Chapter 290 Boost in Power

Suzuka knew there was no time to waste. With the goblins in danger, she couldn't afford to lie in bed, even if she felt worn out. Closing the door of her room behind her, she headed straight to the inn where Jacob usually lingered, his affinity for Earth Magic making him a crucial part of her grand scheme to build the town.

The Inn was bustling as always. Patrons filled the bar area, sharing stories of their adventures and reveling in the lively atmosphere. Suzuka navigated through the crowd, her eyes scanning for Jacob. She found him at the bar, a familiar figure nursing a mug of ale.

“Jacob!” she called out as she approached.

Jacob looked up, his expression brightening at the sight of her.

 “Helen! What brings you here?”

“Business, as always,” Suzuka replied with a smile. She gestured to a nearby table. 

“Let’s talk.”

Without wasting any time, Suzuka pulled Jacob to the table. As they sat down, Jacob immediately set his mug aside, giving her his full attention.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his tone serious now.

Suzuka leaned in, lowering her voice. 

“We are moving out by the end of the week. The goblins are in danger, and we can’t afford any more delays. I have a blueprint for the town I want to build. Your Earth Magic will be a big help in laying the foundations. I need to be sure if you can make it work.”

Jacob nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration. 

“Show me the blueprint.”

Suzuka pulled out the carefully rolled parchment from her magic item storage and spread it across the table. The blueprint detailed an ambitious layout, with designated areas for residential buildings, communal spaces, and defenses to keep the goblins safe from further harm. The whole town foundation was laid out but only the goblin district was fully designed.

Jacob studied the blueprint, tracing his fingers along the lines and markings, his eyes widening with every detail he absorbed. 

"This is an impressive town plan, Suzuka. But it's a big undertaking. We'll need a lot of materials and manpower."

Suzuka leaned over the table, "Our main manpower will be goblins. As for materials, we will deforest the surrounding area around the mountain for wood. When I crush the mountain itself, your job will be to produce the materials we need for building the wall that will surround the town. Your Earth Magic can give us a huge head start. You can shape the land, create the foundations, and make the construction process smoother," she explained, her voice serious yet slightly easygoing.

Jacob looked back at the blueprint, a smirk playing on his lips.

 “This is an insane amount of work. And here I thought you just wanted me to move some dirt around. But jokes aside. I’m just a 3-star mage, and my mana pool is average. At my current level, it would take me years to process what you’re asking me to do. Sure, it’s possible, but we’re talking snail’s pace here. You need at least a 4-star for a job this big to put a real dent into the work.”

 Suzuka pondered aloud, “So if you were a 4-star mage, you would be able to do it?”

Jacob nodded reluctantly. 

“Yes, but I’m not. Like I said, I’m just 3 stars. And my compatibility rating is below the necessary level, so I’m not gaining more power from the magic box.”

Suzuka’s demeanor suddenly darkened, her easygoing character turning menacing.

 “Oh, but I think you can get a 4-star rating, Jacob. And you will.”

Jacob’s face paled in fright, memories of his terrifying experience with the insides of the magic box flashing before his eyes.

 He stammered, “N-no, no, please, not the box again. Not again. No, please, anything but that. You don't understand the horrors, the pain. I don’t want to go into that cursed thing again. Please, I’ll make do with my current ability. I’ll add extra effort. Forget I said anything about it being a snail's pace. I’ll do it, okay?”

Suzuka chuckled darkly, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.

 “Nu-uh, Jacob. You need a boost in power. I need you at peak performance.”

Jacob recoiled, his tankard spilling to the ground.

 “No, please, anything but that. You don’t understand the horrors, the pain. It’s a hell inside that thing. If my rating were a bit higher, then maybe, but not with mine.”

Suzuka’s eyes turned from their usual yellow to a bright, burning red as her anger rose. Jacob’s fear intensified, memories of the past flooding his mind. The fear and guilt were tearing his soul apart, knowing he had a hand in creating the monster sitting in front of him.

Suzuka spoke, her sharp teeth slightly visible through her menacing smile. 

“Oh, Jacob, Jacob. Have you forgotten what you did to me with your buddy Derrec? How about trying to remember what my rating was with the magic box you two fucks planned to throw me into, hmm? Surely my rating was much lower than yours. Now, here’s a question for you: Guess what star rating I have for Gravity magic box?”

