of plants around him, even though he didn't know their official name. This was a good sign, it hinted that he was more accepting of the needle universe's daunting features!

“What's next on the list? This mule doesn't feel like muling anymore.” He asked.

“Dominus Luminousanitunus,” Ortana followed along, “I can't quite recall what its name stands for, but it's a really prickly plant. We need its thick thorns, because they can densify the mana potions. I brought a thin sheet of paper to carry the thorns, so you should be happy, you won't have prickly nail-sized thorns on your back.”

“That is good news, but I'm far more useful than a mule… so do your thing, I'll make a mule for us.” He assured.

Timothy then dropped his satchel, and started practicing a craft that he could be considered an expert on, though not officially. He summoned the Bone Multiplier ability, and used it to do what the ability did best, multiply bones!

There were tens of human skeletons across this universe for some reason, and he used them to his advantage. He used the ability to sniff out a skeleton, snatched a single bone fragment from that skeleton so as to not desecrate its grave, and started working with that bone fragment.

Timothy drew out a skeleton of what he considered to be a mule, and then created thousands of fragments of artificial bones, and merged them together, to shape up the skeleton that he pictured. He was good at this, so it only took him a few minutes to make the skeleton. He put that single bit of organic, human, bone fragment in the new skeleton, which in turn, gave the illusion that the entire skeleton was organic. This would keep the skeleton moving, without it waiting for its master's command through every second of the day. The mule would move and behave normally, organically, according to its skeleton, and nervous system.

Speaking of the nervous system, he gave the skeleton one of those as well, along with every other organ it needed, and then he covered everything with a layer of skin. Then fur.

It was absolutely terrifying to witness such a detailed creation of artificial life, and it was even scarier that he created a mule in ten minutes, but the team just had to live with their friend’s weird abilities. They accepted him for who he was a long time ago!

“Frightening… you truly are one of a kind!” Gustav shuddered. He had been watching over Timothy, because he didn’t want his friend to get jumped by some monster while he created a mule. Gustav had been a professional guard, after all. “So life is created as soon as you give your slaves a brain for them to use?”

“A brain, and everything else to support the brain. Thankfully, the mule doesn't seem to mind suddenly spawning into existence either, he’s cool. Dark mana keeps its artificial body together, though, so it's kind of a win-lose situation. This mule is alive, but only if I let it.” He explained. “Cost me three-hundred dark mana points, so let's not value my mule too much, and load it up instead.”

The mule was taller than them, so certainly, it was capable of lifting the weight off of their shoulders. They hung their satchels around its neck, and the mule was able to carry it without tripping on itself too. He could create a saddle for it as well, but he figured that a soft, furry mule wouldn't want a big, bony thing on its back, it would be uncomfortable.

Anyway, they were ready to move now, more freely, that is. Ortana could use more protection, as a start, because Skendus had been trying to guard her so far, and if a big bug chose to attack, the illusions he could summon may not be as effective against the average lack of complexity that a bug's brain had. Fire worked better in most cases.

Ortana eventually found the prickly plant that she had been looking for, and quickly collected about thirty samples from a single plant. This plant looked a lot like a cactus, except it was boiling red in color, indirectly indicating that one’s skin would feel like it was boiling, if it was stabbed by the plant’s prickly exterior! She collected the thorns successfully, and thankfully, painlessly as well.

The team kept foraging, and collecting more species of weeds. At some point, the list she had featured three more species of plants which they had to find, which was relieving, but they had to keep moving! With any luck, this foraging task wouldn’t take them more than thirty more minutes. They were hoping to not get rammed by giant beetle bugs along the way.

Speaking of which, it didn’t take them long to run into an insect, though this one didn’t have any legs, and it wasn’t exactly dangerous. They ran into a five foot long, pink worm. It was humongous, but apart from its slimy exterior looking absolutely disgusting, this worm was not dangerous! Timothy wanted to blast it out of existence because he was sick of seeing huge insects, but Ortana stopped him.

She explained, “I saw this worm in one of the books, and I’m pretty sure that we need it unburnt. Slice it up into five or six pieces, we’ll find some use for it when we get back home.”

“Alright,” He said, and then sliced the worm using another bone fragment. Bones were quite useful if one knew how to manipulate them properly. “I’m glad that I’m not the poor sucker who has to carry this thing, though, let’s hope the mule doesn’t have a taste for big, beefy insects either. This fat, bastarding worm can look like candy to the right animal…”