novelraw Chapter 47: Obtaining the Second Key Fragment
Chapter 47: Obtaining the Second Key Fragment
I exhaled, pulling the bloodied spear from its corpse. The corrupted mana around it dissipated into the air like black smoke caught on the wind.
Finally… that thing was dead.
Before I could rejoice, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me.
Shit! The poison!
I staggered back, my vision blurring for a moment as a burning sensation crept through my veins. I had forgotten that during the fight, the shaman’s poisonous mist had clouded the air around me, and those poisonous thorny vines had grazed me more than once. My body was finally starting to feel the effects. It was a wonder how I’d not felt it until the end of the fight; it must be thanks to the Desperate Willpower skill… or just pure adrenaline.
My legs buckled slightly as I stumbled back, leaning on my spear for support. Not good! If I don’t act fast, I’ll die right here.
Gritting my teeth, I quickly opened my inventory with a trembling finger through the blue holographic screen and took out a vial marked with green etchings and popped the cork open—the antidote. Without hesitation, I drank the contents in one go. The taste was bitter, but almost immediately, I felt the warmth in my chest dulling. The burning in my limbs started to fade, and my vision gradually cleared.
I let out a slow breath, wiping the sweat from my brow. That was too close.
You have acquired a skill: [Poison Resistance Lv.1].
Maximillian Anderson Lv. 33/40 (EXP 56/1,020)
Rank: Bet [2]
Patron God: Istellia (Goddess of Imagination)
Class: Paradox Incarnate
Title: The Unyielding Survivor (3)
Status: Normal
Strength: 102 + 15 | Dexterity: 104 + 5 | Stamina: 63 + 10
Mind: 51 | Magic Power: 48 | Luck: 54
Plausibility: 354
Free Attributes: 233
Signature Skill(s): [@!$#
Creation], [Fabled Vessel], [Grant Plausibility], [Scenario Manipulation]Skill(s): [Basic Alchemy Lv.4], [Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat Lv.3], [Basic Shield Mastery Lv.3], [Basic Spearmanship Lv.10], [Basic Swordsmanship Lv.10], [Desperate Willpower Lv.5], [Fast Reading Lv.2], [Heavy Slash Lv.3], [Heavy Stab Lv.3], [Inventory], [Mana Manipulation Lv.1], [Mana Sense Lv.3], [Mental Tolerance Lv.4], [Negotiation Lv.4], [Night Vision], [Pain Tolerance Lv.4], [Poison Resistance Lv.1], [Projectile Defense Lv.1], [Predator’s Step Lv.1], [Wind Rush Lv.2]
Just then, a voice broke through the smoke swirling around me as the forest continued to burn in the distance.
“Maxim!” Michelle shouted, sprinting toward me. “Are you all right?”
Right behind her was Boris, his whole body stained with splashes of green blood from the monsters. “Ha! Not bad, lad,” he grinned, clearly impressed. “You soloed the boss without any backup. And what the hell was that fire attack? Don’t tell me you can use magic now?”
“Yeah,” Michelle chimed in, slowing her pace as she reached my side. Her eyes scanned me quickly, making sure I wasn’t injured too badly. “You mentioned setting the forest on fire as a backup plan, but you never said anything about wielding magic.”
It looked like they’d finished off the remaining monsters earlier than I had brought down the head shaman. Still, with the spreading fire and lingering poison mist, they must have been forced to wait for an opening before getting close. Furthermore, I was so focused on fighting the shaman that they might have thought that I didn’t require any immediate help.
“Let’s just say that it’s my signature skill,” I replied, forcing a casual shrug and lying through my teeth. “But I can only use that mode for a very limited time.”
Boris crossed his arms and let out a hearty laugh. “If that’s your signature, it’s even flashier than mine! Shame you can’t keep it going like I can with mine. Otherwise, I’d challenge you to a proper spar at full power.”
Yeah… let’s make sure that never happens, I thought dryly. The last thing I wanted was to square off against Boris while he was in his iron form. My bones wouldn’t thank me for it.
Michelle raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Well… whatever it was, you saved our lives. That fire turned the tide.”
I nodded, inhaling deeply as the lingering dizziness slowly faded. “We’ll talk more later. For now, let’s make sure the area’s secure and that no enemies are left hiding.”
Even though I said that, my attention was completely drawn to the large wooden totem standing tall in the center of the village—and more importantly, to the second key fragment resting at its base. Now that we had survived the final wave, it was time to claim the rewards.
As I stepped closer to the totem, I noticed something peculiar. Despite the flames that had engulfed the village, the totem remained untouched, almost as if protected by some lingering spiritual barrier. Though it no longer pulsed with the eerie green light from before, I could still sense a residual presence. The faint aura surrounding it told me it hadn’t yet released all of its accumulated faith.
Without hesitation, I placed my hand against the totem and began drawing in the power.
You have absorbed the power of faith contained in the totem.
You have gained 218 Plausibility.
