Chapter 411: Raw Enhancement Stone
Alice let out a long, weary sigh, her shoulders sagging as she turned away from the group.
"Haaah... I’m tired. I’ll leave the scolding to you all."
She walked toward the chest in the corner of the chamber, her tail dragging behind her with obvious disinterest. The group fell silent, watching her go.
Adam’s internal voice was sharp, uneasy.
’Damn. This is more serious than it looks...’
He cleared his throat, forcing a note of contrition into his voice.
"Look... I’m sorry. Let’s just get out of this dungeon. We can talk more outside."
Isolde let out a slow, measured breath, her eyes fixed on Adam with weary exasperation.
"It’s not that we don’t trust you, Adam. But you can’t just leave us behind like that without warning. We’re a team. Act like it."
Adam raised his hands in surrender, his voice carrying a note of genuine apology.
"Alright, alright. I was wrong. Sorry."
Lilith’s eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a smooth, pointed edge.
"Hmm. That didn’t sound very sincere, Adam."
Adam let out a long, weary sigh.
"Fine. You can punish me later. But right now, let’s just get out of here. This place is starting to feel like a tomb."
Alice’s voice drifted from the corner.
"I found a useless rock in the chest. What a waste of time."
She held up a small, unassuming stone, its surface dull and unremarkable. But as Adam’s system analyzed it, a notification flickered across his vision.
[Raw Enhancement Stone – Legendary]
[Description: A raw stone containing a dense, dormant core of spatial energy—crystallized remnants of a collapsed dimension. When refined by a master craftsman, this stone can be used to enhance existing artifacts or forge new ones with properties related to space and teleportation. Its latent power is unstable, but in the right hands, it could yield extraordinary results.]
Adam’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of interest crossing his face.
"Wait. That’s not useless at all."
Alice’s ears twitched, her voice carrying a note of skeptical curiosity.
"What do you mean?"
Adam stepped closer, his voice carrying a note of genuine interest.
"That stone can be refined. If we find the right craftsman, it could be turned into a real artifact. It’s not a wasted find."
Alice studied the stone in her hand, her expression shifting from disdain to grudging interest.
"...Heee, maybe this dungeon isn’t a complete waste of time after all."
Adam’s lips curved into a faint, relieved smile.
"See? Not a total loss. Now let’s get out of here."
The group began to file out of the chamber, their footsteps echoing through the corridor. As they walked, Isolde’s voice cut through the silence, quiet but pointed.
"If you ever leave us behind like that again, Adam, I’ll make sure you regret it."
Adam’s voice carried a note of genuine contrition.
"Understood."
Ignis, still pouting, muttered under her breath.
"He better mean it."
Adam glanced at Ignis, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, right. Ignis, don’t go to sleep early tonight. I have something to give you."
Ignis’s head snapped toward him, her golden eyes widening with surprise and excitement.
"Ehh?! Really?! What is it?! Is it a gift?!"
Adam’s smile widened, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "You’ll find out tonight. Just wait until then."
Ignis’s pout returned, her flames dimming with impatience. "Why not now?! I don’t want to wait! Tell me now!"
Lilith’s voice drifted over, smooth and curious, her eyes narrowing slightly. "So we’re staying here for the night?"
Adam nodded, his gaze sweeping the group. "Yeah. We’ve been pushing hard. We need to rest before we move on."
Alice stretched her arms above her head, a long, satisfied sigh escaping her lips. Her tail swayed lazily behind her.
"We’ve done a lot today. A break is well deserved."
Isolde’s pale blue eyes studied Alice with quiet assessment.
"It seems you’re satisfied with what you’ve gained from this dungeon."
Alice’s ears twitched, a smug grin spreading across her face. Her dark violet eyes gleamed with competitive fire as she glanced at Lilith.
"Of course, I’ll have a weapon that can rival yours, Lilith."
Lilith’s lips curved into a thin, amused smile, her voice carrying a light, dismissive edge.
"How amusing. You think a small stone can match my Soulreaver?"
Alice’s tail lashed, her voice sharp with defiant confidence.
"This isn’t just a small stone. Just wait—I’ll turn it into an artifact so powerful it’ll make you speechless."
Azrynn stepped closer to Adam, her yellow eyes carrying a note of quiet practicality as she adjusted her quiver.
"Adam, I’m running low on arrows. I need to restock before we continue."
Adam nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Alright. Let’s try stopping by a weapons shop after this."
