Chapter 20x: Minions of the Month (1/2)
Victor walked out of the Castle of Murmurin—or rather, the ruins left standing—with his throat still sore from the shouting, and only one thought in mind.
“Fffffff…”
They were doomed.
Two hundred dragons! Two hundred dragons and he would brag to them how being an adventurer made him richer! How could that not backfire?!
That and Vainqueur was steadily getting smarter. He had noticed Victor had sacrificed his items, and even if the adventurer could deflect his attention, he needed to replace them as soon as possible.
The notification of his new level gains did alleviate his fears.
Congratulations! For landing the coup de grace on an ancient lich on behalf of your dragon master, and cunningly trapping the soul in your scythe, you gained two levels in [Monster Squire] and two levels in [Reaper]!
+90 HP, + 20 SP, +2 STR, + 4 VIT, +4 SKI, +4 AGI, +3 INT, +3 CHA, +3 LCK!
You gained the [Mook Promotion] and [Necromancy II] Class Perks.
[Mook Promotion]: You can cause your minions to evolve into stronger forms, if your level is higher than the evolved monster’s theoretical danger rating and if hidden conditions are met. Promoted minions keep their previous class levels.
[Necromancy II]: You can learn and cast Necromancy spells up to Tier II. This replaces Necromancy I.
By consuming the soul of a powerful lich, your [Killer Scythe] has been upgraded into a [Killer Scythe+]. +25 percent chance of inflicting critical hits.
Warning: You have reached the level 30 class ceiling.
You will no longer be able to gain additional levels until you use a [Crest].
You can still gain perks through special deeds, but your experience gains are set to zero.
Uh?
What, there were level ceilings? He needed to bribe the system to get into the middle class? Damn, it was just like on Earth.
For once, though, the system gave him more explanation.
[Crest] are powerful but rare items which allow someone to break the level 30 class ceiling.
[Heroic Crests] are even rarer and more powerful [Crests], which are needed to break the level 60 class ceiling.
Afterward, you are free to level up to 99, which will allow you to access Valhalla and attempt Apotheosis.
Valhalla. The final challenge. Only twelve creatures survived it and walked out as the deities of Outremonde.
Still, he had no idea where to find a [Crest], or even what it looked like. Questions for later. There was something more urgent than levels or preparing for that Bragging Day.
“Furibon,” Victor spoke up at his scythe, the ghastly face of the lich materializing on the blade’s edge. “Furibon, are you there? Furibon! Furi?”
“What?” the lich whispered back with an irritated tone.
He could indeed understand him. “What is that deal with the iPad?” The lich’s silence made him roll his eyes. “The Apple of Knowledge.”
“Why would I tell you? I hate you, and everything that dragon stands for. I wish you all die.”
“Thank you, you are so kind. Now as for why…” Victor gave the lich a sly, cruel smirk. “Because otherwise, I am giving up that scythe to Vainqueur, and you will spend eternity as part of his hoard. You will have to support his insanity until the end of times, watching him shower in gold in your castle’s vaults, and sprout nonsense until you go mad.”
The lich’s horrified silence was golden. “You are a monster,” Furibon said. “You look weak and innocent, but you are a monster.”
“Humanoid/Dragon type,” Victor confirmed. “Now tell me, before I go through with it. You know I will.”
Furibon let out an angry sigh but hated Vainqueur too much to refuse. “My Master, Brandon Maure, to use your crass language… backed the wrong horse. He assisted the fomors led by King Balaur in their war with Gardemagne, so he could seize southern territories, but his side lost. Now, with the fairy lords defeated, Gardemagne has many adventurers and crusaders, and no enemy to fight.”
“So he’s afraid Gardemagne will attack him next.”
“Prydain and the Dark Forest, the strongholds of the remaining fomors, are too dangerous for Gardemagne to threaten, but not Ishfania. With his losses during the conflict, my master no longer has the forces to face the full might of his neighbors.”
“Okay, so he’s desperate to find a way to turn the tide and save his remaining territories.” Using the Scorchers to distract adventurers, trying to summon reinforcements from Hell... “Let me guess, he thinks weapons from other worlds will solve his problem?”
“We always researched the technology from the world of Earth, whenever we could find it. In many ways, it completes our own magic. King Maure offered great rewards to Claimed willing to share knowledge with him, and one day that dark woman brought him one carrying the Apple of Knowledge.”
That tale sounded very familiar. “Is that woman’s name Lavere?”