Chapter 51

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 51

Chapter Title: Growth

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Isteir summoned her Valkyries the moment she woke up in the morning.

She'd been too grateful to me yesterday and jumped straight into sex without doing it, but seeing her pull right away upon waking up, she must have been dying to try.

I sat beside Isteir and watched her pulls.

I was curious just how lucky someone else might be.

I'd basically drawn two SSRs in 150 pulls, but Isteir only had five chances.

Amazingly, she'd pulled an SR yesterday in one of them, and I wondered if she could do it again.

She might even get an SSR.

Since my ally getting stronger would benefit me too, I checked her summoning window with those expectations.

Unfortunately, no SSR this time.

Still, with two A-ranks out of the remaining four pulls, Isteir's expression looked much brighter.

Compared to me, that was insanely good luck. Or was it talent?

"Congrats. One step closer now, huh?"

"Eeeek... Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?"

Isteir looked like she was about to burst into tears any second.

"Just stay on my side forever, like you promised yesterday."

"Of course!"

Isteir gazed at me with a determined expression, clenching her fists tight. She was so cute that I couldn't help but stroke her head.

She leaned into me, rubbing against my hand like she wanted more.

She looked like a cat, but acted like a dog.

Of course, only with me.

We ordered room service for breakfast, ate, and then parted ways again to keep growing stronger.

My destination was, as always, the Ashen Cemetery.

I'd suggested partying up with Isteir, but she said she'd do it after leveling a bit more.

I realized she was being considerate of me.

This world had a party system too, allowing up to three people to form a party.

You couldn't summon overlapping Valkyries in a party.

Isteir had Holla and Garujan, who I also had, so only one pilot could summon either.

The party system was mostly used for tackling tough dungeons. It boosted survival in dangerous areas by combining forces.

But it wasn't recommended for general field hunting.

Normally, lower-level ones leech exp in parties, but here it was the opposite.

Lower-level Valkyries got less exp. Probably to prevent busing, but it meant levels needed to be similar for balanced exp gain.

My Valkyries were holding steady between levels 24 and 25, while Isteir's were in the high 30s.

If we partied, I'd get less exp.

That's why Isteir deliberately avoided partying with me.

It was win-win. The Ashen Cemetery was a step below for her now. With her new Valkyrie, she could level up higher ones in better spots.

I took the Valkyrie carriage straight to the Ashen Cemetery and summoned Lije, Sua, Tiny, Garujan, Arin, and Nereysia.

I needed to focus on leveling the new ones.

For 6-man battles ahead, I had to raise them evenly anyway.

I currently had 11 main Valkyries in use.

Lije and Arin still needed to stay hidden, so I fought with my other nine.

But I couldn't neglect Lije and Arin. With them, I could hunt a tier or two above my level.

In parties, exp scaled by Valkyrie level, but a pilot's own summons got full exp regardless of level gaps.

So, the plan was to grow Lije and Arin, then use them to boost the other four.

For that, Arin needed to catch up to the current Valkyries' levels first.

I'd unsummon others as needed, but keep Arin out constantly for exp.

With Lije up front and Arin behind holding the line, it was rock-solid.

Arin's current level was 12, but her firepower had long surpassed Garujan's. The gap between A and SSR was huge.

Even comparing the two now, the stat gap was clear.

As levels rose, their ability difference would only widen further.

That's why pulling high-rank Valkyries was crucial.

On top of that, Sua was still just B-rank, so she needed awakening ASAP.

Sua wasn't shining much in the Ashen Cemetery.

With Lije there, she wasn't dying, but her attacks barely landed here.

Sua at level 26 had lower defense and HP than Arin at 12. Attack power went without saying.

A warrior-type with less defense than a ranged dealer.

She out-defensed Garujan or Holla, but her attack was pitifully low.

I still had about 1.3 million diamonds left, so no need to panic.

Worst case, blow them all to upgrade Sua.

1.3 million seemed a lot, but it'd refill next month anyway. No big attachment.

I still couldn't gauge how strong I'd get in this world.

But first things first: level up.

Pew pew pew!

Arin's arrow flew like lightning, embedding in a charging zombie's head and turning it to ash instantly.

Higher attack than Garujan, plus sky-high agility—Arin's attacks were broken.

Tiny and Sua up front barely had anything to do.

Just hunt enough to keep Arin's HP steady.

After half a day, Arin hit level 17. The others gained one level each, but low-level ones like Arin, Nereysia, and Tiny grew fast.

After a lunch break, I swapped Sua and Garujan for Jaira and Holla.

They were my lowest-level current Valkyries.

Arin's DPS was so good I could drop a ranged dealer for a healer.

After a full day, Lije topped at 27, Arin at 20.

Leveling slowed post-20, but Arin's insane damage sped up hunts.

A week of dodging Death Knights, and Lije hit 30, Arin 25.

Tiny and Nereysia ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matched Arin's level.

The rest held at 28-29.

Now, back in the Ashen Cemetery, I resummoned: Lije, Jaira, Lussera, Garujan, Arin, Nereysia.

My strongest lineup.

Could swap Garujan for Tiny to bolster front, but Lije had it covered—needed DPS now.

I pulled my mains because it was finally time to hunt Death Knights.

Two weeks after that first day's brutal defeat to a surprise Death Knight, revenge time.

"Lije. Sense and point out the Death Knights."

"Understood."

Lije replied with a resolute face.

Not just her—Jaira, Lussera, and Garujan too.

Everyone but Lije had died back then, eyes burning with vengeance.

We moved without ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hesitation.

Blasting through the Ashen Cemetery at top speed. Nothing could stop us now.

Crushing every enemy in sight.

Until Garujan and Lije found a Death Knight.

"Strong presence to the west. Death Knight, I think."

Lije called it out first.

Garujan crouched low and dashed the way Lije pointed.

"Death Knight spotted. Attack?"

"Yeah. Time for bloody revenge!"

With that, Garujan hurled her spear at the Death Knight.