Mathew felt like shit. His entire body ached, but he was alive. When he opened his eyes, Cherry was healing him. “Are you okay Mathew?”

“Yea, everything just hurts.” Mathew groaned. He tried to use his Axiom of Resistance to eb away the pain, but a splitting headache overcame him.

“Relax. But don’t go to sleep.” Cherry said sternly, more of an order than a request. “We’ve been stuck here for about twenty minutes. I think you need to check your notifications from The System.”

Mathew looked around and found himself lying down inside a gray void. The same one when he selected his class. “Oh, is Agnox okay?”

“I’m alive Boss.” Agnox's voice came from by Mathew’s feet. “Exhausted and heavily battered, but you had it worse.”

“Okay, Jeffery?”

“Dead.” Agnox said the single word with a hint of pain. “Luckily you can bring him back.”

Mathew sighed, it went well. They defeated the Floor Boss alone. He wanted to go back to sleep, but knew he should check his menu so they could leave.

World Dungeon Solo Rewards

Treasure Place: 3rd

Challenge Place: 1st

Kill Place: 8th

Overall Place: 3rd

Rewards:

450,000 UC

[Robes of Eternal Dawn]

Title: World Quest Solo - 3rd Place

Optional (Select 2):

Body Cultivation Facility for Blue Oaks

A new weapon that fits your current fighting style

Gnosplin Bank for Blue Oaks

Animated Guard Force for Blue Oaks

A one time free Upgrade to any Ability, Skill, or Spell of your choice before you reach Student Rank

Double Hearth Crystal Zone claim size

Mathew was about to argue his place for the ‘Kill’ category, then realized it might not be ‘creatures’ it was counting. It was possibly other people. At first, he was confused, as he only recalled one person he killed. After a moment, he started to tally up the real total, which if he included Aaron, it was seven.

Every one of his kills were good kills in his mind. To the point he didn’t even remember them. That’s how insignificant they were to him in terms of morality. Four of them were killed via contract, which he assumed The System was counting as well. Either directly or indirectly.

As for the other two categories for placements, they were beyond his expectations. He couldn’t be more proud of himself and how he did with those two categories. As a soloist, he’s done every Challenge and Dungeon alone except for one Challenge.

Treasure for third was interesting. He imagined his recent deal with Tulido was responsible for that. Then he wondered how others got first and second. Did what he gathered from Gaia not count?

Overall 3rd place wasn’t perfect. He wanted more. Mathew wondered what the rewards would have been if he placed second or even first. However, looking at his rewards, he wasn’t going to complain.

450,000UC was just over the amount he had now. He was doubly rich. Almost a millionaire. He knew most of this would be going back into Blue Oaks. If he wanted to become a world leader, he needed to start boosting his main city and start expanding. Fast.

Robes were another good reward. Once he received them, he would identify them using a ritual and figure out their true potential.

He tapped on the title to see what it gave him.

Title: World Quest Solo - 3rd Place

For coming in 3rd place on your World Quest in the Solo category, you have been rewarded this title. Don’t let others see you as just a random person. You fought through three floors, alone, conquered it, and came out alive. This title grants you the following:

Contender for the World Strongest and World Leader Quests.

+1 Slot to Spells

+8% to all stats

350 Stat points for you to spend how you wish.

“Anything good, Boss?” Agnox asked.

“Very good.” Mathew replied as he grinned ear to ear at the title. He could figure out where to put all the points later. A thought to slap all the points into his Vitality to improve his recovery time came for a moment. However, that was a stupid idea.

He looked back at his rewards. Six options, but he could only pick two of them. The options were interesting. A mix between himself and Blue Oaks as the focus for them. He decided to do one of each. One for himself, the other for Blue Oaks.

Out of the two personal choices, the Upgrade seemed the smart choice. He could always get a new weapon. It would be expensive, but money can buy weapons. Money couldn’t buy a free Upgrade given by The System. Not to mention, his fighting style was still growing. He has a mixed style currently. Picking a weapon for how he fights now would solidify something he wasn’t sure he wanted to keep currently.

He could possibly use this on even Unranked techniques he had. The thought of trying it on Agnox or Cherry was something he might have wanted to try.

The choice for Blue Oaks was more difficult. The Bank option kept coming in as the easy last pick, or a contender for the actual choice.

He wondered if it would work like normal human banks. Just store items and money to keep safe. He didn’t see the need for it. UC couldn’t be stolen without very niche classes and technique sets. Something too rare to see on Earth.

He also had a personal item storage that would only grow over time. He could sell storage bags for other people to keep their belongings in. Yet, if the bank did more than what he thought, much like The Workshop, then it could be the best choice here.

The next contender was the guard force. Free guards from The System that would defend Blue Oaks? An easy choice. Even more so if they couldn’t go against his orders. A pure loyal and unquestioning guard. No need to worry about backstabbers or traitors.

The Body Cultivation Facility and doubling the land Blue Oaks owns were great, but second place to the other two options. He could expand his land just by claiming additional Hearth Crystals. Body Cultivation Facility seemed like a great option, but like the Bank he kept going back and forth on the possibilities.

The Guard Force seemed like a safe option, but there was one catch. It was for Blue Oaks. Which meant if Blue Oaks fell, or he was for some reason replaced, he would lose control over them.

“Agnox, Cherry. Guards or Bank.”

“Guards.”

“Guards.”

They both said in unison. Mathew didn’t think they would both agree, and was looking forward to debating. “Well, that was too easy.”

Mathew selected his two options and the menu closed. A rainbow colored portal appeared in the gray void.

