26 Grandma's Presents
"We have returned," Viel declared as they appeared inside their home's Training Room.
The room's door suddenly opened, and Vera appeared with a startled expression on her face.
"Ah, it's good to see you two again!" Vera exclaimed, embracing her grandsons with love.
"Alright, let's go to the living room." Vera proposed as she hugged her grandsons' necks. "Tell me about your adventures in Elysium."
—-
"Lux, you can't be so irresponsible concerning your life!" Vera reprimanded Lux. "And you, Viel. I know you both decided to go separate ways, but you must take care of your little brother."
"Grandma, it's not Viel's fault. It was me who decided to help that boy. Also, Viel nearly killed a Draugr by himself."
"Is that true Viel?" Vera asked incredulously.
"Yes, but it was already weakened and it didn't have an arm."
"Even so it is a big achievement. Not many people are capable of killing a Rank 1 monster while being a beginner." Vera said.
"Will you return to Elysium?" she asked her grandsons.
"Yes." replied both of them at the same time.
Vera let out a sigh, yet she didn't attempt to dissuade her grandsons from their decision. All she could offer them was her support and hope that they would remain safe on their journey through the world that she too had once explored many years ago.
"Is there anything that I can help you with?" Vera asked. "As long as I have it, I will give it to you."
Viel didn't shy. "I believe that I am speaking for both of us when I say that what we need right now is equipment."
When Lux heard his big brother he nodded, because what he said is true.
"How about Beast Cores? I have some as well."
Viel and Lux were surprised. They didn't expect their Grandma to break the rules of the Wildgarde Stronghold set by Gerald, the Guardian of Wildgarde Stronghold.
"I will only give you Four Rank 1 Beast Cores," Vera continued. "Don't worry. Having that many isn't a big deal. Gerald's rules are there to remind the adults to not spoil their kids too much. I'm sure that he will not raise a fuss if I give you four low-grade beast cores."
They accepted it because it would help them increase their strength and allow them to increase their chances of survival if another Monster Outbreak were to happen.
"Good. Now, let's talk about equipment," Vera said. "Let's go back to the training area. The living room is not big enough to unload the items I want to give to you."
Gerald allowed the adults to give equipment to their children for use in Elysium. He had a simple rationale for this. The usage of certain types of equipment required meeting specific requirements.
For example, Faithkeeper, the sword Viel got from the Gacha Pull, required him to have 100 combined Stat Points.
When they reached the training area, Viel and Lux were taken aback in disbelief by the vast quantity of equipment that Vera unveiled before them.
In all honesty, Vera had intended to provide them with rare and unique weapons only if her grandsons sought her assistance.
While Lux was checking which equipment he could use and which to give to Diablo, Viel searched equipment only for himself since Ferto was literally an armor. At most he would need a weapon as he already had a shield.
—--
< Shadow Hunter Set >
Set Requirement: 20 Points to all Stats
– Shadow Hunter Boots
+5 Defense
+10 to Agility
– Shadow Hunter Leggings
+10 Defense
+5 to Agility
– Shadow Hunter Chestplate
+20 Defense
– Shadow Hunter Gauntlets
+10 Defense
+5 to Agility
– Shadow Hunter Mask
+10 Defense
< Shadow Hunter Set Bonus >
– 2 Pieces of Equipment
+3 to Agility
– 3 Pieces of Equipment
+3 to Dexterity
– 4 Pieces of Equipment
+3 to Strength
– 5 Pieces of Equipment
+200 Health Points
+25 All Elemental Resistance
+5% to Critical Strike Chance
20% Damage Reduction from Magical Attacks
—--
'It would work for the time being.' thought Viel.
Next, he searched for a weapon Ferto could use. He also kept in mind that with the Beast Cores his Grandma would give him, he would be able to upgrade Ferto.
After a few minutes of appraising, he finally found a weapon suited for Ferto's combat style.
—--
< Blade of the Sentient Shield >
Rarity: Unique
(One-Handed Sword)
Requirement: Strength 20 and Agility 15
– Attack: 25-35 physical damage
– Grants the wielder a boost of 15% in physical defense while using the sword.
– When the wielder's shield blocks an attack, the sword gains a charge that amplifies the next strike. It can store up to 10 charges.
– Allows you to use the skill Weapon Change
(Weapon Change)
– You can instantly change the position of your sword to the one of your shield.
– Skill Cooldown: 5 minutes.
—--
After upgrading Ferto, he would give him this sword. Thanks to its specs and abilities, along with the Bleeding Shield, Ferto could become the terror of the battlefield.
Viel equipped his Shadow Hunter set and looked like some sort of dark Robin Hood - an assassin waiting for an opportunity to strike.
After that, they thanked their grandma.
"Thank you, Grandma," Viel and Lux.
"You're welcome," said Vera as she returned the other items to her storage ring.
She possessed several items with high requirements, but the sole reason she showed them to her grandsons was to let them know that they were available to them anytime.
After this, they returned to their home to drink some tea as she explained to them, although Viel already knew, about the history of Elysium and Solais.
….
"Grandma, I need your help with something." Viel said.
"What is it, Viel?"
"Thanks to my Body Constitution, I am able to create a Blood Tattoo from the blood of a monster. I would like to ask if you know about someone that can provide it to me."
"I see…It's very similar to the ability of the grandchild of the Rowan Tribe."
"Yeah? What it's her ability?" Viel asked although he knew it.
"She is capable of transforming into a Boar-type monster if she has the corpse of it. But if I remember correctly, she can't exert all the strength of the monster she transforms into." Vera explained.
"I can use the blood of any monster, no matter the strength of it, but I must be able to resist its mental assault. Also, I would gain a trait from the monster whose blood came from."
