"Hephaestus in a wedding dress… That was seriously powerful."
Even after the goddess had left, Drake was still savoring that fleeting glimpse from earlier.
Her sparkling, fla-like long hair paired with the pure white gown, intertwined with her immaculate divinity, had created a beauty that mortals could never reach.
Perhaps even those gods who had lived for millions or tens of millions of years had never seen Hephaestus like that before.
Soon, she would descend upon the banquet of the gods in that form, like a warrior stepping onto the battlefield.
"Those drama-loving gods had better know what's good for them. At least give a normal title that wouldn't sound out of place in a cutscene!"
....
After seeing Hephaestus off, Drake returned to Terraria and began testing his strength after leveling up.
In order to compare his current state with before the level-up, he deliberately summoned the Desert Scourge again for another challenge.
Boom—
When the Desert Scourge's corpse fell into the desert and kicked up a massive cloud of sand, Drake also finished timing himself.
"Total ti… fifteen minutes and thirty-two seconds."
"A full half hour faster than last ti."
"As expected, leveling up couldn't possibly give no improvent at all."
From Drake's own experience, he felt that when fighting the boss, both his perception and movents had beco sharper and more agile.
His mindset had also changed slightly.
Before, he had fought with the ntality of "challenging a powerful enemy."
Now, it felt more like greeting an old friend.
A bit difficult, but not too much.
He casually opened the Desert Scourge's Treasure Bag and once again obtained a pile of ssy materials.
The coral, starfish, and similar items could be used to make another set of Victide Armor or other tools.
However, the weapon from this bag was different from last ti. This ti, it was a throwing javelin.
[Scourge of the Desert (Green): Deals 12 rogue damage. A stealth strike throws three javelins in succession that burrow underground.]
"It's actually this weapon!"
Looking at the weapon he had just taken out of his inventory, Drake revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.
The javelin was a little over one ter long. Its tip was shaped like the giant jaws of the Desert Scourge.
Its weapon type was very special. It belonged to the "Rogue" class newly added by the Calamity Mod.
This was a class that used throwing weapons as its main offensive thod.
In Terraria, so classes had fierce early-ga offense, while others excelled later.
Rogue belonged to the latter category, becoming extrely powerful in the late ga—provided one collected a full set of class accessories, armor, and other equipnt.
However, even putting class aside, the "Scourge of the Desert" was still a very useful weapon.
After being thrown, it would automatically burrow into the ground and aim at nearby enemies to attack.
In a certain sense, it could replace the bow and beco an early ranged attack thod.
As for "stealth strike," that was one of the Rogue class's special chanics.
When stealth value reached maximum, a stealth strike could be triggered, activating the weapon's special effect.
Drake tried throwing the weapon in his hand. The Scourge of the Desert changed direction midair and rapidly sank into the sand.
In the blink of an eye, it burst out from underground and pierced through a vulture.
After the attack was complete, a javelin appeared out of thin air in Drake's empty hand.
It was the Scourge of the Desert.
"So this is how it returns."
Drake casually killed the startled vulture and fell into thought.
"But as expected, the stealth strike didn't trigger. Looks like I need to wear Rogue-class armor for that."
Before Hardmode, Drake had no plans to change classes.
The Superheated Thermionic Beam Cannon was so useful that he had to keep using it for a while longer.
He could consider switching classes after its strong period passed.
"Oh right. After leveling up, the system seed to show a notification."
Because he had been busy admiring the goddess's appearance earlier, Drake had almost forgotten about it.
Fortunately, the system would not run away. It was not too late to check it now.
[System Notification: Congratulations! Your level has increased to Lv.2!]
[As a reward, the system has unlocked an additional world expansion slot.]
"Oh? There's even a level-up reward. This system is pretty considerate."
After seeing the ssage, Drake was instantly delighted.
The Apocalypse world had already been developed to a decent extent.
The next world slot would not unlock until after defeating Skeletron.
During this period, he had even been thinking about whether he should explore the Dungeon for a while as a transition.
Unexpectedly, the system had considerately delivered him a big gift!
Being able to cross into another world was naturally even better.
That was because every world reached through the system had its own unique characteristics.
For example, the Terraria world had allowed Drake to unlock several extrely practical abilities.
The Apocalypse world was a little worse, only having the trait of periodically triggering "Blood Moon."
He wondered what kind of surprise the new world would bring.
After confirming the transfer to an existing world, a ssage unsurprisingly appeared before Drake's eyes.
[Exploring unknown world. This process will last at least 12 hours.]
"As expected, this ti also requires a 12-hour wait."
Looking at the countdown hanging in his vision, Drake shrugged.
During this ti, he could test the Developnt Ability he had been thinking about constantly—[Stigma Alchemy]!
Because it was a rare ability that had never been seen before, neither the goddess nor Miss Eina could provide help.
Drake simply decided to try it himself and gradually figure out how to use the Developnt Ability.
Besides, this ability…
To be honest, he did not want others to know about it.
Relying on his mories related to "Stigma Alchemists," Drake finally gained a preliminary understanding of how to use the Developnt Ability he had obtained.
"First… decomposition."
Drake casually took out a wooden sword and lightly brushed his hand over the blade.
Imdiately afterward, the wooden sword suddenly ca apart, scattering into pieces of wood.
Those pieces of wood were the materials used to craft the wooden sword.
Drake counted them and found that there were fewer than when it had been crafted, but not by much.
"Although I can decompose finished products back into materials, there's so loss."
"Considering this is originally an irreversible process… this level of loss is acceptable."
"Also, decomposition seems to bring so knowledge with it."
Drake closed his eyes and sensed the small amount of information flowing into his mind.
