Qliphoth Equipment
At this point of the timeline, we might as well be the assigned prey of the Lone Rider. Our effort of resistance might also increase our worth as an important target.
We weren't facing a mindless, decipherable enemy. We currently were against the very concept of 'hunting' with the four of us being the ultimate 'preys'.
After I scraped out all of the attached tidbits of the dark tissue and flesh inside the gauntlet, I inserted my right hand into it, wearing it as part of my equipment.
"Kuh…!"
The gauntlet started to embrace me as its new owner, warping into the very skin of my hand with a painful twisting, thrusting its living metal into my bones and veins.
[Wraithgrip (Qliphoth 95%) - 2.5 kg: The Wraithgrip is a gauntlet forged from an evil Theotech-influenced metal, seemingly harvested from the very essence of the abyss. Its surface shimmers with an unnatural gleam, reflecting no light but instead casting a shadow that dances like smoke. Crafted by the smiths of the underworld and blessed by the Lord of the Hunt, this gauntlet is impervious to all elements and corrosive substances, resisting fire, frost, acid, and lightning with equal disdain. Physical attacks slide off its surface, unable to penetrate or even scratch its dark, polished exterior.
The interior is lined with a material that seems to shift and pulse as if alive, conforming perfectly to the wearer's hand while whispering in forgotten tongues—a symphony of lost souls woven into the fabric. When worn, the Wraithgrip grants the bearer an otherworldly strength, amplifying their grip to the extent that bones and steel alike can be crushed with ease. Upon contact with flesh, the gauntlet emits a chilling sensation, leeching warmth and vitality from its victims, as if drawing from an endless well of cold malice. Additionally, if worn with the whole armor set, the wearer will bears the mark of the Wild Hunt, a sigil that burns with a cold, white fire when blood is spilled, acting as a beacon to those who ride under the same cursed banner]
[Warning: This piece of equipment can't be removed by normal means]
"Are you okay!?" Lupina shouted with a weary worry all over her face, right after she was stunned and speechless when she saw me trying to wear this seemingly cursed piece onto my body.
"Ahaha, I'm alright." I couldn't help but grin and raise my eyebrows, since my first instinct when reading the detail screen of the equipment was to wear it. "In fact, this gauntlet seems to be liking me more than I expected."
"You're one scary woman," Verina said with her usual poker face. "That's why I like you."
—
[Health Status]
[Overall Health: 70%, Pain: 135%]
—Vitals—
[Consciousness: 75%]
[Movement: 70%]
[Manipulation: 895%]
[Hearing: 150%]
[Sight: 75%]
[Breathing: 85%]
[Blood Filtration: 85%]
[Blood Pumping: 140%]
[Metabolism: 60%]
[Lifeline: 70%]
[Sanity: 30%]
—Injuries—
[Left Hand: Sprained (moderate - 20% pain, -30% manipulation)]
[Right Hand: Bruised (moderate - 15% pain, -20% manipulation)]
[Left Arm: Fractured (moderate - 30% pain, -40% manipulation)]
[Right Leg: Strained Muscle (moderate - 25% pain, -30% movement)]
[Ribs: Bruised (moderate - 25% pain, -15% movement, -10% breathing)]
[Head: Minor Concussion (moderate - 20% pain, -10% consciousness)]
—Conditions—
[Heightened Consciousness: This individual take reduced influence from all sort of negative modifier to the mind (moderate - 25% consciousness for the next 5 hours)]
[Exhaustion: Severe (reduces consciousness, movement, and manipulation by an additional 15%)]
[Adrenal Overload: (Increases blood pumping but lowers metabolism and lifeline sustainability)]
—Enhancements—
[Wraithgrip: The ancient will of the Theotech God bestows the resilient with limitless ambition and potential]
—
[{Biography} {Inventory} <{<strong >Health}> {Needs} {Social} {Log} {Info}]
—
It seemed like the whole gauntlet was also counted as an enhancement in its own way.
The enhancement didn't seem to reflect on my Manipulation, but it definitely increased my overall stats and strength within the Info section of my detail screen, that one menu that bombarded you with endless paragraphs of numbers and details.
Those three seemed to be intimidated and worried by the fact that I was able to safely equip this without any prior proper appraisal, which was thanks to my ability to open the detail screen of equipment.
Though, Tahlia seemed to be less surprised than the other two. Probably because of our interaction before the Ordeal of the Midnight.
"... The hunter is coming again," Tahlia notified us.
With one of its hands severed, the Lone Rider appeared to be much more wary than usual.
"Lupina, give me your broadsword." I extended my right hand whilst maintaining my gaze toward our sole nemesis. "Focus on becoming Verina's legs. Maintain distance, avoid attack, and keep both of you safe."
"... I trust you."
I equipped the steel broadsword on my right hand, while the obsidian dagger on my left.
With this, the Lone Rider should treat me as a much more dangerous prey than the other.
"Heh, this should do it."
Walking steadily within the fog of Carcosa's night, its pair of fiery orbs were aimed directly at our souls.
Before we knew it, the armored hunter was already dashing forward with predatory gait.
It hurled its spiked cudgel and its sword at the same time. However, the moment Verina pulled her trigger, the Lone Hunter immediately changed its direction of velocity and sidestepped with inhumane agility.
But that was what Verina wanted, as the spell that she chambered inside her musket was merely a dud of spark that didn't do anything.
"Now!"
Already positioning myself comfortably, I launched my steel broadsword at the armor gap below its two-sprouting right arms.
Spark of clashing steel was showered onto the sideway.
My attack was immediately parried by its cudgel, and it immediately swung its sword as a nasty follow up.
But just before it could connect, a powerful combustion of heat had already smashed itself onto its head, disorienting its movement and allowed me to safely avoid the attack.
"Huff!"
My left hand flicked the obsidian dagger forward, inflicting a laceration on the armor gap at its upper neck, right below the chin.
The dark-forsaken blood was sprayed all over the place.
But I doubted that it was enough to take it down.