Overgeared: Saharan Successor

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***

Chapter 44: Labyrinth Guardian's Blade 

As the dust and magical residue from the battle settled, Odin finally took a deep breath, feeling the Inferno's Embrace turn off, leaving Terra's Resilience active for a little over a minute. 

The battlefield was silent, and the oppressive tension from the fight melted away, leaving the trio to lick their wounds while regrouping vigilantly.

Elyse hurried toward Odin, her amber eyes wide with concern. She had seen Odin take a massive hit during the final moments of the battle, even coughing blood and walking unstable. 

Her heart was still pounding from the chaos they had just survived. "Odin!" she called out, her voice shaky. "Are you alright?"

Odin was kneeling on the ground, his sword resting heavily by his side as he tried to regain his breath. 

His hands shook from the exertion, and sweat dripped down his face, but his expression was calm and collected. He didn't want to make this incident too big. "Yeah… just catching my breath," he muttered, though his exhaustion was evident.

Elyse reached out, her hand brushing his shoulder gently. "You… you nearly got yourself killed," she scolded lightly, though there was a tremor in her voice. "Master, you should care for yourself and not exert yourself so much."

She knelt beside him, her brows furrowed with worry. "Three boss fights in a day? No one else in this game would even attempt that, you know."

Odin chuckled weakly, his lips curling into a half-smile. "This much is nothing. It seems I have to postpone the Hobgoblin Tribe Raid since my Stamina is down."

Malfurion approached more slowly, his sharp green eyes scanning Odin with the quiet attentiveness of a druid. 

He remained standing, his staff glowing faintly as he surveyed the room. "You took quite a beating back there," he remarked, though his tone always carried the same calm reserve. "Your stamina, what's it at?"

"Forty-three," Odin replied after a long breath, finally standing up with a grunt. His body felt sluggish and heavy, the adrenaline of battle fading, replaced by a dull ache in every muscle. 

"I didn't expect to run this low, and it's just the beginning of my day," he added, his voice tinged with a rare hint of vulnerability.

Malfurion raised a brow. "You're pushing yourself harder than usual, Guildmaster. Maybe a short break wouldn't be the worst idea."

Odin shook his head, waving off the concern. "Can't afford to slow down. I have too many enemies that want to take my Crown," he replied. "Besides, we took down the Guardian, didn't we?"

Elyse smiled softly. The way she was looking at Odin's face was that of admiration and adoration. All those feelings were crossing her face. 

"You really are a stubborn one," she said with a small laugh. "But… I'm glad you're still standing." She rose to her feet and offered him a hand.

He looked at her hand for a brief moment, then at her face, and then, closing his eyes, he later took it, pulling himself upright. "Heh, thanks," he said, his tone lightening slightly.

The three stood together, the remnants of the Guardian of the Labyrinth lying in a molten heap not far from where they gathered. Bits of its shattered core still faintly glowed, and runes once etched into the Guardian's armor were scattered across the stone floor.

His gaze lingered on those piles of metal, then shifted to the loot table he had collected inside his Inventory Bag. His eyes narrowed as he opened his system interface, scanning the rewards from the Guardian of the Labyrinth.

The pile of rewards glimmered like the Ring of Power in the eyes of Gollum, and seeing those items at first glance, Odin couldn't help but let out a small, tired chuckle. 

"Well, look at that. At least some good compensation for a near-death experience."

[Guardian's Mana Orb]

Rating: Epic | Type: Accessory (Magic Core Slot)

Durability: 15/15 

Bonuses: +15% Total Mana Pool | +20% Spell Power | +30% Mana Regeneration | +15% Resistance to Arcane Damage

* Spells consume 5% less mana 

* Casting spells generates Arcane Charges (up to 5), increasing spell power by 2% per charge. 

★ The skill 'Mana Amplifier' has been generated: Active - 500 MP (Cooldown: 5 minutes): Doubles mana regeneration for 15 seconds and increases spell power by 10%.

★ The skill 'Arcane Vortex' has been generated: Active - 850 MP (Cooldown: 5 minutes): Consume all Arcane Charges to release a burst of arcane energy that deals 500% of spell power as damage to nearby enemies.

A swirling orb of mana energy condensed from the core of the Guardian of the Labyrinth. The orb constantly pulses with arcane energy, resonating with the user's magical abilities.

User Restriction: Caster Class - Level 100 or higher.

Weight: 0.1

***

Looking at the preview window from inside his System interface, he could see that this item was similar to Eve's Verdant Spheres, but this one was of a smaller quality. 

