Chapter 780 - One more party member (Patreon)

Before starting the process, Hera looked at her status windows to ensure she knew what was going on.

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Hera Quetzaveth -- Role: Explorer Level: 39
Legacy: Court of Blades [Blades]
Title: Mana Touched, Wardbearer, Ophidianite Progenitor
Total Stats:  660
Strength:  110 Endurance: 110
Agility:  110 Charisma:  110
Intelligence: 110  Luck:  110
Mana:   4 356 942/4 356 942
Passive Mana Regeneration: 5 882/s (10 587/s with items)
Active Mana Regeneration: 11 255/s   (20 260/s with items)
Remaining attribute points: 0

Skills:
Legacy:
Court Ruler, Courtship, Bestow Title, Army of One, Revocation of Nobility,
Royal Quest, Bestow Gift, Royal Seal, Venomous Arsenal, Blade Graveyard

Passive:
Exponential Growth (21)
Observe 3
Treasure Map
Handaxe Combat 3, Chakram Combat 3, Glaive Combat 3, Sword Combat 3, Two-handed Sword Combat 2,
Dagger Combat 3, Scimitar combat 1, Axe combat 1, War Axe Combat 1, Knife Combat 2, Tonfa Combat 2, Rapier Combat 1
Wire Trap Style 3, Subtle Strike 4, Dorohla style 4
Battle Dancer 3, Attack Pathing 2, Synchronized Battle 3
Dodge 4, Run 4, Improved Stamina 5, Flee 2, Jump 2
Mana Recovery 5, Mana sensitivity 4 , Shaper of Mana 2 , Mana Vessel, Reinforced Mana 2
Improved Regeneration 3
Ailment Mastery 3, Poison Mastery 2, Allergy Mastery 1,  Chain Mastery 1 , Regeneration Mastery 1,
Earth Mastery 1, Lightning Mastery 1, Sound Mastery 1, Frost Mastery 1, Lava Mastery 1, Steel Mastery 1
Elemental Mana Mastery
Earth resistance 2, Wind resistance 2, Water resistance 2, Sturdy Body 4,
Magic Armor Proficiency 3  
Nature connection 1
Silver Lining 2
Ancient language 5
Pathfinder 1

Ophidianite Skills:
Ophidianite Scales 3, Ophidianite Poison 6, Ophidianite Vigor 1(+1), Ophidianite Sight 1(+1),
Ophidianite Mana Sense 1(+1), Ophidianite Resistance 1(+1), Ophidianite Regeneration 1(+1), Ophidianite Adaptation 1(+1)

Active:
All in 2
Inspect 2
Hide 4, Sneak Attack 3
Weapon Maintenance 4, Weapons Rebalance 3, Weapon Break 2
Etching 4
Medical Reference 3, Identify Ailment 1
Green Thumb 2
Chain of Command 5
Poison Coating 3
Toxic Mist
Grasshopper Stab 1 (+1), Grasshopper Slash 1 (+1)

Role Skills:
Local Guide
Private Room, Meeting Room
Explorer's Assassinate
Explorer's Map
Hunter's Catalogue, Explorer's Hunt
Explorer's Research
Explorer's Blueprint
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Understanding her attributes and how much of them should go to the new titled blades, Hera turned to Daskka. The herald, explained how this would work. It was very much like what she did with Nimbus and Livy. All Hera had to do was place both the weapons and the stone together and perform the ritual.

"Before we start… Is this going to count as one or two blades?" the Empress turned to Daskka.

"Only one. According to the system, the daggers are a single item, so the legacy follows that logic."

"And… will they, like, merge together when they are in their person form?" Hera turned to Crimson and Viper.

"I… don't know. Maybe? Maybe it will be like a two-headed snake," Daskka replied.

"Oh…" Hera turned to the two in question. Viper and Crimson, "Are you two ok with this? I mean, if the two of you merge in a single entity," there was a pause before the Ophidianite added, "If you want some time to decide, that's fine too."

'Can we? I think we need to have a conversation in this case,' Viper turned to Crimson, who nodded in response.

"Of course. I'll be doing some things here," Hera turned around. She still had the scroll, and since it worked with Scryotra's Gratitude, she wanted to use it on her Ophidianite Bracelet. Using the same process as before, she triggered the effect and watched as the lights started to dance and spread across the drawing. This time, however, the extra motes of lights reached every single one of the pictures, from the jungles to the desert and even the large flying snake in the back. All 10 drawings in the mural glowed, with the lights jumping one by one on her bracelet.

