‘An item of similar value to the Dice of Fortune…’

According to Chasey.

The Dice of Fortune item combination formula I possessed was not a 4-tier item, but among 5-tier items, it was said to possess top-tier performance.

When I first heard that, I was slightly disappointed.

It meant the item combination formula I had obtained was merely 5-tier.

Having never purchased an item combination formula before, I was not well-versed in their market value.

I had simply felt disappointed upon hearing it was a 5-tier formula—the lowest among the tiers.

But after listening to Chasey’s subsequent explanation, I came to understand just how precious the Dice of Fortune item combination formula I had received as a jackpot reward truly was.

Core items could be broadly divided into two categories.

Buff-type items and debuff-type items.

‘Buff-type items’ were items that granted positive effects to allied champions when equipped—any item that influenced allies rather than enemies fell under the buff-type category.

An example of a buff-type item was the [Rune Barrier] I had encountered during the placement exam.

【Rune Barrier】

– Steel Shield + Old Tree Cane

– Defense +15, Spell Power +15

– Grants status immunity and complete immunity to skill damage when equipped.

Stat increases such as attack power or defense boosts, as well as any items providing beneficial effects to allies, were all buff-type items.

Standing in opposition to buff-type items were ‘debuff-type items’—items that affected enemies rather than allies.

Examples included the [Regenerating Flame] seen during the placement exam.

And the [Curse’s Death Rattle] seen at the Paradise Private battlefield.

【Regenerating Flame】

– Mage Staff + Troll Belt

– Spell Power 20, Bonus Health 50

– On hit, inflicts a burning flame that persists until death, reducing magic resistance and health recovery by 50%.

【Curse’s Death Rattle】

– Cloak of Resistance + Troll Belt

– Health +50, Magic Resistance +20

– When the champion equipped with Curse’s Death Rattle dies, fires a terrible scream at the enemy who dealt the finishing blow. Exposure to the scream reduces defense and magic resistance by 20% and prevents mana recovery for 15 seconds.

When comparing buff-type and debuff-type items.

The ones with higher average value were buff-type items, while debuff-type items held the lower end.

Of course, there were exceptions, but that was generally the case.

The reason was simple.

Consider a debuff-type item that reduced an enemy champion’s attack power by 50%.

If that debuff’s effect landed on a useless 1-Cost champion, it was essentially the same as wasting an item.

Or, consider a debuff-type item that reduced enemy healing by 50%.

If the enemy possessed no healing skills whatsoever, the item was practically nonexistent.

As such, debuff-type items produced inconsistent effects depending on the battle composition, and their efficiency varied based on what kind of enemies were encountered.

That was why buff-type items—with their consistently high floor and guaranteed activation every battle—were preferred.

Of course, a well-utilized debuff-type item could completely turn the tide of a battlefield, but the drawback of low versatility was an unavoidable penalty.

‘Buff-type items’ and ‘debuff-type items.’

While all items fell within these two categories, a more detailed classification could add two more.

Items possessing special performance characteristics.

The first of these was the ‘conditional item.’

An example was the [Giant Slayer] seen at the Paradise Private battlefield.

【Giant Slayer】

– Steel Greatsword + Composite Bow

– Attack Power +20, Attack Speed +20

– Increases skill and attack damage by 50% against enemies with 350 or more max HP.

Conditional items required specific conditions to be met before their effects activated.

But in exchange, conditional items possessed performance far more powerful than other item combination formulas.

However, not all of them were equally useful, and their value varied wildly depending on what conditions were attached, making them difficult to price.

And the rarest item combination formula.

The last category was the ‘stack-type item.’

The [Dice of Fortune] item combination formula I possessed belonged here.

【Dice of Fortune】

– Dull Dagger + Dull Dagger

– Critical Hit Chance +20%

– Upon each critical hit, attack power and spell power increase by +7.

The defining characteristic of stack-type items was that they initially lacked any notable performance but gradually grew stronger as the battle persisted.

Since they became more advantageous the longer the fight dragged on, they were ideal for decks with strong sustain.

Among the four types of items, stack-type items were the rarest.

And while the Dice of Fortune was a 5-tier item—the lowest grade—it was a buff-type item with high value even among stack-type items, making its price considerably higher compared to other items of the same tier.

‘I should put it to proper use at least once.’

Since I hadn’t used 1-Cost Shieldbearer Lee Shin in the previous private battlefield, I hadn’t been able to properly verify the Dice of Fortune’s effects.

In this battlefield, I would build a deck centered around 1-Cost Shieldbearer Lee Shin and the Dice of Fortune to test their synergy.

Anticipation swelled within me, though a flicker of worry also crossed my mind.

Of course, it wasn’t concern about the Toros Private battlefield.

‘Is Chasey doing well?’

Simply winning first place in this private battlefield wouldn’t be enough to achieve my goal.

Chasey Einthoven.

She needed to fulfill her role for us to achieve the rank increase I was aiming for.

Swish-

‘About 10 minutes left.’

There were roughly 10 minutes to spare before the private battlefield’s start time.

I had heard that the eastern region private battlefield she was participating in was also held at the same time.

Should I send a quick check-in message?

– Leesin: Are there any issues?

Ding-!

The moment I sent the message, a reply came back as if she had been waiting.

– Chasy: Something terrible happened. I might not be able to take first place in this private battlefield.

Something terrible?

It seemed some variable had arisen in the eastern region private battlefield Chasey was participating in.