The rush of spiritual energy surged through me, filling me with a brief warmth that faded just as quickly. But as the last traces of faith were drawn into my body, a strange sensation prickled the back of my neck. Then a chill ran through my spine, and a heavy pressure settled over the air, as though something was watching me… from within the totem itself.
Whatever had been worshipped here—the entity that had once basked in the offerings of corrupted woodland spirits—wasn’t pleased and was angry at me for absorbing his faith.
As the unsettling presence finally dissipated, I reached down and picked up the key fragment resting at the base of the totem. It was smooth, translucent, and faintly pulsing with light—identical to the first one in the third scenario.
You have uncovered the key fragment.
Michelle and Boris stepped up behind me, scanning the surroundings with cautious eyes. Their gazes eventually settled on the now inert totem, still emanating a faint sense of unease.
“I think we’ve completed the scenario,” I said, turning to them.
The moment those words left my mouth, a familiar notification flared before my eyes.
You have fulfilled the main quota of destroying monster settlements.
Congratulations.
You have cleared Scenario #4 [Encroaching Wilds].
You have fulfilled the first extra condition of the scenario — Recover a hidden key fragment. (1/1)
You have fulfilled the third extra condition of the scenario — Destroy 5 monster settlements. (5/5)
Basic Rewards: 2,000 Soul Coins
Additional Rewards: Bet-Tier General Lootbox & Rare-Grade Armament Voucher
Your Stamina has increased by 1.
Basic Shield Mastery has leveled up.
It was done.
But before I could read through the notifications, a radiant light enveloped each of us. The forest—still crackling with embers—vanished in an instant. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself standing before the Rift of Scenarios. All traces of poison had faded from my body, and even the smallest cuts and bruises were gone.
I looked up at the sky as it began to darken… Half a day must have passed in Fantasia while we were inside. The usual time dilation at work.
“Congratulations on clearing the fourth scenario, divine warriors,” Elysia greeted us, wearing her usual uniform and smile.
“Thanks.”
Michelle flexed her shoulders and let out an excited breath. “That was insane. I can’t believe we actually did it… just the three of us.”
Boris smiled. “Undoubtedly. Anyway, we should head back to the inn and rest.”
I nodded and fell in step behind them as they led the way toward the inn in District E. As we walked, I remembered that I now possessed one Aleph-Tier General Lootbox and two Bet‑Tier General Lootboxes from this scenario’s rewards—but I’d held off opening them, waiting to bolster my Luck stat first. Now that I had a lot of free attribute points to spare, I chose to invest fifty points in it.
Luck: 54 → 104
Luck was a peculiar stat—impossible to raise through normal means, yet crucial in countless ways. It didn’t rewrite fate directly, but it tilted fortune in my favor: from critical chances in combat to skill growth rates and rare item drops. More practically, it improved my odds when unlocking lootboxes or discovering hidden treasures. In short, it was the wildcard that, although it didn’t turn a defeat into a victory, could turn a narrow victory into a resounding one.
Other than that, this stat gave unexpected opportunities in most ordinary kinds of things, but this was another thing for later. Instead, I focused my attention back on the three lootboxes in my inventory.
Aleph-Tier General Lootbox Bet-Tier General Lootbox x2First, I pulled the Aleph-Tier General Lootbox from my inventory, a small wooden chest that looked unassuming at first glance. Without delay, I pried it open. A soft glow emanated as the lid creaked, flickering briefly before coalescing into a crystal vial filled with a faint red liquid.
Permanent Strength Elixir (Weak)
Grade: Common
Type: Elixir
An elixir that permanently increases your Strength stat by 1.
This has to be one of the rarest items obtainable from an Aleph-Tier General Lootbox. Although a single stat point didn’t mean much at this stage, it was still a permanent gain—better than nothing. So, I drank it without hesitation.
Your Strength has increased by 1.
After that, I took out the two Bet-Tier General Lootboxes, which were two small obsidian chests adorned with some carvings. I quickly opened the first one. As the lid creaked open, a radiant light poured out and gradually condensed into the form of a silver ring.
Ring of Fortitude
Grade: Uncommon
Type: Enchanted Ring
A well-crafted silver ring imbued with minor enchantments to enhance physical resilience and raw power.
Durability: 20/20Grants +3 Strength and +3 Stamina.“Not bad,” I mused, slipping the ring onto my forefinger. Almost instantly, I felt the change as a surge of strength coursed through my muscles.
Without wasting another second, I opened the second lootbox. As the soft light emerged from within the obsidian chest, it slowly took shape, transforming into another glass vial.
Potion of Swift Recovery
Grade: Uncommon
Type: Potion
A fast-acting potion that restores 50% of your total Stamina instantly. Useful in prolonged battles.
Well, it’s not as rare as the other two in terms of rarity, but it’s still useful regardless. I quickly stored the potion back into my inventory.
Aside from the three lootboxes that I saved, this scenario awarded me with a Rare-Grade Armament Voucher. Since there was no reason to wait, I activated it. A translucent menu materialized before me, presenting a neatly categorized list of rare-grade weapons and equipment, each with detailed descriptions and functions…
“Oh? They actually have this thing…”