Chapter Ninety-Two - Making Friends at the Next Level

Chapter Ninety-Two - Making Friends at the Next Level

Chapter Ninety-Two - Making Friends at the next Level

It was only an hour later, when we had pulled away from the valley and settled into a spot with some sandy grass where we could pitch our tents, that I finally found the energy and will to check on my notifications.

Not that much will. The days adventure had taken its toll, and I was weary to the bone... and yet I was also energized? It was probably all that excess mana from the dungeons core room. It was supposed to be dangerous, though I didnt know the details on why and how.

So, I laid back on a blanket, Awen tucked against my side and completely knocked out, Amaryllis on my other side with her head tucked in her armpit with only the occasional choo to show that she was alive.

Moon Moon had insisted on staying up all night, and we were too tired to argue against his generosity.

Alright Mister Menu, I whispered before letting out a yawn. Show me what weve got.

Quest Complete!

The world thanks you for your sacrifice!

That made sense. No reward again. Not unless Miss Menu was serious about the living thing. Wed see, I guessed.

Path of Broken Reflections Dungeon Core Destroyed!

You have gained: Four General Points

Just the four? Two more than the Wonderland dungeon. Still, that got me up to six total. I could get a skill up to... Rank B. Or I could get a bunch of general skills to Rank C. That was something.

That was a lot of something. I could imagine that people at higher levels like Abraham had a lot of general skills, and all of them would be stuck at rank D. Suddenly getting five skills to rank C would unlock a whole pile of new abilities.

I yawned.

Quest Update!

Pruning the Evil

Evil Roots Remain! Dungeons across Dirt are Infected! Destroy them!

And that was still a thing. Meh.

I brought up my skill sheet and ran over it at a glance.

Name Broccoli Bunch Race Human (Riftwalker) First Class Cinnamon Bun First Class Level

9

Age

16

Health

125

Stamina

135

Mana

115

Resilience

35

Flexibility

40

Magic

20

Skills Rank Cinnamon Bun Skills Cleaning A - 02% Jumping C - 100% Gardening D - 24% Cute D - 100% Dancing F - 87% General Skills ` Insight C - 62% Makeshift Weapon Proficiency D - 49% Archeology F - 62% Friendmaking D - 100% Physical Manakinesis F - 49% Skill points

2

General Skill Points

5

I was doing pretty good, I figured. I shifted around on my bedroll, pulled Awen closer because she was warm and liked cuddles, then I pulled the blankets so that they bunched up under my chin. As soon as I closed my eyes the world faded away.

***

Wake up moron, the suns up.

Mmm no.

Someone huffed. It had to be Amaryllis, she was the best at huffing.

I will test out my new thunder slap skill on you if you dont get a move on.

That was scary, but I had an infallible defence.

I pulled my blanket over my head. Now nothing could hurt me.

The blanket was ripped away. I had to squeeze my eyes super tight so that the brighter light wouldnt burn them. Ugh, I said. Why?

For all that Amaryllis claimed not to be in a hurry, she could certainly talk a whole lot about how best to spend the points she didnt want to spend yet.

Im going to put one point into Friendmaking, I said.

Amaryllis paused and tilted her head to the side. I... suppose that isnt an awful idea.

It might come in handy soon too, I said as I pointed out ahead of us.

Way, way off in the distance were a bunch of people. They would have been impossible to spot were it not for their yellow and black clothes that made them stand out on the green and blue horizon. They were far enough away that it would take a while to get to them though.

Amaryllis squinted ahead, then brought her new goggles up to her eyes. Cant Observe them properly from this far away.

I shrugged and opened Mister Menu with a flourish. My Friendmaking skill was maxed out, so...

Congratulations! Friendmaking is now Rank C!

Friendmaking

Rank C - 00%

The ability to make friends. As you practice this skill your ability to make friends will improve. You are now able to see what people desire in a friend, their dreams and hopes for the future!

Ohh, I said. Neat! I can see what people want now.

Amaryllis nodded. Knowing what someone wants is the first step to getting them to do what you want.

And its one of the best ways to make them your friend, I added.

Sure.

I grinned at Amaryllis. Im gonna use it on you, alright?

Go ahead, Amaryllis said.

I focused on her, then pouted as nothing happened. Maybe it was like insight? Friendmaking? Nothing. What are your dreams? Nada. Hi! Wanna be friends?

Amaryllis Albatross

Desired Quality: Someone who will validate her

Dream: To have her family and clan be proud of her

Aww, I said before glomping Amaryllis. Id validate you anytime!

Get off me, you dumb brute! Amaryllis squawked.

Not until you know how much you matter to me! I shouted right back.

She started buzzing and tickling me with little electrical shocks. I giggled and let go, my arms and sides tingling with fuzzy electrical energy, like rolling on a carpet while wearing a thick wool sweater.

I turned to Awen next, and her face instantly went red. Awa, if, if you want to do me, thats... its okay, she said.

Awesome! So, do you wanna be my friend?

Awen Bristlecone

Desired Quality: Taller than self. Female. Slightly older than self. Green eyes. Brown hair. Friendly. Adventurous. Outgoing. Cool. Cute.

Dream: To spend the rest of her life in the company of Broccoli Bunch

I stared for a bit, my tummy roiling and tears stinging the corners of my eyes. I didnt glomp Awen. But I did pull her into a big, very tight hug. Thanks Awen, I said.

Awa?

Ill be your friend forever, okay? I said. And when Im older, and Im living in a cute house with my cute husband, and my two cute kids and my cute pets, you can live in the house next to mine, and we can chat and talk and be together until were super old, okay?

Awa...

Guys, as amusing as Broccolis idiocy is to see, I think your attention would be better directed ahead of us, Amaryllis said.

I turned and blinked. The yellow-black people were closer, close enough that we could see them.

Though calling them people was maybe a misnomer.

Giant horse-sized bees were not usually people.

***