Chapter 40: Researching Charm

During the time Arlo and Link were immersed in the thrill of Pokémon battles, with Link growing stronger with each match, Arlo's mind was never idle. Between strategy sessions and celebratory meals, he had been quietly scouring the Quest tab of the BrainLink for his next big quest. Days passed, each filled with intense training, but the downtime always brought Arlo back to his search.

One evening, while reviewing the latest quest listings, something caught his eye.

The title alone struck a chord: [SYSF Multiverse: Dominion Universe]

It wasn't just the words that intrigued him; it was the familiarity of it all. As he tapped to expand the details, the quest description filled his BrainLink screen.

[Quest: Protect the savior's mother from Angels until the savior is Born]

Objective: The second coming is commencing, the End of the world and the hounds of heaven are marching. The birth of the savior is the only way save the world. Protect the Mother's savior and deliver the savior to safety.

Difficulty: C-Rank

Reward: 10000 EXP, 20000 Credits, ????????????

Failure: Death/Possessed by Angel (Permanently)

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a low whistle. 

"Legion? Seriously? They made that a quest?" he muttered to himself, recalling the movie from a time long past. A blend of action and horror, Legion had been one of those films you'd stumble upon late at night, equal parts fascinating and terrifying.

Arlo's mind raced as he scrolled through the quest's details. He skimmed over the difficulty rating: C-rank. A bead of sweat formed on his temple.

"Of course, it's not a walk in the park," he grumbled. He knew the plot by heart—protect a pregnant woman carrying the next savior of humanity while facing an onslaught of possessed humans and rogue angels.

The movie's climax played in his mind, possessed humans swarming like locusts, angelic possession, and a child's birth determining humanity's fate. A C-rank quest meant systemic collapse, not skirmishes. Survival, not victory

He tapped his fingers against the desk. 

"Alright, let's think this through," he said to no one in particular.

"Angels, possessed humans, and some of them were… spiders or something? Yeah, fun." His sarcastic tone couldn't mask the apprehension building in his chest.

"Easy for you to sleep through this," Arlo murmured, scratching the Rockruff's head absently. "You're not the one signing up to fight biblical horrors."

Deciding he needed guidance, he activated his BrainLink and initiated a video call to Aria. A holographic screen materialized, and Aria's sharp features appeared. She was seated in her office, her usual composed expression intact.

"Arlo," she greeted, her voice calm yet curious. "What's the occasion?"

"Hey, Aria," Arlo started, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I stumbled on a quest. I need a second opinion before I commit."

"Alright, send me the details," Aria replied with a slight nod. Arlo quickly shared the quest file, watching as Aria's expression shifted from curiosity to seriousness.

"This is an apocalyptic scenario," Aria began after a moment of silence. "C-rank, but it's not just about the individual strength of the enemies. The danger here is in the sheer numbers and relentlessness. It's the kind of quest where strategy and preparation are paramount."

Arlo nodded. "That's what I thought. So, what are the odds of success for someone like me? I mean, I know what to do in that situation, but…" He trailed off, his fingers tapping against the arm of his chair.

Aria leaned forward, her piercing gaze locking onto him through the screen. "The odds? Not great if you go in half-prepared. But the objective here is more manageable than you think. It's not about taking out all the enemies; it's about survival. Protecting one person until the savior is born. If you can focus on defense and evasion, your chances increase significantly."

Arlo chewed on her words, his mind already racing with ideas. "So, you think it's doable? With enough preparation?"

Aria hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I think you can do it, but you'll need to overprepare, not just prepare. Fortify yourself, stockpile resources, and plan for contingencies. There's no margin for error in this kind of scenario."

Taking a deep breath, Arlo nodded. "Alright. I'll take the risk." His voice was firm, his resolve clear.

"Are you sure?" Aria asked, her tone laced with concern. "C-rank isn't something to underestimate"

"I'm sure," Arlo replied, his determined gaze meeting hers. "I know the danger but the reward is worth it. Besides," he added with a faint determination in his eyes,

"I've got Link with me." Aria's expression softened slightly as Arlo reached over and lifted Link onto his lap, showing the energetic Rockruff to the screen. "Say hi, buddy."

Link barked happily, his tail wagging as if he understood the significance of the moment. Aria's lips twitched into a rare smile. "He's grown stronger. That'll help."

"Yeah, he's my secret weapon," Arlo said, ruffling Link's fur. "We'll handle this."

"Good," Aria replied, her tone shifting to something more serious. "But remember: survival is the goal. Don't get reckless. And call me if you need anything."

