Devaluing the market price of 1-Stars

Melli brushes herself free of soot. "Well I think that should..."

Suddenly a burst of light came from both Melli and Cyrus and the two of them start to scream and unravel. I'm happy to report that the process looks as painful as it feels, and the two of them share many a long horrid screams before they are remade and reformed.

When they're both spit out of the other side of leveling up, they're huffing and gasping for breath. The effect on Melli is intensely pleasing for me. She always had a bookish waif look to her, not helped by the boyish dash of black hair. It's a pleasantly corruptible look, and the effect is amplified by her perfection. Her cheeks seemed rounder, her eyes bigger, and the run of splotchy red spots that ran across her nose had been replaced with an attractive constellation of freckles. Her teeth were straighter, pores smaller, and all together she was much more pleasing to the eye. She instantly went from an item I'd like to have, to one I needed to possess. "Oh wow, your screams really didn't do that justice!" She gasped, bending over for support.

Cyrus looks... I don't know what the fuck do you want me to say? Wow, he's so handsome now! He's a goblin, if he changed a lot or a little I don't see it and frankly I don't care. "How do I look boss?" He pouts up at me eyes big and hopefuly.

I sigh. "You look great."

"Yes, I feel good." He flexes exploring his new body. "Probably the most handsome goblin in the world huh?"

Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. "I'm done talking about this now... but yes probably."

He grins and nods to himself.

"Alright crew, let's see what we're working with. Present yourself."

Melli squints at me. "I'm sorry are you our leader now?" Oh big girl, gets a star and suddenly thinks she's too good for us.

"Always have been." I say easily and without artifice. I was the lord and master of the of the other members of the party, it's not like I was getting outvoted. "Actually." I step closer to her. "How about since you got what you came for, you just beat it right now." I stare her down. "I had to stop you from killing a member of this team."

"I'll not be berated for doing my duty." She doesn't back down, and that's impressive enough. "Thanks to you that thing has a star now. It's ten times more dangerous than it had been." She points to Cyrus who is shaky putting his raggy pants back on.

"My pronouns are he/him." He says politely.

"I'm not berating you for anything." I say sternly. "I'm telling you to leave. You got what you came for, and I can't work with someone I don't trust."

"You don't trust me?" She laughs and throws her hands up. "It's your fault my friends are dead. It's your fault I was a **** to that thing for a week."

"I've tried to make up for my mistakes, but I can see there's no bridging the gap between us."

She just crosses her arms and looks towards the exit. She waits for another moment then gives me a disgusted sigh. "You can't just... I." she turns to face me. "I need the money too. I spent all my money on adventuring gear, and your dumb potion. Which I want a refund on, by the way."

"Fair." I cross my arms. "When we clear the dungeon I'll send for you and give you the money."

She grimaces and stomps her foot. "I don't want to!" She says finally. "I want to stay, and finish this thing out. It's not just about the star you know. Kal and Car wanted to actually beat this thing."

"Then you follow my instructions to the letter, got it?"

She grimaces and looks away. Melli + 5 CP (8 Corruption) "Present."

"That's more like it."

Melli

Level: 1

Slot 1: Shadow Bolt- Type: Attack- Effect: The User unleashes a torrent of three inaccurate bolts of shadow magic that fly towards their target.

Challenge - Kill 10 Enemies with this effect (0/10)

Slot 2: Blessing of The Night Pool Type: Passive- Effect: The inky waters of Shea'Hamora's spring bind the user to the night. This passive allows the user to see in total darkness, both mundane and magical.

Challenge - Night Time Predator - Hone your sight in the darkness. (0%)

Slot 3: Shadow Blade- Type: Attack - Effect: When activated the shadow of the user’s weapon becomes a deadly weapon of its own. When the user makes an attack a second attack immediately follows.

Challenge - Kill 10 Enemies with this effect (0/10)

Slot 4: Darkness- Type: Utility - Effect: Calling on the realm of darkness, the user can summon a cloud of magical darkness, which can not be penetrated by light or magic.

Challenge - Steeped in Darkness - Spend 100 Hours within this effect (0/6,000 mins)

Slot 5: Scarab Drain- Type: Passive- Effect: Any bleeding effects caused by the user, have their potency increased.

Challenge: Blood Bank - Drain 100 Gallons of Blood (0/100)

Ah looks like she picked up a few stars from those rooms she and her crew conquered. One of them an attack spell, she lucked out on that one. I can't help be feel envious. She actually got something suited to her.

Plus that ability to see in darkness was nice. Would have been nicer at the start of the dungeon, but we've taken things slowly and carefully enough that while annoying the darkness hasn't proven deadly.

I turn to Cyrus. "Let's see what you got."

"Present!" He says sharply, ever the loyal soldier.

Cyrus

Level 1

Slot 1: Goblin King- Type: Attack - Effect: When activated the user summons three goblins to do his biddings. These goblins last for the length of a combat or for one minute out of combat.

Challenge - Raiding Party- Command a **** of 10 goblins (0/10)

Slot 2: Shadow Blade- Type: Attack - Effect: When activated the shadow of the user’s weapon becomes a deadly weapon of its own. When the user makes an attack a second attack immediately follows.

Challenge - Kill 10 Enemies with this effect (0/10)

Slot 3: Vampire Bite- Type: Attack - Effect: The User is able to grow their teeth into deadly weapons, and when used on a bleeding enemy is able to drain the life **** from their very body.

Challenge - Use this effect on 10 different enemies during combat. (0/10)

Slot 4: Darkness- Type: Utility - Effect: Calling on the realm of darkness, the user can summon a cloud of magical darkness, which can not be penetrated by light or magic.

Challenge - Steeped in Darkness - Spend 100 Hours within this effect (0/6,000 mins)

Slot 5: Scarab Drain- Type: Passive- Effect: Any bleeding effects caused by the user, have their potency increased.

Challenge: Blood Bank - Drain 100 Gallons of Blood (0/100)

What the? What was that first slot?

"Where the fuck did you get that first star?" I ask him, suspicion flowing through me.

He squirmed under my inspection. "When Elizabeth and those goblins attacked us, and I..."

"Ran away and left me to fend for myself, yes."

"When I drew the goblins away, I... took care of them all, and got a star for it."

"Three versus one is pretty impressive." Elizabeth said. "You barely won 1 on 1."

"I didn't have any stars!" I say, not like I had any chance of beating her with them either.

"Wait..." Mellis shakes her head, trying to put our whole sorrid history together. "You attacked..."

"Don't even bother." I sigh. "It's all too complicated. Suffice it to say we're the best of friends now!"

Elizbeth grabs me and locks me under her arm, and rubs my skull with the point of her knuckle. "Oh yeah I love this guy!"