Chapter 179 - Mono is a disease?! (Patreon)

“Choices, choices,” John mumbled. He had no need of either, regarded both of the classes as novelty. However, he was getting a free perk, so he might as well take it. The pervert inside him urged him to take Loverboy, while the Gamer decided that his class should take the lead. It was a mental battle between John’s strongest personality traits, at the end of the day, however, he had been granted Gamer powers, not Pornstar powers. He chose the blessing of Ferikrona.

That meant he now had two classes eligible for a level up. The Gamer and Arcanist, whose latest challenge he had cleared just now, by killing the boss with Arcane Explosion. He went with the latter first, because that was more interesting to him.

Magic Machine Gun was out. He didn’t have the mana to support that, and he doubted that it would ever be in the interest of his fighting style to use Mana Ray that way. Between Overload and Whisper of Mana, that was a bit of a harder decision. Just earlier, he had thought about wanting something like Overload, but having Whisper of Mana could be incredibly useful. Doubling his current mana regeneration for a minute would essentially give him over 180 mana. That meant that killing something with Mana Ray refunded more than half of the cost. And it would only get better as his Wisdom rose. Overload, on the other hand, was for that niche moment where he needed a decisive attack. With a sigh he took Whisper of Mana. It was just too good. 

Up next, Gamer perk. Now this would be interesting.

Loot Preference was nice and EXP Pots was a useful gamble, but he would take Escape Rope. Nothing would beat the safety of knowing that, if he got cocky and stumbled into a boss that he couldn’t beat, he could retreat. Even if he never used it, it would be a good thing to have at any point.

‘Now, what class to concentrate on?’ John thought and looked at the three combat classes that presented themselves to him. Puppeteer’s main attraction were the increased Stats for Aclysia and Mono, as well as the Possession Slots. However, he didn’t have the mana regeneration to support more Possession Slots, every single one cost him one mana per second and to create a Spell Carrier with a single spell, like he did earlier, he already needed three. That was out, for now. 

Then it came down to Arcanist and Elementalist. Both of these gave him more mana to play with, Elementalist by reducing the upkeep on the elementals and Arcanist by increasing his maximum Mana and Mana Regeneration. John pulled both windows side by side to have a better look at the bonuses while he pondered over this problem.

‘What do I want?’ He asked himself. There were arguments for both sides here. Arcanist gave him an all-around increase of the mana he had available, whilst also pushing down the cost of his Arcane spells. Speaking of that, how did it interact with Mana Protection? If it lowered the MP per HP ratio the choice would be way easier.

It did not, it only reduced the cost of the Activation. So that wasn’t a point in its favour. Still, it reduced the enormous costs of the offensive skills, so, that reduction wasn’t useless. When it came to the question whether the cost reduction of the elementals or the increase of MP Reg was better, John tended to the former. Getting the elementals to a point where they were free of cost would be glorious, but getting them down to a mere 5% of his regeneration would also be pretty good. Also, the Stat increases would affect four people in his group instead of just buffing himself. Yeah, it was going to be a focus on Elementalist, for now.

“Ya done?” Rave asked, having patiently waited for her boyfriend sternly staring at the air. “Almost, sorry,” John apologised and looked at the last window of interest. 

There were a whole lot of new enemies. Also, structural updates, like how it now went on for 5 floors, so from a base floor to a core floor, instead of the random number he had before. Also new categories of fights. To the old Wave and Floor types came Siege, Capture and Arena. There was also one that was randomized, named Corruption, which didn’t bode well, in John’s opinion. Lastly he could now sort the whole damn thing, so that was nice.

“Now,” John stated and closed the window. “What did we get from the boss?” “Ya tell me, scan-eyes,” Rave said and presented him with the five items, that the girls had picked up, while he was pre-occupied. 

First there were 150 grand. That refilled his cash reserves, so that was nice, but nothing new. Next there were two Healing Potions, which refilled 300 HP upon drinking. Which was quite good. “You can keep those,” he offered Rave and Lydia. “I don’t get hurt a lot, and when I do I have Undine.” 

