Reborn as the First Boss, Chapter 84

Chapter 84 – Upgrades

As it turned out, we all got some upgrades out of the loot pile, once we took the time to really go through everything we’d gotten from the Shadow Vipers and the kobolds. Zazriel had a good bit of work ahead of her, moving enchantments between pieces of gear. My own set of upgrades were quite nice, I had to admit.

Dark Lady’s Traveling Spellgoggles

Type

Face

Rank

Rare

Price

48500 gp

Weight

0.5 kg

This pair of goggles was designed to be worn by any who combines spells with ranged attacks. When worn over the eyes, the goggles not only provide some protection from environmental effects, but also enhance any ranged attacks or ranged attack spells the wearer uses.

Clear Breath – Creates an invisible bubble of clear, fresh air around the wearer’s head, allowing them to breathe easily, even in poisonous, airless, or underwater environments.

Glareblock – Wearer is immune to the effects of glare, as well as any magical or nonmagical blinding effect.

Piercing Attacks – Ranged Weapon Attacks ignore the target’s worn or natural armor.

Spellpower – Ranged Spell Damage increased by 25%.

The Spellgoggles I’d picked up from the bandits back when ‘Baroness Pureheart’ was cleaning up Mhyrsha’s mess finally saw a decent upgrade, thanks to combining with the [Mask of Clear Breath]. No attribute boosts, but being able to breathe easily, regardless of whether there was air was a nice boon. Immunity to glare or people trying to blind me was a big upgrade from just a percentage reduction in glare effects, and changing the ranged attack bonus from boosting critical damage to just ignoring armor was very nice, indeed.

Mindbreaker’s Nimble Gloves

Type

Hands

Rank

Rare

Price

63000 gp

Weight

0.5 kg

These supple leather gloves have been enchanted to enhance the wearer’s dexterity and improve their ability with mental magics. Perfect for slipping a blade in someone’s side, or their mind.

+60 DEX, +60 CHA

Mindbreaker – Mental magics used by the wearer are 25% more effective. All damaging mental spells have the chance to inflict the Mindbroken effect, leaving them vulnerable to further mental magics.

The [Gloves of Dexterity] I had been wearing were replaced with the [Gloves of Greater Dexterity], combined with the [Staff of Mental Magics]. The result? A nice bump to my DEX and CHA, and a nasty increase to my mental spells. I wasn’t quite sure what the [Mindbroken] effect did, but it certainly sounded like a winner. Assuming that I came across anyone I needed to leave alive, of course.

Demontouched Bracers of Ogre’s Might

Type

Arms

Rank

Rare

Price

25000 gp

Weight

0.5 kg

These well-made leather bracers are enchanted to give the wearer great strength, like the brutish ogres they’re named after, but without the smell. However, Demon’s Blood was used in the tanning process for this item, tainting it in the eyes of some, empowering it for others.

+60 STR

Demonic Fortitude – Add (CON/2) to the wearer’s STR, but they take a 20% penalty to resist all spells cast by demons, and this item is treated as cursed, preventing the wearer from removing it. If the wearer has demonic blood in their veins, add (CON/2) to STR, and add the wearer’s STR when calculating HP. Wearers with demonic blood take no penalty to resist spells cast by demons, and the item is not cursed for them.

Ogre’s Armored Might – This item has been further enchanted to give the wearer additional protection in combat. Add the wearer’s STR to Defense. This bonus is doubled against Ogres and Giants.

This was an interesting one. The [Bracers of Illusory Armor] allowed the wearer to add their CHA to armor, which is why I wanted to add it to the bracers I already had. However, the interaction with the other enchantments already in play made it more ‘ogre’ themed. Still, STR was my second-highest main attribute, after CHA, so I was fairly pleased with the result all the same.

Divine Whore’s Choker of Draconic Spellmight

Type

Throat

Rank

Divine Artifact

Price

622500 gp

Weight

0 kg

A relic from the fall of Lilelin, the previous Succubus Queen, slain by Mighell Brightsoul, this leather choker is marked with the symbols of both Videa, Goddess of Love, and Krenrena, the current Succubus Queen, and has been touched by both faiths. It also increases the potency of the wearer’s spells significantly, and has since been infused with the essence of a Dragon. This item cannot be destroyed by mortal means.

Restricted: Can only be worn by a follower of Videa or Krenrena.

