The city of Govart felt calmer that morning. The tournament had been given a one-day break before entering the quarterfinals, and participants were free to rest… or do whatever they pleased.
The MC didn't waste any time.
After making sure his egg-children were safe and well-fed, he exited his *klou* space and hopped quietly toward the city market. Though still disguised as the "Mysterious Smelly Golem," he was popular enough not to be bothered.
"Hey, it's that stink guy from the arena!"
"I swear his smell lingered on the spectator seats for three days!"
The MC was grateful for the reputation. At least no one dared come too close.
His goal was clear: the bookstore run by the bookworm monster where he'd heard rumors of rare technique manuals. The store's name: **"Root of Knowledge."**
Its owner, a bespectacled worm monster who spoke with a broken-clock hiss, greeted him instantly.
"Ohhh... the new tournament participant! The one with the... legendary stench... Looking for a skill book... are you?"
The MC nodded. His overwhelming odor caused several customers behind him to faint.
"This one suits you..." The worm dragged out a dusty book titled: **"Titanium Odora: The Art of Manifesting Stench."**
The MC read it. It detailed the creation of defense spirits from concentrated aroma energy, complete with illustrations of giant hands, mist shields, and even smoky bows. The title was odd, but the contents were clear:
> "If the user is stinky enough, and imaginative enough, then stench can take form.
> If form is born, just add will.
> Then hands become weapons.
> Then mist becomes shield.
> Then stench… becomes body."
Without hesitation, the MC exchanged a few items from his *klou* space for the book.
---
Back at his place.
The MC turned page after page, a small flame flickering on one side of his body. He began training his Stench Titan again, this time with technique references from the book.
This time, the Stench Titan lasted five full minutes.
Its hands could begin forming a bow—though it couldn't shoot yet.
"I still can't merge elements into the weapon. But… I can feel it. This will be big."
At the end of his training, the MC smiled—even though his body now emitted a stench sharper than ever.
It felt like… the beginning of something extraordinary.