<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Apollymi]

Miko was still observing the monster as she dodged. She wouldn't feel safe until it was down and found it mostly unnerving in this combat situation. It seemed to have just enough intelligence to make it problematic and just too little to be tricked into certain actions. In fact, she was finding out as she would have landed, "Fuck you have tracking. Unfair!" she griped. Why was it whenever the healer was targeted it was with way more precision than anyone else. He could hear the rumbling of its body but not its footsteps. That much further cemented her plan, she even heard the shifting taking place there, as if it was trying to settle so it could move with the same quietness that it had when sneaking up on them. It was sprinting towards her as she landed, she was on the balls of her feet already so it was no problem for her given her ability to physically manipulate mana for her to tap herself around it. "Hm... I can hear you~" she mused, the pressure wall in front of him would be something she used to her advantage, a shift of her body and the staff in her arm allowing her a quick pressure burst curving around the creature after a little hop straight off the balls of her feet. It was like watching a little dance, but one in which each step had its own quiet timing based on nothing but the chattering of the beasts scales. She was surprisingly both calm and observational even though the pressure of the situation was rather high.

Meanwhile, Yugi was given the necessary time, to craft his weapon. She'd be interested in that but she hoped he was ready to use it. She knew enough about him, to know that he'd likely have worked the abilities of the sword into his basic magical ability already. As for her plan it was technically very simple but also relied upon the timing. "Quickie version I use my voice to disrupt its scales with the right timing to allow you to find and strike it's core," she claimed. "Minor problem it might be adjusting so I can't use the same note... I'll need to get out a few, still it'd create a pretty big opening..." she clarified the quick and dirty version of her plan. "Also I think you should be able to finish shattering its armor with your lightening so long as its scales are already disrupted. I don't think it can shift past both things..." she gave her quick opinion while adjusting to the faster and lighter movements of her body. She was prepared to take a hit but she'd still rather not just to get the song out.

[Bloodedge]

The Phantom gave no answer to her words, no shift in expression—only the cold, instinctive tilt of its head as it tracked the exact arc of her movement. The more precisely she danced around it, the more precisely it corrected, adjusting its momentum with unnerving, fluid micro-movements that didn’t match its size. Its scales rippled again—this time not in aggression, but in calibration. Each tiny plate adjusted its angle with a faint chittering hum, the noise Miko had keyed into… now echoing back at her in a perfect mirror of her timing. Then it lunged, not blindly, not powerfully, but with air-cutting precision, matching her hop with an angled sweep of its arm that passed through the space she would have occupied if she’d moved on the same beat as her last two dodges. The hit wasn’t meant to kill—its pressure wave burst out in a tight, narrow line meant only to clip her heel, throw off her rhythm, force a mistake it could capitalize on. And as she curved around its flank, the Phantom did not pursue with large strides—it shifted. One step, impossibly quiet for something its size, then another, each perfectly syncing with the sound of its armor plates, as if it were trying to erase them. Trying to silence the exact tell she’d been using to read it. Its head turned toward her again. No breath, no growl, no malice. Just that hollow, predatory stillness… and the unsettling knowledge that it was now adjusting to her.

Yugi took the time to ensure he was back to... something resembling normal, at the very least. The secondary Lumen Veil Miko cast on him had mostly healed his bruised body by now, but the pain persisted. "Inventory," he said to view his new sword and some clothing options. Shuffling through a small wardrobe, an ear remained open for Miko's plan. She could indeed disrupt the phantom by his calculation; but from what he witnessed, it was indeed adjusting to her methods just as it previously adjusted its strength to land a hit through Yugi's evasion. "You know, I usually like a boss that learns. Literally─it's one of my favorite features ever. Not a fan when my life's on the line," he chattered. "I was thinking originally about overloading its ability to reflect. Sound waves enhanced by mana can't be reflected like mana itself, though. I never thought I'd get to say this, but... Good plan. We'll go with yours," he said. There was an underlying tone to Yugi's voice that told the tale of relief, of long-awaited satisfaction that could almost bring a tear to his eye. He'd never gone along with someone else's plan before; his motivation was heightened significantly after hearing Miko's. "By the way... Equip," he said, forcing the System to apply the clothes he'd chosen: a plain black A-top, blue cargo pants and a pair of black runners. "Found the Favorites menu. Found the Requip button. Feel free to make your ass bounce if you think I'm totally awesome~" Yugi flirted. He'd then be seen pulling a brand-new weapon from inventory.

