Back home, Alex doesn't waste any time. Surrounded by Tereza and Jewel, he takes out his newly acquired items from his inventory.
He uses the [Orbment Conversion Kit] and activates it immediately, selecting his [Destiny Watch] as the target.
[Converting [Destiny Watch]…]
[Checking for requirements…]
[Applying [Orbment Conversion Kit] to [Destiny Watch]]
[Success]
You have lost Orbment Conversion Kit
You have lost Destiny Watch
You have received Destiny Watch (Orbment)
[Destiny Watch (Orbment)]
World: Hunter x Hunter, Zemuria (Kiseki/Trails Franchise)
Quality:Light Gold
Type: Trinket (pocket watch / orbment)
Required Stats: LUK - 15
Effect:Increases LUK by 2 (If LUK is below 15, just carrying this item will reduce your LUK by 2, and the other effects will remain inactive, displaying random information instead.)
Effect: Always shows the current day, weekday, month, year, temperature, humidity, and contains a 100% reliable compass. Works in any world—circles may adjust in worlds with alternative interpretations of days, months, or years.
Effect: Once per mission, you can activate this item to give you a random hint. Following the hint always leads to a good outcome!
Effect (Special): Orbment Slots: 1 (While inside the world of Zemura, this item will transform into a full Arcus unit, granting access to 7 slots for Quartz and 1 slot for Master Quartz)
Note: All-knowing, mysterious, and magical, this watch holds powers that provide accurate information regardless of location. However, if the wearer's LUK is low, it won't work at all and even decreases the wearer's LUK.
Note: If you look carefully at this watch, you may discover the source of its mysterious power.
Note: This item has been converted into an orbment using [Orbment Conversion Kit]. The process has been very successful, allowing the use of most existing Quartz.
Alex smiles at his new item, quite satisfied with the changes.
Not bad. The LUK effect increased to two, but the Required Stats also increased. This kind of item would be unequippable by most other players. Only players focusing on LUK can equip ít.
He does not hesitate and inserts the [Heal] Quartz into it.
With interest, he analyzes the two arts he can now cast:
Tear: Heals a small amount of HP with the power of water.
Cost: 60 MP
Effect: Restores 100 base HP + 1x MNA
Casting Time: 3 seconds
Teara: Heals a medium amount of HP with the power of water.
Cost: 150 MP
Effect: Restores 200 base HP + 2.5x MNA
Casting Time: 5 seconds
Incredible… sure, the arts are pretty expensive, but the amount healed is quite a lot, and it scales with MNA. Personally, I enjoy high-cost, high-impact spells.
Alex quickly removes the [Heal] Quartz and inserts [Water Bell] into his new [Destiny Watch (Orbment)]
Aqua Bleed: Strikes an enemy with a heavy mass of water.
Cost: 60 MP
Effect: Deals 50 water damage + 1x MNA
Casting Time: 4 seconds
Frost Edge: Attacks enemies with blades of crystallized ice.
Cost: 110 MP
Effect: Deals 90 water damage + 1.5x MNA
Effect: 20% Chance to freeze any enemy hit, by up to 5 seconds.
Radius: Medium (Circle)—scaling with MNA
Casting Time: 6 seconds
Hydro Cannon: Strikes with a high-pressure water current.
Cost: 160 MP
Effect: Deals 125 water damage + 2x MNA
Radius: Medium (Line)—scaling with MNA
Casting Time: 8 seconds
Crystal Flood: Creates a glistening river of ice.
Cost: 250 MP
Effect: Deals 175 water damage + 2.5x MNA
Effect: 30% Chance to freeze any enemy hit, by up to 7 seconds.
Radius: Large (Line)—scaling with MNA
Casting Time: 10 seconds
Alex is shocked, mostly by the immense MP cost and the long casting time. However, he also stares at the insanely large damage numbers.
These spells… no arts. They are way more expensive than my Black Magic. I would even go as far as saying they are way less effective. A Blizzara would cost only 30 MP and deal 80 single-target or 50 AoE damage. Still, I guess these high MP costing arts could change the entire tide of the battle; it's really quite a huge gamble to use them.
More importantly, I finally got access to healing spells!
I received items worth 100 shards from Rishi, and I still got a few left. I need to upgrade the Rank of this item immediately so I can use both of my Quartz at the same time.
"Stop falling asleep!" Tereza says, nudging him. "I want to see what your arts can do, too!"
Alex, realizing both Tereza and Jewel stare at him, shares the details of his new art with them.
Princess Jewel likes these high-impact arts. However, the casting time, even when reduced to 50%, thanks to the [Water Bell], requires some amount of casting. For a 1on1 battle, they are not quite suitable, except for the healing arts and Water Bleed. Princess Jewel will make sure that she's distracting any enemy, so Soulmate can freely use his new abilities!
That's actually a good idea. We have to think about it and come up with a few suitable strategies.
"I like these abilities a lot. They feel really impactful!" Tereza says, showing a hint of envy. "I know how effective arts can be. They are powerful spells, able to change the flow of the entire battle. I prefer the higher elements, though. Water is one of the more boring elements."