– Leesin: What happened?

– Leesin: Are you alright?

“…”

Even after sending another message, no reply came for quite some time.

“Now then, would all players participating in the Toros Private battlefield please follow the staff’s guidance and proceed to the participant room.”

The private battlefield’s start was imminent, so I could wait no longer.

‘Will she be alright?’

I had no idea what had happened to Chasey, but if it was the Chasey I knew, she would produce the best possible outcome on her own.

Well, with Adjudicator Ariel behind her, it wouldn’t be a dangerous situation anyway.

…Probably.

Creak-!

After moving to the participant room, I kept glancing at my device, hoping a reply might come.

Ding-!

A message arrived in the midst of my waiting.

It wasn’t the one I had been waiting for.

[Would you like to participate in the Toros Private Battlefield?]

I had stalled for as long as I could, but Chasey’s reply never came, and I had no choice but to press the ‘Yes’ button.

‘I have no choice but to trust Chasey…’

[Matching complete. Transferring to Dimensional Battlefield ‘TOROS – A’!]

And so, carrying a trace of worry in my heart, my third private battlefield—where I had staked an item combination formula—began.

***

Chasey Einthoven.

Having participated in the private battlefield held in Trivik’s eastern region, Yukantar, she felt burdened by the pouring gazes.

‘Uncomfortable…’

Wearing a rabbit mask, Chasey pretended to read the guidebook while ignoring the stares around her, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Chatter- chatter-

The Moran Social Club.

The private battlefield hosted here was a type of battlefield Chasey was experiencing for the first time.

The venue of a private battlefield attracted not only players but also many spectators interested in the battles.

The spectators’ gazes poured toward the players participating in the battlefield.

Even Chasey, known as the Flower of Luteran, had never received this much attention from so many people before.

She couldn’t understand it.

‘Why on earth did they all gather to watch?’

Private battlefields couldn’t even be spectated, so what was there to see…

Wouldn’t the Colosseum, where champions fought each other, be far more entertaining?

That was what she was thinking.

“Wow— It’s player Roronan! I’m a fan!”

A few spectators recognized a player entering the private battlefield and erupted in cheers.

“Hello there—!”

The player waved as he looked around.

People gradually flocked around him, and the player called Roronan smiled as he engaged with them.

‘Why is he doing that?’

It was genuine curiosity.

She had never witnessed players and ordinary people socializing like that before.

But Roronan wasn’t the unusual one.

“Wow— Hello there. You’re Rozar of the Ronerio faction, aren’t you?”

“Haha— We meet again here. How is your business coming along?”

The players who entered afterward also exchanged greetings and mingled with one another.

Murmur- murmur-

It wasn’t that there was no interest in Chasey either.

At the very least, Chasey’s attire was somewhat famous in Yukantar.

Both the Rorte Newsletter and the Yukan Newsletter had featured stories about a mysterious masked player.

Of course, the centerpiece of those articles had been player Lee Shin, who had hit the jackpot, but Chasey standing beside him was no exception.

It was only because Chasey had erected a psychological barrier that no one approached her—if she showed any willingness to socialize, many would surely come to strike up a conversation.

Private battlefields were held for a variety of reasons, and those reasons varied each time.

Unlike the Paradise Private battlefield, which had been driven by money.

The private battlefield hosted by the Moran Social Club seemed to have networking as its primary purpose.

Nothing boosted a social club’s prestige quite like a Player’s reputation, so hosting a private battlefield made sense in that regard.

Indeed, many of the guests who had come were shop owners who had made names for themselves in the area, or children of wealthy families.

‘I didn’t expect this kind of atmosphere…’

This was a battlefield without player Lee Shin—her mentor and greatest rival.

According to player Lee Shin, she needed to win first place in this private battlefield to participate in the battlefield they were aiming for.

So she had steeled her resolve and come to this private battlefield determined to win the competition.

Yet Chasey was completely unable to adapt to the warm, convivial atmosphere.

‘Is this what high society is like?’

Chasey possessed the exceptional beauty she had inherited from her mother.

But her interests lay entirely with druids and battlefields, so she was unaccustomed to socializing with others.

Head shake.

‘Get a grip.’

Having gathered her scattered thoughts, Chasey refocused her mind.

She needed to thoroughly familiarize herself with the guidebook to navigate the private battlefield advantageously.

That meant she had to remember the important details at the very least, even if nothing else registered.

That was when it happened.

Murmur- murmur-

The Moran Social Club suddenly grew even more boisterous.

Of course, it had been noisy all along, but there was no doubt that the arrival of a single guest had instantly transformed the atmosphere of the entire club.

Tromp- tromp-!

The person who had caused the commotion walked in from the entrance, but so many people were crowded around him that it was impossible to see who it was.

Even Chasey, who had been trying her best to ignore it, found her gaze drawn in that direction.

As the person entered the restricted area where ordinary guests were not permitted, the crowd dispersed to either side with evident reluctance.

The figure who emerged through the parted crowd was a young blond man in a white tailcoat.

“Lord Zernias! Over here, please!”

“kyaak— Lord Zernias. Please accept a gift!”

“Haha— Thank you. I’ll make sure to spend ample time with everyone after the private battlefield concludes. I appreciate your understanding.”

The man called Zernias.

He had been smiling and engaging with the crowd, but the moment he slipped free of their attention, his entire demeanor changed in an instant.