[NOTICE: UNDEAD (78) SLAIN]
[+39000 XP; 49500/49500 XP]
[NOTICE: LEVEL UP; VITAL STATS RESTORED; +6 AP]
[LV. 99 -> LV. 100; 6000/50000 XP]
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION AVAILABLE]
It's on Floor 95 that Kindle and Chila reach LV. 100 together against the first group they meet through the sheer number of hostiles and Kindle's ///Heroic Potential (C)/// Trait granting an XP multiplier of 100. Ever since Kindle Evolved into a Death Knight and upgraded that Trait, it only took a single fight on each floor to level up, immensely speeding up their traversal of the Serda Dungeon.
[PLEASE SELECT AN EVOLUTION OPTION]
[GREATER DEATH KNIGHT]
[UNDEAD PALADIN LORD]
[UNDEAD BISHOP]
[SKELETON LORD]
[INCOMPLETE LICH]
Kindle tilts their head at their options. Most of them are appealing in their own ways, though some less than others. "I don't think I'm all that interested in becoming an Undead Paladin Lord or Undead Bishop," they state, glancing at Chila as they look at their own menu. "Both are entirely Necromancy focused, and I don't actually care all too much for it."
Chila, previously fidgeting as they considered their choices, turns their shining, platinum helm to Kindle's screen, then to Kindle. "But, all of them are Necromancy related somewhat, right? Why not Evolve into an Incomplete Lich? Aren't Liches the strongest magic using Undead?"
Kindle glances their focus on the option. "They are, but not only would I not like to have a Phylactery that I have to feed souls in order to remain immortal, but I'd also prefer something in between martial and magical." They point at the Skeleton Lord option. "Since becoming a Skeleton Lord would be more focused on being a commanding force, I'll just pick a Greater Death Knight."
Once selected, they can feel the changes occur beneath their dark cloak and steel mask. The dense mana cores in Kindle's eye sockets condense even more, increasing in size enough to match the pupil-like volume they had while now feeling heavier in a non-physical way. Their bones feel as if they're restructuring to become even more solid, and the mana shaping them holds Kindle's bones tighter while the large mana core in their chest condenses further than the mana cores in their eyes, now incredibly difficult to hit as a weak point.
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[DEATH KNIGHT -> GREATER DEATH KNIGHT]
[+ TRAIT ///ARCANA AFFINITY (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///NECROTIC AFFINITY (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///MANA SENSE (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///WEAPON TALENT (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///SPIRIT COMMUNION (D)///]
[MULTIPLE TRAITS UPGRADED]
[///UNIFIED FORM (C)/// -> ///UNIFIED FORM (A)///]
[///HEROIC POTENTIAL (C)/// -> ///HEROIC POTENTIAL (A)///]
[///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (C)/// -> ///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (A)///]
[///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (B)/// -> ///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (A)///]
[///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (C)/// -> ///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (A)///]
[+7 MORE]
[MULTIPLE JOB CLASSES UPGRADED]
[UNDEAD PALADIN (D) -> UNDEAD PALADIN (B)]
[ADVANCED ARCANIST (B) -> EXPERT ARCANIST (A)]
[ADVANCED SWORDSMAN (B) -> EXPERT SWORDSMAN (A)]
[ADVANCED SPELLSWORD (B) -> EXPERT SPELLSWORD (A)]
The rush of information hits hard, Kindle's head spinning as it continues. Meanwhile, Chila finishes looking between her options and selects one, the armor that makes up her entirety melting again and shifting into a deep metal, the design of the suit changing from the smooth, glowing, platinum elegance towards being once again sharp, menacing, obsidian black, though it's accented with mana-blue light within it's crevaces and detailing.
[NOTICE: EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[SPIRIT ARMOR -> INCOMPLETE MANAS ARMOR]
[+ TRAIT ///MANA SENSE (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///ARCANA AFFINITY (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///MANA ABSORPTION (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///INSTINCTIVE CHANNELING (D)///]
[+ TRAIT ///LIGHT RESISTANCE (D)///]
[MULTIPLE TRAITS UPGRADED]
[///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (B)/// -> ///NECROTIC RESISTANCE (A)///]
[///PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (D)/// -> ///PHYSICAL RESISTANCE (B)///]
[///ELEMENTAL RESISTANCE (D)/// -> ///ELEMENTAL RESISTANCE (B)///]
[///MAGICAL RESISTANCE (E)/// -> ///MAGICAL RESISTANCE (C)///]
[+ JOB CLASS "BASIC BARRIER MAGE (D)"]
["INTERMEDIATE ARCANIST (C)" -> "EXPERT ARCANIST (A)"]
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Once they recover from the influx of sudden knowledge, they both turn to each other. "S-so," Chila starts, straightening a bit. "Do we just... keep going?"
Kindle glances down the halls of Floor 95, nodding. "Do we have anywhere else to go?"
Chila fidgets again, and walks ahead this time. "Y-you're right, that was a stupid question." Kindle follows behind, unbothered by Chila taking the lead out of embarrassment, especially since they seem to have a better sense of direction. "I guess I'm just not sure what to do after this. Once we clear the dungeon, do we just... go find another one?"
Kindle shrugs, relaxing into their new form quickly. "Maybe. I doubt the Hero will stop getting stronger, but I also doubt he'll be able to compete with my ///Unified Form (A)/// Trait now. Kindle opens up the system window to glance at it and their stats.
[///UNIFIED FORM (A)///: THE FIRST STEP TO ASCENSION. INCREASES MAX VALUE OF VITAL STATS BY A MULTIPLE OF TEN THOUSAND. (PATRON BOON)]
A multiple of ten thousand is absurd, making Kindle's maximum HP, MP, and SP exactly ten million currently. Not to mention ///Heroic Potential (A)/// increasing their XP gain to 50000 XP per kill, and they're on Floor 96 for only an hour and only fight on group before they level up again.
[NOTICE: UNDEAD (64) SLAIN]
[+3200000XP; 50000/50000 XP]
[NOTICE: LEVEL UP (7); VITAL STATS RESTORED; +42 AP]
[LV. 100 -> LV. 107; 546500/567100 XP]
After that, Kindle and Chila realize they could kill whatever Undead on their way up and still gain plenty of levels despite the XP penalty for overleveling. They don't go out of their way to do so, but they take advantage of it when the opportunity arises.
By the time the reach the entrance to Floor 100, they've both reached LV. 118, and have no hesitancy in facing the Dungeon Boss. The arena is even larger than any of the other Mini Boss arenas, able to fit maybe thousands of people if one wanted, though a massive skeletal corpse fills the space. The clink of Chila's armor and the thuds of Kindle's boots are all that fill the space, and without much of a reaction from either, the skeleton twitches. When it begins to steady itself, the bones of it's former wings thud against the ground with enough force to shake the entire arena, before it straightens and spreads them absurdly wide before letting out a roar using "Vocal Mimicry."
A Skeletal Wyvern, LV. 100, the Final Boss of the Serda Dungeon.
Unfortunately for the Skeletal Wyvern, a massive, pale-blue spell circle surrounds the arena, with another spell circle creating a preventative measure around Kindle and Chila, as the former casts a spell they've been meaning to try out.
"Mega Tier Ice Magic: Nifleheimr."
The entire arena aside from the surroundings around Kindle and Chila instantly freeze, the moisture in the air instantly crystalized and trapping the Skeletal Wyvern. Chila startled at how quick it is, but another spell circle, now ember-orange, is formed.
"Mega Tier Fire Mage: Muspelheimr."
The ice shatters with explosive force as the frozen room suddenly becomes swallowed in newly-combusted flames, a blinding flash from the sheer intensity the only affect bypassing the protective magic created around Kindle and Chila. The heat created would boil most lesser beings alive, if the initial explosion didn't eviscerate them.
When the silence begins to still and the view is not blocked by scorching light, the Skeletal Wyvern is nowhere to be found, utterly annihilated by two spells that only cost 850000MP each.
[NOTICE: SKELETAL WYVERN SLAIN]
[+25000 XP; 125000/690300 XP]
Chila, despite not having a face to express themselves with, keeps paralyzed in place by mental shock at witnessing it for the first time. "Y-y-you can d-do that?"
Kindle relaxes their shoulders, brushing off their cloak as if it got dirty at all. The air is scarred with a burning heat and smell now, certainly not safe for most living biological beings to inhale. "Maybe I should limit using those kinds of spells for emergencies or something akin to important necessities."
Chila jitters in agreement before nodding properly, then glances their visor towards the portal that appears. Kindle starts walking towards it, but slows when Chila doesn't follow suit. "That's... odd. I'm getting an odd feeling, like I should stay here, but I don't want to."
Kindle tilts their head, before facing the portal again with a nod. "Ah, the Dungeon Core wants to keep you, then." Chila doesn't seem too bothered by it, in fact, they only seem to feel a tug in the back of their mind as they step forward into the portal, reaching Floor 1, and Kindle follows suit, inclining their head at Chila's certainty.
Chila looks at the entrance to the Serda Dungeon, or in their case, the exit. "So, where do we go from here? Is it... nice outside?"
Kindle gently tugs Chila's gauntlet, and Chila begins to help then wear their armor as Kindle responds, the pieces all opening and fixing themselves around Kindle's form quickly. "It is very nice outside, I'm sure you liked the view when you were alive, and I'm sure you'll like it now. As for where we go..." Kindle finishes donning Chila as their armor, and marches up the staircase immediately after.
"I guess we shall find out."
NAME: KINDLE
SPECIES: GREATER DEATH KNIGHT
SEX: N/A
XP: 125000/690300
AP: 0
HP: 11800000/11800000
MP: 10100000/11800000
SP: 11800000/11800000
CON: 118
AGI: 118
DEX: 118
PER: 118
INT: 118
UNDEAD PALADIN (B)
EXPERT ARCANIST (A)
INTERMEDIATE ELEMENTALIST (C)
INTERMEDIATE NECROMANCER (C)
EXPERT SWORDSMAN (A)
EXPERT SPELLSWORD (A)
///BIOLOGICAL IMMORTALITY///
///WORLD EYE///
///UNIFIED FORM (A)///
///HEROIC POTENTIAL (A)///
///UNDEAD DOMINANCE (A)///
///TERRIFYING AURA (B)///
///SPIRIT COMMUNION (D)///
///ARCANA AFFINITY (D)///
///NECROTIC AFFINITY (D)///
///WEAPON TALENT (D)///
///MANA SENSE (D)///
(+10 MORE)
