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Santa and Baublekin carved their way through the Cookie Dungeon, dispatching chocolate goblins at every turn. Each victory rewarded them with a satisfying surge of experience points. However, since finding Baublekin’s toy gun, no more loot had dropped. Undeterred, they searched every nook and cranny, but all they found were scattered crumbs.
As they pressed on, the duo began to notice subtle changes in their surroundings. The path gradually spiralled, twisting deeper into the earth with each step. The familiar chocolate chips on the walls started to thin out, replaced by something far more sinister—raisins.
Santa's brow furrowed as he reached out to touch the wall, his fingers brushing over the rough surface. “Not a good sign,” he muttered.
“Yuck…” Baublekin grimaced.
Santa shrugged, knowing raisins weren’t for everyone, even though he didn’t mind them. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder about their significance.
As they continued, a layer of white flakes began to appear on the ground, crunching softly under their boots. Baublekin crouched down, letting the flakes sift through his fingers. “These are coconut flakes,” he said.
Santa straightened, his eyes scanning the path ahead. It felt like they were descending into something darker, and both knew they had to be on guard for whatever lay ahead.
“C’mon let's move,” Santa said and gestured for them to continue not willing to pause for too long.
But as they continued, the flakes grew thicker, almost as if they were stepping through snow. The once comforting scent of warm cookies had turned, with an almost bitter edge.
A familiar chime echoed around them as they delved deeper into the dungeon.
🎄Santa’s party has reached: The Cookie Dungeon (Level 2)
Santa glanced over and noticed Baublekin’s pointy ears were twitching. It was as if they were trying to ward off evil.
“What is it?” Santa asked.
Baublekin sniffed the air like a bloodhound. “Smells… musky, but delicious.”
Santa took a deep sniff and caught a whiff of a tantalizing, alcoholic aroma. The scent was inviting, yet a gnawing fear settled in the pit of his stomach. “Let’s keep going. But get ready for anything.”
Baublekin nodded, gripping his toy gun tightly. The two crept forwards, carefully trying to make as little noise as possible while moving through the thick layers of coconut.
As they rounded the next bend, they stepped into a large, round, open chamber.
“Uh-oh…” Baublekin muttered. “It’s… huge!”
The sight that greeted them at the room’s centre confirmed their fears.
[Rumball Ogre, Level 5]
In the middle of the chamber stood a colossal baked behemoth, dwarfing even Polaris in sheer size. This giant creature, crafted from some twisted version of deliciousness, towered over them on two stout legs.
The ogre had four long arms, and its chocolate centre was haphazardly covered in massive coconut flakes. But it was the creature's cavernous mouth that truly captured their attention—a maw wide enough to swallow them both in a single bite, lined with rows upon rows of sharp teeth.
Santa and Baublekin instinctively stepped back, hoping to go unnoticed. But the ogre stirred, and two bulging eyes snapped open, locking onto them instantly.
Santa's eyes widened. "Oh, jingle bells..."
The ogre grinned, licking its lips at the sight of its prey.
"Do we really have to fight that?" Baublekin’s voice quavered.
Santa glanced at the floating mini map in his vision. The chamber had one tunnel in and one out, and now this beast was blocking their way. “Looks like our path just got a lot more challenging, my friend.”
The Rumball Ogre took a step forward, sending a shockwave through the cavern.
“What should we do?” asked Baublekin. “You got a plan this time?”
However, before either of them could come up with anything, the Rumball Ogre charged down the elf. Baublekin, with the agility of a tinkerer who had spent centuries darting around workshops, leapt to the side, firing his toy gun mid-air. The cork, however, proved to be as effective as a snowflake against a blizzard, bouncing off the ogre's tough coconut covered exterior.
"Ninny cracker jokes!" Baublekin cursed under his breath as he rolled away and scrambled for cover.
Santa, channelling his festive powers, shouted the words, “Mistletoe Missile.” With a bright light, he released the spell, only to watch in dismay as it, too, ricocheted harmlessly off the monster. “Ah, Frosty’s berries!”
Santa clutched his last piece of stale cookie and dashed forward. He swung it with all his might, the baked weapon connecting with the creature’s thick, coconut-covered hide. A small shower of crumbs flew off, but the ogre barely flinched. Gritting his teeth, Santa swung again, but the edge of the cookie shard crumbled on impact. It felt like trying to break through solid rock.