No doubt, this piece of accessory would make any mage player mortgage their houses, sell their kidneys or put their annoying sisters into slavery. However, such drops were rare in the Auction House or Black Market precisely because they were priceless.

The Guardian's Mana Orb was beautifully glowing. Its deep purple surface rippled with mana. 'Hmm, I guess this is prio for Elyse? She's always burning through her mana reserves in those long fights.'

He quickly moved on to the next reward, the Ring, to claim them all, or so he would want to believe, but it was only an Epic-rated Ring. 

[Arcane Conduit Ring]

Rating: Epic | Type: Accessory

Durability: 15/15 

Bonuses: +15% Spellcasting Speed | +15% Mana Regeneration | +5% Spell Power | +5% Critical Spell Hit Chance

* Casting consecutive spells within 5 seconds of each other increases their power by 5% (stacks up to 3 times).

* When the user reaches maximum mana, their spell power increases by 15% for 10 seconds. 

★ The skill 'Mana Overflow' has been generated: Active - No MP cost (Cooldown: 30 minutes): Instantly grants full mana, but disables mana regeneration for 30 seconds.

 Crafted by ancient spellcasters to enhance their mastery of the arcane, the Arcane Conduit Ring is said to have drawn its power from ley lines deep within the earth. 

When worn by a skilled mage, the ring transforms the flow of magic into a torrent, fueling rapid and powerful spell casting. Its power is feared for the strain it can place on the wielder's body, but few mages would dare part with such a valuable artifact.

User Restriction: Caster Class - Level 100 or higher.

Weight: 10

***

A silver ring etched with tiny, glowing runes. He could feel the arcane energy resonating within it. 'This one's for Malfurion. Should help with his spellcasting.'

Among the items from the reward pool, he dismissed the magical and crafting materials. It was good to have them, but he wasn't a production class to give them value. 

On the other hand, a particular item drew his attention, an item that he could also use from all the items his bosses had dropped thus far.

Odin picked up the blade, feeling its weight. Its edge gleamed, infused with dormant arcane power.

'Not bad. Not bad at all. Let's see the stat comparison between the Stinger and this Guardian Blade'.

'Stinger has a higher attack speed, but the damage is lacking, similar to its effects, having only one skill imbued. The Guardian Blade offers me far more versatility than Stinger, which catered to my requirements as a Heavy Armored Knight.'

Odin referred to the level 105 sword, called' White Mithril Stinger', that helped him climb the level ladder. It was an Epic Sword that he was preparing as a replacement for the Soulrend Blade that was finally showing signs that it was outclassed by the level of monsters he was fighting.

But now, a new contender on the block was trying to take his eyes.

[Labyrinth Guardian's Blade]

Rating: Epic

Durability: 200/200 | Attack Power: 363~585 | Attack Speed: +5%

* Intelligence +150

* Increased Critical Hit Chance by 5.5%

* Spell Resistance: +10%

★ Each attack has a 10% chance to reduce the target's magic resistance by 5% for 6 seconds (stacks up to 3 times).

★ Each strike echoes, dealing 15% of the attack's damage as arcane damage to all enemies within 5 meters.

★The skill 'Arcane Cleaver' has been generated: Active - 250 MP (Cooldown: 3 minutes): Unleashes an arcane-infused strike (325% weapon damage) that reduces the target's magic resistance by 25% for 15 seconds. 

★The skill 'Blade of Echoes' has been generated: Active - 500 MP (Cooldown: 4 minutes): Releases a shockwave of arcane energy, dealing 450% weapon damage in a frontal cone and stunning enemies for 2 seconds.

This sword was crafted from the remnants of the Labyrinth Guardian. Its arcane power allows the user to channel devastating spells through their strikes, making it a feared weapon among warriors who wish to blend magic and melee combat. 

The blade is a light, long sword. The blade's magic enchantments make each swing feel as light as air to those attuned to its arcane nature.

User Restriction: Level 100 or higher. More than 950 strength. Intermediate Sword Mastery +6

Weight: 880

***

He was impressed with the stats and abilities of the [Labyrinth Guardian's Blade], finding it among the top tier for Swords because it had two Imbued Skills and a couple of passives that would boost his firepower. The main factor that made him choose this sword instead of his 'White Mithril Stinger' was the newly generated skills.

Odin considered the weapon's advantages and what it could offer to his current playstyle. 

The White Mithril Stinger allowed for faster strikes, but it fell behind in damage output. Meanwhile, the Labyrinth Guardian's Blade might be slower, but it made up for its much higher damage potential and two abilities that synergized with his play style.

