Chapitre 51: 51, Flames of Fate A Potion-Fueled Duel
"Ugh… that's hot!"
However, they can't evade the flames bursting from Firelight, chipping away at TT's HP.
"I need to finish this before they use a potion!"
"Don't underestimate me! Burst!"
A wave of energy erupts from TT's body, propelling them backward… there's no damage; it seems like a skill to push opponents away. How can they still use it with no MP left?
"Damn it, I got forced to use Burst… I let my guard down because they're in a production class…"
Is Burst their trump card? If so, can't they use it again? In that case… I'll exploit the moment they're using a potion and use Fairy Fire Gate!
"Were you off guard…?"
"Just a little!"
TT takes a big step back and starts drinking a potion! I won't let them escape!
I stab Firelight into the ground!
"Fairy Fire Gate!"
"Below me!? It's huge!?"
A massive magic circle unfolds beneath TT's feet… in that instant, my vision is engulfed in bright red.
"The outcome of the duel has been decided! Winner: Lena! Both parties will be restored to their pre-duel states."
My body is enveloped in light, and everything is fully healed. However, the effect range of the Fairy Fire Gate envelops the entire area within the barrier…
"Even if it was a single blow that spent most of my MP, that was insane... If the Fairy Fire had the effect of burning me, it could have been a tie...
"I meant to strike but got burned instead... What kind of sorcery was that? It's a killer on the first encounter... I need fire resistance gear for sure."
"Well, at least I was hit once..."
"The Shot Knuckle is a ranged attack, so I didn't actually hit you! Still, I guess I should feel lucky to have fought while listening to Rhea's live song."
"More importantly, here's the delivery item. Take it."
I operated the system interface and sent the crafted weapon to TT.
"Oh, you made it so quickly! Thanks! I should have received this before the duel."
"No, I called you here because I made it, right? You didn't take a kick, so the outcome doesn't change."
For now, the delivery was settled.
Turning to the spectators, Phoebe rushed up to me.
"Lena! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine. We both came out unscathed, right? This duel is a post-battle recovery type, more like a competition than a fight."
"Even so, duels should be done in moderation, you know? It would be sad if that caused a rift between us."
"True, player-versus-player combat can lead to disagreements, but I'm sure we're okay, right? TT, we get along pretty well, don't we?"
"Rhea! Can I have your autograph? Oh, that last song was amazing!"
"Of course! Thanks for always cheering us on!"
TT had received a sign from Rhea.
He hadn't heard a word from us...
"..."
"..."
A silent tension lingered between him and Phoebe.
"You let your love for idols win over friendship, didn't you?"
"TT, we're friends, right? Lena?"
Uran commented, while Phoebe shot him a questioning glance.
"…TT, can I bury it?"
He plunged Archie into the ground behind TT.
This restless feeling, should I bury it with TT…?
"Just so you know, I'm still angry, Renna."
"…About what?"
"That you knew Rhea but told me a perfect lie when I found out."
...Oh right, that did happen. I didn't have a connection with Rhea back then.
Am I being suspected of lying? Is that why the duel was initiated?
"I didn't have any ties to Rhea back then; I only connected with her at the very start of the summer event."
"What Lena says is true!"
"Seriously? How lucky can you be!?"
TT was shocked by Rhea's words; it didn't feel like meeting her was a stroke of luck, but I decided to stay silent to avoid complicating things further.
"Well, today's battles, adventures, and work are over. Phoebe, shall we go for a swim?"
"Yes, Lena!"
"Uran, let's race in the water!"
"No way, Rhea, I'm not good at swimming. But I guess I wouldn't swim at all if it weren't for times like this... Alright, I'll join you. Is that T—T-san over there? Should we race together?"
"Uh, yes! Please, let's do it!"
And so, each satisfied in their own way, we logged out after swimming in the safe zone's sea. I later heard that Uran and TT became friends, which was great to hear. Although Uran's main playtime is late at night, so we might not meet often, I hope we can get together again someday.
The next morning, I couldn't log in because I was helping my parents. After lunch, when I logged in, I found Phoebe sitting atop a mountain of boxed sweets inside Lily's home.
"What's going on, Phoebe? Where did all those sweets come from? Did Lily buy them?"
"No, it seems they were a gift from TT. They were addressed to me and Lena, so I took a few."
A gift from TT? Why did it end up in Lily's home? Come to think of it, Lily mentioned once that items and equipment could be delivered even if you weren't nearby. Is that how TT sent the gifts to my restart point, which is Lily's home?
"Oh, there was a message in the gift! It said it was an apology for the sudden duel yesterday, and he sent some money for potion costs and a beacon that might be needed for processing curse materials."
Upon closer inspection, beside a mountain of boxed candies lay a bag containing 250,000 coins and a gleaming lamp. I wondered if the medicine cost came from information shared by Uran. "Still as diligent as ever," I thought.
I accepted the money and, though I wasn't quite sure about the beacon, I took it too. When I examined the candies with my appraisal skill, they were deemed premium treats in the eyes of NPCs. Were they high-end items? There were quite a few different kinds… I tried one, but it tasted rather inexpensive, just barely flavorful for a player. It seemed best to give them all to Phoebe.
