"Shouldn't Mai be in charge of testing the cursed tool?"
Maki looked at Eichi with a puzzled expression.
Maki and Mai had completely different developmental paths.
Maki pursued power, hoping to become a strong individual capable of overcoming all difficulties.
Mai, who didn't have a deep desire for power, developed in the direction of manufacturing cursed tools.
While having a certain degree of self-preservation ability, she would also create and maintain cursed tools for Maki.
That's why Maki found it strange.
Why would a task like testing cursed tools fall to her?
"Mai will be conducting the cursed tool testing with you, but since the testing of this cursed tool requires combat, it's more suitable for you."
"Is that so? I understand."
Hearing that practical combat testing was required, Maki said no more.
The fundamental reason Maki wanted to become stronger was to protect her and her sister's peaceful and happy life.
Therefore, after hearing that combat was needed, Maki agreed without hesitation.
"Is this cursed tool an umbrella? What's its purpose?"
Maki took the cursed tool and pushed open the umbrella, only to find that it was surprisingly complex.
There were several umbrella discs on the umbrella pole (the ring that, when the switch is opened, props up the umbrella with the ribs; normally, it wouldn't be made this large, just a circle, but making it larger and adding other functions, it's referred to as an umbrella disc).
The pole and the umbrella discs, as well as the ribs, also showed obvious assembly structures.
Just a few glances made Maki frown.
Because this cursed tool looked too complicated.
It's not that complex things are bad.
But complexity often means more things to pay attention to.
It means more troublesome usage or more restrictions.
For example, are current standardized firearms very advanced?
Actually, not really advanced; many military academy students can build firearms with more powerful performance than standardized ones.
But why can't those firearms be equipped?
Because their structure is more precise, their failure rate is higher, and maintenance is more troublesome.
Compared to current standardized weapons, those weapons are too delicate.
Just like the tools workers like most are not expensive or good ones, but rather sturdy, durable, and unbreakable ones.
"This cursed tool is the Special Grade cursed tool, Thousand Machine Umbrella."
Eichi reached out to take back the Thousand Machine Umbrella and began to introduce it to Maki.
"This cursed tool was made with the premise of allowing the user to handle most battles, aiming to enable people with obvious Cursed Technique shortcomings to cope with various battles through it."
Eichi propped open the Thousand Machine Umbrella to its maximum extent, like a normal umbrella, then twisted an umbrella disc.
The original umbrella surface suddenly became hard, emitting obvious Cursed Energy fluctuations.
Since this Special Grade cursed tool, Thousand Machine Umbrella, was forged from multiple cursed tools with Cursed Techniques and curses, it has more than one ability.
The Materials forming the umbrella surface can freely adjust their hardness, capable of switching between normal hardness and maximum hardness under the automatic control of the Thousand Machine Umbrella's mechanism.
The umbrella ribs look normal from the outside, but the inner side has a Cursed Technique that increases sharpness.
Due to the complex structure of the umbrella pole, umbrella discs, and other parts, better Materials were used where possible to maintain structural strength, and areas without suitable Materials were all reinforced by Medea with magic.
So, although it looks like a fragile umbrella, its sturdiness is absolutely guaranteed.
"Like this, after fully opening the umbrella surface, twist the first umbrella disc, and the umbrella surface will become hard, capable of being used as a shield."
After speaking, Eichi even summoned Nue to release lightning.
While Nue was releasing lightning, Eichi squatted slightly, placing most of his body under the protection of the Thousand Machine Umbrella.
"Looks pretty good."
Maki rubbed her chin and commented.
After demonstrating the Thousand Machine Umbrella's shield form, Eichi stood up and pushed the halfway-extended umbrella disc all the way to the top.
The Thousand Machine Umbrella did not stop after opening like a regular umbrella, but continued upwards, finally gathering together.
"After pushing the umbrella disc to the top and fixing it, the umbrella tips will gather together, turning the Thousand Machine Umbrella into a spear."
The original umbrella surface would automatically roll up after transforming into a spear, so there's no need to worry about the umbrella looking messy when retracted.
Eichi held the spear and continuously thrust forward.
After demonstrating the spear's transformation method and sharpness, Eichi began to introduce the next form.
"Look closely at this middle umbrella disc; after ensuring this umbrella disc and the umbrella pole overlap here, you can twist this middle umbrella disc."
"This way, the umbrella pole can move to the side, and then the umbrella ribs and umbrella surface are fixed, which is the scythe form."
Although it looks very complex, in spear form, it only takes two twists of the umbrella disc to complete the transformation, making it very fast.
In scythe form, the sharp inner umbrella ribs become the blade of the scythe.
This form is very suitable for harvesting weak Cursed Spirits, or for taking opponents by surprise during combat with powerful foes.
After demonstrating the scythe form, Eichi adjusted the Thousand Machine Umbrella back to its spear form, then kept the top umbrella disc unchanged and pulled down the middle and bottom umbrella discs.
Since each of the three umbrella discs was connected to several umbrella ribs, the Thousand Machine Umbrella underwent a greater change this time.
The topmost umbrella disc, with a few umbrella ribs, remained open, while the other umbrella ribs were pulled down by the remaining two umbrella discs.
Finally, the top of the umbrella pole was pulled by the ribs and sprang open to the sides.
A weapon resembling a double-bladed axe, yet somewhat like a knight's greatsword, appeared.
The umbrella ribs served as the blades, and the umbrella surface as the sword body.
If the tip of this greatsword were inserted into the ground, and Maki hid behind the sword, the wide sword body could completely shield Maki's tall and slender figure.
"This is good!"
Maki picked up the greatsword Eichi had stuck into the ground and twirled it a few times.
The weight was not significant.
The blade was wide, capable of dealing with larger Cursed Spirits and also useful for defense.
Not only did it have an imposing appearance, but it was also offensive and defensive, a very useful form.
"The big guys have been introduced; now let me introduce a few small gadgets."
Eichi transformed the Thousand Machine Umbrella back to its initial umbrella shape.
"Look here."
Eichi pointed to the bottom of the umbrella.
The bottom of the umbrella pole had gold decorations, adding a touch of luxury to the predominantly white Thousand Machine Umbrella.
The handle was straight downwards, without the usual curved hook for hanging and easy gripping found on ordinary umbrellas.
The handle also had more than one button.
Eichi pressed a button, then grabbed the position of several umbrella discs in the center of the umbrella pole with one hand, and the bottom handle with the other, pulling hard.
Swish.
A blade radiating cold light was drawn by Eichi from the umbrella pole.
"The blade of this sword was originally from another cursed tool; after that cursed tool broke, Medea added it to the Thousand Machine Umbrella. Although this sword cannot ignore hardness like the Soul Release Blade, it also has a very good armor-piercing effect."
After speaking, Eichi took out several steel pipes from his shadow, and with a wave of his right hand, the steel pipes were instantly cut.
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