*Ding!*
You have completed the special event: Revive the fruit!
Reward received: 1000 World Reputation
You have received a follow-up special event: Ripening the Fruit!
Rewards: Fruit of Evolution, +5000 World Reputation points
Failure Penalty: Loss of the fruit, -5000 World Reputation points, Selena's eternal resentment.
Conditions for Success: Complete the ripening of the Evolution Fruit; keep it safe.
Conditions for Failure: Fail to ripen the fruit, Lose the fruit, Fruit gets destroyed.
Description: You have successfully reawakened the fruit from its deep slumber. Now, it yearns for sustenance. Failure to provide with Aether to ripen will cause it to decay and rot forever.
The reawakening of the fruit so close to ripeness has caused the beasts in the immediate vicinity to enter into a frenzy. Defend the fruit as you feed it, lest it get stolen. Don't let enemies damage the fruit during its growth, or it will shatter and be lost.
Timer before the fruit starts rotting: 4:50
Aether required to ripen: 492,254/500,000
Quest cannot be declined. Good luck, player Astaroth!
**
"Shit! Fuck!" Astaroth cursed as he realized his mistake.
His lack of planning was once again kicking him in the balls. But he had no time to lament.
He could already feel the ground rumbling above him from the monsters rushing their way. And he knew there would be more than they could handle.
Especially since he had to maintain the feeding of the fruit.
But even then, he didn't know how to do that. He had nowhere near enough Aether to finish the ripening, even if he melded with Luna and activated Royal Protection.
Astaroth felt a large part of his remaining mana drain out as the dragon forcibly exited the confines of his soul.
He watched in horror as a massive form of light engulfed the room, thinking she would crush the fruit and fail his quest.
But the light shrunk instantly, reaching the size of a person only slightly bigger than Violette.
As the light faded, Astaroth saw a woman take its place, hair black and skin of alabaster, with eyes greener than emeralds. She was wearing a black and green kimono-style dress and held two thin needles dripping with greenish liquid in her hands.
Every time the drops hit the stone ground, a sizzle would echo, and smoke would rise as the stone melted.
"What the fuck?" Astaroth said, his mind reeling in confusion.
"I know you've never seen this form of mine, but now is not the time to gawk. Get to work 'Master'" Shegror said, dripping the last word with mocking.
Astaroth shook his head. She was right.
He could tell it was really Shegror by the tether between them, anyway. So he didn't have a reason to worry.
But his true challenge still awaited him. How in the hell was he supposed to feed this fruit with almost eight thousand points of Aether?
***
Above the ground, another figure appeared that was here to help.
"I recognize this place. This is where Selena used to hole up. This is bad. I can smell the fruit inside. What was this idiot thinking, pulling out an Evolution Fruit so far in monster territory..." Leon spat, looking at the monsters rushing a small cave entrance not far from him.
The monsters were ignoring him, as their minds were locked on the enchanting smell that came from the cave's mouth. Even Leon had trouble keeping his mind clear.
But he knew he had to defend the cave. So he did what he did best.
*RRROOOAAARRR!!!*
The ground shook, the trees quivered, leaves falling from them, and the beasts all around him halted in fear.
"That's right, you brainless shits! That fruit isn't yours to consume! Come at me if you want to feed on it!"
A cacophony of roars, wails, screeches, and other monstrous sounds echoed in response as a part of the monster hoard hooked towards the new threat to their evolution.
'This'll have to do. I hope you have something planned, Astaroth. Hah! Who am I kidding? Of course, you don't. But I know you'll pull through,' Leon thought, reading for an intense fight.