NOVEL NEXT Chapter E008 – Collecting Loot Items and Planning
Back at the Archades Ruins.
Hecate stood on the fortress wall, surveying the devastation her Megaflare spell had wrought on the west inner district of the ruins. The once peaceful area where the monsters lived their daily lives had now become a scorched barren land, with charred carcasses and ashes of burnt plants strewn everywhere.
Despite the destruction, a thick mist still clung to the ruins, shrouding the area in an eerie, perpetual fog. The mist didn’t disperse even after the impact of her powerful spell, limiting visibility and adding an ominous atmosphere to the scene.
'Let's just collect whatever is left.'
Without hesitation, she jumped down from the wall, landing with a soft thud on the blackened ground.
Her eyes strained to see through the fog, but her Treasure Sensor skill, highlighted valuable items hidden among the debris with a faint glow. She moved swiftly, her focus unshakable, ignoring the remnants of destroyed monsters and vegetation. Instead, she sought out anything that gleamed, knowing that her skill would only highlight the most precious items.
Every so often, her inventory would reach its limit, prompting her to use her Fast Travel skill. In an instant, she would teleport to the Save-Crystal, efficiently depositing her gathered items into her storage before rushing back to the ruins to continue her search.
After nearly an hour of relentless searching and collecting, Hecate paused to count her loot. She had amassed:
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The Lustron Crystals, the core of the elemental monsters known as Lustron Spheres, had a wide array of uses: they could be used as core wands, catalysts, ground and mixed into potions, materials for upgrading equipment, or even as a direct energy source.
But of course, what Hecate prized the most among the loot were the Soul Essences.
Spoiler| Item Name: | Soul Essence: Mystshade Hornet |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★★ |
| Effect: | Slot: Weapon - Bow: |
| — When performing ranged physical attack: | |
| • Pierce the enemy's PDEF by 1% per <small>UpgLv</small>. | |
| — Grants the use of the following skill: | |
| • Paralyze Shot Lv3 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Slot: Weapon - Spear: | |
| — Grants the use of the following skills: | |
| • Paralyze Sting Lv3 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| • Piercing Strike Lv3 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Description: | The extracted soul of a Mystshade Hornet. It can be compounded into any Slotted Equipment. Incorrect slot placement will not grant any effect. |
| Item Name: | Soul Essence: Mutated Mystshade Hornet |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★★★ |
| Effect: | Slot: Weapon - Bow: |
| — When performing ranged physical attack: | |
| • Pierce the enemy's PDEF by 2.5% per <small>UpgLv</small>. | |
| — Grants the use of the following skill: | |
| • Paralyze Shot Lv5 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Slot: Weapon - Spear: | |
| — Grants the use of the following skills: | |
| • Paralyze Sting Lv5 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| • Piercing Strike Lv5 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Description: | The extracted soul of a Mutated Mystshade Hornet. It can be compounded into any Slotted Equipment. Incorrect slot placement will not grant any effect. |
| Item Name: | Soul Essence: Mystshade Cobros |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★★ |
| Effect: | Slot: Head - Upper: |
| — Grants the use of the following skill: | |
| • Spit Venom Lv3 (<small>5×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| • Eclipse Gaze Lv1 (<small>3×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Slot: Armor - Body: | |
| — When attacked by physical attack: | |
| • Inflicts Poison debuff on attacker with 5% chance. | |
| • Chance increased by 1% for every <small>UpgLv</small> | |
| Description: | The extracted soul of a Mystshade Cobros. It can be compounded into any Slotted Equipment. Incorrect slot placement will not grant any effect. |
| Item Name: | Soul Essence: Mystshade Mastif |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★★ |
| Effect: | Slot: Head - Lower: |
| — Grants the use of the following skill: | |
| • Sacrificial Frenzy (<small>3×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| • Howl of Despair (<small>3×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Slot: Armor - Body: | |
| — Increase Max HP by 2% per <small>UpgLv.</small> | |
| — Increase HP regen by 2% per <small>UpgLv.</small> | |
| Description: | The extracted soul of a Mystshade Mastif. It can be compounded into any Slotted Equipment. Incorrect slot placement will not grant any effect. |
| Item Name: | Soul Essence: Mystshade Lyzzardar |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★★ |
| Effect: | Slot: Head - Upper: |
| — Grants the use of the following passive skill: | |
| • Night Prowler Lv3 | |
| Slot: Armor - Garment: | |
| — Grants the use of the following skills: | |
| • Camouflage Lv1 (<small>3×UpgLv</small>) per day. | |
| Description: | The extracted soul of a Mystshade Lyzzardar. It can be compounded into any Slotted Equipment. Incorrect slot placement will not grant any effect. |
Hecate smiled as she saw the description of the Soul Essences.