Yugi’s new chokutō was a sleek, straight-edged blade of polished steel, narrow and elegant, with a faint silver-blue sheen running along the flat. Thin, branching etchings traced the length of the sword — the result of the lightning-aligned materials used in its crafting — making it look as though tiny bolts were frozen beneath the surface. The guard was minimal, almost nonexistent, and the hilt was wrapped in dark, storm-gray material that faintly tingled with residual mana. When he drew it, the air around the blade seemed to tighten, as though anticipating the charge it was meant to carry. "Ladies, ladies... keep your unfathomable admiration for my badassery limited to assuming the downward facing bitch position. I'm back and ready to clap some cheeks, motherfuckers!"

[Apollymi]

Miko's observations of their boss monster were only getting worse. In fact, she couldn't have been more upset about its developments if she tried. She'd taken on a peaceful rhythm. Dodging using sound cues and expending very little mana while doing so, but that was becoming unnerving. Why? Well the creature who had its sights set on her was following her flow and rhythm. He was tracking at a level which was well beyond what one would expect even from a predator. At some point, she'd even say it was leading her instead of the opposite way around. She could tell by the echoing sound, and its perfect timing as well as the stillness of he predator itself. That shot meant to clip, would do so, but she'd only take it as permission to shift rhythm. Using just a little mana from that water staff to make a jet of water to allow her to spin in a quick series of circles, so that she could step off her other foot and go with a new rhythm. And since there was less power behind such a thing... it only made her veil, flicker. "Why the fuck does it also need input reading? Who designed this bullshit!" she exclaimed as that hit to her heel made her switch directions, taking her to the off beat pacing which she sped up to twice the number of beats per measure, not unlike her earlier 'dance' with Yugi.

As Miko changed her dance with the creature from a simple two step to a waltz, Yugi heard out her plan. His observations were also helpful as she didn't bother stopping her pacing and chose, just to dart towards the creature at a faster pace to draw its movements in a more predictable way. Still, Yugi heard out her plan and didn't have anything negative to say about it. No, that was an understatement... he seemed pleased and a bit relieved. Like someone else coming up with a reasonable plan was one of the rarer events in his life. Well, he wouldn't be the only one shocked at this point, if he was surprised she had a reasonable plan, she was just as relieved to be taken seriously. "Really? Sounds like that isn't a sentence you get to say often, it's definitely not one I hear often either..." Miko uttered softly. Still it would seem her plan could work. Beyond that it seemed that Yugi had figured out a way to make that thing she'd been griping about earlier work. A favorites list and a command to 'Equip' both existed within the System and Miko couldn't help but scoff. "I really have to remember to stop getting distracted by snacks and go through the menus~" Miko mentioned as she ducked low in front of Yugi. Her ass would bounce just a bit the top part of her cheeks being seen through that exceedingly low back, if only because she was taking just a second to shift again. Still, there was something else. An announcement made by Yugi that caught Miko's attention and graced her ears as an absolute statement. There was only one way Miko could respond to something like that, and it simultaneously made her wish she'd gotten more opportunities to play with him and made her think that such games woud have gone very oddly if she was already as open as she currently was, "Fuck yes, Daddy♪~" she squealed. "You need charge time or can I just do the thing?" she wondered quickly. Though she'd not done it yet, she didn't actually need that much time to use her voice. She just didn't want to risk their opponent being clever enough to realize it and going even more berserk to stop her.

[Bloodedge]

The phantom had adjusted the moment Miko’s rhythm broke, its entire body winding into a taut, predatory coil as if her shift in tempo had rewired its instincts. Its scales rasped in a slow, eager cascade, each plate realigning to her new cadence — not confused, not fooled, but matching her like a predator syncing to the heartbeat of prey. When she dipped low in front of Yugi, the creature’s faceless helm slammed toward her position with a sudden spike of kinetic pressure, the air shuddering around its frame as though it intended to crush the space she occupied rather than her body itself. It didn’t move in a straight line; it curved along the exact rhythm she had just abandoned, pursuing the echo of her motion with unnatural precision, its silent focus locked onto her like a compass needle dragged toward a magnet. And though it had no voice, the way its armor thrummed — low, hungry, resonant — made its intent unmistakable: it had chosen her as the opening it would break first.

Sadly for the phantom, Yugi was back in the fray with a new blade. Miko was one for rhythms and the like. Yugi, however, was more freeform in his approach. The shockwave heading in Miko's direction was no cause for concern, as lightning arcing from his blade greatly enhanced his reach. Yugi was able to slash outward, paying a similar mana cost to the original Skill for the much greater effect of sending the lightning forward into the pressure wave's path. In doing so, he easily disrupted the coherence of the phantom's attack. His eyes were laser-focused and once again bloodshot from the mana flowing into them ─ something he'd been doing since he caught a glimpse of Miko's rear through that nigh-nonexistent dress. Now, those eyes were for the phantom once again. Between his eyes, Miko's ears and their combined skills, even the B-rank, boss-level threat could surely be taken down. As for Miko's question about the time he may or may not need, Yugi responded initially with a scoff. "What the fuck is charge time? I just cut the channeling cost of this thing more than I thought I'd be able to. I can basically just activate and leave the sword charged with the starting amount now. Let's do this thing!"

