Chapter 141: Speechless
"Alright, Wu..."
In just a few seconds, that piece of Set Equipment Leather Gloves burst out with a brilliant Glow in Cain's hand. He smiled and handed the Leather Gloves to me.
"Mm-hmm, thank you, Grandpa Cain..."
It had been several years since I last played the Game, and while this pair of Leather Gloves was almost universally known by others, I didn't have much of an impression of it. So, at this moment, I couldn't help but take it.
Death's Hand
Leather Gloves
Defense: 9
Durability: 16-16
Required Level: 6
Poison Resistance 50%
Reduced Poison Duration 75%
Death's Disguise
Death's Touch
Death's Guard
Death's Hand
Legendary Bane of Andariel, one of the Set Pieces of the Death's Set... Uh... I was instantly speechless.
Looking at it critically, the Stats of this piece of Set Equipment were too singular; this was its Weakness. Of course, it was also its Advantage. However, I was already very content. I didn't know how much Golden Equipment there was, but this piece of Set Equipment was definitely the first in the entire Rogue Encampment.
After equipping these Leather Gloves, my Toxin Resistance had reached: 22% (Gold Belt) + 14% (Amulet) + 50% (Leather Gloves) = 86 points. If I also equipped the sea-blue Scepter (Poison Resistance +15%), it would reach 101 points. Plus, there was the Reduced Poison Duration by 75%. Even against the pure Toxin Damage from Andariel's Clone in Act II, I could barely withstand it.
After putting away the Leather Gloves, I immediately bid farewell to Cain and happily trotted to the Inn to rent a room. The next few pieces of Equipment were the main event, especially the Wolf Head I was most looking forward to, an Exclusive Equipment with an even lower Drop Rate than a Staff.
However, before the Identification, having a few appetizers wouldn't hurt. Thinking this, I picked out a few smaller items from my Inventory.
First, in my hand was that three-dimensional rhombic Diamond. A flawless Diamond.
Diamond
Weapon: +44% Damage to Undead
Shield: All Resistance +11%
Other Armor: +60 Accuracy
Required Level: 12
Although I had seen a flawless Diamond from Cain when completing the Tristram Quest, things that belonged to me were even more dazzling, weren't they? Like a money grubber, I gently wiped this brilliant Diamond, then carefully placed it together with the Bugged Small Charm.
Next was that smooth Oval Gemstone—the Flawed Sapphire. Although I had seen a flawless Diamond before, it didn't diminish my joy for this one at all. This was shamelessly good stuff! Socket a few into a Weapon, and when encountering Enemies not resistant to Cold, whoever you hit would be depressed.
Flawed Sapphire
Weapon: 3-5 Cold Damage, 1.4 seconds Duration
Shield: 16% Cold Resistance
Other Armor: +17 Mana
Required Level: 5
And there was that Rune Stone.
Rune Ith
Weapon: +9 Maximum Damage
Armor: 8% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
Next was that piece of Magic Equipment Scale Mail. This was currently the highest Level Equipment I possessed! I picked up an Identify Scroll, tore it open, and several white Energy Rune Bands immediately wrapped around the Scale Mail, then emitted a dazzling blue light.
Sturdy Scale Mail
Defense: 82
Durability: 36-36
Required Strength: 44
Required Level: 15
+38% Enhanced Defense
Sigh, a Magic Equipment with a single Stat. But the added Defense was really quite a lot. The overall Defense was more than double that of my Golden Leather Armor. However, what a pity, the Strength Requirement was surprisingly 44 points. I looked at my Strength and Dexterity, which were 36 and 30 points respectively. Unless I used Werebear Transformation, I simply couldn't use this Scale Mail.
However, since Level 14, I had been reserving my Attribute Points. By Level 18 now, I had accumulated some free Attribute Points, and if needed, there were still 7 free Attributes from the Divine Language Staff that I could allocate.
I considered for a while. In order to wear this Scale Mail with extremely high Defense, I took out 8 Attribute Points and allocated them to Strength, ensuring I could use it even in my normal state. After Kashya's Teachings last time, I understood that Strength and Dexterity in this world were no longer purely added just for wearing Equipment, unlike in the Game.
The remaining two items were the main event. I first took out the Rare Heavy Boots, gently stroking them. The pale gold luster they emitted was more dazzling in my eyes than a pile of Gold Coins.