Unexpectedly, those monsters had so many skills, but unfortunately for them, they never got the chance to use any of them as they were simply obliterated by Megaflare.
Among those skills, Hecate was particularly interested in the abilities from the Mystshade Mastif and Lyzzardar.
Spoiler| Skill Name: | Sacrificial Frenzy |
| Type: | Active |
| HP Costs: | 20% |
| Description: | The Mystshade Mastif consumes 20% of its own health to double its attack and defense stats for 30 seconds. This self-buff makes it even more dangerous and difficult to defeat, as it becomes a whirlwind of destruction on the battlefield. |
| Skill Name: | Howl of Despair |
| Type: | Active |
| STA Costs: | 15 |
| MP Costs: | 20 |
| Description: | Emits a terrifying howl that causes nearby enemies to panic, reducing their attack and defense by 20% for 10 seconds. |
| Skill Name: | Night Prowler |
| Type: | Passive |
| Description: | The Mystshade Lyzzardar gains increased agility and speed at night or in dark environments. This skill allows it to move swiftly, making it an even more dangerous predator under the cover of darkness. |
| Skill Name: | Camouflage |
| Type: | Active |
| MP Costs: | 80 |
| Description: | The Mystshade Lyzzardar can change the color and texture of its scales to match its surroundings perfectly. This camouflage ability makes it nearly impossible to spot until it strikes. |
Sacrificial Frenzy could double her ATK and DEF for 30 seconds at the cost of 20% HP.
This skill was very suitable for her, as she always aimed for maximum firepower. The thought of bolstering her offensive capabilities excited her. Meanwhile, Howl of Despair seemed redundant to her since she already had Hero's Roar, so she didn't really care about it.
Night Prowler caught her attention. It could increase her speed in the night or dark areas, making it very compatible with Shadow Move, a skill she had acquired a few days ago.
Then there was Camouflage, a Ranger skill that allowed her to stay hidden. She hadn't expected to get this skill here, but it opened up new tactical possibilities for her. The ability to blend into her surroundings and avoid detection could be incredibly valuable in both exploration and combat.
The synergy between these skills could give her a significant advantage in stealth operations or quick escapes.
"Well, this is a good day."
Satisfied with her findings, Hecate closed the window and logged out.
♠♠♠
[Kyoto: Yasaka Ruri's Residence]
In the real world, Yasaka Ruri rose from her Capsule Pod.
The familiar hum of the pod's systems shutting down provided a gentle transition from the virtual world back to reality. She stretched her limbs, feeling a slight mental fatigue after the intense morning exam, assisting Dalmagna's Blacksmith work, and the rigorous loot collecting earlier.
Without further ado, she pulled out a vial of Elixir from her storage. The cool, crystal-clear liquid shimmered in the light as she uncorked it and took a sip.
"Why can't they make these things taste like chocolate or something?"
The taste was as awful as ever, bitter and sharp, but she savored it until the last drop, treating it like a strong, bitter coffee. Despite that, she actually enjoyed the unique flavor in her own way.
Almost immediately, Ruri felt revitalized, the mental fog lifting as the Elixir worked its magic, washing away her fatigue.
With renewed clarity, she decided to check the results of her exam.
"Let's see how I did on my exam this morning."
Ruri navigating to the exam results page on her T-Bracelet.
Given that the exams were mostly scored automatically by AI with minimal human intervention, students could typically access their results within an hour or two. However, when she checked, there was nothing.
She could only let out a sigh.
"Naoki-sensei did say he would send the results after the exam period ends. Guess I’ll have to wait."
She made her way to the bathroom to relieve herself, after that, she made her way to the living room.
As usual, she found Kuu, her beloved and cute plant pet, waiting for her. Its leaves perked up at her approach, and she smiled, reaching down to pet it gently.
"Good afternoon, Kuu. Oh yeah, wait a minute.."
"Kweeh~"
From her storage, she took out a milk candy and offered it to Kuu, watching with amusement as it eagerly munching the treat.