[Apollymi]

Miko was upset about the design of this boss monster. It was obvious to her that it was way too good a predator and it was only further confirmed as she switched her tempo. It didn't react as if confused no... it simply shifted with her, there was something uniquely upsetting about that. It was following the curve and echo of her movements, and she could see it. It should have been terrifying to know it was coming to basically crush her flat after coiling up like that. But... even though she was listening intently for those scales and all else, she still heard Yugi. With the added chaos to the rhythm and the disruption of the attack. Miko was able to dodge, using that staff of hers to properly land out of the radius of the attack with just another little puff of mana. "I fucking hate this kind of boss," Miko griped. Her own problems with those that read inputs and followed rhythms being rather obvious, but she wasn't in this alone.

"Nice save~" she chirped. As she confirmed the attack speed that could be used. She could sense the mana being concentrated into Yugi's eyes. She knew his senses were just as sharp as her own in their own way. Between the two of them, she could see a potential victory which is why her plan had come together the way it had. "Hai! Sugoi, might have to get an assist for my ideal catalyst~" she chirped still. There was the matter of her plan which she'd be taking a bit from Yugi to start up, it took no extra prep time for him to do what he intended and as such she'd take no extra to do what she needed. "AHAAAAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH♫~" she sang an arpeggio at her highest register, a sound which echo'd across the land and vibrated stationary objects even before the addition of mana to her voice. That being said she'd sung it with the mana involved, a set of notes, at a pitch much higher than even her normal signing voice, which could by her own approximation shatter glass with relative ease. She'd also flip around her staff, ready to aim a water ball directly to whatever spot Yugi managed to pinpoint as the core whenever the scales vibrated with the amount of stunning potential. It was quite a lot of mana spent for her, but... worth it to make sure she actually caused a disruption to the creatures exterior.

[Bloodedge]

The phantom convulsed the instant Miko’s aria hit, its entire body seizing like someone had driven a tuning fork through its spine. Its scales rattled in chaotic, uneven waves — no longer a smooth predatory hum, but a jagged clatter that broke its rhythm entirely. It staggered sideways, limbs jerking out of sync as the vibrations forced its armor plates apart, thin seams flashing along its chest. It tried to reorient, head snapping toward her with a distorted, glitching motion, but the resonance stole its balance again and drove it to one knee. Mana bled from its joints in fractured pulses — the perfect, fleeting window for Yugi to strike.

And strike, he would. Yugi held his sword at the ready, electricity cackling around its blade sounding like a flock of chirping birds held in a single chamber. He saw the opening of the phantom's core, its downed and vulnerable form, and he launched himself toward it. The phantom’s head jerked violently as Yugi closed in, its limbs thrashing in a spasm of desperation. With a sudden, brutal sweep of its massive arm, it knocked Yugi’s sword sideways, sending sparks scattering across the forest floor. The shockwave rattled the ground beneath him, forcing him to twist midair as electricity arced from his fingers — a raw surge of energy manifesting in response to the loss of his weapon. Its massive, unblinking eyes locked on him, anticipating every micro-adjustment, but the core had already been revealed — fleeting, tantalizing, the chance of a decisive strike dangling before him. "Not happening! Get played, you dick-chopping son of a bitch!" he shouted while driving his hand toward the phantom's core.

The phantom convulsed again as Yugi surged forward, the raw energy crackling along his outstretched hand. Its massive form lurched violently, scales rattling in spasmodic waves as it tried to recoil, but the core remained exposed beneath the chaotic shudder. Limbs flailed in a desperate attempt to block, smashing against the forest floor and sending splintered debris flying, yet Yugi’s lightning-charged palm drove into the center, arcs of energy snapping across the phantom’s armor like jagged streaks of white-hot light. It let out a soundless, convulsive shudder, every muscle and plate reacting to the sudden, precise strike, but there was no time — the surge had claimed its mark. [LEVEL UP!] appeared twice for each Player, alongside:

[System Notice]

Target Defeated: Riverglass Phantom

Loot Identified:
• Phantom Core x1 – B-rank – Can be refined into mid-tier magical catalyst – 500,000 Gold
• Shattered Scales x8 – C-rank – Can be used for durable armor crafting – 120,000 Gold
• Mana Residue Crystal x3 – C-rank – Stores ambient mana for skill use – 60,000 Gold
• Shadow Tendril Fragment x1 – C-rank – Can be fused into minor skill runes – 30,000 Gold

Experience Awarded: 2,000 XP each
Quest Complete: Phantom Predator Defeated

Ah, but that wasn't all. The Players would also be receiving their first official notification of a different sort ─ something of a staple in any RPG...

