Day 14 Afternoon - First impressions are important

"Whoa!”

I let out an undignified cry as I nearly stumbled and fell on my face. The transportation magic itself was fairly nauseating, as it made the world around me disappear into rainbow-colored fractals like I had a gigantic trip, but when things normalized again, I found myself about a centimeter above the ground. The small drop surprised me, but I managed to quickly regain my balance and I hastily looked around.

I obviously wasn’t in the dragon’s chamber anymore. Speaking of which, while I didn’t really mention it when I was there (due to the fact that I was too preoccupied with the giant owner of the place), it was gaudy as all hell. It was a giant hall with red carpets and marble columns and even an honest to goodness pile of gold and treasure chests in the middle. Needless to say, that’s where the dragon was sitting the entire time. How stereotypical.

In comparison the place where I was at the moment… was also gaudy, but slightly less so. It was another hall lit by large iron braziers, and in the middle of it, there was a giant throne chiseled out of a single piece of red stone. So were the walls, on second look. In fact, the entire place was so red it hurt my eyes.

I was still looking around when the black metal door on my far left opened and a huge man walked in.

“So it's true!” he bellowed with a strange, echoing voice. It sounded as if two people spoke at the same time. Furthermore, when I looked at him, I saw two overlapping people. One was a tall, imposing, bare-chested muscular man with a goatee, his deep red skin covered with a net of interlinking tribal tattoos. He had a lantern jaw, long, straight black hair, and a pair of slightly curved bull’s horns on his head. He didn’t have hooved feet, opting for a pair of black leather pants and boots instead, but otherwise he was the spitting image of a devil.

Underneath that imposing figure however, was a shorter, less muscular man with similar skin tone, facial features, and an identical outfit, but with smaller horns, a thinner beard. and tired-looking eyes with bags under them. The two moved in synchrony as they strode into the hall and promptly sat down on the red throne with a huff.

“I can’t believe the great master really sent me a goblin as a replacement. Is this supposed be some kind of joke?” He looked at me intently for a moment before he raised a finger and bellowed, “Hey you! Can you even understand my words?”

I gave him a wry look and answered, “A moment, I'm in the middle of something here.”

I was bothered by this double-vision, so I cast [Observ] on him, and I was still in the middle of looking at his stats.

Name: Raznok Level: 19 Experience: 9601

Classification: Humanoid Monster  Race: Demon

Health: 199/199 Stamina: 282/306 Mana: 175/188

Body: Mid(Low) Mind: Low(High) Insight: Low(High)

Skills:

*Focus Lv1

*Fire Magic Lv1

*Semblance Lv2

Traits:

*Dominance Lv1

Racial Traits:

*Demonic Bloodline Lv1

Description: A named Demon rumored to live on the first floor of the Grand Vargebernos Abyss. There are few witness accounts about him, as out of the explorers that encountered him, few ever lived to tell the tale. It is said that he is both imposing and cruel to the outmost degree. Threat level: A

Focus Lv1 (Active): The owner can temporarily pay extreme attention to a specific task, increasing perception, learning speed and manual dexterity. The skill consumes Stamina while active.

Semblance Lv2 (Active): Allows the owner to manipulate the way others perceive them. The disguises created this way are immaterial. The effect cannot be resisted unless the target possesses Insight one major stage higher than the owner.

Lv2: The owner’s illusions can fool all five senses and are harder to resist.

Demonic Bloodline Lv1 (Passive): Increases the owner's maximum Health, Stamina, and Mana  by an additional three points upon gaining a level.

Dominance lv1 (Passive): Creatures and people in the vicinity of the owner automatically become subservient to them. The magnitude of the effect varies depending on the relative power of the owner and the target. A target’s resistance may be lowered by degrading them through various means and forcing them to submit to the owner.

I let out a relieved sigh. While the guy indeed looked imposing, when I compared him to Shorkuz the dragon, or even the giant-ass spider I incinerated just the other day, he was actually fairly weak. That Dominance skill was a little worrisome though.

“I have waited long enough! Come over here!”

