Leo examined the loot.
Ancient Armor: Defense 220, two sockets, medium armor (–5% movement speed), Strength required: 100.
The best white armor they'd seen yet—and with sockets for gems to boost its power. But the strength requirement was far too high. He tossed it into his inventory for later.
Lizard's Light Armor: Defense 100, +5 Mana, light armor, Strength required: 41.
It matched what he already wore. "How much Strength do you two have? Can either of you equip this?"
Maijessie, who had only been adding 2 Strength per level, had just 40—too low. Gotti, putting 3 points in each level, had reached 42.
Without hesitation, Leo handed the armor to her. Gotti hesitated, glancing at Maijessie. She was the fighter—shouldn't she take the better defense?
But Maijessie looked her straight in the eye. "Take it, Gotti. It raises our team's overall strength. If better armor drops later, brother will give it to me."
Gotti sneaked a glance at Leo, who was smiling his full support. Touched, she put it on.
They also handed her a helmet: Defense 15, Strength required: 26.
Then came the prize—a strange stone. Gray, plain, but etched with a mysterious pattern resembling a dragon. The sight made Leo's heart race. Could it be a rune? Sol?
As the thought crossed his mind, the stone's attributes revealed themselves:
Rune: Sol. Required level 27. Socket in weapon: +9 Minimum Damage. Socket in armor: Damage Reduced by 7.
Leo remembered the claw scratches that had cut straight through his defenses with Hell's true damage. With this rune, seven points would be shaved from every hit. A treasure. He tucked it away, grinning, an idea already forming.
"This stone stays secret. If you see one for sale in camp, buy it if the price is low."
They gathered the rest of the loot and pushed on. More monsters fell easily, raising them to level 12. At a small pond they washed the filth off, Leo almost ecstatic to finally feel clean.
At dusk they found a small stone hut in the wastes. Clearing the monsters outside, they settled in. Gotti set to cooking while Leo called a team meeting.
"Everyone's level 12 now. Let's go over the new skills—we'll fight better if we coordinate."
By the time Gotti served a fragrant dinner, they'd finished sharing.
Leo:
* Level 1: Sacrifice, Smite, Resist Fire, Might.
* Level 6: Holy Bolt, Resist Cold.
* Level 12:
* Charge: Rush a foe at high speed. +120% damage, +50% accuracy. Costs 9 mana. Requires Smite.
* Zeal: Rapidly strike multiple times. +12% damage, +10% accuracy, 2 hits. Costs 2 mana. Requires Sacrifice. Each level in Sacrifice adds +12% damage.
* Resist Lightning: Aura. Lowers lightning damage taken by party. Radius 10.6 yards, +52% lightning resist. Hidden: +1 max resist per 2 levels.
* Blessed Aim: Aura. +75% accuracy to party. Radius 10.6 yards. Requires Might. Hidden: +5% passive accuracy per level.
* 1 point saved.
Maijessie:
* Level 1: Claw Mastery, Psychic Hammer, Fire Blast.
* Level 6: Burst of Speed, Shock Web.
* Level 12:
* Charged Bolt Sentry: Places a trap firing 5 bolts per volley, 5 volleys. Lightning dmg 1–7. Costs 13 mana. Requires Shock Web.
* Weapon Block: Passive. Can block while dual wielding claws. Current 26%.
* Cloak of Shadows: Blinds enemies and lowers defense. Duration 8s, radius 20 yards. +10% defense, –15% enemy defense. Costs 13 mana. Requires Psychic Hammer.
* 3 points saved.
Gotti:
* Level 1: Find Potion, Howl.
* Level 6: Taunt, Shout, Leap.
* Leap: Jump out of danger or into battle. Radius 4.6 yards. Costs 2 mana.
* Level 12:
* Find Item: Search corpses for hidden loot. 13% chance. Costs 7 mana. Requires Find Potion.
* Increased Stamina: Passive. +30% stamina.
* 4 points saved.
Dinner was quickly eaten. Then, thanks to Gotti's new Find Item skill, they used Gull to boost magic find. That day's haul was over a dozen items, several rare.
Leo swapped out his creepy Bone Helm for blue gear:
* Strong Crown: +52 Defense, +30% Enhanced Defense. Str 55, Lvl 7.
* Balanced Iron Gloves: +15 Defense, +17% Faster Hit Recovery. Str 60, Lvl 7.
* Greaves of Haste: +15 Defense, +10% Faster Run/Walk. Str 70, Lvl 9.
Maijessie's strength was still too low. She got only a short spear, Leo's old Bone Helm, and blue chain boots (+10% run/walk).
Gotti, stacking Strength, wore a Lizard's Heavy Belt (+5 Mana), Light Iron Gloves, and a superior helmet—three blues. Her weapon remained unchanged for lack of Dexterity.
Their potion stockpile was massive now: 30 Minor Healing, 20 Minor Mana, 5 Rejuvenation.
Leo felt satisfied. But the Ancient Armor, still unwearable, gnawed at him like an itch. They needed more strength fast.
He told the women: tomorrow, return to camp. Trade potions for charms, liquidate gear, buy more charms and stones, and restock supplies for days in the field. In three hours, he'd open a Town Portal for them to return.
Maijessie refused at first, insisting only Gotti go. But her inventory couldn't carry everything, and Leo wouldn't leave one alone.
Pulling his sister aside, he spoke gently but firmly.
"As soon as I get more charms, I'll reach the strength to wear Ancient Armor. That will raise our power immensely.
I can handle small groups alone. And worst case, I've got plenty of Stamina Potions—I can always retreat to safety."
Worn down by his persistence, Maijessie finally agreed to go with Gotti.
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