When it was over, the shape stayed the same, but now, instead of pure silver, each snake had a colorful pattern. Some were green, others red or blue. Almost like the variations one would see in the wild. Everything was in shades of silver, with the details showing their uniqueness. When it was over, the scroll could no longer be used and was now just a very pretty painting that Hera would hang somewhere in her house. There was no change in the name of the bracelet. However, one of the benefits changed, and it got one very interesting new ability.

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Serpent's Grove - Bracelet
Rarity: Legendary
Bound to Hera Quetzaveth

A bracelet was created together with the first Ophidianite. It links the Ophidianites with their heritage and proves that the owner of this item is who should guide the species to the future.
100% increased effectiveness when using Ophidianite skills.
80% increase in mana growth.
80% increase in mana regeneration.
80% increased Ophidianite skill growth rate.
70% reduction in damage taken.

Skills:
Rattle
By shaking the bracelet, you can trigger a sound like a snake rattle. This sound can affect allies or enemies depending on the effect chosen.
- Warning Rattle: Can only be heard by those the user considers allies.
Cost: 2 000 mana for each 2 km
- Battle Rattle: All allies who hear this sound will have their strongest attribute increased by 60% for 30 minutes.
Cost: 50 000 mana for each 300 m
- Threatening Rattle: All enemies who hear this sound will have their weakest attribute reduced by 50% for the next 21 minutes
Cost: 50 000 mana for each 150 m
- Death Rattle: All those who hear this sound, aside from the user, will receive 200% extra damage from all sources for 2 minutes.
Cost: 300 000 mana for each 100 m  Cooldown: 24h
Only a single Rattle may be active at a time.

Pit of Snakes:
You can store mana inside this bracelet to create a number of snakes that will emerge from it when called. The number of snakes is proportional to the amount of mana in the bracelet, and their strength is proportional to the wearer. The bracelet cannot have more mana than its current wearer.
The snakes can perform simple tasks and listen to basic commands. They can also be used to create a makeshift altar or ritual circle as long as the wearer presents the image to them.
The wearer can also ask one of the snakes to share their senses with them. That can be done with a single snake at a time, and said snake will become unable to share their senses again unless they are resummoned.
Maximum number of snakes summoned: 30
Current Mana: 3 935 219/3 935 219

Ophidianite Essence
Every 24 hours, you can make a small amount of Ophidianite Essence to drip from the bracelet. You can make two 50 ml vials with this skill. By drinking a single of these vials, it is possible to increase the rank of an Ophidianite skill or learn a new Ophidianite skill if there is one available. Drinking the essence daily can increase the chances of getting these effects.
A person can only receive the benefits of a single vial each day.
Any essence that is not consumed will vanish after 240 hours.
Current Available Vials of Essence 10/10

Ophidianite Ascension
If a person who has not undergone another ascension drinks the Ophidianite Essence while having at least one Ophidianite skill at rank 5 or higher, they will be offered a chance to transform into an Ophidianite.
As per the will of its creator, the bracelet cannot be destroyed by acid.
Only an Ophidianite can wear this bracelet.

Future Ophidianite
The owner of this bracelet can remove one of the snakes that shape it and give it to someone else as an item bound to them, being unable to use an of its effects when being worn by another person. When doing so, the number of snakes that can be summoned will be reduced by 1, and the number of Vials of Essence that can be created will be reduced by 1.
To recuperate those charges, you must retrieve and reattach the created bracelet to the main body of the bracelet.
The new bracelet will be called 'Bracelet of the Future Ophidianite,' and it will have the following skills:
40% Increased Ophidianite skill growth rate.
Can create a single vial of essence every 24 hours.
It can also be used to trigger the Ophidianite Ascension.

After the ascension, the Bracelet of the Future Ophidianite won't go through any changes and can be retrieved normally.

Only Hera Quetzaveth can transfer ownership of this item.
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"Well… aside from the extra boost to increase my Ophidianite skills and the look. This solves a very big problem," Hera said with a smile.

"No kidding. It's almost like the system wants you to be able to spread the new species," Daskka rolled her eyes.

"OK, fine. I know it's kind of expected, but at the same time, I didn't expect it to do this," Hera huffed.

'Hera?' Viper called, making the entire court turn to them.

"Do you have an answer?" the Empress asked.

'We do,' Crimson nodded, 'We want to be your next titled blade. Even if that might mean we will become someone different.'

