Chapter 80

Finding dryad was easy, she was still in the same place as earlier, lost in thought. Coming up behind her I make my presence known.

“Jack huh, surprised you are back so soon.” Dryad

“I need to ask you a favor.” Jack

“Ask away.” Dryad

Throwing down the sack I ask.

“Can you heal him?” Jack

“Why is this child in pieces, and how is he alive?” Dryad

“He got mauled by a dungeon boss, and I bound his soul to his body.” Jack

“Fine, I’ll do it, but it won’t be pretty.” Dryad

“Thank you.” Jack

Pretty it was not, I will spare the details but it reminded me of watching tree roots grow, only really fast. In just under an hour he was put back together, albeit pretty disoriented now that he was no longer in emergency mode.

Speaking to a nearby sprite, a maid of dryad’s, I ask for some tea for the three of us. In no time at all fresh tea is brought, made from a local plant that is good for concentration.

“So about your offer.” Dryad

“You have time to think.” Jack

“I accept, but I get to choose the name.” Dryad

“Done, I suck at choosing names anyway.” Jack

“Greica, after an old friend of mine, one of the most loyal servants I ever had.” Dryad

Congratulations! You have founded the country of Greica, a militaristic nation. While small, it has the potential for great things. The title of ‘king’ has been bestowed

The look of shock on dryad’s face gives away the announcement in front of her.

“It’s official then” Dryad

“I wonder, what are the requirements for founding a country, according to the system.” Jack

the requirements for founding a country are leading an organized group, holding at least two cities, an internal economy, and a name.

Quickly checking my new title it seems it grants access to the system information of Greica, and allows me to issue quests to people. I pull up the information and look it over.

GreicaKing:JackTreasury:~55,000,000 JaersPatron deity:DryadStanding army:~9.000,000 basic soldiers

~1,000,000 ex-mercenariestax rate:NAmore info will be added as it is relevant

It seems there is also an option for investing money in different areas of the country, among other things, on another window.

Overall there is nothing too surprising, except for the ex-mercenary part, but that was going to happen sooner or later anyway. I also have the ability to appoint people to certain roles, which grant certain abilities and other bonuses, like a lord being able to collect money from the people under them.

Joe manages to fully regain lucidity at around this time. I have more pressing concerns than musing over the system information. Dismissing the window I turn to joe.

“So how was it.” Jack

“Painful.” Joe

I take a moment to examine his soul, and it has grown.

“excellent, it seems your soul has grown stronger, my theory was correct.” Jack

“What theory?” Joe

“That your soul would grow as you use any enchantments formed out of it.” Jack

Joe only responds with a confused and questioning look.

“The thing keeping you from dying is literally an enchantment on your soul, I set it up in a way to allow future improvements as your soul grew in case I was correct that using these enchantments would strengthen your soul.” Jack

“Ok, but why bother, my talent for the soul is miserable, it will improve at a snail’s pace.” Joe

“That would be the case if you were a normal person, but you are a hero, and heroes improve much more rapidly than anyone else.” Jack

“What does this mean for me?” Joe

“It means I can further enchant your soul, any way you wish, I can improve your strength, your intelligence, your life span, your regenerative abilities, even possibly give you certain abilities that you can use actively.” Jack

“What’s the catch?” Joe

“Your soul has to develop enough to withstand these enchantments, and the only way currently feasible for you to do that is by using these enchantments.” Jack

“Meaning I need to get ripped in half more often, or at least take mortal injuries.” Joe

“Pretty much, at least for now.” Jack

“Can I chose at least?” Joe

“Of course, but I maintain veto power if I think it is stupid.” Jack

“Please improve my regeneration.” Joe

“There isn’t much to work with right now, so the change won’t be very big” Jack

“That’s fine, just being able to reattach an arm will come in handy.” Joe

“It will take just a moment.” Jack

Less than a minute later I am done.

“I don’t feel much different” Joe

“Not surprising, it isn’t very powerful right now. Come see me every couple days to improve it, also focus on your resistances, currently those will be the fastest way for you to get stronger.” Jack

“Can you point me to a good place to train then?” Joe

“There is a fire themed dungeon about a mile south of here that just opened up.” Dryad

With a nod he is gone, jumped off of the tree, a moment latter I hear a loud crack as his legs break. He swallows a potion and starts heading south.

“Fucking asshole, how does he even afford to spend money on potions like that? And that definitely wasn’t one I gave him” Jack

A brief moment of silence passes before I speak up again.

“Well, I have things to attend to, and likely you do as well. I shall be going now.” Jack

“Tell Johanna I said to come visit me more.” Dryad

“Of course” Jack

I similarly jump off of the tree, but I am much more durable, and can teleport, negating most of the force. I begin the trek home at a walking pace, focusing on removing toxins from my body. This isn’t a part of the forest I am very familiar with. Along the way I find a dungeon I had never seen before, and I decide to a quick dungeon dive to blow off a little steam. It’s been a while since I have done one purely for my own enjoyment.

The dungeon seems to have incorporeal type demons, phantoms, shades, and the like. Although not very many of them, meaning it is either a very young dungeon, or a dead dungeon. I move through the six floors rapidly, proving to me that it is in fact a dead dungeon; no young dungeon would have six floors.

This is pretty disappointing to me; I was looking forward to a good fight. When I enter the boss room on the sixth floor I see nothing but an empty room, not even a corpse. That is until I look again.

I find a giant, dead, shade.

end chapter 80