Idecided to start with the Pixie, which was a rainbow-colored chest with pixie wings on the side of it. Opal landed on top of it, tilting her head curiously.
“Are you alright?” I asked the redheaded teenager.
She suddenly bowed, tears dripping from her face. “Thank you for saving them. I know some can be mean, but thank you.”
Milia pulled the girl into a hug. Cheetara also joined in that, nestling against Mandi’s face.
“You’re welcome,” I said, giving the teen a reassuring smile when she looked in my direction. I looked down at the eager pixie. “Alright, alright, we’re going to open it already.”
I summoned Yukihara to keep her company. Both flew to my shoulders when I opened the chest.
Angel wings emerged from it.
Holy shit, these weren’t just any angel wings, they were some bronze steampunk amalgamations of runes, gears, and other shit I didn’t understand. They appeared to be fitted for a relatively small woman.
Our gazes fell onto Mandi and then the wings. She hid behind Milia, peeking out, prompting us to burst into laughter. She joined in a second later. The description confirmed what we all knew. I still gaped, especially due to the quality.
[Wings of the Lady of Gadgets. Item rank: SS. Item quality: Exotic. Extra (due to being of Exotic quality): Modifiable, super resistant to magic, physical, and celestial damage. Only able to be equipped by a female being and while it can be modified to fit a male, for most, it’d look awkward, less elegant, and would be difficult to operate. This device enables one to fly! The device is partially autopiloted until the user has a firm grasp of how to maneuver. A gadget pixie is important to teach the user how to properly move without autopilot and also to fire the Zax Mac Joust armor-piercing lasers. Word of advice; don’t be a target of those lasers. Warning! The device requires an E-ranked mana gathering device to charge efficiently. An F-ranked device is insulting to the original creator of this masterpiece. Her hatred of men was an unnecessary thing to channel into this device. No, Wanda isn’t the original creator. This is a gift from Wanda.]
I read the description to everyone. The twerp just happened to arrive, so she heard it as well. Silence stretched for a good moment as we looked at Mandi, the wings, and the mana-gathering device. The importance of it was coming together. I analyzed it and took notice that Mandi and Opal indeed made good use of it, but the charging time felt way too painful. Good lord, that F-rank had to go. This world sure loved to punish failing grades.
[F-ranked Mana Gathering Machine. Item rank: A. Item quality: Superior. This device slowly pulls mana from the atmosphere and stores it for use, whether for gadgets or trinkets or for personal use. Upgrade it for more options and higher gathering speeds. Current: 78% of 100%. Estimated time until full: 2 days. Upgrade for 10,000 spirit coins and one rare potion.]
The upgrade price at this point was nothing.
“Alright, so I’ll be taking some contribution points, Mandi,” I said, grinning. “Call it an executive purchase. While any woman can wear them, it was clearly created to be used by a… What’d you call it again, Opal?”
“Gadgetmancer!” the little pixie cheered. She snuggled into her redheaded partner in crime. “It’s an exotic! It really is an exotic! Think of the modifications we can make with this. I’ll have to teach you how to fly it, but it’s a lot simpler than you think. It’s like how I fly. You shouldn’t be stuck with annoying autopilot magic.”
“Nate… are you sure?” Mandi asked, her voice timid. “I’m… the weakest—”
“Alright, I’m going to have to stop you there,” I said.
“You are most certainly not the weakest,” Harmony suddenly snapped. “There are no weaklings on the team. You were also the first to complete Nate’s infuriatingly unfair aura walk. You blocked the attack of that silver guard captain without getting injured. You wield your gadgets almost as if they’re a part of yourself.”
“I agree with Harmony,” Lucas added. “Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. But you took your lack of magic and turned it into a weapon. I don’t think any of us could’ve gotten so creative.”
Alexander nodded. “My inspiration to make myself as useful to the team as possible came from you. Harmony too, but mostly from you. You deserve that, and don’t let anyone say otherwise, lass.”
Her fellow apprentices immediately reminding her that she was just as strong as everyone else on the team felt touching. Ronica teared up. I dodged her attempt to use my shirt to wipe her eyes and potentially blow snot on it, then pulled out a rolled-up scroll to bonk her.
Eventually I hid behind Milia, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Don’t keep us waiting, try it on,” I said to Mandi.
While Harmony was no doubt the uncontested strongest of my apprentices and she knew it, Mandi matched her in the realm of creativity. All of the apprentices were smart teens. Bratty, yes, but had their wits and specializations. Geniuses, as this world called the gifted. And apparently the Red Star suspected this from Mandi as well. Or at least did recently. Her middle sisters mistreated her out of jealousy and took advantage of her mortal state to deplete as much confidence from their little sister as possible. Sibling rivalry, but worse since the mother allowed it to fester.
Mandi put the steampunk device on. It shimmered and adjusted. There, we had what looked like a metal-winged angel standing before us. Yes, being able to shoot death lasers was indeed metal as fuck.
