“This pair of gauntlets has a pretty good effect. One of the backliners can use them on me or someone else in an emergency. Using these gauntlets won’t diminish your combat style even if you don’t use it for attacking in any way,” Almon said. “Check the effects and see who is willing to take them.”
“Damn, they got some high attack power!” Amir exclaimed.
“True. I guess we can let Adrian use them in the next floor’s Heroic Challenge,” Xavier nodded. “With such effects, he would be able to serve as an off-tank warrior.”
[Oathbound Gauntlets]
-Type: Heavy Gauntlets.
-Rank: [Epic/Mid]
-Attack: 1400 [+230% of user’s Strength]
-Perk(s):
—> +50 Strength, +70 Health, +30 Focus.
-Effect(s):
—> (Passive) Oathbound Enchant: Boost a targetted ally with any two of your stats, applied 100%. The targetted ally must be within your sight.
—> (Active) Double Team: Swap positions with a targetted ally. Cooldown: 1 minute. Cost: 100 Mana.
—> (Active) Receiving the Favor: You are boosted by two stats of the ally targetted by Oathbound Enchant for 1 minute. Cost: 10% of maximum Mana. Cooldown: 2 minutes.
“Wow, this is pretty sick,” Marcus blinked as he exclaimed. “Considering Almond’s stats, whoever wears this will get a big boost.”
“With this item worn by a backline, if the Heroic Boss someone infiltrated the backlines, I can swap positions to counter or attack,” Almond smiled.
“Then this should be given to someone who can cast long-range control attacks,” Lily said with a glint in her eyes. “Suppose the Heroic Boss suddenly arrived at the backliners. The person who equips this item can swap with Almond and also release a control-type attack on the boss from long-range.”
“That narrows our list,” Kira grinned. “We have three people with control powers. Natalia, Jemma, and Maya, but Maya is a better choice, I guess.”
“Yeah,” Almond nodded in agreement. “Maya, these are yours. You also have experience of how unpredictable those Heroic Bosses can be, so you can react properly as well.”
“Thanks,” Maya smiled.
Almond nodded and continued, “Moving on, Starblossom Circlet only has two effects, but they are a defensive effect and a healing effect. Eliara, you take it.”
“Next, Moonstrider Greaves are water-elemental. This item has a speeding passive effect and a speeding active effect that also buffs an attack. Kira, it’s yours.”
“Awesome,” Kira smiled as she took the greaves.
“Ironspine Pauldrons. Eliara, you’ll use them as they are Metal attributes.”
Noah already had a set of Metal and Ice elements, so Almond decided to give the pauldrons to Eliara.
“Jemma, you’ll get one of the spirit armor that’s in the making, and also keep this Crystal of Arcane Storm. It’s an offense-control type one-time use item, generating a multi-elemental storm of wind, lightning, and water. When you use it, boost it with your water elemental power and skill since it would slow and significantly weigh the boss inside. Use it when given the opportunity right away.”
“Gotcha,” Jemma nodded.
“Talia and Xavier, you two will also get armor, but no other items as we are out of stock, but I am going to gear you all up with random Super-rank items I got with my class.”
“Who’s gonna use Elixir of Skyborne Reflexes?” Natalia curiously asked. “It’s a pretty sick potion since it increases speed and reflexes by 50% while giving the ability to step on air for one minute.”
“I’ll use it, of course,” Almond grinned. “I don’t have a flying method with Eclipsed Horizon Set, so I’d need that to up my game, and that potion will provide me the very good flying-esque method.”
“Sounds good,” Lily nodded. “And now that we have distributed these items. Let’s use their effects and familiarize ourselves with them.”
…
Ten minutes passed by as everyone checked out the various effects of all items and practiced with the Spirit Wraiths.
Almond also took out the remaining Super-rank items, numbering five to be exact—Armor, a pistol, boots, a cloak, and a one-time-use item—A spear that can destroy any projectile completely.
The six low-tier Epic armors were also ready, and he gave them to Jemma, Amir, Xavier, Kayla, Natalia, and Talia.
The Super-grade armor went to Jemma, the pistol went to Talia, the cloak went to Amir, and the spear went to Marcus to use for defense in case a powerful projectile came their way.
Shortly after that, Sylvia also told Almond that she was done and would reach there in a few minutes.
When Sylvia arrived, everyone was shocked! She looked more human-like and extremely beautiful, not to mention that her stats and power increased!
All Spirit Wraiths who were in Silver rank had broken through to Gold rank, so they could now go above 100 points in each stat, but Sylvia already reached 150 in all stats after absorbing that tree.
She received a new Trait called Mother of Nature, which increases comprehension of Flora element and gathers Flora element power around her more! She could enter a new mode with this trait, turning into a tree to increase healing, calm her mind, and help focus on everyone around her!
She didn’t get any skills, but she felt she could awaken a skill later by training.
With Sylvia’s return, it was finally time to begin the challenge.
Everyone gathered in the circle as Kira put the items in the magic circle.
[Your Party is qualified for Heroic Challenge Mode. Do you wish to proceed?]
“Everyone, just say yes to this question in your mind,” Almond said.
[Everyone in the party has agreed. From hereon, you are not allowed to leave the Labyrinth before completing the challenge.]
The ground shook slightly before the magic circle split open, revealing a hazy portal.
[Please enter the portal to begin the challenge.]
“So we can’t even leave anymore, eh? Damn, that’s brutal,” Amir muttered.
“It’s do or die,” Lily sharply grinned. “Either you win against the Heroic Boss, or you die trying.”
The first-timers suddenly felt the pressure slightly increasing.
“Keep your mind clear, don’t panic, and fucking make a move when necessary,” Almond spoke in a stern voice. “Don’t mess up. Remember, messing up means death.”
Kira, Noah, and others somberly nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Everyone entered the crack one by one, arriving in a huge dark hall with dim lights and low visibility.
Almond had a strong bad feeling when he entered this hall and saw how it had low visibility and dim lights.