Chapter 42: A Serendipitous Encounter ǁ Coral Plate Armor (Wondrous Item, Very Rare, Requires Attunement)
The coral plate armor, despite being crafted from blocks of coral, possessed the lightness and flexibility of finely crafted steel plate armor. Its living nature gives the coral plate a mesmerizing rainbow pattern, adding to its allure.
Once attuned to the coral plate, you gain a significant boost of +20 CONS, enhancing your endurance and vitality.
Wearing the coral plate granted you the extraordinary ability to breathe underwater as effortlessly as breathing air.
Additionally, you acquired a swim speed equivalent to your normal walking speed, moving unhindered through the water.
An exceptional feature of the coral plate is its unique nourishing properties. By immersing yourself in seawater you gain rapid regeneration of 10% HP per second.
The armor also demonstrates its remarkable defensive capabilities by absorbing 50% of all water magic, making it an excellent choice for underwater combat and encounters with water-based enemies.
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As Xin expressed his gratitude for the armor upgrade, Elysia smiled with a proud glint in her eyes, her satisfaction evident.
On the other hand, Captain Scarlet seemed annoyed, gritting her teeth at the turn of events.
"If you’re going to the Reef Raider’s hideout, then I’ll help you. This ship is so slow. It will take you ages before you reach your destination," Elysia offered but smirked at the Captain’s way.
Before Captain Scarlet could retort, Elysia swiftly dived back into the water. The waves around the ship started to churn and surge, carrying the vessel forward at a surprisingly fast pace.
Xin felt a rush of dizziness as the ship glided smoothly across the water, propelled by some unseen force.
Elysia’s doing became evident, and she reappeared beside the ship, her fins gracefully flicking beneath the surface. She swam alongside the vessel, effortlessly guiding it with her powerful strokes, all while maintaining a calm face.
The ship surged forward, cutting through the waves with newfound speed.
Xin marveled at the sight of Elysia’s mastery over the water, the sea responding to her every command. It was like witnessing a dance between the ocean and the sea elf, a mesmerizing spectacle that filled him with awe.
As they journeyed onward, Xin couldn’t help but feel grateful for Elysia’s unexpected assistance. Her presence had turned what could have been a long and tedious voyage into an exhilarating and magical experience.
The wind blew through Xin’s hair, and the salty sea air filled his lungs, making him feel more alive than ever.
Since when was the last time that he had enjoyed the moments and felt alive after he had woken up from a four-year coma?
He might have failed the quest, ’Let’s Go Fishing.’ But he had gained something more in return.
Xin wondered if he had attacked the Ancient White Dragon before, would Elysia have helped them now?
It might not be the case, and in the end, he would have died without encountering Elysia and never would have received the [Coral Plate Armor] from her.
Xin dispersed the thought. It was not like he could defeat that dragon anyway. Maybe that quest wasn’t meant to be completed in the first place.
In the end, everything turned out well.
With Elysia’s help, they swiftly approached the vicinity of the Reef Raider’s hideout. They passed by some Reef Raiders patrollers in the area, but their boat stood no chance against a ravaging pirate ship.
Not to mention Elysia’s mastery of water that blew away anything and everything in their path.
Xin guessed that all his preparation from before had gone to waste. He didn’t need to fight the patrollers; Elysia already had that covered.
As they neared the hideout, Elysia gestured for the ship to slow down. With one final wave, the waves calmed, and the ship glided smoothly to a stop.
"Here we are," Elysia said, her eyes gloated with pride. "Good luck with your quest, Lord Schrodinger. If you need me, just call my name under the sea, and I’ll be right by your side in a snap."
Xin didn’t know how that would work, but he nodded nevertheless.
"I can’t be out from the sea for too long. So until we meet again." With a graceful bow, she dived back into the water, leaving Xin feeling thankful that she wasn’t the clingy type that would constantly pester him about marriage, unlike some other NPCs he had encountered.
Captain Scarlet couldn’t resist making a snide remark, spitting to the side and calling Elysia an "ugly fish."
Xin chose not to comment, disagreeing with the Captain’s harsh assessment. To him, Elysia had a mystical and captivating appearance, resembling a combination of a mermaid and an elf.
But anyway, as the ship anchored near the hideout, Xin focused on devising a plan to approach the area without being spotted by the patrolling Reef Raiders on the shore. The darkness of the night would hopefully provide enough cover for him to swim close unnoticed.
Lost in thought, he was jolted back to reality when he heard someone calling his name.
"Hey, Lord Schrodinger!" Captain Scarlet called, and when he glanced over in her direction, the Captain pointed to a rafter floating on the sea.
Upon closer inspection, Xin noticed a piece of a shattered or blasted boat floating on the water, and to his surprise, Skylark was sitting on top of it.
What was she doing? Xin thought, and then it dawned on him that Skylark must have set off before him from Seagull’s Nest.
"What should we do?" Captain Scarlet asked, observing Skylark, who was waving in their direction.
Skylark was drawing attention to herself by waving her hands and shouting. If she continued to shout, the Reef Riders might hear her.
"Let’s ignore her," Xin said without batting an eyelid.
Skylark must have heard his response even from a distance. Her face twisted in anger, and her arms flailed wildly, propelling the rafters to their ship in a blink of an eye.
Against all odds, Skylark climbed the boat swiftly, like a monkey. Before Xin could react, she was right in front of him, panting and growling in frustration.
"Hey! Lord Schrodinger, how many times do you have to say NO to me?! We’re fellow players here! Can’t you help a lady out?"
Xin was surprised by Skylark’s sudden appearance and couldn’t believe what just happened. He was amazed at how fast she climbed, though, if nothing else.