Chapter 10 - Mana Bond

Sitting on the bench, Rynold checked the spoils from the fight.

There were a total of three spellbooks and two equipment pieces that were dropped over the course of the fight. One of the spellbooks was actually the one Rynold already gave to Skye, Strengthen.

The other two books were Magic Skill Books but there were no heal-type spells between them.

[Wind Blade]

Magic Skill Book

Throws a blade of wind at an enemy dealing 20 base wind damage to the target enemy.

Cost: 5 Mana

[Fireball]

Magic Skill Book

Casts a ball of fire dealing 25 base fire damage to the target enemy.

Cost: 5 Mana

As much as Rynold wanted to use these skills for himself, he didn't think it was a smart idea to keep depending on a single person. Besides, with the way he's fighting now, he would not be comfortable fighting on the backline.

Throwing the Wind Blade book to Skye for her to learn, Rynold kept looking at his inventory while ignoring Elle's sharp gaze.

[Darkend Edge]

Bladed Weapon

Durability: 100/100

Attack Power +35

Weapon Requirements: Agility 25

A one-sided dagger that is infused with the power of darkness.

Additional Passive Skill: One with Darkness

- When equipped, increases the user's Agility and stealth in dark areas.

Additional Active Skill: Darkened Strike

- Infuses the weapon with darkness, dealing 200 dark magic damage to the target enemy. Can critically strike.

- Cooldown: 50 seconds

'This is pretty neat, but I can't use it.' Rynold sighed as he pulled the weapon from his inventory and threw it to where Oliver was. With a simple nod, Oliver understood what it meant and kept it in his inventory.

The last piece of equipment that actually stood out to Rynold in his inventory was something that he hoped to be good and something that he could actually use in the New World.

[Mana Gauntlets]

Gauntlet Equipment

Durability: Infinite

Attack Power +10% of user's Intelligence

Equipment Requirements: Intelligence 40, Mana Bond

Gauntlets made from a long-lost civilization embued with special magic that is long lost.

Additional Passive Skill: Mana Engine

- When bonded, reduces the bond's max Mana by 20%.

Additional Passive Skill: Gauntlet Form

- Gauntlets can change between two forms:

- Strength-form: Changes the gauntlets' size to a big fist, producing better Attack Power by 20% while reducing Attack Speed by 5%.

- Speed-form: Changes the gauntlets' size to a glove, increasing Attack Speed by 10%.

Additional Active Skill: Charging Fist

- By absorbing a part of the bond's max Mana, the gauntlets gain power. Once activated, the gauntlets deal 200 physical damage to a single target enemy and dealing 12% of the damage to enemies in a cone.

- Cooldown: 5 minutes

'Wow...' Rynold stared in amazement. He had no idea what the Mana Bond meant but he knew this item was something that he could use for a long time. With its scaling element of Intelligence, it could even carry him to later levels.

The problem of equipping this would be the Mana Engine passive which takes a massive toll that can't be removed. But once again looking at the Charging Fist active and the attack power boost, he pulled it out from his inventory right away.

Hands out, Rynold held the gauntlets in his hand. It was silver in color and looked brittle like a single blow could break it down.

But Rynold knew otherwise.

It was the first equipment that Rynold ever got and he was itching to wear it. Choosing 'Equip' on the window that displayed the gauntlets' stats, a new window popped up that made Rynold second guess the whole thing.

[You lack the necessary Attributes to equip this item.]

Distracted by the equipment, Rynold didn't notice that he needed 40 points in his Intelligence to be able to use the gauntlets. Luckily, he managed to level up once more in the fight against the Evolved Ghoul and decided to put another 20 points into his Intelligence, pushing the Attribute to 40.

His maximum Mana shot to 80 points and made him instantly refreshed like he just got out of a hot bath — apart from the battle dirt that is. Regardless, he chose to save the last 10 points for a rainy day and proceeded with the equipping procedure of the gauntlets.

[Do you wish to form a Mana Bond with this item?]

