57 || Sacred Beast Cavern (1)

Alternately, the Obsidian Class Sets were named as such:

The Fire General Set for Vanguards, River Tactician Set for Mages, Onyx General Set for Forefends, Squall Tactician Set for Witches, Steel General Set for Infantries, Jolt Tacticians for Summoners, and the Light General Set for Pugilists.

Unlike usual Equipment, the Set Equipment complete information is sealed from view until worn and then shared. They wouldn't know their full capabilities until each piece is affixed to someone.

Though Obsidian Equipment, they are items that will carry their friends all the way to level 40! The two are eager to take the rewards of their groups' labor and share it with the team. Like the Uniformed Set, each Set came with 5 pieces of gear: Head, Chest, Arm, Leg, and Feet. Each Set when completed gives the wearer an additional Active ability and two Passive abilities. For example, Syringa shares the stats after donning the crimson red and orange Fire General Set:

[Fire General's Armor]

<Increase Dexterity And Attack By 20%>

<20% Chance Of Increasing Damage By 100%

<Active Set Effect: Scorching Rush>

<Increase Movement Speed By 200%>

<Charge At Incoming Enemy While Enveloped In Flames>

<Deals 100% Attack Damage (50% Physical + 50% Fire)>

<Passive Set Art 1: Fan The Flames>

<Extends Reach By 5 Feet>

<Passive Set Art 2: Ignition Point>

<10% Chance Of Causing An Explosion Which Deals an Additional 500 Fire Damage>

"Are they the same if another Vanguard wears it? What of the other Class Sets?" Izel, ever curious, asks the group. Upon having Purple Bull wear the Fire General's Armor, as well as having others wear and swap gear, the group discovers that the Passive Set Skills change based on who is wearing it! After recording the differences down and figuring out who would receive the most benefits, their group finally headed towards Sacred Beasts Cavern.

[You have entered Continuous Dungeon: Sacred Beasts Cavern!]

Everyone then receives a separate individual prompt just as they wait towards the exit. It details that they only had to defeat four of the eight Bosses. This is a relief to the few Artisans among them for while they certainly saw the thrill of challenge, it truly wasn't for them after all this. However, they only had three lives per Boss. If at all they died a fourth time during a Boss fight, they would not return to the previous rest point but back to their starting point. For Tara's group that is the village.

They all take this to heart as they venture deeper into the cavern. Soon they came to another opening. It leads to a wide half circular room twenty meters tall and equally as wide. A large red crystal about the size of an average human man spins slowly within the other opening. Crafty Goliath, now as the person with the highest physical defense, takes half a step forward.

That's all that is needed as the crystal glows. Figures reminiscent of the Kindle Dolls spawn. They are significantly more detailed and better equipped. With light armor, a buckler shield, and a curved saber, up to ten monsters appear.

[Destroy the crystal to stop spawning the monsters!]

"Alright! Show us what your gear can do!" Tara cheers excitedly. As someone who makes weapons she is eager to see what such high quality Equipment could do.

Purple Bull, who towers over her especially, smiles as he tightens his grip on his weapon. The Flint Aardwolf Broadsword pulses with an encouraging but powerful warmth as if the blade itself is happily looking for a fight.

His entire body is engulfed in flames as he charges with Scorching Rush. The first passive ability Spark Strike boosts his attack speed by 20%. If before he could strike twice with two swings then now he can do three!

Mauve Hammerhead's 5% boost in healing spells from his Blossom Gator Bookmark jumps to 15% from the River Tactician's Robes Bank of Rest. An energy field appears over Purple Bull as he collides with a monster, from Mauve's Bubble Block spell.

Crafty Goliath rushes forward casting Mountain Call to draw four of the Kindle Vanguards to him. Once his best Hatred attracting Skill does it's work, Goliath stabilizes his footing and shifts his boxy great shield.

There's clangor as he blocks three swords but the fourth passes through his defenses. However, between the solar energy coating his body and the Onyx General's Armor's Rock Body, he hardly feels the blow as it bounces off.

The Squall Tactician's Robes billow as Flame Ribbon twirls her Ember Wolf Rod. Twin arrows made from pure fire appear and before anyone can blink they've already struck one of Kindle Vanguards. Flame Ribbon's casting speed as well as the speed of her Crafts are boosted thanks to the passive Skills Wind Piercer and Wind Shear. Her circlet shines in the fire light.

Kingdom Lock brandishes her two swords. In her main hand is the Mercurial Wolf Scimitar that Tara crafted for her. In her offhand is Carringer's Tip which they received in a Dungeon Run just before the Event started. It is a straight bladed one-handed longsword, made with silver metal except for the purplish green center.

Lock vanishes from everyone's sight as she reappears in front of a Kindle Vanguard. Her strikes are so fast the monster can't block any of them before getting blown away into the air from her strength. The explosive change caught everyone's attention.

