Daniel leaned back in his chair, savoring the rich aroma of real food, a welco change from ration paste and the sharp taste of monster blood.
He considered Director Thorne’s offer, or rather, the offer from the "influential sponsors."
The rare materials and training modules were nice, certainly. But the B-Grade Weapon Exchange Coupon was the real prize.
Not for himself, his A-Grade Kinetic Void Gauntlets and A-Grade Phantom Edge Striking Wraps were already pushing the boundaries of recruit-level absurdity.
His C-Grade bow was functional for delivering specialized arrows, and his S-Grade Solar Flare Fist Art was his primary "weapon."
But Lia... Lia, the A-Grade healer with the [Lifeweave Affinity], was an invaluable asset.
Keeping her alive and effective was paramount to any team’s long-term success, especially in the lethal environnt of Phase Three’s Taiji Basin.
She was likely still equipped with standard-issue F-Grade defensive gear, if that.
A proper B-Grade weapon, especially one suited to a support or defensive role, would be a ga-changer for her.
And with his [Soul Assimilation], he could almost certainly upgrade it to A-Grade, making her even more formidable.
"The B-Grade Weapon Coupon," Daniel said, tapping the datapad display. "That’s... persuasive."
He glanced at Lia, who t his gaze with a calm, knowing smile. She understood his unspoken intention.
Then he looked at Ayra, who was currently engaged in a silent, intense battle with a rather large steak, a battle the steak was decisively losing.
"A team of three is mandatory for Phase Three, Director. Lia has already agreed to join ."
This was a slight exaggeration; they hadn’t formally agreed, but their earlier conversation and mutual respect hinted at a strong possibility.
"If Aspirant Sand is willing to tolerate my unconventional thods and agrees not to alter any more bathrooms or training facilities, then a temporary alliance for Phase Three could prove mutually beneficial."
Ayra paused mid-chew, a piece of steak halfway to her mouth.
She glared at him, a flicker of her earlier fury returning at the ntion of the bathroom, quickly replaced by a calculating glint in her eyes.
She knew Daniel was strong, ridiculously so. Partnering with him, despite his infuriatingly calm attitude, seed like a sound tactical move.
Plus, the thought of regular, high-intensity sparring against soone who could actually push her S-Grade Berserker talent was undeniably appealing.
She swallowed her steak with a decisive gulp.
"Fine," she grunted. "But if you so much as look at my towel again, Vance, I’ll use your spine as a toothpick.
And the first sign of any ’unconventional thods’ involving soul-stealing or eldritch abominations, I’m reporting you to the Interdinsional Ethics Committee."
Daniel chuckled. "Wouldn’t dream of it.
Director Thorne let out a sigh so profound it seed to carry the weight of the entire Academy’s budget.
"Excellent!" he exclaid, perhaps a little too enthusiastically.
"A truly... formidable... trio! The sponsors will be delighted!
The White Lotus Clan will be... placated!
And hopefully," he muttered under his breath, "my blood pressure dication can be downgraded."
He quickly finalized the resource transfer to Daniel’s Nexus Interface, the B-Grade Weapon Coupon now officially his.
The rest of the al proceeded with a strange, almost strange dynamic.
Ayra developed an appetite that consud enough food to sustain a small Gravehound pack for a week.
Daniel, his own tabolism supercharged by his high attributes and recent body tempering, wasn’t far behind.
Lia, in contrast, ate with delicate precision, occasionally making wry comnts that had both Ayra and Daniel choking on their food with surprised laughter.
"Alright," Daniel said, finally pushing his plate away, feeling pleasantly full for the first ti since entering the Stargate assessnt.
"We should probably use the remaining ti to prepare.
Lia, you and I will head to the Exchange Post.
Ayra, you probably want to... hit sothing? Or ditate? Or whatever S-Grade Berserkers do in their downti."
Ayra grunted, wiping her mouth. "I’m going to find the heaviest weights on this platform and see if I can bend them into interesting new shapes.
"Don’t wait up." With that, she stood, nodded briefly, and left the dining room.
"She’s... intense," Lia comnted, a small smile playing on her lips.
"You have no idea," Daniel sighed. "Co on, let’s get you a weapon."
At the Exchange Post, Daniel’s Priority Access Card once again whisked them past the queues.
He imdiately accessed the B-Grade weapon listings. He wasn’t looking for raw power for Lia, but utility, defense, and sothing that would synergize with her healing.
His eyes scanned past heavy axes, energy rifles, and vibro-blades.
Then he saw it, nestled amongst more conventional armants, an elegant, almost understated weapon:
[Item: Verdant Lifespring Staff-Sword]
Grade: B
Effects: Dual Form (Staff/Rapier). Attack 150 (Rapier form), Spell Effect 30%, Healing Potency 25%, Mana Regeneration 10%.
Special Effect: [Lifewell Pulse] - When channeling a healing spell through the staff, can trigger an AOE burst of soothing energy, cleansing minor negative status effects, from allies within a 5-ter radius.
Uses: 5/5. Cooldown: 5 hours per charge.
Description: Crafted from living Verdant Wood infused with a purified Lifestone core. Resonates strongly with healing and nature-based energies.
Daniel’s eyes lit up. This was perfect. The dual form offered versatility. The attack power was decent enough for self-defense.
But the boosts to spell effect, healing potency, and mana regeneration were exactly what Lia needed.
And the [Lifewell Pulse] AOE cleanse? Invaluable against the debilitating effects many Verge creatures and hostile Talents could inflict.
It was tailor-made for an A-Grade healer.
"This one," Daniel selected, transferring the B-Grade coupon. The staff-sword materialized, a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
It was about Lia’s height, fashioned from smooth, pale green wood that seed to vibrate with a gentle energy.
Asingle luminous green crystal was embedded in the poml.
With a twist, the staff’s head retracted, unveiling a slender, sharp rapier blade crafted from the sa crystalline material.
It felt light, perfectly balanced, and radiated a soothing warmth.
He handed it to Lia. "This belongs to you now. Use it well."
Lia took the Verdant Lifespring Staff-Sword, her usually calm grey eyes widening slightly as she felt the potent life energy emanating from it.
She knew B-Grade weapons were incredibly rare and valuable, often costing hundreds of thousands of Federation credits or years of dedicated service to acquire.
"Daniel... this is... too much," she breathed, tracing the intricate carvings on the living wood. "This is an extraordinary gift."
"Think of it as an investnt in keeping our team’s primary healer alive and kicking," Daniel said with a smile.
"Besides," he leaned in subtly, "I have a feeling my talent might be able to make it even better."
He winked, already anticipating the satisfying hum of [Soul Assimilation] elevating another piece of powerful gear to new heights.
Lia looked at him, then at the staff-sword, a new level of understanding and gratitude dawning in her eyes.
"Thank you, Daniel," she said softly, her voice sincere. "I will not let you down.
I will ensure our team remains... resilient."
She gripped the staff-sword, its gentle green light reflecting in her determined gaze.
With this weapon, and with allies like Daniel and even the terrifying Ayra, Phase Three suddenly felt a little less challenging, and a lot more promising.
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