Some time passed before I heard footsteps approaching. I opened my eyes to see Cass walking over to me. I checked her class as she neared, curious if she had finished her upgrade.

[Cassilia Huxon - Level 23 Valkyrie Ascendant.]

"Valkyrie Ascendant, huh? How'd it go?" I prodded with a grin.

"Got a skill that restores some stamina and mana after killing an enemy. I am now even more unstoppable!" she proclaimed with a laugh.

I laughed, "You always have been, Cass."

We discussed each other's upgrades in detail while Jen and Leo remained meditating. Leo had his tome in his hand and was reading intently, like a student studying for an important exam. Jen sat cross-legged with her eyes closed while she gently held her amulet in both hands.

"Hey, Cass, how do you envision your abilities and attributes? Mine appear as an ethereal text, and Leo has his tome, but I never asked what yours is like," I questioned the warrior.

She laughed, "You're lucky I know you're not from here. That can be considered a bit of a rude question to some, especially elves," she said while nodding toward Jen.

"What? I had no idea. Why would it be a big deal? Leo didn't hesitate to share his tome when I asked," I countered.

"Leo's different. He believes sharing knowledge is the one of the most important things he can do. Others consider the way magic reveals itself to them sacred," she answered.

I nodded, "I understand. I apologize for asking," I replied.

Cass laughed again, "Relax, I'm not one of those people, Alex. Here."

She closed her eyes and focused, and an extensive series of interconnected images began to form on the stone floor between us. It was almost like a family tree, but instead of family members, it contained her information portrayed by various images. At the very top were her name, class, and level. Directly beneath that were her attributes. Following that, four branches expanded outward, each displaying one of her Runes. Below each Rune was a list of the abilities that the Rune granted. It was odd, the entire structure lacked any words or text descriptions, yet the information entered my mind in a manner I could understand as I focused on each depiction.

"Incredible," I muttered as I activated Mana Sense. I could see the mana flowing from Cass to create the vision before me and the mana flowing from the images into me. I had never attempted to manipulate my interface that way.

"Am I able to display my interface to others?" I questioned.

"Maybe with a bit of practice. I have to forcibly visualize it onto a surface. It's hard to describe. Sam or Leo would probably know more details about the process," she responded as her skill tree vanished from the stone floor.

I nodded, "Thanks, Cass! What do you think the fourth Aspect has in store for us?" I queried.

"I'm not sure. Each encounter seems to be preparing us for different situations. The first fight had us focusing on holding a defensible position against an overwhelming force. The second was about infiltrating an enemy camp and resisting mental magic. The last battle pushed us to protect an important yet helpless ally against numerous weaker enemies and smaller groups of powerful opponents. To free the final Aspect, I'm sure we'll have to overcome another scenario like those. Either way, I'm sure we'll be killing plenty more undead," she answered.

I practiced attempting to display my interface to Cass as we waited for the others. Unfortunately, I still hadn't managed to perform the action when they finally joined us. Leo had become a Stormdruid Adept. It granted him additional intelligence and regeneration upon leveling and allowed him to cast a temporary earthen shield around an ally every minute. Jen's class had upgraded her into a Lucent Dawnstalker, granting her two additional points to dexterity and one point to every other stat per level. Her new class ability was a short-range teleport on a relatively short cooldown.

It was after midday, and now that our stamina had fully recovered, we approached the platform waiting for us near the Aspect. Jodar was still kneeling in the Water of Vitality, recovering his stamina and mana. All three Aspects we rescued had vowed to aid us in the final battle, yet none offered to assist us before that.

"Let's all take a dip in that water again. I'd feel safer if we're all immune to vampirism for another hour. There's no telling what awaits us at our next stop," I said to the team.

We each took a step into the small pond, then made our way onto the shimmering platform. It gently lifted us into the air and began gliding toward the fourth and final pyramid. As we neared the terrace, there was one apparent difference from the three earlier locations. Two parallel bridges linked this platform to the central area. Besides a few garden beds and the pseudo-jungle surrounding the outer margins, this platform was utterly devoid of structures. Our floating dais slowly lowered us toward the edge. As we moved closer, I spotted various humanoids walking around near the Aspect in the center. The five of us crouched low as we were deposited on the platform's edge, hidden behind the trees and foliage.

"Jen, you're up. Find out what those enemies are and report back," I instructed our scout.

I waited anxiously until Jen returned a few minutes later.

"They're not undead. They're humans and elves, all women. Eight in total. They wear identical armor and carry spears or bows. Their tabards indicate they are followers of Freya," the ranger reported.

