Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 139: The New Weapon

Due to the consistent operation of the water pump, there was no need for her to worry about her water supply. Next came food; having always maintained a stockpile, she had also taken to growing her own fruits and vegetables.

The three little ones enjoyed wandering into the forest from time to time, occasionally foraging for wild delicacies. Upon inspection, she realized that her food reserves were quite abundant; as long as they exercised some self-restraint, they wouldn’t need to fret about food for the foreseeable future.

In fact, when all was accounted for, this bout of decay had surprisingly little impact on them. Athena could easily remain cocooned in her sanctuary until it all blew over.

During this period, her sole concern would be keeping an eye on the monsters attacking the shelter.

The gradual decay of all plant life was undoubtedly due to some underlying cause—perhaps the most significant threat of all—and those monsters were not to be underestimated.

Some players still relied on the white parcels to reorganize their supplies, yet the system had a troublesome habit of halting this functionality at critical moments. Players without rations were forced to venture out in search of food.

This would inevitably lead to competition with the monsters. Without plants to sustain them, those creatures would soon find themselves in dire straits. As time wore on, the competition between monsters and players would intensify.

Many monsters would likely go mad.

Unbeknownst to her, Athena had polished off the last of her rice. Unfortunately for her, it was now her turn to wash the dishes.

The three little ones, along with Grey, couldn’t help but snicker, though they kept their laughter discreet.

As the saying goes, "A bet is a bet." Athena offered no objections. She promptly rose, collecting the bowls and utensils from the table. Balancing the stack carefully, she made her way to the washroom and gently placed them in the small sink, preparing to start her cleaning duties. While the sink was compact, it was just about large enough for her dishes.

Meanwhile, the three little ones had already scurried past her, eager to set out on their hunt.

Perhaps because of the peculiar plants she had grown, they seemed to possess unique attributes or sensitivities, making them the first victims of the decay’s initial phase.

In contrast, the vast, verdant forest outside remained untouched, as if completely unaffected—if it weren’t for the fact that even the thorny vines had begun to wither. Were it not for this, Athena might not have noticed that decay had already set in.

The greatest pity was that even the plant spirits had felt the effects, forcing her to abandon any thoughts of relying on her garden.

Once she had tidied everything up, she returned to her room. Looking at the day’s haul, she considered the Golden Water Ring, the most useful item at present, though it left her feeling somewhat torn.

With her latest transfer, she was now able to carry two additional familiars, allowing her to select two out of the three little ones to accompany her.

Of course, Mikmik was a given, while Paopao and Witty were still uncertain choices.

From the outset, Athena had envisioned Witty as a dual-purpose entity: one that could transport goods while also serving as a capable attacker. To that end, she had outfitted it with a miniature turret.

However, she soon discovered that carrying it was quite cumbersome. Once Witty equipped the turret, while it could indeed attack, it could no longer perform its transport function.

Thus, the Golden Water Ring could prove invaluable for Witty, allowing it to stow the turret directly within the ring, alongside other items.

Should the situation require it, she could simply summon the turret and unleash its firepower, while Witty maintained the appearance of an innocuous little rabbit.

This was crucial; Mikmik’s shadow manipulation was both powerful and handy, often enabling it to pilfer various items. The Golden Water Ring would be tremendously useful for it, especially since Mikmik had been the one to bring the ring back initially.

Bestowing the ring upon anyone wouldn’t be a loss; perhaps she’d wait for the three little ones to return before letting them decide.

Next on her agenda was the gear she had acquired.

[Black Iron Ring]

Rarity: Rare

Category: Ring

Description: An ordinary black ring that may even appear somewhat cheap. But do not underestimate it; when worn, your defence increases by 2.

[Black Iron Bracelet]

Rarity: Rare

Category: Bracelet

Description: An ordinary bracelet, exceedingly inexpensive, yet upon wearing it, your defence will also increase by 2.

To her surprise, the system’s Black Iron set emphasised defensive capabilities. In truth, equipping both would yield a significant boost to her defensive stats, yet she had always preferred attack-oriented gear.

As she adorned herself with both items, she couldn’t help but marvel at how she had amassed such an array of accessories: earrings, necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

If she were to acquire more items of this nature, she might soon find every finger adorned, evoking a sense of burgeoning wealth. The key was that each piece had its own unique characteristics, completely distinct from one another.

Just as she finished putting them on, the system displayed yet another panel for the Black Iron set.

[Black Iron Set]

Rarity: Unique

Category: Wearable Item

Attributes: Equip two to trigger set bonuses; Strength +2; each additional item increases aura by 10%.

Description: The Black Iron set comprises five components: two bracelets, two rings, and one necklace.

How impressive! The set even offered individual bonuses. Regrettably, Athena could only trigger the +2 Strength bonus at present.

She felt no regret, though. While achieving a score of 90 or above on this task would reward her with the entire set, acquiring all the components was out of reach—especially considering their so-called ‘prince’ and the formidable Babron.

Previously, she had obtained three packages. Deciding against keeping them, she resolved to open them all at once.

Regardless of the outcome, she was confident in her ability to handle whatever awaited her. Besides, there was no one around to witness her actions.

Eyeing the three silver parcels on the ground, she steeled herself and reached for the first.

[Special Event Card 1]

Rarity: Unique

Category: Quest

Description: A magical card that unlocks the potential for greater resources. Activate it to trigger a random special event, tailored to your current situation and environment.

As she opened this peculiar item, a frown creased Athena’s brow. “What on earth? This too?”

Without hesitation, she reached for the second parcel, determined to continue.

Then she quickly tore open the third.

[Firearms Skill Scroll: Mastery]

Rarity: Rare

Category: Scroll

Description: Open it without hesitation; your understanding and proficiency with firearms will be elevated to mastery level.

[Black Friday]

Rarity: Unique

Category: Sniper Rifle

Attributes: Penetration 10; Range 500m; Critical hit chance 80%; Headshot chance 30%; Shatter effect 20%.

Description: Times have changed; strike with precision from seven steps away, and with speed and accuracy from closer range. This weapon must be used in a concealed position, with a distance of over 500m.