Nightclown walked carefully towards the rubble. A faint plume of dust still rising from it. He knelt. Poking at a loose rock with his nunchaku. No further movement.
"Well, that's that, then. Hope you're comfy, Fat Guy."
[Razor defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +5000 XP!]
He won. But he knew, with absolute certainty, that Razor wasn't dead. Not with [Toon Physique]. He'd be fine, eventually.
Maybe he'd emerge later with a bump on his head the size of a bowling ball. Or flattened like a pancake. Only to inflate back to normal. That was just how Toonworld worked.
As he stood up, he noticed a faint shimmer. In the dust near where Razor had disappeared. A small, metallic token. Gleaming dully. He reached down and picked it up.
His System Appraisal immediately popped up...
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Weapon Upgrade Token]
[Raw Materials] updated.
Weapon Upgrade Token? What is this? Something to increase the quality of his weapon? He quickly brought up his status panel. Scrolling down to the [Raw Materials] section to examine his new acquisition.
[Raw Material: Weapon Upgrade Token]
[Tier Quality: ✪✪]
[Characteristic: Shapeshifting]
[Description: A mystical token infused with raw Toonworld essence, capable of enhancing the properties of a single weapon. Present this to a skilled blacksmith or artisan, and they may be able to imbue the chosen weapon with shapeshifting ability.]
[Usage: Consumed upon successful upgrade]
Nightclown whistled and grinned widely. "Well, well, well... What a kind soul! To present a gift like this in the first meeting.."
This was a significant drop. Dungeon bosses usually gave good loot. But a random encounter with a randomly-assigned 'Mortal Enemy'... dropping something like this was both unexpected and welcomed.
He tucked the token away carefully. His [Toon Camera Recorder] slowly drifted closer. It had been silently floating and filming the entire chaotic brawl.
"Got the shot, Cammy?" Nightclown asked. Brushing some dust off his blue joggers.
It nodded. Or, more like he lens tilted up and down. As if responding... 'Of course. I'm professional, Bro!'
"Cool! Now, let's see what we can do with this little gem." He looked back at the pile of rubble. A smirk returning to his face. "Thanks for the donation, Fat Guy. Next time, try getting a receipt."
He turned and began to walk away. Heading towards the Toon Forest Village. The brief, intense, and utterly ridiculous battle had taken up a good chunk of his daily time limit.
But the loot made it worthwhile. He had a nice movie sequence. A satisfying victory. And a valuable upgrade item. Not a bad day in Toonworld. Not bad at all.
...
Nightclown walked with a purpose.
The path back to Toon Forest Village was well-trodden. Boot tracks. Paw prints. And the occasional gouge from a cart wheel marked the dirt.
Late afternoon sunlight was the vibrant yellow kind only found in Toonworld. It filtered through the oversized leaves of the trees.
The air hummed with the incessant buzz of unseen insects. And lively songs of the toon birds. And the distant, muffled calls of unknown Toon creatures.
He passed a pair of Toon Squirrels arguing over a ridiculously large acorn. Their voices were squeaky and fast.
A Toon Badger in a miner's helmet clanked past. Humming a jaunty tune. A pickaxe was slung over his shoulder. This place was alive. Bustling with its own absurd logic.
His destination was the village smithy. It wasn't hard to find.
He could already see a plume of black smoke. Rendered in thick, cartoonish lines. Billowed from the chimney of a vibrant red roofed house. Some distance away.
Following the path, he approached the much sturdier-looking building. Constructed of thick, dark-brown timber logs. Reinforced with gleaming iron bands.
A massive, anvil-like wooden sign hung right over the entrance. Depicting a stylized hammer striking an abstract piece of metal.
The thick oaken front door stood ajar. Revealing the fiery glow within.
Inside, the heat hit him like a physical blow. Sweat immediately beaded on Nightclown's furry brow.
Sparks danced in the air. Catching the light from the roaring forge. The anvil, a massive block of iron, vibrated with each strike. And there he was. The proprietor... Mr. Gorhammer. A magnificent specimen of toon gorilla.
His fur was a deep, charcoal grey. Rippling with oversized, cartoonish muscles under a sleeveless leather apron. He wore thick goggles perched on his brow. And a permanent frown etched into his brow.
His thick arms wielded a hammer the size of a small barrel with surprising dexterity. Each strike sent a shower of molten metal flying. Which simply vanished a moment later. Adhering to Toonworld's peculiar physics.
Mr. Gorhammer grunted. Wiping a forearm across his brow. He didn't seem to notice Nightclown at first. Too engrossed in shaping a glowing red bar of metal.
Nightclown waited patiently. Leaning against a stack of shinny gears. Cammy, his [Toon Camera Recorder], floated quietly beside him. Its lens was panning subtly. Capturing the raw, industrial aesthetic of the smithy.