"Will do," Arlo promised. With that, the call ended, and the room fell silent once more.He looked down at Link, who tilted his head curiously. \

"Looks like we've got some work to do, buddy," Arlo said, his voice laced with anticipation. "Time to start prepping for the fight of our lives."

Link barked in agreement, and Arlo couldn't help but grin. "Alright, let's get started."

=================================================

The morning light filtered through the blinds as Arlo groggily opened his eyes. The faint hum of the Quantum Cube's automated systems filled the silence. Stretching, he got out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. After a quick shower with warm water—a routine he cherished for waking himself up, he emerged feeling refreshed, his messy hair combed back into something presentable.

Arlo dressed casually in a black t-shirt and gray sweatpants before heading to the small kitchenette to grab a glass of water. He glanced over to see Link still curled up in his bed, lightly snoring. A small smile tugged at Arlo's lips as he admired the peaceful sight.

Sinking onto the couch, he opened his brainLink screen and brought up his [Status window].

The familiar glowing text appeared in front of him, displaying his progress:

[Seer Potion Digestion Progress: 95%]

"Almost there," Arlo muttered to himself, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

He knew he was on the brink of advancing to the next sequence of the Fool pathway. 

Sequence 8: Clown. The name didn't exactly inspire confidence, but he had learned not to underestimate the peculiar nature of this path.

Arlo leaned back, recalling the ingredients required for the advancement potion. The main ingredients stood out vividly in his memory—A crystal of a matured Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat Horn and a Human-Faced Rose Complete Stalk. Supplementary items weren't as rare but would still need careful sourcing.

"Time to get to work," Arlo murmured.

He open the BrainLink's video call function, searching for Maria in his contacts. Moments later, her face appeared on the screen, her ever-enthusiastic smile brightening his morning.

"Arlo! Long time no see. What's up?" Maria greeted, her voice lively. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."

"Not a chance," Arlo replied with a chuckle. "I need your help sourcing some ingredients."

"Ah, so it's business. Figures," Maria teased, leaning back in her chair. "Alright, what do you need?"

Arlo quickly sent her a list of the required ingredients through email, ensuring to frame it as general potion-making supplies to avoid suspicion.

Maria's eyebrows shot up as she scanned the list. "Well, most of this is doable. I've got the Tornapple (Jimsonweed) Juice, Black-Rimmed Sunflower Powder, Golden Cloak Grass Powder, Poison Hemlock in stock. But the crystal of a matured Hornacis Gray Mountain Goat Horn? That's going to take some digging. Give me a few days, though—I know a guy."

"Figures it'd be the rare one," Arlo said with a sigh, but he nodded. "That's fine. Oh, and I'll need five low mana potions too."

Maria raised an eyebrow. "You're stocking up for something big, huh?" "Something like that," Arlo said nonchalantly, avoiding eye contact with the screen. He wasn't ready to spill the details of his upcoming quest just yet. "How much will it cost?"

Maria tapped her chin, doing the math in her head. "The crystal might set you back a bit, but the rest is standard. I'll give you a total once I secure everything."

"Sounds good," Arlo replied. "Thanks, Maria. You're a lifesaver."

"You owe me dinner for this," Maria said with a wink. "Don't think I've forgotten how stingy you can be."

"Deal," Arlo said, laughing. "I'll even throw in dessert."

As the call ended, Arlo leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. Arlo placing his order for silver plates, and carving tools via the HUBNet, Arlo paced his room while waiting for the confirmation of delivery. The tools and materials were relatively cheap, costing only 50 credits, but their importance to his plan was immense.

The [Slumber Charm] he envisioned could become a vital asset—especially for the quest he was about to undertake.

The concept of the Slumber Charm was both fascinating and dangerous. Arlo knew its ability to induce sleep within an area of effect was a double-edged sword. While it could incapacitate enemies, it didn't differentiate between friend and foe. The caster could mitigate its effects but not entirely avoid them. In battle, using it required precision and timing, skills Arlo had been honing since becoming a Pioneer.

Sitting down at his desk, Arlo began sketching out the initial designs for the charm. He imagined it as a small, disc-shaped item, compact enough to carry easily but intricate enough to hold the power he intended to imbue it with. The carvings on the silver plates would need to be precise, each symbol and rune contributing to the stabilization of the charm's energy.

As he worked, Arlo's gaze drifted to Freddy Krueger's leather bladed glove on the desk. Its dark, ominous energy seemed to pulse faintly, as if aware of his plans.

"You're the key," Arlo muttered, tapping the desk next to it. The glove's connection to dreams and nightmares made it a perfect catalyst for the Slumber Charm. If he could siphon its power correctly, the charm's effectiveness would increase exponentially.

