Chapter 6: 6. Rewards Granted

A notification rang in my ears as I quickly scrambled to my feet and turned around to see a bloody scene behind me.

Ding!

5 XP Gained

I ignored the number for a moment and just focused on what was left of the Little Maw.

There was just it’s hide and lower part of its body.

Grandpa practically bisected the Little Maw with one hit. Leaving a tangled mess of blood and guts in the middle of its body.

His hardened bones were really showing their usefulness at that moment.

I stared at the mess a few moments longer then took a look at the quest counter that calmly floated in the corner of my vision.

Only now did I realize that it was practically hidden during the craziness I just went through, but I could see it quite clearly now that I was out of battle.

Neat feature.

1. Kill Three Little Maws. (1/6)

Alright this is good. Five more times and we-

“Fred Williams.”

Ah shit.

“…Yes Grandpa?”

“Come here.”

Grandpa had his hand on his face as he spoke, pinching at his thoroughly furrowed brows.

But I walked over towards him anyway.

Once I was next to him, Grandpa lifted his large hands and placed them on my shoulder.

“You know what you did?”

“Yes Sir.”

“You understand that there will be consequences right?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Alright…good.”

After saying that, he pulled me into a tight bear bug. I hugged him back until he was satisfied and we separated.

Grandpa rarely talked like that to any of his grandkids, but while he spoiled us a lot, there was always a line we knew not to cross. Grandpa was every much a jokester as he was a strict and serious man.

Something my dad, my aunts and uncles know very well.

I knew I crossed his line but it was worth it and he knows that too.

“You did good back there Freddy, but you scared the shit out of me, and because of that I’m definitely telling your mother you were cursing, no if ands or buts about it.

“In the meantime. I gained 25XP from that kill. Did you get any?”

Ignoring the small feeling of dread in my stomach from hearing he’s going to tell my mom I cursed, I looked back at the notification I saw earlier.

“Only 5XP for me.”

“So while you didn’t actively fight the thing, you still get a bit because you helped with the kill. Interesting.

“Well, I’m almost to level 2 which I assume will give me a boost and make it easier to kill the remaining five.”

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Grandpa paused for a moment and furrowed his brows once more. I knew what he was about to say, and he knew that I knew what he was about to say.

Doesn’t mean he liked it though.

“Think you can do that five more times Freddy? You can say no, and don’t you worry, if one of them even looks like it’s about to bite I will dive in after you in a heartbeat. You know that.”

“I’m good to go Grandpa. I can do it.”

And boy did I do it.

I dived back into the water five more times and successfully made it out all five times. Honestly I was definitely nervous with each dive and had to spend more than just a few minutes resting in between them, but the Little Maws behaved the exact same way each time and that helped.

Dive in, don’t even bother trying to look around for where they were, and immediately swim back up.

They came and attacked without fail each time.

By now Grandpa was level 3 and I was a little over halfway to level 2. I wanted to gather some XP too but there was no need to rush, as long as one of us was getting stronger then that was good for now.

Plus Grandpa’s stats had gone up with each level and it was getting easier and easier for him to kill the Little Maws.

Which brings us to the current situation.

Clear Conditions Met

1. Kill Three Little Maws. (6/6)

Dungeon Cleared!

Top Contributor: Lance Williams

Rewards Granted!

Dungeon Closes: 00:29:59

I know without a shadow of a doubt that Grandpa is never going to let me live down the fact he was top contributor for as long as he can remember that he did it, but I won’t bother myself with that for now.

Rewards were granted after all.

Ding!

400XP Granted!

Ding!

[Level +3]

1x Mawskin Pouch

Just like that I gained three levels just for completing the Dungeon and was now Level 4. And something that for some reason shocked me more than the existence of a Dungeon was the fact a little black pouch quite literally materialized on the ground in front of me.

One second nothing was there, then another second a few white lights appeared and came together to form the little pouch. One that did its name justice and seemed to be made out of the skin of the Little Maws.

There was nothing special about it, just a small pouch.

But there was another surprise to be had.

And it came in the form of my status.

Status

Name: Fred Williams

Born World: Earth (ENWPI70059)

Race: Human

Age: 17

Grade: F

Level: 4

XP: 111/237

Stat Points: 6

Traits

Trait 1: Oxygen Efficient Lungs (Rooted)

Trait 2: Locked

Trait 3: Locked

Class

Current Class: None

Class Grade: N/A

Class Rarity: N/A

Skills: N/A

Attributes

Strength: 5

Dexterity: 5

Vitality: 5

Endurance: 5

Mana: 5

Willpower: 5

Perception: 5

Intelligence: 5

A new line was added to my status sheet. Stat Points, and I apparently had 6 of them to allocate. I think it would be safe to assume that I got 2 with each level I just gained.

Of course, this was something Grandpa failed to mention when he gained his levels earlier. I thought all of his stats we were just going up together, but I see now that I was wrong.

And the best thing I about it, there was no need to think too hard about where to allocate these points. I could sit here all day thinking about the best position to put them, but any place I put them would be an improvement I think, so let’s just focus on what would help me right now.

I doubt one of Grandpa’s rewards will turn out to be a new boat so we will likely have to keep swimming back.

Three points to endurance, two to strength, and one to vitality.

The second I confirmed my selections, my body immediately felt particularly warm all over.

Almost hot.

It honestly felt good when you consider all of the swimming I’ve been doing recently, I have feeling that waiting to allocate a bunch of stat points all at once will likely result in some serious heat. Something I probably should avoid.

Anyway that was where all my gains ended for this dungeon. All in all, I’m leaving stronger and better equipped for a long swim then when I came in so I can’t complain.

Now for Grandpa, who’s just been staring at something in front of him. I’m guessing his own status screen.

“Well level did you reach Grandpa?”

“Hm? Oh yea I reached level 5.”

He was barely focused on me and only answering absentmindedly and his brows were deeply furrowed.

Is he trying to allocate his stat points?

“What’s got your brows in a twister Grandpa?”

…

“Grandpa?”

“Oh sorry, I have to select a class.”

Did he just say a class?!

“Wait like a warrior or a mage and things like that?”

“Yeah pretty much, but there’s a few more than that…”