"A trap?" I asked.

"No way to be sure, but I don't believe so," Jen replied.

We whispered quietly before deciding to take the chance and announce ourselves to them. I would approach them first while the others remained hidden. If they were friendly, the team would reveal themselves. If the women turned out to be hostile, the others would ambush their forces from cover. Teos would flank around the women, ready to rush to my aid should they attack. Jen and Leo could be within range in moments, and Cass would quickly close the distance using her boots. I cautiously left the coverage of the trees and approached.

"Hello there!" I shouted with my hands raised to show I was unarmed.

The eight women all turned to me at once. They wore silver chainmail armor and dark green tabards depicting the silver wing of Freya. Five of them wielded long spears with circular wooden shields in their off-hands, while three aimed longbows at me. One of the warriors took a step forward.

"That's close enough! Who are you?" the elf demanded as she leveled her spear at me.

"My name is Alex. I am a Champion of Freya, and I'm here to help."

The woman's eyes narrowed at me, "A Champion? Prove it."

I stored my armor to reveal the Runes upon my right arm. Then equipped it again once I knew she was satisfied.

"Forgive me, Champion. It is our job to be vigilant. I am Fildarae, commander of the shieldmaidens here. We were tasked with defending the Aspect, but the invaders' attack drastically reduced our numbers. I do not believe we will survive a second assault," the captain explained sorrowfully.

The group of warriors visibly relaxed upon confirmation of my status. The shieldmaidens appeared exhausted, and their elegant armor was covered in various scuffs, dents, and gouges. Many of the women nursed injuries and wounds. I took a moment to appraise the warriors.

[Fildarae - Level 22 Shieldmaiden Captain]

[Shieldmaiden Lancer - Level 19]

[Shieldmaiden Ranger - Level 19]

Only the captain had a name, at least according to my examination skill. The women with spears were called Lancers, and the archers were Rangers. I performed a quick scan of the Aspect, too.

[Lyrei, Aspect of Vitality]

Health: 1%

Mana: 1/1000

Stamina: 1%

"I understand. We have come to aid you and restore the Aspect. There are others with me. May they join us?"

The shieldmaiden captain nodded, and I turned to where my friends were concealed. They left their hiding spots and approached, then stood next to me. Each introduced themselves to the captain, although Teos only offered a snarl. Leo mentioned he was a healer and asked to treat their injuries.

"That's just his way of saying hello. This is Teos, my familiar. Can you tell me what happened here?" I asked the woman as Leo began healing the wounded warriors.

"Of course, but first, tell me of the other Aspects. Are they well?" Fildarae queried worriedly.

I nodded, "Yes, we repelled the undead and healed them. They have also agreed to aid us in attacking the invaders' main camp. However, we need to restore the final Aspect before attempting that."

"That is excellent news. We feared greatly for the other Aspects. When we arrived here, three crystals surrounded Lyrei. We believe they were draining her, so we destroyed the crystals. However, none of us are capable of healing her, and she has still not recovered. After the crystals' destruction, a horde of undead charged across the bridges. We managed to eliminate them all but paid a heavy price. We were a squadron of twenty-five before the assault," she lamented.

They had destroyed the crystals, yet the Aspect's health had not naturally recovered a single percent. It appeared that only healing magic was capable of restoring them. I found myself wondering if these women were real people or manifestations of Freya. The seven shieldmaidens only offered one-word answers and curt replies. On the other hand, the captain's mannerisms and speech were identical to a conscious person's. A quick check with Mana Sense informed me that they were indeed manifestations of the dungeon, including Fildarae. I couldn't help but compare them to NPCs in a video game.

"What can you tell us about the enemies who attacked you?" Jen questioned.

Fildarae turned to the ranger, "It was a necromancer commanding an army of approximately forty skeletal warriors and mages. Most of the skeletons were feeble, but he did control a handful of more powerful minions. The stronger undead were abominations—creatures constructed using forbidden magic and vile rituals. Corpses of various beings combined and fused into grotesque reanimated monstrosities. Those are the ones who claimed most of my sisters' lives. After we destroyed his puppets, the necromancer retreated back across the bridge. We have been expecting another attack any moment."

"Did any attempt to attack Lyrei?" Leo queried.

The captain considered the question for a moment before replying, "No. Not overtly. Some were close enough that they could have, but I did not witness any attacks aimed at the Aspect."