Jacob, feeling guilt for what he did to her, couldn’t meet her menacing gaze. 

He mumbled, “Your rating was around 20%, so you couldn’t even get a one-star rating before your body would be destroyed by the immense power of the box.” Suddenly, a realization dawned on Jacob. 

“But then how are you a 5-star mage? You would need to get in and out of it many times just to siphon a tiny spec of the power. But even then it's close to impossible. This makes no sense!”

Suzuka chuckled menacingly.

 “Oh, but it does, Jacob. Only you’re wrong about one thing.” She leaned closer and whispered, “I got my powers with that low score - a whole 5-star power in one go.”

Jacob, knowing the horrible consequences of going inside the magic box with a low score, felt the weight of her words. The realization that Suzuka endured such hell made him stumble in shock.

With a gasp, he asked, “How in the hell are you alive? How did you make it out of that cursed thing alive?”

Suzuka’s voice dropped to a whisper, dripping with menace.

 “Oh, Jacob, it was painful. To this day, I remember the sound my bones made as they broke and healed back again, just to break again and tear through my flesh.”

Jacob's eyes widened in terror.

 "But... but if what you say is true, how did you survive? How are you standing here now?"

Suzuka leaned in closer, her breath hot against his ear.

 "I survived because I had no choice, Jacob. I was reborn in that box, forged in pain and agony. Every second felt like an eternity, but I emerged stronger, more powerful. And now," her voice lowered even further, "now it's your turn to face the box again. You will endure it, and you will come out stronger, or you will perish inside it. Either way, I will get what I need."

Jacob's knees buckled, and he sank to the floor, trembling. 

"Please, Suzuka, have mercy. I can’t go through that again. I won’t survive it."

Suzuka stood over him, her red eyes glowing with a fierce intensity.

 "Mercy? Did you show me mercy when you threw me into the jaws of that beast? Remember the werewolf? Hmmm? Remember that little, scared girl you kidnapped and fed to the beast? Did you show mercy to her? Do you remember the screams I made? The sound of my flesh being torn apart? Hmm? No, Jacob, there will be no mercy. You will face the box, and you will get that 4-star rating, or you will suffer until you do. But..." Suzuka paused for her words to sink in. 

"But if you do this and help me with my plans, we will call it even. And maybe, just maybe I even forgive you." She said with her menacing face on full display as her red eyes glowed from under the shadows and her shark smile. 

Jacob struggled to his feet, his body shaking. 

"Alright, alright. I’ll do it. Just... please, believe me. I am sorry for what I did to you."

Suzuka’s smile was cold and unrelenting.

 "Good. Now, let’s get started. Time is of the essence, and I have big plans for you, Jacob. And besides, you have nothing to worry about. You have a little bit of the werewolf blood flowing through your veins, which will help with healing. Also, we will bring a lot of healing potions. I made them myself, with a bit of extra punch. You will recover much faster than with any normal potion."

Jacob gasped, his eyes widening in realization. 

"The werewolf blood... of course, that is how you survived. That sick experiment of Derrick was a success, after all. You have the powers of the werewolf."

Suzuka’s glance turned even more menacing.

 "I do, but tell anybody and I'll make sure you feel pain before you die."

Jacob raised his hands in playful defense.

 "Okay, okay, I will keep it a secret. I'm your guy, my lips are sealed." 

He continued, "Now, when do we go?"

Suzuka said casually, "We are going now. Surely you know the location of the magic box. We will hop on a four-wheeler and get there as soon as possible. All I know about it is that it’s more than a few days of walking on foot through the forest, but with a four-wheeler, we could be in and out within a day and a little."

Jacob, trying to lighten the mood, joked, "You are crazy, you know that? But I guess the sooner we are done with it, the better."

Without wasting any more time, they went to Wara’s guild and borrowed a four-wheeler. They gathered all the necessary supplies, including Suzuka’s specially brewed healing potions. Jacob led the way with his heart pounding in his chest as they set off on their journey.

They sped through the dense forest on the four-wheeler, the wind whipping past them. The journey was fraught with tension, the looming presence of the monsters lurking in hiding, and fear of the magic box hanging over Jacob like a nightmare. As they approached the location, Jacob's anxiety grew, but Suzuka remained resolute.