“You’re seriously planning on going in there?” Attor asked me. As fun as it was watching the Spiders kill the Celestial Boss over and over again, I realized the only way out was investigating deeper into this crater’s lake. Which meant… “Do you even know how to swim?”
“No,” I declared. “I can flail about, though.”
“You are good at that,” Attor sighed. “When I caught you, I thought you must have been getting a lot of practice.”
“That’s—” The water splashed all over me as the giant monster toppled over again. “That’s just rude.”
Attor’s massive shoulders shrugged and he vanished back into my chest. It was his way of telling me to do whatever I wanted. The Spiders were not as numerous as I used to have, but they still were a higher level than the boss itself. I sputtered and spat. The water certainly did not taste like actual water. It tasted like blood. I realized I have stopped taking damage from the liquid some time ago, which meant somewhere in the huge list of Passive Skills I had immunity to it. That will make things easier, I think.
— Passive Skill: Blood Attack Immunity [Legendary]
“Oh, it is actually blood,” I felt the spray scatter upon my skin again as the Boss crashed against the lake’s surface. The Spiders were growing even more powerful, destroying the Boss with ease. In turn, so was I. The total amount of experience points, however, was quite long. If it were up to me, I would have made the amount less, but I trusted Wisdom knew what she was doing when she made the Skill. “Well, fuzzy butts, have fun! I’ll be back!”
I waved to them and stepped deeper into the lake of blood.
“I sure hope you think what you’re doing is worth it,” Attor sighed. I wondered if the old Charlotte’s mother did anything like this, but I could tell she didn’t. So I deserve the Unique rarity!
— Wisdom’s Intervention activated. A Witch Class is not Unique.
Don’t rain on my parade! I was chin deep, feeling the lake tug me yet my feet remained on flat ground. I took one more breath and finally dipped below the surface. All around me, the world bubbled slowly and pushed my body around. It was tough to move and took some effort to swish my hand in the liquid, yet I could see clearly in the red haze and did not float. The blood did not seem to hurt this body or my eyes, so I assumed it was my Passive Skill’s work. As I took a step forward my stomach dropped.
I was falling? Momentum slipped my hair up as I slid down through bubbles and entered a freefall. Attor? Anything? A dark shape was approaching me quickly and the thud hit me before the pain did. I spat up dirt and my head was spinning. Wait, dirt?
“So you can flail better now,” Attor noted.
“Come on,” I groaned as I sat up. “You could have caught me. Now, where are we?”
I stared up and noticed that the blood lake was high above me, like a sun preparing to disappear for the night. It was caught in a black haze, with interstices of red liquid bubbling in place. Well, I guessed it was still night time outside of the Starfall. It’s been a long time, however. Perhaps wherever this Space Stone took me, time on the outside froze. I was beginning to get a headache thinking about time, so I focused on where my feet were planted. Murky, but otherwise flat ground greeted me and stretched infinitely in all directions.
“Uh,” I was about to utter a noise, but a loud thumping beat drummed overhead from somewhere in front of me. “I guess I’ll go that way. Just fly me out of here if things get worse.”
“Fine,” Attor’s ghostly green Spirit and the dark ground were the only things that weren’t red.
I could still breathe without any trouble, but I was definitely underneath the lake of blood and dry. What an odd sensation this place was, I thought. Wisdom said nothing about this even if she meant no two Starfalls were the same. This one happened to possess an infinitely respawning boss that grant us lots of experience points everytime we slew it, so I could not complain. I hiked for a long time, though the time did not seem to change and there was no barrier blocking the edge of this space even if I knew I walked further then its actual perimeter outside.
The thumping grew louder and I saw something new. A body? Two of them? I squinted at the lumps lying on the ground. This is no place to lie around! Clear out! As I drew near to investigate, I felt an unusual amount of energy push static across my skin from the smaller of the two bodies. It was embedded into the ground. It wasn’t a person, I realized as I hefted it into my Quick Slot. I might as well take it, since my weapon and my broom were both destroyed.
— Dungeoning: Star Core [Origin] acquired. Used to power up a Dungeon.
Well, the Spiders were going to love this! I grinned. Now who are you supposed to be? I examined the other body and realized it was actually a creature of some kind. The person looked feminine, despite its thin frame being much taller than a regular human and had four thin arms. Beneath it, a sea of branches tangled up, appearing to stem from its body. I shuddered. What if I was wrong? I’ve been wrong before and it was awful! Were there Humans with four arms and covered in strange plants in this Realm? They were much taller than me, covered in dark green liquid and rotting vines. I could not see their status, but it dawned on me that this person was still alive. I wondered if this was the cause of the Starfall. Its Status would not tell me anything anyways.
— ?????, level ?????
