After we put out the fire and killed the remaining goblins, we searched the entire place for survivors.
Sadly, none had managed to survive the wave of monsters, and those who did succumbed shortly after due to severe injuries.
People in this world rely too much on the falna bestowed upon them by gods, which makes them weak and inefficient at survival without it.
Magic is probably the main reason. You can accomplish all kinds of things that science could achieve, but without the extra steps.
Flint and steel?
Who needs that?
All you need is enough mana or a fire-related skill.
Evolution happens through hardship, but unfortunately, magic makes things easier.
There's no need to push further when you're already comfortable with what you have.
Anyway, I've strayed from the main topic.
After that whole fiasco, we buried all the dead and harvested materials from the monster corpses.
I thought they'd go poof and drop items, but I'm guessing that only dungeon monsters do that, not the ones from the overworld.
Afterward, we returned to camp, ate a quiet dinner, and went to our tents to sleep.
[Achievement completed: 200 kills. Reward: 5 Gacha tickets, +1 level]
Just as I was about to sleep, a little notification popped up.
200 kills, eh?
I hadn't realized I'd killed that many monsters in just two and a half weeks.
Well, actually, I'm not surprised.
I've been constantly using my abilities, especially the Gravity aspect [Void] on my sword to make it lighter. It sounds easy, but it takes good control and focus to maintain while fighting.
I've also managed to create [Shadowshot: Deadfall] and [Shadowshot: Moebius Quiver].
There's something else I've noticed about my system; my Guardian powers don't scale with my level and stats.
I already have the power and potential of a Guardian; what I need now is to gain better control of my light and understand it on a deeper level.
The system just gives me extra strength and access to equipment and abilities for my already OP powers.
<[Would you like to pull your 5 draws?]>
"Yes."
<[Gryphon (C) {One Piece}>
|Image|
*Description: The sword of one of the four emperors of the sea, Shanks. Gryphon is a longer-than-average saber with a long green hilt, a circular beige guard, and a wide, thin handguard.
*Abilities: Its durability rivals the 12 supreme great swords and is an excellent energy conductor, whether Haki, mana, or light.
<[Lambent Light (D) {SAO}>
|Image|
*Description: A beautiful light blue and silver rapier with a circular handguard.
*Abilities: Grants 14%+ speed, 11%+ attack. Any rapier sword skill raises the attack boost from 11% to 16%.
<[Valstrax-Infant (C-SSS) {Monster Hunter}>
|Image|
*Description: Valstrax is a slender Elder Dragon covered in gleaming silver scales. Its most notable feature is its wings, which have fused into a trident-like structure, each segment ending in an opening designed to expel dragon energy in the form of reddish flames. Its back is lined with fin-like projections. Its head is avian in shape and has a small crest, and its eyes have red irises and blue sclera. Its chest has three horizontal gaps that are used to take in and pressurize air like a jet engine.
*Abilities: Valstrax flies at high speed by taking in air using its chest vent, before combining it with Dragon Element energy and expelling it from its wings as rocket-like propellant. It can manipulate the alignment and shape of its wings to vary the attacks it uses, as well as freely move in the air by hovering in any direction.
Its wings are extremely flexible and can extend in a spear-like formation for thrusting attacks, fold into a blade-like structure for swings, or adopt an open-palm shape to swat down a target. By using its exhaust-like wingtips, it can also use the propulsion to make its attacks faster, ignite its physical blows with Dragon element, fire barrages of draconic blasts, or emit large directed explosions. Valstrax is highly durable and athletic, with it being extremely maneuverable even on the ground and able to freely reshape its wings almost instantly, as well as survive collisions when flying at top speed.
<[Pokeball (D)>
|Image|
*Description: Poké Balls are spherical devices used by Pokémon Trainers to catch or store Pokémon. They convert a Pokémon's matter into energy, making them easy to carry.
<[Ten shadows Technique(S){JJK}
*Description: shikigami can be summoned with an exorcism ritual where the user must defeat the shikigami in order to make them submit. Once dominated, the shikigami are under full control of their master and can be summoned using shadowgraphic hand signs that create a shadow puppet of the respective familiar.
