EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTES THIS CHAPTER.
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CHAPTER START------
YANG POV------
I woke up to the clanking of armor and I feel myself being carried. As I try to move my arms a searing pain greets me, as I groan in agony I'm met by a voice.
Jolee: "Don't try to move too much, the potion couldn't completely fix you up. Just let me carry you to get healed. We survived thanks to whatever it is you did back there so focus on resting for now. Thank you for saving me, at least some of us made it."
As they walk through the long winding caves into the upper area back to the entrance they see crowds of level 1 adventurers, many of them that were gathered before were missing whilst their respective teams look injured as members of the guild and familias were on hand with health potions and magic at the ready. As Jolee saw members of his familia he immediately hobbled his way over with Yang on his back. As soon as they were spotted adventurers rushed over and took Yang off his back before giving each of them one potion.
Jolee: "I gave him the one potion he had earlier and it healed lots of the burns but they didn't all go away. Did the other team come out?"
As he says this the healer looks at him and meekly says, "No the other team was confirmed dead by another group, only that coward from your group survived but the goddess is dealing with him personally for abandoning your formation, there was a dungeon treat activated on your floor so all the monsters from nearby floors rushed down to eat. When a random treat occurs it's extremely deadly but this is just unfortunate, nobody can predict them and level 1 parties can't handle them, monsters become stronger when full, and all flock to the floor with the special treat. I'm just sorry we couldn't find it sooner. What happened to him to cause these burns?"
As he asks this Yang speaks up, "The goddess asked that I not say, sorry."
to which the healer simply nodded.
Jolee: "I...I don't think I want to be an adventurer anymore, that was too much, I was useless and afraid, I froze. You saved me and were so brave but, I froze, I'm going to commit all my time to the forge, at least that way I can be useful because I can't go back in there."
Yang and the others were a bit surprised by the sudden revelation but couldn't say they didn't understand after this ordeal that people would quit going into the dungeon. They all simply bit their tongue and nodded out of respect for what transpired today.
Yang: "That's an understandable choice, thanks for bringing me out of there, I owe you one."
Healer: "Your body should be fine to move now but you still need to rest, the goddess will want to speak to both of you immediately so please go to her immediately."
Yang and Jolee both give a firm nod before they slowly walk off with tired and stressed looks on their faces.
HEPHAESTUS POV------
This was a nightmare. My level 1 talent goes into the dungeon for his first time and a damn random treat occurs on his floor. I immediately sent teams into the dungeon to find them but that was 2 hours after the treat happened. Not only him but over a dozen members could die in there today, No, they likely will die in there today. This is a nightmare. The dungeon teams have healers and I sent healers to the entrance to support those without. Now comes the true worst part for me, the waiting.
It's been 4 hours since the disaster started and I finally get word that one of my members made it out, only to be met with disappointment which quickly turns to fury as he explains that he deserted his team.
Hephaestus: "From this moment onward you are banished from my familia and blacklisted from all of our vendors and items. Tsubaki, remove him from the tower now."
That nonsense made my already bad mood even that much worse. He'll be lucky if he has a decent life in the city after people find out what he did much less ever be accepted into another familia. After another 3 hours of waiting it's almost evening and someone finally gives me good news,2 more survived. My day finally brightens up when Tsubaki ushers Jolee and Yang into my office.
Hephaestus: "Please have a seat we have much to discuss, this day, unfortunately, isn't over just yet. I need to know exactly what happened in there. Nothing said in here is to leave this room under any circumstance, now start from the beginning."
Yang and Jolee retell their day with grim looks on their faces but Hephaestus and Tsubaki go a bit wide-eyed when Jolee starts recounting what he believes to be Yang's bravery coming forward as flames. Hephaestus immediately instructs him to get to the next point and eventually the end of the story to avoid details of Yang's magic being retold.
Hephaestus: "What do you plan to do now?"
Jolee: "I'm going to focus on crafting instead of going into the dungeon, I thought I was a warrior but apparently I'm just a coward when the cards are down. Maybe someday I can be a warrior but after what we just went through and all I saw, that day isn't anytime soon. I'm sorry for disappointing you, goddess." As the man speaks, tears almost overflow from his eyes as he bows his head before his goddess. A great shame of not only disappointing her, but of also failing his allies because of his actions, or lack thereof.
Hephaestus: "No training could have prepared you for today, use your forge and make sure your fellow adventurers are better equipped, so should this happen again at least they won't have to question their gear, understand?"
Jolee: "I swear to do my best for anyone going into the dungeon goddess!Thank you!" He pounds his chest as he speaks with vigor, swearing loyalty once more before his goddess.
