Ines made her decision, and decided to join our Quartz management session. We then all looked back on the table. Each Quartz was a different size, and also had different colors. Each one is made to primarily assist us in battle, but they have a wide variety of effects. Some could boost your endurance, some could boost your combat power, and even make you faster.
On top of all of that, these Quartz are tailor-made to the Generation III model. Unlike future models you'd see later on in Cold Steel and beyond, Generation III manages Quartz differently. The more you install, the wider range of Arts you gain access to. We liked to call this Quartz Math when I played through the games. I also remember Daybreak was going to breathe life back into this system too, and it became much more expanded.
Right now ours are only the Generation III models, but ours are customized, so really, they appear closer to the Generation IV models that will roll out in a couple years to the general market. You'd see these used throughout all of SKy. Then comes Generation V, the Enigma and Arcus units. Up until the Enigma is where you'd see Quartz Math still being used. Once things switch over to the Arcus Combat Orbments, that's where it gets real interesting. You no longer have Quartz Math.
Instead of one collective pool that unlocks Arts the more you install, it becomes completely different, where the Art itself is installed on a Quartz. The beneficial effects remain, but you gain the ability to cast a singular Art, or perhaps more. Take Mind I for example. If Mind 1 gives a +10% ATS Boost and a -10% ADF decrease, you could potentially see Tear and Aqua Bleed now on said Quartz, available to cast whenever you have it equipped.
Stuff like that. As I recalled how Combat Orbments worked, Angelica spoke out next, which continued the ongoing conversation. For some reason, she had a smile on her lips as she began to speak.
"Well this is fine and all. I'm curious about the kinds of effects we'll see. I see a lot here that don't circulate the market, so I guess this ability of yours customized some.", Angelica said, grabbing one of the Quartz, and had a look at it. She picked one she hadn't seen before. "As far as my foundations go, they're pretty solid now. I've been dabbling in Arts on the side and that does mean I have my own Combat Orbment. I just have a little request~"
"I...don't like where this is going.", I uttered. As I said that, I saw Angelica turn her body my way, and squared her positioning. She could now be seen facing me. Angelica then puffed her chest out, allowing me to have a good look at it, despite being hidden in her clothes.
"All you have to do is stick your hand in there to get my Combat Orbment~", Angelica teased, keeping her chest puffed out toward me.
"We're really going there?", I shot back, squinting my eyes at her.
"Try me. You're the one who signed up for this, buddy. You're getting the full package here. All Angelica, and nobody else.", Angelica retorted, becoming serious.
I mean, Angelica isn't wrong. I knew very well what entering a relationship with Angelica entailed. She was playful, that's for sure. So I subjected myself to her whims again, and resigned to my fate. I reached my hand out, and felt two extremely soft mounds underneath. It's just what I felt when I first woke up this morning with Ennea beside me, haha!
Seeing me do this, Angelica smiled. After enjoying a moment by "digging in", sure enough, I felt something cold and metallic. I slid it off her neck, and it was the very same necklace that Kloe uses for her own Combat Orbment. I wonder, did those two go shopping at some point without me, and picked these out? I have a feeling that happened.
"Haha, you should see the look on your face.", Angelica said, seeing her teasing now done. I had her Combat Orbment in my hand now. But before I could do anything, I saw Angelica suddenly lean forward, and moved her head toward mine. She planted a quick kiss on my lips, just like how she did it the first time back at the hot springs.
"Oh my.", Ennea said, seeing this kiss. Even Kloe raised her eyebrows, not expecting Angelica to do that. But before we could say anything else, she retreated back into her own chair, and a serious look appeared in her eyes.
"I don't know what you're about to do considering this is a "mission" from those snakes and all, but please come back to us, alright? You're in a position that will hurt others more than it'll do to you.", Angelica requested. "And that scarred-face guy too. He's dangerous. I know he's your companion, Ennea, but he seems to be the least trustworthy of those people I met last night."
