-
Gain the favor of Eva Le’tain (0/1)
-
Reward / New Skill
I don’t even, I don’t understand.
I force myself to sit up despite my exhausted body. Looking into the notification, I start thinking about what I should do.
Ydri, that bastard.
I know what this is and I hate it. It’s the trait I got a while ago, Ydri’s Jester. I honestly tried to pretend it didn’t exist because I’m not his fucking clown.
I let out a tired sigh and rub my temples. “I guess I’ll check what it is.”
Ydri’s Jester / Rarity (Exotic)
(Your existence somehow brings entertainment to the entirety of Ydri itself. Only 3 other beings have ever achieved this feat.)
Ydri will send you objectives to be completed for its entertainment
Upon completion of objectives you will be rewarded
Cool, cool… Except it’s fucking not! Is it saying that me becoming friends with Eva is funny to it! I palm my face “oh god… Fine, whatever! I wanted to be friends with Eva anyway.”
A grey screen pops into existence next to me.
Yay!
I scowl and flick my wrist to dismiss it.
I fall on my back and relax. I feel gross. I’m caked in mole and roach blood. With all the cuts I have, I’m probably gonna catch some sort of disease. I consider burning it off with SoulFire, but I think I’ll accidentally burn myself alive.
I decide to ignore my current filthy state and do something more productive while my body recovers. I need to get a healing skill. When I acquired the Monk class, it said healing yourself was a basic skill like Aura of Strength.
I put 5 points into Soul and Intellect respectively. I hope that them being higher will make getting the skill faster. Increasing Intellect also bumped my mana up and I’m hit by a sudden relief. I manifest my aura and get to work feeling out my body… That sounded weird, but it’s what I’m doing.
I imagine in my head my wounds closing and healing over. It is just like Aura of Strength. I focus on what I want the aura to do. And like before, it takes hours.
Congratulations, you have unlocked a class skill
-
(Aura of Vitality)
Alert / (3) Class Skill slots remaining
The joy of creation is unfortunately overshadowed by massive disappointment. “What the fuck do you meeeaan, 3 class skill slots remaining! Why was there not something like a class skill limit mentioned earlier!”
You never asked
My rage is so indescribable that it only comes out as a deadpan expression.
I sigh as I repress my emotions so I may release them in an extremely unhealthy manner later.
Returning my attention to my new class skill, I fully manifest my aura and activate Aura of Vitality.
I feel a tightening all over my body and the aching pain starts to fade. I notice that the healing is very slow. It takes 5 minutes for all my cuts to close and 10 more minutes for the bruises and skin to heal over.
When I was done it had taken over 40 percent of my mana and given that it replenishes over time, my skill probably took even more than that.
Aura of Vitality feels kinda weak right now compared to my other skills. But, it is my only healing skill so I’m not complaining.
Aura of Vitality / Level (1)
(Through focus, you have changed the structure of your aura. Your aura now commands your body to rebuild itself.)
Expend Mana to increase your vitality over time
I decided to look at my other class skills while I’m at it.
Frost Breath / Level (3)
(You have manipulated your soul to be similar to that of the Abominable Mole. Doing this you gained the elemental breath of frost.)
Expend Mana to exhale frozen air
SoulFire / Level (2)
(Through great emotion you manipulated your soul into physical form.
Expend Mana to bring your soul into reality
That note, I’ve seen something like it before. Back when I first got the Monk class it said something about this being just the beginning or whatever. I didn’t have time to process it then.
I wonder who it is. It’s not Ydri for sure. It doesn’t have that sarcastic asshole tone to it.
Whatever, I’ll give it some more thought later.
I stand up and let SoulFire illuminate the room. I turn to leave, but Magical Aura Perception picks up a faint nearby soul. A tiny dark green flame sits inside one of the dead Roach Legions. Except it’s not dead, is it?
(Roachling / level 0)
I think it’s trying to play dead. Aww, it’s cute in a gross way.
I decided to leave it alone. There’s no reason for me to kill it and it’s not like I’m a murder hungry monster.
I leave the brood queen's nest and start heading toward Eva again. She hasn’t moved yet so she’s definitely asleep or something. As I’m walking I let my mind wander a bit.
I have some random thoughts about the past, but I eventually start replaying the fight I just had in my head. I keep coming to the same conclusion.
“I had no business winning that fight.”
That monster could have killed me at any time before I used Obscene Presence. The only reason I’m not dead right now is that it underestimated me, and rightly so! It was nearly 3 times my level at the time.
I shake my head. I really should be more careful. I think I’m subconsciously thinking that this is a game, but it’s real life. There aren’t gonna be any respawns.
