86
Chapter 86
The Master of the Lake gifted us a pink Natural Mana Stone through the frog.
And it had already been sending them for three days in a row.
So we began our counterattack.
We decided to send a return gift to the Master of the Lake through the frog as well.
We decided the return gift would be the White Natural Mana Stone, the most precious resource in our Dungeon.
We had received a precious Natural Mana Stone capable of a Level Up, so we couldn't just send a half-hearted gift in return.
The other kids, including Ailee, seemed to have no objections.
They didn't say much even when I gave the White Natural Mana Stone to the frog.
They probably thought I had the final say in how to use the Dungeon's resources.
Since I hold the highest ownership stake in the Dungeon.
Still, if they had objected, I would have reconsidered.
"Receiving something this precious so suddenly is too overwhelming, ribbit..."
The frog made a troubled expression.
Hehe, do you understand how we feel a little bit now?
This is what it means to put yourself in someone else's shoes!
We also felt incredibly burdened every time we received a gift from you, man!
You cheeky guy, how dare you keep trying to give us gifts!
...Ah, maybe that sounds a bit weird.
Anyway.
The gift wasn't just the White Natural Mana Stone I had just handed over.
The gift box the frog brought.
We filled the box, which was empty after taking out the pink Natural Mana Stone, with our White Natural Mana Stones.
And we handed that box to the frog.
"I-I can't accept this much. Haven't you packed too many, ribbit."
Thwack!
Bear-Bear Punch!
"Why did you hit me all of a sudden, ribbit..."
If you don't want to get hit, just accept my gift nicely.
You don't have the right to refuse anyway.
Like that, the frog was sent back.
After packing the gift for him, we saw him off to the entrance of the Dungeon.
The frog's face, unable to return empty-handed, was the picture of gloom.
Serves you right.
***
I looked up at the sky.
There were nine stars floating on the ceiling.
When there are ten stars, Tosuni and Ailee can proceed with their Limit Breakthrough.
They could try it now, but we are waiting to lower the chances of failing the breakthrough.
It's said that when there are ten stars, a Buff that increases the success rate of the Limit Breakthrough activates throughout this entire space.
So we have to wait patiently.
Because playing it safe is always the best.
But when on earth are they going to shoot the tenth star?
Are they putting more effort into it because it's the last star?
I lowered my head and laid my eyes on the Fox.
"Hehehe! Slurp, slurp!"
"Mama, you are eating too messily. I am going to watch and learn."
"No way! Do not watch and learn! Only I can eat like this! Slurp slurp slurp slurp!!!"
She was greedily and ravenously licking the pink Natural Mana Stone.
No matter how I look at it, she doesn't seem to have any particular thoughts.
Don't tell me she forgot about that star?
No way, that couldn't be it.
Our Fox isn't that stupid.
Still, just in case, I approached the Fox, tapped her head, and pointed at the ceiling.
Fox, when are you going to shoot the last star?
The Fox looked up at the ceiling and blinked with a dumbfounded expression.
"...Ah! I completely forgot!"
...Do you really want to get scolded?
When I glared at her with a fierce expression, the Fox panicked and jumped up from her seat.
"S-Sorry! I will shoot it right away!"
Shoot it right now.
Before a merciless Bear-Bear Punch flies your way.
"Hweeee... hwee, hweeeee...!"
Clenching her fists tight.
The Fox gathered her energy while letting out strange sounds.
"It's, it's, it's coming out!!!"
Plop-!!!
A star popped out from her forehead.
The star rapidly soared into the sky and stopped just below the ceiling.
There were finally ten stars.
The time for Ailee and Tosuni to undergo their Limit Breakthrough had approached.
Seeing the Fox shoot the star, they slowly made their way toward us.
"Huh? Is everything ready now?"
"Wooo?"
Nod nod bear.
You can proceed with the Limit Breakthrough with peace of mind now.
Ah. Before that, I will stack my Luck Buff on you even more.
I transformed both hands into a Dragon head Doll and applied the Luck Buff to them, checking their information one more time before the Limit Breakthrough.
[Servant Vampire lv.30]
┗Pw.90
┗Rnk.Superior
[Domain: Speed]
┗Rank - Uncommon
[Devoted Rabbit Doll lv.30]
┗Pw.90
┗Rnk.Superior
[Domain: Moon]
┗Rank - Legendary
Servant Vampire.
Devoted Rabbit Doll.
If they succeed in the Limit Breakthrough, I look forward to seeing what species both of them will undergo Evolution into.
Honestly, I kind of hope Tosuni doesn't undergo Evolution.
Because her current appearance is the most adorable and cute.
I'm saying this in case of a misunderstanding, but I don't mean I want her to fail the Limit Breakthrough; I mean I want her to do the Limit Breakthrough while maintaining her species.