"Angie...", I uttered, seeing Angelica's sincerity. I could only nod my head at her. She's referring to the Oathbreaker here. Her words remain true. This is the one guy you shouldn't trust one bit, up until a certain point at least. His title is taken quite literally. He's known to break every single oath or promise that he gives someone. He'll backstab you without remorse. That is, if you form an "oath", with him. Just that alone makes him extremely dangerous. I was also told he knows how to create potent toxins too, and that doesn't help one bit.
"That just goes to show you'll need all the strength you can get your hands on, Naoto. Even if it gets applied externally by Combat Orbments. These devices are meant to supplement our strength in various ways, and can be considered an extension of ourselves.", Kloe said, nodding her head at Angelica's words. As Kloe said that, she placed her own Combat Orbment down on the table. Following that Ennea placed hers, then Ines. It ended with me placing mine down, alongside Angelica's Combat Orbment for a total of five.
There are hundreds of Quartz on the table before us. Plenty to go around to install Quartz on these five devices. And now is the main question at hand.
"I hear you, Kloe. I don't plan to head out without being fully prepared. The question is, who wants to go first? We've five Combat Orbments present, and plenty of Quartz to go around.", I asked, looking at everyone.
"Isn't that obvious, Master?", Ennea replied, looking my way. "These Quartz belong to you, so you should be the one to make the decision. I don't think any of us will object to that."
"Ennea makes a fair point, Your Highness. You're already doing me a favor by strengthening my Combat Orbment. If anything, the Stahlritter will owe you a favor after this. We will address this to Our Lord's once we get a chance to.", Ines said, chiming in.
Another favor from Arianrhod, eh? Sounds nice if you ask me.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. We'll determine this by our battle formation. Ennea, you'll be attacking from long range, right?", I asked Ennea.
"Yes. I now have expertise using attacking with a bow. I can support our rear with long-ranged attacks and supporting Arts. My primary element is WInd now, with the secondary being Time."
Wind and Time, eh? That's a pretty interesting combination.
"And I will assist your battle on the frontline, Your Highness. I am a close-range combatant. I can mow down our enemies with powerful swings and jabs. I can move around pretty quickly too, despite my stature. Because of that, my primary element is Fire, and the secondary one is Wind."
So Ines is Fire and Wind. Two very powerful and offensive elements.
"So Ines is Fire and Wind, while Ennea is Wind and Time. As for me, I have two primary elements, Fire and Water. My secondary is Space.", I said, explaining my position.
"Fire and Water. Two opposing elements. They say Combat orbments are synced up to our own person, so it really makes you ponder how yours came about that.", Angelica mused, hearing what elements I had.
"Haha...", I said, letting out a dry laugh. You really know how to take a jab at me, don't you Angelica? With what I have discussed with His Imperial Majesty while I was back in Erebonia, I learned that my mother's lineage really did come from the fallen Phoenix House, which reformed the Great Houses into the Five Great Houses. Turns out they're distant relatives of the Arnors. Even more distant than how I am to Kloe, so there shouldn't be any problems there. But just that alone, I have Arnor blood running through my veins. Father really created such a bastard son, didn't he?
That's also why I can even participate in the Vermillion Trials in the first place. The Arnor blood that runs through my veins is practically non-existent with how thin it is, so I have no idea why the Vermillion Knight chose me, when he could have chosen Prince Cedric like the mech did in the games, or even Prince Olivert. Even Prince Olivert's blood is thicker than mine. But eh, it'll give me an opportunity to pilot a mech in the future. And that I am very much looking forward to~
As to where the Water element came from, obviously the Auslese blood within me. No further explanation needed on that. Space, on the other hand, I can't exactly be privy to. Roselia is the sole exception to that. It likely determined that I came from another place, and it assigned me the Space element as my secondary one. Not that I'm complaining. It'll allow me to use a very powerful, custom Quartz I received in one of my Quests.
"A pretty interesting setup in my opinion. Mine is quite simple. It is purely Water. That's what Liberl's royalty is known for. They're skilled in casting Water Arts.", Kloe explained. That's right. Even though I had Kloe's Combat Orbment customized, her element slots still synced up to what she had in the games. Normal Generation III Combat Orbments only have six slots. Generation IV has the same at the beginning, but gets upgraded within the same year to unlock one more slot, for a total of seven.