"Are you sure?" Hera asked, feeling the uneasiness that the rest of the court felt.

'We are. We've been with you for a long time, and we want to be able to help,' Viper added. Every court member took this opportunity to thank the two and say their goodbyes, just in case. After a while, the Ophidianite continued.

"Ok then," Hera took Scryotra's Gratitude from her pouch and placed both daggers in an X shape, with the stone between the two blades, "Are you ready?"

'Yes!' the twins replied.

Hera closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. No one paid attention to her eyes, but if they did, they would see that they had a swirling shine that followed all the colors of the rainbow. Very similar to the pool of mana where she earned her first title, "Viper, Crimson. I invite you to walk alongside me through my life. This does not come simply due to your origin but also your bravery and dedication to the court. I ask you to become my Spymasters. For even if you two join in a single body, we will never forget from where you came. I hope you can use your powers of poison and blood to protect not just me, not just the court, but all those who we hold dear. Do that which Scryotra was barred from. Become your own version of guardian beasts."

With a sound very similar to an egg cracking, the physical form of the gratitude broke, letting out a plume of dark smoke. It was somewhat similar to the form Daskka took during the dungeon run they did last. That black mist covered both daggers, swirling around them for a few moments before vanishing completely, taking the weapons and the stone along with them.

"Did it… work?" Livy asked with a confused expression.

"I'm not su-" before Hera could finish her sentence, someone else replied.

"Yeah, it did. I have fingers!" Crimson's voice was still very bubbly and excited.

"You do know they can't see us right now, right? You can wave all you want. That won't change a thing," Viper let out a familiar sigh. His voice was also a bit high-pitched but masculine. Everyone else could still recognize those voices, but they were different. Like they were teenagers who just went through their voice change.

Hera could still feel the two of them, including where they actually were, but she had to focus on perceiving the two. She wasn't able to see them properly, but she could make out their outline. Both of them had bodies very similar to a Naga, with long tails that allowed them to move around instead of legs. They also had two arms, and the shape of their had seemed a bit odd. It wasn't snake-like, as the Naga should be.

The two deactivated their stealth skill and appeared for the group. Viper had white scales all around his body with red eyes. He was lean and not very tall, especially when compared with the rest of the titled blades. The top of his head would be a bit above the Empress shoulder. Like Hera imagined, he looked a lot like a Naga. At least his body was extremely similar. But his face was vastly different. It was covered in scales, and he had no hair, but the shape of the skull was somewhere between an Ophidianite and a Naga. Almost as if it was the missing link between the two species. His mouth was a bit more pronounced, and his lips would split on his chin. There was also another noticeable split closer to his cheek. Unlike Hera, Viper didn't have a nose or ears. Viper was very similar to her brother. She was a bit shorter and more muscular, and her scales were in shades of Crimson, like fresh blood with a wavy pattern in a darker shade similar to the ones in the dagger form. On a closer inspection, Viper also had the same pattern, although mirrored. However, since he was white on white, it was harder to notice it. Crimson's eyes were a silvery white, just like Viper's scales, but those were the only differences. Color aside, their faces were identical. In a way, they looked alien or as if they were one of the lizard people who conspiracy theories said ruled the world in secret.

Seeing the two first titled blades that were actually smaller than her, the Empress gasped, "You two are so cute!"

"I know! I knew I was going to be pretty," Crimson puffed her chest, showing that, unlike Hera, she didn't have any breasts.

"How can you know you are pretty? Have you seen yourself?" Nimbus asked.

"Yeah, actually," Crimson smirked but stopped talking.

Viper rolled his eyes, "This is not a secret, and they need to know," he turned to the rest of the group, "Maybe it's because we are one item, but we can see what each other sees. It's like that ever since the beginning."

"Now that you mentioned, I can do the same things with my tonfas. But I'm not split in two," Nimbus turned to Daskka.

"Hey, don't look at me. I have no clue why that happens like that. I only explain what the legacy is going to do," the herald hid behind Hera's back.

There was a knock on the door, "Goldilocks? Everyone is here already. Do you need more time?"

Hera turned to the Spymasters, "Can I introduce you to everyone?"

"Of course!" Crimson smiled.

"Yeah. I want to talk with everyone," Viper nodded.

Hera got up and walked out of the room she was using to create her new titled blade, feeling happy that it worked and that the two of them were able to remain as a duo. Another part of her was happy that they were smaller than the rest. Having her titled blades all being large brutes made things hard, but now, she had even more options when traveling in the MAZE.