'Stinger, you served me well in the past when I was an up-and-coming Challenger for the Top Global Knights, which allowed me to enter the Black Knight Order… but it's time for an upgrade,' 

'This blade fits better for what I need right now. It has more DPS and plenty of versatility.'

He glanced one last time at the White Mithril Stinger sitting in his inventory before mentally moving it to the side of his inventory, its role as his primary weapon officially over.

Stepping away from the group momentarily, Odin entered a combat stance. He tightened his grip on the sword's hilt, its gleaming edge ready to move. 

The sword's hilt was wrapped in deep violet leather, its texture firm but comfortable in his grip. 

The crossguard, made of a dark, gleaming metal, seemed to flicker with traces of arcane energy. Intricate patterns of arcane runes were etched into the guard, glowing faintly with each movement as if responding to the flow of magic within Odin himself.

The blade was slightly curved, its surface polished to a mirror-like finish. 

The metal had a silvery sheen, but as Odin adjusted his stance and the sword caught the light, subtle hues of purple and blue shimmered across the blade. 

Arcane symbols ran down the sword's length in spiraling, interconnected patterns, each faintly glowing with a pale, ethereal light. 

Near the base of the blade, just above the crossguard, was an embedded crystal, dark amethyst in color, swirling within it was a vortex of arcane energy. 

This crystal seemed to pulse gently, in time with Odin's heartbeat, as though the blade had attuned itself to his essence. A faint hum emanated from the weapon whenever it was moved. 

Without hesitation, he followed up with a quick diagonal strike, testing the sword's speed. Though it was slightly heavier than the White Mithril Stinger, it wasn't cumbersome. 

Each swing felt empowered by the blade's magic, the arcane energy seemingly lightening the load with every motion. He pivoted sharply, using his momentum to transition into an upward slash, the echo of arcane energy from his strike creating a faint afterimage in the air.

"Not bad, it's quite light for a two-hander. "Odin said, watching the blade shimmer as it came to rest in front of him. 

He executed another swift combo. This time an overhead slash followed by a thrust and finishing with a wide sweep, all while maintaining perfect form. Each movement showcased his impeccable swordsmanship, honed over countless battles. 

Despite his fatigue, the blade felt almost natural in his hands, and with every swing, Odin grew more accustomed to its rhythm.

Satisfied with his brief practice, Odin took a deep breath and sheathed the sword, feeling confident that this new weapon was the right choice for the battles ahead.

With the sword secured, Odin turned his attention to his companions. He glanced at Elyse and Malfurion, who were waiting patiently nearby, though Elyse was still keeping a watchful eye on him after his earlier exhaustion. 

She was pretty cute in those moments, acting like a doting girlfriend, but he was sure to keep his boundaries intact even though it was clear to him that Elyse was infatuated with him. 

Only a dense fuck couldn't pick on her flirting and all the attention she was showering him.

Sorting out one of his priorities, next Odin opened his inventory, scrolling through the loot they had just acquired from the Guardian of the Labyrinth, and without too much drama on his part since he didn't like when the players in his guild would fight tooth and nail for loot, he was the one who distributed the rewards.

Activating the exchange interface, he rewarded each for a job well done. "These should be put to good use by you two."

He handed the Guardian's Mana Orb to Elyse first. The orb pulsated faintly in her hands, its deep purple glow resonating with her magical energy. Elyse's eyes widened in awe as she studied the orb, and the specs of this Item dumbfounded her.

"This... this is incredible," she whispered, her fingers tracing the orb's surface. "A mana boost like this is perfect for long fights. I've never seen something like this before."

Odin smiled, knowing the orb would help her immensely in the high-stakes battles they often faced. "Yeah, figured you could use it. You're always running out of mana before the rest of us."

Elyse chuckled, shaking her head. "Thanks, Master. This is exactly what I needed."

Next, Odin turned to Malfurion and handed him the Arcane Conduit Ring. The druid took the ring, studying the intricate runes etched into its silver band. He slid it onto his finger, and the faint glow of arcane energy coursed through the ring, amplifying his spell power and mana.

"This will help with your casting speed and give you some extra power," 

Malfurion nodded, a rare smile crossing his usually stoic face. "This is perfect for me. I will take it even though I know I don't deserve it for the amount of contribution I've made against the Boss. It was mainly you, Odin."

"Hah, it feels like I will be in your debt forever. Know that I will always appreciate this gesture, Guildmaster."

Odin waved off the formal tone, grinning. "No need for the 'Guildmaster' stuff, Malf. You can be informal with me since you are among those who I can say are my teammates."

Malfurion chuckled, sliding the ring into place. "Old habits, I suppose. Thanks, Odin."