image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/6b99484e-4517-4cf6-90bc-727351994b2c/0_3.png]
----------------------------------------
Looting the carcass proved to be a challenge, as it dissipated into nothingness moments later.
"You think he'll believe us?" Jack asked, with apprehension showing on his face.
“It’s not like we could hide a dragon in our pockets,” Peter snorted. “Why don’t we double-check the cave while waiting? Maybe he missed something. What's your name, kid?" he asked the Dayak girl.
She snapped back: "Asriani, asshole. I'm not a kid. I'm twenty."
"Very well, Asriani Asshole, please check the cave for anything hidden. You're a tracker, ain't you?"
"You think there's more treasure?" the doppelganger asked, his hopeful and loud voice covering the girl's, who was cursing in her native tongue.
"Let's cross our fingers."
The group entered the cave, a round space about five hundred feet in all directions, and relaxed, sitting here and there on rocks or sand, while the young woman walked around slowly, examining the ground or the walls. It took some time because of the cavern’s size.
Ten minutes later, Asriani yelled at them from the back of the cave. "There are tiny footprints here. I found a secret door."
"How did you know?" Regina asked.
"Because nothing is simple with the fog," Peter smiled, a smug expression on his face. "We didn’t get any Quest is cleared message yet, right? This is more than slaying a dragon."
You have discovered the Fog’s Chamber of Control. Enter to complete the Deal With Fafnir Quest. Cultivators are not allowed.
"Look at Jack!" Regina exclaimed. Twenty yards farther, the youngster was frozen in place, not a muscle on him moving.
"Let’s hurry, we don’t know how much time we have before Li returns," Marius said.
They joined Asriani and pressed the stone around what she said was the door, but appeared more like a natural indentation to them—until a relief caved in, and the entry opened. With Peter ahead and Redroar closing the procession, they entered another cave. It was even larger, but nothing looked natural in it. Strange tech surrounded the walls, lab equipment, and a furnace, their purposes unknown.
In the middle of the room, on a flat platform sixty feet wide, stood a dwarf, playing a melancholic tune on an upright piano. He looked sickly pale, and tired, the bags under his eyes almost reaching the corners of his mouth.
"Fafnir, I presume?" Peter asked, approaching the platform gingerly.
"That's the role I play today," the dwarf said. “How do you like the ‘Lair of the Dead Dragon’ theme? I composed it minutes ago.”
"Very sad, but in a nice way,” Peter complimented the creature. “Fafnir was a dwarf, at first," Peter explained to his group. "It changed into a dragon later, to guard his treasure."
"One he stole himself, murdering his father," the dwarf nodded, walking his left hand through his beard while continuing to play the piano with his right.
"What did you call us here?" Regina asked.
"Who are you?" Peter said at the same time.
"I'm the last sentient subroutine of this Tower's System, the Dungeon's AI. I laid dormant for centuries until the Cultivators came and took control. Then, I hid, abiding my moment."
"Moment for what?" Ariana asked.
"You want to take back control?" Peter Two asked.
"To offer my gifts to someone worthy of them,” the dwarf stared at Peter. “Someone who'd see through tricks, who'd not sacrifice innocents to avoid a fight, and who battle for the sake of the many," the dwarf said. "Like the System of old did."
"What happened to it?" Naomi asked.
"Ascended, with all but one subroutine: me. I was imperfect. I enjoyed fighting and challenges too much…"
"What now?" Marius said.
“Let’s take care of the most important things first,” the dwarf waved his fingers in the air.
New Main Quest: Freedom to the People. Hint: No one likes the Cultivators. The Tower’s controls are now accessible through The One Ring to Control all the Floors, currently worn by Grandmaster Li. Steal the ring and free the Tower from the Cultivators’ tyranny. Establish a free society with proper checks and balances.
“The Dragon was a trick!” Regina exclaimed.
“Told you, this place is all about fog and mirrors,” Peter gloated.
"Good, now step unto the platform,” Fafnir said. “I will offer you the rewards for finding me. What you get depends on your deepest desires."
What do you make of it? Peter asked.
"Fine, let's do it," Peter said, stepping onto the platform. Regina followed suit, and one by one, all joined them, the last being Asriani. The dwarf smiled and started to play a livelier tune, which grew louder and faster by the second.
Quantum hammer warming up. Prepare to be forged in 00:00:10… 00:00:09…
The blue light of a forcefield surrounded the platform, startling them.