"Once you finish the candies, let's enhance Archie in the workshop."
"Sure!"
For a moment, I leisurely watched Phoebe, who was joyfully nibbling on a cookie the size of a manhole, her cheeks puffed up like a little hamster.
I took a sip of tea from the refrigerator in Lily's home, which had a note saying it was fine to drink. It tasted just like regular tea.
"Lena! This is so delicious!"
"I'm glad to hear that."
A few minutes later, we arrived at the Zero Order Workshop, where the leader was waiting for us.
"Welcome, Lena and Phoebe! Are you here to use the blacksmithing equipment again?"
"Thanks for having us, Leader. I obtained Archie at the same time as the cursed blood blacksmithing yesterday, and I'd like to use the enhancement skill to upgrade him."
"Wait, you obtained the Cursed Blood Forge? I think it's pretty risky to lower your maximum HP while teaming up with Phoebe... Did you get it yesterday or modify it... I see, that explains one more of Lily's reckless requests."
The leader's eyes went wide in surprise.
What is my sister thinking with her wild requests...?
"I'm sorry if Lily caused you trouble again. By the way, what reckless request did she make?"
"She asked me to upgrade a mid-level weapon to an advanced level that she could actually use in battle. I'm in charge of sewing and crafting, but..."
"Could that weapon be called the Lena-Phoebe Sword?"
"...…Ah."
The leader spoke awkwardly. Given that they could fight on par with Natalie and had a strong understanding of crafting and sewing, they certainly possessed a keen eye for quality. Anyone in their position should recognize that they were the weapon's creator... After all, I was right there when the sword was made.
"I'm sorry. For someone like Lena, who actually works as a blacksmith, it probably doesn't feel good to hear that a non-expert like me modified and enhanced a weapon she crafted..."
"No, I actually think it's a good thing. After all, Lily is at an advanced level, right? It would be sad if the first weapon she ever made ended up holding her back. And you clearly treat it well and take our feelings into consideration, so I'm really glad you enhanced it!"
As the leader turned away, I wondered if they weren't used to receiving compliments. Of course, I understood the discomfort of seeing something I created being treated carelessly, but the leader always seemed to handle things with care, which provided some reassurance.
"It's so embarrassing to be praised like this, even if it's from someone of the same gender…"
"Leader, your face is red... Are you okay?"
"Don't worry about it, Phoebe! Look, you're here to use the forge, right? Go ahead!"
The leader pointed toward the forge with a gesture that I found endearing. I decided to make good use of it. Standing in front of the forge, I activated the enhancement system. It was my first time using such a system; perhaps it only appeared after acquiring certain skills?
"What's this? Blood infusion?"
"Oh, that's a unique command for cursed blood forging, which allows you to infuse equipment with blood to enhance its performance... Just be cautious because too much use could permanently lower your max HP. Technically, you can have the cursed blood forging skill sealed at the Class Change Temple to revert back, but sealing combined evolution skills costs a lot, and you'd have to level your forging skills from scratch, so I wouldn't recommend it."
"Hm, my HP keeps dropping…"
I pondered the leader's explanation. While the equipment's performance could increase, the decrement in HP was a significant drawback. I wondered if the lack of HP when creating the Neige Flower had something to do with the fact that I had infused blood from the very beginning.
Hmm, Archie is my main weapon... it's worth pouring my maximum HP into it... And if using too much decreases it, then the initial amount shouldn't drop.
"Well, it's mine! Let's infuse it with blood!"
I set up Archie for enhancement along with the Earth Dragon's fang as a material, activated the blood infusion, and pressed start.
Immediately, my HP and MP plummeted, and the forge began to hum with activity. It seemed my max HP remained intact.
As the temperature around me rose, a blob of bright red metal shaped like Archie began to flow onto the anvil.
"Regenerate, Fairy Wish, Slip Guard, Power Up, Element Boost!"
I began swinging my hammer, hearing Phoebe's familiar voice invoking her support spells! Unlike with the Neige Flower, I could clearly feel the resistance!
I completed the enhancement without stumbling or making mistakes!
**Archie**
*Attributes: Earth*
*Stats: Attack +28, Magic +22*
*Special Effects: Gathering Increase (Medium), Efficiency Boost (Medium), Substitute (Phoebe), Equipment Restriction: Lena*
*Special Skill: Earth Gateway*
A shovel crafted by Lena and Phoebe, brimming with the power of the earth; it can dig through any ground and manipulate the land itself.
*One modification completed*
Wait? The defense and luck bonuses have vanished...? But the stats have significantly increased, and it comes with a special skill.
**Earth Gate (MP Cost: 30)**
This skill is activated by embedding a weapon in the ground and reciting its name, causing sharp spikes to rapidly erupt from the earth within the user's line of sight, impaling the opponent. As this is a degraded imitation of a certain technique, it can only be used outdoors.
It is a long-range attack, powerful in its ability to strike from the ground, though it may struggle against flying enemies. Nevertheless, the ability to launch attacks from the earth is undeniably formidable, even if it is a lesser version! However, since my armor's defense is dependent on current MP, overusing it could leave me vulnerable…
"With this, it might be time to head toward Phoebe's homeland..."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone