You are being watched by forty curious lesser gods! The lesser god of illusions hasn’t given up on being your sponsor! Six lesser gods are considering banning you from their sanctuaries!
Scott closed his eyes while taking a deep breath. I don’t know whether it’s the mask or the war hammer, but something won’t let me accept a sponsor. Then again, do I even want to be sponsored by any of these gods? I don’t even know the perks or demerits of being sponsored.
Scott turned his head side to side, staring at his stunned companions who stared blankly at the path ahead. How long are they going to need? Scott sighed, before focusing on Zara’s status screen.
Champion Interface Basic Stats
Name: Zara. Level: 10. Experience Points: 200/1000 – New! Bloodlust Capacity: 300/300 [Lower Tier] – New! Race: Feline. Class: Feline Brawler. Title: Party Leader of The Hound Extermination Crew.
Party Members
* Scott [Minion 01].
* Slim the Grim [Minion 02].
Affiliation: The Hound Extermination Crew. Achievements: None! Sponsor: War God, Thatmos! Energy Sources: Bloodlust. Blood Bank: Empty! Abnormal State: Chaotic Neutral.
Physical Stats Strength: 28 – New! Agility: 30. Endurance: 33 – New! Dexterity: 33. Toughness: 30.
Skills Pounce (Level 4) – New! Hand to Hand Combat (Level 4). Sprinting (Level 4). Basic Blood Burst Charge (Level 0) – New! Expert Gymnast (Level 5) – New! Survival (Level 2).
Abilities Low Tier Purrfect Slash: A quick, low-stamina ability that allows the user to swipe their claws across an enemy, inflicting serious damage and a bleed effect over time. Leap of the Cat: An ability that allows the user to pounce on an enemy from a distance, dealing serious damage, and increases the odds of stunning the target by 25%. Roaring Fury: An ability that allows the user to deliver a series of rapid strikes with their fists and feet, culminating in a powerful finishing move that could deal serious damage. Stealthy Pounce: An ability that allows the user to quickly dash behind an enemy and deliver a surprise attack, dealing serious damage, and increases the odds of stunning the target by 20%. Cyclone Claw: An ability that allows the user to spin in a circle, delivering a flurry of punches and kicks to all enemies within range, dealing moderate damage to each. Middle Tier Imprint of Madness: All physical stats will rise by fifteen points. Odds of landing a critical strike increases by 22% when Imprint of Madness is activated All physical stats will drop by 7 if mental state is overridden with madness. Cat's Reflexes: A passive ability that increases the user’s odds of dodging an attack by 20% and grants a temporary speed boost after successfully dodging an attack. Sixth Sense: There’s a 10% chance of dodging a critical strike. Sharp Senses: A passive ability that grants the character increased critical hit chance and improved accuracy when attacking. Blood Burst Charge: It allows the user to charge toward their opponents with great speed and agility, while simultaneously releasing a burst of their own blood, or that of their slain enemies. The blood itself is infused with the rage of the feline battle god, Thatmos, making them more lethal and devastating. However, the use of this ability comes at a cost, the user can be consumed by their rage and bloodlust and descend into madness. Excessive use of the user’s blood can result in the user’s death! Nine Lives: A passive ability that grants the user additional health and reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks.
Quests
Main Quest: Survive the second trial – Ongoing! Side Quest: Search for the Varkham Hound – Ongoing! Side Quest: Journey to Thatmos’ Sanctuary – Not started! Side Quest: Eliminate the Varkham Hound – Not Started!
Scott narrowed his gaze, his eyes shifting between the motionless cat girl and the blue system window. What the heck? Since when did she have a sponsor? Different questions inundated the mind of the eldritch knight as he reached for the shoulder of the cat girl. At that very moment, Slim and Zara snapped out of their momentary daze. The disoriented feline brawler noticed the approaching arm of the masked man and instinctively took a step back, only to trip on a small rock and let out a shriek as she fell.
Scott’s arm moved like a venomous snake, seizing the falling brawler's arm, and pulling her petite frame towards his body. “Be careful,” Scott said, the space between them nonexistent. His right hand clutched the brawler’s wrist while the other wrapped around her delicate waist.
Why did I do that? She’s an expert gymnast. She would have adjusted her body before reaching the ground, Scott chided himself.
