[Settling Mission Rewards…]
┗ Objective 1: Collect Longinuses (5/5)
╰ Reward: 100,000 points
┗ Objective 2: Alter the plot by at least 30%
╰ Reward: 50,000 points
┗ Objective 3: Defeat powerful foes (5/5)
╰ Reward: 20,000 points each, total 100,000
┗ Objective 4: Seize the Longinus · True Longinus
╰ Reward: 50,000 points
┗ Objective 5: Complete all objectives (3/3)
╰ Reward: 50,000 points, 2 special item draws]
[Mission Duration: 30 days]
[Note: At mission end, you must hold at least 3000 Points or face erasure]
All objectives were completed, including the one requiring the capture of the True Longinus. After obtaining it, Zeroy tested it out, then thought—it was rather average.
The key lay in the lingering will of the God of the Bible dwelling within it, along with the legacy accompanying that will. Counting those, the True Longinus was worth more than 100,000 points and two draws. Without them, however, in Zeroy's view, it wasn't worth much.
She extracted those elements and transplanted them into another vessel. She wanted to see whether the spear, stripped of them, could still be submitted to complete the objective. Fortunately, it could.
As usual, she upgraded her skills first.
[Evil Slayer] [Nonhuman Killer] [Sky Striker Ace] [Hellfire].
A total of four skills, two of which met the upgrade conditions.
[Evil Slayer LV3 → Evil Slayer LV4: You can see the good and evil of a target. When facing a target you judge as {Evil}, all attributes increase by 50%, and all resistances increase by 50%. When facing a target you judge as {Good}, you gain the temporary {Grace} skill.]
[Grace: One-time only. Grants the target a permanent 50% boost to all attributes.]
[Sky Striker Ace LV2 → Sky Striker Ace LV3]
Sky Striker Ace, her signature skill, once again consumed one [Breath of Origin] to upgrade. Besides the fundamental massive boost to all attributes, Zeroy once more felt that sensation of having a certain flaw filled.
Her head seemed to work better; she could now understand much more of Patchouli's magic. She also unlocked a new armor: [Type-Zero].
"What is this thing?" Zeroy frowned at the glowing [Type-Zero] text in the system prompt. She had never heard of this [Type-Zero]. Weren't there only four Sky Striker Ace armors? Regardless, it was indeed a signature item unlocked along with the skill's upgrade.
By rights, it should belong to the Sky Striker Ace archetype. Could it be they gave her another armor under a different name?
Carrying her doubts, Zeroy activated the armor in her mind. In an instant, blinding light burst forth, engulfing the entire library.
A fierce wind howled up; the surrounding pages flapped loudly, rows of bookshelves trembled, parchment sheets fluttered like butterflies.
"Blast it!" Zeroy reacted quickly, swiftly restraining the pressure before it could erupt. The light and airflow gradually dissipated under her control, calming the overly ostentatious transformation effect.
The library returned to quiet, leaving only a few stray pages drifting down.
Glancing back at Patchouli, still asleep in disheveled clothes amid a pile of books, Zeroy let out a sigh of relief. This armor, called [Type-Zero]—though she had yet to fully examine it—already radiated tremendous power simply from being donned.
It far surpassed the Flame Blade, Earth Blade, Wind Blade, and Water Blade armors. The two were simply not on the same level of strength. It was only thanks to her quick reaction that the unconscious surge from the transformation hadn't blown apart the vast library.
That earlier burst of light had only been the prelude; another surge would have followed, one actually destructive. Good thing she hadn't blown up Patchi's home.
"..."
Zeroy lowered her gaze, inspecting the new armor covering her arms. Intricate silver metal clung to her like a second skin, gleaming coldly under the lamplight.
She lifted her hand, flexed her fingers, and traced a magical halo into the air, which instantly condensed into a full-length crystal mirror.
When she looked up at her reflection, Zeroy froze. Her red-silver gradient eyes widened, lips parted slightly.
What the hell… this insanely strong, ridiculously handsome figure in the mirror—is that me?
Her once radiant golden hair had turned to moonlit silver, drifting weightlessly as if infused with invisible power. Her entire body was clad in intricate bright-silver armor, each plate perfectly fitted to her form, with dark-gold trim sketching elegant, imposing lines over the silver base. On her right shoulder floated a detached pauldron, from which extended a translucent cape of ominous red light. It rippled faintly, as if she stood constantly on the battlefield.
Even her demeanor had changed. Usually, when she wasn't deliberately making an expression, she carried the vitality and friendliness of a young maiden. Now, however, the reflection exuded innate sternness and valor from her brows.
Even standing silently, she radiated a chilling majesty. Grim, cold, valiant—like a drawn blade, like a war maiden stepped straight out of myth.
"Hsss…" Zeroy sucked in a sharp breath, wonder flashing in her eyes as a smile tugged unconsciously at her lips. "Kind of cool, huh!"
She shifted slightly, trying out a few poses. The silver-haired battle maiden in the mirror followed her motions. The cape swayed, the armor reflected the brilliance of the magic lamps.
"So just what is this armor supposed to be?" Zeroy paused, staring at her reflection in thought. Was it a new card that appeared only after her transmigration? Or perhaps something that never appeared in the game but truly existed in this world? Yet why was it like this? Stronger than the other armors was easy enough to understand, like a second-generation upgrade. That said, even altering her bearing and aura…
"Emmmm… most likely something happened in the story, huh?" Zeroy shook her head regretfully. Too bad she couldn't see the rest of the story.
"Zeroy, what are you doing?" Patchouli's voice suddenly came from behind.
"—!" Zeroy jumped, coughed lightly, and composed her expression before turning calmly. "Patchi, what do I look like right now?"
"…A widower?"
"???"
...
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