I nodded, "Let's hope that remains the case for the second invasion. They will almost certainly attack the moment we begin healing Lyrei. At least, they did every other time we began healing an Aspect. I can almost guarantee it will be the same here. We'll need to decide on a strategy. I would appreciate your counsel, captain. Your troops should take some time to recover in the meantime."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

The team and I sat with Fildarae near the Aspect while the other shieldmaidens remained alert and on guard. Their condition had improved tremendously after Leo's treatment.

We spent a few minutes explaining to the commander what our individual capabilities and roles were before asking her to break down her and the other shieldmaidens' proficiency. Based on her description, I gathered that Fildarae was a tank class. The three archers were excellent ranged attackers but, unlike Jen, would quickly fall if forced into close-quarters combat. The commander also informed us the shieldmaidens wielding spears were strong against single targets but did not have the skill set to deal with numerous enemies at once. The addition of an extra bridge certainly complicated this encounter. Luckily, the two bridges were only a few yards apart, which would make positioning our ranged attackers easier. Had there been a single bridge like the previous fights, having this many warriors on our side would trivialize the battle.

After some deliberation, we decided to place me, Teos, and two Lancers on one bridge. The other bridge would contain Cass, Fildarae, and three Lancers. Jen, Leo, and the archers would remain positioned between the two bridges. This would allow them to launch their ranged attacks at enemies located on either bridge while staying within healing range of everyone. We stood, and Fildarae began issuing instructions to her soldiers. Once everyone understood their roles, we took our positions. Leo announced he was casting the first heal. Once again, the Aspect was inflicted with healing sickness for ninety seconds after Leo's spell.

A few long seconds passed before the first enemies wandered through the fog. Skeletal creatures wielding crude weapons were meandering toward us. Their eye sockets glowed a sickly green, and they brandished a mix of swords, axes, and spears. A minority carried staves or wands.

[Skeletal Warrior - Level 16 Undead Minion]

[Skeletal Mage - Level 16 Undead Minion]

Health: 100%

Mana: 100/100

Reanimated skeletons are minions controlled by a necromancer or lich. They are mindless, unfeeling creatures who obey their master's commands without question. While generally weak, feeble creatures, their numbers and teamwork can quickly overwhelm the unprepared. Killing their summoner will sever the magic that animates them. Skeletal minions are vulnerable to physical damage.

I made a silent vow to myself. I would keep them all safe. My shield would be the fortress holding back this army. Once a dozen or so were making their way across each bridge, a man stepped through the fog. Disheveled strands of thin, white hair hung loosely off his head. His face was sunken and hollow, akin to the skeletons he commanded. Glowing green eyes identical to his minions stared in our direction as he flaunted a crooked, evil grin. The man was dressed in dark black robes and carried a short staff in one hand. Dark runes glowed along the weapon's length, with a skull ornamenting the top. In his other hand, he gripped a magical tome. I couldn't tell from this distance, but it appeared to be bound in flesh.

[Corpsemaker Rezad - Level 19 Necromancer]

No expanded description appeared under the necromancer, but I found it strange he was not an elite or boss. It seemed if we could kill Rezad, we'd be able to end this assault quickly. Unfortunately, the necromancer never moved close enough to grant us the chance. I shouted what I had learned to the others and braced for the incoming skeletons. I chose my warhammer for this battle to exploit the skeletons' weakness. If killing him would end this battle early, we'd have to try. Both our groups immediately rushed forward, intending to kill Rezad. Unfortunately, he stepped back into the fog before we made it halfway. I suspected it wouldn't be that easy, but it was worth a shot. We steadily retreated until we were back within range of Leo and the archers.

The group on our bridge contained eight warriors and four mages, and the casters were now within range. Arrows and lightning ripped past us at the enemy casters as the skeletal warriors closed in. The undead mages launched fireballs and ice bolts at us, and I answered by using Reflection. My skill flung two spells back at the mages they originated from while the other two were blocked by the Lancers next to me.

I smashed my foot into the ground once the warriors were within range of War Stomp. They slowed considerably as they swung their weapons at us. I easily swept aside three of the sluggish weapons with my shield and responded by activating Frenzied Strikes as my hammer destroyed a skeleton. Then, I unleashed a second swing, crushing another's skull. Teos clamped his powerful jaws around the third and ripped it to the ground. The lion immediately began dismantling the undead.

The Lancers next to me were handling their opponents well but were not as efficient as I was at destroying them. I took a small step forward, brought my weapon down on yet another skull, then swung it in a horizontal arc at one of the enemies fighting the Lancer to my right. My attack crashed into the skeleton and sent it to the ground in pieces. The Lancer only had one skeleton to contend with, so I spun to aid the other shieldmaiden. A fireball exploded into my chest, sending me stumbling backward. More mages had joined the fight, and our ranged attackers were busy aiding the other bridge group.

