Chương 56: [BL] 55. Upgrade

As she descended with Shera and Leynah, carrying the tier-three with her Sun Thread, Willow noticed how much taller the wall had become, perhaps twice as tall. She couldn't be sure, as the stone structures that certainly had not been there before drew her attention away. A cathedral-like dome sat snug against the wall, big enough to house every human inside. People ran in and out with new weapons. The clangor of steel reached Willow's ears the moment she landed in front of the castle gate.

The courtyard, once dedicated to a practice ground, was now filled with two housing structures, forming a small complex built or summoned against each other. The housing stretched, giving space for soldiers to march toward the stairs leading to the battlements. Eyes followed them as Leynah led Willow and Shera into the castle. A small cheer sounded, but no one came to greet them.

Willow's eyes darted around at the patients and the healers moving about, their postures stiff, and more eyes followed Willow with looks both desperate and hopeful. Part of her—the Hero Instinct—did not want to fail them, but the real her was terrified. The weight of this trust was overwhelming, especially since it also meant their lives were in her hands. Noticing this, Leynah squeezed Willow's arm without looking as she led them to the stairs.

"You know," Shera said. She exploded into light, and the ugly hag turned into a pretty girl. Willow had to stare with a probably rude wide-open mouth for a moment, and Shera pointedly glared at her.

"Storybooks always depict Bright Stars fighting on the front line from the get-go, facing the Riftborn and closing rifts left and right," she continued.

"But history books are different. Bright Stars had to be trained first. Those who failed to be summoned to the capital will either be like you, surviving because they found a settlement, or die before they got a chance. It took weeks to months to get them to tier-two safely in the capital."

"That seemed long," Willow said. Leynah let out a small chuckle, slowing down their walk.

"That's because they're heavily guarded when doing so. The Guidance Spirit will take that into account. But you, Willow, kept getting the rawest experience there is." Shera continued, "My point is, in the early part of the Bright Star calling, they're supposed to be protected. The soldiers who have been preparing for decades are the ones who will take the brunt of the fight. The Empire is no slouch either; they're strong. But not strong enough to just close a bunch of tier-four to tier-six—""Hold on!"

Willow almost screamed; actually, she did scream.

"Tier-six exist?" Both Leynah and Shera blinked.

"Yes? Why wouldn't they be?"

"I mean, like, tier-six monster? Riftborn? Rifts?"

"Yes, Willow, they exist. Not just Riftborn. Currently, humanity has ten known tier-sixes. Five of them are serving in the capital," Leynah said.

"There'll be more when we're deep in the year of apocalypse, I'm sure."

"How?" Willow asked.

"It's you, silly." Shera gave her a dumbfounded look.

"Your experience/party Enhancer! Every other bright star will have it too."

"Oh."

"Anyway, my point is, under normal circumstances, you shouldn't have joined the fight this much, so don't put pressure on yourself—""The girl is correct," an authoritative voice said, and his tone carried over like an echo through the throne room. Willow and Shera didn't notice that they had entered. What the hell? She'd thought she was only entering another hall, but instead an extravagant, bigger throne room greeted her.

Underneath her lay a soft red carpet that extended all the way to small steps which led to Kroos's throne, where the [Banner Lord] lounged. Her eyes glazed over the expansive room. Kroos's crest hung upside down in a giant banner, proudly brandishing the red flower of his house. Two titanic arrow slits cut through either side of the room, letting in a burnished orange light that shone right to the carpet like a line of embers, coloring the entire room with small motes of light that played around in circles.

The edge of each light touched a grand table, where Kroos invited them to sit.

"Champion Leynah, well done on your scouting. We got almost everything we needed, didn't we, Derrick?" Beside Kroos, standing just beneath his throne, was a middle-aged man wearing the crisp uniform of Kroos's house. His graying hair was a bit disheveled, and a trace of blood seemed to have left a mark that he hadn't had time to wash away. [SwordMaster—Level 45] A tier-three. His class did not seem like an Ascendant class. Willow took one seat, the nearest two with Shera, while Leynah remained standing behind them.

