Overgeared: Babylon

The cavern was dark and damp, the air thick with the acrid smell of spider venom and the eerie echoes of skittering legs. Gilgamesh stood in the midst of it all, his sword gleaming in the faint light as he cut through the swarm of spiders with practiced ease.

[You have killed Black Recluse.]

[Spider Fang has been acquired.]

[23,746 experience has been acquired.]

[You have killed Red Recluse.]

[30,648 experience has been acquired.]

[Your level has risen.]

"Hahahaha, this is so fun~!" he exclaimed, his sword slicing through another spider with a satisfying thunk. The thrill of battle, the rush of leveling up—it was everything he loved about Satisfy.

SCREEEECHHHH!!!

"English motherfucker!"

As if it understood that they had been mocked, the swarm of spiders then spite an acid powerful enough to melt some ordinary iron. One of the larger spiders spat a glob of acid, the corrosive liquid sizzling as it flew toward Gilgamesh.

"Oh, come on!" Gilgamesh shouted, dodging most of the acid but wincing as a tiny splash hit his leg. The sizzling sound was followed by a sharp sting, and he glanced down to see a small burn mark on his armor. "That actually hurts, you son of a spider!"

SCCCRRRRREEEEEEEEECHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

A deafening screech filled the air as the swarm surged forward, their mandibles clicking and their eyes glowing with malice, their movements growing more aggressive as they closed in. Gilgamesh smirked, his confidence unshaken. "You know, for creatures with eight eyes, your aim is terrible! Did your mom teach you how to spit, or did you just wing it?"

The spiders, of course, didn't respond. But Gilgamesh didn't care. He was having too much fun. As the swarm closed in, Gilgamesh's movements became a blur of precision and power. His sword danced through the air, cutting down spider after spider. The experience notifications continued to pop up, each one fueling his excitement.

But the spiders weren't going down without a fight. More acid flew through the air, forcing Gilgamesh to stay on his toes. He dodged and weaved, slaughtering every spider in his surroundings. And it finally happened.

[Your level has risen.]

"Finally! Level 50!" Gilgamesh exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. The rush of leveling up was always exhilarating, and this time was no exception. But he wasn't done yet. He had one more trick up his sleeve—or rather, one more person.

"KAELAAA!!" Gilgamesh called out, his voice echoing through the cavern.

A moment later, a familiar voice responded, flat and unimpressed. "I'm here, you dumbass. No need to shout."

Kaela stepped into view, her expression as stoic as ever. She was wearing armor she made herself, a dark armor with a menacing aura around it, her hands casually resting on her hips. Despite her calm demeanor, there was no mistaking the sharp glint in her eyes—she was always ready for action.

In one smooth motion, she tossed a gleaming purple sword toward Gilgamesh. The blade spun through the air, catching the faint light of the cavern before landing perfectly in Gilgamesh's outstretched hand. It was his Nightedge, the sword he had acquired from Yatan's Believers' hideout.

"Thanks, Kaela!" Gilgamesh said, his grin widening as he gripped the sword. "You always know what I need."

Kaela rolled her eyes, though there was a faint hint of a smile on her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Just try not to lose it this time. I'm not your personal weapon delivery service."

Gilgamesh chuckled, swinging the sword experimentally. The blade hummed with dark energy, a perfect match for his chaotic fighting style. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of it. Besides, you know you love following me around."

Kaela crossed her arms, her tone dry. "I follow you because someone has to keep you out of trouble. And because you'd probably set yourself on fire if I left you alone for five minutes."

"Hey, that was one time!" Gilgamesh protested, though his grin never faded. "And it was a controlled fire. Mostly."

Recalling the time he set a forest on fire because he was being chased by a swarm of hornets, he chuckled in amusement as he remembered that he unintentionally killed random players that roamed in the forest at that time.

Kaela shook her head, but there was no real annoyance in her expression. She had long since grown used to Gilgamesh's antics, and if she was being honest, she enjoyed the chaos he brought into her life.

The moment of banter was interrupted by the sound of skittering legs. More spiders were emerging from the cave's shadows, their eyes glowing with malice as they closed in on the duo.

Gilgamesh's grin turned predatory as he raised his Nitghedge. "Looks like the party's not over yet."

Kaela sighed, drawing her own weapon—a massive hammer that seemed far too large for her slender frame. "You always manage to find the most annoying places to fight."

"What can I say? I have a talent for it," Gilgamesh said, his tone light but his eyes focused. "Ready to show these spiders what happens when they mess with us?"

Kaela smirked, hefting her hammer onto her shoulder. "Let's make it quick. I have better things to do than clean up your messes."

"[Dark Slash]"

The arc of dark energy struck the swarm of spiders in front of them, slicing through their bodies with ease. The spiders let out ear-piercing screeches as they fell, their lifeless forms dissolving into loot and experience points.

"Yeah," Gilgamesh said, his grin widening as he watched the spiders fall. "That's more like it."

But the battle wasn't over yet. The remaining spiders, though fewer in number, were far from defeated. They screeched again, their mandibles clicking as they prepared to leap at Gilgamesh and Kaela.

SCREEEEECHHHH!!!

The sound was deafening, but neither Gilgamesh nor Kaela flinched. Instead, Kaela stepped forward, her hammer resting casually on her shoulder. Her presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere of the cavern, the air growing heavier with an unfamiliar pressure.

The spiders hesitated, their glowing eyes fixed on Kaela. For a moment, it seemed as if they were rooted in place, unable to move.

[No Pressure]

Kaela's passive skill makes her an object of fear or respect, depending on which side they are on. Enemies are less likely to attack her and be stunned, and allies feel a boost in morale.

Gilgamesh chuckled, glancing at Kaela. "Looks like they're scared of you. Can't say I blame them."

