“I recall that the Duchess Hetsalia was seeking refuge in Lemarin. Let us summon our guests to this occasion as well,” I declared.
Since we would have to wait a while, I deemed now to be a good time to put to use the results from the Battle Aftermath information.
“And now, there will be the presentation of awards for exemplary service from the previous battle!” I announced.
The hall became noisy and clamorous at this news. The maidservants chatted with one another, the pixies spun around in place, and the goblins cheered raucously. Even Nordhound was emjoying the atmosphere.
I waited a few moments before quieting everybody down, then said, “The Most Meritorious in Service was Byot Ullyopauginen, who slew two enemy commanders. Byot, come forward.”
Byot came forward towards my throne with back straight and bowed while saying, “It is an honor, my Lord.”
“Byot, I grant you the opportunity of a Class-up. Your actions in battle have led to certain basic martial paths becoming open. The Way of the Warrior, the Stride of the Swordsman, the Means of the Marksman, and the Shade of the Shadows are available to you. If you deem any of these choices worthy, declare it so now,” I said.
“Master, it pleases me to walk the Way of the Warrior,” Byot replied.
“Very well, it will be so,” I then willed to select Byot’s choice.
“It is done. Byot, you are now a Warrior. Your Stat limits have increased, and some of your stat points accumulated from battle have been validated. Congratulations, and may you remain ever true.”
Name: Byot Ullyopauginen Age: 0 Height: 183cm
Race: Elfoid-Demon
Gender: Male Class: Warrior (Rare, E) Titles: First Creation of the Beloved ‘Once Loved’ (Superb, B-), Executioner (Uncommon, D+) Skills: Fast Learner (Rare, E), Slice (Uncommon, E+)
Mentality: Purpose and Loyalty
Disposition: Neutral, Order
Martial Prowess: 22/50 Intelligence: 30/53 Commander: 10/40 Health: 42/84 Explorer:37/57 Wisdom:20/52 Politics:8/37 Allure:50/53 Magic: 5/35
But really, I was let down yet again by the lack of any special effects befitting the occasion. I mean, the magic of cleric Jacques came with all the bells and whistles, so what gives?
Anyhow, Byot bowed again and went back to his position.
I then continued, “The Second Most Meritorious in Service was the Goblin Warrior of First Goblin Miner Section, Squad One. He slew four enemy combatants and took part in the slaying of twelve more enemy combatants, including the enemy leader, John Fleetsword. In particular, this minion put his neck on the line for me. Come forward, Goblin Warrior!”
However, the goblin did not appear, and the applause thinned out and died down at the unexpected situation.
“My apologies, my Lord. Squad One was adamant about being on duty; this was especially so with the goblin warrior. I did not foresee this situation, but the warrior in question is being called at this very moment and will arrive within eight minutes’ time,” Gajie proffered an explanation.
“Very well then, we will continue with the awards in the meantime,” I said.
Out of the eight remaining Golem battle-participants, five accrued enough experience to evolve.
Out of the 35 remaining Pixie battle-participants, 22 accrued enough experience to evolve.
In the end:
All remaining minions were rewarded with stat increases and stat limit increases.
From three Basic Earth Golems ==> Rock Golems
From two Basic Earth Golems ==> Mud Golems
From eight Pixies ==> High Pixies
From seven Pixies ==> Pixie Flitters
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From seven Pixies ==> Pixie All-rounders
The Rock Golems, colored shades of grey and made of stone, were better at defending, tanking, and attacking than the Basic Earth Golems, which were like baked clay in comparison. The Mud Golems were a specialty-type that had high damage resistance and shape-molding capabilities.
The High Pixies were an evolution with much more powerful wind magic and higher stats across the board. Whereas the regular pixies were greenish in tint, the High Pixies were bluish and a head larger than their tinker-bell sized counterparts. The Pixie Flitters, with yellow tint and aerodynamic wings, were faster and more agile variants of regular Pixies. Finally, the Pixie All-rounders gained access to more basic elemental magic types and a slight increase in most stats. These were able to change and mix their hues many different tints of green. I fancied that their colors going from darker shades to lighter tones of green expressed their emotional states.
I also made a mental note to summon more new recruits at a later date, at a level which not only replenished the losses but would enlarge the minion numbers as compared to before the battle.
After the awards were given out, the herald golem announced the arrival of Brightness Hetsalia and Mark Keenstag. I signaled for their entry.
“Lord Reprobate, I extend my thanks to you,” Brightness said with a curtsy after she made her way in front of my throne.
“As you may know, Duchess Hetsalia, envoys from Lemarin and Ducaz have arrived at my dungeon. They should be making their entry soon. Hence, I called for you,” I stated.
“You are very gracious, Lord,” Brightness replied.
And finally, the goblin warrior made his entrance into the audience hall.
“Ah, my loyal Goblin Warrior! Finally, you are here. Come forward,” I greeted him.
