Lucien slipped the earring from his ear.
[You have unequipped Blessing of Strength]
[You have fused with item Blessing of Strength for 100 FP]
[Your strength stat has increased by +5]
His eyes narrowed as he studied the notifications.
'Time to step things up.'
A small red book materialized in his hands, its cover hard and weathered like ancient leather.
[Do you want to learn Skill Fireball for 100 FP?]
[Do you want to fuse with Fire Tome for 1,000 FP?]
The two HUD displays hovered before his eyes, casting him into uncertainty. He stroked his chin, wrestling with the choice. Why could he both learn and fuse? What set the two apart?
'Maybe it's about how I use them?'
Learning the skill made sense—his Classless Class allowed that much. But fusing with the entire tome? That was different territory. If the Fire Tome only offered a simple fireball, the results might be identical.
But Lucien doubted shooting fireballs was all fusion would grant him. He wasn't merging with just the skill—he was merging with the tome itself.
Still, he couldn't predict what else he'd gain. The nagging thought remained that all his fusions were temporary, each carrying its own expiration rules.
Take the healing potions—one use, then gone. The Blessing of Strength had consumed the earring completely, yet the stats lingered. He had no clue what it would take to strip away that [+5].
Though he had his suspicions.
'Let me test the last fusion first. Then we finish this raid and come back to this properly, whatever It has to offer will be best with the Black Godzilla, not these.'
Blue light swirled around his hand as two stilettos took form in his grip. One blade was matte-black, the other snow-white.
[Do you want to fuse with Night and Day Dagger lv.1 for 1,000 Fusion points]
The moment he agreed, light spiraled around the daggers and dissolved them into his skin.
[You have gained +3 strength stat]
[You have gained +3 speed stat]
[Your attack power has increased to +10]
[You have received a Special Trait: Your attack can deal cutting damage]
[Note: If Special Traits are used and mastered consistently for a long while, they can remain even after their Fused Sources has been lost due to unavailability of Fusion points.]
Lucien stared at his hands, dazed.
'So I can cut things with my bare hands?'
A grin carved across his face.
[Note: Special Traits can also be strengthened by fusing with such type of items]
His grin stretched wider.
'Is this really supposed to be this simple?'
He felt like he was cheating—like he'd found some exploit the game developers had missed. But surely they knew about this, right?
Lucien exhaled and pressed forward, the golden hilt of the Forsaken Sword gripped tight in his right hand, its silver blade gleaming coldly in the ghastly pale light of the narrow dungeon.
After walking for several minutes, he finally reached a wide chamber with three tunnels branching off like hungry mouths. The stench of wet dog and dirt had grown thick and choking, forcing him to press his free hand over his nose.
The floor of the opening was slick with murky black water.
As he lifted his absurd pink boots, trying to avoid the puddles, crimson lights blazed from the tunnel depths and snarls began echoing outward.
Lucien hefted his sword in one hand while clenching his other fist.
He felt stronger—better than the pitiful state he'd been in before. Only now, feeling this surge of power, did he realize just how weak he'd been back then.
The snarls suddenly erupted, and the wolves burst forth like a crimson tide.
They plunged forward with vicious speed, rushing at the intruder.
Lucien's eyes widened as he watched them pour out. More troubling, these weren't the Black Wolves he'd faced before.
These beasts had red fur that flowed like liquid blood. Their eyes blazed with a fury that made the Black Wolves look tame by comparison. And their fangs—Lucien couldn't miss those fangs and claws. They gleamed metallic.
His suspicion was confirmed when the first red wolf leaped at him and he blocked with the Forsaken Sword. The blade vibrated like metal clashing against metal.
The Red Wolf clamped its jaws on the sword, unable to break it but refusing to release its grip.
'Such stubbornness—like my sister!'
He drove his free hand forward and buried a punch into the wolf's neck. The creature yelped as his blow sliced through skin, but the wound was shallow, and the beast held on.
Worse, five others were already circling them, all showing the same level marker...
Lucien pulled the sword with all his strength, but the wolf's eyes blazed even more fiercely. The bastard almost looked like it was grinning.
It seemed to be thinking: You're not going anywhere. You're dying here today.
At least, that's how it looked to Lucien.
His frown deepened, anger boiling over. This thing had his sister's stubbornness, so he'd treat it like he treated her.
He lifted his foot and stomped on the wolf's leg with crushing force. But he didn't stop there—this wolf was definitely stronger than his sister, so he needed to add more to the mix.
As the wolf yelped, Lucien drove his fist straight into one of its eyes. The first punch didn't cut, but the second split the eyeball and sent blood spraying.
But the damn Red Wolf still wouldn't let go. Another wolf seized his pink boot and shredded it apart with ease.
While a third wolf leaped over the one gripping the sword, crashing into Lucien's face. Its jaws snapped shut, fangs carving crude gashes across his face as it drove him to the ground.
[You have received 122 damage]
[You have received 174 damage]
[Your armor has been damaged]
[Your armor has been damaged]
He lost his grip on the sword as the wolf slammed him down. Two other Red Wolves were busy tearing at his boots like rabid dogs while the last one prowled between his legs.