+30 CHA

+2 CHA, +2 CON per Level

Spellmight – When determining damage or effects of the  wearer’s spells, the wearer may double the MP cost of the spell to use their (INT+WIS+CHA) instead of just the attribute listed in the spell’s description.

Videa’s Grace – Counts as a holy symbol for followers of Videa. Wearer is immune to diseases or other such afflictions (even magical ones) brought about through intimate encounters.

Krenrena’s Touch – Counts as a holy symbol for followers of Krenrena. Wearer is immune to the [Seduction] skill, or similar mental effects.

Draconic Essence – Infused with the power of draconic essence, this item allows the wearer to be counted as a Dragon, or their own race, whichever is most beneficial for them. The wearer can use Dragonbreath.

Dragonbreath – Breathe out a damaging attack, affecting all creatures in a 30m line, or a 15m cone. Dragonbreath deals (CHA+CON) damage, and ignores nonmagical defenses, with a 60 second cooldown. The element of the breath is determined by the wearer’s traits. Current elements available: Hellfire, Radiance, Psychic.

Interestingly enough, Zazriel did not need to use her skills to move the enchantment from the [Amulet of Draconic Essence] over to my [Divine Whore’s Choker of Spellmight]. The instant the two items were placed side by side, I heard a goddess’s laugh, and the items merged, upgrading the choker to a Divine Artifact. It gave me a huge boost to my CHA and CON, which I appreciated. The [Dragonbreath] attack was an interesting boon, as well. I could definitely use that.

Koboldskin Belt of Quickened Hands

Type

Waist

Rank

Rare

Price

68000

Weight

0.5 kg

This belt, made from the cured hide of a kobold warrior, has been enchanted with runes of luck and speed. A great boon for one who knows that it is good to be both lucky and good, and believes in shooting first, shooting often, and then shooting some more before asking questions.

+100 DEX, +100 LUCK

Lucky Hits – Your Luck is doubled for determining critical hit chance.

Luck Shield – Subtract your Luck from an attacker’s Luck when determining their critical hit chance against you.

Quick Hands – Your hands move faster than normal while attacking, allowing you to attack twice as fast. This effect stacks with other speed enhancements.

I was retiring the [Deathshroud Belt (Charisma)], because, frankly, I had outgrown it. We were almost certainly going to be Tier 2 after this dungeon, and this was not a dungeon that used undead, or Death spells. The level cap on its protection meant that, by the time I got back to someplace that used Death spells, I’d either be a tier above the casters, and likely able to resist the spell outright, or they would be Tier 2, as well, and the belt wouldn’t work. Much better to get more DEX and Luck, as well as allowing me to shoot even faster.

Pureheart’s Dragonslayer

Type

One-handed Sword

Rank

Rare

Price

32500 gp

Weight

1 kg

Damage

2.5*STR

Critical

x4

Range

n/a

Damage Type

Piercing

This short sword has been crafted by a blacksmith who knows his craft well. It has been enchanted with the essence of monstrous magics, taken to serve the new wielder well.

+2 DEX per level

Piercing – All attacks by this weapon have a (Wielder’s DEX – Defender’s DEX)% chance of finding gaps in the target’s defenses, ignoring any worn armor or magical protections, but not natural defenses. All critical hits deal x4 damage, instead of x2 damage.

Flameblade – This blade burns with its own fire when held. The flames do not harm the wielder or their equipment, but are otherwise normal flames. All attacks deal extra Fire damage equal to 50% of total damage dealt.

Goblin Bane – This weapon has been infused with magics stolen from goblins, and is now quite adept at slaying them in turn. This weapon deals 2x damage to goblins and their evolutions. Blade glows with light equal to a torch when goblins are near.

Dragon’s Bane – This weapon has been infused with essence stolen from dragons, and is now quite adept at slaying them in turn. This weapon deals 2x damage to dragons and their evolutions. Wielder is immune to the breath weapons and [Frightful Presence] of dragons.

Light – Can wield in either hand with little penalty

Finesse – Can use DEX instead of STR for attack and damage, if better.

My spellshooter and Demon’s Due grew with me, but my other weapons did not. That was a problem, since I wasn’t foolish enough to assume I’d never run into anything that couldn’t be handled by shooting it in the face enough times. Sure, most creatures found getting shot in the face to be disadvantageous to their continued existence, but assuming that there wasn’t anything out there that could shrug off magic spells and bullets was a great way to end up dead, and I’d already done that once.