"Yes, you even uncovered one of their rifts. Truly well done, Rabbit Champion."

"It's my pleasure, Lord First Sword, sir," Leynah bowed. Willow tilted her head. What a curious title. Noticing her confusion, Kroos explained.

"Derrick here is the First Sword of my house—House Lavence. He led a separate host to ease the Kobolds' harries on us three days ago." Huh, so a Marshal?

"And he is my dear brother by the union of our son and granddaughter."

"Oh, I didn't know Krywen had a sister."

"She does. She is currently serving under the Duke alongside Derrick's son," Kroos said.

"Speaking of Krywen, it seems that the girl is a bit shaken? I can see her now, but what happened out there, my lady?" This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"She protected me with your banner from a tier-three ranged attack," Willow said, and in the same instant, Kroos let out a pleased smile that earned him a small glare from Willow.

"Apologies," Kroos said, sounding like he didn't mean it.

"In this time of Apocalypse, it's common knowledge that it is easier to protect someone when they're strong."

"But you have to take into account their mental being, my lord," Willow pointed out.

"I certainly do, which is why I let the blacksmith boy snuggle with her now in a corner of the smithy—" Derrick coughed loudly, and Kroos raised both of his arms in surrender.

"It's just an accidental glance."

"Let's move on to what's important," Derrick smoothly steered the conversation.

"My lady, I've received word that we have had multiple soldiers ascend to tier-two thanks to you. Words cannot describe how much this means to us."

"It's just the obvious thing to do, my lord… first sword?" Willow looked at Leynah, and she nodded.

"By your permission, my lady, will you reveal this Hunt Party's information to us? Since you ascended, I guess it also upgraded too? This will be crucial information for how we handle the tree Riftborns armies." Willow chewed her lip. She looked at the Guidance Spirit and decided this would be necessary information.

[Ivory Assassin's Veil (Tier Two)] [Slot (Light Rune: 10/10)] [Kindling] [1]—Heal with white flames. [Star Fire] [4]—Shoot three stars of light Name: Willow. Class: [Auric Huntress--Level 25] Outfit: [Ivory Assassin's Veil]—[30 Strength, 50 Dexterity, 30 Vitality, 30 Constitution, 50 Sense, 30 Arcanic] Rune: [Bright 14/14] Attribute: [10 Strength, 22 Dexterity, 6 Vitality, 7 Constitution, 14 Sense, 6 Arcanic] [14 Bright Runes] Spell: [Mana Bow] [3] → [Auric Bow] [5] +15 Arcanic, +2 Bright Runes.

[Mana Arrow] [1] → [Auric Arrow II] [2] +10 Dexterity, +5 Constitution, +5 Arcanic, +3 Bright Runes.

[Hunter's Constellation] [3] → [Starfall] [10] +2 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +10 Arcanic, +5 Bright Runes. [Mana Draw] → [Sun Piercer] +3 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +5 Vitality, +5 Constitution, +5 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +10 Bright Runes. [Huntress Wing] [5] → [Sixfold Wings] [10] +2 Strength, +10 Dexterity, +2 Vitality, +5 Constitution, +5 Sense, +15 Arcanic, +15 Bright Runes. [Sun Thread] [5] +5 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +10 Bright Runes.

Enhancer: [Grant Hunt III] [8/8] → [Divine Hunt IV] [19/20]—The Grant Hunt evolved, giving the Auric Huntress twelve extra slots in her party. Summon Olympya Magus every time the Divine Hunt is called upon. As a Huntress, she ought to know where her target is. A thin string of light will extend from the Auric Huntress if she wills it, and it shall point her to her target. Grant an extra 100% experience bonus to members of the Hunt Party for every monster slain by a party member.

