Chapter 443

The battle against Old Man Jenkins went smoothly after the fireball incident. Partially because Steve’s spanker class was surprisingly good at holding aggro, and more importantly, because they were all over leveled for the boss. While Old Man Jenkins was formidable, it was for enemies at his same level, or even below it. For a party more than five levels higher than him, the boss didn’t have much of a chance.

As the boss fell before them, his eyes losing focus as he mumbled his final words, James couldn’t help but feel sorry for the boss. Sure, he was elated to have beaten Old Man Jenkins, considering it meant they were going to the second floor next, and because Ifrit had gained the experience to evolve, but he was also sad. Strangely, James felt a connection with the boss. Even though it was an AI, James had come to view his bosses as living, breathing things. They had personalities, they had likes and dislikes. So, watching the poor guy get demolished in a field of popcorn by a midget tank and a hot-headed fire djinn, felt somewhat wrong.

“It’s all a part of the cycle.” Rue commented, his ever-observant companion seeming to have noticed his mood. “Old Man Jenkins is used to it. Besides, from his viewpoint, this is simply the way of things.”

James nodded to her, his eyes scrolling through his loot absentmindedly as Steve and Ifrit celebrated their victory. He grinned as he noticed a particular drop, and a second later, he was holding a corn cob pipe in his hand. With a thought, the pipe lit itself, and he placed it to his lips, taking in a long drag. He wasn’t certain what type of actual tobacco the corn cob pipes Old Man Jenkins dropped would have and was surprised by the subtle flavor. It was complex, with hints of vanilla, and cinnamon, giving it a cool yet spiced flavor. The boss, it would seem, was holding out.

“I just figure, we probably could have just accepted his questline, and gotten the experience we needed that way.” James said between puffs. It was impossible to make the shapes that the boss did, but he did blow out a few ‘O’ shaped rings. “Plus, you know how angry slaying Old Man Jenkins make’s Grandma Jenkins.”

“Doing his questline would take too long.” Rue replied. “We’re on a time crunch, and honestly just killing the boss is easier than running a fetch quest for him. Still, if you really want, we can always do it on one of our later runs.” Her eyes shifted, and James figured she was looking through her own rewards. The frown on her face said she didn’t get what she’d been hoping for.

“I mean, with our experience gain, trying to chase down his armor set is probably pointless.” James took another drag from his pipe, grinning as the smoke drifted about. “Besides, I got what I wanted from him.”

“Alrighty then. Quit your complaining, and lets hurry on up.” She motioned towards the red barn, where the portal to his second floor waited for them. There was also the chance of a chest in that barn, though it could be a mimic, depending on the instance. At level 25, those particular monsters were the only ones they’d avoided on the floor.

“We’ve one last thing, before we go.” James pulled up his window, selecting the prompt that had been blinking at him.

Evolution Parameters Met: Advance Djinn to next form? Y/N

James selected the yes option, and turned his attention to Ifrit. The Djinn hadn’t apologized for its previous actions, nor had it said a word to James ever since James saved it from Old Man Jenkins attack. A part of James had thought about giving Ifrit a heads up that he was about to advance him to the next level, but the other part of him, figured the pretentious spirit didn’t deserve a warning. That part of James was the part that won.

Without warning to anyone other than James, Ifrit’s body suddenly erupted in a bright pillar of flames, causing Steve to let out a surprised string of curses. Rue let out a slight gasp, before she composed herself. The vampire healer shot James a knowing look but didn’t say anything as they watched the transformation. Given James’s class was a secret one, no one really knew what to expect of this transformation.

The pillar of flames surrounding Ifrit climbed higher and higher, spiraling in a deadly manner upwards, as if trying to connect the very ground and ceiling. Within, only a dark outline of Ifrit could be seen, and while James thought he heard screaming coming from within, the sound was consumed by the roar of the fire.

Hotter and hotter the column of flames burned, their intense heat causing a sweating Steve to high tail it away from Ifrit, the halfling returning to James and Rue’s side. James couldn’t help but smile as he saw Steve’s small frame wearing a straw hat. With only a single piece of gear from the set, it didn’t do anything, but the comical nature of it, fit the spanker like a glove.

Wordlessly they all watched as the very outline of Ifrit began to flicker and shift within the column, the shadowy form growing larger, the darkness within the column beginning to glow brighter, hotter, as the transformation continued. As more seconds passed by, the inside of the column shifted to a bright, white-hot color, so intense it was nearly blinding. Part of James wanted to look away, a warm sensation in his face and eyes telling him the heat was so powerful, it should be burning him apart. Still, he watched, not wanting to look away for a second, marveling in the fiery transformation, eager to see what would remain, once that pillar faded.

A few more seconds, and he didn’t have to wonder. As quickly as the column had formed, it began to waiver. It was as if the fires within overcame the pillar of light, as the very tower of fire simply dissipated into nothingness, leaving in its wake the intensely burning, new and improved, Ifrit.

The most noticeable difference, was the color of Ifrit’s flames. Before they’d been mostly yellow and orange, with the hottest flames being his eyes. Now, his body consisted of a clear orange, nearly white, flame, so bright he seemed to radiate a visible aura of light around him. Atop his head, two horns of blue fire had sprouted, and across his back, more of the blue flames danced in intricate patterns, almost like tattoos.

His swords, on the other hand, seemed to have elongated past their scimitar style, becoming more fluid in appearance. The hilts, still shaped like flames, had a small, sun like object in the center of them, that seemed to be burning with a blue flame as well. Occasionally, James saw the flames dance down the length of the blade, the blue chasing other flames along the blade in an entrancing manner. Before he could stop himself, James pulled up Ifrit’s name, eager to see just what the djinn had become. Previously, Ifrit had been a dervish, a DPS class for the djinn that seemed to specialize in a wild, spinning, flowing manner of combat. His new class seemed to have taken that a bit further.

Ifrit

Level 1*

* Denotes this summon has undergone one transformation

Inferno Dervish

James had no idea what all that change meant, but one thing was for sure. Becoming a Djinn Tamer had to be the coolest thing to happen to him, and he was glad. Now, it was time for the second floor, and time to see how their party fared against the Steampunk Dinosaurs. James knew the next floor wouldn’t be anywhere near as simple as the first had been. After all, the mobs on his second floor, started at level 25, and the Terminus was a whopping level 35. Not to mention, the chances of world bosses still existed, and of course, the Perfect Cognivore could form, if they weren’t careful. In short, this next floor, was going to be the first true test of James and his party. The first challenge, in his dungeon run as not the dungeon core, but as an actual player. Needless to say, James couldn’t wait.