Hera walked through the city with Livy on her back. Before she got stuck, she already did her best to hide her legacy, and now that there was so much tension between the guild and everyone else, this seemed even more important. This is why she didn't let them walk around in their bipedal shape. On the other hand, she could have the Leviathan use her Cerulea form and walk around, but if anyone was paying attention, they would realize that the two-handed axe was no longer with her as she left her private room.

'Livy, Lurize, Nimbus, I'm sorry. I know it sucks, but I can't have you roaming around. I know it's not fair, but we need to be a bit careful now,' the Empress told them. It wasn't fair to either of them. Lurize was used to walking beside her, and restricting him was just mean. Livy just got here, and since she never had that freedom, she wouldn't miss it like the zweihander. Still, Hera felt awful about it; it was like she was punishing them for something they didn't do.

'Don't worry. I like this form a lot too. It makes me feel super powerful. I think my weapon form is stronger than before,' Livy replied. Now that Hera was paying attention, she realized that her voice was very kind, despite her intimidating appearance.

'I think it is. Daskka, can I see Livy's stats again?' Hera asked without taking her eyes off the road. She was very used to moving around and having full-blown conversations with her court without making it seem obvious.

'Sure, mum. But it's better if you stop by some place to read it.'

'I am a bit hungry. Livy, do you mind if I stop by a bakery to buy some food for when we are in the dungeon?'

'Not at all! Can I ask for something too? I always wanted to try food.'

'Of course, just let me know what you want,' Hera smiled and turned the corner, going to her favorite bakery. She wasn't the only one there, but waiting in line gave her a chance to read Livy's attributes again.

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Leviathan Livy of Water

Two-Handed battle axe

Total Attributes: 594

Strength: 196 Endurance: 179 Luck: 161

Agility: 19 Intelligence: 19 Charisma: 19

Mana: 4 000 000/ 4 000 000

Scaling:

Strength X 51 Endurance X 45.5 Luck X 41

Agility X 5 Intelligence X 5 Charisma X 5

Passive Skills

Ocean's Might (Rank 1)

50% of the damage dealt by you is water elemental damage.

Your attacks deal 30% extra damage as water elemental damage.

Your water spells deal 80% additional damage.

Attacks aimed at a target bigger than you or your wielder deal an additional 30% extra damage.

Inheritance of Cerulea (Rank 1)

You are able to move underwater at high speeds. While you are in the same body of water as the Empress, the range you are allowed to move is greatly increased.

If both you and the Empress are underwater and within 5 meters of each other, you are able to breathe for the Empress.

Active skills:

Leviathan's torrent (Rank 1)

You are the embodiment of the underwater currents.

Channeling this skill unleashes torrents of water or a tidal wave from your mouth

Mana cost: 2 million.

Draconic Eruption (Rank 1)

Those wounded by the Leviathan feel its wrath even after escaping its grasp.

When an attack deals considerable damage, you can release a powerful wave, damaging surrounding enemies and briefly stunning them.

Mana cost: 500 thousand.

Sea Serpent Form(Rank 1)

You are able to turn into the form of a Sea Serpent. While in this form, your swim speed increases; however, you are unable to use any skills that require a weapon. If there is someone riding you as you dive underwater, you can create an air bubble around them that lasts 1 hour. The air will allow them to breathe. Up to 3 bubbles can be created at once. This form can also glide over surfaces without making any noise.

Swim speed: 50 km/h

Glide speed: 5 km/h

Seal of Draconic Vortex (Rank 1)

When striking, you generate a powerful whirlpool effect even when you are out of the water, drawing in enemies in and trapping them briefly. As the vortex intensifies, it erupts into a geyser of scalding water and steam, dealing area damage and knocking back foes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'The one thing I don't understand is why the scaling is so different from the attributes. I thought they were related,' Hera frowned while looking at the window. There were a lot of interesting things and things that she wanted to test to see how well they would work with her [Army of One] skill, but for now, this was the one thing that was confusing her the most.

Daskka waited for a moment, checking that information before explaining, 'It is, but a titled blade cannot have more attribute points than you, mum. So, if their stats were supposed to be bigger, then they are equalized to what they need to be to get to the same total attribute points that you have.'

'But how is that calculated? I never thought about it before, but now it seems weird.'

'Honestly? The titled blade's attribute will be based on their scaling, with just the decimal point being moved. So Livy's strength was supposed to be 509. Well, 499 since the bonus ten strength she used to give was just moved to her scaling. But, because your total attributes would be just around 38% of what she would have, then her attributes came down.'

'So she became weaker because of me?' Hera asked.

'Of course not!' Livy yelled, making the Empress flinch because of the volume, 'Sorry. But I am stronger than I was before. I'm sure of it.'

'Yep. The weapon version of her is stronger, but the bipedal form is weaker than it could have been. But if you want to wait until you can give them the best possible stats, you are screwed, mum. A weapon scaling grows much more than a person's attributes. You would never catch up. Think about it. Sure, Livy was an epic item, but you can find common ones that ask you to be level 70, and the scaling is in the hundreds already. This means that a titled blade made from one of them would, in theory, have attributes in the thousands,' Daskka continued.

"Yeah, that's fair," Hera mumbled out loud.

