Essim and Aisha spent the next twenty minutes exploring the market with the focus
of bargain hunters at a closing sale. Their objective was clear: acquire equipment,
boost their attributes, and prepare for whatever the next island held. With five
hundred vials of water and a market where water was liquid gold, Essim's
purchasing power was extraordinary. He started by converting water to Energy
Crystals. The exchange rate was simple: ten centilitres of water for one Energy
Crystal. A hundred vials translated to a hundred crystals—and he still had four
hundred in reserve. Essim browsed the equipment section methodically, filtering by
price and attribute bonuses. His first purchase was an Evo Bow, a sleek green
longbow with feathered tips and a firm, elastic string. Its explosive arrows would be
devastating against groups of weaker enemies. (Evo Bow) Strength: +10 (Explosive
Arrow) Arrows explode on impact, dealing +30 damage.
Cost: 20 Energy Crystals He followed it with a Flowing Cloak, Wind Boots, Glass
Gloves, and a Courage Headband. Each piece was the best available at this early
stage— no one with better gear was foolish enough to sell it yet. (Flowing Cloak) —
Resilience +8, Agility +2 (Wind Boots) — Agility +9, Resilience +2 (Glass Gloves) —
Strength +6, Resilience +5 (Courage Headband) — Resilience +4, Intelligence +1
Fully equipped, Essim checked his updated status.
[STATUS]
Name: Essim Level: 1 (1%) Attributes: Strength 19 | Agility 14 | Intelligence 2 |
Resilience 23 Class: Beginner Equipment: Evo Bow, Wind Boots, Flowing Cloak,
Glass Gloves, Courage Headband Talent: Infinity Duplicate (EX) Seventy-two Energy
Crystals spent. A solid investment.
"Brother, look!" Aisha had been shopping too. She stood before him now with a
mage's staff in one hand and a grin on her face, her equipment glowing faintly with
residual energy.
[STATUS]
Name: Cute Cat Level: 1 (1%) Attributes: Strength 8 | Agility 9 | Intelligence 21 |
Resilience 14 Class: Beginner Equipment: Guine's Staff, Soft Boots, Midnight Cloak,
Smart Gloves, Forgetful Cap Her Intelligence stat was the standout—more than
double Essim's. The staff she'd chosen clearly favoured spellcasting. Though the
system had declared her without innate talent, it seemed she had an affinity for
magic through equipment and raw aptitude."Not bad," Essim said, nodding approvingly. "You almost look like—" He stopped
himself a half-second too late.
"Like what?" Aisha's eyes narrowed.
"Like… an incredibly capable and mature young woman?" he tried, grinning weakly.
"That's not what you were going to say." She raised her staff. A point of white light
ignited at its tip.
"Wait—Aisha—" An icicle the size of a pencil shot past his ear.
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Stop!" He dodged a second icicle and then a third,
scrambling backwards across the grass while Aisha advanced, her expression caught
between genuine annoyance and barely suppressed amusement.
"Aisha, have mercy—" She relented, lowering the staff with a theatrical sigh. She
flicked her long hair back with one hand.
"You're lucky I like you," she said flatly. Essim approached cautiously, like a man
offering food to a stray cat that had already bitten him once.
"You're incredible," he said, choosing his words with exquisite care.
"That magic—I had no idea the staff could do that." He meant it, too. Aisha's magic
hadn't come from a talent—it came from the staff's innate properties and her own
Intelligence stat. Equipment- based spellcasting. It was a discovery worth noting: in
this world, even those without system-granted talents could find power through the
right tools.
"Enough flattery," Aisha said, though a small smile betrayed her. She turned toward
the island's edge, where the clouds had begun to thin.
"Look. The next island is close." Essim followed her gaze. Through the clearing mist,
he could see the dark outline of another landmass, larger than the last.
"Alright then. Let's see what's waiting for us." He raised his right hand, hoping for a
rallying cheer. Aisha walked past him without a word, her cloak billowing behind her.
Essim lowered his hand, sighed, and followed.