{Julia}
The first step of Julia's plan to win Zenith over was to attempt to get her familiar with the police station's residents.
As Julia led Zenith through the station, they passed by a busy workshop where a burly man with a bushy beard was hammering away at a piece of metal on an anvil.
He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow before nodding in greeting to Julia, glancing at Zenith cautiously.
"This is Hammer," Julia said with a nod towards the man. "He's our resident blacksmith and keeps our weapons and armor in top condition."
Hammer flashed them a toothy grin before returning to his work, the clang of metal on metal echoing through the workshop.
Further down the corridor, they came across a small greenhouse bathed in soft, natural light.
Inside, a young woman with dirt-streaked cheeks and a determined expression was tending to rows of plants with care.
"This is Ivy," Julia said, gesturing towards the woman. "She's in charge of our greenhouse and helps ensure we have a steady supply of potions."
Ivy looked up from her work and smiled warmly at Julia and Zenith, her hands still busy with the task in front of her.
"Nice to meet you," Ivy said, her voice soft and gentle.
"..." Zenith did not reply.
Julia continued the tour, pointing out the armory where weapons and gear were meticulously organized on racks and shelves.
They passed by the infirmary where a team of healers was busy tending to the injured, their faces lined with determination as they worked to save lives.
As they made their way through the station, Julia explained the day-to-day operations of their group, from scouting for resources to fortifying their defenses against potential threats.
She spoke with passion and conviction, trying to make her dedication to their cause evident in every word.
"We may not have much," Julia said, her voice tinged with determination, "but we make do with what we have. And with each other's support, we'll get through this."
It looked like Zenith was listening. At least, Julia hoped this was all interesting to her.
As they reached the end of their tour, Julia turned to Zenith with a hopeful smile.
"So, what do you think?" Julia asked, her eyes searching Zenith's face for any sign of approval.
The woman hesitated for a moment. Finally, she spoke, her voice measured and cool.
"I think I've wasted my time coming here," Zenith replied, her tone flat and devoid of emotion.
Julia's smile faltered for a moment, disappointment flickering in her eyes before she quickly composed herself.
"Wait," Julia said, her voice tinged with urgency as an idea formed in her mind. "I have a proposition for you."
"Yeah, I'm listening," Zenith replied, crossing her arms.
"We've conducted deals with other groups before. We have connections. If you're willing to work with us, I can get weapons for you."
Zenith's expression softened slightly, but she remained skeptical.
"I don't want to join any guild."
"You won't have to," Julia assured her, her voice earnest. "Just do some dungeons with us, help us out, and I'll reach out to my contacts. We'll get you the best greatswords out there. Promise."
There was a moment of silence as Zenith weighed her options, contemplating Julia's offer.
Julia held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Zenith's response.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zenith let out a resigned sigh.
"Fine."
Julia couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She clasped Zenith's hand in gratitude, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"Thank you, Zenith. You won't regret this," Julia said, her eyes shining with determination.
---
{Zenith}
Later, Zenith prowled through the abandoned streets.
[Maybe I should have just turned her down,] she thought, reflecting on Julia's offer after the fact. [But, I do need a better weapon. Desperately.]
She'd gone onto the Player Shop a few times now, looking for something neat to spend her 10000 tokens on.
However, what she found was that although basic necessities were cheap, the items she wanted, equipment, potions, etc. were all painfully expensive.
The good ones, anyway. Sure, she could get a random greatsword that was in as poor condition as the one she was using now for 100 tokens. But, the cheapest blade she found that was an actual upgrade was worth 12500.
Morning Glory
{Rare}
{Requirements: None}
{Description: Old greatsword used by a divine knight. While its special effects have long since faded, its edge has not dulled.}
Val: 12500 WST
Zenith sighed.
[I don't know. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some good weapons soon. I hope so.]
Her gaze flickered across the desolate landscape, searching for any sign of movement or danger.
In the distance, she spotted a faint blue dot on her map, indicating the presence of her next boss fight.
Without hesitation, Zenith set off towards the source of the signal, her mind focused and her senses on high alert.
As she approached the designated location, Zenith's eyes narrowed in concentration.
The enemy she sought was said to be lurking somewhere within the confines of an old apartment complex, its exact whereabouts shrouded in mystery.
She scoured the courtyard outside the building, her eyes scanning every shadow and corner for any sign of movement.
Finding nothing of interest, Zenith made her way inside the decrepit structure.
The interior was dimly lit, the air thick with dust and decay as she searched one room after another.
[Seriously, where is this thing?]
Eventually, she ascended the stairs to the upper floors.
Finally, she reached the rooftop, her heart pounding with anticipation as she surveyed her surroundings.
And there, looming before her, was the boss she had been seeking.
It was a grotesque creature, resembling a twisted amalgamation of stone and flesh.
Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light as it brandished a massive battleaxe.
Level 26
MP: 150/150
[Here we are. Let's do this.]
Zenith's lips curled into a grim smile as she squared her shoulders, readying herself for the impending battle.
She knew that facing such a formidable foe alone would be no easy feat, but she welcomed the challenge.
With a steady hand, Zenith drew her weapon, a sleek and deadly blade that gleamed in the dim light of the rooftop.
She took a deep breath, centering herself as she prepared to engage the enemy in combat.
[Nothing ventured, nothing gained.]