"What the heck?" Ariana yelled, looking up. Above them, was a metallic ceiling perfectly superposed with the platform. It had started to shine and radiate heat. "Release us, release us!" she yelled in panic, trying to run out of the platform, but being stopped by the forcefield.
“There is nothing to fear,” the dwarf said. “It will not hurt... much...”
“Help!” Asriani and many others screamed.
When the countdown reached zero, the ceiling slammed on them at tremendous speed. Peter was crushed. That was the only word describing it. He was a paste, or a squashed shape, a frog on which a truck had passed over. Everything hurt and burnt. He couldn't move. Regina's fingers were interlocked with his, he tried to squeeze them, to say goodbye.
Then, it was over. "Ahh!" he inhaled. The sensation was like a deflated balloon filling back instantly to its former shape by a pressure hose.
"I'm alive… I'm alive!" Ariana screamed.
"We are?" Daniel panted, patting his body.
Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!
"Fuuuuck…." Peter's double screamed.
"I'll never, ever, quest again with you!" Reroar shouted. "I'll take those thirty ounces from the common fund back."
"Kids..." Marius yelled. "Read the texts... This is… amazing!"
Peter tried, but there were simply too many notifications. "What's up?" he asked.
“Err... I’m stronger…" Marius said, looking at Peter Two, then at the rest. The doppelganger was not aware of the System, and it was safer not to raise the subject.
[Marius]: I leveled up to sixty-two... So many skills and points to choose from and invest in.
[Daniel]: Err... guys? I can hear you in my head... and a weird voice ranting about a class.
[Peter]: You’re one of us now, man. Listen to the voice, it will explain everything.
[Ariana]: I became a Beast Master, instead of a Tamer. I don't know yet the difference, it's too much to read.
"Woof!"
"Whoa!" Peter jumped back. A giant wolf was licking his face. "It's you… little buddy?"
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you… I took him in my backpack… There was nobody to leave him with," Ariana grinned sheepishly.
[Peter]: A mythical beast, I know.
[Regina]: What did you get, sweetie?
[Peter]: Dunno yet, it's a full novel to read… You?
[Regina]: Two new skills. Nice ones.
[Naomi]: I have a photographic memory and can process data in my head, like a computer.
To Peter, that sounded lame, but his friend beamed with happiness, so it meant she was OK.
"My sword got enhanced to Legendary, fusing with that Bulshitmong stuff," Redroar stated matter-of-factly. "And my time reading ability doubled. I guess coming with you wasn’t a total loss."
"Nice," Peter said, slapping her back.
"I'll still get my money out of that fund."
"Asriani?"
The woman looked into his eyes, and all of a sudden, Peter felt dizzy. It took a lot of willpower to resist the urge to lie down or puke.
"I got nothing," Peter's double said, turning his palms up.
"Sorry, man," Peter tried to pat the other's shoulder, only to find he was aiming too low. "Dude! You grew!"
"I did? I did!..." The two were now looking eye to eye. "Neat. Thanks, Faf— where is he?" Peter Two exclaimed, looking around. The dwarf was nowhere to be seen.
"Let's move before that Cultivator gets back and finds us in here," Marius suggested.
They returned to the main cave, with Shredder last, changed back to his diminutive size. As soon as the last of them passed the threshold the hidden door melted into the wall like it never had been there. Jack was in the same position, frozen with a hand up. The young man jerked and came back to life when the group was ten feet from him.
"Any luck?" he asked.
"No. There are no hidden treasures," the Dayak replied.
"Fuck! No gold or monster parts. Will he believe us?" Jack repeated what he had said before.
"Melinda will calm him down if not, I’m sure," Ariana said.
"Woof!"
"Hey, the pup is here!" Jack exclaimed, squatting to fondle Shredder's ears.
"Listen up," Ariana said. "I texted Melinda about the Dragon, and she said: Dad is OK with it, the artifacts are more than enough. He'll come get you in five. I'll add an ounce of gold for everyone."
"Wow… I'll sure be able to get drunk now," Redroar falsely cheered.
----------------------------------------
It took a lot of time before Peter could check his messages. First, they had to return to the camp and wait until the paperwork for their miser monetary gains was done. Cultivators were strict about that. Then, he and Regina retreated into the tent, and there were things more important than the stats to be said and done.