When performing "decomposition," it felt as if he had personally crafted the wooden sword all over again.
Every detail of the polishing process and every crafting technique seed vivid and clear.
And yet, this was clearly a weapon he had directly synthesized using wood.
"Increases understanding and manipulation of elents and the microscopic world…"
"So that's what it ans."
Drake opened his eyes and carefully savored the sensation.
The craftsmanship of a wooden sword was not much, but this was only the beginning.
After testing "decomposition," only one part remained to be tested.
"Looks like I really do have to search for Sacred Milk (Soma)."
Looking at the ability description written on the record sheet, Drake's expression turned sowhat complicated.
"In any case, I have to try. The first target…"
The mont he realized he needed to obtain "Sacred Milk," the first person who appeared in Drake's mind was, without question… Shizuka Marikawa.
There was no helping it.
Among all the contracted individuals, she possessed the most outstanding vitality (Breast) and nurturing aura.
Even Hestia, the petite goddess famous for her youthful face and generous figure, could not compare.
After all, Hestia's body was simply too small, putting her at a natural disadvantage.
...
Apocalypse World.
"Huh? You need my…"
After hearing Drake's request, Shizuka Marikawa looked troubled and rubbed her cheek with her finger.
"But I've never had a child before. I shouldn't be able to produce anything like that."
Beside her, Rika Minami snickered and rcilessly exposed her best friend's weakness.
"Forget having a child. This girl doesn't even have a boyfriend, even though she's already at this age."
"Y-you don't have one either! Why do you always talk about ?!"
"My job makes it inconvenient to find a man. Use your head a little."
Watching the two close friends tease each other, Drake coughed lightly and said sowhat awkwardly,
"It's fine. Even soone pure can produce Sacred Milk… or rather, the effect might be even better."
Because "Sacred Milk" was not ordinary milk in the literal sense.
It was a manifestation of life energy with sacred significance.
In religious doctrine, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus while remaining pure, then raised him to adulthood…
Perhaps that was where the symbolic aning of "Sacred Milk" ca from.
"Then…"
Since Drake had already said that, Shizuka tilted her head and agreed to cooperate.
"Master, do you want to try?"
"Then I won't hold back."
Perhaps at a ti like this, saying "thanks for the al" would have been more appropriate.
...
When Drake ca back to his senses, he looked up and saw Rika Minami staring at him and Shizuka with a complicated expression.
"Wow… it actually worked. And it seems to have a sweet fragrance too."
"S-stop talking!" Shizuka interrupted, her face completely red. "If you keep saying that, even I'll get curious."
"So the thing you care about most is the taste?!"
That teasing finally helped Drake escape the awkward atmosphere.
Only then did he notice that a buff had appeared on his body.
[Sacred Milk Infusion — Shizuka Marikawa: Enhances the effect of "Stigmata Alchemy," increases healing received by 50%, and grants a 33% chance to create double the amount when crafting healing items. Duration: 30 minutes.]
"So this is what it feels like to receive Sacred Milk…"
Drake reluctantly left Shizuka's warm embrace.
"No wonder the male protagonist of that Stigmata Alchemy story liked it so much… cough."
Setting aside the rather dangerous topic of taste, the buff provided by Sacred Milk was extrely impressive.
The single effect of "increasing healing received by 50%" was already incredible.
The later effect, doubling the production of healing items, was also very useful. It would definitely co in handy when crafting high-grade healing potions.
Not only that, while under the [Sacred Milk Infusion] state, Drake felt that his mind had beco much clearer.
The knowledge he had just obtained was being digested and absorbed at an astonishing speed, as if the processing power of his brain had also increased.
His entire body felt refreshed, almost to the point that he did not want the sensation to end.
"When the thirty-minute duration ends, will I return to my normal state?"
Drake looked at Shizuka with so lingering reluctance.
She instinctively protected herself with both arms and asked hesitantly,
"Um… do you still need more?"
"No."
Drake gave an embarrassed laugh and dismissed the thought.
"I only wanted to ask whether you felt anything unusual after producing Sacred Milk."
"F-felt anything?"
Even soone as slow as Shizuka could not help blushing when faced with such a question.
She answered evasively, "There… there was definitely so feeling. It is a normal physical reaction, after all."
"—I'm asking whether your body feels weaker."
Drake glanced at Rika Minami, who had been secretly laughing the entire ti.
What are you laughing at? You'll be next later!
After all, judging from the na suffix attached to the buff, the effects of Sacred Milk differed depending on the woman.
Since Shizuka's effect was related to healing, Rika Minami's might be related to shooting or long-range damage.
That was only Drake's guess.
If he truly wanted to figure it out… practice was naturally the best way to discover the truth.
"My physical condition… so that's what you ant."
The blonde school doctor let out a small sigh of relief, then carefully sensed her own body. Soon, she frowned.
"I do feel a little tired. It's like I worked overti for several hours in a row."
"But it's not serious. I should recover after getting so extra sleep."
As a dical worker, Shizuka understood her physical condition very well.
Her judgnt should be reliable.
"I see. That's good."
Drake nodded, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell.
At the sa ti, he quietly began thinking.
Since "Sacred Milk" was so important, it seed he would need to contract more candidates qualified to beco "Living Holy Maidens" in the future.
A Living Holy Maiden was another na for a provider of Sacred Milk.
To Drake, contracted individuals who possessed the qualifications of a "Living Holy Maiden" were important even if they had no contract skills.
As for a character who had no contract skill but still possessed great potential, one person imdiately ca to Drake's mind.
Saeko Busujima.
----
The stigmata alchemy ability co from the ani 'Seikon no qwaser' basically the people there power up by sucking breast milk.
Sacred milk = Soma
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