[System Notice]

Loot Acquired: Phantom Scale Armor (2-Piece Set)

Head – Phantom Helm
Rarity: B-rank
Defense +18
Effect: Minor Mana Flow Enhancement – Increases mana regeneration by 3%

Torso – Phantom Chestplate
Rarity: B-rank
Defense +42
Effect: Enhanced Durability – Reduces incoming physical damage by 5%

2-Piece Set Bonus:
• Predator’s Reflex – Automatically grants a chance to nullify incoming attacks by 15% and reflect 10% of kinetic damage back at the attacker

Value: 125,000 Gold

[Apollymi]

Miko was now watching at the ready to offer assistance but also witnessing the direct effects of her handiwork. It would seem that the Riverglass Phantom actually had every reason to pursue her the way it was, given how it reacted to a few purposefully sun notes. In truth she'd not expected for the window of movement to be so large, nor for it to literally be stunned by the vibrations. She supposed it would have been much worse on something smaller and less powerful as it seemed to be rushing to trying to fix the chaotic mana flow caused by the sound waves which left her throat. Still, it was rather interesting to see. Even more interesting than the creatures response was Yugi's.

The lad was making no shortage in effort to go on to kill the creature. Though it had one last fail-safe to try and right itself it would seem that Yugi wasn't tolerating it. Disarmed he'd use just his hand to reach for that core, coated in lightning magic much like the little static creatures had been, he managed the unthinkable. This battle felt like it'd gone on for hours, but in truth it was just a couple of extra seconds between the plan being confirmed and executed. The adrenaline had built all the way up, and Miko's heart was pounding as she watched the monster's final moment. Only when she received the notification about the nature of their win through a level up did she exhale her legs wobbling as she sank to the ground still clutching her staff. "Waaah♫~ You did it!♪~" she chirped happily as her body finally relaxed from all the built up stress. She needed a moment or two to decompress, but there were lots of things on screen for them to look at. Rare loot worth way more than anything else they'd been slaying. And even armor, "Sugoi~ Happy 20~" she chimed seeming to see the upgraded materials as part of their level ascension.

[Bloodedge]

Finally, the most difficult challenge they'd faced so far was no more. Yugi would have heaved a sigh of relief... but he couldn't. All he had presently was the ability to fall, just as Miko did. Down on his knees was the black-haired lad, unable to even scream his satisfaction. "... Fuck," he murmured. Two System notices spoke of their loot and a new feature: armor. Satisfying as that was, Yugi merely reached out to reclaim his fallen sword, falling fully to the ground in that same moment. "That was... something. Was that something? I think that was something. Level 20, huh?"

With his sword in hand, Yugi rolled along the ground to close the distance between himself and Miko. He couldn't even return the blade to inventory, almost fearing the sudden appearance of another threat. Instead, he extended his free hand toward Miko. "Awesome job. We did the fuck out of that thing," he praised. While Yugi focused on catching his breath, the System sent another alert.

[System Notice]

Level 20 Achieved!

Congratulations! New features and opportunities are now available:

New Equipment Type Unlocked:
• Armor — Expand your defensive capabilities. Protect yourself with enhanced gear from the System Shop or through crafting.

System Shop Update:
• Daily life items, potions, ingredients, and miscellaneous gear can now be purchased alongside weapons and armor.
• Items may be broken down or fused to enhance existing equipment.

Advanced Crafting Options:
• Material Fusion now supports multi-component creation for weapons, armor, and support tools.
• Crafting rarities and effects may increase with enhanced materials.

Battle Utilities:
• Storage Expansion — Inventory space has increased.
• Quick-Use Slots — Assign consumables or utility items for faster deployment.

New Title Awarded:
• “Phantom Slayer” — Granted for the defeat of the B-rank phantom.
• Buff: +5% Attack, +5% Magical Attack
• Special Effect: +15% Damage vs B-rank and lower spectral/phantom-type enemies

System Suggestion:
Explore new armor, experiment with consumables, and optimize your crafting to prepare for increasingly challenging enemies.

[Apollymi]

It seemed as if Miko wasn't the only one coming down off an adrenaline rush. Yugi seemed to be stunned, though he couldn't have been injured given the level up, he was seemingly a bit exhausted by the whole ordeal. By the time he could say more than a single swear, he was dragging himself over to his sword, while wondering about the nature of the thing they'd just done. "Yeah, that was definitely something. Too much of something..." Miko uttered as she tried to steady her own heartbeat and found herself feeling all kinds of out of sorts. Miko for her part in this, closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She was using the tactics given to her by her therapist to try and calm herself after an influx of natural drugs which had her heart beating erratically.