However, extracting that power wasn't something Arlo could do alone. His research had made that abundantly clear. The process would require precision forging and a level of craftsmanship beyond his current abilities.

Arlo opened his BrainLink screen and searched for the delivery status of his materials. They were already on their way, scheduled to arrive within the 3 hours. In the meantime, he decided to jot down notes about the siphoning process. Using the glove as a power source was tricky—it carried residual energies tied to its previous owner's abilities. Harnessing that power without corrupting the charm would be a challenge.

"Looks like I'm paying him another visit," Arlo said to himself, standing up and stretching. He walked over to Link, who was still snoozing.

Kneeling down, he gently scratched behind the Rockruff's ears. "Wake up, sleepyhead. We've got work to do."

Link yawned, blinking up at Arlo before letting out a cheerful bark. As always, his partner's energy lifted Arlo's spirits. Together, they were ready to take the next steps in their journey.

=================================================

Arlo stood in his room, staring at Freddy Krueger's leather bladed glove on his desk. The twisted craftsmanship of the glove made him uneasy every time he looked at it, but its potential outweighed its grim aesthetic. He gently picked up the glove, its leather worn and scarred, the metal blades glinting faintly under the artificial light.

"Alright, Link, time for shopping," Arlo said, turning to his Rockruff. The small Pokémon barked enthusiastically, his tail wagging at the prospect of leaving the apartment.

Arlo grinned and took out the Luxury Ball.

"You know the drill." Link gave him a playful glare, as if to say, Really? Again?

"Sorry, buddy. Can't have you running around the taxi. I cannot leave you either behind ," Arlo assured him. With a reluctant bark, Link allowed himself to be recalled into the ball.

Arlo exited his Quantum Cube apartment and flagged down a taxi.

"Northern Shopping District, Blacksmith Street," he told the driver as he climbed in. As the car pulled away, he leaned back against the seat and gazed out the window, his mind churning with ideas.

Creating the charm would require more than just extracting power from the glove. Arlo remembered how Klein, the protagonist of Lord of the Mysteries, crafted unique items using arcane rituals and symbols.

"If Klein can make a 'Language of Foulness,' I can definitely manage a charm," Arlo muttered, a small smirk on his lips.

The taxi arrived at Blacksmith Street, the air buzzing with the sound of hammers on anvils and the occasional hiss of cooling metal.

Arlo stepped out, paid the driver 3 credits, and adjusted his backpack before strolling down the street. The bustling atmosphere reminded him of the crafting hubs in RPGs—artisans shouting deals, adventurers haggling over enchanted weapons, and the faint aroma of molten metal mixing with the scent of leather.

He reached [Battle Iron Shop] and pushed the door open. The familiar clang of metalwork greeted him, along with the sight of Darmir hammering away at a glowing sword. 

The dwarf looked up, his golden eyes lighting with recognition. "Well, if it isn't my favorite Pioneer! What brings you here, lad?"

Arlo raised the glove. "This monstrosity. I need your help siphoning the power out of it for a charm."

Darmir wiped his hands on his soot-stained apron, squinting at the glove. "Aye, that's a nasty piece of work. Where'd you get it? Horror movie memorabilia sale?"

"Something like that," Arlo said with a grimace. "But the power in it is no joke. I want to use it for a charm."

Darmir let out a low whistle, taking the glove from Arlo. "You've got ambition, I'll give you that. But siphoning power's no small task, lad. This'll require breaking the glove down. No going back once we start."

"I figured as much," Arlo replied. "Do what you need to do."

The blacksmith nodded and called out, "Grimar! Get over here!" A younger dwarf, his beard shorter but no less impressive, appeared from the back. His black hair was tied back, and his hands were already smudged with soot.

"This is Grimar Stonefist, my apprentice," Darmir said. "Grimar, meet Arlo. He needs to extract the power from this... whatever-this-is."

Grimar took one look at the glove and wrinkled his nose. "Looks like it crawled out of a horror flick. You sure this is safe?"

Arlo chuckled. "Safe? Not really. Effective? Absolutely."

Grimar nodded, his disgust replaced by curiosity. "Alright, I can handle it. We'll need to prep the forge for precision work, though. Darmir, we're gonna need the containment runes, too."

The older dwarf grinned. "Already ahead of you."

He turned to Arlo. "This'll take some time. You might as well grab a drink or look around. We'll call you when it's ready."

Arlo nodded and handed over the glove. "I want to see how the items is extracted."

Grimar gestured Arlo to follow him inside the shop.

As he stepped inside, the weight of the upcoming quest lingered in his thoughts. The Slumber Charm could be a game-changer, but its creation was only one piece of the puzzle.