Lewd Dungeon, Chapter 171 (Patreon)

Chapter 171 – Tier

In the Arena on the eleventh floor of the dungeon, I watched as my six warriors battled against a horde of plant monsters and slimes. This was not a punishment, or a trial, but an opportunity. Father Jacobs and his party were on the cusp of breaking through to the second tier when they came into the dungeon, and I wanted to push them across that threshold while they were somewhere that I could witness them. So, I had offered to let them face enemies within the Arena, to hone their skills and hopefully push them across that line.

They had all agreed, of course. I was their god, their truth. They would do anything for me, if I simply asked them to, and would gladly jump to follow any of my commands. They were truly my most devoted thralls, having been molded into the image I wished of them. And, through them, others had been brought into the faith, as they spread the ‘good news’ of my gospel of desire.

Not for the first time, I considered the implications of this new world, where the simple act of belief could give someone power. People believed I was a god, because I told them I was a god, and in turn that was making me into a god. It was the kind of insanity that could only exist in a universe that was too naive and precious for its own good.

As bad as the System Apocalypse had been for the Earth, it was easy to see that the lives of those who survived were unquestionably better than they had been before. Well, maybe it wasn’t right to go quite that far, since people who had survived, but made powerful enemies, often suffered. But for most people, the world was far better than the world from before.

Poverty? Anyone with the will to work could practice their profession, or, if they chose, could go and adventure, hunting monsters and delving into dungeons. It was dangerous work, of course, and people died doing it, but unemployment had nose-dived since the Apocalypse, as people were given a chance to take their fate into their own hands.

More than just surviving, the new world shattered some age-old barriers to progress for many people. In the business world before the Apocalypse, if you didn’t come from money, or know people with money, the best you could ever hope for was to be ‘not poor’. There were some people who made it big, generally through either talent or criminal behavior, or both. But advancement in the world had long been divorced from actual skill.

Now, however? A level 5 who had piles of money from before the Apocalypse was nothing compared to a level 30. Even if that level 5 was a business mogul, the level 30 who had never tried to negotiate before the Apocalypse, but had gained the skill through the System, could talk in circles around the mogul, getting them to sign away everything they owned, and leaving the now-penniless mogul feeling as though he had gotten a huge deal.

THAT had overturned more than a few apple carts, to be sure! The cadre of old white males who controlled the majority of wealth in the country had become paupers shortly after the Apocalypse, thanks to some young sharks who had realized the potential of their classes. Crazily enough, most of the money had not gone into the pockets of the sharks, but had been put into various charities, which had effectively eliminated hunger in the United States, at least for the first year, while people got back on their feet.

Not needing to worry about where their next meal would come from had freed people from the need to work soul-crushing jobs. Much like the feudal serfs leaving the farms for the fires of industry, or the rise of the middle class, those working for minimum wage began fleeing their jobs, and diving into what the System offered them. The retail market, already on the edge due to interrupted logistics and the dramatically decreased population, crashed, and was only just now starting to stabilize. Walmart was the biggest casualty of the Apocalypse, with McDonald’s not far behind.

“AARROOOOOM!”

The battle cry shook me from my reverie. My servants had finished off the slimes, and were now focusing their attacks on the giant plant monsters that was the chief combatant for this round. It was a Strikium, from Bluemountain, like the rest of the monsters I’d been sending against them.

Strikiums could best be described as the unholy fusion of an Ent and a Minotaur. Large, tree-like bodies covered in bark and vines gave their ten-foot tall frames plenty of power. Wooden horns emerged from their heads, and the vines that covered them moved to their will. Each one wielded an axe made of magical wood, capable of slashing through steel. And, so long as they remained in contact with the ground, they would regenerate like Trolls.

Axes and flames were the most effective weapons against the Strikium, seeing as how they were essentially sentient trees with bad attitudes. Of course, none of them had axes, with the two fighters preferring to use swords, and their only ‘normal’ source of fire were a few basic flasks of alchemist’s fire that Carla had on hand. If it weren’t for the druid, Stephanie, they would have been in serious trouble for this fight.

Well, perhaps not trouble. Mary, the rogue, Brad, the sword and shield fighter, and Mark, the greatsword fighter were all capable of harming the Strikium, but it would not be quick or easy. A single blow from the massive plant creature could send them flying, even if it were just a backhand, and not a blow from the massive ironwood axe. To win conventionally, they would have to wear the tree creature down slowly, overpowering its regeneration, all while perfectly avoiding the crushing and rending blows.

But with Stephanie there, they had a shortcut. Druids were spellcasters with a connection to nature, both plants and animals. There were few spellcasters who understood plants like a druid did. Usually, they used this understanding to aid plants, helping them grow, or keeping them safe from harm.

However, one who understands how to help a creature also understands how to harm that creature. Druids had a reputation as tree hugging hippies for a reason, but they knew spells for fire and for the withering of plants. They did not use them often, for obvious reasons, but they knew them, and could bring them to bear when needed.