By the time Miko opened her eyes, Yugi was rolling towards her, sword still out... apparently still more than a little on edge. She didn't blame him. Her ears were practically twitching as she listened for disturbances and tried to keep an eye on things. Of course, that didn't change anything by the time Yugi reached out to her with his free hand. she was reaching out with one as well. Their hands would meet and even that little bit of comfort, was enough to have her take a deep breath. "Thanks Daddy, you are awesome!♪~ And we definitely did the fuck out of that thing. I don't want to do the fuck out of something that strong again for a long time," Miko said with an amount of seriousness that didn't make it sound like they'd won that situation. It all felt far too intense for the amount and type of challenges they'd taken before that point.

Miko then saw yet another screen. One full of announcements and points and improvements given to the pair for their reaching of level 20. It took a moment or two for her to fully read and sit up for, but by the time she was in the semi-upright position she was at the bottom of the page after looking through improvements. "You know what Brainface, I don't normally take your advice but after today... I'll give it a pass," Miko muttered. As was the case with many gamers, she often let her builds fester until she reached a certain wall of difficulty. Even with another person to help take some of the edge off, she wasn't willing to put herself on purpose in the position of being weak against a surprise. "Shop!" she claimed. Opening up and looking at recent items. "First things first selling the fuck outta that core. We need spending money for new shop stuff!~" Miko chirped happily. She could have used that core to create a magical catalyst, but it wasn't the shape she wanted, nor did she think it would allow her to grow past the monster it was taken from. All the while she found herself the type of magical catalyst she'd be preferring, an apparently new item.

[System Notice]

Crafting Interface: MATERIAL FUSION — Crystal Sword Framework Selected

Base Item:
• Crystal Sword (C-Rank)
— A lightweight, mana-conductive blade used by battle-mages.

Add Materials

Phantom Scales ×3 — Applied
→ Effect: Enables blade to respond to vibrations, resonance, and frequency shifts.
→ System Note: This material harmonizes with vocal frequencies. Ideal for Resonance-based skills.

Mana Residue Crystals ×5 — Applied
→ Effect: Stores refined samples of wielder’s mana for precise attunement.
→ System Note: Mana signature successfully absorbed. Item will now respond to Miko’s unique mana pattern.

Crystal Shards ×8 — Applied
→ Effect: Reinforces blade’s structure; improves mana conduction pathways.
→ System Note: Durability increased. Crystal lattice now suitable for advanced infusions.

Arcane Binding Threads ×2 — Applied
→ Effect: Stabilizes all enhancements; prevents shattering from overcharging.
→ System Note: Binding integrity: Stable. Infusion ready.

Fusion Path Detected:
→ RESONANT CONDUIT WEAPON
→ VIBRATION-RECEPTIVE CRYSTAL MATRIX
→ MANA-ATTUNED SIGNATURE BINDING

These three fusion paths are compatible. Combining them will produce a unique item.
[PREVIEW: Crafted Item Detected]

Name: Armonia Crystalline (B-Rank)
Type: Conduit Blade / Support-Integrated Weapon
Binding: Soulbound to Iino Miko

Base Stats:
• ATK +25
• MAG ATK +40
• Casting Speed +8%

Passive Skills:
• Resonance Conduction – The blade amplifies magical effects triggered by sound, vibrations, or pulse-based abilities.
• Vocal Harmonic Sensitivity – The blade responds to Miko’s voice, altering its mana flow based on pitch.
• Mana Memory (Lesser) – Stores a mana pattern for spell replication or on-the-fly enhancement.

Ability Unlocked:
• Harmonic Pulse (Rank D)
Release a condensed wave of vibrating mana from the blade. Damage scales with INT stat.

Growth Potential:
• Additional copies may be crafted later using Replication-grade Crystals (not available yet).
• Further upgrades possible through “Resonance Overcharge”.

CRAFT THIS ITEM [Y/N]?

[Bloodedge]

"Yeah... I'm not a fan of somethings. I could go for some nothings now," Yugi continued. That boss was easier to defeat than expected, but also harder as an encounter than anything they should have faced at this point. Whatever the case, Yugi would soon have another reason to complain. He reached out toward Miko with one hand. She, in turn, placed her hand in his. Yugi's brow furrowed, and he scoffed. "The fuck is this?" he questioned. "We're supposed to be celebrating victory and survival and shit. Ass in hand!" he demanded afterwards. With Miko then commenting on how she didn't want to 'do' anything that strong again for a long time, Yugi scoffed once more. "As if. I'll be that strong in a few days, tops. When that happens, you're getting done~" he teased.

