Chapter 80_Phoenix Healer

Monica stood at the forge’s edge, breath still catching in her throat as she admired her new armor. A polished fusion of nearly-white steel plates, interwoven with black metal filaments, gleamed beneath the torchlight. Thin veins of cobalt-blue Duranium traced across the plated sections like stylized vines, while threads of hammered gold glinted where the pieces linked together. The sleek, waist-length coat of dark cloth beneath appeared to ripple each time she moved—stitched with black Widow Thread that combined lesser mithril alloy and spider silk.

She flexed an arm experimentally, feeling the surprising lightness of it all. Her old Nightshade Battle Wear had been battered and torn beyond recovery, yet Dworsul had insisted they use its blueprint to build something far superior. Hours of painstaking forging later, aided by the runic magic inside Thizmug’s personal workshop, had culminated in this final masterpiece.

Drawing a sharp breath, Monica activated the dwarven glasses perched on her nose. A transparent interface flared to life before her eyes.

*Ding*

You have successfully inspected Midnight Widow Armor (Epic)!

Midnight Widow Armor (Epic)

Durability: 80/80

Enhancement Slots: 4/4

Special Ability – Midnight Pact

The wearer’s natural speed increases by 45%, capped at 1000 Dexterity.

Monica saw the bonus and was flabbergasted. It not only looked terrific since the almost-white-looking steel and black created a beautiful contrast. The bonuses were on a whole different magnitude than those of the Nightshade Battle Wear, which had had this description.

Special Ability: Shadow Pact The shadows aid your natural speed. The wearer's natural speed increases by 15%.

Limitations: Shadow Pact can only increase speed up to 400 Dexterity.

Now, the Midnight Widow Armor increased had a speed bonus three times higher than the Nightshade Battle Wear and, more importantly, its effect wouldn't wear off until Monica's Dexterity reached 1000. That meant Monica would get much more mileage out of this armor.

"Can we also add Enhancements?" Monica asked curiously, spinning to look at Dworsul.

"All the gems that had been in Viscera were used on the gear for the battle against the Gods," Dworsul grimaced. "You'd have to visit Nemore, the Elven Capital, to find Enhancements that are good enough for this. I doubt Humans have salvaged much of the knowledge the Elves had. The gems they raised in their grooves had powers that no one else could rival, Avatar."

"That's a pity," Monica said, but still taking in the gorgeous armor she was wearing. With a thought the black cloth receded and left all the flesh not covered by the special steel out in the open.

"You do like being half-naked," Dworsul noted with a raised eyebrow.

"It just feels more comfortable," Monica shrugged.

"If you say so," the legendary Blacksmith seemed skeptical. "Now, why don't you test your new creation?"

* * *

Monica didn’t have to wander far from Thizmug’s forge to find her test. Six Corrupted Molten Wasp Soldiers—each ranging from Level 140 to 150—roamed the Silver Road in a close-knit formation. Any one of them would have been trouble on its own, let alone six at once.

Yet, as soon as she caught their droning echo, Monica felt the midnight armor almost sing around her. The subtle synergy between the black Widow Thread, the metallic plates, and the runic forging made every step feel lighter than air.

She inhaled, letting the Midnight Pact ability mesh with her own Phoenix Feathers. A hushed shock of speed rippled through her. Her Dexterity soared, steps so swift the air itself felt sluggish.

The Soldiers attacked in tandem. Globs of molten resin streaked toward her from both sides, lines crossing in a wide net. Monitored through Mana Sense, she saw each trajectory in perfect clarity.

Now.

Monica shot forward in a blur, the lines of resin splattering harmlessly behind her. In two bounding steps, she was inside the left trio’s formation. The first Wasp tried to pivot, but she was already punching. Her new Molten Wasp Gauntlets, tempered specifically against these foes, cracked its chitin in a single brutal strike as Obsidian Impact exploded their shell. She spun, harnessing that momentum, and slammed another Obsidian-Impact-empowerd elbow into the next Soldier’s abdomen. Chitin shattered, molten gore dripped.

The third raised its stinger, desperate to retaliate—but she vanished again, skipping sideways with a short Phoenix Step that launched her behind the creature. A savage uppercut caved its thorax.

One, two, three… done.

Simultaneously, the remaining three wasps spat resin in quick, overlapping arcs, determined not to let her slip away. She used Phoenix Cloud to vault overhead, mixing in a small burst of Vitality for that extra jolt. Soaring above them, she twisted her body, aiming a downward strike at the lead wasp. Obsidian Impact enveloped her fist in black flames, and the blow crumpled the soldier’s head like paper. It died instantly.

The other two reared away, spooked, but she was already on them. She hammered the first to the ground, ignoring the slick of sizzling gore as it spattered her new chest-plate. Hopping over its twitching corpse, she drove a final blow straight through the second wasp’s abdomen. It shrieked once, then collapsed.

All six were dead in moments. She stood, smoke drifting around her from the molten fluids clinging to the plates. Remarkably, the metal shone through the mess, unscathed.

Monica’s chest rose and fell, adrenaline hammering in her veins. Then she let out a content, relieved breath.

The difference is night and day.

A soft chime rung in her ears.

*Ding*

You have slain [Corrupted Molten Wasp, Soldier – Level 144]