Chapter 144: Its complicated

The moment the word left her mouth, a faint, warm pulse rippled outward from the ring on Leon’s finger, spreading slowly through his whole hand, up his arm, settling somewhere deep in his chest.

It felt different from anything Aegis had done before, steadier, fuller, like something that had been held back finally releasing all at once.

A notification flickered into view in front of him.

[Your bond with Ring of Aegis has reached its maximum potential!]

[Aegis fully unlocked.]

Leon stared at the message for a moment, then glanced back at Medusa, who was watching him with an expression he couldn’t quite read, somewhere between relief and lingering uncertainty.

"There," she said quietly. "Satisfied?"

"We’ll see," Leon said. "Once I actually get to test it."

A faint, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, the first genuine one he’d seen from her since the confrontation started.

"You will," she said. "Trust me."

Leon studied her for a moment longer, the earlier hostility between them still fresh enough to keep him cautious, though something had clearly shifted in the space of their conversation.

Whatever Medusa actually was, whatever desperate, lonely history sat behind tonight’s outburst, he didn’t fully trust her yet.

But it was a start.

Leon exhaled, finally deciding to check the new description of Aegis.

His heart kept pounding within his chest, wondering just what new things would be within the ring now that is was fully unlocked.

[Name: Ring of Aegis]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Description: A divine ring blessed by the Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena. Once merely an artifact awaiting its rightful bearer, the Ring of Aegis has now acknowledged its master and completely unlocked its divine authority. It grants its bearer the power to summon the legendary Aegis, a divine shield feared by both mortals and gods. The Aegis possesses absolute defensive authority, capable of resisting devastating physical and magical attacks while turning the power of those who strike it against them. As the true bearer of the ring, its user can now wield the full might of Athena’s divine protection.]

[When equipped, VIT: +8000, END: +12000, MANA: +6000]

[Passive Effect: Divine Protection]

[Description: The bearer receives greatly enhanced resistance against physical damage, magical damage, curses, debuffs, and mental attacks. The stronger the attack directed at the bearer, the greater the defensive power granted by the Ring of Aegis.]

[Passive Effect: Athena’s Blessing]

[Description: The bearer’s perception, battle instincts, and reaction speed are greatly enhanced. The bearer can instinctively perceive incoming attacks and identify weaknesses in an opponent’s movements.]

[Skills: Aegis Manifestation(S-rank), Brave Escape(SS-rank), Divine Reflection(SS-rank), Guardian’s Dominion(SS-rank), Athena’s Judgment(SS-rank), Divine Aegis(SS-rank), Gorgon’s Gaze(SSS-rank), Absolute Sanctuary(SSS-rank)]

[Skill: Aegis Manifestation]

[Rank: S]

[Description: Summon the legendary Aegis before you. The divine shield possesses extraordinary defensive power and can withstand devastating physical and magical attacks. The Aegis cannot be forcibly destroyed by an opponent whose power is inferior to its bearer.]

[Skill: Brave Escape]

[Rank: SS]

[Description: Instantly escape from any opponent, regardless of their strength or abilities, and teleport to a random location deemed safe. The escape ignores physical restraints, magical barriers, spatial restrictions, sealing abilities, and environmental obstacles, making it impossible for the user to be prevented from fleeing once the skill is activated.]

[Skill: Divine Reflection]

[Rank: SS]

[Description: While Aegis is manifested, attacks successfully blocked by the shield can be reflected back upon their source with up to ten times their original power. The reflected attack retains its original properties, allowing physical, magical, elemental, and other forms of attacks to be returned to their source.]

[Skill: Guardian’s Dominion]

[Rank: SS]

[Description: Create a vast divine sanctuary centered around Aegis. Allies within the domain receive greatly enhanced defense, resistance, and recovery, while hostile attacks entering the domain are automatically intercepted by the Aegis and reflected toward their source.]

[Skill: Athena’s Judgment]

[Rank: SS]

[Description: Invoke the authority of Athena and manifest a divine judgment upon a designated enemy. The target is suppressed by overwhelming divine pressure, reducing their offensive power and disrupting their ability to use skills. The stronger the target’s hostility toward the bearer or those under his protection, the greater the suppression.]

[Skill: Impenetrable]

[Rank: SS]

[Description: Cover the bearer or a designated ally in a layer of divine protection formed from the authority of the Aegis.]

[Skill: Gorgon’s Gaze]

[Rank: SSS]

[Description: Unleash the true authority hidden within the Aegis, revealing the visage of the Gorgon. Those who meet its gaze are overwhelmed by divine fear and subjected to the petrifying authority of the Gorgon. Targets unable to resist the divine authority are immediately transformed into stone.] 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

[Skill: Absolute Sanctuary]

[Rank: SSS]

[Description: Unleash the ultimate defensive authority of the Aegis and establish an absolute sanctuary around the bearer. Allies within the sanctuary cannot be forcibly displaced, restrained, or subjected to hostile spatial effects. The sanctuary represents the ultimate protection granted by the Goddess of Wisdom and War.]

He stopped halfway through the second line.

Blessed by the Goddess of Wisdom and War, Athena.

His eyes narrowed slightly. He read it again, slower this time, making sure he hadn’t misunderstood the wording.

The description went on, mentioning Athena’s divine protection directly, nothing anywhere in the entire entry referencing the name Medusa at all.

He glanced up at her, frowning. "This says Athena."

Medusa’s expression didn’t change right away, though something in her posture stiffened slightly. "What does?"

"The ring," Leon said, turning his hand slightly so the faint glow of the status window caught better in the dim light of the field. "I wonder... who is this goddess Athena, and how is she related to you?"

Medusa’s jaw tightened.

"Related to me? No... she’s not." she said, a little too quickly. "Names get attached to things. Doesn’t mean much."

"It means something," Leon said. "You should be the spirit bound to this ring, so how is Athena related?"

Medusa looked away, out across the grass, her fingers tightening slightly in her lap.

"It’s complicated," she said.

"I have time," Leon said.