The sound of intense and goddamn awesome lute playing filled the air and Chenzu’s words followed as he approached with Anzu.
“Ohhhhhhhh, death death death, in a river. One bad word, goes your liver. Fly fly fly, she flippin goes. Blade blade blade, goes your nose. Ohhh metal angel, of death. Ohhh ohhhh, metal angel of vengeance.”
Mandi blushed so heavily, I almost thought she’d pass out.
“That was awesome,” I said, clasping hands with the man, laughing.
“My old crew would’ve loved that song,” Alexander said softly, eyes reminiscing probably of booze and partying.
“Your old crew?” Ronica asked.
“Nothing,” the ex-pirate king said with a cough.
“So, what’s this?” Chenzu asked. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Those runes, that craftsmanship.”
“Amazing craftsmanship indeed, Sir Chenzu,” Lucas said, eyes glimmering.
“Don’t gawk at her,” Harmony said, bonking them both. Mandi gave her an appreciative smile. The wings were probably very embarrassing to her.
“Oh look, they come with goggles,” I said, pulling them off the side of her wing. “Put them on and they’ll protect your eyes and probably offer you additional benefits.”
I accessed the contribution system. Mandi had twelve points. I deducted seven and also awarded Alexander with a point for being unsealed.
[Apprentice Ranking System. Detecting apprentices… 4.]
[Harmony Rue, Mandi Wingston, Lucas Fireborn, Alexander Demonblade.]
[For every approved feat your apprentices accomplish, they will be awarded contribution points. They will see the prompts and know this is possible by the MMABS. You can only personally give them up to 2 points per week. The system will decline any attempt to just give them away for free; however, you will be responsible for most of the rewards. Every reward you give will generate spirit coins with a 1% chance of generating heavenly spirit coins if the situation is great enough.]
[Harmony Rue. Magician rank: 8th realm of the Novice. Apprentice rank: S. Points: 8.
Mandi Wingston. Mortal. Apprentice rank: S. Points: 5.
Lucas Fireborn. Magician rank: 10th realm of the Beginnings. Apprentice rank: S. Points: 4.
Alexander Demonblade. Magician rank: 1st realm of the Mortal. (Partially unsealed.) Apprentice rank: S. Points: 2.]
“I gave you a discount, despite that being a double S-ranked exotic item,” I said. “I can’t wait to see what you’ll do with this thing. Beakwing, I’m counting on you to protect her from anything her lasers don’t kill first.”
The griffin grunted his acknowledgement, then went back to chowing down on fruit.
“L… lasers?” Chenzu asked, gaining a grin from me.
“Fucking lasers,” I replied.
[You have received 10,000 spirit coins for point distribution and spending. Total number of spirit coins: 132,901.]
Watching that number go up felt so damn addicting. Too addicting. Like numbers go BRRRR.
What a hell of a chest, and I wondered if the S-ranked dungeon gave them out like candy. Of course they didn’t. No one lived to tell the tale.
Unfortunately for us, we had no choice but to kill the Axem. If he could send minions outside of the dungeon, attempting to conquer land, then it would only be a matter of time before he became a problem. The world he guarded within didn’t satisfy him.
I opened the pink Lover’s chest. Two rings floated out, one landing in my hand and the other, Milia’s. I examined the rings.
[The Keys to Eternal Happiness. Item rank: SS. Item quality: Extraordinary. Only lovers can wear these rings. Special benefits may occur when the two wearers are partied together. Once per day, you may request to teleport to the other holder of this ring. Both can teleport to their original locations afterward. This ring cannot be removed except by the holders. Both holders can talk to each other through the ring, regardless of the distance. However, the closer you are together, the stronger the benefits. The closest is kissing distance only.]
My eyes widened. Holy shit, a ring that enabled us to communicate like phones. In this world, this was likely overpowered. Not to mention the teleport. If either one of us discovered something, perhaps a crafting ingredient or a new business opportunity, we could talk right away through the ring, even teleport to check it out in person.
“Come on, don’t keep us in the dark,” Milia said, her ring already on. She damn near forced mine on the finger. “You’re the one with the appraisal ability.”
“I didn’t know you could appraise things,” Ronica said, eyes starry.
“Don’t even think about bringing anything,” I said. “My prices are impossible to pay.”
Ronica pouted. “I’ve got something in my room that you won’t be able to resist appraising. Men are always like that. Sword-lovers. Right, Milia?”
Lucas glared at the twerp. Milia smiled.
“What? You know I’m right.” She stuck her tongue out at Lucas, which only made the timid young man sigh. “I can’t use it, but I’m most certain you’ll give me a fair appraisal. And a best friend discount.”
I gave her a skeptical look. “Since when did we become best—”
“So, appraisal,” Milia interrupted. Kelvin and Maxus were walking up the path, to my relief. More Ronica control. Okay, the twerp was mostly harmless, just annoying. No wonder she had no boyfriend. One would need a strong and highly energetic personality to keep up with her.
