Insurmountable Odds

Alice recalled Lumière's instructions and began writing in the air:

"Nice to meet you, Thaleia. I will ensure that this journey is successful for both of us. Before we begin, we must establish a bond between us, so please accept the following request."

Thaleia watched as a message screen materialized in front of her. This was similar, yet simpler, than the magic board she could summon at will, where she could learn her skills, view her stats, and check her quests. The screen displayed:

Alice Fontaine has invited you to form a party. Do you accept?

Thaleia didn't hesitate and simply said, "Yes."

Alice looked at her status screen and noticed a new section had appeared: Party. There, she could see Thaleia's information, including her name, level, HP, and MP. Remembering the next step, Alice wrote to the Amazon again:

"Could you allow me to see all the information available to you? You can simply wish for it to happen, and it will."

Thaleia, slightly confused, just nodded her head. After all, the one before her was the guide offered by the Goddess herself, so there was nothing to fear.

Alice then observed how the available information on Thaleia expanded.

Name: Thaleia

Class: Warrior

Level: 1

HP: 60

MP: 12

Might: 12

Finesse: 11

Mystique: 2.5

Essence: 4

'A warrior? Quite fitting for an Amazon,' Alice thought.

She then checked her available skills, realizing she hadn't used her available Skill Point yet, which was good:

 Available Skills (SP: 1)

Heavy Strike (R1 L1) (1 SP): Gain 10 Might for the following strike or until the duration ends. Duration: 10 s,CD: 120 s.

Fortify Weapon (R1 L1) (1 SP): Increases the maximum and current durability of a weapon by 10%. The weight can be increased by up to 10% or decreased by up to 5%. Duration: 300 s, CD: 300 s.

Fortify Armor (R1 L1) (1 SP): Increases the maximum and current durability of all armor by 10%. The weight can be increased by up to 10% or decreased by up to 5%. Duration: 300 s, CD: 300 s.

'A rather simple but effective selection. The absence of MP costs for active skills suggests that warriors don't use MP, or at least not very often. No passive skills available either. It seems the pattern for everyone is different," Alice mused. 'But before making any decisions, I need more information.' She was about to write again but was interrupted by Thaleia:

"I suppose you cannot speak, right?"

Alice looked at her, rather amazed by her remark, which suggested there was more than just brawn to this companion of hers. She nodded her head and wrote in the air:

"You are correct, Thaleia. I lack the ability to speak. I hope this method of communication is not to your dislike."

"Na, it's okay. Don't worry," Thaleia casually played it off.

Alice then continued writing: "Before I help you make a decision in which skill to choose and on how to best assist in your quest, could you tell me what boons and limitations you were offered before coming here?"

"Oh, you mean those things? Yeah, let me think," she paused for a moment. "I was offered the following by fate:"

You are a Warrior.

You can only use swords as weapons.

Your Might is increased by 20%.

You lose 1 SP every ten levels.

Physical attributes gained from titles are enhanced by 20%.

Your Essence is reduced by 30%.

"As for my sacrifices:"

I sacrificed 50% of my Mystique attribute.

I sacrificed my ability to give birth.

Alice was rather surprised by that second sacrifice, not expecting such offerings could be made.

"And for my boons, well, the Goddess was a bit stingy there, and I was denied three times. I ended up being offered:"

Finesse increased by 20%.

Reduction of all physical damage suffered by 20%.

HP regeneration increased by 50%.

Armor durability reduction rate reduced by 30%.

Alice carefully pondered these advantages. They seemed rather underwhelming compared to her own, but her sacrifices were also meager in comparison. In any case, she was a fine specimen, well-suited for her role. Now, the question was how to best utilize her.

***

Dante entertained the notion of going all the way back to the vending machine, where he could weigh the merits of investing in weapons, enhancing attributes, or even spending in a random skill upgrade. Another option was to explore the paths they had bypassed earlier in their adventure. However, the thought of retracing their steps, spending hours rapidly blinking across the extensive distances they had already covered, was overwhelmingly unappealing. Moreover, Dante understood that retreating could turn out to be a mere deferral of an unavoidable confrontation. 

