novelraw Chapter 49: No Room for Doubt
Chapter 49: No Room for Doubt
Daniel walked toward the Exchange Post. It was a large, metal building standing near the center of the platform.
On a normal day, this place would be full of noise. Aspirants would be shouting, trading supplies, and arguing over prices. However, today was different. The area was as silent as a graveyard.
He walked up to the main terminal. The screen flickered to life as it scanned his Databand.
[Identity Confirmed: Daniel Rivers.]
[Access Granted.]
Daniel looked at the screen. He saw his balance: 1,000 Vanguard Coins.
It was the reward for ranking sixth in the first phase. "A thousand coins," Daniel said to himself.
He shook his head. "It is not enough."
He knew that high-grade equipment cost thousands of coins. If he wanted to survive the Astral Verge, he needed more. But he had to work with what he had.
His current gear was falling apart. His D-grade Vibro-Knife was still sharp, but the blade was chipped near the handle. It had struck the hard bones of the Fenrir too many times.
His D-Grade Deflector Vest was in worse condition. The acid rain had weakened the fabric, and the claws of the Ravagers had left deep gashes in the protective plates. If he took a direct hit now, the vest might fail.
"I need weapons," Daniel decided. "My Strength is over 100 now. I need something that can handle that kind of force without snapping like a twig."
He scrolled through the weapons section on the screen. He saw a C-grade ’Plasma Edged Combat Knife’. It had +20 Attack and minor energy damage. It was tempting, but he needed more versatility.
He saw a C-grade ’Compound Hunting Bow’. It had +23 Attack and increased draw speed. It was better than his current bow, but he already had the Skyreaver bow he got from the Fenrir drop.
Then, he saw it. It was listed under ’Specialized Melee’.
[Twin Fang Utility Daggers (Set) - C-Grade] [Stats (per dagger): Attack +17, Agility +9. Inflicts Bleed on critical hits. Serrated edge for utility cutting/sawing.]
Total stat gained : Attack +34 , Agility +18.
[Description: Hollow hilt compartment for storing small items like poison capsules. Lightweight and perfectly balanced for dual-wielding.]
[Cost: 450 Vanguard coins.]
Daniel’s eyes lit up. "Perfect," he thought. Dual daggers worked well with his high Agility. They offered solid attack power and a bleed effect. Plus, the serrated edge would be useful for survival tasks.
He imagined holding them. They would be fast. They would be deadly. He added the set to his cart.
That left him with 545 coins.
Next, he looked at the armor section. He spotted a B-grade ’Reinforced Stealth Weave Vest’. It offered +40 Defense and noise reduction. But the price was 800 coins.
"Too expensive," Daniel sighed.
He couldn’t afford it right now. He needed to save some points for emergencies.
He browsed the miscellaneous items. He found high-quality fletching materials and specialized arrowheads. There were Armor-Piercing and Serrated variants. They cost 20 coins in total. He could use them to upgrade his arrows later, maybe using his Assimilation talent.
He also added a basic ’Field Maintenance Kit’ for 15 coins. It was important to keep his gear clean and sharp.
Daniel did the math in his head. 450 for the daggers. 20 for the arrow parts. 15 for the kit.
Total spent: 485 Points. Remaining: 515 coins.
It was a decent reserve. He pressed the confirmation button. A moment later, a recessed dispenser beside the terminal hissed open.
The physical items materialized inside.
Daniel picked them up. He put the arrow parts and the kit into his pack. Then, he picked up the daggers. They were sleek and made of dark metal. He strapped the sheaths to his thighs.
They felt light. They felt right. "Now," Daniel said, turning away from the terminal. "To the Repair Station."
The Repair Station was a simple booth with mechanical arms. Daniel walked in and fed his torn uniform into the machine. He selected ’Standard Repair & Reinforcement’.
The cost was deducted automatically from his Academy stipend. While the machine whirred and stitched, Daniel focused on his next move.
He checked his status. He had twelve Assimilation Charges left out of fifteen. "I should use them," Daniel thought. "I can’t hoard them forever."
He looked at his new C-grade daggers. Should he enhance them? Or should he fix his trusty D-grade Deflector Vest? He decided to do both.