Just as I was thinking about that, the big horny guy bellowed a new popup panel into existence in front of me.

You have been targeted by the effects of Dominance Lv1. You are immune to mind-altering effects. Dominance Lv1 resisted.

I absent-mindedly closed the panel, only to realize there was another one under it.

You have been targeted by the effects of Dominance Lv3. You are immune to mind-altering effects. Dominance Lv3 resisted.

You have been targeted by the effects of Majesty Lv2. You are immune to mind-altering effects. Majesty Lv2 resisted.

You have been targeted by the effects of Aura of Dread Lv3. You are immune to mind-altering effects. Aura of Dread Lv3 resisted.

Whoa. Where did those come from? I figured I probably resisted all of these during my meeting with the dragon, but I couldn’t be sure, as I didn’t pay any attention to the flashing notifications at the time. Speaking of which, after I got all the ‘you resisted X’ stuff out of my face, I also found a level-up panel. I guess it was obvious in retrospect. I mean, I did kill a Lv20-something giant spider after all, and I was gaining something like double XP due to Wisdom.

Anyways, while it might've been rude, I ignored the horny guy, and instead I quickly opened the panel to take a look.

Congratulations, you have reached Level 9!

Your Attributeshave risen!

Your Body Attribute increased to Low(High)!

You gained 40 Health Points!

You gained 70 Stamina Points!

You gained 40 Mana Points!

Congratulations. Your Familiar, Smaragd, has reached Level 9!

Name: Mafter Level: 9  Experience: 630

Classification: Humanoid   Race: ?????

Health: 150/150 Stamina: 1334/1360  Mana: 190/190

Body: Low(High) Mind: Mid(Mid) Insight: High(High)

Skills:

*Transformation Lv3 (Fair Goblin)

*Observation Lv2

*Supreme Command Lv2

*Camouflage Lv2

*Fire Magic Lv2

*Healing Magic Lv2

Traits:

*Inexhaustible Lv1

*High-Speed Regeneration Lv1

*Wisdom Lv4

*Sneak Attack Lv2

*Leadership Lv2

*Stealth Lv2

*Immortal Lv2

*True Familiar Master (Smaragd)

*Third Eye

I didn’t gain any new skills this time (and good riddance, it was getting hard to keep track of all of them), but the stats alone had my eyes rolling. According to my Body score, I was just une step weaker than the giant muscle-bound demon guy in front of me. Though, to be fair, I suspected said muscular macho form was a glamour of some sorts, but even the guy underneath was pretty imposing, while I was still in the shape of a young girl. Speaking of which, one of these days I really had to switch out of this form, but that was something for later. For now, let's focus on the situation in front of me.

Since I still haven’t replied to him, Raznok, or whatever his name was, stood up from his throne and menacingly straightened himself. As he did that, the braziers around the room flared to life ,and the flames in them began to rise as high as the ceiling.

“Do not test my patience! Come here and prostrate yourself, or your life is forfeit!”

You have been targeted by the effects of Dominance Lv1. You are immune to mind-altering effects. Dominance Lv1 resisted.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Honestly, even if the effects of the skills slipped off me like water from the back of a duck, I had to admit that the whole ‘giant scowling demon guy framed by roaring flames’ thing was pretty impressive.

“If it’s all the same to you, I would rather not.”

For the first time, the two overlapping visages of the demon went out of sync. The muscular one kept glaring at me, but the guy underneath blinked repeatedly, and then waved his hand like he was turning a page in a book. Needless to say, the illusion didn't even twitch. I was about to call out to him and ask what he was doing when I got another popup.

Floor Master [Raznok] is attempting to directly access your Status Menu. Do you grant permission?

* Yes * No *

I obviously picked [No], and when I did so, he reeled back like he was punched in the face, though the illusion was still motionlessly glaring at me. Raznok then wiped his forehead and poked at the air in front of him again. On closer look, I could make out some kind of black, transparent block in front of him, but my attention was soon drawn away by another popup window.