The goblin made his way forward and shrilled, “Masta! I come, Masta!”
“You definitely have. First off, you are able to evolve. But before this, I tell you and all present here: that I consider you a friend. And so, I shall bestow upon you a name. Know this my goblin warrior: with a name, you can be resurrected so long as I am alive. And you will gain complete sentience. Here and now I declare, henceforth you are to be called Keke Blinston!”
A cheer went up, but the goblin’s facial features crumpled all of a sudden and he started sobbing.
“Sorry Masta, I so happy; why I can’t stawp cryin’?” Keke stated in-between sobs.
I let him continue sobbing until he calmed down and then asked him, “What do you want most: strength, speed, defense, health, size, or skill with a weapon? You can only choose one.”
“I want be smart Masta, an’ talk good,” Keke said.
“Alas, Blinston, such an option is unavailable,” I lamented.
“My Lord, and Sir Keke, if I may, your intelligence will rise from the evolution itself. But, if you expend more energies to studying and bettering your intelligence, not only will you get smarter, there may be further evolutions related to intelligence later on down the line,” Gajie added on.
Nodding, Keke seemed to make up his mind and requested, “Masta I want defend; my friends, my home, an Masta.”
“Then so it will be,” I declared and selected the Goblin Defender option.
Immediately, some alerts popped up from the system.
"Sentience, Loyalty, Will, Desire, Named-Value, Status and Status Limit Values have combined with the selected Evolution to produce a Rare Variant Upgrade."
Goblin Defender Keke Blinston can become:
Race: Hobgoblin
Class: Guardian
Will you accept?
I accepted.
Name: Keke Blinston Age: 0.08 Height: 170cm
Race: Hobgoblin
Gender: Male Class: Guardian (Limited, F) Titles: First Summon of the Beloved ‘Once Loved’ (Superb, C+), Indomitable Spirit (Epic, D-) Skills: Defend (Common, E), Guard (Common, F)
Mentality: Sacrifice and Loyalty
Disposition: Tending Good, Tending Chaos
Martial Prowess: 18/40 Intelligence: 22/35 Commander: 6/30 Health: 21/40 Explorer:27/36 Wisdom:5/30 Politics:3/33 Allure:14/32 Magic: 1/12
“Master, I am your loyal subject. I swear to protect you and this dungeon until my very last breath,” Keke said kneeling on one knee and his head bowed.
“Thank you, my friend. Gajie, please make sure to provide Blinston with some equipment later,” I said.
“And finally, Gajie, please come forward,” I said after Keke made his way back to the side.
Gajie’s eyes widened for a moment but she came forward and greeted me with a, “My Lord.”
“You are a founding member of the dungeon and it is through your contributions that this dungeon manages day-to-day operations. Fair to say, that you are my right-hand man and most trusted advisor. Hence, I award you by designating you as a Dungeon Steward,” I said.
Her pupils shook slightly but she replied coolly, “My Lord, you are too generous. I thank you and graciously accept the promotion.”
“Give the maidservants a rotating holiday, Gajie, for their hard work and to celebrate this occasion.
This concludes the awards ceremony. Let it be known that all shall be rewarded justly based on their deeds and merits,” I pronounced.
The audience raised a boisterous cheer and with the clapping of hands, the awards ceremony came to a close.
As this was neither the time nor occasion for a full council, in the intervening time until the emissaries’ entrance I made permissible some general lollygagging about.
After long last, the herald announced the entry of the head envoys, “Representing the Kingdom of Ducaz, His Excellency, Commander Emers Roitrone! Representing the Kingdom of Lemarin, Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Sheena Dolores Lemarin!”
A well-dressed man with brown hair and beard and a young woman in elegeant dress walked up at the forefront of a group of people behind them.
Curious about these two, I used my Mirror on them.
However:
An unknown power has denied status access by the Mirror of Truth & Judgement
I used the skill again, this time on another person from the envoy group, and again:
An unknown power has denied status access by the Mirror of Truth & Judgement
Panicking, I used my skill on Byot, to make sure that my skill at least worked.
His status showed up regularly, and this allayed my fears somewhat.
So I used the Mirror again, on the man probable to be Roitrone, but this time got a slightly different message:
Revealed by the User: A Skill of higher Tier and Grade is prohibiting status access, on all protected persons, by the Mirror of Truth & Judgement
“I bring a fond greeting from His Majesty King Ducaz XXXI, Lord Reprobate. I am Emers Roitrone, a Commander of the Royal Army of Ducaz,” the man said without bowing but with a salute of outstretched arm.
“Welcome to our world, Lord Reprobate. We of Lemarin come as friends and neighbors,” the Princess said.
“Welcome to our humble abode, Your Royal Highness and Your Excellency. Of Lemarin and Ducaz I know little, but of why they come all this way to see me I know even less,” I said.
“Ah, upon that, allow me to explain the circumstances clarifying the situation,” a middle-aged man with grey hair, tending towards the older side, spoke up.