Chapter 738 (1/2)

“Is it possible?” Dozer rumbled, considering the boy in front of him.

Nathan squirmed, but not from the observation. “Well yes, it is possible. You have purposefully kept yourself at Level 49, so the switch can still be made, but… it will require energy. More than I have. I’ll have to call Neveah- hey, can you ask her to stop that?”

Amused, Dozer said. “Delilah. Come to daddy.”

“Abuuu~” Came his daughter's cheerful reply. The almost two-year-old stopped manifesting the mage lights that she had somehow picked up and tottered slowly over toward Dozer. She could speak brief phrases, but when she was young she very quickly got into the habit of emoting most of her actions. Honestly, Dozer believed it somewhat admirable. His daughter’s constant announcements of her mood were a breath of fresh air after her mother.

He picked up the girl, who was still small enough to fit inside a single hand. Or perhaps, Dozer’s Soulskill had pushed him to grow beyond the limits of the human body. He now stood at almost three meters of height and weighed close to four hundred pounds. Every inch of it was muscle.

When Delilah raised her hands toward the sky, Dozer picked her up without even a hint of exertion. Casually, he bounced his daughter into emitting delighted coos.

“Did you need to bring her?” Nathan asked, a frown on his face. He was now a teenager, and the angular angst of that age was full in his face. Dozer smiled wanly and nodded.

“Bah, Isn’t she one of the only babies in Donnyton? Surely there is a woman somewhere that would love to watch her,” Nathan complained.

“That’s why she learned Mage Lights.” Dozer said slowly. “We left her too long in the arms of another.”

In this, Dozer and Annie were united in their fury. It was disgusting to both of them that their daughter’s first Skill be Mage Lights. But of course, Clarissa found the whole thing hilarious. After they discovered this, the two parents took raising their child much more seriously. Because Nathan was right, although a bit sexist; everyone wanted to fawn over Donnyton’s first baby.

There had been a few babies since, but Delilah would always be spoiled, Dozer expected. Which was not what he had in mind. In order to combat that, he had already brought her into the forest to pick up some stones for strength. He was also in the midst of teaching her to throw a punch.

Her first Skill might be Mage Lights, but Dozer would be damned if her second wasn’t Heavy Blow.

“I brought you something, as payment.” Dozer said, bringing Nathan’s eyes back away from Delilah to his own.

“Oh, you didn’t have to, I would have done it for free,” Nathan said, while his whole face brightened at the prospect of a gift. Chuckling, Dozer flexed his hand and produce a package. He carefully handed it over to Nathan.

The boy ripped it open immediately, revealing a long black tunic that hissed slightly as it shifted around in his hands.

“Made of blackscale. Some of the best new stuff out of Donnyton,” Dozer said shortly. “Even I can’t cut through that stuff, the metal rings are too tight. Plus, it was blessed to increase Perception and Reaction.”

Not that Dozer would need to cut through anything to do damage. But it was a fitting gift. Doubly so, because the boy immediately took off his shirt and put it on. Dozer had made some guesses on the size, and it seemed he had aired on the side of too large. That was good. Nathan would still grow some this year. Hopefully, it would be wearable for more than a few months.

“How long will it take?” Dozer asked gently. He was a man of few words, but he knew that this meeting with Nathan wouldn’t proceed if he didn't’ push forward.

Nathan blinked, and then seemed to consider it. “If all goes well… maybe eight hours. If it’s more complicated than I expect… as many as three days. If we want to do it, we should contact Nevaeh immediately.”

“I will do so.”

For the next five minutes, Dozer simply played with Delilah while Nathan disappeared into the back of his shack. They were currently in Azaela, the town erected in the remnants of an old dump by the people trapped in monster bodies. It was the Sunset festival, and Dozer hoped to get a little bit of vacation while he was out here.

There was a light knock on the door and then it immediately swung open. Annie strolled in, eating a funnel cake and holding an extremely large handmade teddy bear.

“Mama!” Delilah screeched, even as Dozer gave Annie a disapproving look.