Chapter 35:
"Mikey, I'm impressed. You were able to do it just in time." I knew that voice anywhere. It was the one who had given me the mission, the quest that had me panicking and paranoid about not becoming bronze in time. "It's been a week, Azazel. I was able to complete what you asked."
"Yes, yes, you mortals are quick to get your rewards. Be patient; we have a lot to talk about. Well, I do. Now you will be quiet and listen."
In that moment, my body went stiff in the dream, and just as he said, he made sure I stayed quiet.
"I didn't believe you could do it, Mikey, and I even made a bet against you to another god. And that arrogant bastard was right." The dream world began to shake with his rage until he took a moment to compose himself. "He has also sent you a reward as well for your hard work. Gypsum won't admit it, but she is glad you're doing well. Now to why I'm here. You, on one hand, made me look bad, and then you made me lose a bet. However, for a demon core, you lasted longer than you should have. All races want your kind dead, and that leaves me thinking you're too valuable to be killed—for now. I will let you live, but for making me look bad, I will be increasing one of your skills' power. I'm sure it will cause you some trouble."
The laugh he let out was far more haughty than I liked. Then suddenly, I could speak again.
"Now, when you wake up, you will have a choice to make. Two different mobs, and you can only pick one. And I am giving you one final reward: a seed. This seed, when planted, will produce food and make new creatures for your dungeon. It will become an even less than normal dungeon."
And before I could speak, he tossed his hands and threw me out of sleep. I sat up quickly, breathing heavily.
A panel popped up with that same over-eager voice I had come to hate.
Panel Notification:
Congratulations, Azazel! You have successfully reached the Bronze Tier.
Reward for Completing the Quest:
Skill Boost: One of your skills will receive a significant power increase. You don't have a choice in this increase. The god of chaos has boosted your Lustful Charm. New effect added: Anyone able to resist your new charm will find it harder to resist your advances in the future.
Seed of Creation: Plant this seed to produce food and spawn new creatures, making your dungeon even more unique. This seed will plant a large orchard. The fruit itself will become a new mob.
New Mobs Added:
Option 1: Crystal Spiders - Bronze tier mob. These crystal spiders love creating traps with their silken thread.
Option 2: Kobolds - (Resident) Craven reptilian humanoids that commonly infest dungeons. These residents are general-use mobs.
New Reward Gifted from Galond, the God of Magical Monsters:
New Mob Added to Your List: Baby Manticore - An adorable cat-like creature with bat wings and a scorpion tail.
Personal Message: "Good work, Azazel. You helped me finally one-up that arrogant prick. For that, here's a powerful gift. I think it will fit in well with what I've heard of your dungeon."
I took a deep breath, my mind racing as I considered the options before me. The skill boost was a double-edged sword, and the seed promised to bring new life and complexity to my dungeon. But the choice of mobs was crucial. Each option had its strengths and weaknesses, and I needed to weigh them carefully.
Nike, sensing my turmoil, stirred beside me. "Azazel, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Well, I've gotten some good news and some bad news," I replied, my voice heavy with thought. "We've reached the Bronze Tier, and I have some new rewards and choices to make."
Nike's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and worry. "Tell me more. What are the choices?"
I explained the panel notification to him, detailing the skill boost, the seed of creation, and the new mob options. Nike listened intently, his tail flicking thoughtfully behind him.
"The skill boost sounds powerful, but the new effect on your Lustful Charm could be troublesome," he said, his brow furrowed in thought. "And the seed will definitely add a new dimension to our dungeon. As for the mobs, Crystal Spiders could provide excellent traps and defenses, while Kobolds could be useful for various tasks."
I nodded, appreciating his insights. "And the Baby Manticore... it's an unexpected gift, but it could be a valuable addition. We need to think carefully about how to integrate these new elements into our dungeon."
Nike placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Whatever you choose, we'll face it together. You know that."
I smiled, grateful for his unwavering support.
(this should be the last bunch of the short chapters i swear these were so much longer but after cutting out the useless filler they gotten very short i will make sure to send out alot of chapters when this happens to make up having to wait!)