The System had a strange process going. After all they'd been forced into, the System was recommending that they go about performing some upgrade. Yugi found something in that... suspicious. Miko decided to actually listen to the one they called Brainface for once. Frankly, so did Yugi... but that wouldn't stop his snarky response. "Oh so now it's fine to side with Brainface? Inventory," he said, checking for some crafting of his own while Miko decided to sell the most valuable item of their recent looting. He didn't even question that decision. "Mm. That sort of thing is usually a helmet. You can do better," he said in full confidence.

[System Notice]

Crafting Interface: MATERIAL FUSION — Lightning Chokutō Selected

Base Item:
• Lightning Chokutō (C-Rank)
— One-handed straight sword infused with lightning; enhances electrical attacks and skill efficiency.

Add Materials

• Phantom Scales ×3 — Amplifies electrical conduction; synergizes with elemental mana.
• Arcane Binding Threads ×2 — Stabilizes enhancements; prevents damage from mana overload.
• Crystal Shards ×4 — Reinforces blade; increases durability and mana flow efficiency.

Fusion Paths Detected:
→ Lightning Conduit Enhancement
→ Enhanced Mana Efficiency
→ Resonant Blade Infusion

These fusion paths are compatible. Upgrading will increase base stats and unlock additional passive effects.

Preview: Crafted Item Potential

Name: Raikō Chokutō (B-Rank)
Type: Straight Sword (One-Handed)
Attack: +42 → +55
Passive Skills:
• Lightning Line (Enhanced) – Reduces mana expenditure of lightning-based skills by 25%
• Conduction Amplifier – Lightning attacks now have a small chance to ignore defenses
• Static Charge – Builds static electricity with each swing; next skill deals bonus lightning damage

CRAFT THIS ITEM [Y/N]?

Yugi viewed his own screen and Miko's, confirming that their crafting options wouldn't overlap. Since he already had an upgrade to a C-rank weapon, he wouldn't bother making his own decision until hers was made. Besides, Yugi valued a generalist mage more than any fighter... and if she purchased the required base weapon for her next possible acquisition, she'd also have his favorite type of kit. "That looks pretty solid. You going for that? If you are, we could get some pretty sick combos going. You know... apart from when I pull a full 100-hit combo on that ass."

[Apollymi]

Miko wasn't the only one who didn't want to deal with any more somethings. Apparently, Yugi also would prefer dealing with nothings. "Nothings would be nice~" Miko confirmed without hesitation. She'd easily physically fight those prowlers from earlier, over anything related to that creature they'd so recently had to fight. Ah, but that wasn't the main problem. She'd reached out for Yugi's hand and it hadn't been what he was expecting. According to the lad, he'd wanted, a hand full of ass, no... he demanded it. "Eh? How did you think that was going to work? Why are you like this?" she questioned directly. Still, now that she as no longer a puddle created by the lack of tension she moved forward. But instead of dropping her ass directly into his outstretched had she pulled his hand along as she shifted, dropping it directly into his lap as she sat on his clothed dick instead. As for the strength Yugi would have in a few days even, Miko could only chuckle. "Hai hai, I'll get done, but so will you♪~" Miko flirted right back with a little chirped. They'd not gotten to finish their earlier session to satisfaction but maybe they should finish kitting themselves completely before they jumped back in.

Beyond that there were several kinds of upgrades and processes going on in the System. As such, Miko had already decided to do something with that information instead of just letting it roll over without thought. In the moment, it seemed that Yugi wanted to point out her hypocrisy, "Oi oi, I'm not agreeing with him. I'm simply completing my assignments!" she asserted. As she progressed herself into acquiring of something for herself, Miko heard Yugi speaking of her choice to sell their most valuable drop. He called it a helmet, which was a term she was somewhat familiar with in the context of gaming. "Premade build types are for people who don't understand mechanics. Even if I didn't, I'd probably just ask you to clarify something for me. I hate getting used to stuff like that only to get to a new kind of boss or area to find out it's useless and having to scramble or grind to get back on track. I'm too easily distracted for that... I do like the vote of confidence though♪~" she added as she looked at a new screen.

There were many things directly in front of her eyes and most of them were what she was looking for. She'd acquired a basic kind of crystal sword through purchase and been shown a type of build that could happen based on what she'd done so far and the materials they'd collected. "Sou ka, if I have a bunch of compatible materials it will let me create a new kind of item for myself that matches my innate magical abilities. And can evolve... that's really intricate!~" she chirped. "I'm probably going to go for it. After fighting with the staff for a while I don't like the balance nor using it as a physical weapon. Anything that would make use of my base instinct to use my voice is going to be good for me. And it'd definitely help me become a better generalist... Our combos could also be awesome, I could both support you and do a great deal of fighting myself, with more finite control over the shapes and uses of the spells I learn! I wonder if I can eventually go the full battlefield control route?! GAAAAH♫~ I gotta do it♪~" she claimed while excited pressing the button. He'd already given his take on material use, so... she didn't think twice about going through it to create the new weapon.