“Oh?” Slim remarked from the side, sporting a wicked smile as he raised his thumbs. “I’ll be going over there,” he declared, pointing randomly. “You guys can continue whatever this is,” he giggled.
Zara’s cheeks turned red as she gently extricated herself from Scott’s embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered softly before charging toward the smiling skeleton. “That’s it, Slim. I’m demoting you to Minion 99.”
“Wait, what? But I didn’t do anything,” Slim protested as he sprinted away from the approaching cat girl.
“You’re demoted to Minion 999 now. Keep running, and I’ll keep demoting you,” Zara threatened playfully as she chased after the necromancer.
Meanwhile, Scott remained in the same position, staring at the duo. Should I ask her about her sponsor? Scott pondered for a moment before shaking his head. It would be wrong to ask her about her sponsor without her telling me herself. Although they suspect I can see people’s levels and concealed foes, it would be foolish revealing Hastur’s gaze can do even more. I’ll need to rein in my curiosity for now. There must be a reason she chose to be sponsored by the war god.
The Feline War God, Thatmos, is now watching you! The lesser feline war god is now watching you! The Feline War God, Thatmos, is curious about your identity! The lesser feline war god would like to ask you a few questions! Would you like to be questioned? Yes! No!
Scott tensed up as the system message appeared. Fuck. It’s going to do it again, right?
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At that same moment, a tendril jumped out from the mask, landing on the system window, instantly rejecting the lesser war god’s enquiry.
You have refused to be questioned by the lesser feline war god!
“Damn it. I knew this would happen,” Scott cursed within himself. Although he could predict the tendril would once again reject another proposal, he couldn’t stop the little critter. It moved at a speed that far exceeded his capabilities.
The lesser feline war god is embarrassed! The Feline War God is laughing at the lesser feline war god! The Feline War God and the lesser feline war god have stopped watching you!
That turned out way different than what I expected. Thankfully, those two didn’t hold a grudge, but I wonder what questions they wanted to ask, Scott thought before turning toward his noisy and energetic companions.
The cat girl pinned the necromancer's head beneath her arm, simultaneously giving the skeleton's skull an enthusiastic rub. Scott's gaze shifted to Slim, wondering if the necromancer had acquired a sponsor during his absence.
Champion Interface Basic Stats
Name: Slim the Grim. Level: 10. Experience Points: 470/1000 – New! Nether Energy Capacity: 300/300 [Lower Tier] – New! Race: Undead. Class: Necromancer.
Party Members
* Scott.
* Zara [Party leader].
Affiliation: The Hound Extermination Crew. Achievements: None! Title: Minion 9999 – New! Sponsor: None! Energy Sources: Nether energy. Abnormal State: Chaotic Good.
Physical Stats Strength: 12 (+2) – New! Agility: 12 (+2) – New! Endurance: 12 (+2) – New! Dexterity: 26. Toughness: 12 (+2) – New!
Skills Summoning (Level 2). Necromantic Resistance (Level 3). Dark Magic (Level 3). Necrotic Touch (Level 2). Sweet Talker (Level 2). Basic Sprinting (Level 0). Basic Nether manipulation (Level 0) – New! Party Communication (Level 1) – Party Dependent Skill. Singing (Level 4). Basic Madness (Level 1).
Scott's brows furrowed once again. Despite the necromancer's failure to secure a sponsor, Slim’s mana capacity had been supplanted by a reservoir of nether energy.
No wonder Ember had been insistent on reaching level 10 before completing the trial, Scott thought, and a faint smile crossed his face as he contemplated the prospect of facing stronger opponents in the near and distant future.
“Buddy, lend me a hand! Zara's going to drill a hole in my skull if she keeps patting it.”
Scott redirected his focus to Slim and Zara. The cat girl had the skeleton pinned to the ground, showering him with enthusiastic head pats.
Scott sighed and took a step forward, appreciating the duo's ability to engage in their antics regardless of the setting. However, on his fifth step, a darkened system window materialized in front of Slim. Scott stopped abruptly, squinting as he observed Zara, frozen in time. Meanwhile, Slim's finger hovered in front of the obscured screen, motionless.