Despite her calm demeanor, Gilgamesh knew very well that if the switch was flipped, she would become very wild very soon. Kaela's expression remained flat, but there was a faint glint of amusement in her eyes. "They should be."

The spiders, still frozen in place, let out another screech, but this time it sounded more like a whimper. They began to back away, their movements slow and hesitant.

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, his grin turning mischievous. "What's the matter, little guys? Too scared to fight?"

Kaela sighed, hefting her hammer. "Stop taunting them and finish this already."

"Fine, fine," Gilgamesh said, raising his Nitghedge. "But you have to admit, this is kind of hilarious."

With that, he charged forward, his sword flashing as he cut down the remaining spiders. Kaela followed close behind, her hammer crushing anything that dared to get too close. The cavern echoed with the sounds of battle, but it was clear who was in control.

When the last spider fell, Gilgamesh and Kaela stood amidst the carnage, their weapons dripping with venom and their breaths heavy but steady.

Gilgamesh sheathed his sword, his grin as wide as ever. "Another successful hunt. Not bad, huh?"

Kaela rolled her eyes, though there was a faint hint of a smile on her lips. "You're lucky I was here to keep you in check."

"Hey, I could've handled it on my own," Gilgamesh said, though his tone was light. "But I'll admit, it's more fun with you around."

Kaela shook her head, but there was no real annoyance in her expression. "Let's just get out of here before more of them show up."

"That's the point."

As they gathered the loot and prepared to leave the cavern, Gilgamesh couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. With Kaela by his side, there was no challenge they couldn't face.

***

After weeks of nonstop hunting, questing, and treasure hunting, Gilgamesh finally returned to Patrian. The city's familiar sights and sounds greeted him like an old friend—the bustling marketplace, the towering castle in the distance, and the faint hum of activity that filled the air.

Gilgamesh groaned as he flopped onto a chair in his newly purchased house, his body aching from the countless battles he had fought. "Uhhh~ finally back," he muttered, stretching his arms above his head.

With golds he gets from various quests and hunting treasure. He now can afford to buy a house in Patrian. The reason he chose Patrian as his base of operation was simple, it's the closest place to Northern End Cave. With various hunting grounds to all levels, the more you go to the north, the more powerful the monsters.

Kaela stood before the chimney in Gilgamesh's new home, her arms crossed and her expression as stoic as ever. Her earlier battle armor had been replaced by a striking outfit that blended elegance with practicality. She wore a long dress with a black back and a white front, accented by a thick grey neckband. The dress featured subtle, transparent panels that revealed glimpses of her armpits, and an opening that exposed her right leg. Over the dress, she donned a long black jacket with a fluffy hood that draped over her arms. Her left glove was fully red and ample, while her right glove was black with red fingers. Completing the look were thigh-high stockings and black high heels with red soles.

Despite her deadpan expression, Kaela's beauty was undeniable. Her sharp features and confident demeanor made her stand out, even in the dim light of the room. She turned to Gilgamesh, her tone as flat as ever. "If we're done, can I go back to the smithy? I want to make weapons from the materials we got earlier."

Gilgamesh, who had been lounging in his chair, raised his head to look at her. His gaze lingered for a moment, taking in her appearance. Even after all this time, he couldn't help but be struck by how effortlessly she carried herself. "Go ahead," he said, his voice casual but his tone appreciative. "But can you fix my armor first? Its durability has decreased after it got hit by acid from those spiders earlier."

Kaela sighed, though there was no real annoyance in her expression. "Hmm, sure. Give it to me."

Gilgamesh stood up and began removing his armor, piece by piece. He handed it over to Kaela, who inspected it with a critical eye. The acid had left scorch marks and cracks in the metal, but Kaela's expertise would undoubtedly restore it to its former glory.

As she took the armor, Gilgamesh couldn't help but watch her for a few seconds. There was something about her focus and dedication that he admired. She was more than just a skilled blacksmith—she was a reliable ally and a true friend.

"Thanks, Kaela," he said, his tone softer than usual. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Kaela glanced at him, her expression unchanged. "Probably blow yourself up or get eaten by a monster. Now, if you're done being sentimental, I have work to do."

Gilgamesh chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you to it."

With that, Kaela turned and walked out the door, her heels clicking against the floor. Her destination was the smithy next to their house, a place where she spent countless hours honing her craft and creating masterpieces.

___

The smithy was a place of heat and noise, filled with the clang of hammers and the roar of the forge. Kaela stepped inside, her presence immediately commanding attention. The other blacksmiths paused for a moment, nodding in respect before returning to their work. Though she was not yet a legend her skills were unmatched for someone of her age, which has Advanced Blacksmithing Lv. 5.

She set Gilgamesh's armor on a workbench and began inspecting it more closely. The acid damage was significant, but nothing she couldn't handle. She grabbed her tools and got to work, her movements precise and efficient.

As she worked, her mind wandered to the materials they had gathered during their recent adventures. The spider fangs, the venom glands, the rare ores—they were all perfect for crafting new weapons. She already had a few designs in mind, and she couldn't wait to bring them to life.

___

Back in the house, Gilgamesh sat down again, a faint smile on his lips. He knew how lucky he was to have Kaela by his side. She was more than just a blacksmith—she was a partner, someone he could rely on no matter what.

"She's something else," he muttered to himself, leaning back in his chair. "I'd better not let her hear me say that, though. She'd never let me live it down."

Usually when he complimented her, like calling her cute and reliable. She immediately snorted and shot him back with "Get Some Help."

As he closed his eyes and relaxed, the sounds of the smithy next door filled the air. It was a comforting noise, a reminder of the bond they had forged through countless battles and adventures.