Chapter 48: Man vs Prizes

Name：Apocalypse Tamer Author：
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Chapter 48: Man vs Prizes

The pumpkin moon vanished beyond the horizon, signaling the events end.

No other monster dared to challenge the Homeowner Revenge Associations might during the night. The candy mountain didnt grow any taller than it already did, which disappointed Basil a little. In retrospect, he should have been more proactive hunting weak monsters instead of focusing on the dungeons defense. At least the Lair features should have boosted the number of candies dropped.

Basil, Plato, and Vasi spent the last few minutes coaching Shellgirl on how to walk. It was a long shot. Unlike Plato, who had at least been used to running on all fours before gaining the ability to stand, the former clam mimic never even had limbs below her waist.

Shellgirl was a quick learner, but by the time she managed to walk five meters without tripping, the courtyard was covered in face-shaped puddles of slime. Her sheer resilience astonished Basil. He blamed her exceptional Vitality and resistance to Physical damage, alongside a stubborn refusal to stay down.

In short, she possessed all the qualities of a good door-to-door salesman.

As for her stats Shellgirls metamorphosis would change a lot of things for the party.

Name

Shellgirl (Mimic Booty)

Type

Aquatic/Slime

Faction

Homeowner Revenge Association (The Bohens)

Experience

110,018/120,000

ImmuneUpdated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Resist

Weak

Water.

Physical, Frost, Darkness, Mind, all ailments.

Aquaslayer, Slimeslayer, Corrosion, Metal, Fire, Lightning.

Level

Health Points

Special Points

30

1270

615

Strength

Agility

Vitality

Skill

35

(C+20%)

13

(C+20%)

54

(A+20%)

25

(D+20%)

Magic

Intelligence

Charisma

Luck

35

(C+20%)

32

(C+20%)

32

(B+20%)

34

(B+20%)

Physical

Mind

Soul

Corrosion

Metal

Wood

Life

Support

Ailment

Strong

Strong

-

Weak

Weak

Shelter+: Shellgirl can retreat inside her shell to buff her Vitality and gain a 50 percent damage reduction. However, this also debuffs her Agility.Moneymaker: Increases chances of drops if a monster is killed within twenty meters.Rainbow Shell Inventory: Shellgirl can stock up to one item per level inside her shell. Additionally, she can summon her shell to her side at will. Damaging the shell will damage Shellgirl herself.Slimeshift: Shellgirl can modify her slime appearance as she wishes, though she cannot violate conservation of mass.Ice Bomb: [Frost], 30 SP. Throws shrapnel made of ice at a target with her tentacle-barrels; the bomb inflicts [Frost] damage (base power 70) on impact and sends shrapnels hitting close enemies for additional [Frost] damage (base power 10).Rainmantle: [Water], [Life]. 30 SP. Shellgirl surrounds herself with a mantle of healing water for five minutes. She recovers 1/16 of her HP per minute, with the additional effect of buffing her Agility under the [Rain] weather or on a [Water] field.Discord Bounty: [Mind], [Ailment], 60 SP. Shellgirl creates an illusion presenting her shell as a desirable bounty. Enemies seeing the shell have a small chance of suffering from the [Madness] ailment for 5 minutes and fight over the bounty.Draw Aggro: [Mind], [Ailment], 30 SP. Shellgirl infuriates a foe, inflicting the [Berserk] ailment for five minutes. The target becomes focused on Shellgirl at the exclusion of any other target.Motivate: [Support], 30 SP. Shellgirl motivates an ally, buffing their accuracy and chances of inflicting critical hits for five minutes.

Spacetime magic is always the most overpowered, Vasi agreed. Though it is unreliable. As youve seen for yourself, my Hasten spell is exceptionally short on duration not to mention SP intensive.

Basil crossed his arms. I wonder if we could craft an item to help with that.

Speaking of crafting, an idea crossed my mind. Vasi put a hand on her waist. If I understand correctly, you cannot store the Steamobile in your inventory because it counts as a house?

Thats correct, Basil replied before quickly catching on. Ah, I see. I made my house into a Lair, so you think you could do the same with the Steamobile.

My thoughts exactly. Vasi smiled. Now that I metamorphosed, your Lair II ability allows me to select one. I was thinking of equipping our humble steel caravan with crafting, spellcasting, and experience boosters.

Dont forget the loot boost feature either, Shellgirl chimed in. Well make a killing from long-distance shipping.

Sure, more bonuses are always good on the road, Basil said right as he received a notification. With dawn rising on the horizon, the Halloween event was officially over.

Congratulations, for surviving the [Halloween] event! We hope to see you participate in the future [Christmas], [New Year], [Easter], [Valentine's Day] and [Summer Break] seasonal events too! Great rewards await you!

