“It will just be a quick game, just a simple thing between friends? Ok, I know you don't know me right now, but it’s how we can get to know each other better,” spoke Myriad as they led a curious god to where Joulo was setting up her game.
“Tis it alright if I add some mice to the betting pool? I have been wanting to rid myself of their prayers for some time,” inquired Sushi, god of feline curiosity, and apparently mice. Regardless, he took his seat at the table across from Joulo.
“Umm, that’s no pro- I mean, sure, I’m fine if you bet mice. I have some birds that should be equal? I was told- I mean, I thought you might like them. Are those good terms for a quick game?”
“We accept your terms, Joulo,” spoke an unfamiliar voice. Joining them at the table was the best friend of Sushi, their inseparable twin, Lymir, god of luck. “I assume I may join my partner in crime for this game?”
Joulo’s blood ran cold as the god forced his way to the table. Within seconds, this had no longer been a distraction with a few petty earnings. Lymir would raise the stakes, even if accidentally. It was too late to back out. Joulo had to agree.
“Oh umm, yeah, bu- gah,” Joulo bit her tongue as she stuttered, the nerves getting the best of her. She tried to keep talking, but as she stumbled over herself, Lymir cut her off.
“I have no plans on taking any winnings, but I will personally sweeten the pot by tripling the winner’s reward. Surely that is fine?
Joulo had to force a smile as their game began. The duo of gods only had a single card to play, a heroic adventurer.
----------------------------------------
Wandering the hills and breathing the fresh air really put the pep in Seven’s steps. After all, life was just one grand adventure.
At his birth, he was called Nine, but went by the name Eight after he stubbed his toe when he was a lad. Now he goes by Seven since he had that bucket of water catch him unaware. He was quite lucky, even for black catkin, err, Felis? Honestly, he couldn’t keep up with all the names that cat people had over the years. Lost bets between gods, someone making a profit. All that mattered was that most names for cat people were illegal to use, unless you owned it.
Regardless, he was one hell of a lucky cat on a journey to see the world. With a deep breath, he felt the passive abilities of his class take hold as he walked between raindrops. Oh, the joys of being a Jinx.
Nothing bad ever befalls a Jinx!
----------------------------------------
Shimmer stood, transfixed on all the plants she could never touch. She really wanted to leave the dungeon and just see them, but like, closer! She had no intention of taking the plants for her collection. None!
Ever since her brother got that title to talk to people, she has heard non-stop about how she can’t leave. He was a cool guy, but a little bossy. Like, Shimmer already knew the rules, but it wasn’t her fault the rules were so lame.
Those thoughts fell away as quickly as they arrived as Shimmer got distracted by a new person on the horizon. Tall and fuzzy, this new person was approaching them! Shimmer tried to stay calm, but it was really hard when there were new friends she could make.
The Creator and Vault were having a conversation about how to proceed. Hungry versus tactics. Shimmer heard a lot of ideas, but ignored them because she was an independent slime gosh darn it!
The tall cat person had entered the dungeon. Shimmer was cautious at first, as she gauged the new guest's intentions. He had a large bag and no weapons, which meant he was a delver. And that meant friend-to-be.
She sprung from the foliage to force the delver to gaze upon her magnificence.
“Oh, well, aren’t you a cute little thing,” he cooed as he leaned down to pet Shimmer. Her ploy was a success. She had made a friend!
The newest birds in the dungeon even wanted to become friends. They dove in for hugs, but missed when the delver leaned down, where they hit the ground so hard nothing remained. Wow, they must really want to be friendly, but too bad birds, its Shimmer’s turn to receive affection.
Affection she greedily accepted as the voice of others filled her head. The higher-ups were making plans.
“Make hurt. Why did birds miss? Send more birds! Hunt the delver.”
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
“The birds are ineffective against his agility. The ants should fare better.”
“Yes, ants swarm. They will make delver bleed tasty mana.”
“Hey little thing,” the delver spoke, oblivious to the ploys around him. “Would you like some…. wine? Mead? I’m not actually sure what it is, but I’m sure you might like it.”
The wineskin he had trickled its contents onto Shimmer, and she loved it! Bathed in the aroma of the floral bath, it reminded her of everything she loved. She didn’t even notice when the wine stopped flowing so the delver could take his own drink. Unfortunately, he was a klutz and sneezed, spilling the drink everywhere.
Now the cat man smelled even better!
For some odd reason, the dungeon didn’t like him. It order the ants to march towards him, but they didn’t find his scent. The area was full of flower scents, so the ants never found their target. Shimmer tried to wave to her insect friends. It was hard without hands.