Grant a 150% experience bonus to Auric Huntress herself for monsters slain by the party member. Experience upon completion of each successful hunt will grow by a further 100% for the Hunt Party. +10 Strength, +10 Dexterity, +10 Vitality, +10 Constitution, +10 Sense, +20 Arcanic, +20 Bright Runes. [Archer Calling II] → [True Archer III]—The Auric Huntress has taken her archery to the next level. Allow the Auric Huntress to Imbue a bow one tier higher than her own class.

With the word command of 'Starfall,' allow the Auric Huntress to recall the specks of light and release them after multiplying them into arrows of gold. +2 Strength, +5 Dexterity, +1 Vitality, +1 Constitution, +5 Sense. [Steady Draw] → [Steadfast Draw II]—Being slow and accurate is no longer enough as the Auric Huntress foe grows stronger. Now the Auric Huntress will draw with the speed of wind and still maintain proper form. +5 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +10 Sense.

[Hunter's Mark II] → [Hunter's Mark III]—Not only do her foes grow, but they also become much more numerous. Allow Auric Huntress to have up to three marks and to cancel any marks after a while; furthermore, allow attacks to ricochet between marked targets. +10 Sense, +5 Arcanic, +5 Bright Runes. [Feather Step] → [Silent Step]—A Huntress needs not only balance but also feet with the intent of a silent predator. Allow Auric Huntress to push Runes to her feet when she is about to execute her hunt. +10 Dexterity.

[Predator's Defiance] → [Right of Hunt II]—A Huntress is always, and has to be, the ultimate predator even in the face of someone who is far stronger. She could not possibly let go of such a right. Grant Auric Huntress +30% Sense +30% Arcanic when facing a stronger predator. +5 Strength, +20 Dexterity, +5 Vitality, +5 Constitution, +5 Sense. [Quick Feet] → [Swift Step]—to hunt is to be quick. Allows Auric Huntress to push Runes to her legs, boosting her movement. +30 Dexterity.

[Hunt Trophy] [1/5] → [Huntress Trophy] [1/10]—The Huntress grows stronger, and so will her trophy. Give the Auric Huntress an extra five slots of Huntress Trophy. [Swordmanship]—The Auric Huntress prides herself on her hunt. Enhanced swordsmanship training for the Auric Huntress. [Elf Ear]—An elf is known as a mark of pure mana—a being of mana purity. Every time the Huntress downs a foe higher level than her, she recovers one Bright Rune.

Mana is the purest energy that can no longer run through humans, but the Elf ears are a mark of beings of Mana. The Human of the Past. Allow the Huntress to split her Runes into pure Mana that she could use to reinforce both her Enhancer and Spells by +10% effectiveness per Rune spent. +20 Strength, +20 Dexterity, +20 Vitality, +20 Constitution, +20 Sense, +20 Arcanic, +50 Bright Runes.

Name: Willow [Auric Huntress--Level 25] Class: [Auric Huntress--Level 25] Outfit: [Ivory Assassin's Veil]—[30 Strength, 50 Dexterity, 30 Vitality, 30 Constitution, 50 Sense, 30 Arcanic] Rune: [Bright 59/134] Attributes: [89 Strength, 198 Dexterity, 79 Vitality, 88 Constitution, 139 Sense, 146 Arcanic] [134 Bright Runes] Spell: [Auric Bow] [5] [Auric Arrow II] [2] [Starfall] [10] [Sun Piercer] [Sixfold Wings] [10] [Sun Thread] [5] Enhancer: [Grant Hunt III] [8/8] → [Divine Hunt IV] [20/20] [Archer Calling II] → [True Archer III] [Steady Draw] → [Steadfast Draw II] [Hunter's Mark II] → [Hunter Marks III] [Feather Step] → [Silent Step] [Predator's Defiance] → [Right of Hunt II] [Quick Feet] → [Swift Step] [Hunt Trophy] [1/5] → [Huntress Trophy] [1/10] [Swordmanship] [Elf Ear] —