Rave looked down on herself. Her top was the usual skimpy type and her jeans so tight that even the smartphone in the front pocket had gone into John’s inventory to not be a hindrance during battle. How they didn’t tear during combat was a mystery to John, but he guessed that some Abyssal fuckery was at play. “Can’t exactly bring those along,” she explained. “I will gladly take you up on that offer,” Lydia then stepped in, “I have enough room for that in my uniform.” He handed the princess both potions and then looked at the last two items on the list. 

One was a hoe.

“…I kind of want to keep it,” John said after explaining what it did to everyone. “If you do, keep it away from my property,” Lydia stated and crossed her arms. “I do not want to be affiliated with you growing erotic vegetables.” “Understandable,” John agreed and put the Hoe away. His inventory was still halfway empty, even with everyone’s jackets in there. After all, the loot they had gathered up until here was all fed to Mono, who had now reached Level 74. 

“What’s the last thing?” John asked, hoping it’d be something he could fed Mono and have her catch up to his level. “Uhm, we found this,” Gnome answered and handed him a branch of the Tree of Life. Well, branch was a strong word. Maybe twig was more accurate. Thin, silver wood with golden leaves at the end. 

Time to check what those attributes did. 

Those where pretty great…to feed to an artificial spirit. “Eat up, Mono!” he said and tossed the branch at the artificial support, who looked at it and shrugged. “Okay,” she said and munching on the wood shaped metal. “I am reminded of a question I have,” Lydia said while they were waiting for to come to pass. “Why did you name her Mono?” “Because she is monochrome,” John explained and blinked. “Ah, indeed, that makes sense than naming her after the kissing disease.” 

Mono tensed up and almost coughed the leaf, she was currently chewing, back up. So, not only could stones sneeze but metal girls could cough. The Abyss was a weird place. “Please, what?!” Mono cried out after having gulped down the leaf. “Mononucleosis,” Lydia explained, “commonly called mono, or the kissing disease.” “I don’t want to be named after that!” Mono spat out. “John you ass!” “I DIDN’T KNOW!” he defended himself, the Gamer had completely forgotten about that disease. “Really?” Rave snickered, “I have been giggling about it for months.” “Then why didn’t you tell me?!” John wanted to know. “I assumed you knew,” his girlfriend kept giggling. 

“Anyway, that cannot stand!” the artificial support stated. “I demand a new name.” “You want to change the name master gave you?” Aclysia chimed in, blinking in confusion. “Yes! Would you want to be named after a disease?! Actually, don’t answer that, you are the best, sister, but you would do anything that perv tells you, even if he would change your name to Fuckdoll One.” “I would gladly carry any name, master bestows upon me,” Acylsia affirmed, blinking in confusion how anyone could think otherwise. 

“Ehm, a new name?!” John was entirely not prepared for this. “…can’t you keep Mono?” “Mono is a disease?!” Mono said as if this exchange would clear up everything that was wrong with that question. Which it did. “Okay, okay…ehm, how about Momo?” It wasn’t a great change, but if he changed her name too much, it would just be confusing. “Momo…okay I can live with that,” the newly dubbed artificial support stated, nodding to herself. “Okay, new name, glad we had that conversation…AFTER I RAN AROUND WITH THAT NAME FOR 3 MONTHS!” Momo took an angry chomp from the Golden Leaves and took her aggressions out on eating.

Okay, so she was level 75 now, neat. Now to get those new attributes in. Ascended Mana automatically replaced Strong Mana, which was off little surprise to him. Silver Wisdom put the ninth slot, which meant that Golden Fortune was going to be in the 10th, and last, slot. But it wasn’t. Instead John got a window.

‘What is up with that Broken Wings shit?’ John thought and sighed in annoyance. Well, time to see what the stat bonuses from the Golden Leaves were. The current ones from Felligium were okay, but not outstanding. 

Yeah, that was better. That was way better. Out with the old. He reserved Observing Momo for later, when he spent the 20 points she now had, which he only delayed because he wanted to raise Libido and that was something better done in the bedroom. “So, want to go on or go back?” “I say we continue!” Rave enthusiastically said. The elementals agreed, so did Aclysia and Momo. “I will need to take it easy for a few more minutes. I can continue, however,” Lydia stated. “I have yet to reach level 69.” 

“Bwahahaahahaaahahaha, SHE SAID 69!” Sylph laughed hysterically as a staircase of white light winded downwards, allowing them to ascend the tower.

Now what?