Meanwhile, Baublekin was a blur of motion, darting around the ogre’s legs and firing his cork gun with precision. The tiny projectiles zipped through the air, but each one merely bounced off the ogre’s thick chocolate shell, leaving no more than a faint scuff mark. Frustration etched itself into Baublekin’s face as he continued to fire, desperately searching for a weak spot.
The ogre, growing tired of their futile attempts, let out a guttural roar and swung one of its massive arms in a wide arc.
Santa saw it coming, but the ogre’s speed was deceptive. Before he could react, one of the creature’s four enormous fists slammed into his chest with a force that knocked the breath from his lungs. The world spun around him as he was lifted off his feet, the cookie shard slipping from his grasp as his body flew backward.
Santa’s back hit the wall with a bone-rattling crash. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his body.
Baublekin's eyes widened as he watched Santa slam into the wall. “Santa!” he shouted, his grip tightening on his cork gun.
Santa, coughing, noticed a streak of blood marring his normally pristine white beard. "I'm fine," he said, his voice strained through gritted teeth.
Baublekin darted toward Santa, intending to help, but the ogre's next attack forced him to veer off course. His small stature and quick reflexes saved him, allowing him to dodge the ogre's powerful blows. The two friends, battered and outmatched, exchanged a look of desperation. It was clear they needed a new strategy, and fast, if they were to survive this encounter.
“We must flee!” shouted Baublekin. “Retreat!”
Just as they were about to turn and run, their plans crumbled like a poorly baked treat. Two giant cookies dropped from the tunnel's ceiling, landing with a resounding, doughy thud that blocked both exits. The room shook like a bowlful of jelly, sending a shower of petrified raisins clattering to the floor.
“Coals in your sock!” Baublekin cursed.
The Rumball Ogre let out a deafening roar of triumph.
"Oh, sugarplums!” Baublekin cried out, clutching his pointed ears. “That roar is too darn loud!"
Santa's eyes widened as a realisation struck him—Polaris’s gift! But was it ready?
With no time to lose, Santa pushed through the pain in his lungs and inhaled deeply, channelling the primal energies around him, recalling Polaris's teachings. Drawing on the power of arctic gales and the very essence of Christmas, he unleashed a mighty roar with all his strength.
[Santa has activated: 🪄Roar of the Northern Winds]
The sound that erupted from Santa’s mouth was otherworldly—a tempestuous blend of a winter storm's howl and the joyous cheer of a thousand Christmases. It swept through the dungeon like a powerful wave, a sonic force brimming with magic and might, causing some of the petrified raisins in the ceiling to fall loose.
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The Rumball Ogre staggered, caught off guard by the unexpected audible counterassault, its eyes blinking in shock and confusion. As Santa’s roar washed over them, the disorienting effects of the ogre's deafening bellow quickly faded.
"By the elves' ears, Santa! That's one way to ring the jingle bells!"
The Rumball Ogre, now less certain, hesitated, giving Santa and Baublekin a precious moment to regroup and ready themselves for the next phase of the battle.
Baublekin, already as spry as a springtime reindeer, felt a jolt of energy surge through him. It was like downing a double shot of elf espresso. With this newfound buff, he zipped around the ogre with the agility of a sugar-fuelled squirrel. He aimed his trusty toy gun and fired, the cork zipping through the air and striking the ogre squarely between its massive, evil eyes.
A single coconut flake fluttered down, revealing a minuscule yet promising scratch on the creature's chocolate coated forehead.
"There!" Santa shouted, spotting the chink in the ogre's sweet armour. He quickly scooped up a petrified raisin from the floor and, with the precision of a seasoned snowball fighter, flung it at the same vulnerable spot. The raisin hit its mark, deepening the scratch.
The ogre, still reeling from Santa's sonorous roar, was sluggish, giving the duo a precious chance to land a few more well-aimed blows. But it wasn't quite enough. As Santa prepared for another attack, the ogre, flailing wildly, caught him once more with a sweeping limb.
“Ahhh!!!”