*Abilities:
1-Divine Dogs: are a pair of twin wolves capable of tearing curses apart with their fangs and devouring them. Their tracking abilities allow them to find lost allies and locations as well.
2-Nue: A winged shikigami armed with great speed and electric shock wings. It can support its master by carrying them while flying to increase their mobility and can attack with its heavy wings charged with electricity, shocking anyone it hits and leaving them temporarily paralyzed
3-Toad: A large frog shikigami that can support its master using its long tongue. Its tongue can be used to ensnare its master's target and is strong enough to throw and slam them into objects
4-Great Serpent: A giant snake shikigami that can quickly attack and ensnare its master's targets.
5-Max Elephant: An elephant shikigami that can spew large volumes of water from its trunk. It can also be used to crush its master's target with its weight
6-Rabbit Escape: A massive swarm of rabbit shikigami that serves as a distraction for the user.
7-Round Deer: is a towering deer shikigami that can heal through reverse cursed technique. It's positive energy is powerful enough to cause another sorcerer to lose control of physical objects strengthened by cursed energy.
8-Piercing Ox: An ox shikigami that can charge with immense strength. It can only move in a straight line, but the longer its charge, the more powerful it is.
9-Tiger Funeral: Summon a pack of 6 Tigers that can hide in the shadows. Once in the shadows, they are completely untrackable until they come out of them. Their claws and jaws are extremely sharp and powerful.
(A/N: this ability hasn't been shown yet just the name. So I took the liberty of creating an ability for it)
10-Eight-Handled, Sword Divergent, Sila Divine General Mahoraga- this shikigami is the most powerful of the 10 shadows, it is armed with the Sword of Extermination, as well as the ability to adapt to any and all phenomena.]
GYAT DAYUM!
I hit the jackpot this time!
Gryphon is a good weapon, super durable and a great energy conductor.
Now I have a sword that won't draw too much attention. [Yamato] looks normal, but it can cut anything. I'm not sure if gods can tell if the sword has special powers, besides Hephaestus.
[Fragrant Olive] is too flashy — who walks around with a gold sword in public?
I'm also excited about Valstrax. Besides being an Elder Dragon, I now have a faithful living jet that I can ride into the sunset. Well, at least until it grows fully.
I'll need to have a custom saddle commissioned for Ace if I ever want to ride him properly when he grows.
The Ten Shadows ability is probably the most versatile skill I've got, second only to [Light].
Flying, adaptability, support, reverse cursed technique — it has it all. I can even sense cursed energy now.
I should probably give [Lambent Light] to Uriel tomorrow during training. I'm sure she'll love it.
I'll also try to contract some of the Ten Shadows shikigami. Not all, of course, just the ones I can handle at my current power level.
"System, where is the Valstrax?"
[It is in your system storage. Press its icon to summon it.]
I nodded, rummaging through my system storage filled with monster materials and equipment until I found it.
I clicked it, and a bright light enveloped my tent.
When it faded, a beautiful silver dragon sat in front of me.
It opened its eyes, saw me, and immediately jumped toward me, almost impaling me with its blade-like wings.
It hummed contentedly as it cuddled me.
"That was close." It didn't mean to almost kill me, but... it almost did.
Valstrax was the size of a horse, so if its sharp scales didn't kill me, its snuggling size might.
I brushed its head to calm it down. Slowly, it settled, looking into my eyes.
"Hey there, buddy. I'm Francis," I introduced myself.
It grunted lowly and nodded. Smart for a baby, though I wouldn't call him a baby with his size.
"Want a name?" I asked. It seemed to understand me and nodded again.
"Alright, let's see... Cupcake? Planet Destroyer? Bob? Fanquish Lavender Mortagrel the 3rd... Michael, Lucifer, Ddraig, Ryan, Sariel, Ace?"
At the last name, its wings let out a low growl, like a jet engine.
Ace, huh? Looks like we've got a name!
"Then from now on, you're Ace." The young Elder Dragon hummed happily.
With that settled, I went back to bed. Sadly, Ace couldn't fit in my sleeping bag, so I put him in the Pokéball without resistance.
As I began drifting to sleep, I heard the entrance to my tent open. I reached for my sword but stopped when I recognized the figure who entered.
"Uriel?"