Overgeared: Babylon

After coming back from battle with Yatan Church, they are welcomed by residents of Patrian who heard a rumor about them that they will battle Yatan Chruch, and seeing them come back as a whole with victorious grins plastered on their faces, the residents erupted in cheers as they throw celebration for their heroes.

After the joyous short celebration in the city square, Gilgamesh, Kaeul, and the knights made their way to Earl Ashur's castle. Though the residents' cheers still echoed in their ears, they knew their duty was far from over. The battle against Yatan's Believers had been won, but the war was far from finished.

As they approached the castle gates, the guards recognized Garrett and stepped aside, allowing them entry without question. The halls of the castle were grand yet austere, adorned with banners and tapestries that depicted the Earl's lineage and victories. The air was thick with the scent of polished wood and the faint hum of activity.

They were led to the Earl's private chamber, where he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out of a large window that overlooked the city. The room was spacious but sparsely decorated, with only a few pieces of furniture and a large map of the region spread across a table. Earl Ashur turned as they entered, his sharp eyes immediately locking onto Kaeul.

"I take it your attack has been successful?" the Earl asked, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of expectation.

Kaeul stepped forward and bowed deeply, his tone respectful but serious. "Yes, my lord. The Believers' hideout has been destroyed, and their forces have been scattered. However…" He hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "There is something you need to know."

Earl Ashur's expression remained stoic, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "Continue."

Kaeul straightened, his gaze steady as he delivered his report. "During the assault, we noticed a significant increase in the number of Yatan's followers. While their individual strength was weak, their numbers were overwhelming. This suggests that Yatan's influence is spreading faster than we anticipated."

Earl Ashur's jaw tightened, his hands clenching behind his back. He turned back to the window, his gaze fixed on the city below. "This is troubling news," he said after a long pause. "If Yatan's influence continues spreading, it means their reach is far greater than we thought. They're no longer confined to the shadows. They're becoming a threat to the entire region."

After a long pause, Earl Ashur then continues while looking at the horizon. "Increase patrol around the city, and immediately report if something amiss. We cannot let Yatan Chruch get their claws into our territory.

But for now, you can go back and get some rest. You deserve it."

[Quest 'Eradicate Yatan's Believers' has been cleared.]

[Affinity with Earl Ashur has risen to 30.]

[Affinity with Kaeul has risen to 40.]

[Affinity with Aldric has risen to 50.]

[Affinity with Thorne....

.....

[5.000 gold have been acquired.]

[20.000 experience has been acquired.]

[Your level has risen.]

[The title Bane of Yatan Chruch has been acquired!]

[Bane of Yatan Chruch]

An enemy of Yatan Chruch after successfully thwarting Yatan Church's plan over and over again.

Rebecca's, Judar's, and Dominon's Church will welcome you if you come to their doorstep.

*All stats +20.

*Increase damage dealt to Yatan's believers.

*Warning: Yatan's believers will be hostile toward you and kill you on sight.

"Hehe, nice~" Gilgamesh hummed with a happy expression as he exited the castle grounds, he looked at the barrage of notifications in front of him, rewards after clearing the quest. Noticing now that his level has risen once again, he is now at level 23. He then shifted his gaze to the Blackthorn Forest, a place where's the ruin located.

"Huhu, there must be some treasure if Yatan's believer decided to stay here~"

***

The ruins stood silent and foreboding under the pale light of the moon. The air was still, the oppressive weight of dark magic that had once permeated the area now absent. Gilgamesh stepped cautiously through the crumbling archway, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger.

Despite the eerie silence, Gilgamesh remained alert. He trusted his instincts to guide him through whatever traps or surprises the Believers might have left behind. His goal was clear: find the treasure or item the Believers had been protecting. There was no way they had set up camp in these ruins without a reason, and Gilgamesh was determined to uncover their secrets and take whatever it was.

The ruins were a maze of crumbling walls, overgrown vines, and shattered statues. The moonlight cast long shadows, making it difficult to distinguish between what was real and what was merely a trick of the light.

"Huh," Gilgamesh murmured, crouching to examine a peculiar marking on the ground. It was a faintly glowing sigil, barely visible in the dim light. "A trap, huh? Nice try."

He carefully stepped around the sigil, his instincts warning him not to trigger it. As he moved forward, he spotted more of the markings, each one more intricate than the last. The Believers had clearly gone to great lengths to protect whatever was hidden here.