[Bloodedge]

Even if it was a normal thing to expect, Yugi had no existing interest in making contact with Miko's hand after what they'd been through. He started with her ass, and he'd end the same. Though she heavily questioned his demand and motivations initially, Miko still went above and beyond to do all he wanted... and more. His hand was guided onto her rear, and he was given the perfect view of it to boot ─ while also benefiting from having her straddle his lap backwards. Finally, he had a proper look at the very open back of Miko's dress, and the associated lack of coverage to the very top of her ass. In their current position, he could see even a few centimeters of her crack from the top. "This dress is the best dress ever. It's like that virgin killer thing that's becoming popular. I'm gonna fucking do you in this dress. Like a lot," he chattered.

Moving on, they would be discussing build choices... but not before Miko argued against agreeing with Brainface. When she spoke of completing her assignments, he raised his hand away from her rear and brought it crashing back down. With that, he moved right along to talk about Miko's potential new weapon. "You say intricate; I say suspicious. For a game design, it's really intuitive... but that damage we took was real. Everything going on makes this seem really predatory, and I haven't figured out what Brainface actually wants us to do. No way are we beta testers or some shit," he rambled while looking over Miko's screen as well as his own. In a matter of moments, Miko's decision was made. She'd be crafting that new weapon, freeing him to upgrade his own with some remaining pieces. There was only a little wiggle room for understanding what rank they might be, but... having a B-rank weapon each would surely make a massive difference. "Upgrade," he said. With that, his sword once again returned to inventory.

[System Notice]

Crafting Upgrade Successful!

Item Upgraded: Raikō Chokutō
Rarity: B-Rank
Type: Straight Sword (One-Handed)
Attack +58

Effects:
• Increased attack speed
• Enhanced lightning conduction
• Passive: Lightning Line – Reduces mana expenditure of lightning-based skills by 25%
• Passive: Thunder Vein – Small chance to ignore enemy defenses with lightning-based attacks

Upgrade Options Detected:
• Mana Conduction Channel (Lightning)
• Blade Sharpening Protocol
• Material Fusion (Advanced)
• Resonant Infusion – Increases synergy with elemental mana pulses

Applied Materials:
• Phantom Scales ×3 — Strengthened lightning conduction, enhances mana channeling
• Arcane Binding Threads ×2 — Stabilizes enhancements, ensures durability under overload

System Note: Weapon attuned. All lightning-based abilities now have improved efficiency and penetration.

[Apollymi]

After pointing out the oddity of Yugi's request, Miko still took a place directly in front of the lad, allowing him to see up the full length of her body while also managing to place his hand upon her rear. He got everything he wanted, she got a comfortable place to sit, all was fair between them. With his new visual came an appreciation of Miko's form which had the girl blushing in his lap. "When you say it like that it seems like you appreciate the view. I can't see myself wearing it all the time, but..." she gave a brief pause from the goings on to add it to her favorites list as it'd gotten quite the ringing endorsement. "I'll make sure I can slip into it anytime♪~" she flirted happily. She was content to move on from that point, until of course, a smack was delivered to her bottom for her pointing out what she was doing with Brainface's instructions. "Eeep♪~ Thank you, Daddy♫~" she chirped out not that it mattered. Beyond that she'd still be accepting the crafting of that odd thing and carrying on from there.

[System Notice]

Crafting Successful!

Item: Armonia Crystalline
Rarity: B-Rank
Type: Mage Sword (One-Handed)

Base Stats:
• ATK +25
• MAG ATK +40
• Casting Speed +8%

Passive Skills:
• Resonance Conduction – The blade amplifies magical effects triggered by sound, vibrations, or pulse-based abilities.
• Vocal Harmonic Sensitivity – The blade responds to Miko’s voice, altering its mana flow based on pitch.
• Mana Memory (Lesser) – Stores a mana pattern for spell replication or on-the-fly enhancement.

Ability Unlocked:
• Harmonic Pulse (Rank D)
Release a condensed wave of vibrating mana from the blade. Damage scales with INT stat.

Growth Potential:
• Additional copies may be crafted later using Replication-grade Crystals (not available yet).
• Further upgrades possible through “Resonance Overcharge”.

