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 alternated between looking at Piaro next to him

“...!”

Overgeared Kingdom were empty-handed. It was during a war. They abandoned their weapons in the face of

is fine. The thing that matters to me is the safety of His Majesty,

do as the commander-in-chief

disappearing with a flash of light. In fact, he was the same as Piaro.

rather

the landscape surrounding

frowned and held his breath. A land dominated by a sweltering heat—Grid

‘Hell?’

From there...

the ritual!

frog with a crown was jumping as it chased

“Yura!”

sword and 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 long

gun. Then she pulled out a sword and set it up as a shield. Thanks to the

from her hand. It was because her spare sword

old one,” the crown-wearing frog mocked

green sword. For five seconds, she fought silently. The moment she turned to ash, there were no

“Yura...”

flopped down. He felt some responsibility watching her sacrifice herself for him and hoped to stand side by

Sword lost his sheath and was unable to cope with Iyarugt running wild. He faced

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

that his power demanded the sacrifice of others, he rebuked himself and regretted it. In front of the collapsed Grid, the huge red phoenix appeared

the desire

power isn’t almighty and you

overconfident in not knowing this and be

opportunity to change your providence, whether you can sustain it or

Don’t be like us.

the red phoenix’s eyes. Grid asked, “Do you believe that I can only stand up to the gods if I accept the sacrifices of those

silent—it meant confirmation. Grid shook his head. “No, that isn’t necessarily the

his people. The moment he turned away from them, the reason he had to

not going to sacrifice

the red phoenix twitched—it

my heart. This heart will grow with your willpower and it will be a small boon

holy but the exit was shabby. The red phoenix 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

story has arisen due to the effect of giving the Strengthened Red Phoenix Breath to the

the Red Phoenix Bow where the Spirit of a Sacred Creature Resides

has been acquired as hidden

[Red Phoenix’s 9th Heart]

of the 10 hearts that are the source of

one of the hearts that the

heart will respond to your willpower

9th Heart has permeated

with the holy flames. You won’t become