Overgeared

[The Red Phoenix Breath has been strengthened!]

The smelting difficulty was proportional to the rating of the material. Grid spent a considerable amount of time and stamina every time he strengthened the sacred creature’s breath. However, it was different this time. Thanks to the sparks of willpower effect from Duke of Fire, Grid’s fatigue was greatly reduced compared to before. At least, it should’ve been so...

“...”

Grid’s face was dark as he looked at the Strengthened Red Phoenix Breath. His current fatigue was higher than ever. It was due to the feeling of conflict sparked by the severe warning that struck at his sense of reason when he regained his composure once he got the result he desired.

‘This is a really crazy gamble.’

The breath of a sacred creature was an ingredient for a myth rated item. Discussing the value of this material itself was disrespectful. Was it right to throw it away on a gamble? He was afraid of the sense of loss he would feel if this failed.

‘...It is nonsense to worry about this now.’

He decided to give it a try. Why was he wasting time worrying about this again? Grid knew it was just a waste of time. Once the conflict ended, he gave the Strengthened Red Phoenix Breath to the Red Phoenix Bow where the Spirit of a Sacred Creature Resides.

To be honest, his heart was pounding. Sweat dripped down and the saliva in his mouth dried up. For the Red Phoenix Guardian quest, the objective stated in the quest information was to give 20 Red Phoenix Breaths to the Red Phoenix Bow. It was extremely unlikely that the system would permit the giving of the ‘strengthened breath’ to the Red Phoenix Bow. Yes, he was likely to suffer a great loss...

It happened the moment Grid closed his eyes...

The Red Phoenix Bow accepted the strengthened breath and red surged, beating like the heart of a giant beast. It was hotter than lava but wasn’t a life-destroying flame. Sparks rose and numerous plants grew on the ground where Grid was standing.

“...!”

A panorama unfolded in front of Grid. The chaos before the beginning—Yatan, Rebecca, and Hanul were there and they created the world. Rebecca planted the world tree to support the earth. Hanul, who created the gods that governed weather, injected new life into the earth. Yatan took Baal out of the abyss to prepare for destruction.

They weren’t actions or plans with any special significance. They were just moving according to the rules.

The first humans were terrified. They respected but didn’t rely on the almighty gods. The more they served and knew the gods, the more anxious they felt. Humanity wanted new gods. Gods they could believe in and rely on. Gods to protect them. Then flames appeared on the grey landscape that expressed the despair felt by the first humans. They were flames that could germinate the sparks of life without the help of the gods that Rebecca and Hanul created. A guardian god born only from humanity, which originated from their heart’s desire.

『... A call. 』

Flames swelled and a voice emerged. It was the first time he heard this voice and Grid noticed the voice’s owner. It was the red phoenix.

『 I... A call like this. 』

The flames burned more strongly and gradually took the form of the red phoenix. It was hundreds of times larger than the red phoenix called by the Fly Up! skill attached to Jishuka’s Red Phoenix Bow. Both wings seemed like they could cover a great mountain and it exerted a presence that was above material size.

Grid was overwhelmed. He honestly shrank back as the red phoenix stared at him. Nevertheless, he didn’t feel the extreme impression like he was a speck of dust. It wasn’t because the majesty of the red phoenix was lacking, it was just that Grid had grown.

The landscape surrounding Grid changed again. A red sky filled his vision.

“...?”

Grid quickly adapted to the sudden change and lowered his gaze. He could see a burning royal palace. Hundreds of thousands of troops surrounded the royal palace. The identity of the army was the Overgeared soldiers and the allied orcs.

“Sir Piaro! Are you insane?”

‘Lauel?’

and searched for him. Finding Lauel wasn’t difficult. He stood next to Piaro at the forefront of the battlefield. He was clearly tired. His eyes trembled as he alternated between looking at Piaro next

“...!”

was during a war. They abandoned their weapons in the face of the enemy. It was because they responded to Grid’s Request to

me is the safety of His Majesty, not the war

do as the commander-in-chief

shook his head and raised both hands, the weapon in them disappearing with a flash of light. In fact, he was the

to follow rather than stop him?’ Grid’s

surrounding

land dominated by a sweltering heat—Grid knew the identity of this

‘Hell?’

From there...

disturb the ritual! It is

a crown was jumping as it chased

“Yura!”

forward. He hid Yura behind his back and cut the frog. However, nothing happened. All the sights in front of Grid were the past and he couldn’t intervene. The

out a sword and set it up as a shield. Thanks to the buffs she received in hell,

tongue and sword touched, Yura’s sword disappeared from her hand. It was because her spare sword was

aren’t as good as the old one,” the crown-wearing

fought silently. The moment she turned to ash, there were no

“Yura...”

felt some responsibility watching her sacrifice herself for

change. During the one-sided slaughter of hundreds of monsters, Jishuka lost her bow and was surrounded by monsters. Peak Sword lost his sheath and was unable to cope with Iyarugt running wild. He faced a disastrous end. Most of his colleagues’ circumstances in the ever-changing landscapes were similar. All of them made

“This... unbelievable...” Grid sighed.

sacrifice of others, he rebuked himself and regretted it. In front of the collapsed Grid, the

desire to

power isn’t almighty and you will repeat

Don’t be overconfident in not knowing this and be buried in despair and regret.

give you an opportunity

Don’t be like us.

from the red phoenix’s eyes. Grid asked, “Do you believe that I can only stand

red phoenix was silent—it meant confirmation. Grid shook his head. “No, that isn’t

become a god. He wanted to protect his people. The moment he turned away from them, the reason he

going to

the red phoenix

grow with

heart and rapidly became smaller, quickly disappearing into sparks. The surrounding landscape of the dazed Grid returned to its original form. Then a notification window

the Strengthened Red Phoenix Breath to the Red Phoenix Bow where the Spirit of a Sacred Creature

of a Sacred Creature Resides has been greatly restored. The red phoenix admires your ability and feels

has been acquired as hidden compensation for

[Red Phoenix’s 9th Heart]

hearts that are the

that the red phoenix kept

will respond to your willpower and grow

9th Heart

the holy flames. You won’t become tired easily