My stomach was full, and I felt quite satisfied with the simple meal. I took a final sip of beer from my glass before standing. "Alright," I said, looking at Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia, who were still seated. "Let's head to the main headquarters. I want to check your statuses and prepare for the next mission."
Catherine raised an eyebrow, her expression half-annoyed. "So, not only do you make me eat simple food, but now you want me to go to that workspace? Is this really how you treat a queen?"
I gave her a faint smile. "We're all part of the team, Catherine. You need to be ready too."
Thomas stood, adjusting his attire. "Checking our statuses is a logical step. Considering our weaknesses in battle, such preparations are necessary."
Virginia, who had just set down her water cup, nodded gently. "If it's for the team's benefit, of course, I'll join."
I turned to Sasha, who was busy cleaning the table. "Sasha, I'm leaving the tavern in your care. Thanks for the meal."
Sasha gave a small, albeit slightly awkward, smile. "Of course, sir. Safe travels."
I exited the tavern with them, Catherine muttering small complaints about the ambiance not meeting her standards. Upon reaching the main headquarters, Luna greeted us with a brief nod. She stood in front of the large system screen, busy configuring navigational settings.
"Welcome," she said, glancing at us. "What brings you here, Navigator?"
"I want to check their statuses and prepare for the next mission," I replied directly.
Luna nodded and turned her focus back to the system screen. I approached the main console, activating my system screen to assess our resources. The Moondrops count was zero, but our Base Gold still totaled 17,998. I noticed one key item I'd been eyeing for a while: the Storybook of Heroes. There were 170 vibrant books in the inventory.
It wasn't enough, but it was better than nothing. I needed to make the most of them.
Opening the combat unit menu, I selected Catherine de Medici first. Her image appeared on the screen, along with her stats. Level 1. Clearly inadequate for the upcoming mission. I pressed the Level Up button, and a notification appeared:
[Consume 50 Storybook of Heroes and 1000 Base Gold. Confirm?]
Without hesitation, I pressed Accept. A soft glow surrounded Catherine briefly, and her level rose to 10. She looked at me, her expression mildly curious.
"So this is what they call a power boost?" she said flatly. "The results don't seem apparent yet."
"Trust me," I said simply. "The difference will be noticeable in battle."
I repeated the process for Thomas. He remained silent, though I could see his contemplative expression as the light enveloped him.
"I hope this will make me more effective in my role," he said as the process completed.
Finally, I raised Virginia's level to 10. She didn't say much, just giving a small nod and a faint smile. "I'll do my best," she said softly, her tone steady as ever.
Once I was done, I closed the system screen and crossed my arms. "This gives us a better foundation for the next mission. But this is just the beginning. We'll need more resources to fully prepare for greater threats."
After leveling up Catherine, Thomas, and Virginia, I decided to equip the weapons we'd obtained from the previous gacha pull. I reopened the system screen and navigated to the Item Inventory.
A list of weapons appeared, and I examined their details one by one:
Staff of Awaken (SR)
Spellbinder Tomes (R)
Common Sword (R) – x2
Book of Source Water (SR)
Elemental Wand (R) – x2
Spirit Grimoire (R)
The Staff of Awaken caught my attention. I distinctly remembered how we had looted it from the lich we defeated in Lilac Town. I selected the weapon and assigned it to Catherine.
Catherine examined the staff that materialized in her hands, squinting slightly, with a faintly satisfied smile at the corner of her lips.
"So, this is the weapon we seized from that filthy creature? A sweet irony. I'll put its power to good use."
"Of course," I replied. "It complements your magic-focused fighting style. You should be able to maximize its potential."
Next, I selected the Book of Source Water, a thick tome with a shimmering blue cover that seemed crafted from frozen water. It suited Thomas's role as a debuff-support specialist. I assigned it to him.
Thomas received the book calmly, inspecting its details. He opened a few pages, scanning the complex spells.
"This power is intriguing. I see its potential for incapacitating enemies without relying on brute force."
"That's the plan," I said. "We need someone to disrupt the enemy's balance, and you're the perfect fit for that role."