[Yes / No]

It was a simple yes or no window that decided whether he would use this item for the rest of his life in the New World. He let out a small laugh because of how such a simple thing like a window could decide if he would stick to this item or not.

Rynold hesitantly pressed yes.

The gauntlets before him shined with a bright white light, changing its originally dusty appearance to something that appeared to be completely brand new.

After the bright light dissipated, the gauntlets flew into Rynold's hand, equipping the item for him. His maximum Mana shot down to 64 points because of the debuff that came from the Mana Bond. With that, a new window appeared.

[Mana Bond established!]

[A Mana Bond is a contract of one party to another by syncing the mana cores of both parties, one influencing the other and vice versa. As one party of the contract grows stronger, the other also grows stronger.]

The vague explanation of the Mana Bond made Rynold think about what the Mana Gauntlets had for him. He thought what would happen if they came across a person with multiple Mana Bonds, would that mean they were screwed. Rynold started to spiral in deep thought.

Before it could get any worse, Oliver saw what was happening to his friend and snapped him out of it. Oliver knew how bad Rynold's overthinking could become so he had to stop it.

"Thanks," Rynold said as he moved to let Oliver sit on the bench. Skye sat beside Oliver and closed her eyes to rest. Meanwhile, Elle stood to the side, still staring daggers at Rynold.

Sighing, Rynold pulled the Fireball spellbook and threw it to Elle. As much as he wanted to keep it for himself, he had no other choice now. At least they were keeping things professional, or that's what Rynold was doing.

Elle managed to catch the book and spun to show her displeasure like saying 'that's how it should be' with her actions.

Rynold ignored his ex-girlfriend's actions and checked his inventory one last time before moving on. He found something unusual from his last check and tapped on a dark stone that he didn't notice.

[Ghoul Evolution Material]

[A dark stone that is dropped from killing an Evolved Ghoul. Its dark energy attracts nearby ghouls.]

That explained why all the ghouls managed to gather in one particular spot. 'What possible use could this have?' Rynold thought.

Drops don't necessarily mean something that can be useful. Rynold decided to keep the stone for now and pulled the overcooked steak that he had cooked earlier.

Oliver's eyes widened as he greedily stared at the container.

"You had time to cook a steak?!" Oliver asked as Rynold was handing the plastic container to him.

"Yeah, I knew you guys were safe anyway so I thought I might as well make some," Rynold replied.

"Pssh. Of course, you did." Oliver said as he swallowed a mouthful of meat.

"Hey, come on. Share some," Skye held out her hand.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to gather some food when I was at the cafeteria. Some stuff happened on the second floor that kind of made a lot of things unedible," Rynold said with an expression of grief.

"Anyway," snapping out from what he saw in the building, "we gotta go to find some supplies in the city. Do you think we can hijack a car at the parking lot?"

"Yeah, shouldn't be a problem. You got any plans for what we're going to do once we get out of here? And what you're going to do with her?" Oliver replied while gesturing at Elle.

"Kind of," Rynold replied while standing up, "I'll tell you once we get a ride."

Making its way to Elle was standing, Rynold frustratingly let out a sigh.

He tapped on the girl's shoulder, only to find himself in a different situation from what he expected.

Elle threw out her arms and hugged Rynold, tears on her beautiful face. "Just this once," she whispered as her voice trembled.

Rynold was stunned and didn't know what to do. This was one of the things that would never happen even if the world was ending — which it was.

Patting her back, Rynold stood still as time seemed to freeze. His mind daydreamed to a simple time when they were still together, only to remember that things between them ended a long time ago.

After Elle let go, she turned around once again, dare not to show her face to Rynold.

"Ehem, do you have a place where you plan to go?" Rynold coughed trying to change the awkwardness of the situation.

Elle shook her head in response. Trying not to pry any further, Rynold decided to go back to sit on the bench and rest for a little while. One single step was all it took as Elle suddenly said, "We broke up."

"Sucks for both of you," Rynold said nonchalantly as he made his way back to the bench, not knowing that she didn't mean the relationship between her and her current boyfriend. It was about something else instead.