36 Jobs

Ashes fell like snow lit by blue flames licking at what few trees survived the withering and initial fight. Ignoring the heat, the antechamber that once housed a jungle resembled a winter wonderland. The swirling waves of heat gathered the ashes in the center molding them into a fluffy hill. When the doors opened all that heat and ash had only one way to go.

I turned my head to see four shields turn white from the ash. The other darklings weren't so lucky. Their bodies were covered in ash. I expected to hear an outburst but there was only silence. That was sad.

Still not an ounce of praise from any of them. Star would already be cheering. I missed her.

None of the mind flayers made things better. The stuffy mind flayers seemed a bit put out about losing their advantage. I couldn't blame them. Holding a rank and level over your enemies must be a good feeling.

Unfortunately, in every situation where I had the advantage in power and level, my enemies had numbers. That probably wouldn't change any time soon. Still a thought occurred to me. We were within a dome of protection.

It was only speculation at this point, but I was certain that I could make things harder on Dol. Using random encounter was a double-edged sword but it could distract him. Summoning enemies might just bring the tower down on me instead of causing trouble for Dol. I had two system level ups worth of character levels stored. While the others cleaned up I leveled my system.

Jacob lvl3 system

System Skill Tree Unlocked

Points: 2

Job Tree

Basic Jobs: Acquire jobs that enhance learning potential of the job class and grants bonus stats.

Cost: 1

Items Tree

Weapon Levels: Weapons can gain levels and boost their stats like players.

Cost: 1

Character Tree

Proficiency Skills Level: Skills like Sword Proficiency, Magic Proficiency, Crafting Proficiency, and ETC level.

This was incredible. It was better than I'd ever expected. Why hadn't I leveled before? There were a lot of reasons. Leveling put pressure on processing speeds. Which wasn't an issue with my enhanced coding. I had two points which meant I could open two trees or double up in one tree.

Jobs required a lot of study. Every ten levels they give a perk until lvl100. Then they gave a new perk at lvl500, one at 1000, and a final one at 9999. The few players who reach lvl9999 in a job could be counted on fingers.

There were also the sexual jobs, but I'd need a lot of levels to get one of those. It would be worth it. I needed a lot of free stat points. Jobs made players into heroes.

Then there were skills. Fucking Proficiency wouldn't be a bad addition. Sword Proficiency would make Diabla happy. Skills like jobs could increase to 9999 but it was rare. Skill levels granted effect bonuses that often scaled with stats. There were a few mages who could warp reality itself and even shatter planets. Those beasts were thankfully too busy fighting gods and arch demons to interfere with me. Some simply crafted worlds or created their own dungeons. Being a powerful player meant freedom and responsibility.

Weapon levels would make Diabla stronger. Every 10 levels would grant her a perk. Weapons that reached 9999 were forces beyond understanding. They were swords that cut conceptually, bullets that killed ideas, and hammers once swung could shatter worlds. Unfortunately, weapon levels were a scavenger hunt. I'd need time and a dedicated hideout before I started looking.

At every level a player can roll for jobs. Those jobs rolled would be added to the job list. Some jobs must be learned before higher tiered ones acquired. Jobs didn't grant knowledge. They improved based on the effort of an individual. Mentors increased the speed of learning jobs.

I placed a point in the job and skill tree.

Ping!

Rolling for Jobs…

Tier 1

Roll: 15 + 21.52 = 36.52

Jobs: Womanizer, Mage, Salesman

Roll: 20 + 21.52 = 41.52

Jobs: Trickster, Cultivator, Warlock

I equipped the Warlock and felt the job wash through my system.

Jacob lvl50 Black Sol Imp

Job: Warlock lvl1 – +1 INT +1 END Per Level. A magician that consorts with demons for power. To increase this job's level, communicate, consort, and connive with demons.

That made things significantly easier. I turned from my reverie to see Doppel charging at me.

She took me into a tight hug. "Are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?" I wondered, was asking for another blowjob was out of the question. A cough from Rudalpho on loud speaker answered that.

