So then how are the various lower ranked Guilds and Workshops, especially the independent players, supposed to face these monsters? Raising one's combat standards definitely helped but it isn't an easy thing to do.
The answer is easy: Equipment!
Take an average level 10 player, for instance, in a set of Level 10 Porcelain Equipment. One on one, they are able to defeat Common Mobs below them because the gear allows them to cut through the enemy's defenses and withstand their attacks! It's only the difference in stats and resistances for a Level 10 Monster takes away this advantage. However, if said player is wearing a full set of Level 10 Obsidian Equipment, then they needn't fear Common Mobs under level 15!
This then creates a cycle for the lower forces when it comes to Dungeon Running and confronting Field Bosses. The very second a Guild Leader or Workshop Commander acquires even one piece of Obsidian, they would immediately hand it over to their strongest Dungeon Runners. They would then be able to start farming for more Obsidian or on level Porcelain Equipment.
The heads of these Guilds and Workshops don't currently have the luxury to wear these themselves as a sign of personal strength. It is only later on when Residences become more accessible, that they display certain Obsidian weapons and armor on a podium with the feats accomplished with them. While these items would be obsolete by this time, the sentimentality would actually bring their members closer together!
The other local forces of the cities Ruby Blade and Lapis Tome, both Guilds and Workshops, do notice that the rising stars have largely disappeared for some time now. If it were any other time, they would have investigated but not at this moment. Some of them had sent several Crossover teams who had grown to some degree over the Event, be it through new Skills or stronger Equipment they bought with the Mysterious Crystals they acquired. Now their strongest forces had a chance to grab some First Clears, Speed Runs, Field Bosses, and most importantly new Obsidian Equipment and Reputation!
Speaking of, in that Greater Common Mob is equal to a Common Boss, it can be said that the core members of Ruby and Lapis follow the same idea when it comes to Equipment.
Thanks to the Twin Sphere Technique coupled with their Soul Realm, a full set of Porcelain Equipment can be considered the same as Obsidian in terms of weapon utility, spell performance, and defenses granted. This is why they had conquered Level 13 Dungeons Mobs and Bosses despite being at level 9!
In their hands, the Obsidian Grade Equipment the core members wore is the same as Iron Grade. Add together their Iron Minor Artifacts, this lets them fight both above their Level and Tier like during the Crossover Event. This fact is now even more exaggerated with the seven who wore the Class Set Equipment and those that have Prowess.
"Commander!" Two of the new recruits of Ruby Blade, both Ifrit Infantry but with different elements and specialities, frantically approach Syringa Fang the moment the test ends.
"Rosemary? Sage? What's wrong?" She asks concerned after seeing the worry on their face.
"You know how we were trying to persuade two of our friends to join Ruby Blade? They took an Escort Quest for the Workshop to get a feel for them--" Turquoise Sage, the Wind Ifrit begins.
"Other players ambushed and killed some of our Artisans plus their escorts!" Rosemary Platypus, the Stone Ifrit finishes the thought with indignation.
"But Artisans aren't able to be killed by players only monsters and NPCs?" Syringa questions aloud, waving over Dark Avenue and Straw Monkey to her side
As time had gone by, non-affiliated Artisans now had the ability to post Escort Quests through the Explorer's League. While searching for materials in the Field, they could still be killed by monsters or competing NPCs. Thus they hired other players to protect them on these journeys.
While the monetary rewards for such a Quest is not large, many Artisans offer their services free of charge as compensation. Recently many began taking up the offers as it was revealed that a double Experience buff is given upon completion. Furthermore, not only can they be layered with another Quest like Monster Extermination for example, but some Reputation is rewarded as well. Hypothetically if one took nothing but Escort Quests, they can reach higher levels and a noble title faster!
"Livid Tourmaline says they used a weird tool of some sort! I know we only just joined so we shouldn't ask too m--!" Rosemary is cut off as Syringa holds up a finger to signify a newly received message. The shadows of the training ground suddenly creep towards Syringa unnaturally as her expression grows cold and her brow furrows with anger.
"Straw and Dark go get Opal and Kitty. I'll find Hammerhead. We need to remind everyone why we're called Ruby Blade." Syringa Fang's eyes flash with killing intent. A disaster is about to fall upon those who messed with her Shopmates!
***
Meanwhile, Tara and Karuna arrive outside Starshine's main research facility, about an hour away in the countryside of Maryland. Enough time for the very tired Tara to take a quick nap. It is a pentagonal building with 3 floors.
A shorter woman is waiting for them as they arrive. She appears to be in her 40s with laugh lines around her eyes hidden by dark blue triangle glasses. She's wearing a black suit with a dark blue tie, her long dark gray hair braided down back.
