"All players, remove yourselves from the battlefield! Get ready—the SECOND MATCH is about to begin!"
A lively female voice echoed from the holographic screen hovering above the arena.
I lowered my raised hand slowly.
The heat around my spear faded, the flames turning into embers before vanishing entirely.
Above my head, the fiery crown flickered once, then shattered into sparks that dissolved into the air.
The fight was over.
[You received 0 gold coins]
"…Wow," I muttered. "The system really knows how to slap you while you're down."
I let out a bitter sigh, feeling the weight of defeat. From the safe corner of the arena, familiar voices called out.
"Malachi!"
"Over here!"
I looked up to see my teammates waiting, waving eagerly to catch my attention. As I walked toward them,
I started walking toward them.
As I reached them, I lowered my head slightly.
"I'm really sorry, guys," I said quietly. "I didn't make it in time to help you in that rainbow cone."
Dahlia immediately shook her head and gave me a bright smile. "It's okay. At least we had some fun in this match."
Theia gripped her hands nervously, her shoulders tense. "I think it was my fault," she said, her voice tight with guilt.
"I didn't cast a shield right away. Then that serpent guy arrived, attacked us swiftly, and poisoned us both."
Dahlia tapped Theia's shoulder. "Hey, stop blaming yourself."
Theia nodded firmly. "Yeah. We just need to get stronger. I'm sure in the future we'll win matches like this."
I looked at them and felt my chest loosen. A small smile crept onto my face.
"Let's go," I said. "We should head out."
We turned toward the exit gate, but just as we took a few steps, a deep voice called out from behind us.
We turned around.
Clifton appeared with his teammates, walking toward us with steady confidence, his face cold and unreadable.
I stepped forward and extended my hand.
"Congratula—"
He walked past me without even glancing my way. I froze, completely in disbelief.
My hand stayed hanging in the air as he stopped in front of Theia. I had never been ignored like that before in my entire life, and this rattlesnake just walked past me.
"I saw your match earlier. This is your second one, right?" Clifton said calmly. "You fought well. I want to invite you to join our party." He gestured toward his teammates behind him. "You don't seem to have companions yet."
Theia blinked, clearly caught off guard. She gave an awkward smile.
"Hey," I exclaimed, stepping forward. "She's already with us."
Clifton didn't even look at me.
"I don't usually invite random players to my team," he said to Theia. "Only talented ones with unique skills."
"Thanks, but… I'll have to decline your offer," Theia said, smiling softly.
For a moment, Clifton froze, his expression changing. A mischievous, playful smile spread across my face, a satisfying feeling stirring inside.
It felt good being the one he ignored for once. My chest lightened as I watched him change his expression, clearly trying to regain his composure.
Clifton cleared his throat. "If you ever change your mind, just find us."
He turned away and walked toward the exit with his teammates.
I watched them leave, my grin still there. Guess now he knows what it feels like to be ignored.
We walked toward the exit gate and finally stepped out of the arena, the noise and tension of the battle fading behind us.
I glanced at Theia and asked, "Do you really want to join our party? If not, that's fine by me."
She smiled and replied, "You both helped me earlier when my teammates were blaming me. I feel like I should return the favor."
"Nice," I said, grinning. "At least we have a support type in our team now."
"Malachi!" a familiar voice called out ahead of us.
It was Claude, running toward us.
When he reached our side, he wiped sweat from his forehead. "So, how was the 3v3 match? Did you win?"
I shook my head. "No, but at least we have a new companion in our team." I smiled optimistically and nudged Theia with my elbow, pointing at her.
"Welcome aboard, mate!" Claude said, giving a salute.
"Thanks, Captain," Theia replied, giving a small salute as well.
We all laughed as we continued down the road.
"How about we go to the Gear Workshop? I think we can enter now that our levels meet the requirement," Dahlia suggested.
"Great idea," I said.
Claude accidentally pushed me, and Dahlia and I slammed our shoulders together. We stepped back a little to adjust and giving each other an awkward glance.
"We should ride a wagon," I said, pointing to one nearby.
"Now that's a great idea too," Claude said.
We all climbed into the wagon, and a few minutes later, we arrived in front of the shop.
[Gear Workshop Unlocked!]