Finally, Mr. Gorhammer finished his current piece. Plunging it with a hiss into a barrel of water. Steam erupted. Momentarily obscuring him.
When it cleared, he turned. His gaze falling on Nightclown. His frown deepened. Though it didn't seem to be aggressive. More like a default setting.
"Ay, Bunny Boy! Back again so soon, eh? Your nunchaku not holding up?" His voice was a gravelly rumble that seemed to vibrate the very ground.
Nightclown pushed off the gears. "Actually, Mr. Gorhammer, the nunchaku's doing great. Held up perfectly against many... things."
Mr. Gorhammer's mouth twitched. A faint hint of amusement showing at the corners of his thick lips. "Good to hear. Built tough, them. What can I do for ya then?"
Nightclown pulled out his [Wild Nunchaku] and the newly acquired [Weapon Upgrade Token]. He held them out. "I was hoping you could upgrade it. I've got this token."
Mr. Gorhammer plucked the token from Nightclown's paw. Turning it over in his massive fingers. He gave a low whistle.
"A [Weapon Upgrade Token], huh? Not many of these floating around. Good haul, kid." He then took the [Wild Nunchaku], inspecting its wooden shafts and simple chain. "Alright. An upgrade, you say? Well, let's see what we can make of this little stick-and-chain."
He lumbered over to a dusty workbench. Rummaging through a pile of blueprints and metal scraps. After a moment, he pulled out a thick, leather-bound manual. Its cover was embossed with various weapon silhouettes.
He opened it to a specific page. Then pushed it across the workbench towards Nightclown. The manual was surprisingly clean and well-maintained on the inside.
"Alright, kid. The token allows for a major transformation. Not just a simple sharpen-and-shine. This ain't just an upgrade, it's a re-forging. You'll still get the nunchaku. The strengthened one. But you can transform it into a different one."
Mr. Gorhammer pointed a thick, calloused finger at the page. "Seven options. Each with its own flavor. Its own requirements. Price for the crafting of second star weapon itself is always the same... a hundred coins. But the materials, that's where it gets interesting."
Nightclown leaned closer. Scanning the list in the manual. The illustrations were detailed. Showing vibrant, stylized versions of each weapon.
Wild Nunchaku's Shapeshifting Choices...
1. Moonlight Sword: A sleek, curved blade that glowed with a faint, ethereal light.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Silver Ores (x2), Mystic Iron Ores (x3), Mystic Silver Ore (x1), Moonpetal Essence (x1).
2. Shadow Daggers: A pair of wickedly sharp daggers, wreathed in dark mist.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Silver Ores (x4), Mystic Silver Ores (x2), Chomper's Teeth (x2), Shadow Stone (x1).
3. Lightning Spear: A tall, slender spear, its tip crackling with miniature bolts.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Ironwood Branches (x4), Mystic Iron Ores (x2), Mystic Silver Ores (x2), Lightning Crystal (x1).
4. Whirlwind Kusarigama: A chain-sickle that seemed to spin perpetually, creating miniature gusts of wind.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Mystic Iron Ores (x6), Mystic Silver Ore (x4), Cyclone Gem (x1).
5. Blazing Torch-mace: A heavy mace, its head constantly aflame with a cartoonish fire.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Mystic Iron Ores (x2), Mystic Silver Ore (x2), Salamander Scales (x3), Magma Core (x1).
6. Mountain Shield-axe: A sturdy battle-axe with a broad, shield-like head, imbued with earthy resilience.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, Mystic Iron Ores (x6), Mystic Silver Ore (x4), Heavy Steel Core (x1).
7. Frost Whip: A long, flexible whip coated in shimmering ice, leaving trails of frost.
Materials: Weapon Upgrade Token, 1 Unicorn Horn, 4 Winterwolf Pelts, 1 Glacier Crystal.
Nightclown's eyes darted between the options. All of them looked incredibly cool.
The Moonlight Sword had an obvious appeal for its sleekness. Its poetic beauty. And its potential mystical properties.
Shadow Daggers would fit a rogue's stealthy approach well. And it granted two weapons instead of one.
Lightning Spears offered reach. A significant advantage. And lightning? That seemed to offer raw speed and power. And probably ability to electrocute the opponent.
The Whirlwind Kusarigama sounded dynamic. Perfect for mid-ranged crowd control. And capable for short range too.
The Blazing Torch-mace? Pure aggression. Blunt destruction and fire. An interesting way to set things ablaze.
The Mountain Shield-axe offered stability and defense. Which was always valuable. But, it looked heavy. Not exactly the characteristic he wanted in his weapon.
The Frost Whip offered range. And potential crowd control. Freezing things was probably its additional plus size.
Which one should he choose?