The ants surprised the delver, who clearly didn’t know they existed. He kept turning around to look at all of them.
“Woah, there’s quite a few…” his words were cut off as he tripped over Shimmer. Luckily, he was unharmed, but they could not say the same for the ant he fell on.
Shimmer bobbled over to comfort her new friend, who looked like he was in discomfort. He rocked back and forth and pulled a large rock out from under him. They were both transfixed by the glowing rock he held, the mana stone of the ant.
“Well, would you look at that… a rock as bright as you. Are you two related?” A hearty chuckle escaped him as he sat up. Surprised, he saw several more ants had died to a smattering of feathers that never hit their mark. Obsessed with the shiny stones, he collected them, even tossing one to Shimmer.
A new gift from a new friend!
----------------------------------------
System tried. Tried organizing the Core’s thoughts. Tried working with Vault to guide the monsters of the dungeon. Despite everything, not a single attack landed.
“But dungeon is stronger. Stronger than last time. Why are monsters not winning?” There was an edge to the Core’s thoughts, relayed with far more clarity because of the Overseer slime. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity as the Core tried everything.
Every attempt was foiled by the feline delver tripping, or dropping something else. And System knew why. This delver was a champion of two gods working in tandem. He was the avatar of feline fortune. A rarity for gods to share an avatar, he was only one of five. One of the strongest five mortals alive.
But the dungeon didn’t understand this. It continued to cry out as it grew more frantic by the minute. Perhaps it had dawned on the crystal just how fruitless its endeavors were.
It shouted orders and made demands. The new sensation of emotions clouded its thoughts. It became so single-minded it blocked out the others. It just kept shouting.
“Shiny slime, eat delver, good, keep eating.” More demands.
“Shimmer isn’t a slime with acid, she cuddles instead. It would be wise to-” Vault pleaded, but it didn’t matter. They weren’t listening.
“Maybe Spiders? Yes, attack and bite. Go hunt.”
The direct orders left no room for tactical oversight as the spiders attacked the jinxed feline. Unsurprisingly, their attacks failed as their webs tangled. The silk lines crystalized when one spilled poison, vivisecting the entire force.
“No, no nonono. NONONO NO NO. Hunt, stop dying, kill, make him dead.” The Core was losing its grip, becoming frantic.
Mana began pouring out of the Core’s crystal. Violence had failed, and now the dungeon was trying a new tactic: become stronger and try again. The environment flooded with power as upgrades and mutations were bought in bulk. It was System’s job to help, and they would not fail.
“Ants, increase in number, have more.”
The ant hill pressurized as it filled with mana so dense their mana stone organs threatened to explode. The monolith at the center of their home was activated.
> Enchanted Title Attained: Ancient Ants - Enlarged mana stones have given the species a greater affinity for magic-
“Yes, ants are stronger. Magic will make delver hurt.”
The capacity for magic was not the same as knowing it. They were a generational grimoire that had yet to learn a single spell. The outcome of their battle was no different.
The Core was afraid of losing, and it showed. More mana poured into the dungeon.
> Warning: Mana reserves are dropping below 10%, if you continue-
They piled mana and will onto anything and everything they could.
> Spell Infection Spiders: affinity enhancement - shadow. As long as their web is hidden from the light, they are capable of casting-
> Shimmer: affinity enhancement - photosynthesis, turning light into-
> Warning: mana reserves below 5-
It was frantic. A caged beast. System was trying to help, yet nothing was good enough.
“Delver still alive. Make DEAD, deadeaddded!! Fix FIX FIXFIX, now Now NOWW!!!”
> Species Adaptation: Aphid, please select from the opt-
> Selected, Anarchy Aphid
The mites exploded from the rush of mana and rapid evolution. Their guts splashed over the few survivors, encasing them in large blocks of nectar, of amber. The delver curiously took a sample, cutting his hand.
“Oh, well looks like I will have to go by the name Six now” as a single drop of blood spilled onto the ground below. It encouraged the hysterical Core.
They pushed themselves past their limits.
> Paragon of Sparrows - an enhanced member of the species, perfec-
> Warning: mana has dropped below-
“NOT ENOUGH. MOREMROEOE.”
The light of the Core dimmed.
System felt woozy. It was difficult to concentrate.
> Overseer upgradeded - Spider venom dissolved into-
> Mana Manipulation, incre-
Mana depleted, the dungeon went dark.
System went offline.