“BACK!” Stephanie yelled, giving only a moment for the melee members of the party to spring back before a cloud of black mist flew forward from her hand. The [Wilting Cloud] spell drained the vitality of all living things in its area, and prevented any healing or recovery magic, including regeneration, from happening for a period of time afterwards. In other words, it was a perfect weapon against unruly plants.

As the plant creature gave one of its strange howling moans as the bark on its ‘skin’ began to wither and rot, the melee combatants had a moment to catch their breath, as the creature was far too preoccupied to try and attack them. Not missing this chance, Carla moved to capitalize on the Strikium’s distraction. Reaching into a dimensional pocket, she pulled out a flask of her alchemist’s fire, and threw it at the plant creature.

FWOOSH!

The alchemist’s fire burst into flame as the flask shattered on the Strikium’s body, but instead of the napalm-like effect it normally had, spreading liquid flame across the plant’s body, it did so much more! The black cloud ignited, conflagrating with orange-black flames as alchemy and magic mixed. I shook my head. Even low-level alchemy attacks could cause catastrophic damage in the right circumstances.

The Strikium’s howl of pain and anger became one of pain and despair as the orange-black flames washed over it. With a plaintive, thundering cry, it thrashed about, trying in vain to disperse the flames. When the flames finally did go out, the Strikium was looking like charcoal. And yet, a groaning sound could be heard from the creature’s mouth.

Brad strode forward, shield raised and ready. But the Strikium could not move more than a few inches, so badly had it been burnt by the magically enhanced flames. Seeing this, Brad threw all his weight behind a [Shield Bash]. As his shield met the burnt husk of the Strikium, the plant-creature’s body shattered, falling into a pile of burnt wood and ash, finally dead.

I was about to give them a reward for a fight well won in my name, when, suddenly, I felt power swirling through my dungeon. I had seen similar effects, whenever someone leveled up. There was always a burst of power, bigger bursts accompanying those who gained multiple levels at a time. But this? This was unlike anything I had felt before.

Silvery grey mist rose up, swirling around the six people who had all just broken through to the next tier of power. It was only a single level, but to my senses each of the party members looked as though they were advancing at least ten levels in a single go. Was this the effect of jumping up to the next tier? Or would their level ups always look like this from now on? No, that couldn’t be. I’d seen the bounty hunters level up, and they’d looked nothing like this.

That meant it had to be something special involving the leveling process. They were, no doubt, being granted the option to evolve their classes. Since that involved the System at a fundamental level, it only made sense, I guess, that the feeling they gave off as they broke through was different from the normal feeling.

The power grew to a crescendo, swirling about them faster and faster. The shifting mana in the air began pushing the air itself, sending miniature tornadoes of dust and sand into the air around the six. And then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped.

The dust fell away, revealing the six party members, fresh from their transformation. And what a transformation it was! Not just their classes and professions had evolved, but also their races had improved. Quickly, I checked the information available through the system, and it appeared that, when someone broke through to a tier higher than the race, class, or profession that they possessed, then they would be ‘upgraded’.

Looking at my information, it appeared that Atlantean was actually a second-tier race. Their kind were typically born as Lesser Atlanteans, though some started life as full-blooded Atlanteans. No doubt it was the same with other peoples.

I couldn’t help myself. I was just so eager to see what had changed with my followers! Quickly, I inspected them all.

Marvin Jacobs

Tiefling Male

Level 1 Shadow Heirophant / Shadowcrafter

Titles: Devout, High Priest of Kuronoth, Dungeonsworn

Carla Gordon

Frost-touched Human Female

Level 1 Rimeblood Magus / Elemental Alchemist

Titles: Devout, Slave, Dungeonsworn

Mary Jones

Shadowsoul Human Female

Level 1 Darkblade / Harvester

Titles: Devout, Slave, Dungeonsworn

Brad Fraser

Dhampir (Human) Male

Level 1 Darksoul Protector / Bloodforger

Titles: Devout, Dungeonsworn, Sentinel

Mark Hunt

Half-Fiend Human Male

Level 1 Fel Reaver / Felsmith

Titles: Devout, Dungeonsworn, Heavy-handed

Stephanie Knowles

Feytouched Human Female

Level 1 Dreadwood Druid / Blood Cultivator

Titles: Devout, Slave, Dungeonsworn

I whistled appreciatively as I looked over the changes they had undergone. Each had risen to Tier 2, and, as expected, their level had reset to 1. However, the power they had gained was visible, even without my dungeon senses.

Rising from my throne, where I had been enjoying the show, I clapped my hands, bringing their attention to me. “Well done, my faithful servants. You have shown your mettle, and advanced further and faster than any humans I know of. I proclaim that I am proud of each of you, for your splendid transformations. Now, kneel, and receive the rewards you so richly deserve.”