Hephaestus: "Good, you may go rest now, I sent 40,000 valis each into your accounts. Take your time to recover, please. Goodnight Jolee."
As the man leaves the room, all eyes fall to Yang, under the scrutiny of the two seasoned women. A new conversation begins.
Hephaestus: "So, new magic?"
Yang: "I'm not exactly sure but I felt my body burning, then my sword hilt burned away so I was forced to use my hands to fight and eventually they burned too until the flames enveloped me until it exploded."
Raising his hands, he awkwardly displays the burns still clear as day littered across them.
Hephaestus: "That's new, hmm well one way to find out, let's update your sheet, lay on the couch."
As Hephaestus updated his sheet both her and Tsubaki had their eyes glued onto his now visibly more defined back. His growth had apparently come with visible changes to his body which was unexpected. As the words formed on his back both of them were stunned with wide eyes as a new list of words appeared on his back along with his new bold 'LEVEL 2' at the top of the page.
Along with the new list of additions all his stats were now at SS which is completely unheard of especially for a level 2. Hephaestus felt as if she was looking at a golden egg that fell into her lap while Tsubaki felt as if she was staring at a monster in the making. After coming to their sense Hephaestus pulled the sheet off his back and returned to her chair with Yang and Tsubaki taking the seats across her desk with his stat sheet between them on the desk.
Hephaestus: "So, I don't recognize most of these so you're gonna have to test them out yourself and tell me what they do eventually ok."
Yang: "Yes goddess."
Hephaestus: "Ugh just call me Hephaestus already. Now, first off congratulations on advancing to level 2, somehow you advanced in one day which is a new record, unfortunately, I have to report this to the guild which will cause quite a stir at the meeting of the gods tomorrow so please be mindful of people targeting you. You're officially a little monster and everyone will want you on their side or out of their way. Now, with your magic and abilities, let's see here." She almost jokingly comments before beginning to read the stat sheet.
NAME: Yang Shen
Level 2:
Stats(Before Reset): STR=SS DEX=SS AGI=SS MAG=SS END=SSS
Age:16
Magic:
---Storage(Its essential video game inventory)
Allows the user to store up Monster Crystals+25 square feet of items at user level 1.
---Elementalist (Obtained at level 2)
Allows the user to channel certain elemental magic through their body and manipulate the elements to their whim, however, the user can take damage from these elements.
Skills:
---Elemental Resistance(Obtained at level 2)[Level 3]
Taking elements damage develops resistance to these elements over time.
---Elemental Healing(Obtained at level 2)[Level 2]
Pre-requisite skill 'Elemental Resistance'.Allows the uses to transfer some of the resisted elemental energy into health.
---Hunter(Obtained at level 2)
Improves abilities against monsters that the user has fought before and gained experience from.
---War Mage(Unique ability variant of 'Mage')(Obtained at level 2)[Level 1]
Amplifies the user's magic and reduces the cost and strain on the mind and body.
---Unarmed Strikes(Obtained level 2)[Level 2]
All unarmed strike damage is boosted.
---Abnormal Resistance(Obtained level 2)[level 1]
Negates the effect of abnormalities such as poison. At Rank 1, it can negate almost everything
---Mage Armor(Obtained through stress at level 2)[Level 2]
Envelops the user in magic amplifying defense and unarmed strike damage with elemental damage.
END SHEET---
Hephaestus: Many of these I didn't even know existed and some such as war mage seem to be more powerful and unique variants of existing skills. It seems as if your skills developed in the direction of an unarmed magic brawler, that's why all your stats are at the same level. The problem comes with equipment but luckily you have your storage magic so you don't need to figure out how to not incinerate your backpack right. Take some time and rest then when your head is clear familiarize yourself with all of these before you go into the dungeon again. Also, thank you for trying your best to protect your team, I'm just sorry we couldn't help in time. Goodnight Yang.
Yang: "Goodnight godd...Hephaestus."
Hephaestus then makes a copy of his sheet before sending him off with the copy to study. As Yang leaves the room Hephaestus's hands cover her face.
Hephaestus: "Tsubaki, how the hell am I supposed to explain this in the meeting tomorrow?"
Tsubaki: "I'm just glad I'm not the one who has to do that."
Hephaestus: "Ugh, that kid is a blessing and a curse honestly, so strong, but being that strong is its own headache for people around you, people like me who is responsible for him. At least if he keeps growing like this in a few years we might be able to get materials from the floors below floor 65 huh. Nobody can even go that low since the strongest teams only have up to level 6 members. I hope you don't have plans because this is going to be a long night, we need to prepare for the meeting tomorrow and what I'm gonna tell the others. Hopefully, he's worth the headache."
Tsubaki: "Yeah I hope so too, little monster"
CHAPTER 5 END------