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?’

wasn’t difficult. He stood next to Piaro at the forefront of the battlefield. He was clearly tired. His eyes trembled as he

“...!”

were empty-handed. It was during a war.

matters to me is the safety

as the

both hands, the weapon in them disappearing with a flash of light. In fact, he was the same as Piaro. He knew that death wasn’t the end for Grid but he

are you going to follow rather than stop him?’ Grid’s eyes

landscape surrounding

by a

‘Hell?’

From there...

to disturb the ritual!

running alone. A large frog with a crown was jumping as it

“Yura!”

flew 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 crown-wearing frog aimed its

a sword and set it up as a shield. Thanks to the buffs she received in hell, she could accurately read the fast trajectory of the flying tongue, which was hard for even Grid to follow. No matter

disappeared from her hand. It was because her spare sword was Grid’s work. Yura’s heart was pierced by the

old one,”

she fought silently. The moment she

“Yura...”

herself for him and hoped to stand side by side with

continued to 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 great

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

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

with the desire to become

Your power isn’t almighty and you will repeat many mistakes and failures.

be overconfident in not knowing this and

you an opportunity to change your providence, whether

Don’t be like us.

The despair and regret that the red phoenix felt over the years could be glimpsed from the red phoenix’s eyes. Grid asked, “Do you believe that I can only stand up to the gods if I accept the sacrifices

meant confirmation. Grid shook his head. “No, that

people. The moment he turned away from them,

not going

phoenix twitched—it looked like a

will grow with your willpower and it will be a small

pulled out a 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

has arisen due to the effect of giving the Strengthened Red Phoenix Breath to the Red Phoenix Bow where the Spirit of a

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

as hidden

[Red Phoenix’s 9th Heart]

of the 10 hearts that are the source of power

the red phoenix

your willpower

9th Heart has permeated

flames. You won’t