Santa was sent hurtling through the air, crashing into the doughy dungeon wall with a crumbling thud. Pain shot through his body, his beard trembling like a snow-covered pine in a windstorm. He gasped for air, struggling to regain his bearings.
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” he panted.
Seeing an opportunity, the ogre moved in to attack the fallen man in red.
Baublekin, quick on his feet, fired his gun, looping the cork’s tether around the ogre's lumbering legs. As the cork circled back, he grabbed it with his other hand and gave a surprisingly deft tug, tripping the gigantic monster. Santa, eyes wide, rolled out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the ogre's massive form.
Thud!
The ogre’s forehead slammed into the hard dungeon wall. With a deep wail, it clutched its cracking wound with all four hands.
“Ah ha!” Baublekin shouted in triumph. He quickly repositioned himself to reset his cork gun. The Rumball Ogre, now furious, let out a frustrated wail and struggled to its feet, revealing a sizable crack on its forehead.
Santa, a twinkle in his eye despite the ache in his body, called out, "Great work, bud!" He gave Baublekin a thumbs up. “Think we can pull that off again?”
Baublekin grinned and nodded.
“Hey, ogre!” Santa shouted, waving his hands to draw the creature’s fury. “Come here, you disgusting ball of filth!”
The taunt worked a little too well. The spherical ogre roared and charged at him again.
“Come get me, you overgrown baked disappointment!” Santa taunted, bracing himself for the impact.
Baublekin, positioned just right, waited for the perfect moment. As the ogre charged down Father Christmas, he expertly shot and tripped it again. The ogre, unable to stop its momentum, crashed into the cave wall with a resounding thud, leaving a cookie-crumb cloud in its wake.
As the ogre staggered to its feet, it was clear the damage was far worse this time. The small wound had transformed into a gaping crack, exposing its vulnerable core.
Seizing the opportunity, Santa focused his magical energy. "Mistletoe, Missile!" he cried, unleashing the spell. The magic missile zipped through the air with a flash of red and green, striking the ogre directly in its exposed weak point.
Thud!
The light in the ogre's eyes flickered, then slowly faded. With a final, shuddering groan, the once fearsome Rumball Ogre split in two, collapsing into oversized, stale remnants of its former self. The pieces crumbled to the ground, leaving only a pile of broken crumbs where the monster had stood.
Santa and Baublekin exchanged triumphant grins, their breaths coming in short, relieved gasps. The adrenaline of the battle still pumped through their veins, but the exhaustion was beginning to set in.
"That's one less monster in the cookie jar," Santa said, dusting himself off. He let out a groan as the ache in his muscles throbbed.
Baublekin chuckled, stowing his cork gun with a satisfied nod. "And one more tale for the North Pole storybooks.”
[+900 EXP]
[Level Up! You are now Level 3]
[Santa has gained the ability: Magical Munch (Passive)]
[Level Up! Baublekin is now Level 2]
[Baublekin has gained the skill: Tinkerer’s accuracy (Passive)]
As the dust settled from their recent battle, Santa felt a surge of power coursing through him—the familiar sensation of leveling up. He glanced at Baublekin, who also seemed invigorated, a new spark in his eyes indicating his own ascent. Santa grinned; their triumph over the Rumball Ogre hadn’t gone unrewarded.
“Looks like we’ve both made the nice list this year,” Santa joked, watching as their stats updated with a glimmer of light.
🎅Santa: Festive Enchanter - level 3
STM: 9
INT: 9
WIS: 11
STR: 8
AGI: 3
CHR: 10
Spells:
Mistletoe Missile - Rank 10 (Max)
Skills:
Roar of the Northern Winds
Passives: 3
“It looks like I have a new passive... Magical Munch?” Santa said, curiosity piqued by the odd name. He was about to delve deeper into its details when something else caught his eye—the fallen ogre had left behind a special gift.
It was a massive rectangular box, wrapped in bright green and red paper that somehow managed to be festive, even in the dungeon's grim setting.
“I think this one is for you, Santa.”
A surge of excitement filled the seasoned gift giver. It was an unusual turn of events, as he was far more accustomed to being the one giving rather than receiving. Together with Baublekin, Santa approached the gift, anticipation building. With careful hands, he began unwrapping the bright green and red paper. As the last bit of wrapping fell away, Santa gasped in astonishment.