"There you go, buddy. A little treat for you. Been a long day, huh?"
"Kwieee~"
Kuu responded, its leaves swaying happily.
Satisfied with Kuu's contentment, she turned her attention to her own hunger. She took out a savory kebab and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Spoiler| Item Name: | Super Deluxe Kebab |
| Type: | Consumable - Food |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★ |
| Durability: | 10/10 |
| Chef: | Celia |
| Effects: | - Restores 500 HP instantly |
| - Enhances HP regeneration by 15% for 30 minutes | |
| - Increases ATK by 15% for 30 minutes | |
| - Reduces hunger for 2 hours | |
| Description: | A deliciously spiced kebab made by the renowned chef Celia. Marinated in a blend of exotic spices and herbs, offers both immediate and lasting benefits, making it a highly sought-after meal for adventurers. This kebab not only satisfies hunger but also invigorates the consumer with a boost in attack power. The kebab's savory aroma and rich flavor are a testament to Celia's culinary skills. |
| Item Name: | Heavenly Orange Juice |
| Type: | Consumable - Food |
| Rarity: | ★★★★★ |
| Durability: | 10/10 |
| Chef: | Celia |
| Effects: | - Restores 300 MP instantly |
| - Increases MP regeneration by 10% for 30 minutes | |
| - Increases MDEF by 3% for 30 minutes | |
| - Refreshes and reduces fatigue | |
| Description: | A refreshing glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, crafted by Celia. This beverage is not only delicious but also exceptionally rejuvenating, providing a quick boost to mana and significantly enhancing magical defense. Additionally, it improves MP regeneration for a substantial duration, making it an invaluable resource for adventurers in need of sustained magical power. The natural sweetness and tangy flavor make it a perfect choice for a quick refreshment during any journey. |
With her meal in hand, she settled onto the sofa, savoring the delicious aroma of the kebab. She took a bite, the flavors bursting in her mouth, and washed it down with a refreshing sip of juice.
"This is the life, right Kuu?"
"Kweeh,"
Kuu replied, seemingly in agreement.
With a gesture of her hand, Ruri turned on the holo-TV. The screen flickered to life, displaying the latest episode of one of her favorite shows.
Bzzt!
Spoiler| Mahou Shoujo, Meruru-chan! |
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Satisfied with the channel, Ruri relaxed into the sofa.
As she enjoyed her meal, her thoughts drifted to her territory. Now that she had completed both the exam and the quest from Dalmagna, she had the time to look after her territory. But of course, she didn't want to spend too much time on this and lock herself there.
"There's gotta be a better way to manage everything,"
She needed help, but with the territory now filled with poison mist, recruiting Natives as <del>slaves</del> helpers was impossible. Recruiting Players was even more out of the question.
"If this were real life, I could solve this by making a few robots."
Of course, this solution couldn't be applied in the game; there was no way for her to do that.
The equivalents of robots in that world would be Golems, but unfortunately, Hecate did not have any skill associated with Golems. Perhaps spending some Skill Points on the Skill Tree in the Earth direction would eventually get her the skill.
"But do I really want to spend points on that? There has to be another way."
Suddenly, she had another idea. She remembered that the Eldritch Bone Wand now had a skill called Raise Undead.
Spoiler| Skill Name: | Raise Undead |
| Requirement: | ??? |
| Type: | Active |
| MP Costs: | 100 |
| Effect: | Imbues a deceased creature with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an undead creature. -10 Karma for each casts. |
| Description: | One of the spells researched by Lyndell Souren in searching for a way to bring the dead back to life. However, the results were not as expected... |
Although the description said that the spell had to be used on a deceased creature, she wondered if it could work on her clones.
"Could this really be the solution?"
Ruri immersed on her thought, her eyes lighting up with the possibilities. Lost in thought, she absentmindedly reached for her glass of orange juice.
Her gaze accidentally looked towards Kuu, who was munching on the milk candy.
"Kuu, what do you think? Should I try it?" (Ruri)
"Kweeh!"
Kuu responded, seemingly enthusiastic.
Hearing Kuu's words, Ruri smiled, feeling a surge of determination.
"Yeah, you’re right. It’s worth a shot,"
She watched as Meruru's dramatic confrontation continued on the holo-TV, her mind racing with the possibilities of her new plan.
Minor Change
Skill name change:
- Soul Strike -> Dark Strike
- Soul Drain -> Dark Replenish