Chapter 226 – Cat Dad's Chadness
Xiaomao stared at Ifrit and looked around. Inside was a dark empty area under the purple dome. He didn't find any vendor stall in the safe zone, which was unusual.
"Hello, sir. Are you a guardian of this place?"
Ifrit turned around and flexed his back muscles, "Yes, I am! Wanna know how I get my lats?"
Xiaomao maintained his poker face. He coughed, "By chance, do you have something for sale?"
Hearing the question, Ifrit burst into laughter, "I don't think you can afford it, child. This place was created for the sake of adventuring immortals that got lost in this god-forsaken place. My items might be too strong for you to handle!"
"Ahem, can I see your ware, please?"
Ifrit turned around and crossed his arms around his back. His two massive chest muscles danced.
Looking at Ifrit, Xiaomao thought of Terry Crews. If that celebrity wore an Afro wig, he might look the same as this guy.
DING
Item shop menu appeared in front of Xiaomao. He immediately skimmed through the item list.
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Level-2000 Flame King Full Plate Armor Set (Legendary) – 500 Million PACTs
Level-2000 Flame King Leather Armor Set (Legendary) – 500 Million PACTs
Level-2000 Flame King Mage Robe Set (Legendary) – 500 Million PACTs
Level-2000 Flame King Priest Robe Set (Legendary) – 500 Million PACTs
Level-2000 Flame King Full Coat (Ultra-Rare) – 200 Million PACTs
Level-2000 Flame King Cape (Ultra-Rare - 200 Million PACTs
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The noteworthy items were full set armors. However, the price was extremely expensive. He doubted that any players could even afford one of them.
Aside from these set items, the rest were consumable items and mystery boxes. As Xiaomao kept reading, he noticed something strange. He couldn't find any weapon in this shop.
Even though Xiaomao couldn't find any weapon in the shop, he was in a good mood. He grinned and brought out a coupon that he had gotten from the system.
"Can I use this to purchase your items, munya?"
"NUUUUOOOOOO!!"
Ifrit widened his eyes in shock. He stopped posing. He turned to Xiaomao and gazed at him with a solemn expression.
"T-Those stupid coupons! Where did you get those from?! I thought I got rid of those stupid things!"
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<strong>Discount Coupon for Mermaid Dungeon Vendor</strong>
Once upon a time, a certain King of Fire Spirits fell in love with the Queen of Water Spirits. One day, he proposed to her, and she accepted with a condition – Ifrit had to provide 100 items that she wanted from his clan.
The king could not give her the items right away, so he came up with an idea. He created 100 talismans and imbued them with his blood. They could be used to represent him when the queen visited his kingdom, and she could exchange them for items from his clan. Moreover, because of his love, he formed a contract that these coupons could force him to give her any item in his possession.
Noticing the King's dedication, the Queen accepted his proposal and they got married. The King and Queen lived happily after.
The End.
<strong>Effect:</strong> Can only be used in Mermaid Dungeon's Safe Zone Vendor. Can be exchanged for any item in the safe zone shop.
',
<strong>*[Cathulhu Instinct]:</strong> Plot Twist – They were divorced, and she ran away with the items and some coupons. Probably got his house too since he's homeless.
<strong>*[Foresight]:</strong> Lesson from the story - Trust no gold digger.
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Xiaomao inwardly laughed at Ifrit. He didn't know why he acted this way. But if he had to guess, the Queen probably scammed him, and these coupons were the remnants of that event.
Feeling bad for the poor dude, Xiaomao asked about his background.
"I can see the description of the coupon, munya. Did the woman scam you?"
Ifrit sat on his butt and hugged his knees. He sobbed, "She betrayed me. I really loved her, but she said that I was too good for her. She eloped with Poseidon long ago."
"But I heard Poseidon is already dead, munya."
"He is already reincarnated. That woman, too. I bet they're still living together."
"… My condolence, munya."
Hearing Ifrit's side of the story, Xiaomao understood what happened to this poor spirit king.
Ifrit looked at Xiaomao with puppy eyes, begging him to show him mercy without uttering a word.
DING
[Cathulhu Instinct]: Be kind to him.
[Foresight]: This is the turning point. Humility is the key.
Even without their advice, Xiaomao had no intention of bullying him. Xiaomao came up with another idea.
"I have 10 coupons with me, munya," Xiaomao showed the items.
Ifrit flinched, and he rechecked the items in his store. He shed manly tears and slowly brought out everything from his inventory.
"My parents always taught me that only true friends will extend their hands to help me when I'm at the lowest point of my life while the rest will abandon me. And I agree with that teaching, munya."