I read the description, including the ranking and quality, aloud. The area went silent. Mandi stopped midair, flailing to steady herself at Opal’s instructions.
“That’s so romantic,” Harmony blurted out as she hugged Milia.
“Double S-ranked super rings,” Kelvin said softly. “And I’ve never heard of a Lover’s chest. Or a Pixie’s chest.” He glanced at Mandi. The redhead shrugged, smiling sheepishly. “I miss everything.”
“You even missed my song,” Chenzu said.
“Your song was a little… too strong,” Anzu commented. “Mandi’s cute, not vicious.”
“At least somebody understands me,” Mandi said with a chuckle.
Opal pouted. “I understand you. Kind of. Humans are… complicated.”
“And pixies aren’t?” Chenzu asked, giving the little pixie a knowing look. Opal glared at him, helplessness in her eyes.
Yukihara simply sighed. “She’s an oddball of a pixie. Never met one like her. Where does she get the energy?”
“Sir Nate! Nate-Nate, look! She’s flying higher!” Opal suddenly cheered, dropping the prior conversation as if it didn’t happen.
Thankfully, she didn’t crash into my face, choosing to fly with Mandi instead.
“Be careful,” Milia said. “If I feel like you’re getting in over your head—”
Vines lurched out of the ground, grabbing the redhead before whatever unpleasant event had the chance to happen.
“It’s okay,” Mandi said. “At this level, they’re just wings. I’ll have to practice more before I attempt any modifications.”
Milia hesitated, before relenting. “Okay. Just… be careful.”
We weren’t trying to baby Mandi, of course. The wings were unknown territory, dangerous. Since she didn’t have any powers, the teenager was far squishier than anyone else here. It’d take one mess-up and then we’d be explaining to her family why she was a puddle of goo.
“Let’s get this final box opened,” I said, turning to the S-ranked chest. Personal chests only gave out one or two items, but they were significantly more useful. It also awarded gold. Dungeon chests unlocked by a group were larger and held more loot meant to be split by the party. It seemed like the system no longer wanted to slowly award me spirit coins in chests. Maybe it didn’t expect me to ignore A-ranked dungeons. Tsk, tsk. One step at a time.
Everyone eyed the chest as I opened it.
[Absolute World of the Mythic Alchemist’s Wand. Item rank: S. Item quality. Exotic. This wand can only be used by just one master magician not born of this land. It is indestructible and cannot be thrown away. One spot in your inventory/soul space will always be reserved for this wand. It will automatically reflect any magic intended to destroy the wand or tribulation from the heavens, and they cannot impose their will on you, nor anyone considered a lover, friend, or family. You may use this wand to help create diagrams anywhere. Diagrams created with this wand will always be stable and not explode. Warning. This is a crafter’s tool, not a combat tool. Leave that unruly mess to the barbarians; however, it can be used to defend all that you love. Just try not to destroy your lab with it. Warning! A Magic Lab is required for this tool to create super diagrams.]
[Quest. Absolute World of the Mythic Alchemist’s Wand Gathering. Gather 2 Lilyfire plants, 4 Quad Snapper herbs, and 2 Rust apples. Use them to make the potion in the next step. Use pure water from your fountain.]
My eyes widened. Another exotic! Wow, they were so damn good. Now I’m wondering if people or adventurers in the know are frothing at the mouth searching for these. But exotics were damn near impossibly rare. There had to be more to this. Rewarded this heavily for not dying to the Lord Ruler, fighting him to a standstill, no… that couldn’t be the only reason. Did it have something to do with being a Select?
Well, shit. My battle to keep the system from forcing things onto me just got harder. I needed an intergalactic or heavenly lawyer.
“Like I said, we will not give up. We cannot depart on a pointless note like this,” Titus said as he and his star students hurried away on their lightning horses. “I left the Lord Ruler a message. Turns out there’s a town further east.”
“A backwater,” Luna grumbled. “I doubt Raider will be there. It’s too unguarded, boring, and reckless.”
“We will spend just a night there,” Titus said. “Then we’ll decide to continue further east or go to the city where he claimed he’ll be. Which is likely a coverup.”
“Why would someone like him need to cover up his location in such a crude manner?” Simon asked. “Are you sure?”
“Certain,” Headmaster Titus said. “I know people from Whirl-Waters. No one has ever spotted Raider. I have friends there I communicate with through the Whispering Wind spell. Raider is not there.”
“I’m not sure about this,” Luna said. “The Lord Ruler’s right. We shouldn’t provoke him.”
“I just want to talk,” Titus said. “His mystery’s the most interesting thing we’ve come across in years. I’d like to know of his identity, become his friend, perhaps obtain his advice to resolving any of my own goals. Maybe I could be of assistance to him.”
“Your wife’s going to be angry,” Luna said. “And why is… she here?”
They all turned to see Princess Ling meditating on the back of Simon’s horse.
Titus said nothing. Protection was protection, even if she had the personality of a double-edged sword. She charged him spirit coins. Highway robbery!
