Nameless Uchigatana
Soran held the object in his palm and opened it to reveal two identical rings. "Philosopher Rings? If the user is level 30 or below, they receive 5 Skill Points. Since I'm above level 20, I can use up to 2 stacks, which means I'll instantly get 10 Skill Points for free...Wow, I didn't think of something this way," he murmured after reading the floating windows of the items.
The possibilities that could be unlocked with these 10 SP were significant, at least for the time being. Soran considered investing them in MP Capacity or Attack MP Recovery. And this was just from two rings; Soran hadn't yet explored more of the equipment in the room.
"Katana...of course," Soran muttered as he walked towards the weapon. "All of these have unique rarity, huh...hmm...isn't this?"
—
[Katana] Nameless Uchigatana+B
Base ATK: 169
Potential: (0) [Broken]
Dark Element +21% damage to Light
Attack+5%
Critical Rate+22
Critical Damage+20
DEF 0% MDEF 0%
Dodge 0
Slot 1: [Crystal] Durakar
—
Soran chuckled as he lifted the sword from the glass case, sheathed it, and examined the shape of the sharp, gleaming blade. Although the sword was quite ordinary in shape and color, with no engravings or additional decorations, its stats were what made it interesting.
"This is a weapon that fails after fill stats, but its failure is not in a negative sense, quite the opposite," Soran explained. "Usually, a failed stats would result in negative numbers, but this one remains neutral, you could say it doesn't decrease anything. In the market, these kinds of weapons are highly sought after due to the rarity of their stats."
It was also clear that the katana had a Refine +B, which was already more than sufficient for an early weapon. However, Soran knew that this weapon wasn't suitable for large-scale raids in the vampires or demons' dungeons. The reason why some players dropped it in one of the vampire dungeons remained a mystery. But regardless, the end result was now in his favor.
As with any equipment, there were slots in which Crystals or Orbs could be inserted, providing additional attribute bonuses or even innate skills. "And this Crystal of Durakar...um...I've never actually heard of it myself," Soran muttered, intrigued by the red crystal embedded in the hilt of the sword.
—
[Crystal] Durakar
Type: Weapon Crystal
Description: A fragment of power from the fluttered wings of the dragon Durakar. When the blade unsheathes, it gains invulnerability for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 150 seconds.
Natural HP Regen +12%
Natural MP Regen +12%
M. ATK -5% Cast Speed -5%
Water Resistance -25%
—
Another unique aspect of the Nameless Uchigatana was that it didn't have a minimum level restriction, but it did require the user to have a class from the Samurai branch. "This is more than enough, Anubis. I've looked at some of the skills from Yami no Kenshi, and they are all dark elemental. This katana is perfectly suited for my current circumstances."
"Then you have a better idea of what you need next," Anubis remarked, feeling confident in Soran's knowledge. "Everything here is at your disposal, but I suggest only taking what you truly need."
Soran laughed with joy and replied, "Of course, I won't venture into the open world carrying all these valuable items." As an experienced player, Soran was well aware of the rarity of the items showcased in the room. While some were classified as common, they still possessed unique aspects.
Take the Nameless Uchigatana, for example. Soran was certain that any player who used it in a raid was a beginner. Not only were there more suitable weapons available for such endeavors, but also inserting a rare Crystal, which provided additional stats and a skill, into a common-level weapon was a fatal mistake.
"While I choose other equipment... there must be something you'd like to ask, correct? I'll do my best to answer it... based on my perspective," Soran offered, casting a glance at some of the glass cases in the room.
If there was a reason why Anubis hadn't hesitated in making Soran their companion, it was because of the knowledge he possessed. First, there was the undeniable connection between Dravenic and Soran—a bond that Anubis couldn't ignore. But beyond that, it was Soran's understanding of this strange world that intrigued Anubis.
"It's about the demons," Anubis said softly, leaning against the corner wall of the room. "Have you ever come across anything about Obscura Véus?"
The name sounded familiar, in the sense that all demon names were peculiar and hard to remember for players, including Soran. He hesitated for a moment as his hand reached for an item, trying to recall where he had heard that name before. If he had never encountered it at all, Soran could simply say so. However, this time, he felt a flicker of familiarity.
"Is there... any other information you can provide?" Soran inquired, hoping for more details. "Perhaps about its background?"
"A demon with the ability to manipulate minds and perceptions."
That was it. That was the information he needed. Something began to resurface in Soran's memory. "Obscura Véus... demons... manipulation... a hypnotist? AHA!" Soran exclaimed, pointing his index finger upward as if a light bulb had just lit up above his head.
"On a personal level, I don't know if there's a specific quest about the background of this demon, but I have heard in ancient native folklore that there was indeed a demon with such abilities," Soran began to recount.
The memory fragment Soran had was like a short story inserted in a side quest, one that raised intrigue but did not offer any further storyline continuation. "I'm quite certain that Obscura Véus didn't appear in the upper world along with the other demons when the Land of Dawn patch was released. But there's one more thing I know—"
In the end of the tale, due to Obscura Véus's incredibly dangerous abilities, which posed a threat even to the demon races themselves, the decision was made to seal Obscura Véus in a completely separate dimension.
"I heard that it was the Demon Lord himself who created the seal... with assistance from the Generals. Besides, I don't think many players of The Last Fantasy would delve into in-game folklore as deeply as me," Soran remarked.
Anubis remained lost in thought, leaning against the wall with his chin resting on his hand, gazing downward. It was new knowledge, another fragment that could potentially connect to the triggers he had possessed from the beginning. "Hmm... and what do you know about summoning rituals?" he asked.
Soran looked up, pondering for a moment. "Well... from what I know, summoning rituals are usually used to bring forth demons. As for vampires like yourself... um, I'm not entirely sure. Now that you mention it, I feel like there's a gap in my own understanding," he mumbled, expressing his doubts.
Meeting Soran's gaze, Anubis explained, "We vampires possess our own knowledge and methods. There are various ways to surface, but in doing so, there are many risks to be faced, which ultimately prevent them from returning to the underworld."
Even in this world, there were simple vampire or demon-like monsters, but they lacked any form of thought, moving following a predetermined algorithm—as if they were the weakest incarnation of their respective races. One might even refer to them as mere zombies to be exact.
Soran inquired, "You wouldn't be asking without a purpose, would you? Is there something you're planning?"
"Indeed," Anubis replied softly, closing his eyes. "It relates to the demons, particularly Obscura Véus. Or you could say we have recently encountered each other."
Soran momentarily paused his equipment selection upon hearing Anubis's words. "Heh, that's very intriguing. It seems it's not just you; there are other aspects that don't quite align with the backstory from when I used to play the game," he remarked.
In fact, these inconsistencies in the backstory only fueled Soran's curiosity further, compelling him to uncover the true secrets of the realm. Was this the same game world he had played for years, or was it truly a different realm altogether?