And, with that, the fight began.
With a fierce battle cry, she lunged forward, aiming a powerful strike at its midsection with her greatsword.
*CLANG*
Her blade connected.
But, to Zenith's dismay, it seemed to have little effect on the gargoyle's stony exterior.
[That wasn't very effective,] Zenith noted. [New plan, then.]
Before she could react, the gargoyle unleashed a torrent of flames from its gaping maw.
MP: 100/150
As quickly as she could, she dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly inferno as it scorched the ground where she had been standing just moments before.
Gritting her teeth, Zenith scrambled to her feet, her mind racing as she sought a way to turn the tide of the battle.
With a sudden burst of inspiration, she realized that conventional attacks would be useless against the creature's stone-like hide.
As the gargoyle swung its massive battleaxe towards her, Zenith made a split-second decision.
With a swift movement, she closed the distance between them, dodging the sweeping arc of the weapon.
[Thankfully, this thing is slow. Now, here goes nothing!]
With a savage growl, Zenith used Death's Kiss, channeling dark energy into her outstretched hand as she seized hold of the gargoyle's arm.
MP: 20/30
The necrotic energy surged through her veins, coursing through her fingertips and into her opponent's flesh with devastating force.
The gargoyle roared in agony as its form began to wither and decay, tendrils of black energy enveloping its stony exterior.
[YES!]
For a moment, victory seemed within Zenith's grasp as the creature staggered back, weakened by her relentless assault.
But her triumph was short-lived.
In a desperate bid to defend itself, the gargoyle swung its battleaxe with renewed ferocity.
Zenith's eyes widened in horror as she realized her mistake too late.
With a sickening crunch, the blade connected with her left arm, cleaving through flesh and bone with brutal efficiency.
Agony lanced through her body as she staggered backwards, her blood mingling with the dust and debris of the rooftop battleground.
"AAAAAGH!" Zenith cried out. "One hit..." She muttered, standing back. "One hit, and it cut my whole arm off..."
With her left arm severed and blood staining her clothes, Zenith's determination blazed even brighter.
Ignoring the searing pain coursing through her body, she pressed forward, her eyes locked on the gargoyle before her.
With a fierce battle cry, she charged in once more.
The gargoyle, sensing the imminent threat, opened its maw to unleash another torrent of flame.
MP: 50/150
Undeterred, Zenith gritted her teeth and charged straight through the fiery onslaught, the flames searing her skin as she closed the distance between them.
With a mighty leap, she launched herself at the gargoyle, her hand outstretched to deliver the fatal blow.
As she neared the creature, she felt the intense heat washing over her, but she refused to falter.
With a surge of adrenaline-fueled strength, she seized the gargoyle by its gaping mouth, her fingers digging into the rough stone surface.
"GOT YOU!"
With a primal roar, she unleashed Death's Kiss once more, channeling her dark energy into the creature's very essence.
MP: 10/30
The gargoyle convulsed in agony, its stony form crumbling beneath her relentless assault.
Obviously, this wasn't enough, and soon, she'd need to wait for her mana to regenerate, but Zenith had more energy left to spend.
Again and again, Zenith repeated the process, each blow weakening the creature further.
A minute or so later, Zenith stood bloody, burned, and bruised. The gargoyle was covered in black tendrils, webs that spread out from every spot Zenith touched.
Once more, Zenith ran in.
The gargoyle swung its battleaxe with all of its strength, but Zenith ducked underneath, moving in and delivering one more Death's Kiss to seal the deal.
EXP Gained: 80
EXP: 120/240
WST Gained: 500
WST: 11000
Panting heavily and covered in bruises and burns, she stood victorious, her indomitable spirit unbroken despite the odds.
As the adrenaline began to ebb away, Zenith felt the full extent of her injuries, the pain threatening to overwhelm her.
"Fuuuck..." Zenith hissed. "My arm."
But before she could succumb to unconsciousness, Tamira popped up.
"Small tip, if you place your arm against the stump," Tamira said, her voice casual as usual, "your healing potions can reconnect it again. You're welcome."
[Seriously? Does it work like that because I'm a Death Knight?]
"No," Tamira replied. "It's like that for everyone."
[Hm... I'll have to remember that for the future, then.]
Without hesitation, Zenith followed Tamira's instructions, pressing her severed arm against the bloody stump of her shoulder.
With a few gulps, Zenith quickly felt that usual, soothing healing sensation wash over her.
Slowly, agonizingly, Zenith felt the sensation returning to her arm, the pain subsiding as the healing magic took effect.
With a shuddering breath, she flexed her fingers experimentally, relief flooding through her as she realized that her arm had been restored.
"Good. Good," Zenith nodded. "Now... What did our friend over here drop?"
Looting the boss's body, she found:
Dread Battleaxe
{Unique}
{Requirements: Fighter Class}
{Description: Battleaxe wielded by a lonely gargoyle. Roaming the lands on its own, this gargoyle had no purpose other than to wipe out any life it encountered.}
{Effect: Ignores armor.}
Val: 1000
[Holy shit,] Zenith thought. [This is amazing!]
"Buuuut," Tamira chimed in. "You can't use it. It's for Fighters only."
"FUCK!"
Zenith fell to her knees.
[Is it seriously that hard to find a good weapon? I lost an arm for this thing!]