Isolde shot him a flat, skeptical look. "And where exactly are we going to find a weapons shop in a city that’s been reduced to rubble?"
Adam shrugged, his voice carrying a note of easy optimism. "We won’t know unless we look, right?"
Isolde let out a long, weary sigh, her voice carrying a note of resigned acceptance. "Do what you like. I’m done with this dungeon’s smell—I need a bath."
Ignis’s eyes lit up. "I hope there’s hot water! A nice, warm bath sounds amazing right now!"
Lilith’s crimson eyes gleamed with interest, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across her face. "Hot water does sound lovely. I wouldn’t mind soaking for a while."
Alice’s ears twitched, her voice carrying a note of reluctant agreement. "I’m joining too. After dealing with those disgusting tentacles, I feel like I need to scrub my entire body."
Isolde’s voice carried a note of practicality as she glanced toward the city. "Selena probably has access to a bathhouse. We can ask her when we get back."
The group emerged from the dungeon entrance, blinking against the afternoon light. The old man with the long grey beard was still there, his weathered face creasing into a knowing smile as he watched them step out.
"Hoo... you’re still alive. I was starting to wonder if you’d been swallowed by the dungeon."
Adam’s lips curved into a faint, amused smile. "We’re tougher than we look."
The old man chuckled, his eyes crinkling with approval. "I can see that. Lady Selena will be pleased."
The group made their way through the partially rebuilt streets of Myrta.
Alice stretched her arms above her head, her tail swaying lazily.
"Ugh... I can still smell that dungeon on me."
Lilith’s voice drifted over, smooth and amused.
"Then perhaps you should bathe with some scented oils. It might help mask the scent of tentacles."
Alice shot her a flat, unamused look.
"Not funny."
Adam turned to Azrynn, his voice carrying a note of easy decision. "Alright. You and I will look for a shop. The rest of you can head back first."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked, Azrynn hurrying to catch up behind him.
Ignis’s voice rang out after them, bright and insistent. "Adam! Don’t forget your promise tonight!"
Adam raised a hand in a casual wave without looking back, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Azrynn fell into step beside him, her voice quiet, apologetic. "I’m sorry for troubling you, Adam. You didn’t have to come with me."
Adam shrugged, his tone light. "It’s fine. Your arrows are important, and we need you at full strength. We can’t have you running out in the middle of a fight."
Azrynn’s yellow eyes flickered with gratitude. "Thank you. But... do you think there’s actually a shop open here? The city is still in ruins."
Adam’s gaze swept the street ahead, his voice thoughtful. "We’ll find out soon enough. We just need to look around." He glanced at her. "By the way, do your arrows need anything specific? Special materials? Enchanted tips?"
Azrynn shook her head. "No. Just regular arrows will do for now. I can manage with basic ones."
Adam’s steps slowed as a thought surfaced in his mind. He glanced at Azrynn, his voice carrying a note of recollection.
"You know... I think I know a blacksmith around here. If I remember correctly, her name was... Halt?"
Azrynn’s yellow eyes flickered with surprise. Her voice carried a note of cautious curiosity.
"Is she still alive? After everything that happened to this city?"
Adam’s lips curved into a faint, uncertain smile.
"Maybe. Let’s go check."
They made their way through the rubble-strewn streets, past half-rebuilt structures and scattered debris. Finally, they stopped before a building that looked more intact than most—its walls still standing, though scarred and weathered by the chaos. A faint glow flickered from within, casting weak shadows through the grime-caked windows.
Adam knocked on the door.
A gruff, distinctly female voice called from inside, carrying a note of sharp irritation.
"We’re closed! Come back tomorrow!"
Adam’s voice was calm, carrying a note of easy persistence.
"I’m not here for anything complicated. I just need to buy some arrows. Do you sell them?"
Silence. Then the sound of footsteps, heavy and deliberate, approaching the door. It creaked open a crack, and a single eye peered out through the gap.
The eye widened. Recognition flickered across the weathered face behind the door—a woman with iron-grey hair tied back in a messy bun.
"You—!" The door swung open fully, revealing the stocky, muscular frame of the blacksmith. Her leather apron was scarred and blackened with soot. "Wha... what are YOU doing here?!"
Adam’s lips curved into a faint smile.
"Hello, Halt. Long time no see."
The blacksmith’s eye twitched. Her voice rose, sharp and exasperated.
"MY NAME IS HILT, YOU DEMON!!"