Elf Stalker Heavy Boots
Defense: 12
Durability: 16-16
Required Strength: 18
Required Level: 4
+15 Attack Rating
+10 Maximum Stamina
+5 Dexterity
+30% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resistance +19%
+1 Light Radius
Attack Rating was a very intangible thing, without any fixed basis. During Battle, it could make your dynamic vision more acute. As for how to utilize it, that depended on yourself. If you intentionally didn't want to hit, or were absent-minded, even if you were given another 100,000 Attack Rating, you still wouldn't hit.
Among these Rare Heavy Boots, what satisfied me the most was undoubtedly the +10 Stamina Stat. The effect of Stamina here wasn't the nonsensical provision of running Consumption like in the Game. It was the key to prolonged Battle. If a person's Stamina wasn't high, no matter how strong their Strength or how overpowered their Skill, they would be like a top-tier sports car without gasoline.
The Stats weren't bad, I suppose, although I couldn't say they were Excellent Grade. I sighed in relief.
After examining the Heavy Boots with satisfaction for a long time, I finally put them into my Inventory. Next, was the Wolf Head I was most looking forward to. What Stats would it have? I tremblingly held the Helmet shaped like a ferocious yet majestic Wolf Head, picked up an Identify Scroll, fiercely tore it open, and then impatiently leaned my eyes closer, my heart pounding with excitement.
Self-Repairing Wolf Head
Defense: 11
Durability: -
Required Strength: 16
Required Level: 3
Replenish Durability 2 points within 1 day
Huh!?!?!
I held up the Wolf Head, looked left, looked right. Then turned it over, turned it upside down. I even pried open the pair of greenish wolf eyes on it and opened wide the ferocious wolf mouth...
otz...
This world was indeed abnormal. Why was it like this? Could it be that the Protagonist YY Law didn't exist in this world, or perhaps I wasn't the Protagonist?
Holding the Wolf Head, I stayed in that blank posture for a long time. Finally, I beat my chest and stomped my feet, wanting to cry but having no tears.
After a while, I gradually calmed down, but I was still depressed and felt weak all over. The higher the Expectation, the greater the disappointment. Sob~~
Forget it. At least it had the good Self-Repairing Stat, and if I wore it, maybe I could unexpectedly scare children. I wondered if Light Snow and the others would mistake me for one of their kind. I carefully examined this realistic Wolf Head. If I wore it, my head would look no different from Werewolf Transformation, right?
No! I played with it repeatedly, turning it over and over, and suddenly discovered that this Wolf Head in my hand seemed a bit unreasonable.
Judging by the appearance of this Wolf Head, after wearing it, it should cover the entire neck, and that protruding ferocious wolf mouth, the upper jaw should rest on the head, and the lower jaw should be stuck on the Chin, only exposing a small part of the face outside. At first thought, it did look very majestic. Of course, its warmth retention Effort was also first-class.
However, Equipment wasn't meant for keeping warm or aesthetics. If it couldn't be effective in Battle, it was no different from Junk. And wearing this Wolf Head, one could imagine, wouldn't the Vision be greatly hindered? This was very critical in Battle. I couldn't fight merely by listening to the wind to discern objects, without relying on my eyes.
In other words, I discovered a bug? The Wolf Head wasn't as useful as imagined? Carrying this doubt, I put on this Junk Excellent Grade item, only to discover that although God's Rules were simple, they were undoubtedly all-encompassing. The bug I had just suspected simply didn't exist.
Because, I discovered that I had gained a pair of eyes. Yes, on my forehead, I had gained a pair of eyes with a more open Vision and more acute line of sight. Judging from the position, it was undoubtedly that pair of wolf eyes.
So convenient. I didn't expect the Wolf Head to have this kind of function. I took off the Helmet, and my Vision returned to normal. While switching, I didn't feel any abruptness, as if I had just switched a gear.
After discovering the Wolf Head's hidden Ability, my Mood improved quite a bit. Sigh, other Class Changers might not even be able to find a suitable Exclusive Equipment by fighting their way to Harrogath. What more could I ask for? I should be content.
I spent the entire afternoon in the room, continuously putting on and taking off the Wolf Head. Besides feeling novel about the sensation of "having an extra pair of eyes," it was also to properly adapt to this Feeling, in order to truly utilize its Advantage during Battle.