Will they make a fighting tournament on every popular holiday? Basil wondered if that included national festivals too, though he doubted it. It would give too much of an advantage to one country. Still, he wondered what each season held in store for him. If the Easter boss is a murderous rabbit, Ill throw in the towel.

Your Guild accumulated 45,554 Ghost Candies. Youve earned the following Rewards:10,000 Reward: Unlocked the Halloween skin redesign option for your dungeons.20,000 Reward: Halloween Crafting Item. Option selected: [Jekyll & Stein].30,000 Reward: Halloween Equipment Set. Option selected: [Hallowitch Robes].40,000 Reward: Guild Players each unlocked a Halloween-themed Class.Halloween Class unlocked for you: [Deathknight] (Fighter/Monster Hybrid class).

The ghost candy mountain in the courtyard disappeared in a puff of smoke. Two new items materialized in its place: a large black book with a stylized version of Da Vincis Vitruvian Man on the cover and a folded dress topped by a witch hat.

Seeing a hill of delicacies shrinking into these two tiny items left Shellgirl disappointed. Wait, thats all? she asked. A book and a dress? Wheres the gold? The diamond pumpkins?!

Dismaker Labs does not offer prize refunds.

Quality over quantity, Basil replied as he picked up the book. He expected a sinister tome of human flesh penned with blood, but it was made of good paper instead. He flipped the pages to stare at human diagrams, potion recipes, and steampunk schematics.

Jekyll & SteinFamily: Crafting ManualQuality: AA crafting recipe collection including entries from respectable British scientists such as Dr. Jekyll (ghostwritten by Mr. Hyde), Victor Frankenstein, Van Helsing, and the Invisible Man. Contains dozens of alchemical recipes, guidelines to build flesh golems, and everything to build your mad science lab. If you dont laugh maniacally at least once in its possession, you truly dont deserve this book.

Nice, a Victorian horror science compendium. Basil always wanted one for Christmas.

Reading this book filled his heart with the urge to craft. Basil had ignored the Alchemist class since the house's destruction, but the Steamobile was large enough to house a mobile lab. It shouldnt be too hard. Drug dealers did it all the time.

As for the dress

Hallowitch RobesFamily: Clothing (Dress).Quality: BEffect 1: [Spell Duration +]: Doubles the duration of spells cast by the wearer, whether they are buffs, ailments, or lingering effects.Effect 2: [Spell Range +]: Doubles the range of spells cast by the wearer.Effect 3: [Gremory]: The dress will automatically adapt to the wielders body shape and gender.An Halloween-themed witch garment woven from spider silk and the hair of naughty children (harvested by the Boogeyman association using eco-responsible methods). The hat is magically enchanted to always stick to the wearer as long as they wear the dress, no matter the weather conditions. This gown will make kids weep and adults scream with joy!

Vasis eyes burned with greed. Basil suspected she had seen the items stats. Basil, do you mind if

Yes, you can keep it, Basil replied with a shrug. She was the only one with decent spellcasting abilities in the team, so who else could wear it?

No take-backs! Vasi immediately grabbed the dress before Basil could change his mind. He suddenly realized why she got along so well with Shellgirl.

Ohohoho, girl time! Shellgirl clapped her hands. Ive found jewels that will make you look dashing with these new clothes!

A mimic after my own heart, Vasi replied with enthusiasm.

Basil watched the two with amusement before analyzing his newly unlocked class. Considering its hybrid nature similar to Technomancer, it was probably unusually powerful.

Deathknight: A fearsome black knight class with deadly melee abilities and lordship over night creatures. STR (A), AGI (B), VIT (B), SKI (B), MAG (B), INT (C), CHA (A), LCK (B).

Basil wasnt sure what to make of this new addition to his repertoire. It sounded quite useful, but he was dedicated to Tamer for now and Deathknight didnt sound like a respectable occupation. If anything, he would rather become a Paladin.

But since beggars couldnt be choosers, Basil would question Vasi about the class later. Perhaps she heard of it in her world.

Basil set his class progression questions aside to check on Ronald. The burger was supervising his troops from the ramparts as they cleaned up the corpses outside the walls; those that Rosemarine hadnt eaten already at least. Since not all of them turned into candies, Basil assumed they rose on their own rather than through the events power.

Everything good? Basil asked.

Castle safe, King Basil, the burger monster said with a belch. Good experience, kitchen safe, soldiers strong.

Ill entrust this place to you then. Basil glanced at the rising dawn. Its brilliance reflected on the Steamobile and Rosemarines scales. The tropidrake rested for the time being, her scales absorbing the sunlight for the journey ahead. Weve delayed our departure until Vasi could complete her ritual, but now now we must go.

