Chương 53: A Legendary Gift

Ch 53 - A Legendary Gift [95 Chaos consumed.] [Upgrade successful. Shadowsteel Duelist Set has evolved. Shadowsteel Duelist Set → Eclipse Shadowsteel Duelist Set] [Grade: Legendary] [The armor has undergone a complete evolution. Its materials, enchantments, and core properties have been reconstructed beyond the limits of its previous rarity.] [Upon first activation, the set will permanently synchronize with its wearer's physique, allowing every component to reshape itself for a perfect fit.] Jester swallowed hard as he stared at the notification before him.

"Damn… A complete Legendary armor set!" Was he the first player in Eternal Legacy to obtain one? Surely other players already possessed Legendary equipment. A sword, perhaps. A bow. Maybe even individual pieces like a helmet or boots. But this… This was an entire set. A complete Legendary armor set! Now that the upgrade had been completed, every piece of equipment inside the package had become registered as his property. He could inspect each individual component one by one.

Fortunately, another detail immediately caught his attention. The set wasn't bound exclusively to him. It could be equipped either by Jester himself or by someone officially associated with him. That meant he could still hand the entire set over to Lucia. In fact, she was the obvious choice. With her class and exceptional skill as a Sword Saint, Lucia would be able to bring out this armor's full potential far better than Jester ever could.

Just as Jester was about to inspect the individual pieces one by one, another system notification suddenly appeared before him. [Your flesh and steel have become one. The armor no longer fits you, it has become you. This is the privilege of the Legendary, the moment when a weapon stops serving and starts belonging.] [Achievement Unlocked: First Legendary Synchronization] [Achievement Reward Granted.] [Strength +4] [Agility +6] [Magic +2] [Constitution +4] [Stamina +3] [HP +100] [New Passive Skill Acquired: Synchronized Adaptation] [Passive Skill: Synchronized Adaptation] [Legendary Set Bonus Unlocked] [While at least one Legendary-grade item or higher is equipped, gain +5% AGI.] [Weight penalties from Legendary-grade equipment and higher are reduced by 20%.]"Damn... even an achievement?" The achievement rewarded him with additional attributes. The stat increase itself wasn't particularly impressive.

At most, it was equivalent to gaining less than two levels. But that wasn't the real reward. It also granted him a passive skill. A passive that would only activate while he had at least one Legendary-grade item, or higher, equipped. Jester fell silent for a moment. That meant he would still benefit from the passive even while wielding his Divine Scythe, which was clearly ranked above Legendary. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Well..." He couldn't complain. Not even a little. This was an incredible bonus. After checking the achievement he had just unlocked, Jester turned his attention to the newly evolved armor set. He briefly inspected the description and abilities of each individual piece. To his surprise, the set consisted of six pieces instead of the usual five. In addition to the helmet, chest armor, gauntlets, leg armor, and boots, the set also included a cape. It was a far more complete equipment set than Jester had expected.

[Shadowsteel Visage | Legendary | Head] [AGI+30 | MAG+20 | CON+25] [Weight: 240] You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. [Durability: 1500/1500] [Skill: Dusk Perception] [Passive. Increases Evasion by 15% and grants +20% accuracy against targets moving faster than you.] [Skill: Void Mirror] [Active. Reflects 40% of incoming magic damage back to the attacker for 8 seconds. Costs 25% mana.] [...] [Shadowsteel Gauntlets | Legendary | Hands] [STR+25 | AGI+30 | MAG+35] [Weight: 180] [Durability: 1500/1500] [Skill: Arcane Flurry] [Active. Attack 5 times in rapid succession, each hitting a different nearby enemy. Each hit deals 80% physical + 60% magic damage. Costs 10% mana.] [...] [Shadowsteel Legguards | Legendary | Legs] [STR+20 | AGI+50 | CON+25] [Weight: 312] [Durability: 2000/2000] [Skill: Shadowstep Stride] [Passive. Gain +40% Movement Speed. Every 3 seconds, your next movement allows you to pass through enemies without collision.] [...] [Shadowsteel Dancers | Legendary | Feet] [AGI+40 | STA+20] [Weight: 144] [Durability: 1500/1500] [Skill: Dance of Shadows] [Passive. Gain +35% Accuracy and +20% Evasion. Every hit grants a movement speed buff (stacking, max 5 stacks, 4s duration).] [...] [Shadowsteel Corsage | Legendary | Body] [STR+20 | AGI+35 | MAG+25 | CON+50] [Weight: 456] [Durability: 2000/2000] [Skill: Jester's Heartbeat] [Passive. Regenerate 2% HP and 1% Mana every second, doubled when below 50% HP.] [Skill: Dual Severance] [Active. Your next attack hits all enemies in a cone, dealing 150% physical damage and 100% magic damage to each. Resets cooldown if you hit 3+ enemies. Costs 15% mana.] [...] [Shadowsteel Cape | Legendary | Back] [AGI+35 | CON+20] [Weight: 168] [Durability: 1500/1500] [Skill: Jester's Slip] [Passive. Gain +25% Movement Speed and phase through the first attack that hits you each minute. Shadows bend to your will.] [Skill: Shroud of Chaos] [Active. Become partially invisible for 6 seconds, increasing all evasion by 60% and repositioning to a nearby location every 2 seconds.] Jester fell silent as he finished reading the description of every piece in the armor set. At a glance, it was obvious that this equipment had been designed for fighters who relied on agility, speed, and precise swordsmanship rather than overwhelming strength.

