Another month passed while Pef ground hard.

Grinding in the dungeon, in the alchemy lab and in the bedroom.

However, he was also the gamer. Spending time and effort grinding produced fast and tangible results, in levels and skills and loot.

Alchemy was still the hardest part, as recipes and demands became tougher and longer, involving total mental concentration and dedication.

So, when the crafting skill finally ticked over and reached level 18, Pef was both elated and exhausted. He stood up, Looking around the esoteric lab, filled with stainless steel and glass containers and instruments.

His mentor was reading a book to the side, slowly turning pages as they got imbued with glowing runes.

Master Kimmel simply glanced at him with a knowing look. "You already Mastered elemental crystals?" the old guy asked, just to make sure.

Pef held a fire crystal in front of him, with a sparkle of fire trapped within. "Fire is still hard. Lightning is so much easier."

The Alchemist Master coughed politely. "Yes, yes. A few months to master the elements is hard. Remember, alchemists need fire the most. And so will you, if you ever gain hold of the Eternal Flame from Asgard."

Lucia rose from her bench to take the completed crystal and examine it as well. "The flame is very weak. It would only do the same damage as a fireball if it is broken."

Pef nodded and smiled. "A fireball is good enough already. It doesn't take a mage or mana to throw this at an enemy." he explained while juggling the contained fireball in one hand.

With a telekinetic flick, Master Kimmel grabbed the crystal in mid-air and simultaneously flicked Pef's forehead as admonition. "Now, Elder Pef. 299 more flame crystals, and you can go."

Pef grumbled inward and sat down to grind his alchemy skills once again. He did ask and paid for the privilege after all.

In the afternoon, Pef and his wives returned to the dungeon, and farmed the immortal golem again. Every hour, their combined skills and firepower produced another round of loot and experience.

Sonia advanced in rank yet again, passing into Heroic rank with ease. Well, with the aid of her new family as a leveling train.

Surviving three lighting bolts of Heavenly Tribulation also seemed so easy, when wearing every kind of Magic Resistance artifact, including a few from the Church of Light.

"Can I learn the water summon yet?" the maid asked with excitement.

Lise handed her the newly bought spell scroll, containing the rite for a water elemental. "Don't waste the scroll and a billion euros, my dear. It would take us a whole day to earn it back" the harem queen said in a half-joking tone.

With some trepidation, Sonia took the scroll and grit her teeth. A billion euros was something unimaginable only a month ago. Yet, now it was merely another spell to increase her fighting powers.

The scroll dissolved into motes of blue light, and the maid fell asleep, since a dream was the most common type of connection method with the elementals.

Lise stepped beside her husband and hugged him to her side. "It is wasteful to support her ascensions from here onwards. You realize that, my king?" she asked rhetorically.

Pef hummed inward and nodded in agreement. "Buying everything for a new Legend rank of our own will cost me 10 billions. Can I buy a loyal Legend for that price?"

Lise sighed and fell silent. They obviously couldn't hope to buy or hire someone from the Abyss, and expect them to be faithful or loyal.

"... Only love." the queen admitted after some time.

Pef mentally nudged the Floor reset as Sonia began stirring awake. "One more time, and then farming?" he asked to make sure.

Raiju sped ahead, lightning bolts and claws shattering the weak golem mobs.

*Your Lightning elemental has reached level 6. Magic Penetration and Resistance increased by 6 percent from base Ascension stats. Total: 66 percent.

Pef smiled and nudged Sonia forward. "Send the summon as well, love. Raiju will watch over her while she levels up."

The water elemental was shaped as a blue skinned girl, with blonde hair and duck feet, and wearing an azure swimming suit.

Water bullets and a round water bubble were her only spells for now, but like Raiju she would get much better as the elemental ascended to higher classes.

It didn't take long, as even the mob golems were level 200, and the elemental received her first tribulation and achieved Phantom class, simply by coasting on Raiju's kills.

By the time the lightning elemental finished off the thousand mobs, Nautica reached Heroic class as well, and stood proud and tall, with a teenager's body. "I caught up with you, Master." the elemental declared proudly and hugged Sonia lovingly.

"But these were the easy levels. We both have to work hard to become Saints, right?" Sonia mused, while petting her new friend.