With a groan of pain, Mathew could barely sit up, let alone walk out. He cursed to himself. “Come on, help me out of here. No clue when the portal will close.”

“Boss, no offense, Cherry can’t carry anything, It’s me who dragged you and all the bags of stuff. So either we wait till you can walk, or you are getting dragged again.”

Mathew rolled his eyes. He had zero mana to summon Jeffery or even an elemental to help carry anything, not even using Call Aid from his ritual would work either due to his low mana.

He had no other options. “Drag me.” It would look bad having a leader being dragged back home. He could imagine the rumors now. “Mathew somehow survived and was dragged back. He defeated the Apprentice Floor Boss alone and only barely survived! Is Henderson or someone else stronger then?”

But he did survive. That’s all that mattered. Nobody could take that away from him. He had a title, massive gains from the two months inside, and above all, he started his path. A path he will continue to forge himself.

Agnox dragged Mathew through the portal. He slid out onto the grass. Instantly he was picked up by three medical officials. Doctor Gloria was there with a stern looking expression. “You pushed yourself too much. You are a wreck! I thought I told you to take it easy. Just because you are in charge here doesn’t mean you can risk your life.”

Mathew knew her words were out of care. “Glad to see you too Gloria. I’m probably better off than I was a few minutes ago.”

Cherry walked out next, struggling with one of the lighter bags. A few people pointed guns, or other weapons like staves and swords, at her. She dropped the bag and let out a small ‘eep’.

“She’s with me. Another summon. Not everything that isn’t human is a target, guys.”

“Sorry Sir, protocol. Luckily we don’t shoot first anymore. You are not the only one with a new friend.” One of the soldiers said.

“Anyone not friendly come through the portal?” Mathew asked curiously.

“Not yet. And since you are one of the last expected to exit, then that would be none at all.” The soldier replied.

Mathew refrained from chasizing the guard. “Fine. Get me Mr. Melton, I need to talk to him and get an update on what I missed last month.”

“Oh no, you are not working right now.” Gloria said. “Recovery first.”

Mathew rolled his eyes, “Fix me up enough so I can walk. It’s my body that’s damaged the most, not anything else. Cherry ensured I didn’t die, I need you to get me to where I can start working.”

Gloria stared at Mathew. “Need I remind you of our agreement?”

Mathew stared back, not saying anything because she had every right to make him not work right now. He waited another moment to see if he could win the staring contest, but realized she could hold him in their hospital for longer than needed.

“No, you don’t. Cherry, you watch her. Gloria, this is Cherry, a new companion of mine. Do you mind if she watches you work?”

“Don’t think about distracting me with something new. You are going right to your room and staying there, two days minimum.”

Mathew sighed, “I’ll stay until you think I’m healed up enough, but I want Mr. Melton there after you and any others do a check over on me. Agreed?”

“I can work with that.” Gloria said. “Also, I would be happy to teach someone medical practice.”

“Boss, what do you want me to do?” Agnox asked, as Mathew was picked up and put onto a modified gurney.

“Take the bags to my house. Then I want you to do anything else you need to get ready for your rank up. After that, relax. You and Cherry both deserve it.”

Agnox gave a two finger salute and pointed at the guard that pointed his weapon at Cherry. “You, help me carry things.”

The guard standard, and glanced between the imp, Mathew, and another guard who was probably in charge of him. “I-uh-huh?” He was confused at the demand the imp was giving him.

One of the lead guards just shook his head, “Mathew, your familiar can’t boss around my troops.”

Mathew looked over at him. He kinda remembered his face, but not any name. “I’m the one who is in charge here. But a fair point. Can you spare someone to help Agnox? I rather him not make two trips, let alone risk someone stealing stuff that is meant for more than just me.”

“Sure, I doubt anyone else is coming out of the portal. Ken, help the flaming pig, and report back to the barracks. You're done for the day.”

“Yes Sir.” The guard stated and picked up two of the bags and followed Agnox.

Mathew didn’t say anything about his ‘name’ for Agnox. Instead he was carried off to the hospital. There have been a few minor changes to the area. The primary one was the increase in small personal vehicles.

He was currently being carried on what looked like a flatter pickup truck. It had six wheels and Mathew felt no bumps and barely any movement from the vehicle where he was in the open back.

Gloria was sitting next to him while someone else drove. She looked at Mathew’s chest, her eyes glazing over just as Bob’s did when he examined Mathew’s soul.

“I see you learned a thing or two from him.” Mathew said, not mentioning his name.

“Yes, and he learned from me. You will be happy to know I’m level 25 as of yesterday when Susan came out of the portal covered in sand. Snagged myself a Rare class called [Auramancer]. To put it simply, I specialize in body and soul medicine now.”

Mathew was proud, but realized something, “You went into the Dungeon too, didn’t you?”

“I did. Zack, Lucas, Brown, and several others. We expected you to join us, you know.”

“Yea, I kinda showed up last minute, I didn’t know the plan.”

They both rode in silence. Gloria scoffed and looked at him with arms crossed, “Not going to ask?”

“Ask what?”

“How many died.”

Mathew closed his eyes, wishing he was exhausted enough to sleep. “Don’t need to. I’ll be told later, and their deaths will be remembered by the public. Between you and me? I don’t really care. They knew the risks, and if they died for the greater good, then that is all I could have asked from them.”

“Typical. I had hoped you were going to pretend to be emotional.”

“Don’t need to be emotional to show you are proud. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want needless death. However, you don’t build an empire without having some blood on your hands.”

Gloria rolled her eyes, not that Mathew could see. “So, you are building an empire now?”

“We will talk about it later. Oh, don’t let me forget, I have a gift for you.”