Alex shrugs, "beggars can't be choosers."
"Anyway," Tereza says. "What are your plans for now, Alex?" She asks curiously.
"For now, I need to rank up that item, so I can equip both Quartz at once. I hope Benezia can turn my items into a mountain of FC and items to shard," Alex explains, showing a hint of greed.
He then thinks for a moment. "After that, I'll probably use my World items I have accumulated. The next will be the [Baroque Works Invitation], I have decided."
[Baroque Works Invitation]
Quality: Purple
Type: World Item / Quest Item
Effect: Allows the player to automatically select a fresh One Piece world at an early timeline before the Straw Hats encounter the organization. The player's next mission will be locked into this world and cannot be changed.
The player will have the opportunity to join Baroque Works during the Arabasta Saga.
Requirements: Level 5-10
Note: Any Officer Agent is tasked with scouting worthy personnel and has the authority to invite new members into the organization. This item grants the player the position of a Frontier Agent, with the chance to work for Mr. 0 himself.
Note: After clearing the tutorial and unlocking the full functions of the Fantasy Realm, the player can use this item to initiate a mission spanning the entire Arabasta Saga. Other random players of similar level will also be selected to join.
Note: This item cannot be traded or sold. It will disappear from your inventory at level 11.
"I want to join, too!" Tereza says, in a sulky voice.
"I wish you could," Alex replies. "I could use the help. The world item indicates it'll be a mission with other players. That kind of mission is always dangerous… players could ruin your plans by stabbing you in the back. Worst case, they team up and all target me. I've got a bit of a reputation… and depending on the PvP status of the mission, people might want to go after me out of greed or jealousy. My standing with the bigger guilds isn't great either, since we're kinda doing our own thing."
"Yeah, it's always risky. There are items that allow players to join up with each other. I'll try to look for one," Tereza announces.
Princess Jewel will support Soulmate!
Alex nods. "I might also choose Benezia or Menchi as combat followers. I'll talk it out with them later."
"How about the remaining [Krogan's Might]?" Alex asks. "It lowers INT by one but increases both STR and PHY. Overall, you gain a stat. Interested?"
"I want to accept, but I'm not sure what I can offer you in return," Tereza says, looking a little worried.
Alex sighs.
I guess I can't keep feeding her items for free. Of course, she wouldn't accept that kind of treatment forever. She's already hung up on all the other things I've given her before.
Suddenly, he remembers his plans. "Shards… I need shards! If you've got any low-quality items, I'm more than willing to accept any trash you can offer me."
Tereza perks up. "How about 50 shards' worth of items?"
"Isn't that a little too much? That's around 100,000 FC worth of items," Alex asks, looking wary.
"No… I can finally pay you back! You need to rank up your improved watch, right? Let's do it!" Tereza says.
They quickly exchange items—Alex gaining a bunch of White and Green Quality gear worth a total of 50 shards, while handing over his remaining [Krogan's Might] to her.
A few days pass.
He spends time in the Real World, meeting a few family members, going shopping, and enjoying himself. Benezia, though rarely, joins him on a few trips. Her appearance changes enough that she looks like a beautiful woman. Of course, her blue skin turns into a weird mix of white and grey, looking a little strange, but quite attractive. She also gains long, beautiful black hair, though the rest of her body and facial structure remain mostly the same.
Despite her self-imposed busy schedule, she gladly suggests visiting various museums and taking long walks through a few shopping malls, slowly learning about the world.
Aside from her brief sporadic real-life adventures, Benezia spends most of her time in the Realm, occasionally playing Mass Effect—this time actually making progress. Jewel, albeit reluctantly, often helps her out and answers some of her questions.
Four days after his return, Alex, Tereza, Menchi, Benezia, and of course, Jewel, sit at Alex's dining table enjoying one of Menchi's meals.
Alex stuffs his mouth with various dishes, smiling, clearly enjoying the food.
"Your table manners could use some real improvement," Benezia comments, looking slightly aghast but with a hint of amusement.
"Sorry," Alex says, realizing he's indeed behaving rather savagely. "Menchi's food sometimes does that to people. It's just that good."
"I half agree—her food is indeed quite impressive—but I don't think it changes your behaviour," Benezia replies seriously.
"Hehe," Tereza laughs while eating.
"So, Benezia, how are things going?" Alex asks.
"Pretty good. Give me just a few more days and I'll give you a report," she says confidently.
"Good. I want to rank up my items. Thanks to Tereza and Rishi, I got 150 shards' worth of items. I also got a few things myself. I just need 200 to upgrade my new [Destiny Watch (Orbment)]," Alex explains.
He then turns towards Menchi. "How are things on your side?"
"Still preparing," Menchi says, looking a bit nervous. "I don't get access to such incredible ingredients every day. It's a real chance!"
"I really need to look for a World item that allows me to group up with you…" Tereza says, sounding a little worried.
A few days later, Alex, with Benezia and Menchi, enters the Realm, ready to deal with his remaining issues.
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