After finishing their earlier shopping, Felix and Diana ventured further into the market area.
The town buzzed with energy as other top-ranked chosen ones explored stores tailored to their unique races. Among the establishnts, a massive building with a crimson phoenix signboard stood out from the rest.
Felix's eyes lingered on the phoenix pavilion for a mont, observing the steady stream of top rankers. He glanced around the waiting plaza, half-expecting so of the rankers to loiter in frustration due to a lack of soul coins. To his surprise, the area was deserted. No one seed lost or idle.
"They're quick to adapt," Felix was impressed by their composure.
"What do you an?" Diana tilted her head, confused.
"Nothing important. Let's hit the blacksmith next. We need so new gear."
Diana pursed her lips, skeptical. "Can't we just spend your lifespan buying hi-tech equipnt from your system store? Why waste our soul coins on tools?"
Felix shrugged. "Who knows? The local blacksmith might have sothing even my system store can't provide. It doesn't hurt to compare before making a decision."
"…Fine."
Since the phoenix pavilion was crowded, Felix led Diana to a nearby blacksmith shop with a less intimidating appearance.
The storefront was modest, constructed of sturdy oak planks, and the lingering scent of molten tal filled the air. Inside, they found a white-haired dwarf seated behind a heavy wooden counter, puffing on a thick pipe.
The dwarf barely looked up when Felix and Diana approached. He grumbled, "What do ya need?"
Felix scanned the shop, inspecting the disorganized yet intriguing displays. Barrels of weapons lined the room, containing random swords, spears, and axes. Nearby, stacks of full-plate armor and miscellaneous equipnt lay in cluttered piles, each with price tags dangling. It gave the impression of discarded scraps, yet Felix's system failed to identify a single item.
Turning back to the dwarf, Felix decided to trust the craftsman's judgnt. "I'm looking for protective gear for myself and my wife. Sothing sturdy for combat, especially against flying enemies."
The dwarf shot back, "What's the purpose of the defensive gears? Anti-spells? High durability? High defensive value? Raw stats? Who or what are you planning on fighting? Cultivators? Mages? Monsters? If the answer is monsters, what kind of monsters?"
Felix was taken aback that the dwarf needed so much information for a recomndation. But thinking back to the giant ant world, Felix told him what he had fought.
"Sothing durable for flight combat against giant ants that can spit acid. Oh, we might end up fighting a massive centipede too."
At the ntion of centipedes, the dwarf's bushy white eyebrows lifted slightly. "Karma Centipedes? Demon God Mao Miaomiao's pets?"
"Yeah, sothing like that."
The dwarf exhaled a plu of smoke and set his gadget aside. Without another word, he disappeared into the storeroom and returned a mont later carrying two full-body black leather suits. At first glance, the suits seed ridiculously oversized and poorly designed. Diana's suit appeared to have been made for a human woman rather than a lamia with a serpentine lower body.
As if sensing their doubts, the dwarf smirked, "These ain't ordinary leathers. They adjust automatically to fit the wearer's size and shape. They're designed to counter Karma Centipedes' body-possession abilities. Wear these, and you'll be fine even if a swarm of a million cos crawling. Whether you can kill them or not, though… that's up to you."
Felix's brow raised in admiration. The craftsmanship was far better than he expected.
Diana slithered closer and raised the tight suit, admiring the glossiness and its color, "Can I try it on?"
The dwarf scoffed, "This ain't a clothing boutique. You wanna try? Buy it."
Diana flinched at the rude reply, having the urge to explode. Felix quickly intervened, giving her a quick squeeze to lighten the mood. The snake wife flinched and stopped fuming. She held Felix's hand, which touched her chest, encouraging him to squeeze harder.
As the wife managed to calm down, Felix leaned over to check the price tags and frowned.
"500 soul coins… per suit?"
It wasn't cheap. They could afford them, but their savings might hit rock bottom.
He turned to Diana, trying to reason with her. "Let's get one for you first. I'll manage with what I have for now. We can co back later for mine."
Diana had another idea, "Why not just buy nothing? This is too expensive."
Felix sighed, "We don't know the full chanics of this town or its stores yet. What if the shopkeepers have hidden rules or limited items that'll disappear forever if we don't buy them now? Right, Jessica?"
Jessica chid in through the system.
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