He nodded, adding, "With equipment like this, I'm confident our team will become more strategic. Still, we need to explore other options to enhance our effectiveness."
Lastly, I chose the Spirit Grimoire, a small book radiating a soft holy aura. Its simple design belied its sacred energy, making it ideal for Virginia, our healer. I assigned it to her.
Virginia accepted the book with care, her fingers gently brushing its cover. "This tool... feels like something I can use to support the team. I hope its power will be used for the right purposes."
"I'm sure it suits you," I said. "You'll need this to provide maximum support in our upcoming missions."
She nodded softly, her usual calm demeanor intact. "Thank you. I'll use it well."
Watching them wield their new weapons, I felt a surge of confidence. While our team still lacked a dedicated damage dealer, these weapons at least provided them with better tools to face greater threats.
"We're getting more prepared," I told them. "But we can't let our guard down. Esverita might hold surprises, and I don't want us relying on luck like we did in Lilac."
Catherine, who had been observing her staff, spoke with quiet confidence.
"As long as I'm here, luck will favor us. But, of course, the final decision always rests with me."
Thomas sighed at her remark. "Luck is too abstract a concept to rely on, Catherine. We need planning and strategy."
Virginia merely watched them with a faint smile, offering no comment. Deciding to end the discussion, I said, "Alright, you have your new weapons. Use the travel time to get accustomed to them."
And after that, I shifted my attention back to Luna, who was still busy monitoring the navigation system on the large screen. I walked closer, ignoring Catherine's continued praise of her new magic staff behind me.
"Luna," I called out, "how much longer until we reach the Kingdom of Esverita?"
She glanced at me briefly, her fingers still active on the system interface. "If there are no interruptions along this route, we should arrive by tomorrow morning. But to ensure everything goes smoothly, I suggest everyone—including you—gets some rest tonight."
I nodded slowly. Her suggestion made sense. After this journey and preparation, we would need full energy to face whatever awaited in Esverita. Before I could respond, Thomas, who had overheard our conversation, voiced his thoughts.
"Resting is a wise decision," he said as he gently closed his new spellbook. "Even the best forces fail without enough rest and focus. However, this break should also be balanced with strategic reflection."
Virginia, standing beside him, added in her soft tone, "I agree. The night is given by God for recovery, and we should make the most of it. I will spend some time in prayer before sleeping, asking for blessings on our journey."
Catherine, of course, had a different perspective. She flipped her hair, visibly unimpressed with the plan. "Sleep? In those tiny quarters? I, a queen, must adjust to accommodations far below royal standards. But fine, I'll use this time to maintain my appearance and strength. After all, I must be in peak condition to lead all of you."
I sighed at Catherine's comment. Her attitude was always demanding, but I had to admit her confidence held value. No matter what, I knew she would do what was necessary, complaints or not.
"Good," I finally said, trying to settle the atmosphere. "If everyone agrees, tonight's plan is to rest. By morning, we'll reach the Kingdom of Esverita, and I'll need you all at your best."
"Not that we didn't already know that," Catherine retorted with a hint of sarcasm. "A good leader knows when to utilize the strengths of their subordinates."
Thomas let out a quiet sigh, while Virginia remained silent, choosing not to respond. The three of them exchanged brief glances, gave a short nod, and began heading toward their respective dormitories.
I watched them leave the room, then turned my attention back to Luna. She looked at me with an expression that was slightly tired but still professional.
"They seem to be settling in here," she said with a small smile.
"I hope so," I replied. "They play a big role in our plans moving forward. I just hope the mission in Esverita goes smoothly."
"You need to have faith in yourself," Luna said as she adjusted the navigation screen. "You've brought them this far. Make sure your next decisions take them even further."
I stood silently for a moment, reflecting on her words. Luna always had a way of giving me a boost when I felt the weight of everything on my shoulders. After that, I left her to her work, ready to finalize plans before the night fell. The next mission wouldn't be easy, but I had to ensure we were prepared.
