Daisuke placed the final stone atop the makeshift tomb of the chimera, marking its grave with a somber expression. The children's excited chatter about the recent battle gradually faded into the background as his thoughts weighed heavily on him.
Despite the creature's monstrous form, it had once been Reginald's mother, twisted by dark forces. The idea of letting anyone consume or harvest her remains for materials felt unimaginable, a desecration he could not allow.
I know she abandoned her husband and children when they fell from grace, but did she really deserve this kind of fate?
Daisuke was stirred from his thoughts by the near proximity of Brek's voice, "So, where do we go from here?"
Straightening up and brushing the dirt from his hands, Daisuke allowed the question to settle. Once more, he found himself drawn inward, surrendering to the thoughts swirling in his mind.
Ideally, I should have them stay in Elmridge Village with April and Mia, but wouldn't I be overstepping by asking the Beastfolk for another favor? Especially considering they don't exactly have a fondness for humans.
Brek sighed and shook his head with a tad of annoyance. "I see you still have that bad habit of channeling your thoughts inwards instead of sharing it with the rest of us."
"I bet he's already conjuring up ideas for a safe place to stick us," Garrett murmured accusingly.
Ribbit nodded his head in agreement.
Daisuke choked on his guilt.
"We know you're great and all," Brek added with an envious gesture of his hand, "especially now that you've acquired all this impressive power, but you can't expect to protect us all our lives."
"He's right!" Garrett asserted. "We all need to become stronger to protect ourselves and others!"
Ribbit nodded energetically.
Daisuke passed an appraising glance over the other children who were all inclining their heads with determination. "In that case, I'll at least accompany you guys to Wonderelle—"
"We'll be fine on our own," Brek reassured, feeling a bit irritated that he needed permission from a kid two years his junior.
A muscle tensed in Daisuke's jaw, his eyes narrowing. But instead of lashing out in outrage, he cupped his chin, calmly assessing the situation. Wonderelle is just one of the many starter villages in the game, meaning there aren't any high-level monsters nearby. If they quietly head toward town, the mobs should only get weaker along the way, so they'll likely be fine on their own.
Without a word, Daisuke beckoned for Ribbit to approach. The portly teen exchanged nervous glances with the others before conceding to the command. When he came to a stop, his eyes widened in surprise as a large, double-edged weapon was materialized and handed to him.
CLANG!
The axe fell to the ground the moment Ribbit's hands coiled around the leather hilt. His face turned red, his eyes bulged, and he farted endlessly as he struggled to lift the weapon. Still, he managed to hoist it over his head, wobbling slightly under the weight. With a deep breath, he swung it once—only to be left panting.
[Mighty Axe +1]
[Rank: Rare
Type: Axe
Melee Attack Power: 310~340 | Durability: 87/102 | Attack Speed: -5%
The Mighty Axe is a brutal weapon designed for devastating blows and overwhelming strength. With its massive, double-sided blade and reinforced handle, this axe cleaves through armor and bone alike, leaving destruction in its wake.
▪︎ Strength +6
▪︎ Knockback Chance +25%
▪︎ Armor Penetration +15%
Conditions of Use: Lvl 42+ | Strength 38+ | Stamina 22+
Daisuke watched in amusement. So despite the weapon being of a higher level, an NPC is still able to wield it. But, just like me, I would imagine there will be restrictions. "If you can manage to swing it three times in a row by the next time we meet, that'll mean you've gotten stronger."
"Then," Ribbit's eyes glittered like stars, "does that mean I can have this?!"
Daisuke nodded with a smile before approaching Garrett, a crimson red blade taking shape in his hands.
[Bloodstained Short Sword +1]
[Rank: Rare
Type: Sword
Melee Attack Power: 204~228 | Durability: 91/91 | Attack Speed: +11%
Forged in the fires of battle and tempered with the blood of its foes, the Bloodstained Short Sword is a formidable weapon that strikes fear into the hearts of adversaries. Its blade, stained with the crimson hue of countless battles, exudes an aura of relentless ferocity.
▪︎ Agility +4
▪︎ Attack Damage +5
Conditions of Use: Lvl 40+ | Strength 35+ | Stamina 20+]
"A sword?! Is this really for me?!" Garrett exclaimed, generously accepting the valuable gift with both hands. Then he immediately assumed a sword stance he'd observed from one of the slave traders and began testing out the weight of the weapon.
Finally, Daisuke walked up to Brek who lowered his gaze dejectedly. It was quite evident he didn't feel deserving of whatever he was about to receive. With a sigh, Daisuke flicked his forehead. When a flinch was all he managed to elicit from the stubborn Wolfkin, he tightly gripped the boy's shoulder and spoke.
"I can tell you from experience that beating yourself up like this isn't going to change anything. Let bygones be bygones. You said you wanted to become powerful enough to defend yourself and others, right? If you truly meant that, then swallow your guilt and your ego and hold out your hand."
Brek finally tilted his chin, his gaze burning with renewed conviction. With a nod, he opened his palms within which a familiar weapon was summoned.
[Stormcleaver Glaive +1]
[Rank: Rare
Type: Polearm
Melee Attack Power: 228~255 | Durability: 83/89 | Attack Speed: -2%
With its imposing design and elemental prowess, the Stormcleaver Glaive is favored by warriors who seek to dominate their enemies from both near and far.
Its broad, curved blade is etched with lightning motifs, symbolizing its capacity to harness wind and lightning magic. When swung with enough force, the glaive unleashes razor-sharp blades of wind that shreds through distant foes.
▪︎ Critical Hit Chance +10%
▪︎ Knockback Chance +20%
▪︎ Unlocks the «Wind Blade» skill
Conditions of Use: Lvl 45+ | Strength 39+ | Stamina 24+]
[Wind Blade]
[With every ninth strike, the motifs on the glaive glow a brilliant blue, releasing blades of wind that grate through nearby or distant enemies. The attack deals 45% of the wielder's maximum mana as damage.]
Brek's eyes widened in surprise. "This is…"
Daisuke's grip on the Wolfkin's shoulder tightened. "If you really want to protect April next time, then commit yourself to mastering this weapon."
Brek's lips quivered, traitor tears streaking down his face as the memory of April's terrified screams, and his own despair, flooded his mind. Never again—he never wanted to experience that level of helplessness again.
"Make sure to head straight back into town," Daisuke warned as he stuffed a Repel Incense, several potions, and a pouch containing two-thousand gold into Brek's free hand. "And no more unscrupulous behavior from now on—got that?"
The children's eyeballs bulged at the sight of the pouch containing the glittering gold coins. "Th-This is too much—"
Brek's words abruptly trailed off as Daisuke threatened to finger flick his forehead again. "Can you at least tell us where you're going?"
"I'm heading to the capital city—Lunarel," Daisuke informed, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. "But before that, there's something I'd like to take care of first."