"Of course, our prices are fair. Do you have any idea how hard it is to… Oh, Hera, sorry, I thought you were one of the new people who came by," Ignala, the owner of the bakery, said as she appeared at the counter.

"People are bothering you? Is that new?" Hera frowned.

"No, no. Some people always try to haggle, even when the product is of quality," Ignala continued, "What can I get you?"

Hera asked for a few different pastries with different fillings, most were savory, but she also added a couple of sweets to share with Livy. She also ordered a cake for the next day since she was going to throw a party for the guides and use her Blade Graveyard for the first time. With her food in hand, the Empress continued to the Woolly plains.

When inside, before she left the tunnel leading to the actual plains of the dungeon, Hera called her entire court out, "Ok everyone. Here is the deal. This will be a training exercise for the newbies. That includes you two," she gestured to Crimson and Viper, "The fights we had since you joined were very weird, and there were a lot of people. Dao, Edge, Nimbus, and Lurize will stay with me, and we are not going to interfere in the battle. Unless we get directly attacked."

"Are we going to do the hard mode later?" Nimbus turned to Hera.

"That was the idea," the Empress nodded.

"That's good. This place is a bit nostalgic to me," Nimbus smiled and looked to the end of the tunnel.

Can we go now? I want to have my own body again, but I can't actually fit in here,' Livy turned around. The tunnel was not small, but for her, she wouldn't be able to stand up straight.

"Sure, and you can stay in your Cerulea form in places like this if you want. We also need to do some tests. The skill doesn't say anything about you not talking, and since the skills you have come out of your mouth, maybe you can also fight as a Sea Serpent."

'If that's the case, I can show you the ropes!' Daskka said excitedly, 'Fighting without limbs is my specialty. That and being cute.'

"Cute and cheeky," Hera huffed but still scratched the snake's head, who had a big smile on her face.

'Oh, let me try,' the two-handed axe turned into water and, with a wave, assumed the shape of Cerulea again. It was just like Hera remembered. The pastel pink Sea Serpent with some bluish-gray details and the pink coral-foam tail. The only difference was a tiny strand of red framing the dorsal fins, "This feels much better. And hey, I can talk!"

Nimbus and Lurize grumbled upon hearing that. The Empress didn't have to ask to understand why. Both were jealous since they were unable to speak in their animal forms.

"OK, so here is what you need to know about the dungeon. You will be fighting sheep, yes, sheep. They are split into groups, and when all of them die, griffons will come from the sky. They are our next targets. I won't tell you their attacks nor what to expect. These monsters are low-level, but they can still pack a punch. It's up to you guys to figure things out. Remember your skills and the skills you have, thanks to the Army of One. And Dusa," Hera turned to the diadem.

'Y-yes! I'm here,' Dusa floated closer.

"For now, don't think too much about blocking attacks with your blade. Focus on what you've learned about commanding the field."

'Ok. I'll do what Miss Armory told me to do. Follow the steps, and make sure no one gets hurt.'

"Right, but don't be too attached to the steps she taught you. I don't mean they are not a good guideline, but that's what they are. A guideline. Not an absolute rule. You need to be able to improvise," Hera turned to the others, "One last thing. For now, all of you will be fighting without the magnets. You need to get used to the distance and learn how to increase your reach by helping each other. When I see that you guys are comfortable enough, I'll start moving around to make this even harder. Because during a fight, I won't sit back and watch. I also participate," Hera was about to end it when she remembered one more thing to add, "Ah, and the real last thing. I will be testing your skills individually. I don't mean like, grading but checking their limits to understand what we can and can't do. Any questions?"

'What if we don't know what to do in a situation?' Chris asked.

"You can ask. Knowing when to ask for help is part of the deal. I don't want anyone to be too proud to ask for help. Anything else?"

'Can we have a beat to fight too? Nimbus and I made a banger playlist,' DJ asked.

"Not at first. The music might distract you guys. When the tests are over, and you guys are doing ok, we can play something. But I will be the one listening to it; you guys will have to hear through me. Blasting music in a dungeon is never a good idea. It attracts too much attention," Hera explained and paused, waiting for another question. When nothing came, she just gestured outside, "Well then. It's time for my court to go crazy. Have a blast."

Livy, Amber, DJ, Chris, Dusa, Viper, and Crimson all dashed forward, and Hera walked slowly behind. Eventually, they would hit the range limit, and this would be another teaching moment. As they moved, Lurize turned to the Empress.

"Can I azk one thing?"

"Of course."

"When we are outzide, can I be in my beetle form? If I can't be in this one."

Hera thought for a moment, "Yeah, that can work. If people ask, I can say it's just a skill that increases the power of my poisons. Nimbus can also move in his griffon form; it just attracts more attention. Then I can have Livy in my back. At least we would all be out like that."

It wasn't a perfect plan, but at least she didn't have to keep them stuck inside the legacy. There might be a better option or a place she could actually let them roam around freely. As she was thinking about that, a loud yell broke her concentration.

"FUCK YEAH!" Livy's voice bellowed from the plains, followed by a loud sound of ground being broken by a heavy impact.

"We can talk more about that later. For now, let's see how they are doing," she said with a smile.