The Glove
While the two rings were narrowly specialized tools, she had different plans for her glove.
'Empower linked with Enchant linked with focus, empower linked with control, and empower linked with strength.'
(Empower -> Enchant) -> (Focus, (Empower -> Control), (Empower -> Speed, Strength))
(AN: Here, I will probably start using this new code-like notation for runes as the old way is becoming too confusing with more complicated enchants like this.)
The comforting warmth of the energy flowing through her palm tingled her fingers. The six runes formed and lit up on the dark metal of her glove.
Yet she didn't stop as eight, ninth runes etched in a fiery orange glow: 'Empower linked with heat.' Beads of sweat poured down her fair skin while her legs trembled, each rune requiring more and more focus as their energies disrupted the process of etching more.
At last, the color returned to her face as she sighed out of pure relief—the last line of the final rune simply pulsing in sync with the orange gemstone.
'Good that I left you to be the last one.' She felt that without her recent skill advancement and the precision of experience that came with it, she wouldn't be able to etch the last rune.
She felt like she could manage even the tenth rune, but from the flicker of the gemstone, she could see that its energy was barely enough for nine.
'You are my primary casting tool. You will serve as a replacement and addition to my wand. I will call you simply Glove.' She thought while dreamily observing her creation.
Ding!
//
Name: Glove
Type: Semi-crystalised Focus Integrated-Core Casting Glove
Difficulty: Nice, you have managed to etch nine runes into a single tool. | [+10 points]
Creation Speed: Well...| [+0 points]
Mana control improvement factor: x 1.20 general, x 1.15 fire | [+20 points]
Spell-magnification factor: x 1.70 general, x 2.2 fire, x 1.15 blood | [+25 points]
Special features:
Fire Affinity D | [+20 points]
Null Affinity E | [+10 points]
Blood Affinity G | [+2 points]
Bonus:
You have slain the beast by yourself and avoided foreign mana contamination: +15% to the power of all enchants and effects. [+15 points]
Calculating total points, please wait...
//
Seeing the result, Tia silently whistled. The magnification factor reached a new level of height while also improving control, bringing a smile back to her face.
'Yup, my old wand was a piece of garbage.'
Ding!
//
Total points: 87
Your reward: +2 WP; +2 MAG; +1 to ENE
Skill progress: [Journeyman Artificing] 8% -> [Journeyman Artificing] 15%
//
Ding!
//
Do you wish to submit your creation for evaluation for the special mission?
//
Tia wasn't satisfied. 'No, I am not finished.'
The creations, as intricate and powerful as they were individually, were meant to be part of a set. But to complete the set, she needed more runes.
Tia flexed her gloved fingers, closing and opening her fist. The exotic alloy was light, and the magic leather was flexible.
'The fit is good.'
Energy pulsed through her as she channeled it into the gauntlet, and bright, almost white flames, enchanted and empowered by the runes etched into the glove, erupted from her open palm. The heat and brightness were intense, and the temperature of the flames exceeded her previous limit by a large margin.
"The final test," Tia muttered. She seized the energy current exiting the glove, directing it into her offensive ring. A surge of white flames, brighter and hotter, burst forth, reflecting the amplified power resulting from the combination of the gauntlet and ring.
A satisfied grin spread across her face. 'There is no conflict.'
The artifacts were in harmony—both infused with her mana, carrying the essence of the same wyvern and neutral mana from the stones—making the chained effects possible, an achievement that would have been unattainable with mismatched magical tools.
Tia's heartbeat resonated in the silence of the room, each pulse echoing the sudden intrusion of an unexpected presence. The flames, dancing and untethered a moment ago, dissipated instantly at the sound of the familiar voice.
"This is quite an interesting thing."
Tia's breath hitched. The light, rhythmic tap of steps against the metal floor of the workshop was as familiar as it was unsettling.
She cursed the timing silently. 'Why do people always appear at such a bad time?' The complaint lingered unspoken as she turned, her eyes meeting the intense red gaze of the black-haired noble.
The noblewoman's gaze was fixated on the glove.
"You know, countries would be willing to wage wars for you if they saw what I just saw," she remarked, and a smile graced her features.
The red in her eyes intensified. "You have only the power of a very strong G rank, but the power you just summoned with your little toy already belongs to F rank."