HP: 11%
“What would you do, Attor?” I asked him aloud. “Help this thing or not?”
“No,” Attor sighed. “That Star Core should manifest a way out of here. You should leave this creature behind and avoid diatractions so you can focus on finding an exit.”
“Aw, where’s the fun in that?” I pulled out a Potion out of my bag. “A wounded thing like this is perfect for my newly crafted Potions of Healing!”
“That sounds like a terrible idea,” Attor sighed. I cannot be stopped! I scoffed. You shall be healed!
— Brewing: Potion of Healing (Tier 3). Crafted from Mountain Herbs and Magic Roots, this Potion heals 200 health if splashed on a target. It heals 400 if consumed directly.
200 doesn’t seem like a lot, I contemplated. The thin body was withered all over, but I could make out its head so I marched over to it. This thing looked like a toppled tree with its branches strewn about, except it was soaked by a mysterious spray. As I leaned over to touch the creature’s head, I suddenly was grabbed from behind. Attor scoffed. Help me, old man!
“Your leafy and grainy hand is quite large,” I scoffed. It was beyond large, with one of its branch-like fingers covering my entire back. I shivered and yelled louder. “But your creepy fingers shall not stop me from healing you! Hiyah!”
I threw the potion directly at the creature’s head, hearing the satisfying splashing and the shattering of glass. The hand immediately released me and it just occurred to me that broken glass could hurt the creature again.
— The target’s HP has healed to 12%
“Only 1%!? I don’t even have, uh,” I trailed off, looking at my fingers hopelessly. I realized I could not even count to the amount of its health left. “I don’t have enough to heal you! Just how much health do you even have?!”
A small whisper came from the vines as I fumbled with my bag. I had only crafted ten of those potions! Mountain herbs are somewhat rare, you know! Something told me that it was not trying to hurt me, so I leaned closer to it.
“… Carry me out of here,” the voice whispered. It was feminine and soft, but I could understand it.
“How do I get out of here,” I wondered aloud, but noticed a white portal was waiting for me. It was a distance away, but with my Stats this long creature would be easy to carry! As I lifted it, the air changed and the ground beneath me started to shake. “That’s our call to go to the portal! We are going!”
The creature was light, but I worried I would trip over its leafy appendages. I did my best, but I doubt I could do any real damage to it because of its huge health pool. The red lake above also seemed to be rumbling as bloody waterfalls started to crash down upon where I was standing. As I got to the portal, I stuck my hand in it to test it. A familiar feeling surged me like the time I went through the teleporter, but coldness splashed me from the other side. I yanked my hand immediately out, only to see clear liquid coating my arm. Water?
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A loud crashing noise thundered above me, giving me no choice but to go through it. The magic energy hummed all around me as I traveled through and immediately water washed over me, buoying me upwards. I cursed myself. I don’t know how to swim! Help Attor! His head shimmered at the top so I pushed myself close to it. Suddenly, a massive furry limb splashed through the water and I instinctively latched onto it. Forget the body I was holding onto; this limb was my ticket out of here!
The fuzzy limb bristled against my face, but lifted me out of the lake and my face met dirt. I sputtered and rolled over, only to see eight red boulder sized eyes shaking towards me excitedly. I noticed through a blurry and wet vision that there were many more eyes watching me. The long body of the creature I carried out plopped out of the water, which they ignored.
“You guys lived?” I wiped my eyes off. More squeaking and chittering ensued, but I could tell they were happy that I survived! Or maybe they were happy they were out of that dreadful place! Several of them transformed into massive hill-sized Arch Spiders, towering over the trees that were still left standing. They seemed like they could touch the moon at this point! “You guys are the best! But I think we’ll stay out of Starfalls for awhile, bah!”
They clapped their fangs together and bobbed their massive fuzzy bodies in the air. I didn’t know what they meant, but I guessed they agreed! I spat out more water. Everything around me, save for the lake of fresh water, was left in cinders and obviously what was left after those Star fragments crashed into this part of the Forest. Signs of the red fog, however, were nowhere to be seen. I guessed that Core made it disappear when I took it out with me through the portal. What should I do? Shall I a ride back to the dungeon with these guys since my wand and broom were lost? A groan mumbled from the body in the lake, snapping me out of my thoughts. Oh, right!
I waded as far as I could in the lake and pulled the creature towards me. The water glowed a shining cyan trail of glitter and sparks as the body trailed along to my arms. Its limbs felt thicker and a green color was slowly returning to its whole body. I checked its Status.
— The target’s HP has increased to 60%!
“You’re healing!” I pulled it out and rested it against one of the fuzzy butt’s towering leg. I made out its face under the moonlight and was shocked. This thing was strikingly beautiful and was growing enchantingly long emerald hair! She coughed out more water and I rushed to support her as the big fuzzy butt moved.“You’re a— woman? Maybe? I never seen a Human like you.”
