NOVEL NEXT Chapter 136: [Defense Enhancement Potion]
Ethan hadn't forgotten that, according to the intel, Aurora was a forging prodigy.
Just then, Shawn said suddenly:
"The way you're acting now is nothing like when you said those things earlier."
"I don't know if your acting was good enough to fool Aurora, or if you're testing me right now."
Ethan thought for a moment, then said straight out: "Three Purple-quality pieces of gear, plus you owe me a favor."
Shawn agreed without any hesitation. He nodded and said: "No problem, as long as you can cure my daughter's illness."
Ethan hadn't expected him to agree so fast. Looks like he had underestimated how much Shawn loved Aurora.
But he had another plan—one that would get Shawn to help him deal with a danger and also earn him more benefits.
Ethan went on: "Also, I'll help you clear out a potential threat. After it's done, you can give me the appropriate payment."
Shawn seemed to get it. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Say it now?"
Ethan shook his head. He couldn't reveal anything about Deputy City Lord Ford.
Ford, the Deputy City Lord of the Ice City base, was secretly trying to nurture the [Ice Calamity]. Ethan didn't know what group or power Ford belonged to, but he had definitely betrayed the Ice City base.
Everything Ford did back then was to keep City Lord Shawn from finding out.
Ethan was sure that once he officially moved against the [Ice Calamity], Ford and those hiding in the dark wouldn't ignore him.
He needed Shawn to protect him—no, Shawn needed him to remove that hidden threat.
This way, he could use City Lord Shawn and also make him owe another favor.
If he came right out and said he needed protection and Shawn's help, the other side might cut the reward they'd promised.
Often, just changing how you say something can get you more benefits. Why not do it?
Shawn asked the thing he cared about most:
"Where is the [Saint Healer's Secret Formula]? Can you show me?"
Ethan shook his head, pointed to his own head, and said:
"No. I can't show you the [Saint Healer's Secret Formula]. But I've already sent people to gather the materials. We're only missing one last item, and then I can make the medicine to cure [Heart-Eater]."
Shawn stared at Ethan with doubt. He'd heard words like this more than once.
Ethan suddenly thought of something and asked, testing him: "Do you have any potions or potion recipes that can boost power?"
Shawn looked confused. "You need more power just to make potions?"
Ethan spread his hands. "If my power goes up, I can make better potions."
Shawn felt more and more that Ethan was just a bluffing player, trying to use his ability to revive to squeeze huge benefits out of him.
But just then, a cry for help came from the back of the hall.
"This is bad! Cousin Aurora is having an attack! Someone, help!"
The moment the voice rang out, Shawn's figure vanished.
Ethan ran toward the sound. When he got there, he saw Shawn pressing his palm to Aurora's back. Around him, one invisible ripple after another spread, stirring the air.
Aurora's face was chalk-white. She was shaking all over. The muscles in her face were clenched tight.
Ethan knew this state well. It was the body's self-protection triggered by pain that was too much to bear.
Seeing Aurora like this made him think of the brain tumor he once had, which caused him the same kind of pain.
Ethan built up his ability to endure pain during that time, bit by bit.
Maybe his talent [Pain Resistance] awakened so quickly in the real world because of his illness.
After more than two hours, Aurora's body finally relaxed.
Tiny beads of blood came out on her skin because her muscles had been clenched too hard, turning her clothes blood-red.
Shawn stared at the unconscious Aurora. He took a deep breath, and with shaking hands, handed her to Jenny. He told her:
"In a while, use warm water to clean her up. The kitchen will prepare a meal to help restore her blood. Make sure she finishes it."
Jenny nodded. She was about to take Aurora back to her room when she suddenly thought of something. She looked at Aurora, eyes red, and asked:
"When can Cousin Aurora fully recover?"
Shawn stood there, glanced at Ethan, and said: "Soon. Very soon."
After Jenny and Aurora left, Shawn slowly said to Ethan:
"I'll give you three Purple-quality pieces of gear."
"I'll owe you a favor, too."
"I'll find potions that can boost your strength."