By the time I put away the Wolf Head, the time of day was already approaching dusk. The burning red sunset glow on the horizon, and that distant and peaceful Sky... My heart suddenly pounded violently, as if stimulated by something.
She should be back by now, I thought silently. I was so eager to see her, but for some reason, I suddenly felt a wave of panic and nervousness, like a naive boy in his first love, just about to steal a glance at the girl he had a crush on for a long time. My heart was pounding rapidly, both excited and nervous for reasons I couldn't explain.
However, when I came back to my senses, I had unknowingly already walked out of the Inn and was walking on the small path I had been away from for a long time. My Footsteps seemed to ignore the panic and nervousness in my heart, continuously stepping forward. In the setting sun, Lars's warm Small Wooden Cabin was already faintly visible.
The familiar brown small wooden wall gradually became clear. Under the shadow of the half-open Door, at some point, a small figure was standing on tiptoes, with hands behind her back, leaning against the door frame, quietly waiting for something. Then she turned her head this way, and our eyes met unexpectedly.
"..."
Quietly gazing at each other, we were stunned for a long time. Only my Footsteps still slowly walked forward like inertia. The face in the shadow gradually became clear in my eyes.
"Big Brother. You're back!" Sha La, leaning against the door, smiled brightly and said in an Affirmative tone.
"Mm."
I nodded vigorously.
"That's great." The next moment, crystal clear tears flowed from the Angel's eyes.
"What's wrong, Little Shara?"
I walked forward and gently wiped her delicate face. She was crying so hard she couldn't even open her eyes. Unexpectedly, she suddenly pounced on me, as if to confirm my Existence, and hugged me tightly.
"I... I kept having nightmares, afraid you wouldn't come back," Sha La buried her face in my arms and choked out intermittently.
"Aren't I perfectly fine?"
I gently stroked her little head and said with an effort to smile. During the narrow escape from death Battle with Belial, in that instant of loss, I deeply realized how precious and strong this Feeling was.
"And then? And then?"
Sha La tightly held my arm, raised her delicate and pure face, and impatiently asked. Her burning red eyes, like fiery Diamonds, were wide open at this moment, as if they could burn someone.
"Sha La..."
Lars, to the side, tried to interject.
"Mm, what's wrong, Dad?" Sha La turned her head in confusion and asked, tilting her head.
"Ah, it's like this..."
Seeing that his Beloved Daughter had finally discovered his Existence, Lars immediately started talking non-stop. But in fact, after Sha La finished asking, she had already turned her head back and simply didn't have any Expectation for his words.
"Ah, my Beloved Daughter..."
After great difficulty finishing the part he thought was interesting, Lars discovered that his Daughter's attention wasn't on him at all. His whole person immediately turned pale.
"Alright, alright, stop joining in the Excitement here like a child. Hurry and go take a bath."
Aunt Lisa walked out from the Kitchen, still holding a sharp Cleaver in her hand. Then, with a smile without warmth, she grabbed the back of his collar and slowly dragged the struggling Lars out.
Sigh, only now did I realize that Aunt Shali's arm strength was not ordinarily terrifying...
"Hehehe..."
Sha La gently stuck out her little tongue towards Lars, who had disappeared outside the Door, then proudly hugged my arm tightly, pressing her gradually developing chest tightly against me. A familiar maiden's fragrance, even more intense, reached my nose.
"Big Brother, continue telling Sha La. Sha La really, really wants to know how Brother defeated the Archfiend..."
I affectionately stroked Sha La's little head, seeming to already somewhat understand where the Charm that had been attracting me all along lay.
Compared to Velas's considerateness, Sha La was undoubtedly a very clingy, very sticky, and very fond of Act Spoiled girl. However, she wasn't blindly showering her Feelings randomly or simply obeying the other person's will. She had her own opinions and views, and liked to use her own Method to express her liking for the other person. She would never make you feel like she was just a "pretty face with no brain."
More importantly, she was the type of girl whose Feelings were very devoted. Once she approved, she would center around you and revolve around you. Her way of expressing herself would never make you feel lonely, nor would it make you feel annoyed.
And I, who had transmigrated from the Other World into this strange world, greatly needed a warmth and recognition. To put it bluntly, I was searching for a sense of Existence. At this moment, Sha La just happened to satisfy everything about me.