Because there are cases where the species is maintained even after a Limit Breakthrough.
The Helper told me that last time.
I have no idea what species Ailee will become if she undergoes Evolution.
The Vampire species was an Elite rank, so she'll probably evolve into a different species, right?
I wonder what species exists between a Servant Vampire and a Vampire.
Or perhaps a Rare rank Vampire exists too?
Well, we'll find out the results soon enough.
Thanks to the Fox's other Buff, the Limit Breakthrough wouldn't take too much time.
"Bear Baby, did you apply all the Buffs?"
"Wooo?"
Nod nod bear.
Let's slowly proceed.
Ailee and Tosuni expressed their gratitude to me and the Fox, then sat right down on the spot.
Soon.
Blue Mana flowed out from their bodies.
It covered Ailee and Tosuni respectively, forming a Mana Orb.
Under the ten stars.
The Limit Breakthrough began.
***
Ailee and Tosuni entered their Limit Breakthrough.
Without doing anything in particular,
we crouched nearby and stared blankly at the Mana Orb, waiting for them to wake up.
Hoping they would finish the Limit Breakthrough safely.
Time continued to pass.
Flowing, and flowing.......
While we were waiting endlessly like that.
Earlier than expected, a crack began to form on one of the Mana Orbs.
"Kku-o? That one is cracking!"
"Ho-ehhh! It looks like it's done!!"
"...!"
"Did they succeed? Did they succeed?! Are the Mamas going to look super cool!?"
The first one to start cracking was Ailee's Mana Orb.
There were no changes to Tosuni's Mana Orb yet.
"Kku-o-o! It's collapsing!"
Cr-a-a-ack-
Along with Jjokkomi's shout, the Mana Orb visibly split apart.
Soon, the Mana Orb wrapping around Ailee scattered into the surroundings and faced complete Annihilation.
And Ailee revealed herself from within.
"Hmm... I feel slightly dizzy."
[Dhampir lv.23]
┗Pw.92
┗Rnk.Rare
[Domain: Speed]
┗Rank - Uncommon
"Did I... succeed?"
Ailee looked down at her own body.
She even felt her entire body with both hands.
Yes, you succeeded.
The Helper is displaying a new species name.
Congratulations, bear.
But what is a Dhampir?
It's an unfamiliar species name.
Hmm... come to think of it, searching through the vague memories of my past life, I think they also called a Vampire a Vampir.
Well, whatever the case.
It must be a species related to a Vampire.
Bear, bear, bear, bear.
I hurriedly approached her and clapped like a seal to congratulate her.
The other guys also followed me closely, cheering and applauding.
"Kku-o-o! Congratulations!"
"...! ...!"
"Mama, congratulations! But what changed?!"
"Since everyone is clapping with their hands, I'll clap with my feet! Foot claps!"
Her appearance hadn't changed much.
It was to the point where you wouldn't notice the difference at a glance.
You had to look closely to notice.
Ailee's physical changes were as follows.
She grew slightly taller.
Her eyes became slightly larger.
Her skin became a bit paler.
Her chest size decreased slightly.
She exudes a more mature vibe than before.
Listing the changes, it was about this much, and her overall appearance remained mostly the same.
Ah. I left one thing out.
Should I say she feels more lively and energetic?
I don't know how to express it well, but it felt like she wasn't a complete undead like a pure Vampire.
She felt like something in between a living creature and an undead.
Though it could just be my imagination.
"Yong-yong? Looking closely, Mama seems to have gotten prettier! I just noticed!"
The Little Yellow Dragon clung closely to Ailee, groping her whole body or crawling around to thoroughly inspect the changes.
Jjokkomi, the Puppeteer Doll, the Fox, and me.
The four of us were also incredibly close to Ailee, staring intently and looking for any additional changes.
"Babies... You're making me feel too pressured...."
As Ailee laughed awkwardly and scratched her head.
"Kku-o?"
Out of nowhere, Jjokkomi whipped her head around.
With her eyes wide open, Jjokkomi shouted.
"Kku-o-o! Our Tosuni's Mana Orb is also cracking!"
At that shout, our gazes focused simultaneously on the Mana Orb next to it.
As our attention shifted elsewhere, Ailee finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yong-yong! Mama Tosuni is also resurrecting!"
"To-jjang's resurrection!"
"...?"
"She never died, so what do you mean by resurrecting...."
Soon, the Mana Orb wrapping around Tosuni also scattered and faced Annihilation.
The moment the Mana Orb faced Annihilation like that.
"Wooo!"
A rabbit Doll with a ring-like Halo floating above her head jumped out.
Flap, flap.
Showing off the pure white wings attached to her back.
[Rabbit Angel Doll lv.23]
┗Pw.92
┗Rnk.Rare
[Domain: Moon]
┗Rank - Legendary