Upgrade Shrine
The Upgrade Shrine in VV: Ultimatum raises a single skill by two levels free of skill points and ascension fragments - once per character - at the end of an Everwhite Enclave questline involving Lord Nivis and the Gelid Dweller.
The Upgrade Shrine hands out the cheapest power in the game: two full levels on a single skill of your choice, without spending any skill points or ascension fragments. Like the Refund Shrine, it can be used once per character, which makes the target skill a genuine build decision - milestone upgrades at specific levels mean two free levels can unlock breakpoints that would otherwise cost heavily.
The unlock is a chain of conversations and boss fights around the Everwhite Enclave. It starts with Pratz, a Quincy staying in the enclave: exhaust his dialogue until he mentions Lady Hikari and let him tell you about her. Then head through the giant doors behind you into the library, and find Rose in the rightmost room at the back of The Northern Library - having heard about Lady Hikari from Pratz is what lets Rose start the quest.
Rose tasks you with retrieving a Frostvein Crystal from Lord Nivis. Two warnings from the documentation: you must have the quest active for the crystal to drop, and it is a direct drop - you need enough damage for kill credit, and it may take multiple kills. Returning the crystal to Rose opens a small cave near the Everwhite Enclave spawn, where you finally meet Lady Hikari herself. She sends you after one last target, the Gelid Dweller; defeating that boss unlocks access to the Upgrade Shrine.
Details
| Effect | Upgrades one skill by two levels, free of skill points and ascension fragments |
| Usage limit | Once per character |
| Region | Everwhite Enclave |
| Key NPCs | Pratz, Rose, Lady Hikari |
| Bosses required | Lord Nivis (Frostvein Crystal), Gelid Dweller |
How to unlock the Upgrade Shrine
Talk to Pratz, a Quincy staying in the Everwhite Enclave. After exhausting some dialogue he asks whether you have heard of Lady Hikari - let him tell you about her, then go to the library through the giant doors behind you.
Speak to Rose in The Northern Library, in the rightmost room at the back. If you learned about Lady Hikari from Pratz, Rose can start the shrine quest, tasking you with collecting a Frostvein Crystal from Lord Nivis. The quest must be active for the crystal to be obtainable, and it is a direct drop - deal enough damage to get kill credit, and keep retrying if it does not drop on the first kill.
Bring the crystal back to Rose and a small cave opens near the Everwhite Enclave spawn. Inside you meet Lady Hikari, who tasks you with killing the Gelid Dweller. Defeating that boss unlocks access to the Upgrade Shrine.
FAQ
What exactly does the Upgrade Shrine give?
Two levels on one skill of your choice, at zero cost in skill points or ascension fragments - once per character, so aim it at a skill with valuable milestone levels.
Why isn't the Frostvein Crystal dropping?
Two common reasons per the documentation: the quest from Rose must be active before the crystal can drop, and it is a direct drop requiring kill credit on Lord Nivis - multiple kills may be needed.
Who is Lady Hikari?
The figure at the center of the questline - Pratz introduces her story, Rose's quest leads to her cave near the Everwhite Enclave spawn, and she assigns the final Gelid Dweller fight that unlocks the shrine.