After what felt like an eternity of navigating traps and dead ends, Gilgamesh finally found what he was looking for—a hidden chamber concealed behind a false wall. The entrance was cleverly disguised, but Gilgamesh's keen eye had caught the subtle irregularities in the stonework.

"Bingo," he said with a grin, pushing the wall aside to reveal a narrow passage. The air inside was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and something metallic. Gilgamesh drew his sword, the blade glowing faintly in the darkness, and stepped inside.

The passage led to a large, circular chamber. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, their meanings lost to time. Around the room, there are a bunch of large chests filled with gold and weapons but Gilgamesh attention was not on any of them. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it rested a small, ornate chest. The chest was adorned with intricate engravings and glowed faintly with a dark, pulsating light.

Gilgamesh's grin widened. "There you are. Let's see what you're hiding."

He approached the pedestal cautiously, his instincts screaming at him to be careful. As he reached for the chest, a voice echoed through the chamber, cold and menacing.

"You should not have come here."

Gilgamesh froze, his hand hovering inches from the chest. He turned slowly, his sword at the ready, and saw a figure emerge from the shadows. It was a man clad in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. But what caught Gilgamesh's attention were the man's eyes—they glowed with the same dark light as the chest.

"And who might you be?" Gilgamesh asked, his tone casual but his grip on his sword tightening.

The man stepped forward, his voice dripping with malice. "I am the keeper of this place, the guardian of Yatan's will. You have defiled our sanctuary, and for that, you will pay."

Gilgamesh smirked, his confidence unshaken. "Big words for someone who's about to get his butt kicked. Let's see if you can back them up."

The man raised his hand, and the chamber was filled with a blinding darkness. When it faded, Gilgamesh found himself surrounded by shadowy figures, their eyes glowing with the same dark light as the chest.

"Oh, great," Gilgamesh muttered, his grin never wavering. "More of you."

The shadowy figures lunged at Gilgamesh, their movements swift and unnatural. But Gilgamesh was faster. His sword flashed through the air, cutting down the figures with precision and ease. Despite their numbers, they were no match for his skill and instincts.

[You have avoided all attacks from an enemy who is stronger than you.]

[Indomitable has opened.]

[Indomitable]

Has a certain probability of invalidating a portion of the incoming damage. The lower the health, the higher the probability.

* The higher the number, the higher the effect.

* Stat points can't be distributed to this stat.

"Hehe, Neat~" Gilgamesh commented after looking at his notification windows.

The hooded man watched from the sidelines, his expression hidden but his frustration evident. "You cannot win," he hissed. "Yatan's power is limitless. You are but a mortal, destined to fall."

Gilgamesh laughed, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. Save the monologue for someone who cares."

With a final, powerful strike, Gilgamesh dispatched the last of the shadowy figures. He turned to the hooded man, his sword pointed at him. "Your turn."

The hooded figure's face twisted into a snarl, his voice dripping with malice. "You really believe you can harm me?"

Gilgamesh smirked, his grip tightening on his sword. "Of course."

"Foolish!" the hooded figure roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. He stretched out his hand, and a surge of dark energy coalesced into a concentrated beam of black magic. The beam shot toward Gilgamesh with terrifying speed, aimed directly at his heart.

Gilgamesh reacted instantly, his reflexes honed by countless battles. He twisted his body to avoid the lethal strike, but the beam grazed his shoulder, searing through his armor and flesh. The pain was sharp and immediate, forcing a grunt from his lips.

"Gahh-!"

[You have received 430 damage.]

Gilgamesh staggered back, his free hand clutching his wounded shoulder. Blood seeped through his fingers, but his smirk never wavered. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. "I overestimated myself after all."

The hooded figure sneered, his confidence growing. "Know your place, mortal. You are nothing before the power of Yat-!"

But before the hooded figure could finish his taunt, Gilgamesh's eyes suddenly gained a focused glint. His gaze locked onto the hooded figure, sharp and unyielding, like a predator sizing up its prey. The intensity of that look sent a shiver down the hooded figure's spine, a strange and unfamiliar pressure settling over him.

"You talk too much," Gilgamesh said, his voice low and dangerous.

