Billy had a feeling that the next batch of skills that would cost one thousand skill points would be the last one that he could learn using the system. They certainly would be more useful or powerful as well, but waiting to level up twenty more levels seemed like a pain… He thought for a while, but... he didn't come up with a decent answer. He wasn't that surprised because it was only natural.
Still, since all of those skills seemed so useful, Billy couldn't bring himself to choose only one of them. He was a logical guy, so he did the most logical thing he could do.
"It can't be helped… I can't make up my mind right now about them," Billy thought.
While Billy was thinking about that, he felt the presence of Alexander and Lily approaching his house, so he decided to check on them. They talked now and then, but Billy felt that he was moving away from their usual friendship. Regardless, he went to meet them.
"Perfect timing. I need to talk with you guys about something," Billy said when he saw them.
"It has been a while since I saw you this lively," Alexander said.
"Yeah, Alexander looked a bit depressed lately because we thought that you found best guy friends," Lily said.
"I don't have too much free time to spend with any more friends," Billy said. "Also, get a grip. You are almost thirty. You aren't young anymore to worry about things like that."
"Don't say things like that. Alexander is a pure boy yet at heart," Lily said.
"You guys…" Alexander said and then sighed.
Billy guided them to his workshop and showed them the armors that he had made. Aside from the Magic Ninja Suit, the other models looked pretty bland, so there wasn't much to say aside from their performance.
"These are… They look pretty powerful," Alexander said.
"I will explain the details later, but you guys need to use the first prototype and tell me about your experience. I will make improved versions for you two as well."
Billy began to give more details about the continent and his new mission. While all of them could help him with the armors, he also explained that they need to be kept as a last resort in order to be the most effective.
In any case, after some test runs, Alexander and Lily looked speechless. Even the prototype of the armor was beyond any magic item that they had seen. Stupidly powerful, it completely protected them, and their mana didn't need to be used at all. If Billy could mass produce those… it would change the world in one way or the other.
"How about it? If you ask for one armor that can boost your strength even more, perhaps you can land a few good hits if we fight," Billy said.
"I wouldn't allow myself to ask for something like that. What would be the point?" Alexander asked. "Putting that aside, I would like one armor that would give my body more freedom… the extra protection is nice, but it is hindering."
"I thought so. Natalie wanted something similar," Billy said. "What about you, Lily?"
"I will be fine with anything as long as you can make something that can help me shoot arrows faster and with more precision and power," Lily replied. "But I want to use bows, not crossbows."
Billy was thinking of attacking crossbows in each of the arm parts of her armor. It would be really neat. However, it would ignore the physical strength that the armor would grant. In the end, using earth magic, Billy created some models of what he had in mind, and then he made some adjustments using their feedback.
In the end, Alexander's version would only be slightly different than Natalie's. As for Lily's armor, Billy made it so that it would have an extra long bow attached to its left arm. Most bows wouldn't endure the full pull that the armor could grant it, after all. Still, Billy decided to use her diamond bow alongside chromium to create the new one. Lily asked for that as well since she felt that she shouldn't use that one so often. It was too powerful….
"Well, this should take two weeks to finish," Billy said. "In the meantime, you should build an underground hideout on your home as well. I will link it to this place later."
"Oh, that would be pretty cool…" Alexander said while his eyes were glowing.
"Why you guys are so fixated on this hideous thing?" Lily asked while frowning.
Billy wished that he could explain with words, but it wasn't that simple. It was like trying to explain how to breathe. Cool things are cool things, just like air is breathable.
"Although those armors will make us stronger, we can't slack off on training," Alexander said. "What are the chances of our lands being invaded, Billy?"
"Right now, they are pretty low since the demi-humans continent isn't under the rule of a single person," Billy replied. "But there are some individuals that might accomplish that in a few months."
"Shouldn't we inform our allies?" Lily asked.
"It isn't certain if we are going to be invaded, and I am working to prevent that, so there is no point in moving armies when we don't know what will happen," Billy replied. "Even if something happens, it will take weeks for the demi-humans to cross the ocean. We will have time to prepare for them if that happens."
Naturally, there is always the chance that something unexpected will happen. Still, that was precisely why Billy's friends would stay stationed nearby and use their armor if a problem arose. It was hard to know if they would be able to fight the reincarnated individuals of that continent. Still, they definitely won't be wiped out instantly with their armor. Billy was pretty sure that they would put up more than a good fight…