Not even looking as she blocks a strike from behind, Lock observes herself. The pieces of Steel General Armor felt lightweight while her swords felt like they were brimming with power. Kingdom then recalls that her Elemental affinity is Metal, the same as the Equipment she now wore.

Well, the only way to test the theory was to fight more! Her eyes sparkle as she turns her heel, ducking under the Saber of the monster behind her, swiping at its waist with both swords.

With Purple facing one Kindle Vanguard, Lock decimating two by herself, Goliath and Ribbon whittling down four, there are four more monsters left. Asuka smirks as she knows what's coming. Though they couldn't play a virtual reality game until now, like her Storm Kitty and Straw Monkey had done simulation training since youth.

Straw Monkey actually moves first to engage the four enemies! Though not as quick or strong as Lock, the fact that a non-Forfend player fought all of them fairly easily is amazing.

The Light General Armor's Set enhanced his perception with Light The Way. Now he is able to read the monster's minute movements to some degree, allowing him to dodge multiple attacks with some ease.

While her boyfriend is distracting them, Storm Kitty goes into action. Normally as a Summoner some time is needed to call upon help. This is another reason Summoners' are frowned upon. When Citrine and Opal wore The Jolt Tactician Set, they found their conjuring time cut in half. With Storm Kitty, it is very different.

Whereas Kingdom Lock now displays powerful ability and speed, there is no change in the Essence around her. For Storm Kitty, Lightning Essence rolls off her golden arakhchin on her head, lightning blue vest, golden robe covering her arms and legs, and lightning blue boots.

Usually invisible unless using a Skill or focusing one's energies, misty Essence can now be seen by all. Her Wind and Lightning Wisps, the lowest level of summon one could call, come to her side almost automatically. Not only that but instead of a featureless baseball size orbs of energy, they are distinctly the form of a wind green and white tabby plus a calico with different shades of yellow. Having proper forms raises their power and longevity to entirely different levels.

A small ball of static rotates around Storm Kitty as a storm blue lynx manifests in between the two Wisps. Her Familiar has finally made its appearance. They rush forward and each take a Kindle Vanguard relieving the pressure Straw Monkey is facing.

In a matter of several minutes, all ten monsters are defeated swiftly and without much fanfare. It is clear that the Class Set made an Explorer as strong as a Novelist! Maybe even more so if the Set aligned with a person's elemental affinity, like Kingdom Lock and Storm Kitty!

The drops are neither the mysterious crystals nor any Tier shards but instead two books. Of the 10 monsters, 9 dropped a book labeled [Prowess] while the last left behind an unmarked book.

For melee classes the Prowess book teaches them Weapon Proficiency. This can, for example, improve a weapon's damage output by a certain percentage. Alternately, the caster classes are given Spell Proficiency with the chances increasing range for instance. Similar to the Artisans' growth system in which using their tools would allow them to grow, it was previously inaccessible to the combat players.

Jumping Sash's looks at the book with star filled eyes. Just at a glance Jumping Sash could tell both books are Iron tier which means her own copies would be Obsidian.

She would get plenty of Proficiency and their Workshop would make some good Coins if they placed it on Auction.

"And this one is...a Morale Book?" Pakeeja reads the title aloud. There was nothing else to the description. Pakeeja asks Gladiolus for a physical copy instead of sharing the information. Their eyes flash with a peculiar glow. After a few seconds Pakeeja shakes their head.

"My Appraisal Art isn't high enough. This must be really rare!" Instead of disappointment, wonder shines in their eyes. Izel wiggles her hands with a 'gimme!' gesture floating the book before her. She flicks her fingers in the air as if she was conducting, with a translucent purple screen appearing before everyone.

[Casting Identify...running spell through Artificer's Looking Glass [Minor Artifact]...3...2...1...Unable to identify!]

"What!? But I won that Artifact specifically for this!" Izel gawks, slamming her hands on her wheelchair's arms.

"Can I give it a try?" Tara asks and the book is floated to her side. As Tara plucks the item from the air, Wolyung and Oorun appear at her sides. No longer the young kids they now appear as graceful and beautiful teens. Wolyung is adorned in an ocean blue, snow white, and silk silver hanbok. Her cyan hair tied back with a mysterious ghost of a smile on her lips. Oorun in turn has her ruddy brown locs hidden underneath a black headscarf wearing a crimson red, charcoal black and sunny gold atoghu. Her arms are crossed as she squints at the book.

"Oh I know what this is! Big Sis spirit told about these; they can teach someone how to get a burst of power in a desperate time or elevate skill to its highest potential." Oorun chirps, her amber eyes glowing with excitement.

Tara goes to ask a question but realizes everyone is waiting for an answer. She carefully explains what the book is for, making everyone excited about their haul. Gladiolus volunteers to test what the Prowess book really does. Immediately two things happen when she opens the book from her status: First, she gains the title [Shieldmaiden (Beginner)] which raises her Block Rate by 1 percent for being the first Forfend to use the book.