“Y-You’re a bit presumptuous for a human, child,” The color was returning to the woman’s leafy face and that cyan glow began to shine around her body. Her eyes struck me before I realized that she was just as tall as me sitting against the fuzzy butt while I stood proudly.
“What? I don’t know what that means!”
I was about to ask Wisdom what the word “presumptuous” meant but she chuckled slightly.
“You saved me from that nightmare Realm, child,” she said, pointing a long and thin finger at me. A cyan bolt of energy gathered at its tip and lanced into my chest before I could react.
“Wha— What was that?” I asked, feeling my soaking wet chest. “Nevermind that, who are you?”
“A gift,” she coughed more water up and I let her lean on me for support, like Blanche did when she learned how to walk. After a sputtering fit, she cleared her throat and guided me in front of her before her eyes. I could not wrestle my way out of her grip. This strength, I struggled in her arms, it was just like Wisdom’s! “How adorable, my savior is! I am Geer’Sha, the Goddess of this Forest, of Sweets and Bitterness. That Starfall landed upon my physical abode while I was, ah, visiting here.”
“A Goddess can be hurt?” I relaxed. I guessed it was my lot in life to be treated this way. Adorable, I scoffed while shooting the snickering Attor floating behind her with a glare.
“More than you know,” Geer’Sha looked sad for awhile, making me regret bringing it up. “This Starfall is my fault. My powers in this Plane are weakening. The Gods and Goddesses are… My apologies, I cannot tell you out here in the open.”
“It’s alright,” I didn’t understand her in the first place. She smiled. Her face was not completely human, but she was beautiful despite that. “Can you move? And do you have another home to hide in?”
“I do not have another home,” Geer’Sha admitted. That was odd, even before I became a Demon Queen I had many backup fortresses in case the humans or enemies destroyed one of them. She looked at me sheepishly.
“You can’t move, can you?” I peered up at the big Arch Spider she leaned against. “You can come with me, then. I have a, ah, Dungeon you can hide in while regaining your strength! My friends will protect you!”
“A human, offering me a home?” Geer’Sha seemed rather perplexed at the idea. Or rather, was she not accustomed to this Realm either? How in this Realm do humans treat a Goddess? She raised her hands again and began to clap in amusement! “A fine idea! A Goddess with Monsters… Haha! How fun!”
Yes, bask in my brilliance! I stood there as strong as an oak tree! I cannot be stopped. A Goddess as an ally is a beautiful scheme indeed! She looked at me and laughed! What in the Hell? My entertaining knows no bounds thank you very much, Goddess or not!
“Now, I don’t have a broom nor any idea what Time it is,” I explained to her awkwardly. “So I’m going to hitch a ride on these guys back to the Dungeon. Do you wish to take me on that offer or not?”
“Very well, Demon Queen,” she smiled with a wink. “I shall take you up on that offer.”
“T-That easy, huh?”
“That easy,” she confirmed and stuck out a hand. I had no idea how I was going to hoist her up, but I took it. Her skin was wondrously smooth and her body was light! I could easily pull her up! Take that, O Goddess! My hospitality knows no bounds! A sudden branch wrapped around her body with many soon to follow. She looked like a tornado of roots and vines, but she could move on her own now. The Arch Spider lowered its head to climb on and we were off!
The Goddess was a spectacle to view. She sat peacefully on the Spider’s fuzzy butt, surrounded in an ever swirling tangle of roots and branches. He ignored her. In between the gaps of those vines, a serene and green haired woman with her four eyes closed rested silently. Her skin was pale as the moonlight. I decided that she was probably doing whatever things Goddesses do and was busy, so I refrained from interrupting her. I instead turned to my Status since I also could not read hers. Wisdom and Geer’Sha had that in common, so I did not doubt her claim. That cyan energy she granted me completely dried me off, but my dress was torn to shreds. Forget about that, my eyes widened after the new notification appeared.
— Blessing of Geer’Sha [Origin] obtained. Charlotte and her Familiar have gained a bonus 300 Health. Awakening Bonus Element has been unlocked. Charlotte has gained the following Spells:
Tier 1
— Improved Summon Juicy Berries: Summons even more succulent berries from another Dimension directly in a Leather Bag of Holding or one’s hands.
Tier 2
— Travelers’ Feast: Summons a feast fit for a Traveler after a long day. Heals participants who consume the feast to full health and restore all magic Spellpages.