Teos and the Lancers were more than capable of dealing with the three remaining warriors, so I stored my hammer and summoned my spear. More magical attacks were launched at us. I rushed forward and blocked what I could with my shield. A fireball impacted Teos, and the lion didn't even react. Thank the gods for his fire immunity. An icebolt struck the Lancer to my right, leaving a significant laceration on her side. I threw my spear at the mage's head, its skull shattering from the impact. I instantly recalled the weapon and repeated the attack, targeting the next mage. The Skeletal Mage summoned a magical barrier that deflected my weapon and sent it tumbling away harmlessly. The spear appeared in my hand, and I charged the caster, slamming my shield into its magical boundary. The barrier shattered under my assault, and my shield pulverized the monster upon impact. I spun on the last mage and delivered a quick bash with my shield, sending it toppling off the bridge. I rushed forward toward the Necromancer. He did not retreat into the fog this time. Instead, just before I was close enough to use Shield Charge, he teleported to the other bridge, just out of range. I hurled my spear at him, but a shield of bone materialized in front of him and deflected it. I recalled the spear and tried again, but he used the same spell to defend himself. I had to rush back as new enemies emerged from the fog. There had to be some method to kill the necromancer, but rushing at him from both bridges was not it.

We had cleared the first wave, so I glanced at the other group on my trek back. They were also successful. Leo declared he was healing Lyrei for the second time. I knew the second heal would probably unleash the brutal creatures Fildarae spoke of. The second wave of skeletal minions was smaller than the first, and we quickly dispatched them. Then I noticed the large things shambling toward us. Two advanced across each bridge, accompanied by several skeletons. I shouted a plan to the others, and they agreed we should attempt it if we had the opportunity.

[Vileflesh Amalgamation - Level 19 Undead Elite Minion]

Health: 100%

Mana: 200/200

Vileflesh Amalgamations are created using forbidden rituals, born when a necromancer and a lich combine their powers to fuse multiple corpses into a single dreadful being. These abominations are extremely difficult to kill.

I relayed the description to the others, trying to keep my voice from shaking. There were no weaknesses listed, leaving me with no ideas on the best approach for handling them. These things were genuinely repulsive and made my stomach churn just by looking at them. The gruesome creations were all different, yet they shared a common theme. They were constructed from the body parts of various animals and people. One had a sizeable equine torso, topped with two humanlike heads twisted into agonized expressions. Three long tentacles jutted from its back, each ending in a vicious barb. It shuffled toward us on dozens of insectoid legs, and a tail ending in a pincer flailed around behind it. The second was a bipedal horror that stood at least nine feet tall. Its thin torso was covered in ragged fur, exposing ribs and organs. The creature's head reminded me of an elk, antlers and all, yet I could see it hosted dozens of eyes along the snout. Five long, spindly arms extended nearly to the floor, each ending in a trio of footlong claws. Two arms were located where you'd expect, near the shoulders. The others seemed to be placed erratically. The third jutted from the beast's upper back, and the fourth was just above its left hip. The final arm was positioned just beneath its upper right arm. Its legs seemed to have too many joints, as they bent in multiple different directions as it walked. Finally, it possessed a long reptilian tail tipped with multiple chitinous spiked balls similar to a flail.

I pushed away my abhorrence and readied myself. I wanted to eliminate the skeletons first, then focus on the elites. Jen, Leo, and the shieldmaiden archers dropped many of the skeletal minions from range before unleashing another volley at the other bridge's enemies. However, five still advanced, including a mage. I launched my spear at the mage. The creature did not raise its shield in time, and its skull exploded. Four skeleton warriors and two elites left. The pair of Amalgamations were close now, and the scent, coupled with their appearance, nearly caused me to retch.

"Stick to the plan, guys. I'll distract the elites while you destroy the skeletons. Come to my aid the second the skeletons are down!" I instructed the Shieldmaidens as my spear teleported back into my grip.

I didn't wait for their confirmation before charging the closer elite. The two-headed thing let out an inhuman scream from both mouths. I smashed an armored foot into the ground. War Stomp successfully slowed both elites and three skeletons. It answered by whipping one of its thick tentacles toward me. The attack came quickly, despite the slow effect on the beast. I raised my shield to block, grunting under the force of the blow. The monster lashed out twice more with the powerful appendages. My shield met each one, raising Titan's Favor to seven stacks.