I sighed and she put me back on the ground. "My Lady while it is good that your darkling managed to slay Zet this mission of diplomacy has failed." Rudalpho said.

"Then it is war." I said.

Rudalpho gasped at my words. He pointed at me as if I'd shat on the carpet. "My lady you can't allow a ling to speak out to its betters. No matter how helpful he has been, there are appearances that must be kept. If it pleases you, I'll whip him immediately. Ten lashes are the normal punishment for such outbursts." Rudalpho said.

Diabla hovered beside me with her arms crossed tapping her shoulder. "Well this has been a shit show. I say we kill him and continue with this little war of ours." Diabla said.

"Nonsense, he has protected us while we were weak and followed my orders. If any darkling has the right to voice their opinion, then it is him." Tyrannus turned to me. "What is your opinion of our situation?" Rudalpho wanted to voice his protest but a crackle from Elena's lightning stopped him.

The noble Illithid looked to me then to the white lightning dancing across Elena's fingers. It didn't take a genius to figure out what would come next. Rudolpha didn't voice his opinion.

Doppel placed a hand on my shoulder and nodded. "We don't know if we escape the wards. Claudia," I tasted the words on my tongue. The name wasn't a bad one. "Could be kept below the tower or Dol could keep her prisoner at the top. He has a plan, and the lives of his people mean nothing. These wards cut the level of those of the knight rank regardless of species. I only received half the normal xp when I killed Zet." I said the words as calmly and succinctly as I could.

"By the Great Ancestors this isn't a diplomatic mission at all." Rudalpho yelled.

"Are you sure about the xp? Is it possible that you miscalculated?" Tyrannus asked.

I shook my head. The air shimmered around Tyrannus. Despite his drop in level the weight of Tyrannus's presence was powerful. His aura was many times greater than my own.

"It seems they've figured out that this is a ritual. I guess when you're used to being top dog, its humbling to be made to sit." Diabla said.

"What are we going to do now? Leaving them alive isn't an option." Doppel said.

"We're going to move fast. Ranking up takes time and he'll be weak afterwards. Even if he can keep his levels, we can force him to make a mistake." I said.

Tyrannus seemed to pull himself together. "Speed might be the only advantage we can take. Even a Duke can be slain with the right ambush." Tyrannus said.

Rudalpho's tentacles waved in displeasure. "Maybe if we were at our full levels it would be possible. We don't know if the wards are inescapable. Three knight rank citizens can break any ward a gobling creates. Denying him levels and rescuing my wife to be takes priority. That is why we're here. You know that Tyrannus." Rudalpho said.

"What if you can't? Claudia might be within easy reach but that may be part of his plan as well. We might get her only to lose our only chance to beat him." I said.

"Truly you are a darkling, selfish, egotistical, and battle hungry those are the sins of your race and the reason you're a slave." I thought about bringing my sword down on him. Once swing was all it would take to end him. It would be fast. Tyrannus wouldn't be able to keep up.

My mind whirled back to her. The one I met who ran from her family was worth saving. This was a trap. Dol wouldn't let us go because he needs us to kill his people.

That made me think. Who was Dol really? There was no way we'd get out of here without fighting him. I think he wanted to fight us too. Rescuing Gwen wouldn't change that.

"Fine, we'll save Claudia first." I pulled the black key from my ring and walked to the gate leading into the tower. The key slid into place and turned. Gears ground within the door before it opened. Cold air blasted into Zet's boss room. I sensed more clearly into the tower and didn't like it. Xp was flowing all around the tower and up to Dol. This entire place was nothing more than an xp farm.

Small goblings crawled in through the opening with swords for arms. They growled and leapt down. I slashed without thinking bisecting them. Their blood covered the ground and Doppel stepped forward. Her tentacles quickly pried open their skulls before she sucked them dry. Her xp didn't go to Dol at least. Minutes after the bodies touched the tower floor black lightning flashed up and the bodies dissolved.

"5 minutes," Tyrannus said.