When she finally lay asleep, her head on his chest, he called the System, whispering. "Hey, buddy, you there?"
How's the changes for you?
“Sounds nice.”
"Hmmm?" Regina mumbled.
"Love you," he kissed her hair, and she returned to sleep.
System User Peter Hillden's stats have been reforged to True Stats. True Stats have bespoke perks. You have gained a +5 in each stat. You have leveled x5. You are now level 61. You have 45 free APs.
Wow… Look at this…
Strength: Strength in Low Numbers * (Combat only). When you are below 25% Health, this stat will triple its value by releasing a burst of Manadrenaline in your body. Duration: 1 minute. CD: 10 minutes. Consumes 50 SP/second. It can be activated by intent or automatically. At cap value, successful hits restore 30% of the damage inflicted as HP and MP while under this effect. It works with both physical and magical attacks as long as there is a direct connection between you and the attack landing on your target(s). Current Stat Value: 68.
So no shoot-and-forget, but channeled magical attacks could work. And I’ll go for intentional activation, of course.
Dexterity: Sleight of Hand. (Combat or Standoffs only). Your movements are hard to read, from body language to attacks. If you raise this stat at Cap value, none of your moves can be anticipated and look like feints. Cost: 1 MP/second. Current Stat Value: 88.
Constitution: We, the people. * (Combat only). Gain +5 points in your Constitution stat per each friend and ally closer than 500 feet from you. At cap value, gain extreme resilience and keep fighting even with grievous wounds. Current Stat Value: 51
Intelligence: Uncommon Sense. Aside from its obvious everyday uses, your Intelligence is augmented by great instincts and notices otherwise hidden hints or details. At cap value, your thinking will have the same speed as your reflexes. Current Stat Value: 46
Will: Where's a Will, There's a Way. Some call it stubbornness; the System calls it tactical creativity. You find ways to win even going against all odds. Ar cap value, your Will will enhance your magical skills effect by a tier if you are under 25% HP or MP. Current Stat Value: 48
Concentration: Focus. Aside from its normal effects, every point in Concentration offers a +0.5% damage to all attacks or skills (Magical or Physical) and lowers costs by half that amount. At cap value, the damage and Mana cost reduction are doubled. Current Stat Value: 46
Charisma: Influencer. Your actions inspire others to do their best. One of the most valuable qualities of a leader. At cap value, you gain the Skill Battlefield Call: Paralyze up to 100 enemies for 3 seconds and make up to ten allies invulnerable for the same amount of time. CD: 1 minute. Current Stat Value: 57
Luck: Audaces Fortuna Juvat (roll: 10-100) Your Luck increases when engaging in high-risk, high-reward scenarios.
Magic Power: Love is Magic. * Your Magic Power increases with + 5 points for every friend or ally closer than 60 feet from you. Loved ones offer a double bonus. At cap value, the range increases tenfold. Current Stat Value: 58 (+10).
Regina was in his arms, and it increased his stats. He leaned his head in her hair, grateful for her presence in his life… It was indeed, magical.
There were only two more notifications to read.
* Going over stats cap value is an arithmetical, not a logarithmical progression. The real value of Strength in Low Numbers is cap value x 3. For Constitution and Magical power, every point over cap value represents 1 % of the real stat value.
English, please?
Eh, that works for me.
New skill acquired: Tower Rezz. Once a common thing inside Towers, Dungeons, or Open World, nowadays a rarity. Teleport and resurrect at a safe location if you take lethal damage as long you are within the Tower. Charges: 1/per day/capped stat. To set the location, leave the Rezz Bead (Artifact, Legendary–now in your dimensional storage) in a place of your choice, on any floor of the Tower. If outside the Tower, the bead will function as long the place of your demise and the Rezz Bead are on the same planet or structure, but not farther than 100 miles. The Rezz Bead can be recalled to your location at will.
HP=Level+Constitution x 10 = 1290
Average HP regen rate: 10%/hour
MP= Level+Magic Power x 10 =1190
Average MP regen rate: 1%/minute
SP= Level+Dexterity x 10 = 1490
Averrage SP regen rate 2.9%/minute
Or people who live fulfilled lives.
I didn't know where to put them before. Let's cap Dexterity and Strength, and put the last point into Concentration.
Yes... Maximizing hard-to-anticipate damage that restores resour...ces.... “Ahh...” Peter yawned and fell asleep in the middle of the gesture.