The air in the chamber seemed to grow heavier as Gilgamesh straightened, his wound forgotten. His sword glowed faintly, the light growing brighter with each passing second. The hooded figure hesitated, his confidence wavering as he felt the shift in Gilgamesh's aura.

"What… what are you?" the hooded figure stammered, taking an involuntary step back.

Gilgamesh didn't answer. Instead, he surged forward, his movements a blur of speed and precision. The hooded figure barely had time to raise his hands, summoning a barrier of dark energy to block the attack. But Gilgamesh's sword cut through the barrier like paper, the force of the strike sending the hooded figure stumbling backward.

"Impossible!" the hooded figure shouted, his voice tinged with panic. "No mortal can break through Yatan's protection!"

Gilgamesh's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Guess I'm full of surprises."

[Title Bane of Yatan Chruch has taken effect!]

The hooded figure snarled, his fear giving way to rage. He raised his hands again, summoning a swarm of shadowy tendrils that lashed out at Gilgamesh. The tendrils moved with unnatural speed, but Gilgamesh was faster. He dodged and weaved through the attacks, his sword flashing as he cut through the tendrils with ease.

With each strike, Gilgamesh closed the distance between them, his relentless assault forcing the hooded figure onto the defensive. The chamber was filled with the sound of clashing energy and the hooded figure's increasingly desperate shouts.

Finally, Gilgamesh saw his opening. The hooded figure, overwhelmed and exhausted, left himself vulnerable for a split second. It was all Gilgamesh needed.

With a powerful leap, Gilgamesh closed the gap, his sword glowing with radiant wind energy. The hooded figure's eyes widened in terror as he realized what was coming, but it was too late. Gilgamesh's blade pierced through the dark barrier and struck true, cutting deep into the hooded figure's chest.

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 4.677 damage to the target.]

"Kuaackkk!!"

The hooded figure gasped, his body convulsing as dark energy erupted from the wound. He stumbled back, his form beginning to dissolve into shadow. "This… this cannot be…"

"Told you I'd win." Gilgamesh then spins his sword inside the hooded figure's chest and brings it upward, splitting his head in half.

[Critical!]

[You have dealt 6.890 damage to the target.]

[You have killed Azra the guardian of amulet.]

[15.578 experience has been acquired.]

[You have acquired Shadow Orb.]

[Shadow Orb]

Rating: Epic

Durability: 90/130

Magic Damage: +8%

Shadow attack power: +12%

Number of spells that can be stored: 3

A powerful orb was used after Azra was appointed as Yatan's believer and assigned to guard their treasure.

User Restriction: Level 50 or higher. More than 250 intelligence.

Weight: 75

Gilgamesh sheathed his sword and approached the chest, his grin returning. "Now, let's see what all the fuss was about."

He opened the chest, revealing a small, intricately crafted amulet. The amulet was made of a dark, shimmering metal and bore the sigil of Yatan. It pulsed with a faint, ominous light, as if alive.

Gilgamesh picked up the amulet, his expression thoughtful. "Well, aren't you a creepy little thing? I bet you're worth a fortune."

As he examined the amulet, a system notification appeared before his eyes.

[Amulet of Yatan's Will]

Rating: Unique

Durability: 36/36

Defense: 24

* Intelligence +50

* Dark magic resistance +50%

* Warning: carries a risk of corruption, prolonged use may result in adverse effects

"Fuck of course it's cursed. Why wouldn't it be?" Gilgamesh cursed under his breath after reading the warning of the amulet.

Though it's unfortunate that the amulet is cursed, but Gilgamesh does not let it dwell in him. He then shifted his gaze toward other chests that were filled with golds, swords, and some armor.

"Now what we got here...oh?"

[Nightedge]

Rating: Epic

Durability: 432/432

Attack Power: 329

Critical Chance: +4%

Attack Speed: +8%

* The skill 'Dark Slash' will be generated.

A one-handed broadsword that can increase attack speed. It is infused with some dark energy so it can emit an arc around the wielder.

User Restriction: Level 50 or higher. More than 150 in strength

[Dark Slash]

A skill attached to Nightedge.

All enemies in an arc will receive damage that is equal to 300% of your current physical attack.

Skill Mana Cost: 150

"It's a good sword, but... I still can't use it yet." Gilgamesh said with a sad sigh, after reading the level restriction for using the sword.

"Maybe it is time to focus on rising my level."