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Jason clearly remembered that the [Shield of Will] was only at level 1 before, with all resistances increased by a mere 50%. Now, however, it had reached level 7, enhancing all resistances by 57%.
"It actually upgraded," he mused. "So the Shield of Will levels up according to my own progress. But level 1 only increased resistance by 1%, doesn't that seem a bit inadequate?"
Jason frowned, suddenly feeling that the [Shield of Will] wasn't as powerful as he initially believed.
However, he quickly noticed a line of text under the description of both [Shield of Will] and his other shield skills that read, "ability not released."
"What does that mean?" he wondered.
Ever since time traveling, Jason had been relying heavily on his fists to tackle problems, leaving him a bit out of touch with the intricacies of the Holy Shield.
Curious, he examined his shield attentively. Immediately, a row of icons appeared before him. Next to the [Weapon Manual] icon on the weapon bar, he spotted the [Support Options] icon, which provided information about the shield.
[Weapon Changes, Bonus Effects, and Ability Release]
Weapon Change: This means the ability to alter the currently equipped shield into various shapes. By simply reciting the name of the desired form in his mind, the transformation could occur. For instance, if Jason silently thought [Shield of Will], the shield in his hand would morph into that shape. This was something he was already aware of.
Equipment Bonus Effect: This refers to obtaining additional abilities when transforming the shield. For example, if equipped with a [Small Orange Shield], the bonus effect of this form would grant an extra 2 points of defense. If this form included extra skills, those could also be utilized.
Ability Liberation: This is the process of using a specific shield form. After sufficient practice, the equipment's bonus effect would be permanently conferred onto the user. For example, once the ability of [Shield of Will] is released, the bonus effect would become a permanent enhancement, meaning he could enjoy the 57% resistance boost without needing to summon the shield.
"Looking at it this way, the [Shield of Will] is practically overpowered, as long as its ability is successfully released."
Jason's eyes sparkled at this revelation. Once the ability was liberated, the implications of having permanent bonuses made it immensely valuable.
At that moment, sparks from the campfire erupted, followed by a series of coughs.
"Cough cough cough..."
Turning to see what was happening, Jason found Raphtalia clutching her chest tightly, her face contorted in pain.
"No...don't do it~~~"
Suddenly, it seemed Raphtalia was trapped in a terrifying nightmare. She writhed in distress, cries escaping her lips.
"What's going on, Raphtalia?" Jason exclaimed, rushing to her side and wrapping her in a protective embrace.
"Don't...Dad...Mom..." she murmured, eyes tightly shut as she called out for her parents in her dream.
Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, and her hands flailed forward as if reaching for something unseen.
Understanding dawned on Jason—her parents had likely been murdered, casting her into a dark life of captivity, leaving her with deep emotional scars. This was likely why the slave trader warned that after nightfall, she would suffer from panic attacks.
"Poor girl, it's okay," Jason comforted, holding her tightly as she cried freely in his arms.
With the surrounding mushroom monsters already taken care of, he felt reassured that no further threats loomed.
After some time, Raphtalia's condition began to stabilize, although she continued to cough unsteadily.
Setting her down gently, Jason moved over to the campfire and retrieved the potion he had obtained from the slave trader. He placed one packet into the pot to heat it up and set another in front of the gems mounted on his shield.
As expected, the potion was drawn into the shield.
The condition of the Healing Shield is liberated.
The condition of the Potion Shield is liberated.
[Micro-Medicine Shield]: The ability has not been released, and the equipment bonus effect: the efficacy of the medicine has increased.
[Medicine Shield]: The ability has not been released, and the equipment bonus effect: identification of medicine.
"Sure enough, just as I suspected, it's a sacred artifact after all. This is incredibly convenient," Jason remarked with a slight smile. He transformed the shield in his hand into the Medicine Shield and placed it atop the last pack of medicine.
Immediately, the names of the potion and the herbs required for the formula were converted into text and appeared before Jason's eyes.
"This makes things simple. It looks like I've gathered all the necessary herbs!" he thought, feeling pleased with himself.
At that moment, the medicine was finished cooking. Jason summoned the Micro-Medicine Shield and approached Raphtalia. After all, the bonus effect of this shield enhanced the medicine's efficacy.
"Drink slowly," he encouraged as he gently lifted Raphtalia's head, carefully pouring the medicine into her mouth.
With the aid of the Micro-Medicine Shield and the potion, Raphtalia quickly stopped coughing and drifted into a deep sleep.
"Hey... why do I feel like an old father? No... more accurately, like a caretaker for a child bride," Jason mused, shaking his head with a sigh as he looked at the sleeping Raphtalia.
"Father... Mom... and Brother Jason, I will definitely become strong and protect you!"
At that moment, Raphtalia's innocent voice echoed softly, her eyes still closed as she spoke in her sleep.
"Interesting," Jason thought, a peculiar smile forming at the corner of his mouth. He knew the medicine would only alleviate her symptoms; it wouldn't cure Raphtalia's panic disorder.
"Heart issues need heart remedies, and it's time to truly heal your scars, Raphtalia!"
Jason steeled himself, not as soft-hearted as Iwatani Naofumi.
When Raphtalia finally opened her eyes, she found herself lying on Jason's back. The unfamiliar surroundings made her feel as though she had traveled through time after her sleep.
"Brother Jason, where are we?"
Having come to trust him significantly, she was no longer worried about his intentions.
"Going to a place that can help you heal your condition," Jason replied confidently.
After an hour of fast travel, a desolate mountain range came into view. There was a weed-choked road leading to a waste pit at the far end.
Without a moment's hesitation, Jason plunged directly into the waste pit, still carrying Raphtalia on his back.
As they descended, a cave came into sight. Despite the stark environment of the stalactite-filled cavern, small rivers and waterfalls graced the area. Various ores embedded in the cave walls emitted faint glimmers of light, resembling stars scattered in the night sky.
However, beneath such beauty, a massive, multi-headed black dog lay in the center of the cave. Its menacing face and razor-sharp teeth gave it the appearance of a fiend that had clawed its way out of hell.
Jason carefully set Raphtalia down and urged her forward, his expression serious.
"Now, go kill it. And just so you know, I won't be doing you any favors in this fight!"
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