"Come come, Karuna, let me see my little Star!" This woman, it's revealed, is Grandma Ahana, Karuna's mother and Tara's grandma. Despite looking in her mid 40's she is actually 60 years old!
Tara is the eldest grandchild with her Aunt Tanisha having a son a few years younger than her. In her sleepy haze, it occurs to her that she never met Braham's other mom or dad.
"Oh, yes, she overextended herself a lot I see. Haven't seen an energy drain such as this since that old man's first time."
Everyone knows that the "old man" is Tara's grandfather. The two had been working together towards the end of the first virtuality game, Elemancy. Many said it was luck that brought the two together but others say it was fate. Only Ahana and Boying know the truth.
"Now I have a variety of questions, one especially concerning your mental capacity and processing before the energy drain happened--"
"Mother." Karuna gives a long, suffering sigh as Ahana guides Tara inside. Ahana waves her daughter off as they walk the marble floors quickly.
"But what's more important is recovering your energy. Staying in such a state can have negative effects on your current growth. That old man was lucky it didn't happen when we were younger, but alas your aunt Tanisha is unlucky. It's why she's so tiny everywhere especially her--"
"Mom, please." Karuna begs in a strangled voice as they arrive at an elevator.
"My point being is that my Starshine can help you with this issue before it stunts your growth or any other adverse effects, little Star. As you know we are at the forefront of technology, not just in virtuality machinery, but also energy resourcing as well as interstellar sailing and communication."
This happened to be true. A few hundred years before Ahana was conceived, the various nations and countries had placed importance on terraforming Mars.With the rapid advance of the technology over a small period of time thanks to collaborations of various international expertise from multiple fields including agriculture to marine biology, it was no longer a dream. Several generations of humans from every continent currently live in sprawling Martian cities.
Starshine had been able to streamline both travel and communication between the two points. The first is an open secret that Ahana had discovered and named after herself, Asanite. A lightweight material that could gather and store energy. This material when liquified could be painted onto objects as a sheen or a glaze. Solar paneling, for instance, either coated or made from Asanite tripled their output from less panels. Cities like New York, São Paulo, Shanghai, Mumbai, and Doula only had a small area paneling hidden from sight and protected from nature thanks to Asanite.
The second is obvious: virtuality! Conferences, meetings, news, all of this could be shared within virtuality between the two planets. In fact, virtuality was considered a second home for people on Mars and slowly but surely this was becoming true for Earth.
"Our energy research doesn't end with what we use or produce externally, but also within ourselves. Our very bodies accumulate and expel different energies. Our physical exertions and movements, our thought processing and concentration, even how we can sense people's moods or predict their actions to some degree all of these are energies we use unconsciously." Ahana continues as they arrive on the top floor.
Instead of being taken to a laboratory, Ahana takes them to a small kitchenette. Tara is given a cup of tea that her grandma had prepared beforehand. Just from the first sip instantly Tara feels revitalized and awake.
Her body feels light as air and her mind clear as water. Several ideas about how to better control her body while also integrating her Skills with her Body Arts at the same time flit through her mind. Focusing more clearly her eyesight is sharper and swears she can hear a conversation down the hallway through the walls.
"Grandma, just what is this?" Tara's eyes shine bright. Tara had never felt like this before except when she's awakened again as a Skin Igniting aurator.
"This my dear is the secret project I've been perfecting on for nearly 30 years with those River fools that I call Tempo." Ahana smiles with pride and affection. Despite her teasing she felt very strongly of the members of Blueriver who were like family to her. "I've created a substance that not only refreshes the body and mind, but facilitates its growth. Drinking enough in intervals could make them reach an martial artist's physical prowess and mental capacity--"
"--which would then further strengthen their own abilities within virtuality seeing as the helmets are connected to a person's brain waves. That's why it's suspected one large difference between Ultra and Super Guild from the lower powers is a known secret of training programs and meditation techniques." Kaurna finishes, tracking Tara's eyes with her pointer finger and seeing them react before she's even moved her hand away.
Ahana says nothing as they run through some simple tests.
"If Blueriver's executives and members have been drinking even the prototypes of this in the experimental phase it's no wonder why the others can't match them. And why even given the age reduction effects of virtuality that are known to the public, they look 20 years younger instead of the usual 10." Karuna gives a knowing look to her mother.
"Now enough kiddie stuff, the problem is solved so let me show you something very fun!" Ahana deflects, handing Tara several bags of practically magical tea to hand out to her friends later. Several flavors are listed that Tara knew would be popular among them.