“Shit. Something weird is about to happen again,” Scott muttered aloud, his gaze fixed on the thick, ethereal blackened mist seeping out from the earth surrounding Slim.
The God of the NetherRealm is now watching you! The God of the NetherRealm has stopped watching you! The lesser god of the NetherRealm is now watching you!
The earth bore a matrix of deep cracks, voraciously swallowing everything in its wake. A blackened mist oozed through the crevices, shrouding the sky in impenetrable darkness. At the gorge's edge, Scott stood witness to Zara and Slim, entwined around a dense sphere. His gaze shifted to the unfathomable depths, where a pair of flaming emerald eyes emerged from the shadows.
A ghoulish whisper slithered into Scott's ears. “Your eyes mirror Hastur's. No doubt about it. I can sense the aura of the Mad God on you.”
“Are you the God of the NetherRealm?” Scott inquired softly, his voice betraying no emotion.
“I am the one tasked with investigating your existence—the lesser god of the NetherRealm,” the voice whispered. “And you, Hastur's progeny, correct?”
“Who…” Before Scott could complete his question, a hand thrust itself out of his mouth, and simultaneously, another emerged from the mask he wore.
You have forcefully stopped several lesser gods from watching you!
The ghastly eyes of the figure in the abyss trembled for a moment, and its voice echoed again. “I will say nothing of what I’ve seen.”
The anxiety of the lesser god in the NetherRealm was evident as its eyes vanished. The hand extending from Scott's mouth was forcefully pulled into the mask, both disappearing in the process. The deep fissures in the earth and the blackened ethereal mist dissipated. Zara and Slim emerged from the sphere, and the blackened system window vanished.
“Guys, I just landed a sponsor!” Slim exclaimed joyfully; his head still nestled under Zara's arm. “Leader, I've got a sponsor too.”
Zara chuckled while patting the necromancer's head. “Congratulations, Minion 9999,” she said with a smile. “So, who is it?”
“The God of the NetherRealm,” Slim replied with a grin.
“Wow. I don't know much about the NetherRealm, but you're incredible for grabbing the attention of its god,” Zara commented as she dismounted from the skeleton.
Slim laughed shamelessly as he rose to his feet. Simultaneously, the duo turned their attention towards Scott, who stood there casually observing them.
“Buddy, are you good?” Slim inquired, noting Scott’s somewhat distant gaze.
“Congratulations on getting a sponsor, buddy,” Scott remarked with an unseen smile, turning toward Zara. “Congratulations to you too. Which God is sponsoring you?”
“Thank you. The Feline War God,” Zara replied softly.
Scott nodded slowly, taking a step forward. “I’m happy for you guys, but I have a quick question.”
“Sure, what would you like to know?” Zara asked, adjusting a loose strand of hair. Slim also focused on the masked man; Scott rarely asked them for anything, so it had to be important.
“Can you guys talk about the perks of being sponsored?” Scott asked without beating around the bush.
Zara and Slim exchanged glances, offering apologetic smiles. The skeleton spoke up first, “Buddy, you were asleep back then, but I also asked Zara about it. She explicitly told me the terms of the contract can never be divulged. I can tell you that she wasn’t kidding at all. Sorry, buddy.”
“He’s right. We really can’t say anything related to our contracts. You’ll understand when you get yours too. Which I’m confident will happen anytime now,” Zara added with an apologetic smile.
“I doubt that’s ever going to happen,” Scott muttered under his breath.
“What? I didn’t hear you,” Zara said.
“I appreciate the heads up. I eagerly anticipate securing my own sponsor,” Scott remarked, turning his head from side to side. “Now that we've addressed the cyclops threat, leveled up, and activated the beacons, I think it's time to make progress in clearing this trial.”
Slim nodded in agreement, stepping forward alongside Zara. “I agree. We should be able to—”
The necromancer's words were abruptly drowned out by a series of ear-deafening explosions. Shockwaves emanated from the depths of the judgment path, racing along the misty road. Before any of the champions could grasp what was happening, a towering humanoid figure, crafted from sparkling gold, emerged from the earth. It wielded a twelve-foot-long, two-pronged fork, its tip ablaze with a turquoise flame, while molten flames danced around the amber rod.
A Judge of Light has found you! The judge cannot detect your beacon! You will be purged!