"I think I knew of someone that could get you some monster blood." Vera continued. "She lives here in Solais, near the Wildgarde Stronghold."
"How can she live outside? It is surrounded by monsters and devoid of life." Viel was surprised, he didn't know about this person his Grandma was talking about. Also, to be able to live without protection in the wild of Solais, you must be very strong.
"Well, she was a very good friend of my son, Alex, and nearly his first love. Sadly, she was willing to die for him, but he wasn't. Your father didn't open his eyes to love until he meet Iris' mother."
"What rank is she?" Viel asked.
"She should be an SS-Ranker nearing the Pseudo-Saint rank"
Now Viel was left completely speechless, how could such a character not have appeared in what he read of the novel.
"And would she be willing to help me? After all, it doesn't sound like they ended on good terms."
"It's true that maybe they didn't end well, but she and I are good friends. In the past, I helped her to try to seduce Alex." Vera said as she recalled the past.
"I'll write her a card about your situation and we'll see if she's willing to help you."
"Ok, thanks Grandma." Viel said as he hugged her and went to his own room.
….
Viel was in his room. Probably doing the same thing as Lux, consuming the Beast Cores that their Grandma have given to them.
According to Vera, the Beast Cores came from the Rank 1 Monster called Night Shade Crow.
This Crow only hunted at night, and it was notorious for preying on the Beginners who happened to step into its hunting grounds.
Not wasting any second, he consumed them.
—-
< Ding! >
< Do you wish to consume the Rank 1 Beast Core? >
< Yes / No >
—-
Viel did the same with the others and obtained 100 Skill Points, 10 Stat Points, and 20 Body Constitution Points.
—--
Name: Viel Von Kaizer
Age: 16
Race: Half-Elf
Rank: (None)
Sub Class: Blacksmith
Health: 550 / 550 → 750 / 750(!)
Mana: 200 / 200
Strength: 30 → 40(!) (+3)
Intelligence: 40
Vitality: 30
Agility: 30 (+23)
Dexterity: 25 (+3)
〚 Luck: 9998〛
Soul: 365
Defense: 85
Special Abilities: Jack-of-All-Trades [EX] Blessing of the OGU [???] [Absorb (4/5) Devour (Unused) Copy (3/4) Steal (3/3)] Blessing of the OGH [???] Gaming Energy-Ticket of Eriol [Divine] (250/5000)
Animancer Skills: Soul Creation [Ex] (0/100) Animating Touch [Ex] Soul Familiar [Ex] Soul Order
Sub Class Skills: Master of Metals [Ex] Heat Resistance [Ex]
Skills: Fury Slash Dark Arrow
Blood Tattoos(0/1): (None)
—--
Special Body Constitution: Crimson Canvas' Legacy (21/100)(!)
Title: Apprentice Blacksmith, Fearless
—--
Elysium Copper Coins: 145
Elysium Silver Coins: 22
Elysium Gold Coins: 0
—--
Viel used all his Skill Points to finally update Ferto.
—-
< Ferto>
"I will protect what needs to be protected"
– Named Arcane Sentinel
– Rating: D+
– Mana: 50
– Progress (10/500)
Health: 1100 / 1100
Mana: 800 / 800
Attack: 77 - 90 (+35 damage from Blade of the Sentient Shield )
Attack Type: Arcane Damage
Strength: 50
Intelligence: 70
Vitality: 46
Agility: 42
Dexterity: 40
Defense: 300
Active Skills: Arcane Barrier(!), Arcane Nova, Arcane Blast(!)
Passive Skills: Blessing of Fire, Blessing of Mana, Intimidating Presence(!)
Title: First Guardian, Knight of Valor(!)
—-
< Arcane Barrier >
– Mana: 35
– Create a potent magical barrier around the user, reducing all incoming damage by 90% for 5 minutes
– While the barrier is active, the user can move at full speed without any negative effects.
– Skill Cooldown: 5 minutes.
< Arcane Blast >
– Mana: 15
– Deals 5 - 15 damage to a single target.
– Range: 30 meters.
–Skill Cooldown: 1 minute.
< Intimidating Presence >
– The user exudes a menacing aura that causes nearby enemies to feel intimidated and hesitant to approach. The effect of this skill varies depending on the user's strength and level.
—--
< Knight of Valor >
– Increases defense by 50% when protecting others.
– Increases damage by 30% against enemies with evil alignments.
—--
After finally upgrading Ferto, he didn't regret investing all of his Skill Points in him. But, this raised a question in Viel's mind. If the higher the requirements to upgrade it were, how much of a monster would Jör be after he upgrade him. Although the price would be enormous for the actual him, more or less 20 Rank 1 Beast Cores, he didn't need to upgrade the Soul Familiar skill as when he invoked Jör it was like the skill and Jör fused into one.
Next, he checked the skill he got from the Beast Cores, Dark Arrow.
—--
< Dark Arrow >
Active Skill: Requires 2 Mana to use
– Hurls an arrow of darkness that has a small chance to blind your target.
< Skill Evolution [EX] detected a new Skill. >
Dark Arrow will be upgraded into Void Arrow once the requirements have been met.
< Void Arrow>
Active Skill: Requires 2 Mana to use
– Hurls an arrow of darkness that has an intermediate chance to blind your target.
– Requirement to upgrade: Successfully blind a target 30x
– Progress ( 0 / 30 )
—--
Viel knew that with his luck, he would be able to upgrade the skill in no time.
….
The next morning, they bid farewell to their Grandma as they prepared to return to Elysium.
"Grandma, we're going now." Viel said.
"Be careful, my darlings. Return home whenever you start to miss it."
They both hugged her.
"Always stay safe," Vera said, waving goodbye to her grandsons.
""Open! Heaven's Gate"" Viel and Lux said at the same time as they disappeared from the training room.