Bordeaux and Kalki awaited.

The Bohens left the dungeon at noon.

As Bugsy and Plato loaded the last of their supplies aboard the Steamobile, Basil finished attaching its harness to Rosemarines back. It felt strangely heavy; not because of its weight, but because of what this action represented.

The end of a journey and the beginning of another.

Basil looked at the marshes with a mix of longing and nostalgia. He had called the region his home for years. It held as much of a place in his heart as his native Bulgaria.

And somehow, although it was a teleportation button away Basil had the feeling he wouldnt see it again for many, many months.

Goodbye, my queen! Ronald declared from atop the walls. A dozen fire seeds wept embers at the sight. We shall await your triumphant return!

I will return atop a bridge of corpses, or not at all! Rosemarine swore.

Are we ready to go? Plato asked Basil.

Almost. Basil faced the walls and shouted. Vasi! Shellgirl! We need to go!

Coming! The two women emerged from the dungeon with a cadre of Lycan warriors after them.

Shellgirl dragged her treasure shell across the ground with one hand. Much like Vasi, she took the opportunity to dress up a bit by putting on rings, golden bracelets, and a shell necklace. Basil suspected that she pilfered most of them from Baron Lalandes bedroom. These items all looked nice individually, but Shellgirl put on so much that it became downright vulgar.

Vasi, though, was the very picture of elegance. The Halloween witch costume she wore was an elegant black gown falling down to her ankles, with long sleeves and a feather partlet covering her shoulders. Golden lines woven into the fabric formed a spiderweb motif all over the dress. A dark blue corset fit her curves perfectly and exposed her cleavage. A witch hat sat atop her groomed hair, tastefully hiding her ram horns under its shadow, and a red ruby necklace glowed around her neck.

Like what you see? Vasi teased him.

You look great, Basil complimented her. He couldnt wait to see her blasting monsters apart into her finery.

Great? Are you kidding? Vasi looks dashing! Shellgirls enthusiasm suddenly turned to sourness. Hey wait, no compliment for me? Look at all the gold I put on!

You look like a Newmont ad, Basil replied pitilessly. Your appearance screams Nouveau Riche.

Im sure she shines in the dark, Plato mused.

I told you it was too bling-bling, Vasi whispered. Shellgirl crossed her arms in response. Oh come on, dont sulk over it.

Im not sulking, Im suffering, Shellgirl grumbled. It would all fit together if I had a crown.

If you have time to complain, youve got time to climb into the giant snails shell, Basil said. Weve got a long drive ahead of us.

Of course, of course, Vasi replied softly. She climbed into the Steamobile like Cendrillon in her carriage while looking like Maleficent. Basil missed his Disney movies.

Basil sensed Bugsys eyes on his back and frowned at the centimagma. What? he asked.

Ill never stop believing, Bugsy replied with a strange form of determination. Never.

Basil had no idea what he meant, and he wasnt sure if he wanted to understand at all. Uh, okay I guess?

Alright boys, remember my lessons! Shellgirl coached the lycans one last time before departure. Be polite, be professional, build trust! A happy customer is a buying customer!

Can we eat them if theyre disagreeable? a lycan asked. Apparently Shellgirl designated him and others as her new employees.

Only if they attack you first, Shellgirl replied. Verbal attacks dont count!

The wolf-men groaned in disappointment. Basil suddenly wondered if sending bloodthirsty monsters trading across the countryside in his Guilds name truly was a good idea. Any incident would reflect on him.

Well, too late to change it now. He had given his word to Shellgirl and would trust her judgment.

Basil climbed on the Steamobile last. Rosemarine, onward!

Yes, Mister! the tropidrake answered before walking away. The Steamobile creaked as Rosemarine dragged it across Chteau Muloups bridge of stone and the road beyond. Basil and co waved goodbye to the rest of the Guild from the vehicle's back, until the dungeon disappeared from view.

The two groups would remain in contact through the messaging, but it might be a long while before they met in the flesh again.

I cant shake the feeling Ive forgotten something. Basil always felt that way when he went on a trip. At least I double-checked my toothbrush this time.

Reminder: you have a new video feed in your Logs. It will provide a hint for the Lotus of Remembrance Main Quest.

Basil winced at the notification. The Soyuzs camera still remained in his inventory alongside all of its dark secrets.

Basil opened his System Logs. The submenu included a board for quests, a guild messagery box, a bestiary for registered monsters and a file folder with a notification. Basil clicked on it and checked the only video available. Its title was short, but ominous.

Video Feed: Dismaker Labs board meeting.

Basil clenched his jaw and went looking for a mattress. This time, he would follow Captain Valentinos advice and sit comfortably before playing the recording.

He had the feeling he was in for a hell of a ride.