Although the user of the set of equipment could choose which passive and active skills were placed on their equipment, there were four very specific skills that almost every individual possessed. These four passive skills were so important that leaving them out was not an option; they were the fundamental skills that every combatant and adventurer needed to have at all times; they were Dimensional Storage, Appraisal, True Sight, and Poison Immunity.
Dimensional Storage was a very useful skill that allowed the user to summon a pocket storage at any time and from any location. This ability allowed the user to travel without worrying about baggage and keep their loot in a secure location only they could access. Dimensional Storage could provide storage that could carry 1 tonne of items when the equipment was Grade E. This skill was considered passive because it was always present and would only turn invisible to avoid interfering with the user. It functioned similarly to a Status Board, always present but disappearing when not needed.
The Dimensional Storage could not contain living beings. Also, items inside the Dimensional Storage would not be affected by the passage of time—meat would not rot, and food would never spoil as long as they were inside the storage.
The appraisal was a crucial passive skill. It allowed the user to analyze the stats of enemies, allowing them to devise strategies for dealing with them. Appraisal, on the other hand, was always level one and could reveal the target's race, HP, MP, top speed, and defense. However, in a world where knowing your enemies' capabilities was crucial, this skill was always a top priority.
True Sight was a skill that allowed the user to see invisible units in their surroundings. This was the primary counter to invisibility and Complete Concealment. True Sight 1 had a range of five meters.
Last but not least, there was Poison Immunity. This skill would negate any poison directed at the user. This was a simple but important skill because of how dangerous the poison status effect could be to anyone. Even for those powerful individuals, poison was extremely lethal, and taking the risk of dying as a result of it was never an option.
Immunity and Resistance were two distinct types of passive abilities. Immunity would completely negate certain effects. Resistance, on the other hand, would reduce the damage dealt by a specific type of elemental attack by 50%. Two resistances of the same type could not be worn at the same time.
However, because they were calculated differently, resistance from equipment would stack with resistance from acquired skill. Resistances from acquired skills were calculated before all modifiers, and resistances from equipment were calculated after all modifiers.
***
Under the bright sun, inside one of Deosa's dirt roads leading to the forest of Kegali. The coachman sat in front of the carriage and drove a wooden carriage with a white tent on top through the dry dirt road. Four brown powerful horses with single black pointy horns on their foreheads pulled the carriage. Horsiege was a level 10 strength-based evolution variant of the Horse evolution line. This type of monster was one of the kingdom's transportation monsters. Not all monsters were to be killed; many of them served many purposes other than being killed for materials.
The laughter of the five people currently traveling toward the direction of the Kegali forest could be heard inside the tent.
"Don't make that stupid face, Bren!" Lian yelled as she pushed Bren against the carriage's wooden wall.
Bren, on the other hand, had just let out a loud laugh while holding a half-bitten cookie. And beside him was his soon-to-be wife, Mea, who was laughing as she watched the two. Mea had finished her cookies.
"You pushed me so hard; are you sure you're not a strength-based person? You're as strong as Herold," Bren said as he ate the other half of the cookies.
Lian arched her brows. "Just say what you think."
"Wait," Bren said, slowly chewing the cookies in his mouth. "I must say, it's better than the last time; at least this time it's edible," he said, laughing again as Lian pushed him again.
"Tone down your voices, Caserie is sleeping," Herold said, looking at them. He sat at the back of the carriage and returned to admiring the scenery along their route. He raised his hand and popped two cookies into his mouth. He grunted and nodded slowly while munching.
Lian, Bren, and Mea cast their gazes toward Caserie, who was sleeping on the carriage's front side, wrapped in a white blanket. Her lovely features were highlighted while she slept peacefully. She had a very innocent face. A small pink fabric with floral designs sat next to her, containing cookies Lian had baked for her.
The three bowed slowly to Herold. "We're sorry," they all said at once.
"Don't listen to Bren, Lian, your cookies are good," Mea said, almost whispering, her usual cheerful smile on her face.
"Thank you, Mea. You are truly the best, unlike a certain someone..." Lian said, narrowing her eyes toward Bren. "Seriously, what did you see on Bren? He has no redeeming qualities other than the fact that he is handsome... and maybe dashing... and probably good at everything— on second thought, don't answer it."
Bren, on the other hand, just laughed silently.
Mea laughed, her face flushed. "Anyway, Lian, why did you decide to learn to bake cookies? I don't recall you being the type who enjoys doing these things," Mea inquired.
"Don't tell me you already have someone you like, Pipsqueak; who is the unlucky man?" Bren asked, a smirk on his face.
Even Herold, who was sitting behind Lian, smirked at Bren.
"No, I don't have," Lian said quietly. She let out a sigh. "I made it especially for you."
"I can't believe you despise me so much that you decided to poison me," Bren said.
"Everyone here except Bren," Lian said.
"Ohh, really?" Mea asked, connecting her hands with a bright smile. "Why, though?"
Lian lowered her gaze. "Because I... I just wanted to show you all how important you are to me. I grew up in an orphanage, and I didn't know what it was like to have a family— not until I met this party. Mea, Herold, Caserie, and Bren, you all are my family," she said, fiddling with her fingers. "It's just a little thing, I hope you like my way of expressing my... feelings—"
Mea's hug silenced Lian's words.
"Of course. We loved your cookies even when you were still cooking coals and forcing them down our throats. We loved them. Of course, we appreciate it. We appreciate every bit of it," Mea said tenderly.
"I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear you call my cookies coals," Lian said, raising her arms to hug Mea.
Mea burst out laughing. "Look at our little princess, she's growing up; I remember when we first met you back then, when you were still acting like a lone mean cat who despised the sound of other people's voices."
"Please don't remind me," Lian said, smiling.
"Group hug!" Herold yelled, leaping to his feet and hugging both Mea and Lian.
"Group hug!" Bren exclaimed, joining the three others.
When Caserie opened her eyes after hearing the loud voices, she saw Mea, Lian, Bren, and Herold smiling at her. They were waiting for her to join them.
"Uh, again?" Caserie asked, her voice soft and sleepy. "Sure," she said, standing up and joining the others.
They all laughed with bright life in their eyes as they were connected.
This was always the case on their every adventure as adventurers: them bonding together, completing their quest while having fun, and returning home with the same smiles on their faces.
And, as Lian stated and believed... a family.
***
When their party arrived at the border of Deosa and the great forest of Kegali, the sun was already setting.
Herold looked around the area while standing next to the carriage that had brought them here. Lian, Mea, Caserie, and Bren stood beside Herold, staring at the massive forest in front of them.
This was not their first visit to the forest; they had done so several times before. But now, all five of them were fully aware that this journey was unlike any other, as evidenced by their solemn expressions.
"If we start our journey first thing tomorrow morning and take the shortest route, we should be able to reach the heart of Kegali in seven to ten days," Bren said, holding the handles of the two daggers on his hips.
"If we don't run into any troublesome enemies along the way," Herold responded.
The carriage then returned to Deosa, leaving them behind.
Herold took a step forward and faced the four with a solemn expression on his face. "All right, we should get some rest tonight; let's set up camp here and start our journey tomorrow," he said, raising his hand. "Prepare our camp, gather wood... and I'll cook our dinner."
The sound of clapping from Bren, Lian, and Mea was followed by Caserie's gentle smile.
"That's our leader," Bren said.
Herold drew his arms across his chest. "Now, get moving!"
"Aye!"