I unleashed a thrust with my spear as I engaged Frenzied Strikes. The blade punctured deep into the creature's torso, yet no blood poured from the wound. I quickly stabbed again, landing another savage wound before hopping backward out of range. The beast showed no sign of injury or pain while continuing to flail its deadly appendages at me. The second Amalgamation was nearly on me, and I sent a quick mental query to Teos. He replied with a wave of triumph, leading me to believe the skeletons had been dealt with. Sure enough, my loyal familiar joined my battle moments later.

He circled the undead construct warily, waiting for an opportunity to strike and launching fireballs at it. The two Lancers engaged the second elite, shields ready and spears raised. I felt slightly relieved now that I only needed to focus on one enemy. Arrows and spells periodically bombarded the creature, yet it never reacted to the damage it suffered. I charged in again, stabbing its chest, then blocking two more powerful strikes from its tentacles. Teos rushed in as it attacked me, severing three of the thing's strange legs before retreating. The elite had over twenty legs per side, so losing three would not unbalance it, but Teos gave me an idea. I sent him quick mental instructions to take out as many legs as he could while it was focused on me. If we could remove enough of them, we might be able to topple it.

I repeated my previous attack, raising my shield to block another tentacle attack that never came. An intense pressure around my lower chest caused my gaze to snap downward. The beast had directed its tail underneath its torso, hiding the attack from my vision and clamping its powerful pincer around me before I could react. The appendage held me in a terribly strong grip, painfully compressing my abdomen. Without my breastplate, the pincer would likely have cut me in half. I stabbed the beast over and over, but the Amalgamation did not release me. A tentacle crashed into my helmet, causing my ears to ring and my vision to blur. I instinctively used Crushing Blow. The half-second stun did not give me enough time to escape the creature's unyielding claw, but it did let me draw in a quick breath. My health was beginning to drop dangerously low, and I could feel the damage the vicious grip was causing to my ribs and organs.

After several agonizing seconds, the pressure on me lessened slightly. I immediately pried the pincers apart and scrambled backward. Leo had paralyzed the grotesque creature just in time. I felt the warmth of healing magic soon after. I was grateful, but now was not the time to thank him. Teos had removed four more legs during the ordeal. I risked a brief look at the Shieldmaidens. They fought viciously against their enemy. I instructed them to keep it distracted without risking their lives. The warriors just had to hold on until I could kill this first fucker.

My enemy approached, its pair of heads staring at me through four apathetic eyes. My hammer replaced the spear in my left hand. The elite's health was only down to 81% despite all the stab wounds, magic attacks, arrows, and missing legs. This thing was seriously resilient. I went back in, smashing my hammer into a leg and crushing it. Green ichor poured from the mangled limb. My shield blocked a retaliatory tentacle, and I sidestepped the snapping pincer that followed, now wise to its stealthy attack. I countered with Devastate aimed at the beast's heads. My hammer crunched into one and then the other, thanks to the bonus attack from Frenzied Strike's new upgrade. Although its heads were visibly smashed, the Amalgamation was unphased. It either had extra vital organs, even brains, hidden inside its grotesque body, or it didn't even need traditional organs to function.

A golden arrow ripped through my enemy, carrying forward and through the other elite on my bridge. Jen's attack actually caused the beasts to stagger. I lunged forward without hesitation, crushing a leg as Teos severed another. It was now unsteady after losing nearly half the legs on its left side. It could still stand, but its movements were clumsy. I blocked a few more of its attacks, then retaliated with Shield Slam. Titan's Favor was now maxed, and the force of my attack knocked the monster off-balance. Teos and I went to work immediately. My spear formed in my hand, and I hacked at its remaining legs. We removed all but three. It was enough. The beast fell over onto its side. The tentacles and tail were both long and flexible, so caution would still be necessary. The creature itself, though, could no longer move.

I rushed to join the Shieldmaidens against the other Amalgamation. They were far enough away that I could ignore the toppled creature for now. However, as I ran to them, the beast's savage tail whipped toward one of the women. Without thinking, I used Aspect of the Protector. Thankfully, it worked on the Shieldmaiden. The pain of five spiked balls smashing into my chest sent me to the ground in agony, and an involuntary scream escaped me. Luckily, warmth quickly filled me as Leo and Jen healed me.

