Since the Liquid Metal Armor is a Metac, it requires internal energy to deploy and more internal energy to maintain. This makes it cheaper in terms of upfront cost, but it is very expensive in terms of energy usage.
On the other hand, an exoskeleton or mech is a permanent artifact. This makes them more expensive to buy, but it means that one won’t need internal energy to deploy and use them. But their advantages don’t end there.
Both exoskeleton and combat armor enhance the power of their wielder. This is something that the Liquid Metal Metac can’t do.
The Liquid Metal Metac will create a weapon for the user. Then the user will have to bear the burden of using that weapon.
So if the user is not strong enough, the artifact created by the Liquid Metal Metac will be a useless burden. But that is not the case for the exoskeleton armor or the combat armor.
Both the exoskeleton armor and the combat armor actually strengthen their host. Instead of being a burden, they make their user stronger.
This advantage is why they become a part of the power output equation, which is (Cultivation Rank) × (Stat) × (Metac) × (Skill/Overload). It is also why he chose to buy one of them even though he already had the Liquid Metal Metac.
In the power output equation of (Cultivation Rank) × (Stat) × (Metac) × (Skill/Overload), the exoskeleton armor counts as part of the (Stat) subgroup.
The combat armor also counts as part of the (Stat) subgroup. But unlike the exoskeleton armor, it requires energy to operate, which makes it costly to use.
The good news is that the energy that combat armor needs can be substituted by an external source of energy in the form of energy stones.
However, the combat armor is still used by many forgers despite its expensive energy usage because it has the advantage of replacing the power of the body altogether.
So instead of counting as part of the body, it will actually substitute for the whole body. This way, a forger with a weak body will be able to output a great amount of power through the combat armor.
There is also the fact that combat armors possess heavy weapons like cannons other types of artillery guns, which are things that the exoskeleton doesn’t have. So it is not certain which is better between exoskeleton armor and combat armor.
Loki doesn’t lack the money to use the combat armor, but he didn’t buy it because it is large, cumbersome, and difficult to use.
Actually, both the exoskeleton armor and the combat armor require time to put on and use. So if he is caught off guard by an enemy, he won’t be able to use it. But it is easier to wear the exoskeleton armor and carry it around compared to the large mech.
This difficulty in using and carrying them around, plus their expensive nature, and the difficulty in maintaining and repairing damages to them are the main disadvantages of the exoskeleton and combat armor. But the power that they will provide and their reduced energy footprint make up for the disadvantages.
However, this doesn’t mean that he will give up on using the Liquid Metal Metacs. He won’t be giving up on them anytime soon because he still needs them for emergencies and because he will need them to create his weapons.
He had this on his mind as he returned home. He was thinking about that and the Rein Family’s reaction to his spending spree today.
The first thing he did when he got home was to wear the exoskeleton armor. This was partly to test it and make sure that Tommy didn’t really fleece him. But it was mostly to prepare for any accidents that might happen in the night.
Just as he feared, Simon came to visit him that night. What’s worse is that Simon didn’t come alone. He came with a snake wrapped around his neck.
When Loki sensed them coming, he shook his head and said, "All of these just for me? Let me see if it is going to be worth it."
He doesn’t want to fight the Rein Family. This is clear by his being cautious and lying low.
But if he has no choice but to fight, then he doesn’t mind giving it a shot. So he decided to lie low, waiting for Simon to enter his house before ambushing him.
As he waited, he activated a Liquid Metal Metac and used it to create a Claymore. Then he held the claymore with both hands.
He also activated the Living Armament Metac and the Body Lever Metac. These two enhanced the power of his body together with the Telekinesis Metac.
Finally, he activated the Double Mind Metac and the Sword Heart Metac. The Double Mind Metac was to ensure that he could use both the Telekinesis Metac and the Telepathy Metac, while the Sword Heart Metac was to enhance the power of his sword.
All in all, he was using six Metacs. He hasn’t gone all out yet, but he is close to it.
As usual, Simon entered his house by breaking in through the window. Simon was familiar with the layout of this kind of building, so he went straight towards the bedroom.
However, he had just taken a step when he stopped. He stopped to listen to what the snake around his neck was saying.
After hearing what the snake had to say, he curled his lips and said, "So you’re awake. Were you expecting me? Why don’t you come out so that we can chat?"
As Simon spoke, he looked in the direction where Loki was hiding. Since he was already exposed, Loki decided to take action.
Instead of talking, he rushed towards Simon and swung the Claymore at him with both of his hands. Unfortunately, Simon wasn’t caught off guard because the snake hissed at him in warning. So Simon was able to jump back just in time to avoid the Sword.