The 72 Elite Baltzer shadows erupted from Lucian's tattooed skin, not as fully ford figures, but as swirling streams of crimson reptilian energy. They converged violently onto the kneeling Knight Baltzer.
"ROOOAR!"
The original Baltzer roared, its form convulsing as the massive influx of shadow essence poured into it.
Its body began to glow intensely, shifting, growing larger, scales hardening, muscles bulging beneath. The crimson aura intensified, swirling with sparks of innate lightning energy drawn from the fused essences.
The Knight-rank insignia in its status flickered rapidly, shattering and reforming into sothing grander.
[Rank Evolution Successful!]
[Blood Shadow Rank Increased: Knight → King!]
The light subsided, revealing the new Baltzer. He stood taller, nearly three ters now, scales shimring like dark jade infused with blood.
The lightning sparks around him were more pronounced, crackling audibly. His eyes glowed with a sharp, cunning intelligence far exceeding his previous state. He radiated an aura of command and ancient power.
[Na]: [King Baltzer]
[Rank]: [King] ⟨Soldier → Elite → Knight → King → Overlord⟩
[Loyalty]: [Absolute] ☩ [Bound by Blood]
[Abilities]:
▸ [Inheritance of the Fallen King] – Retains and enhances all strength, skills, combat instincts, and tactical knowledge from past life and fused essences. Possesses innate understanding of lightning and earth manipulation.
▸ [Bloodbound Sovereignty] – As a King-Rank Blood Shadow, grows stronger by feeding on blood, souls, and ambient mana. Can exert a minor aura of command over lesser reptilian/elental beings.
▸ [Undying Servitude] – Will fight relentlessly until utterly destroyed. Regeneration significantly enhanced.
▸ [Lightning Rod] (New) – Can passively absorb ambient electrical energy to empower attacks or discharge it in focused bursts. Increased resistance to lightning damage.
▸ [Stoneheart Resilience] (New) – Body possesses enhanced toughness derived from fused earth affinities. Increased physical damage resistance and minor earth manipulation (e.g., causing localized tremors).
▸ [Royal Decree] (New - Locked until Overlord Rank) – Potential for a powerful command-type ability.
King Baltzer dropped to one knee, the ground cracking slightly under his weight. "Master," he hissed, his voice deeper, carrying more weight. The previous hint of shiftiness was replaced by dignified subservience mixed with raw power.
Lucian nodded, satisfied. This was a significant upgrade.
Now, for the loot. Over 70 runs ant over 70 Bronze or Silver chests, plus the initial Diamond and subsequent Legendary chests from record breaks.
He hadn't ticulously checked everything, focusing only on quick rerolls of minor items. He now dumped the entire accumulated pile into the swamp clearing.
It was a mountain of items. Mostly common and uncommon gear – crude spears, dented shields, leather scraps – along with piles of basic materials, low-grade potions, and a decent hoard of Relic Gold Coins. He started sorting, setting aside anything Rare or above.
Among the pile, his eyes caught sothing – a single gauntlet, different from the usual crude lizardman gear.
It was made of interlocking green scales that shimred faintly, with obsidian claws tipping the fingers. It felt... potent.
[Item Acquired: Gauntlet of the Primal Mire]
[Grade]: ⟨Legendary⟩
[Type]: Gauntlet (Left Hand)
[Requirents]: Level 50
[Stats]: 30 Physique, 25 Strength, 15% Poison Resistance
[Effect]: Attacks with this gauntlet have a 10% chance to inflict [Swamp Toxin] (Slows and deals minor damage over ti).
[Set Item]: Lizard King's Regalia (1/12)
Lucian's eyes widened. A Legendary item from a Floor 1 repeat clear? And a set item? He hadn't gotten anything this good from the repeat chests before. It must have been from one of the record-breaking Legendary chests he hadn't paid close attention to.
A thought suddenly struck him. What if... what if every floor boss had a potential Legendary set associated with them? Baltzer, the Attack Titan, Kyra... Could he grind each floor enough tis to collect a full set? The potential power increase was staggering. A full Legendary set often surpassed Mythic individual pieces!
Invigorated by this realization, Lucian looked at the mountain of junk from 70 clears. Spears, helts, crude chestplates, boots, belts... enough to equip a small army of Lizardn.
"This is going to take a while," he muttered, but his eyes glead. He still had Reroll charges left, but that wasn't nearly enough. He'd have to rely on sheer volu and luck.
He started the process, focusing only on the equipnt pieces, ignoring the materials for now. He'd pick up an Uncommon Lizardman Spear. "Reroll using Relic Coins." The system allowed using currency for basic rerolls on low-grade items, though the chances were abysmal.
[Reroll Attempt (100 Relic Coins): Failed.] The spear remained unchanged. He tossed it aside.
He picked up Common Leather Boots. "Reroll." [Reroll Attempt (50 Relic Coins): Failed.]
He picked up a Rare Dented Shield. "Reroll." [Reroll Attempt (500 Relic Coins): Success! Item Upgraded!]
[New Item: Reinforced Lizard Scale Shield (Rare )] Better, but not what he needed.
He continued systematically. Most attempts failed or resulted in minor upgrades within the sa rarity.
It was tedious, costly in Relic Coins, but Lucian was determined. Hours passed. The pile slowly shrank as items were rerolled into slightly better junk or remained the sa.
Then, finally, a breakthrough. Rerolling a Rare Scaled Helm:
[Reroll Attempt (500 Relic Coins): Critical Success! (High Luck Trigger)]
[Item Upgraded: Helm of the Swamp King (Legendary)]
[Set Item]: Lizard King's Regalia (2/12)
"Yes!" Lucian pumped his fist. It was possible!
He redoubled his efforts. More hours bled away. He burned through tens of thousands of Relic Coins. Failures mounted. But occasionally, miraculously, another piece would hit the jackpot.
A pair of crude boots beca [Greaves of the Mire Walker (Legendary - Set 3/12)].
A flimsy chest covering beca [Cuirass of the Elder Lizard (Legendary - Set 4/12)].
He even used his last two Reroll charges on promising Epic-potential items he got from coin rerolls.
One failed spectacularly, turning an Epic sword back into Common scrap. The other hit gold.
[Reroll Activated: 1 Use Consud | Remaining Rerolls: 0]
[Target: Resonating Thunderstone Hamr (Epic)]
[Rerolling...] 3100x!
[Congratulations! 3100x Reroll triggered!]
[Resonating Thunderstone Hamr (Epic) has been upgraded to King's Judgent (Legendary - Set Weapon)!]
[Set Item]: Lizard King's Regalia (11/12)
It was a massive, two-handed warhamr, its head shaped like a stylized lizard skull carved from obsidian, crackling violently with barely contained blue lightning.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, rerolling a simple leather belt rewarded him with the final piece.
[Reroll Attempt (100 Relic Coins): Critical Success!]
[Item Upgraded: Belt of the Primordial Clutch (Legendary - Set 12/12)]
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