Standing beside Luna, I gazed at the large navigation screen in front of her. The digital map of Esverita stretched across it, appearing empty except for the small marker of our floating castle slowly moving over the ocean. Crossing my arms, I felt a vague unease.
"Luna," I called out, "are there any signs of other players? Or perhaps combat units from other floating castles detected on the map?"
Luna turned briefly, her calm expression unchanging. "Nothing at all," she replied. "So far, the areas we've traversed have been completely empty. Not even a hint of suspicious movement from the land or sea below."
I nodded slightly, but the thought still gnawed at me. Everything felt too quiet.
"This is strange," I muttered, looking back at the map. "We just completed the mission in Lilac, a dead city that was once inhabited. The locals of this world haven't reacted to the disappearance of an entire town—no guards, no investigations, no rumors. It's as if it never happened."
Luna nodded subtly, letting me continue my monologue.
"And the other players…" I sighed, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "If there are other players in the Esverita region, they'd notice such a big change on the map. When I played Astral Point, even the smallest change in one corner of the map was a clue to the presence of other players. But here? Nothing."
I stared at the map, recalling the times I used to play the game. The Astral Point map was vast. Even with dozens of hours of nonstop exploration, I could never cover it all. There were hidden areas, locations that only appeared under specific conditions, and empty zones that could suddenly become the center of a major conflict.
"So, am I the only player assigned to the Esverita region?" I wondered aloud. "Or are there others who reached Esverita before me? If they're already there, what are they doing now? And if they exist, why haven't they shown any signs?"
I bit my lip, feeling unsettled by the uncertainty. "We need to move more cautiously, Luna. I don't want to take any chances. When we arrive in Esverita, we might be facing something far bigger than just monsters or locals of this world."
Luna nodded firmly. "I'll monitor every movement, no matter how small. If there's an anomaly, I'll notify you immediately."
"Thank you." I exhaled deeply, feeling slightly reassured. But the unease lingered in the back of my mind. Esverita wasn't just a destination—it was a massive enigma. And I had to be ready for whatever answers awaited us there.
***
STAFF OF AWAKEN (SR)
Type: Magic Staff
Element: Dark
Required Level: 10
Description
The Staff of Awaken is a legendary staff once wielded by a lich who mastered the art of necromancy. The tip of this staff is adorned with a dimly glowing obsidian crystal that seems to contain tormented souls. With every swing, it raises the dead to serve its wielder. However, the staff carries a dark energy that can corrupt the user if used recklessly.
Stats:
Magic Power: +55
Dark Affinity: +30%
Mana Regen: +5%
Undead Control Limit: +3 units
Skill:
Awaken Undead
Effect: Revives up to 3 undead units (within a 15-meter radius) from defeated enemies or NPCs. Cooldown: 10 minutes
Duration: 1 minute (undead remain active unless destroyed).
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Book of Source Water (SR)
Type: Magic Tome
Element: Water
Required Level: 10
Description
The Book of Source Water is an ancient grimoire containing the pure essence of an eternal water flow, said to originate from the source of all rivers and oceans in the world. Its perpetually damp pages glow softly with a blue light, while the spells within resonate with the power to purify and destroy in equal measure.
Stats
Magic Power: +40
Water Affinity: +30%
Mana Regen: +20%
Max HP Increase: +150
Skill:
Source Overflow
Effect: If the user has more than 80% Max HP, all Water Skills gain an additional area damage effect equal to +10% Magic Power and apply a slow debuff to enemies for 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 1 minute
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Spirit Grimoire (R)
Type: Magic Tome
Element: Spirit (Neutral)
Required Level: 1
Description
The Spirit Grimoire is a magical book that serves as a medium for sorcerers to communicate with nature spirits. Its pages, crafted from ethereal silk radiating a gentle glow, are filled with basic spells that allow the user to harness spiritual energy for protection, offense, and support.
Stats
Magic Power: +10
Spirit Affinity: +10%
Mana Regen: +0.5%
Skill:
Guidance of the Spirits (Passive)
Effect: Increases the effectiveness of healing and buff skills applied to the party by +10% when using the Spirit Grimoire.
***