Book 2. Chapter 20: Fortress Assault Rewards

Book 2. Chapter 20: Fortress Assault Rewards

Fhesiah snorted, What, didnt bother checking your notifications? Just what is it you were doing as we dragged you out of that volcano, anyway? Just enjoying the view as your women carried you?

Jake couldnt help but feel embarrassed. He had glanced at the notifications, but hadnt had time to process them. But wait a minute, Jake had at least two retorts to that line of thought

Fhesiah laughed, Im just messing with you, husband. I read mine while I waited for you to finish your fight, after all. Heres what I got.

Mythic Hestias Torch

Scaling Equipment. Gains additional effects and strength with level.

Torch stores heavenly energy and mana to create flames, floats near the user and can be controlled with thought. Can store one healing charge. Gains effectiveness with users level.

It looks like we all got an item that we needed from completing Hestias Task, and then Racial Upgrade: Pending Tier Up for defeating our champions; even you, Jake. I think this torch will go well with my Sun and Moon Dance, and that it has some emergency healing makes me feel a lot better.

Jake looked over the prompt and sighed in relief that for some odd reason, his reward was unavailable until he returned to the refuge. He had thought he saw that when he had glanced at the prompt, so he was glad that he wasnt mistaken and hadnt missed out on some life-saving item, too distressed to review it.

Well, looking over it now, even if it was available during the volcano erupting or caves collapsing, he wouldnt have had time to put it on, anyway.nove(l)bi(n.)com

Mythic Hestias Champion Plated mail Vestments

Scaling Equipment. Gains additional effects and strength with level.

These plated vestments mix plate armor over commonly targeted areas, and chain-mail over joints for maneuverability and weight. Includes core for additional energy storage. Includes greaves, gauntlets and helmet. Grows with user level. Has space for enchantments.

It was a complete set of armor. On each piece, Jake could see many hexagonal segments that he thought the purpose was to hold his runes. This would keep Jake well-protected into the future as it grew with him. Jake would have to charge up the energy reservoir to see how significant a bonus it was, but any amount of maximum mana was welcome. While he thought they were eventually going to produce something quite similar, Jake wasnt sure he could reproduce the energy core capability. Bloodberri had received a similar, yet completely different, reward.

Mythic Hestias Morphing Wicked Full-Plate Vestments

Scaling Equipment. Gains additional effects and strength with level.

These Full-Plate vestments include coverage for an entire snake-woman, while allowing easy equipping, cleaning, and removal. Has space for enchantments.

The full-plate suit was completely massive, and it was like it was one connected piece, but still had hexagonal segments for Jakes enchantments that he knew were crafted using supernatural means. Going by the prompts, this was a major lifestyle improvement. Just putting on Bloodberris armor for an outing was a group effort that took over 10 minutes, and this was moving at supernatural speed with four sets of practiced hands. By herself, despite having two hands and an extra limb, it would take her well over an hour to put on. Removal was a little quicker, but it was a significant time investment any time they needed to fight.

Bloodberri held it up in the air, finding it to be a dull almost jacket-like texture. He noticed that many of the blades and spikes were sort of covered when it was powered down as it was. She then infused some mana into a section of the armor, and it became hard and full of energy, the blades and spikes turning outwards. She was both awed and filled with happiness, looking over the new armor. It was their family colors and despite being bladed, did not look or draw the same feelings of fear and danger that the previous suit did. Yet they all could tell that this suit was more dangerous than the previous.

The group continued cleaning up and removing Bloodberris old armor, but she was crying tears of joy just thinking that this was the last time they would need to spend this much effort on her.

Ophelia said, The goddess was really thinking of us when picking our rewards. Its a small thing being able to equip your armor quickly, but it means a lot to Bloodberri.

She then shared her reward, a winged kite shield.

Mythic Hestias Winged Kite Shield

Scaling Equipment. Gains additional effects and strength with level.

This shield floats near the user and is driven by their intent. It blocks using the same amount of strength and leverage the user can bring about. Compatible with Hestias Hearth ability. Has room for enchantments.

Ophelia let go of the shield, and it floated in place. Now she could use both hands with her spear. The shield spun around as she shifted her body, and it moved around as she imagined that it would. It could only float within a few feet of her body, though. That was until she added [Hestias Hearth].

The merit earned was regarding Jake, Ophelia, and Bloodberris potential class upgrade options. The more merit besides his skills, the better the possibilities. Jake already had a high rarity class, and it would likely take more than just this to get something higher than that, but maintaining the high requirements should allow him to at least upgrade his class to the next tier.

While Fhesiah wouldnt receive a class template where she would be handed new skills and attributes at level ups normally, she should receive additional guidance on upgrading her framework skills to the next tier because of earning this merit.

Jake looked over their looted equipment from the enemy Champions. There was a spear that was quite good from the champion they faced, but Ophelia declined it, opting to sell it. It did not have a magical focus, and she really wanted to make one tailored to her needs. The leather they wore was only marginally useful.