Tier 3
— Heroes’ Feast: Summons an incredible amount of food that grants participants bonus health, cures all diseases and debuffs, and adds the Heroic Full Buff. These effects are granted regardless of whether the food is consumed, however, eating the food after the timer ends will not grant those effects. (Heroic Full Buff: Adds bonus Attack and Defense)
Wow! I stared at the screen in awe. I should make friends with all the Goddesses! I’ll never go hungry! You see those spells, Attor? I heard a snore in response. You’re asleep? Come on, old man! You’re obsessed with food! A bump interrupted my futile attempts to wake the dragon. I held onto one of this spider’s bristles to keep from falling off him, while Geer’Sha remained perfectly balanced. As expected of a beautiful Goddess! The thumps of this Arch Spider made all the Spider Warriors below him seem like tiny pebbles.
As we thumped along to the Burrows, I noticed the trail of destruction behind us that my ride caused on his way here. The Humans definitely saw this guy moving, didn’t they? What could they possibly do against him and his army? I guessed they were technically my army, but I was not planning on going to war with anything yet. Therefore, I shall command these guys into hiding and helping the Fey out after we finish up here! Any more pesky Humans wandering in this area will surely get in my way!
The Arch Spider stopped. We have arrived to our destination, but still…! I looked nervously at the massive craters his cute fuzzy legs left. His Status also towered over me. Everything about this guy was big! What gives?
— Nameless, level 12
— Class: Arch Spider [Legendary]
Health: 20000/20000
Buffs: Perfectly Ultimate, Irregular, Immune to Fire, Lightning and Ice, Immune to Poison, Acid and Blood, Unstoppable, Blessing of Geer’Sha
Blessing of Geer’Sha? Does that mean… I turned to the swirling mass of branches and caught a devilish smile in between them. Thank you, Goddess! My beloved fuzzy butts are even stronger because of you, now! A slight chuckle escaped through the tangle as we traveled through the tunnels. I instructed those spiders to return to their duties and hide away from sight, feeling the thumps shake the earth even as they grew distant. The Goddess could move easily through this place, so we continued.
“For a Demon Queen turned Human, you sure are different than what I expected,” she laughed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked her. “I give my gratitude to those who earn them. I do not resent the Gods and Goddesses when I see them.”
“I would not be so sure about earning gratitude from you,” a frown flashed in the cyan glow of her branches. “I was trying to escape the Conflict of the Celestials, and my champion died. His Starfall landed here.”
“Conflict?” I wondered. The Gods and Goddesses fighting amongst each other did not seem good for the Realms.
“Yes, child. It is a brutal fight, high above the Realms. Its battles cause many Stars to be lost forever. Those brilliant lights that give power to this world, and they shall be blotted out thousands of years from now if one God succeeds in dominating all the other Gods,” she sighed.
“Wait a minute that’s a little too grand for me,” I stopped before the Dungeon’s doors. “Stars power this world?”
“Yes, child,” Geer’Sha admitted. Don’t make it seem like casual knowledge! “It is nature to desire to grow strong and ascend. It is the only way to pierce this world’s barrier to invade into another’s to gain even more. To do this, one must slay other powerful beings. I am not so powerful, see, so I fled. Would that ever earn your gratitude? From me, a foolish and cowardly failure of a Goddess?”
A succulent, yellow Juicy Berry manifested before my eyes in a flash, landing on my hand. I caught it and took a bite out of it. So sweet! I guess it would not harm the place if a Goddess was living here.
“So you prefer to hide in a Realm like this? Would that not endanger these people?”
A smile crept on her face once more.
“Now, now,” she whispered. “These Outer Realms are so far away from that conflict. It took hundreds of years of crashing through the sky to reach here. I can even grow the Forest once more and heal it from your children’s… antics.”
“My children?” I sighed. I was sure this body was too young to worry abour being a parent! The Goddess giggled, but fell sad again. “You must have left a lot behind, haven’t you?”
I sighed. I remembered that the Demon God had left the Demon Realm’s Hells a long time ago, tail between his legs. Judging by her tone, it must be true that the Gods and Goddesses fighting were at least far enough that Starfalls don’t happen very often because of them.
“It is the fate of all fools, God or no God, to collapse if they are weak. The smart ones flee. Plan. Wait for an opportunity to be seen,” I guessed. “Their Stars shall scream across the skies of many realms, I think that is what that Hero said awhile ago. Therefore—” I swung open the doors and turned to the Goddess. Her eyes looked at me in confusion.— “You shall gain Strength in here until you can face your fears once more!”
The Goddess gulped, but held out her hand through the swirling branches. I realized that they were ethereal to her, but the more I thought about her being able to stick her hand through a solid tree the more it gave me a headache. She is all about forests and nature after all, or something. I took it and pulled her into the Dungeon’s doors. She gasped while I laughed.
“Yes, you shall live here and make my fuzzy butts strong, yes?”
She nodded profusely and another Sweet Juicy Berry appeared in my hand.