Chapter 311: Beauty Levels Up [I]
"Stone, check it out. Earthen Wall Talisman. Mythic-grade."
Drunkard practically shoved the yellowish-brown talisman into Marcus’s hand, barely able to contain his excitement.
—
Earthen Wall Talisman (Mythic Artifact): Recite the incantation to mobilize surrounding earth elements, forming a massive sandstorm barrier. Increases defense of squad or mercenary group members by 30%. Duration: 30 seconds. Uses remaining: 3/5. Only usable by squad leader or mercenary group leader.
—
Marcus raised a brow slightly as he read through it.
Now that was a good drop.
He had oneshot Savage Wolf Alpha, and this was what came out of it. A Mythic-grade support charm, and not even a one-time use either. Three uses left meant it could turn multiple fights around if used properly.
Because of the system’s protection rules, anything dropped from a kill he secured belonged exclusively to him and his squad for a limited time. No one else could touch it. And since the Savage Wolves had been wiped out so quickly, they never even got the chance to reclaim it.
"Nice," Marcus said under his breath, already tucking the talisman away. Somewhere out there, Savage Wolf Alpha was probably fuming.
"Stone, we’re rich!"
Invincible Strong laughed as he sifted through the rest of the loot, sorting equipment and tossing pieces to DragonBlade, Gloomy Arrow, Cleaver, Fate’s Trial, and Path to Heaven.
The Savage Wolves weren’t just random players. They were elites, and the gear they carried reflected that. High-quality, well-refined equipment, the kind that normally took time and effort to gather, was now being redistributed like spoils after a raid.
"Stone, this is great. We should fight players more often."
Cleaver grinned as he turned a Gold-tier battle blade over in his hands, admiring it from every angle.
Marcus glanced at it and immediately recognized it.
SavageWolf_Slayer’s weapon.
The same one the guy had been waving around earlier while mouthing off. Not particularly impressive in the moment, but memorable enough now that it was in someone else’s hands.
The best part was that most of this gear was immediately usable for his squad. Marcus could farm higher-tier equipment from monsters if he wanted, but for the others, gear they could equip right away was far more valuable.
As the saying went, if you lack weapons, take them from your enemies.
Marcus stored the Flame Explosive Arrows alongside the Earthen Wall Talisman, then shifted his attention back to the White Dog Rat King.
Not far away, under the boss’s relentless assault, Pebble had finally collapsed. The Sea Demon Soul was now the only thing holding the rat king in place.
Still, Pebble had done more than enough. Taking over ten thousand HP off a Gold-tier boss was no small feat. The rat king had less than five thousand HP remaining.
"Pebble, I’ll finish this for you."
Marcus muttered quietly as he walked forward, already planning to grind the boss down slowly.
"Stone, players incoming."
DragonBlade’s voice cut in.
Marcus turned his head. Sure enough, a squad was rushing toward them from the distance. Their pace made their intentions obvious. They were here for the boss.
Marcus clicked his tongue softly. So much for taking his time.
He had no interest in dragging things out or letting strangers get a closer look at his pets. The less attention they attracted, the better.
He glanced back at the White Dog Rat King.
"Lucky you," he said calmly.
"Desperate Strike."
He did not even bother switching weapons or adjusting his stance. With a smooth, almost casual motion, Marcus hurled the Mythic Artifact Bat Dragon Cloud Sword.
The blade tore through the air in a clean arc and struck the White Dog Rat King directly.
A sharp, pained screech burst from the creature.
-11,240
The result was immediate and decisive.
With the fivefold damage multiplier and a critical hit stacked together, the damage exceeded eleven thousand. The remaining HP meant nothing in comparison.
The sheer force of the impact slammed the White Dog Rat King into the ground, the sword driving straight through and pinning its body to the earth.
It died instantly.
Ding!
[Congratulations, player Stonehaven, for killing the Gold-tier White Dog Rat King. Reward: 500 Reputation, 500 gold coins.]
Ding!
[Congratulations, player Stonehaven, your level has increased. HP +20, MP +20. 5 attribute points available.]
Marcus exhaled lightly.
Rats always gave decent experience, and the boss was no exception. Still, his attention barely lingered on his own level-up.
Instead, he turned immediately toward Lyanna and Camillo.
Ding!
[Congratulations, Stonehaven. Your pet, Wyvern Saint Knight Lyanna, has reached Level 30. HP +300, MP +300, Defense +50.]
Ding!
[Congratulations, player Stonehaven. Your pet, Vixen Queen Camillo, has reached Level 30. HP +200, MP +500, Attack +30, Defense +30.]
Both of them had leveled at the same time.
Marcus’s eyes lit up, anticipation flickering across his face. This was what he had been waiting for.
Level 30. It was time for an Evolution.
With his Luck stat, failure was almost impossible. He had absolute confidence in what was about to happen.
And just as he expected, the moment the notifications ended, both of them began to change.
"ROAR!"
The Glacier Ice Dragon beneath Lyanna threw its head back and unleashed a thunderous roar that rolled across the entire area. The sound alone was enough to send nearby monsters scattering in panic.
Even the squad of players approaching from afar faltered. Their mounts grew restless, some nearly breaking formation as they instinctively resisted moving closer.
The Glacier Ice Dragon’s growth was tied directly to Lyanna’s. As she reached Level 30, it evolved alongside her.
In an instant, water-element magic surged violently outward. The temperature dropped sharply as frost spread through the air, thin sheets of ice forming and cracking with faint, crisp sounds. The dragon’s body expanded, its scales shimmering with a cold, radiant brilliance that made it look even more imposing than before.
And Lyanna herself... She became something else entirely.
The already striking Wyvern Saint Knight was engulfed in light, brilliant icy-blue radiance intertwined with blazing red flame. The two opposing elements clashed and merged around her, creating a surreal, shifting aura that was impossible to fully grasp.
It was like watching ice burn and fire freeze at the same time.
Two extremes, perfectly balanced.
The contrast only made her presence more overwhelming. Her flawless features, her poised and powerful stance, the natural authority she carried, all of it came together into something that felt almost unreal.
She no longer looked like just a warrior, she looked like a goddess of war.
Marcus felt his heartbeat hitch for a brief moment.
"...Wow."
Drunkard and Invincible Strong could only stare, their usual chatter falling away.
"Stone, your Wyvern Saint Knight Lyanna is..."
The words never came.
Standing before her, any attempt at description felt inadequate, as if language itself fell short of capturing what they were seeing.
At the same time, Marcus sensed something deeper.
A faint, subtle presence was beginning to awaken within Lyanna. It was not loud or overwhelming, but it was unmistakable. Something sacred, something vast and powerful, quietly unfolding beneath the surface.
It lent her an air of quiet divinity, a sense of nobility that went beyond mere appearance.
A presence that made people instinctively feel distance. As if she stood on a different level entirely.