The plate armor from the drakan was almost completely destroyed. Looking over the energies, Jake was really interested in what caused the damage, as it was more than just being melted away, but rather that the armors very integrity itself was attacked. Was this Fhesiahs Kitsune fire? He looked over at her, and she was giving a mysterious smile. I want to see this Kitsune fire at some point

She began nonchalantly inspecting her fingernails. My, but husband, its nothing special compared to my dragon fire. I promise that I will show it to you, but Im still working on it. Dont worry: I will not let my surprise cause us danger. If using it will make us safer, I will use it in earnest.

Both Bloodberri and Jakes opponents wore robes and were useless for them. Jakes opponent had a Summoners staff, but only had a bonus to the necrotic magic he used. There was no interest in any of this, and thus everything went on auction. The damaged plate was more for salvage and next to worthless.

Jake had really been hoping for some jewelry, but it looked like the enemy Champions really spent their allotment for traps and their primary equipment pieces. The staff and spear would likely be worth a lot, potentially as much as the Fortress Assault reward itself.

They head to their shrine, and called upon Hestia.

Once again, a heavenly aura filled the statue, and Hestias voice spoke to them.

Im so glad everything worked out in the end, Jake and family. I dont think things could have gone any better than that. You all should be quite proud of yourselves, as you have proven that I have made an excellent choice when choosing my Champion. Im proud of all of you.

Jake was shocked at the effect Hestias words had on him. His heart swelled with pride, and he could feel the same coming from the girls.

And Bloodberri, Im so glad that you have started to find your way. I know that Berri will find a lot of children to care for in your destination world: Highlands. Jake, you should set the course sooner rather than later. Every moment matters.

Jake went ahead and set the course in his menu, their Refuge beginning to head through subspace towards their destination. Jake was about to ask about his odd-summoned creature behavio

Whatever it was you were about to ask or think about, I think it is best you dont voice your question aloud. Lets just say that [Tartarus] likes to bend the rules to its advantage, and we do the same when such efforts can go undetected.

Odins minor hint he was able to squeeze in, didnt prove useful in the end, but there was a chance that Berri here could have spoken up and let you know her secret, that Blood was with her and perhaps what Odins cryptic statement was referring to. Maybe you would have been able to piece together that she was not fully influenced by the Framework, and could have attacked the enemy champion prior to entry.

Bloodberri looked guilty, and Blood said, Im sorry I told her not to tell you. I thought it was a trick

Hestia continued, With that said, this [Fortress Assault] was a major harvest. You defeated four champions, and that means we have received four divine sparks. This is besides the one received from the first champion, which I keep in reserve in case Jake were to die against an enemy champion. You can have peace of mind knowing that should the worse occur, Jake is protected. Jake should be aware of some of the other uses.

Jake had read the book on champions Hestia provided, and he was aware of some of the uses. They could be used to make a champion, enhance a champion in several ways, enhance an item, and collecting divine sparks could eventually lead to the possibility of godhood. Jake hadnt thought of this much, as many of the uses simply wouldnt be available to Jake at his Tier. Jake already had God energy crammed into his weak T1 vessel, and Jake didnt think it could take any more until the next Tier.

Hestias voice held some mirth to it. Not so fast Jake, but well come back to that thought. Not all the uses are permanent, and we can use some of the benefits without consuming them. There are also some other gods interested in making your lovers champions, and I think they would pay the price if able.

Jake said, Who, Fhesiah? The other two are a priestess and valkyrie of Hestia, surely you dont mean

Why not, Jake? Im pretty sure Odin and I have hammered into you that we are all a part of the same team, havent we?

It was Fhesiah who spoke, her thoughts more or less mirroring Jakes, You dont expect us to believe that theres no contention among you, do you? No rivalries?

We try to keep our rivalries to friendly competition that pushes us all to do better against Tartarus, our one true enemy, but youre right. I dont expect you to believe that theres no bad blood among us gods. With that said, those interested are ones that are good friends of mine or are otherwise those that there is certainly no bad blood. They wouldnt require you to convert by giving your valkyrie oath in the case of Ophelia, or Bloodberri to follow a ritual to become a priestess of them. In fact, I think youll agree that diversification of your powers would be quite a good thing.

Jake couldnt help but agree with that. [Tartarus] certainly liked to attack using their weaknesses, or at the very least, minimize their strengths. Jake was glad that Bloodberri had both light and dark powers and wasnt so much tied to the holy fire of Hestia-type attacks. But the idea that theyd all be champions of Hestia meant all four, potentially five, would summon holy fires of Hestia. Jake still hadnt had the good fortune of running into a dungeon just full of enemies weak to Hestias holy fire since his Trial, and he suspected this was by design. Each calling upon a different god with its own strengths and weaknesses was much more appealing to Jake.

Jake thought that this was a big deal, but he would have to learn more about the gods or goddesses and their offer before they could decide.