As I think this I run into two massive roaches. They are big, if standing on end they would reach my shoulders. I quickly prepare myself and use observe. If they are higher than level 20, I’m gonna play it safe and run away.
(Roach Centurion / Deceased)
(Roach Centurion / Deceased)
“Oh. they’re dead.”
I mean, they didn’t have souls, so it should have been obvious. Well, the Roach Legions didn’t have souls either. I furrow my brows.
“Wait. If some monsters don’t have souls, that means I can’t use Magical Aura Perception to detect them.”
I really should be more careful. This is a dungeon full of dangerous monsters. I need to be on guard at all times. I nod my head affirmatively.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I know nothing about this world, let alone this dungeon. I need to be ready for anything.
In the corner of my eye I see one of the dead Roach Centurions shift slightly. My head snaps to it. I watch it not moving for an uncomfortable amount of time. My shoulders start to relax.
“Maybe… Maybe I’m getting a little too para-”
Both of the dead roaches rapidly deflate and green ooze seeps between the cracks of their exoskeletons. As soon as they deflate, they expand right after. They grow far larger than they were originally. I can hear their insides squelching and their carapace groans until finally-
Burst-
Their backs explode outward, sending a cloud of green and grey smoke into the air. Strange white stalks extend out of the roaches backs and they extend across their bodies.
Their beady eyes fall out of their heads and mushrooms grow rapidly out of their now empty gaze.
My nose is immediately assaulted by a horrific stench. There is no parallel that could be drawn to adequately describe this smell, other than saying it smells like death.
I cover my mouth and nose as I watch these monsters stand back up.
(Zombified Roach Centurion / level 9)
(Zombified Roach Centurion / level 8)
I want to vomit right now so bad. I don’t want anything to do with this. I turn to run away even though they are far weaker than me.
As I take my first step, I’m stopped by a sudden notification. My face displays pure horror as I read what it says.
New Objective / Have Dinner!
-
Consume the reanimating mushroom (0/1)
-
Reward / Much Needed Advice
“NOPE!!”
I take off running away from this entire situation. Eat them! Are you kidding me!
I look behind me to see the zombie monster chasing after me. They are fast. One of them is crawling on the ground and the other is speeding on the fucking ceiling.
A new grey screen appears next to me while I’m running.
Come on! It’d be totally worth it! Trust me
After a few moments I turn a corner and look back once more to see them gaining on me. I grimace as they are close enough for me to smell them again.
I am NOT going to let them touch me! I turn on the spot and slide to a stop and inhale as much air as I can. I use Magical Aura Manipulation on my lungs and with Frost Breath I freeze everything in the direction of the roaches.
Much to my relief the smell dies down considerably. I turn to continue running but stop when I get new notifications.
You have slain a (Zombified Roach Centurion/level 8)
-
Less experience rewarded
You have slain a (Zombified Roach Centurion/level 9)
-
Less experience rewarded
“Oh thank god.”
I grab onto my knees to catch my breath. The grey screen appears once again.
Alright! Now go pick one of those mushrooms and eat it!
I start nodding my head and grinning sarcastically “Yeah Yeah! I’ll go ahead and absolutely not fucking do that!”
Suddenly I hear the ethereal voice of a child coming from right next to me “But why not.” it says with a pout.
I jump back from it “Jesus Christ man! Don’t do that!”
It stares at me for a moment before grinning its big goofy grin from before. It doesn’t wear any clothing and its skin is grey throughout. Its eyes are filled with a dark abyss that seems to pull me in.
An interesting note is that I don’t see its soul.
“I’m not going to eat it, Ydri, because it’s disgusting.”
Ydri shakes its head “I’m not asking you to eat the entire Zombified Roach Centurion. Just the mushroom part.” It's smiling and nodding eagerly.
I frown at it “And for what? Just for some random piece of advice. Nope, that’s nowhere near worth it.”
It pouts again “It's not ‘random advice.’ It’s ‘much needed advice!’”
“Nuh-uh. Not doing it.” I start walking away.
Ydri stammers and starts looking between the dead roaches and me. “Wh- wait!”
I turn to the frowning Ydri, who is now scratching the back of its head. “What if I-” It turns to the roaches for a moment before looking back at me smiling “What if I grab the mushroom myself so you don’t have to go anywhere near the gross roach bit!”
I pause and look at Ydri for a moment. Wait, am I actually considering this?
Ydri’s grin deepens “And- and I’ll make sure that there is no gross roach juice on it or anything! Just the mushroom. Will you eat it then?”
I want to say no. I really do, but… I groan “Okay, fine. But I want no roach on it, not a single roach! Got it?”
It nods eagerly and smiles like a little kid. Ydri runs over to the Zombified Roach Centurion and grabs onto one of the mushrooms that are protruding from its eye socket. It yanks the mushroom out and breaks off the end that was connected to the roach.