With that in mind, the [Dragonslaying Elven Quickblade] got broken down to enhance my [Pureheart’s Flameblade]. I’d considered transferring the enchantments the other way, but it seemed that the [Elven Quickblade] was some kind of Elven racial weapon, which meant the Voice of the World said you needed pointy ears to wield one. And, well, getting immunity to dragon breath weapons and [Frightful Presence] was a huge boon, considering the boss of the dungeon.

Blood-drinker’s Ghostly Forceblade

Type

Exotic

Rank

Rare

Price

15000 gp

Weight

0 kg

Damage

STR+DEX

Critical

x2

Range

N/A

Damage Type

Force

This blade is a well-made item, forged by a master craftsman. It has been enchanted to be used against (or by) incorporeal creatures. However, its ghostly nature causes it to become weightless.

Exotic Weapon – This weapon is far removed from normal weapons of its type, requiring a separate skill proficiency to use. Nonproficient wielders have a 50% penalty on their attacks, parries, and blocks with this weapon.

Ghostly Weapon – This weapon can be used against incorporeal foes without penalty, and does full damage to them. This weapon can be used by incorporeal creatures without penalty, doing DEX+CHA damage, and dealing full damage to corporeal foes.

Forceblade – This weapon’s blade is made from pure magical force, and ignores defenses against piercing or slashing damage. Ignores 50% of a creature’s Defense. Creatures immune to force damage, or to magic, are immune to this weapon’s damage. This weapon cannot be used in an area under an antimagic field.

Bloodthirsty – This weapon is thirsty for the blood of its wielder’s enemies. It leaves bleeding wounds with every strike, each dealing 1% of the weapon’s base damage every five seconds until the target receives magical healing. The wielder heals damage equal to the bleed damage. Undead, Constructs, Plants, and Oozes are immune to this effect.

The [Bloodthirsty Elven Warblade] got merged with my [Ghostly Forceblade], and I had to admit the resulting [Blood-drinker’s Ghostly Forceblade] was a nasty piece of work. Ignoring most of a creature’s defense, and leaving bleeding wounds with every hit, which would heal me for (STR+DEX)*0.01 every 5 seconds, for each hit? Yeah, against most foes that would be useless. However, eventually I was going to be facing foes I couldn’t just blow up. Bleeding them out over time was a nice option to have, just in case.

Bustier of the Martial Courtesan

Type

Torso

Rank

Rare

Price

13500 gp

Weight

0.5 kg

This bustier is a study in opposites, as its namesake is. Made with leather taken from a lesser succubus’s hide and reinforced with the bones of a lesser angel, this garment is designed to both protect the wearer and entice those who see her, despite the fact that most who follow the Courtesan profession do not care for martial pursuits. It has been further infused with illusion magic, giving the wearer extra protection.

Restricted: Must be worn by a Courtesan.

+200 Armor

+100 CHA

Demon’s Protection – Spells and attacks from Celestial creatures have their effects (including damage) reduced by 20%.

Angel’s Mercy – Spells and attacks from Undead creatures have their effects (including damage) reduced by 20%.

Glamour Aegis – A glamour surrounds the wearer, giving them the power to magically ignore spells. By paying MP equal to twice the spell’s cost, the spell’s effects (including damage) are erased like an illusion being dispelled. Does not affect Area of Effect spells.

Adding the [Illusionist’s Robes of Shadow Armor] to my [Bustier of the Martial Courtesan] should have given me the ability to cast [Shadow Armor], which would reserve a portion of my MP, but give me extra defense and damage reduction equal to the amount reserved. Unfortunately, the Voice of the World evidently decided that was out of line, and instead gave me the interesting ability to selectively ignore spells, so long as they were actively targeting me, and not something like a fireball filling the room. Very useful if I ever met another high-level wizard type, or a Mind Sorceress who wanted to mess with me.

All in all, I was very satisfied with my upgrades, and I made a point of showing Zazriel just how grateful I was. Which led to my discovery that I could still use [Shapeshifting] while taking on one of my beast forms, as Rastran and I doubled up on her. That offered some interesting ideas for our next camp.

But first, it was time to face the Drakes.