Elaine’s brutal attack landed squarely on Broken, his Health bar plummeting from the devastating blows. But suddenly, a radiant white aura surrounded his body.
[The conditions have been fulfilled, activating Ethereal Form.]
In an instant, Broken’s form became ghostly and translucent, his entire body shifting to an ethereal state. Elaine’s strikes passed through him harmlessly, her attacks unable to connect as he drifted just beyond her reach.
Ivana and Kingsley stepped in, forcing Elaine back and creating distance between her and Broken.
Broken was flung backward with incredible force, tumbling across the ground before finally skidding to a stop. Catching his breath, he struggled to his feet.
“My apologies, Broken! This was my fault!” Kingsley called out.
“I’m okay… I survived.”
Meanwhile, Ivana continued to hammer Elaine with her shield, doing everything she could to keep her off balance.
Broken, however, there was nothing left. His Mana, Health, and Stamina were completely drained. Once his Ethereal Form wore off, he’d be utterly defenseless.
He had no choice but to retreat; staying any longer would only lead to his death, a sacrifice that would ultimately be in vain.
Broken had been fighting for an exhausting amount of time. Not only that, but he had used numerous high-level, high-impact skills-even activating his Eternal Flame Form. Without that, he and Alora might not have lasted against Elaine’s relentless assault.
Now, he was truly at his limit. This was critical-dire, even.
With Broken out of the fight, a battle that was already difficult was on the verge of becoming impossible.
If he had to fall back… would they have to surrender?
But just as the thought took hold, Melliandra darted forward, leaping between transparent platforms as she fired relentlessly at Elaine. Her brutal attacks forced Elaine back, away from Broken.
Landing directly in front of Broken, Melliandra glared at him over her shoulder. “You stupid idiot! Why do you have to cause us so much trouble? Just get out of here! You’re only weighing us down!”
Broken tried to stand, desperately searching for a solution, but he knew there was none.
Stamina was ruthless like that-once depleted, the only way to recover it was through rest. If he forced himself to move, he’d just end up frozen in place, helplessly absorbing attacks like a statue.
No, he didn’t have a single skill to restore Stamina. Not one! Even his regeneration abilities only healed his Health, not his energy reserves.
He watched his companions continue the battle against Elaine, seeing Kingsley take increasingly brutal hits. The worst part? They had no true healer among them. Once Gaia’s duration expired, this fight would be over.
Wait-Broken could still summon Blackthorn, his golem! He had purposely saved it for an emergency just like this. Yeah, that could work…
But then, suddenly, a notification flashed across his vision:
[You have received an email from Akidia, the Goddess of Sloth.]
Broken was startled as a notification appeared before him.
“Goddess Akidia?!” he whispered, feeling a surprising warmth in his chest just from saying her name.
Could she be watching this battle from afar?
He couldn’t contain his excitement as he quickly opened the message.
There was no explanation in the email-just a single item attached.
“Huh? That’s it?”
He claimed the item, and its details popped up:
[Reset & Recharge Ticket]
[Hit the ultimate do-over button! With this ticket, you get a total reset and a fresh recharge. Everything back to full, like you never even ran out. Perfect for when you need a second wind (or third… we won’t judge)!]
Broken’s eyes widened in astonishment. This was exactly what he needed to turn the battle around.
“Reset & Recharge Ticket?” he murmured, the words sinking in.
A faint smile spread across his face as he realized just how perfectly timed this gift was. He couldn’t help but feel grateful to Goddess Akidia for knowing exactly when to intervene. There’s no way support like this could arrive at such a critical moment without her watching over me. She hadn’t abandoned him at all; she was simply waiting for the right moment to step in, ready to help when he truly needed it.
[You have received an email from Akidia, the Goddess of Sloth.]
A notification chimed, and Broken glanced down at his screen.
“Another mail?” he muttered, quickly opening it.
[Message from Akidia:]
[Allo… Broken,
Sorry, I forgot to attach the message in the previous mail. A lot of love from me to you!
So… how should I say…
Uhm…
The present I gave you is something you’ve earned from all the work you’ve put in up to this day. It’s totally legal, but please keep it to yourself. Don’t go around telling anyone, okay?
But remember, I can’t always be there to help you. I’m very busy!
Ah, I don’t know what else to say. Bye-bye!
Akidia]
Broken couldn’t help but smile. Despite her casual tone, he felt the warmth of her support.
Without hesitation, Broken tore the ticket in his hand.
[You have activated the Reset & Recharge Ticket!]
[Your overall condition has been reset.]
[Mana replenished, Health fully restored, Stamina at peak levels.]
[Additionally, Soul Points have been completely filled.]
“Huh?” Broken murmured, stunned. “That ticket… it just filled up all my Soul Points! Man, I’d
love to know where I can find more of those.”
Out of nowhere, Melliandra dropped down beside him, her eyes blazing. “You idiot, get out of
here, right now, or you’re dead!”
Broken rose to his feet, steady and unfazed, his calm unwavering.
“Hey!” she shouted again. “Didn’t I tell you to leave? Stop being stubborn!”
Broken turned to her with a faint smile. “No, it’s okay. I’m alright.”
She scowled. “Alright? How can you be alright when you’ve run yourself ragged? Do you want
me to finish you off right here and now to end your suffering?!”
At that moment, dark energy began to swirl around him, forming a shadowy robe that enveloped his body, obscuring parts of his face. His faint smile remained as he stood before
Melliandra, power radiating from him.
“What?! How is this possible?” she asked. “You still have Stamina left?”
Without a word, Broken focused, unleashing every ounce of strength at his disposal. His skills
and cooldowns reset, his powers fully restored.
“Gaia, Dendros, Polly, Pawpaw-everyone! I summon you all!”
***
(Author’s Note: Plot Armor or Sugar Mommy Armor?)
Imagine having a goddess who drops in with a “hey, babe, saw you were struggling, here’s a
lil’ reset so you don’t embarrass yourself out there” gift. That’s some serious Sugar Mommy Armor. Broken might be the Champion of Sloth, but Akidia’s out here making sure he’s not
slacking off too hard.
Oh, and don’t forget to show some love for our girl, Goddess Akidia, the real MVP. Without her, Broken would’ve been nothing but spider-dinner!