As for what Kloe and I have, we have nine slots, which allow for three elemental slots. I made it so it matches Father's customized Combat Orbment. Even with it being Generation III, it still allows enough orbal energy onto its circuits and does not get burnt to a crisp. It's already been tested and everything, so we don't have to worry about using them.
"Guess I'm last then. You'd think I'd be attuned to earth since I've learned Taito as my primary battle style, but that isn't the case for me. I only have one element, and that's Space. Can't give you an explanation as to why it synced up to me like that.", Angelica said, explaining hers. So Angelica just has the Space element. I think we can make that work.
"Is that right? I think we can split the Quartz up quite well. As far as Ennea, Ines, and I go, we just lack two elements, Earth and Mirage. I think we can make do without them as a locked Slot. If nobody has a preference of going first, then let's start with the two Combat Orbments that were customized. Our Slots total nine instead of the standard six.", I said, explaining the situation.
Hearing my suggestion, we all glanced at each other, and nodded our heads. Everyone was in agreement. I then looked at Kloe.
"Shall we?"
"Mmm. Let's get down to business. Since you don't have to leave right away, it is going to take a good minute sorting through all of these Quartz. There's a lot that I don't even know what they do either.", Kloe agreed.
Just like that, a lot of clatter started to echo around our Private Quarters with the clitter-clatter of Quartz being shuffled around. We got busy, and began to install Quartz one by one to each Combat Orbment. I began to feel a newfound strength flow through my body, which was weird. I know Combat Orbments are synced to you, but I hadn't worked on it until now. It was a pretty weird feeling. Very similar to how Mana flows through your body. At the same time, I saw my stats soar to new heights.
I could even say...I was beginning to break barriers, haha!
Still, I decided to have a look at each one of the five Combat Orbments. Everyone chose Quartz that complimented them, and I was quite pleased with their results. When I started reviewing them, I started with Kloe's, and it went as follows.
[Combat Orbment - Klaudia von Auslese]
Type: Generation III - Custom
Slots: Nine
If In Party: 3000/3000 EP..
Elements: Water - Water - Water
Lines: 1
Slot #1 (Water): Sapphire Gem+ (Custom)
Slot #3 (-): Mirror
Slot #4 (-): Wind Gem
Slot #5 (Water): Yin-Yang+ (Custom)
Slot #6:(-): Time Gem
Slot #7 (-): Gold Gem+ (Custom)
Slot #8 (-): Astral Gem (Custom)
Slot #9 (Water): Reflect
Quartz Effects:
Sapphire Gem+ (Custom): +50% ATS, +20% ADF - 12 Water
Mirror: Reflect Physical Damage (% Chance) - 6 Earth 8 Fire 4 Space
Wind Gem: +20% SPD - 12 Wind
Yin-Yang+: Can take Monsters by surprise more easily. Your HP slowly recovers while walking. - 7 Water 3 Space 3 Mirage
Time Gem: Arts can be casted much quicker.
Gold Gem+: Arts require little to no EP to cast. Also Arts to be cast in succession. - 10 Space 7 Time 7 Mirage
Astral Gem (Custom): +50% EP, +50% DEX.
*Mind V -> Sapphire Gem+
Just looking at Kloe's Combat Orbment alone, I might have gone overboard when doing these hunting Quests, heh. It's like we're already in the endgame even when Sky hasn't even begun yet. Granted, whenever someone is in my Party, battles will get attuned to the stats my Gamer System currently has, which means it will be very skewed. My Party Members will need all the Quartz they can get their hands on to match up against this power. I know I'm to blame for that, but preparation goes a long way.
With Kloe's concluded I decided to have a look at the rest, and they pretty much went as you'd expect. Sky Quartz tailored to what they're currently suited for. Ines is a tank, Ennea is a backrange archer, while I'm a swordsman in mid-range, or close range, depending on how the situation goes. I can back either one of them up.
I know it'd be a lot of information presented, so instead of doing that, I went through my own Combat Orbment, and decided to open my Gamer System for the first time in a long while. I was left utterly shocked with what I saw.