Ydri runs back at me giggling and waving the mushroom over its head. I end up chuckling at the utterly ridiculous sight. Isn’t Ydri supposed to be a god?
Ydri reaches me and hands over the mushroom. “It’s a little frozen so you should warm it up before you eat it.”
“Yeah, figured.”
I shift my aura to my left hand and use SoulFire. I use my other hand to bring the mushroom close to the fire to thaw it. Ydri stands next to me and watches the entire process with anticipation.
After about 5 minutes the mushroom was thawed enough for consumption. I look at the mushroom with a worried face and look back at Ydri, who is innocently grinning ear to ear.
“Fuck it.” I eat the mushroom and it's surprisingly sweet. “Huh. Not as bad as I thought it was gonna be.”
You have completed the objective (Have Dinner!)
“Alright, so what’s that advice you want to tell me?”
Ydri nods “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you as soon as it’s over.”
“Wait, what do you mean by-” I pause and then my eyes start to widen. Not once-
Not once have I considered why Ydri wants me to eat this mushroom. I’m such an idiot. I just declared that I was gonna be more careful from here on.
Surrounding the corners of my eyes the walls start shifting slightly.
“Oh no.”
Ydri’s smile turns malicious “What is it? Oh, did I forget to tell you?” Ydri scratches the back of its head as it pretends to be apologetic. Its smile deepens further than what's possible with a human face. “The reanimating mushroom is an extremely powerful psychedelic.”
I let out an exasperated “you bitch!” but Ydri disappears before I can get it out.
The walls of the cave start to shift more rapidly. Slowly the walls and floor take on blue and pinkish colors and the ceiling starts peeling away.
Overhead is a perfect blue sky without a single cloud in sight. The sun burns brightly, brighter than it was ever before. I gaze into it and the sun smiles back with eternal malice.
My gaze falls back down toward the zombie roaches. One is now standing on their hind legs and walks to a nearby closet. The roach pulls a suit from the closet and starts putting it on.
Suddenly the roach turns its mushroom filled eyes towards me. Its leg is halfway into a pair of pants that can’t possibly fit him. He speaks with a British accent.
“Ahh. My apologies. I’m not yet ready for our date tonight, but I must say. Your face is gross- but in a cute way.”
“Oh.” My eyes swing over to the other roach.
She’s sitting on a bean bag chair and wearing a green, red, and black beanie. She lights a blunt between her mandibles. She takes out the blunt and blows out a cloud of smoke. She coughs a few times and takes a look at me. “Ya ass ain't in Kansas anymore Tiffany! Hehe.”
“Oh no.”
---
I wake up with an earth shattering headache. I start rubbing my eyes, but I suddenly hear Ydri’s voice right in my ear.
“Wakey wakey, sleepy head!”
“Jesus! What did I just say about doing that!”
Ydri swings Its head back and laughs “I don’t know who this ‘Jesus’ is, but he must be important. Given that you call out to him when you're scared. Is he a god in your world?”
I scowl at Ydri and stand up so I can yell at it. I pause for a moment as I replay the words it said in my head. I grin “Yes, he is a god. That means it’s my turn to ask a question.”
Ydri stops laughing and its eyes widen “Oh shit.”
I smile victoriously “Didn’t see that coming, did ya!”
“I did not… Anyway, it's my turn again.”
I scoff “What do mea-” my eyes widen “Oh shit.”
Ydri falls on its back laughing. I seriously consider sucker punching it but I hold back given that it's a god and all.
I was actually extremely pissed at Ydri for drugging me and I was definitely going to cuss it out at least, but Ydri’s strange presence just diffuses all tension.
I sigh defeated “Whatever, just tell me the advice already and go away.”
Ydri feigns hurt “Aww, how cold!” It hops to its feet “Very well! First, I want you to check your status.” It points at me.
I raise an eyebrow at it. “Um- okay.” I bring up my status screen “Status”
“You don’t have to say ‘status’ every time you know.”
“I know, but it’s more fun that way.”
Ydri nods “I guess I can sympathize with that.”
“Anyway, what I’m trying to see- Oh.”
Intrinsic Status
Vitality (100%)
Stamina (100%)
Sanity (85%)
Mana (100%)
“My sanity went up.”
Ydri pretends to be surprised “Oh really, you must have found a way to repair one’s sanity. I wonder, who else has a damaged sanity and would benefit greatly from this knowledge?” Ydri looks expectantly at me.
My eyes widened. “Oh.”
Ydri in response smiles, winks, and disappears.
I smile with real genuine joy. I think I was wrong about Ydri.
“It’s my turn by the way.”