The set perfectly combined mobility with offensive power, making it equally effective against a single opponent or multiple enemies at once. The attributes it granted were equally astonishing. Simply equipping the entire set would raise a person's overall combat ability by an incredible margin, almost as though they had gained several levels instantly. It was hardly surprising. After all, this was a Legendary-grade armor set.

Even more remarkable, equipping every piece unlocked an exclusive set skill that could only be activated while the complete set was worn. After finishing his inspection, Jester called for someone to enter. A few moments later, Lucia quietly stepped into the study wearing her usual maid dress. She closed the door behind her before walking toward the desk, where Jester sat leaning comfortably against his chair. She stopped before him, smiled gently, and bowed with flawless etiquette.

"Your Highness," Lucia said softly, "tonight, you accomplished one extraordinary feat after another. Every plan unfolded exactly as you intended, and every obstacle was dealt with beautifully." She lowered her eyes slightly.

"And yet... I wasn't able to contribute to any of it. I wish I could have done more for you." She smiled apologetically.

"Unfortunately, my abilities aren't suited for infiltration or covert operations. My strengths lie in direct combat. If there is ever a battlefield where my sword can serve Your Highness, I hope you'll allow me to stand at the front." Jester shook his head.

"Your time will come, Lucia." His voice remained calm.

"For now, all you need to do is continue sharpening your skills. Keep becoming stronger. When the right moment arrives, I'll have a task that only you can accomplish." Lucia nodded without hesitation.

"I've continued practicing with the sword you gave me whenever I have free time. I won't allow my training to slow down." Jester reached into his inventory before placing the navy-colored metallic cube onto the desk between them.

"I believe this belongs with you." Lucia looked down at the mysterious object.

"This is an armor set designed for a swordsman who fights with speed, precision, and mobility." For the first time that night, surprise appeared in Lucia's eyes. She slowly reached out and rested her fingertips against the surface of the cube. The moment she made contact, silver light flowed across its surface in elegant circular patterns.

"The armor has answered your call," Jester said. Lucia carefully accepted the cube with both hands. A brilliant silver glow suddenly burst from within it. The metallic cube dissolved into countless streams of light that wrapped themselves around her body like ribbons dancing in the air. The light grew brighter. Then, within only a few seconds, the woman standing before Jester was no longer the blonde maid dressed in a simple uniform. Instead, a graceful female knight stood proudly before him.

Her body was protected by a perfectly fitted suit of dark navy armor accented with polished silver. Armored boots extended to just below her knees, while reinforced plates guarded her shoulders, forearms, waist, and thighs without sacrificing mobility. A deep navy cape draped elegantly from her left shoulder, swaying gently behind her. The Legendary armor fit her as though it had been forged for her alone. Lucia took a slow step back and looked down at her hands.

She slowly clenched and unclenched her fingers before shifting her attention to her armored boots. Turning once in place, she examined every part of the suit before glancing over her shoulder at the navy cape flowing gently behind her. A smile gradually spread across her face. She turned toward Jester, who had already walked over to stand before her.

"Your Highness..." Lucia's voice trembled with excitement.

"This armor fits me perfectly. It feels as though it was forged specifically for my body." She lightly flexed her arm, testing the movement.

"It's incredibly light. Every movement feels effortless, yet I can feel an overwhelming strength flowing through it. It's as if the armor itself is supporting every swing of my sword." Her azure eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked down at the Legendary equipment covering her body.

"This is an extraordinary armor set... and it's Legendary." She lowered her head respectfully.

"I swear that I will use every inch of this armor to serve Your Highness. Every battle I fight, every step I take, and every strike of my blade while wearing it will be devoted to fulfilling your will." Just as Jester was quietly admiring how perfectly the Legendary armor suited Lucia, another system notification suddenly appeared before him. [Chaos Bound Synergy Activated.] [Investments made to strengthen your Chaos Bound partners will be rewarded beyond their original value.] [Whenever you grant equipment, upgrades, or permanent enhancements to a Chaos Bound partner, a portion of the Chaos spent will gradually return to you over time.] [The stronger your Chaos Bound partner becomes, the greater the long-term Chaos recovery.]"Now it's giving me cashback?" But the more he read, the more he realized it wasn't something as simple as cashback. This was far better. The system wasn't merely refunding part of what he spent.

It was rewarding investments with returns greater than their original value. Jester couldn't hide the excitement on his face as another series of system notifications appeared before his eyes.