Revealed before him was a weapon that seemed made just for him—a giant toy mallet. The handle was striped in festive red and green, perfectly matching the colours of Christmas, and it fit snugly in his mittened hands. Santa's eyes sparkled with excitement as he hefted the mallet, appreciating its size and weight.
[Santa has looted: O.A.T.H!]
"Ho, ho, ho! Now this is more like it," Santa said, swinging the mallet to test its balance. He couldn’t help but grin as he marvelled at the weapon. Just as he had done earlier with Baublekin's item, Santa searched for the pixelated item information. Soon enough, a cascade of digital text appeared, detailing the hammer's stats.
Weapon: O.A.T.H.! (Epic)
Damage: 10 - 13
Type: Melee
Description:
Originally fashioned long before the current Santa's time, this hammer was designed as a toy for a baby giant. Given the immense strength of giants, even in their youth, the hammer needed to be incredibly durable to endure playtime. Now, after being steeped in centuries of North Pole magic, this ‘Oversized Ancient Toy Hammer’ not only possesses exceptional durability but also packs a significant wallop.
Material: Ancient Enchanted Wood, Reinforced with North Pole Steel, Festive acrylic paint
Length: 60 inches
Weight: 30 pounds
Crafted by: unknown
Santa, still admiring his new weapon, turned his attention back to the passive spell that had caught his interest earlier. "Let's see what this 'Magical Munch' is all about then," he muttered, focusing on the spell's description as it shimmered before him.
🪄 Magical Munch (Passive)
Description:
Magical Muncher is a unique passive ability that allows the player to absorb and convert residual magical energy from his surroundings into experience points. This spell functions silently and continuously, feeding off ambient magic to bolster Santa's strength and capabilities.
Effects:
Magical Absorption:
Automatically absorbs ambient magical energies within the player’s stomach.
Experience Gain:
Converts absorbed magic into experience points, aiding in leveling up.
Limitations:
Proximity-Dependent:
More effective in areas with higher concentrations of magic.
Special Notes:
This spell is particularly useful in magical environments or dungeons where ambient magic is abundant.
"Well, Santa, looks like you'll be munching on more than just cookies this Christmas. Who knew all that time checking treats was just practice for gobbling up magic!"
Santa chuckled, scratching his chin. "Interesting," he mused. "I wonder what magic tastes like?"
Baublekin laughed. “Let’s hope it’s delicious.”
Santa grinned. “Let’s also hope this new passive spell will come in handy here.”
“I don’t see why not,” Baublekin replied. “This place is teeming with magical energy.”
Santa’s beard twitched as his smile broadened. "Well, I've always had a bit of an appetite."
“So, what now?” Baublekin asked.
Santa turned to the cookie barricade, then down at his brand-new toy. “Now, it’s time to see what my new present can really do.”
Baublekin nodded with excitement and followed Santa as he approached the cookie blocking their path. Gripping the hammer tightly, Santa hefted it up, its weight heavy yet reassuring in his hands. With a powerful swing, he brought the hammer down on the cookie, sending a massive crack down its length. But the cookie didn’t crumble immediately. He had to strike it three more times before the way was clear, but it was obvious—the hammer was indeed very useful.
With the path ahead now revealed, Santa peered at his mini map, which showed only one distinct path forward. "One way ahead and one way back. I’d wager this place is going to get even tougher from here on out.”
Baublekin nodded grimly.
“I could break the other cookie and let you head back the way we came,” Santa offered.
Baublekin shook his head. “I’m with you, no matter how hard this place gets.”
A swell of pride filled Santa’s chest as he looked at the determination on his old friend’s face. Of all the magical creatures on Earth, elves—especially Christmas elves—were among the most magical and fiercely loyal beings in existence. In that moment, he felt incredibly lucky and deeply grateful to have them on his side.
His mind wandered to the others and his resolve hardened. I will bring you all back, he vowed silently.
"Alright then, let's jingle all the way down this path," Santa said with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling. "And remember, if the sleigh ride gets bumpy…"
“Hold on tight,” Baublekin finished with a grin.
Santa laughed, and with a mutual understanding, the duo stepped into the new corridor.
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