"I don't know what the [Saint Healer's Secret Formula] needs, but I'm sure it's very rare. I have an Orange-quality [Icefire Lotus Seed]. I can give it to you."
"I, Shawn, City Lord of the Ice City base and Aurora's father, ask you—please save Aurora."
Shawn lowered his head and began to bend his knees. He was about to kneel.
Ethan held him up without hesitation. His eyes were calm and clear. "You agreed to my terms. I'll keep my word."
...
In a room inside the City Lord's Mansion, Ethan looked at the potion on the table. A faint spark of joy flashed in his eyes.
[Defense Enhancement Potion]
[Quality]: Purple-quality
[Use Requirements]: Level above 20 and below 30; Defense no higher than 30 points
[Item Effect]: After use, if the user is below level 30, they gain 3 levels. It also hardens the skin on the body's surface, greatly boosting Defense. The exact increase depends on how well the user matches the potion: at least +5 Defense, up to +10 Defense.
[Description]: Good stuff! A potion that makes the whole body tougher. For some people, it's the key to getting their vigor back!
Ethan took a deep breath as he held the potion. It was the first Purple-quality potion he had ever seen.
Based on its effects, it could raise his level and strengthen his Defense.
This was even more valuable than a piece of Purple-quality gear.
It was a pity that Shawn, the City Lord of the Ice City base, didn't have the recipe for this potion. Otherwise, Ethan would skip the other Purple-quality gear and just ask for this recipe.
Before using it, Ethan glanced at his watch. He still had two unspent attribute points.
[Name]: Windchaser
[Talents]: Pain Resistance (Blue), Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward (Unknown)
[Level]: Lv22
[Class]: Berserk Blood War God
[Status]: Normal
[Gear]: Cotton Underwear (Gray-quality), Shadow Belt (Purple-quality), Assassin's Sleeve Crossbow (Purple-quality), Ruin Spear (Purple-quality), Flash Mask (Purple-quality), Stealth Cloak (Blue-quality), Staying Power Necklace (Blue-quality), Ice-Silk Gloves (Blue-quality), Wolfskin Set (Blue-quality)
[HP]: 100%
[Strength]: 41
[Speed]: 26
[Defense]: 18
[Energy]: 10
[Charisma]: 12
[Luck]: 1
[Attribute Points]: 2
[Inventory]: Hellblade Class Intel (Orange-quality), Master Technique: Draw Slash Intel (Purple-quality)...
After checking the info, Ethan remembered he still had a Purple-quality [Master Technique: Draw Slash Intel] he hadn't used yet.
He decided to leave it for later. Right now, Aurora's situation and the [Ice Calamity] mattered more.
He put the last two attribute points into [Speed], then quickly injected the [Defense Enhancement Potion].
After a moment, his body started to change a lot. His skin grew hot, with a strong burning feeling. He looked down and saw the skin on his arms peeling off fast.
The new skin, under the light, had a faint metallic sheen. Luckily, this change faded soon.
Ethan checked his watch and saw his level had reached 25.
[Name]: Windchaser
[Talents]: Pain Resistance (Blue), Ten-Thousandfold Intelligence Reward (Unknown)
[Level]: Lv25
[Class]: Berserk Blood War God
[Status]: Normal
[Gear]: Cotton Underwear (Gray-quality), Shadow Belt (Purple-quality), Assassin's Sleeve Crossbow (Purple-quality), Ruin Spear (Purple-quality), Flash Mask (Purple-quality)...
[HP]: 100%
[Strength]: 41
[Speed]: 28
[Defense]: 27
[Energy]: 11
[Charisma]: 12
[Luck]: 1
[Attribute Points]: 3
[Inventory]: Hellblade Class Intel (Orange-quality), Master Technique: Draw Slash Intel (Purple-quality)...
Ethan's Defense jumped by 9 points at once. Looks like he's a great match for the [Defense Enhancement Potion]—he was just short of the full +10.
He thought for a moment and put the three new attribute points into [Speed].
His [Strength] is already much higher than his other stats, so there's no need to add more there.
Just as Ethan was about to close his watch, a message came in from Lucas.
[Lucas]: [Ethan, we're back. Where are you?]