Escaping the challenge at this juncture would establish a precedent for future obstacles, a precedent he deemed unacceptable in the deliberate design of their current predicament. If The Game had designed this encounter to unfold within the so-called Tutorial's boundaries, then it suggested there existed a solution accessible with the resources currently at their command.

His gaze settled once more on the skeletal monarch, resplendent in his bone-crafted armor, a silent challenge personified.

"How am I supposed to overcome this?" Dante pondered, the weight of their situation bearing down on him.

Deep down, Dante knew he held one final maneuver, a contingency plan reserved for the most dire of circumstances. It was an option he had reluctantly acknowledged from the beginning, to be deployed only if he found himself at death's door. Yet, the current predicament, while dire, had not yet pushed him to that brink. The notion of personally stepping into the domain, of directly confronting the domain's lethal aura, was his nuclear option, one he hesitated to activate. This final gambit, though potent, came with its own set of risks and consequences, making it a choice of last resort.

Dante calculated that, considering the speed at which his HP diminished in the domain of the undead, he could sustain himself for approximately two seconds. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the likelihood of falling to an archer's arrow before succumbing to the domain's effects. Despite this brief duration, it provided Virgil with enough time to launch swift, strategic attacks against the skeletal monarch. Following the Immortal Macro, Virgil was able to materialize instantly beside the enemy summoner for a precise hit. He could then summon Dante to any location, and subsequently, Dante could summon him back, positioning Virgil in the summoner's blind spot for the following assault.

It's crucial to recognize that each time one is re-summoned, they materialize in a standing position, devoid of any momentum or velocity. This means Virgil, upon reappearing, would need a brief moment to buff himself, conjure his weapon, and initiate an attack. However, thanks to constant practice and his enhanced stats, Virgil could accomplish all these actions remarkably quickly, in just a fraction of a second.

But now, the second and main problem arose: Dante's pain tolerance. Dante absolutely did not want to endure such suffering again. The agony of being consumed by the undead's domain was, to say the least, unbearable. He would not wish it upon even his enemies. Even a mere fraction of a second felt like an eternity under that pain. It was a pain that felt akin to death.

If Dante had to endure that pain for just one or two seconds, he would seriously reconsider his options, questioning whether there were none. But now, to defeat that mighty foe—a foe stronger and more skilled than Virgil himself, clad in impenetrable armor—how long would it take? One minute? Two? In reality, it would probably be a dozen. Such was the strength of the enemy. Could Dante endure that unending, mind-breaking pain? No, absolutely not. Dante doubted there was anyone in his old world who could. Well, perhaps, after all humans can adapt to anything. But definitely not him. Dante was not accustomed to suffering at this magnitude. Sure, he had struggled and bled from his fingers while pushing himself in a bouldering gym, but that was the extent of it. This was on a completely different level.

This led to one conclusion: even after expending all his SP, even after resorting to his last strategy, Dante could not defeat the enemy. At least, not in their current state. Something had to change. What?

Lost in thought, Dante's mind wandered, grappling with the enormity of their predicament. Time seemed to slip through his fingers like grains of sand, moments blending into one another as he considered their limited options. It was during this absent-minded contemplation that he noticed Virgil advancing, propelled by his own volition. This occurrence piqued Dante's curiosity; it was the first instance of such autonomy. Yet, Dante found himself not startled by this anomaly but rather intrigued. He observed, almost detached, as Virgil summoned skeletal minions, a protective barrier to shield Dante, before moving forward to confront the skeletal monarch head-on.

Virgil's approach to the battle was relentless, yet each encounter ended in defeat. Without hesitation, Dante would summon Virgil back to his side, only for him to go forth once more in a repetitive cycle of struggle and failure. Throughout this process, Dante remained a passive spectator, his gaze fixed on the unfolding battles, his mind racing yet still, caught in the cyclical nature of their efforts.

This continuous loop of summoning, fighting, and losing served as a stark backdrop to Dante's ruminations, a physical manifestation of their stagnant situation. It was a dance of determination and despair, playing out before him, until a sudden realization struck him with the force of a thunderclap. How could he have overlooked such a fundamental element? The epiphany that dawned on him was as simple as it was profound: their most potent ally against the insurmountable odds they faced was not brute strength or cunning strategy, but time itself.