"Hell yeah, escape successful! Don't they know info comes with a fair trade?" Pepper grins, standing in Thirdrema's upper district—a pristine, upscale area reserved for elite nobles and select merchants. His Enhance Guild Membership Card from a special quest granted access, while pursuing players, lacking permits, were stopped by guards. Thanks to Pencilgon's tip, he's safe for now.
"Nice place. Great view of the lower district," Pepper notes, feeling NPC eyes shun him—likely due to Lycaon's Curse Marking and his snug Numakappa gear adding to the out-of-place vibe. "Aitouil, hit the alley, gate us back to Rabbits, then connect to Phosphocie. I'll buy liquor there," he says. "Got it, be careful, Pepper-han," Aitouil replies.
With 1.3 million Mani, Pepper plans to upgrade gear. Money's best spent wisely—past games taught him hoarding leads to waste. Deactivating Over Top Beat's debuff, they slip into an alley. Aitouil opens a gate to Rabbits' Grand Palace, using MP potions from Pepper to restore mana, then links to Phosphocie. Pepper dashes to the city's armory alone.
"Eek! W-Welcome!" The female NPC at Phosphocie's armory pales, trembling at Pepper's cursed aura. Used to such reactions, he calmly states, "I'd like a full set of new armor." "Y-Yes, right away!" she stammers, displaying options. Mentally thanking his Blade-Resist Series and starter Leather Cap, Pepper reviews three choices:
Azure Zero Series: Black-blue cowboy hat and poncho, resistant to dark and ice. Cost: 25,000 Mani. Skullbirdie Series: Made from Wyvern Zombie materials, resists curses and boosts damage against dragon-types. Cost: 30,000 Mani. Bloody Scar Series: Costly at 55,000 Mani, grants 1% stat buffs per equipped piece (4% full set) against higher-level foes.
"I'll take Azure Zero and Bloody Scar," Pepper decides. "Y-Yes! Thank you!" the NPC squeaks. Paying, he mixes gear: Azure Zero's Vogue Hat and Suit Pants, Bloody Scar's Long Coat and Belt. Black, red, and blue blend into a sleek new look.
Next, Pepper visits the weapon shop, greeted by the stout female blacksmith who previously explained Madness Breaker's three evolution paths. "Long time, Pepper-san," she says warmly, a stark contrast to the armory's fear. "Hey, good to see you. Can I see slashing weapons?" he asks.
She displays categories: dagger, one-handed sword, greatsword, two-handed sword, tachi, great tachi. Tapping tachi, Pepper scans options: Kuroganemaru (high durability, beginner-friendly), Mugentou Tamagiri (bonus damage vs. spirits), Shakutou Dochizusuri (cool name). "I'll take Kuroganemaru," he chooses, valuing its low upgrade cost and synergy with his Lake Pepper Dagger.
At the Enhance Guild Phosphocie Branch, he stocks up: Holy Water, Throwing Orb: Blast Light, and recovery items for the next area, Okurai Soul Valley. His goal: test Lycaon's Curse Marking's minor buffs and curse/debuff resistance.
Okurai Soul Valley, between Phosphocie and Shanfro's eighth city, Eitold, was a war-torn battlefield. A brutal human conflict ended when monsters intervened, leaving a miasma-filled valley hostile to the living, a domain of the dead.
"The air should be toxic, but it's… fresh? Curse effect?" Pepper muses. White, coral-like rocks form the valley, blanketed in gray miasma, yet the air around him is clear. The curse likely negates weaker magic, curses, and debuffs.
A rumbling draws his gaze—a skeletal, four-legged dragon-like creature, Wyvern Zombie, glares with foul breath, the source of Skullbirdie Series materials. Drawing Kuroganemaru, Pepper prepares to fight, but the curse's aura sends it fleeing. "Level 38, and Wyvern Zombies run? Miasma's nullified too?" he realizes. "Is this area a cakewalk now?"
The curse turns a debuff-heavy zone requiring Holy Water or clerics into a stroll. But a new foe emerges: a headless knight in bloodied, rusted armor, wielding a tattered longsword, riding an armored, headless warhorse with blue-flame reins—General Durahan, a rare enemy.
"It didn't flee, so it's stronger than me. Bring it on!" Pepper equips Exspide Warleg boots, draws Kuroganemaru's black blade, and faces General Durahan in Okurai Soul Valley, his fighting spirit ablaze.
To the Miasma-Filled Valley of the Dead, Where the Headless Knight Appears
PN: PepperLevel: 38Main Job: BackpackerSub Job: None
Stats
HP: 15 MP: 10 Stamina: 90 Strength: 70 Agility: 91 Dexterity: 35 Technique: 50 Durability: 26 Luck: 25 Remaining Points: 25
Equipment
Left: Vorpal Ledge Right: Lycaon's Curse Marking Legs: Exspide Warleg Head: Azure Zero's Vogue Hat (+2 Durability, Dark/Ice Resistance) Torso: Bloody Scar's Long Coat (+5 Durability, +1% Stats vs. Higher-Level Foes) Waist: Bloody Scar's Belt (+3 Durability, +1% Stats vs. Higher-Level Foes) Legs: Azure Zero's Suit Pants (+3 Durability, Dark/Ice Resistance)
Accessories
Chainmail (+10 Durability) Traveler's Cloak (+2 Durability) Vorpal Soul Collar Enhance Guild Membership Card
Money: 1,236,100 ManiInventory: Blue Toy Ostrich Feather, Rising Volks Gear, Horal Mushroom, Vorpal Jujutsu [Crescent Tomoe], Vorpal Blade Art [Water Mirror Moon], Vorpal Dance Art [Moonlight Waltz], Vorpal Ultimate Art: Tachi-Type [Clear Anthem], Vorpal Ultimate Art: Strike-Type [Nayuta Tracks], Kuroganemaru, Holy Water, Throwing Orb: Blast Light, Recovery Items
Skills
Ladder Slash Life-End Thrust Repel Counter Drive Throw Alzeid Edge Meias Work Volberg Strike Grasharas Impact Strength Smasher (Lv. 1) Over Top Beat Infight (Lv. 1) Seven-Boat Leap Skate Foot Jet Attack Cross Slash (Lv. 1) Ballistrider Actus Dash (Lv. 5) Stick Piece (Lv. 4) Grip Strike (Lv. 3) Throw (Lv. 4) Climb Kick (Lv. 5) Neck Snap (Lv. 3) Moon Jumper Body Purge (Lv. 3) Life of Change Straight Fist Back Kick (Lv. 4) Dual Flip Fulls Shoot (Lv. 2) Oppression Kick (Lv. 3) Iron-Breaking Life Strike (Lv. 1) One-Shot Annihilation (Lv. 1) Envy Fusion Taunt (Lv. 1) Vorpal Sword Art [Half Moon Sever] Vorpal Hammer Art [Full Moon Stamp]
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