Floor Master [Raznok] is attempting an override with Administrative Privilege Delta. You possess Administrative Privilege Epsilon. Do you comply?

* Yes * No *

I had no idea what was going on, but if I didn’t allow it the first time, I obviously wasn’t going to roll over now! I immediately picked [No] again and I was treated to yet another panel, this time a black one.

Attempting resistance. Defensive strength is reduced by 50% due to 1 level(s) of Administrative Privilege difference. Effective defensive strength: 2312. Incoming offensive strength: 1018. Resistance successful.

You have received Enlightenment! Your claim on Administrative Privilege is more than double the strength of your opponent. Attempting to usurp Administrative Privilege Delta.

…

…

…

Success! You now possess Administrative Privilege Delta.

… Okay, what just happened? What the hell is going on? Usurp what? Privilege what? Who the hell told you to usurp anything?! Argh! This System is driving me nuts! Where is a manual when you need one?

Well, to be fair, while I was pretty shocked by this development, it was nothing compared to the blow the demon guy received, as he stumbled backwards and fell onto his throne with a bewildered expression.

“Wha-What the hell are you!?” he yelled at me from between clenched teeth, but then he swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth and tried to stand back up to overlap with his still motionlessly glaring illusionary version. It was a little amusing to see he thought the cat wasn’t out of the bag yet. At last I sighed, dismissed the message panel in front of me, and tried to smile at him.

“Okay, I finished with my things. Hello.”

He twitched and almost fell back into his throne for a second time, but then he took a deep breath and answered; “Welcome to… Erm… I mean, I am the Floor Master!”

“Yeah, I figured. I was sent here by the Dungeon Master to fill in for the spider boss I displaced. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Yes, same here. Now, if you could come a little closer…”

“Just a moment,” I raised an open palm, prompting him to shudder and bite his tongue in surprise. “Before we continue, could you remove that glamour? It’s distracting.”

“You… can see through my power?”

“Of course. Now please remove it.”

He hesitated for a moment, and then he finally nodded. A second later, the illusionary form of the prim, muscular demon disappeared, only leaving his real, profusely sweating appearance behind.

“That’s better,” I told him with a thin smile, which Razzie returned, although with a bit of strain.

“It is for the lesser minions, you see. I have to keep up a certain appearance, you see.”

“Yes, yes. Of course I understand.”

“Good. Very good. So… could you, maybe, come closer? I wish to discuss things with you.”

While the man’s mannerism was a little off, I had to admit that we were standing quite some distance apart and I didn’t want to yell just to have him hear me. As such I nodded and began to walk towards the throne.

However, I could barely take three steps before Raznok let out a surprisingly high-pitched scream and waved his hand towards me. Following his motion, a torrent of flames erupted from the brazier on the right of the altar and rushed towards me like a giant fiery eel swimming through the air. At first I almost dodged out of the way and covered, but then the orange flames suddenly turned a brilliant and familiar crimson and instead of crashing into me they swerved to the right and then began to circle around me.

As it did so, the originally formless ribbon of flame began to shrink and take up the shape of a roughly one meter long serpent with three pairs of wings. Once the transformation was complete, it aimed right at me again, coiled around my left hand, slithered up my arm and then began to rub its head against my face. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on.

“Hello Little Flame. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Little Flame made a strange purring noise, it’s surprisingly human-looking eyes squinting in joy. I petted the ominous little bugger and faced the other person in the room, who was still frozen in the motion he used to send the fire blast against me. For a second I hesitated, seeing how his mouth was still agape, and that there were giant beads of sweat running down his face, but at last I took a step forwards. When my heel reached the ground he let out another high-pitched scream. I stiffened and got ready for an attack, but instead he fell to his knees and prostrated himself in front of me.

“I’m sorry! I don’t know what I was thinking! I should've known better! Please don’t kill me!”

I raised a hand to object, but seeing that he was practically hitting his head against the floor in his efforts to apologize, I raised it to my face instead and glanced at the surprisingly lukewarm fire-snake on my shoulder.

“Well, we are off to a rocky start, aren’t we…?”