[You can now enter the shop and make purchases.]
The entrance doors slid open, revealing a vast interior.
The workshop was enormous, filled with rows of weapons, gear, armor sets, enchanted robes, short battle dresses, and various accessories that glimmered with engraved runes.
Holographic displays hovered above some of the advanced gear, showing stats, effects, and compatibility information.
Our eyes widened as we stepped inside.
A woman approached us from behind the counter. She wore a blue uniform, her hair tied neatly back, and a warm, friendly smile on her face.
"Welcome, brave adventurers," she said cheerfully. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. My staff and I will help you find the gear that suits you best."
"We're looking for comfortable gear to wear," I said.
She nodded and waved her hand. Several assistants appeared at once, each holding a small tablet. They quickly split up to assess us individually.
One assistant guided Claude, Dahlia, and Theia toward another section of the workshop.
Another assistant approached me.
She led me to an area filled with garments and light armor. After glancing at her tablet, she scanned my stats and skills, then looked up at me with a thoughtful expression.
I glanced around the section. Robes, armor pieces, and enchanted cloaks were neatly displayed, each faintly glowing with magical energy.
"Malachi," the assistant said politely, "please step forward and select the gear you wish to equip. I've prepared options suited to your fighting style."
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Alright… let's see what catches my eye."
The assistant tapped her tablet.
Four holographic gears appeared in front of me.
[Available Gear Options]
▶ Ember Strike Leather
Tier: ★★★★
Effects:
• Fire Resistance
• Burn Immunity
• Flame Stability
• Heat Tolerance
• Fire Conversion
• Explosion Resistance
Description: Lightweight leather armor reinforced for vital areas. Designed for agile fighters to withstand fire and heat in combat.
---
▶ Blazing Flame Robe
Tier: ★★★★
Effects:
• Fire Resistance
• Burn Immunity
• Heat Tolerance
• Scorch Resistance
• Flame Control
• Blaze Immunity
Description: A durable robe crafted with a fiery design, enhancing control over flames and resisting extreme heat.
---
▶ Cinder Phoenix Cloak
Tier: ★★★★★
Effects:
• Fire Resistance
• Burn Immunity
• Heat Tolerance
• Scorch Resistance
• Thermal Adaptation
Description: A phoenix-themed cloak that radiates like burning embers. Adapts to heat and provides protection against fire and scorching environments.
---
▶ Crimson Inferno Armor
Tier: ★★★★★
Effects:
• Fire Resistance
• Burn Immunity
• Heat Tolerance
• Scorch Tolerance
• Flame Control
• Heat Shock Tolerance
Description: A battle armor providing reliable protection for frontline combatants. Built to withstand extreme heat and fire-based attacks.
---
The assistant gave a small bow and gestured toward the display. "Take your time. Choose what feels right for you. Just a reminder—these effects only apply to your gear and yourself when dealing with environmental hazards. They won't affect damage or status effects caused by other players. If the gear ever gets scratched or damaged, it will automatically repair itself."
My gaze swept across the options, excitement stirring in my chest. Choosing the right gear now could shape every battle ahead.
"I'll take the Blazing Flame Robe," I said, gesturing toward it.
"The Blazing Flame Robe costs 20,000 gold coins," the assistant said with a polite smile.
I blinked in surprise. "That's expensive," I said.
She nodded calmly. "All equipment here is expensive. However, if you don't want to pay with gold coins, you may provide the required materials instead. If you provide the materials, we'll make it for free."
"Oh?" I said, leaning forward. "What materials are needed?"
She swiped her tablet.
A holographic notification appeared in front of me.
[Material Requirements – Blazing Flame Robe]
• Large Feather ×1
• Fire Essence ×3
• Silk ×5
• Leather (High Grade) ×4
"You can get Silk and Leather at the Market, but the other materials can only be obtained by defeating monsters," she explained, her finger tracing the holographic list as she spoke.
"The Large Feather comes from flying-type monsters, usually found in open skies or high cliffs, while the Fire Essence is dropped by fire-type monsters, often near volcanoes or areas with high heat," she added.
We left the shop empty-handed since our gold coins weren't enough to make any purchases and spent the rest of the day resting at the inn.