He wanted to upgrade the daggers to B-grade, but that would take too many charges (might take up to about three to four charges). He couldn’t risk running out before entering the Astral Verge.
He took out the Twin Fang daggers. He held them in his hands and closed his eyes.
A golden light enveloped the daggers. The metal seemed to ripple like water. It became smoother and shinier.
[Soul Assimilation successful on C-Grade Twin Fang Utility Dagger.]
[Item Enhanced: Twin Fang Utility Dagger upgraded to C+-Grade.]
[New Stats: Attack +17. Minor improvements to Dexterity, Attack Speed, and Accuracy.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (11/15 Remaining).]
Daniel opened his eyes. The daggers looked sharper than before. He could see his reflection clearly in the blade.
Next, he took off his vest. He held the tattered armor in his hands. He focused his intent on it. He pushed the concept of resilience into the fabric.
A faint shimmer enveloped the vest. It pulsed once, then twice. The fabric grew denser and darker.
[Soul Assimilation successful on D-Grade Initiate’s Deflector Vest.]
[Item Enhanced: Initiate’s Deflector Vest upgraded to C-Grade.]
[New Stats: Defense +30. Minor improvement to impact energy dispersion.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (10/15 Remaining).]
"C-Grade," Daniel smiled. It was a significant jump. His defense had gone from 65 to 95. He felt safer already.
Finally, he looked at his bow. The Skyreaver bow he had gotten from the Fenrir. It was already a C-Grade weapon, but he wanted more power.
[Soul Assimilation successful on Skyreaver bow (C-Grade).]
[Item Enhanced: Skyreaver Bow upgraded to C+-Grade.]
[New Stats: Attack +20, Improved Energy Channeling (Synergy with Elemental Skills), Further Durability Increase.]
[Assimilation Charge Consumed (9/15 Remaining).]
The repair machine beeped, signaling it was finished. It presented his repaired fatigue. The uniform was clean and stitched up.
Daniel put his clothes back on. He strapped his armor and weapons in place. He felt prepared. He felt like a warrior.
He walked out of the station and found a quiet spot near the edge of the platform. He needed to rest his head before the next phase began.
He sat down and leaned back against a wall.
Finally, he allowed himself a moment to think. His mind drifted back to the last few weeks. He thought about the mistakes he had made.
"I could have done things differently," Daniel thought. "I could have told Sophie and Ragnar the truth from the start. I shouldn’t have hidden my power."
If he had been honest, maybe they would still be alive. Maybe they would be standing here with him. Then, a dark thought crept in.
"What if they were like Bran?" He remembered Bran’s betrayal. "What if they also decided to lust after my power?" Daniel wondered. "What if they ganged up on me?"
He shook his head. That thought was poison. Sophie and Ragnar were good people to be very honest. But Bran... Bran was a snake.
He remembered how easy it was for them to hunt as a team. They took turns to watch. They shared food. It was easier than being alone. "But trust is dangerous," Daniel concluded.
He remembered Instructor Baldwin’s warning. Teamwork wasn’t wrong, but finding trustworthy allies was hard.
"I can’t afford to be distracted," Daniel told himself. "In Phase Two, I have to be focused."
He knew he had the tools. He knew he had the power. He just needed the will. He clenched his fist.
"At the end of Phase Two, everyone will be surprised," he whispered. "They will see how far I have gone."
He checked the time. He had about two hours and thirty minutes left before the portal opened. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. He pushed away the lingering adrenaline and the weight of expectation.
For now, rest was paramount. The Astral Verge demanded peak condition.
Daniel slept.
Two hours later, a loud chime woke him up. It rang out from his Databand.
[Preparation Phase Concluded.]
[Phase Two Assessment: ’The Astral Verge’ commencing in 15 minutes.]
[Report to Central Teleportation Array.] Daniel stood up immediately.
He checked his gear one last time. Twin C+ daggers on his thighs. C+ grade bow on his shoulder. C-grade vest protecting his chest. He had 9 Assimilation Charges left.
"I am ready," Daniel said. He walked towards the central array. He did not look back at the empty academy.
He looked forward, towards the swirling blue light of the portal. The sleeping dragon inside him was wide awake.
He got to the place and he stood there, waiting patiently for the portal to open fully.