I grunted and stood, checking on the other group's progress. Cass and the others had killed one of the Amalgamations and were already working on the second. One of her lancers was severely wounded, but Leo and Jen were already working on healing her. That knowledge significantly eased my anxiety. I hated not being over there with Cass, but I knew the best plan was to separate us to better defend each bridge. Besides, she was within range of both Intercede and Aspect of the Protector. She promised to call out if she needed me.

I crashed into the Elk-headed thing from behind with my shield, then roared with Provoke. It wheeled around to face me. Numerous black, lifeless eyes stared down at me, and it snarled, revealing a mouth full of curved teeth. It swung one of its long arms at me, and I raised my shield to deflect it. The strength behind the spindly arm was shocking. The attack managed to send me stumbling backward. I vaguely heard Leo announce he was healing the Aspect for the final time over the sounds of battle. I could still see that damn Necromancer watching in the distance. I used War Stomp to slow the Amalgamation, then shouted to Jen and sprinted toward the distant summoner.

"You're every bit as ugly as those fucking things you created!" I taunted with a grin as I approached.

The Necromancer's eyes were fixed on me, a hint of amusement clear on his face. Then, once again, he teleported to the other bridge before I could reach him. I threw my spear, and he used the bone shield spell to block it a second time. I recalled my weapon and hurled it again. The Necromancer laughed as he deflected it.

"You don't learn, do you?" he declared while staring at me.

"Might take me a few attempts, but I eventually get it."

The smug bastard was about to respond when I relaunched my spear, forcing him to cast his bone shield spell to defend himself. A golden arrow tore into his unprotected side, and he collapsed to his knees. Jen didn't hesitate, and an arrow pierced his skull. His face was still displaying a confused expression as he died.

[You have reached Level 23]

I looked back to the other side of the bridge. The Amalgamations were dead. I breathed a sigh of relief. While the Necromancer was focused on me, Jen crept across the other bridge until her teleport placed her within range. As soon as he cast his shield to deflect my spear, she unleashed her golden arrow at him. We could only attempt it if we were confident the others could handle the enemies in our absence. The summoner would apparently retreat into the fog if he saw us all charge at him. When I rushed him alone, however, he just teleported to the other bridge. I couldn't be sure he'd stick around if he noticed one of us from each bridge approaching, so someone would have to sneak across quickly while I distracted him. It could have been a more elegant plan, but it worked.

The three Aspects we encountered on the earlier platforms were waiting near Lyrei when we returned. Boro, the first Aspect we healed, addressed us, "You have done us a great service. Now that all four of us are restored, we can finally eradicate the cause of this infestation. Once Lyrei has recovered and you are all prepared, we will launch our counterattack and eliminate the undead camp."

Brunhilda appeared following a sudden flash of radiant light. All kneeled before the Herald, including the Aspects. I, too, knelt before her. At the very least, I respected the powerful woman.

She smiled, "I have brought you some items to aid you in your final battle. I feel you deserve a bonus. You are one of the few groups to clear that encounter without allowing a single Shieldmaiden to die."

An ornate loot chest materialized in front of each of us. I gently opened the large box in front of me, inspecting its contents. I removed the breastplate, shocked by how heavy the armor was. It was half as thin as my mangled Moonstalker chest armor but weighed considerably more. The matte grey metal it was made from must be seriously dense. The construction was nothing short of masterful. Overlapping armor plates on the sides were fastened to the front and rear plates with golden rivets. It should allow much more mobility than I was used to with the cuirass style I had worn before. I stored the armor and equipped it, replacing my mangled and threadbare Moonstalker breastplate. I immediately felt the difference. I could twist and lean easily in the new armor. A small section of tiny overlapping plates rose to protect my neck without hampering my ability to look around. It did feel substantially heavier than I was used to, but as my strength grew, it would be easy to adapt.

[Herald's Favor]

Epic Colossal Armor - Chest

400 Armor

+25 Strength

+25 Vigor

+25 Endurance

-40 Dexterity (Negated)

"Yours was looking quite worn. You really should take better care of your armor," Brunhilda told me as I continued testing the new breastplate.

I laughed, "Is this allowed? It feels a bit like cheating."

"If you'd prefer the standard items that would have been generated, I will reclaim those," the Herald joked.

"No, no! Forget I said anything. What is this made from? It can't be steel," I said, not hiding the awe in my voice.

The Herald looked at me with a sly grin, "Ask the blacksmith you have befriended. I am certain she will find it interesting." Then, she vanished in another blast of light. She never even gave us a chance to thank her.

Before I could ask the others what they had received from Brunhilda, the fog obscuring the bridges dissipated, and we could finally look into the circular heart of the gardens. We could finally look at the army awaiting us.