Xiaomao placed the coupons on the ground in front of Ifrit.
"This belongs to you, and I'm returning them, munya."
"!!!"
The Afro fire king looked at Xiaomao in disbelief.
"In the case that they force you to give me something in return, give me anything that you don't need or don't want. I don't mind if it's a pebble, munya."
"NUUUUUOOOOO!!"
Suddenly, Ifrit stood up and cried a rainbow tear, "SUCH A SWEET CHILD! THIS IS THE PUREST FORM OF CHADNESS!!"
RUMBLE
The safe zone trembled and the atmosphere changed. From a dark and gloomy space within a purple dome, it transformed into a bright palace, decorated with ruby gems and red roses.
Crimson fluid gushed out of the fountain behind Xiaomao. The bonfire earlier transformed into a small shrine on a pedestal, and a sculpture of a muscular man was inside.
Ifrit's physical form also changed. He turned into a massive humanoid flame giant. He no longer had legs as his lower body became one with fire. As for the upper parts, he looked as muscular as ever.
Xiaomao looked up and broke a sweat. The fire king's aura drastically changed, and his playful air was gone.
Ifrit crossed his arms and brightly smiled.
"To be honest, I already noticed that you had those coupons on you when you stepped inside my domain. I was planning to give you fake items in case you got too greedy. But since you've shown me your CHADNESS and MANLIEST KINDNESS, I'll bestow you something better than the items in my shop!"
Ifrit clapped his hands and ten fire fairies manifested from thin air. They each carried a box, and they placed them down on the ground.
Ten boxes were opened at once, and the items came out.
'
One of them was a small crimson droplet. It moved around aimlessly like a firefly for a moment before it suddenly flew into Xiaomao's third eye.
DING
<You have received the Fire Spirit King's blessing.>
<You have obtained a new add-on skill – Blessing of Flame Chad!>
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<strong>Blessing of Flame Chad</strong>
Once a chad, forever a chad! Fire Spirit King Ifrit has granted a blessing that boosts your fire resistance and affinity. It's a simple blessing but very necessary to build your foundation for the future.
<strong>Skill Type:</strong> Passive
<strong>Rarity:</strong> Legendary
<strong>Effects:</strong>
- Grant fire element immunity. Upon getting attacked by fire spells or skills, restore your HP, MP, and Qi instead.
- Fire element spells and attacks are 500% stronger.
- For each point allocated to fire spiritual roots, increase it by five instead of one.
<strong>*[Cathulhu Instinct]:</strong> A freaking sea folk with fire immunity… I wonder how your ancestor will react if they learn about this.
<strong>*[Foresight]:</strong> Worth it!
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This blessing alone was enough to replace the god-like items. Five times the fire spiritual roots and 500% fire attack damage was what Xiaomao really needed.
Xiaomao imagined the power of his shaman fireball. He wondered what kind of destruction would follow if he spammed this spell.
The gifts were far from over. The other nine boxes contained nine types of goodies.
The second box contained a pouch. The fire spirit carried it closer to Xiaomao and opened the pouch to display its content.
It was a spatial pouch that hid a massive room inside. It carried a mountain of spirit stones in there!
The third box was also another pouch, but it had PACT tokens. The fourth contained essence cores that level-400 players required.
The fifth box was different. It was a golden scroll that emitted rainbow light.
Xiaomao picked it up, and Ifrit smirked.
"That is the teleportation deed of my palace! By chance, if you become a landlord or a dungeon master, you can teleport my whole palace to the designated place! If you want me to be a resident of your dungeon, so be it! If you need me to join your kingdom, I'll do so!"
"WHAAAT?!"
Undine overheard the conversation. She held her head and dropped her jaw in shock.
Ifrit smirked at Undine. He flexed his side abs, "I'm done with your dungeon, stupid mermaid! I'm moving out!"
Undine didn't reply. Her eyes gleamed for a moment before she turned around. Her shoulders trembled while she covered her mouth.
Xiaomao looked back. No matter how he saw it, Undine was holding back her laughter. He turned to Ifrit and guessed what the girl was thinking. He kept quiet and looked at the next gift.
The sixth box was another pouch. Inside, Xiaomao saw a mountain of ruby-like raw gems.
<strong>[Fire Spirit King's Blood]</strong>
"…"
Xiaomao didn't know why Ifrit gave him crystallized blood, but he kept them for now. He thought of Andrew and Peter, wondering if those dwarves could use them to craft something useful.
The seventh box offered a weapon at long last. It was a fancy-looking jade-white broad sword that endlessly ejected white flame.