"You're heading for the bedroom after this last golem, right Master?" Nautica asked in a teasing tone and eyed Pef with a smirk on her young face.

"T-that's...my duty and privilege as a maid." Sonia retorted while blushing fiercely, and glanced towards Pef under her eyelashes.

Luckily, Lot the immortal golem arrived to interrupt the awkward discussion.

Everyone began unleashing spells and skills, including Nautica's newest Heroic spell, Erode Armor, which removed a percent of the golem's resilience.

A dozen uses later, the spell leveled up and removed 2 percents, which made quite a significant change in how long it took to grind down the golem boss. By exactly 2 minutes.

Pef was pleased anyway, as that spell would level up higher and help even more. Nautica was already proving her worth.

*You have defeated Lot. You gain 66 mil Exp.

*You gain a level.

*You have defeated a Saint Immortal and gained 100 HP and MP.

*You have found an Elixir potion. You have found 6 Major Healing Potions.

Pef opened his character screen, trying to decide where to place the free points.

*Pef the Gamer

Legendary Class

Level 263 Sorcerer

Level 18 Alchemist Elder.

HP: 162500, MP: 84000

Free attributes: 39

Strength: 62+11

Agility: 59+25

Constitution: 126+25

Magic: 1060+35

Mind: 408+25

Charisma: 56+10

Karma: 54+5

Euros: 27.571 Billion

There was a temptation to push even higher towards Mind attributes, but Pef was also conscious that mere Mind stats will not suffice to ascend to Myth class.

"More Mind, dear goddess?" he wondered out loud.

The wind came to life and ruffled his hair, then petted both elementals while they preened like cats. "There is no perfect way to reach the next ascension, my servant. All those who did become Myths had lucky and fortuitous encounters and events to aid them." Gaia's voice replied in a warm tone.

Sonia gulped audibly, possibly frightened by the presence of a real deity near them.

Lucia glanced up and prayed devoutly, hands at her chest, while Miya and Lise only nodded politely.

"Yes, about that. If Odin prepares for his twilight, he must sense it's near. I wouldn't interfere with Fenrir and that fate mess. But his twin?" Pef asked in a thoughtful tone.

"Jormungandr, the serpent at the edge of the world...that would become a Myth indeed. If you manage to strike a deadly blow. Clever, I admit. Much too bold, for a mortal." the Earth goddess said in a light voice, seeming amused.

"I know, beloved goddess. But then, Valhalla is also a World dungeon, and thus... I won't stay down for long, if I fail at first." Pef added with a wide grin.

Sonia's eyes widened as she finally computed what Pef was aiming for. "You will die again, idiot!" she yelled in panic.

Pef simply nodded and shrugged. "Die, respawn, repeat. Unless something weird happens, I can defeat any monster, in the end." he proclaimed in a final tone, and quite confident.

"Abusing that feature might cause some causality backlash. That means karma or fate. Luckily, you do have an attribute that can mitigate that. How fortuitous!" Gaia exclaimed as if surprised, and flicked Pef's forehead with an invisible hand.

*Ascension quest update.

*Take part in Ragnarok.

*Slay a twin.

*Reach 100 Karma.

*Rescue a goddess from her fate.

*Harem King quest update.

*Visit Valhalla and offer your aid in the coming cataclysm.

*Reach 100 Charisma.

*Impress any Asgardian lady.

*Reach 300 Charisma.

*Marry any Asgardian lady.

Pef rubbed his forehead while reading the updated quests. Most hidden objectives were now revealed, which made trying to achieve them somewhat easier than fumbling blindly like he did so far, and failing most of them.

It seemed being prepared and asking the right questions were just as important as doing stuff and killing things.

He vowed inward to research every remaining quest and clear up the hidden objectives. Those were the most rewarding after all.

Even a goddess would be very grateful for being saved, from whatever fate had in store. He didn't know which goddess, but knowing Gaia and the harem quest, she would be quite pretty anyway.

His wives departed for their home, now that today's dungeon grind was over. Pef smiled staring at their backs, eager to begin the next grind.

"She better be pretty." he muttered softly as he stepped into the return portal towards the dungeon entrance.

Behind him, a pair of divine eyes glinted in amusement. The young servant was rather fun to tease.