The real world felt increasingly like a necessary but inconvenient interruption. Drake peeled off his aging VR headset, the faint indentations it left on his temples a familiar sensation. His small apartment was quiet, the only sound the hum of his old computer. He stretched, wincing as his neck and shoulders protested after the long, intense session culminating in Iron Resolve's server-first Hard Mode clear of the Sunken Reliquary. The mental fatigue was profound; coordinating with a team, processing new boss mechanics on the fly, and maintaining his own perfect execution had been incredibly draining, even more so than his usual solo grinds.
He went through his routine: a quick, simple meal, rehydration. As he ate, his thoughts drifted. His basic VR setup, while functional, was taking its toll. The headset was heavy, the resolution adequate but not immersive, and the slight but perceptible input lag, which he'd trained himself to compensate for, felt like an unnecessary handicap. He craved the seamless experience of a full VR capsule – better ergonomics for long sessions, higher fidelity, direct neural interface for near-zero latency. It would make his pursuit of perfection, his reaction-time-dependent gameplay, even more effective.
He checked his "Discoverer_LoA" StreamTube channel dashboard. His earlier videos – the Unbeatable Tutorial Guardian clear, the Lost Alvari Cache guide, and the Oakhaven Secrets exploration – continued to generate a steady, if modest, income. It was enough for better groceries, rent, and a small buffer, significantly easing his previous financial worries. But VR capsules, even used ones, were expensive, a luxury item far beyond his current means.
"This regular income is good, life-changing even, compared to before. But a capsule... that's a different league. The Hard Mode Sunken Reliquary clear video, though... that's server-first footage. If I edited and uploaded that, especially with the True Final Boss reveal... it would probably go viral, just like the Unbeatable Guardian one did. The earnings from that might be enough for a down payment on a used capsule, or even buy one outright if it did really well."
The conflict was immediate. Releasing the Reliquary video would bring massive attention not just to "Discoverer_LoA," but inevitably to Iron Resolve and its members, including him, even with blurred names. Valerius had specifically asked him to hold it back to maintain an air of mystery around the guild's capabilities. His own preference was for anonymity. But the allure of the VR capsule, the tangible upgrade to his gaming experience and potentially his ability to perform even better, was incredibly strong.
"Secrecy versus a capsule... It's a tough call. For now, Valerius's request stands. But the option is there if I get desperate enough for the upgrade."
He checked his in-game timers before preparing to log back in. His next mandatory Mirror Duel trial for the [Twin Soul Bladesworn] class was in approximately four days. That was a comfortable window, but the Echo would be tougher, reflecting his recent dungeon performance and Level 21 stats. Any SCR improvement he could make before then would be beneficial.
With a sigh, pushing the capsule dream to the back of his mind for now, Drake put the headset back on. << Connecting to Legacy of Alvari... >> << Welcome back, Drake! >>
He reappeared in his rented room at The Silver Griffin Inn in Silverhaven, Level 21. His first objective: the new Iron Resolve Guild Hall and those specialized training dummies Valerius had mentioned. If they could help him push his Bladesworn skill SCRs – especially his Left Hand [Basic Attack Combo R/L] (still 84%) and [Parry] (86%) – closer to the 90% threshold, it would be a significant boon for the upcoming Mirror Duel and his quest for the Echoing Forge.
He navigated to the Guild Hall, a modest but well-appointed building in the Citadel Ward that Iron Resolve had secured as their initial headquarters. Inside, past a common room where a few guild members were chatting, he found the training area. It was smaller than the public Proving Ground but featured several advanced-looking Alvari-design training dummies. An NPC Guild Steward stood nearby.
"Welcome to the Iron Resolve Training Annex, Member Drake," the Steward greeted him. "These specialized dummies can provide focused SCR enhancement guidance when activated with [Condensed Mana Crystals]. The quality of the crystal determines the potency and level of the guidance offered."
"Condensed Mana Crystals... I have a few Normal and Rare quality ones from mob drops and minor quests. Wonder if those are good enough." He did not possess any Flawless or Almost Flawless crystals at this point.
He approached a dummy and interacted with its console, inserting a [Normal Condensed Mana Crystal] from his inventory. << Normal Crystal detected. Guidance Level: Up to 70% SCR. Please select skill. >> "Up to 70%? Useless. All my Bladesworn skills are already 80%+."
He retrieved the Normal crystal and tried one of his [Rare Condensed Mana Crystals]. << Rare Crystal detected. Guidance Level: Up to 75% SCR. Please select skill. >> "Still useless. My lowest Bladesworn skill is Blade Dance at 81%. These common crystals clearly aren't meant for pushing already high SCRs."
The Steward, noticing his lack of engagement with the activated dummies, offered an explanation. "The more common crystals, like Cracked, Normal, or even Rare, provide guidance primarily for initiates struggling to achieve basic competency, usually for skills below the 75% or 80% SCR threshold. To receive guidance beneficial for refining skills already in the mid-80s towards the 90% mark or higher, one would require crystals of significantly greater purity – Pure, or ideally, Flawless quality."
Drake frowned. Internal "Pure or Flawless crystals... I don't have any of those. The best I have are these Rares, and maybe a few Superior ones from the Sunken Reliquary chest if the guild didn't need them all." He mentally inventoried his [Artisan's Focusing Charm] (single use +5%) and his [Medallion of Clarity] (7-day cooldown, makes high SCR easier for 10s) – those were his only current aids for pushing SCRs.
"Master Steward," Drake asked, "where would one typically acquire these Pure or Flawless Condensed Mana Crystals?"
The Steward smiled faintly. "Ah, the pursuit of perfection! Such crystals are exceedingly rare, Member Drake. They are primarily recovered from the hoards of powerful endgame raid bosses, the deepest levels of Mythic-difficulty dungeons, or as rewards for world-altering achievements. They are not common commodities found through simple adventuring."
The realization dawned on Drake, heavy and disappointing. The vaunted Iron Resolve Guild Hall training dummies, the ones he'd hoped might provide a consistent path to perfecting his remaining Bladesworn skills before his next Mirror Duel, were effectively useless for his immediate advanced improvement needs. He lacked the ultra-rare catalysts required to unlock their high-end guidance modes. His existing Flawless/Almost Flawless crystals from earlier incorrect timelines were not part of his current inventory.
"So much for that idea. These dummies are a long-term guild facility, dependent on the guild as a whole acquiring those rare crystals from endgame content. They offer no short-term solution for my personal SCR grind right now. If I want to improve my Parry from 86% to 90%+, or get Blade Dance and Twin Fang higher before the next Mirror Duel, it's back to the old ways: grueling live combat grind, or painstaking hours on the basic dummies at the public Proving Ground, pushing for those tiny incremental gains myself, relying only on my own focus and perhaps the Medallion if a moment feels truly critical."
Slightly disappointed but accepting the unyielding reality of Legacy of Alvari's demanding systems, Drake gave a polite nod to the Steward and left the Guild Hall's training annex. He refocused his mind on the supplies and information needed for the perilous trek Elder Jian had outlined.