"Squee, it's so cool~" she said reading the stats of her new weapon. Yugi's point about the intricacy of the System and how intuitive it was, wasn't something Miko didn't understand. Her thoughts about it were rather simple. "Usually in the plot if an unknown entity gives away a power leveling system, something really bad is about to happen. Some odd god or goddess needs someone to interfere on their behalf, or they are trying to make two people have a weird baby..." Miko stated earnestly. Those were among the most common tropes applied to the kind of thing they were currently going through. "Not that I am fond of any of those purposes," Miko wanted to point out lest her weird thoughts about their particular situation not be completely clear. With all that out of the way, Miko equipped her new weapon and held it in her hand. It was light weight with an interesting gleam to it, and she'd look it over while Yugi upgraded his weapon as well. "I should also try equipping that new armor and setting up my equip clothes so I can change when I need to..." Miko murmured. "Oh... and I got points to allocate too!" she murmured to herself so she could remember what screens to pull up.

[Bloodedge]

"Of course I appreciate the view. Do you know how big and bouncy your ass is now? It's not just round and squishy now; it's got proper jiggle physics," Yugi explained as he drew back to slap Miko's ass again ─ this time without letting his hand settle in place immediately. In doing so, he intended to let her get a feel for the 'jiggle physics' he so recently mentioned. "Also, if you keep growing... you're probably gonna find that virgin killer in inventory. Probably a whole wardrobe of negligee too."

Now that they both had B-rank weapons, the time had come to inspect some other functions and unlocks, alongside points they hadn't distributed for some time now. "God damnit! That would have been easier if we'd used those levels from earlier!" Yugi complained upon realizing how many points remained from earlier levels. As a result of his frustration, it was only natural that Miko pay the price via another slap to the rear. As for the tropes attributed to overseeing entities like Brainface, he knew of them well. "There's another. Not worried about it right now. This armor has a set bonus," he interjected. Upon equipping the Phantom Helm, he noticed it vanished from sight immediately. Lucky, he'd call that turn of events, as it was quite the obtrusive helmet similar in design to the Riverglass Phantom's head scales. "Oi!" he uttered excitedly, shifting his hips beneath Miko. "We don't even need transmog! This shit disappears when you put it on, unless you set it to do otherwise!" he explained. Meanwhile...

The overseer drifted along the edge of the realm, unseen, his gaze sweeping over the aftermath of the battle. A faint smirk may have tugged at his lips as he observed the players, noting the sharpness in their movements, the subtle harmony between them, and the tiny victories that belied their raw talent. He murmured softly to himself, a hum of calculation threading through the still air. "They’ve done well… perhaps too well." His eyes traced the shattered remnants of the phantom, the aura of spent mana still flickering across the field like dying embers. "It’s enough. Their trial here is complete. Time to send them home." Without another sound, the decision settled, a ripple of latent authority coursing through the realm, invisible but inexorable, ready to return Yugi and Miko to their world when the moment arrived.

[Apollymi]

"Well, I can't exactly see it. I've been going by what you say... and you like it so it doesn't really matter as much to me," Miko confirmed her lack of knowledge about the full developments of her body. She hadn't even noticed the butt she'd had originally, she had no idea the kind of difference it would make to grow a bit taller and thicker. As if to prove his point of jiggle physics he slapped her ass again, but didn't immediately place his hand back. She felt the bounce of her flesh as it seemed to vibrate a little bit before settling. "Waaah♪!~ I didn't know it'd gotten so much density. The rest of my body grew too so i haven't felt off or anything," she chirped out. Of course, It wasn't just that commentary but also some about the updates to the wardrobe that they had access to. "Well, it's not like I can slay you with a virgin killer. You aren't a virgin... Still if you pick it. I'll wear it for you~" she mentioned in a light flirt. Of course, there was also a few things she wouldn't mind seeing him in. She should take a better look in the shop, but there were more pressing matters.

She'd been murmuring the things she needed to do, all the while, there was something hanging over their heads. The fact that they could have had an easier time with that fight, if they'd done a bit of preparation right after attaining the levels earlier. "Fuck, that was so..." she didn't even get a chance to finish her own thoughts because soon enough she was being slapped on the ass again. "Yeep♪!~ It wasn't my fault. Well, maybe only a little... I probably would have heard it coming if I'd updated by Perception..." she murmured. Doing what was necessary to allot her current points she'd have two left over by the time she was done, of course there was also something about the tropes but he was right, it wasn't worth worrying about though she wondered which thing she'd forgotten. "Mm-hm. What's a girl got to do to get stat points in numbers that won't trigger my OCD?!" she complained. Leaving the two simply because adding them would have upset her more than letting them sit there. And Yugi was trying on the armor and finding out some key information. "Sugoi♪!~ I was hoping for something like that... I hate early game armor but you can't go without it... because it always has great effects!~" she chirped along happily. Miko would easily apply her armor feeling odd about the magical effects. She'd also go about arranging an outfit for herself which was better for the general public's consumption and fighting. While she wasn't completely uncomfortable she still didn't want her bits out while combat was happening actively. Speaking of Miko's perception with it pushed up she could hear very clearly, the residual sounds of the forest around them returning.