NOVEL NEXT Adventures And Alliances
EXP - +5 (Spider Dungeon)
EXP - +5
EXP - +5
EXP - +5
EXP - 600
MP - ??
Three Months Later
It had been three months since Nyx’s victory in her first spider dungeon. The treasure she’d found there included three magic stones and a peculiar item called Emberroot. She wasn’t entirely sure what Emberroot was, so she sought out Len for an explanation.
Holding the knobby, crimson-hued root in her hand, she approached him, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Len, what exactly is this? It looks… spicy.”
Len chuckled, glancing down at the root. “Ah, Emberroot. It’s a rare find,” he said, his tone hinting at admiration. “Emberroot has a warm, spicy flavor, a bit like ginger but with a fiery kick. When you grate or grind it, it releases a soft, radiant heat. Alchemists use it in potions and elixirs for vitality, warding off chills, and boosting fire-based spells.”
Nyx raised an eyebrow, inspecting the root more closely. “So it’s pretty powerful?”
Len nodded. “Very. It usually grows in volcanic regions or places with high elemental energy. Healers and alchemists prize it for its unique properties.”
“Sounds useful,” Nyx mused, tucking the Emberroot away safely in Airy’s compartment. “Guess I’ll hold onto it until I really need it.”
After three months of training and dungeon raids, Nyx’s confidence soared. Her control over Echo Vision allowed her to assess dungeons before entering, giving her a new level of awareness. And, much to her excitement, Drac had gifted her a new skill.
New Skill
Authority
Time Travel
This skill lets the user step through time briefly, moving forward or backward by a few moments. In battle, it allows for swift dodges or surprise strikes. However, it requires significant energy and focus, as altering time can cause disorientation, fatigue, and glimpses of alternate outcomes
Level: ??
Nyx had practiced it sparingly, learning the balance of power and control it demanded. It wasn’t long before she acquired yet another skill, this time from Tiger.
New Skill
Blessing
Essence Drain
Description: This ability siphons life force or magical energy from enemies, restoring the user’s vitality or mana while weakening the target. Particularly effective against lower-level creatures, it provides Nyx with a steady source of strength while wearing down her foes
Level: S
Nyx was thrilled by her new abilities, but she couldn’t help noticing a competitive streak among the constellations, each eager to offer her a unique skill. The silent rivalry amused her, but she had to admit—gaining these abilities was exhilarating.
Drac also spent time observing her abilities to find synergies between them. After much testing, he discovered a powerful combination.
New Skill
ThunderClaw Slash
By merging Claw of Eternal with Lightning Mastery, Nyx could unleash powerful, lightning-charged slashes through the air. The electrified attacks generated arcs of crackling energy that struck with immense force, briefly stunning foes and leaving behind sparks that caused residual damage
Level: SS
The skill left her in awe, and she trained with Tiger and Drac regularly to master it. She noticed, however, something unusual in her system status.
Under her profile, new labels had appeared:
Class: ??
Titles: ??
Perplexed, she went to Drac for guidance.
“Drac, what’s with the ‘Class’ and ‘Titles’ status? It wasn’t there before,” Nyx asked, frowning as she showed him the screen.
Drac looked thoughtful. “Classes and titles are significant,” he explained. “Your class defines your specialization—whether you’re more inclined toward offense, defense, healing, or something else entirely. It’s a category that shapes your skills and abilities.”
Nyx’s eyes lit up with intrigue. “And titles?”
“Titles reflect your mastery level, skill rank, or even your reputation within that class,” Drac continued. “They tell others what you’re capable of.”
Nyx nodded, intrigued. “So… what class will I get?”
Drac shook his head, his expression unreadable. “That, I can’t tell you. Your class will reveal itself as you grow and refine your skills.”
Nyx sighed but smiled. “I guess I’ll just have to keep training, then.”
And with that, Nyx returned to her preparations, eager to see what her new skills—and future class—would hold.
***********************************************
Nyx continued her daily routine with the constellations, visiting each one as she had grown accustomed to. Every day, she brought food to the Fox, and he greeted her with a delighted grin. She still talked the Snake’s ear off, though he rarely replied with more than a patient flick of his tail or a barely perceptible nod. Griff’s cave remained as cluttered as ever, and she dutifully helped clean, though she knew he’d let it pile up again by her next visit.
Since the Peacock was the only one who ventured outside the forest, he often shared tales of the world beyond. During one of her visits, he decided it was time to introduce her to an important aspect of that world: currency.
The Peacock held up a small, shiny copper coin. “This is money, Nyx,” he explained, his voice smooth and patient. “It’s how people in the outside world trade for what they want and need.”
Nyx’s eyes widened as she inspected the coin. “Money? What do you use it for?”
The Peacock chuckled, placing the coin in her hand. “For everything, my dear. Food, clothing, even treasures. The world operates on something called Cenon dollars. They come in different values and are used across all kingdoms, though each kingdom’s design is unique to its culture.”
He showed her a few more coins and a crisp, shining note, explaining each one as he handed them over.
“This copper coin,” he said, tapping it, “is the smallest denomination. It’s worth one Cenon dollar—perfect for buying something like food.”
Nyx held the coin, her eyes full of curiosity. “And this one?” she asked, holding up a silver coin.
“That,” Peacock said with a smile, “is worth ten Cenon dollars. It’s what people use for larger purchases, like clothing.”
Nyx nodded, understanding. He continued with a gold coin and then a platinum note, describing how the wealthiest people used them for significant transactions, even property or royal trade.
“So each of these has a different value, and they’re all used differently?” Nyx asked, trying to process it all.
“Exactly,” Peacock replied, impressed with her quick grasp. “The copper, silver, and gold coins are used frequently, but the platinum note—well, only those with serious wealth tend to carry those.”
He handed her one of each denomination: a copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Nyx’s face lit up as she carefully stored them in Ori. “Now Ori finally has real treasure,” she said, grinning.
In addition to learning about currency and the outside world,
Nyx and her friends—Len, Ryu, Suli, Nabi, and Guerim—decided to have some adventures of their own. They organized their own treasure hunts, exploring each constellation’s territory with permission, though they all knew they would have explored with or without it.
They began in Griff’s territory, searching for glowing stones, rare herbs, and enchanted items hidden in the forest.
Moss-covered cave that stretched into the shadows. The air was cool and damp, with scattered patches of glowing mushrooms casting faint, ethereal light. Nyx stepped in first, her eyes scanning the dimness for anything that looked remotely like treasure.
“I’m a magical princess collecting treasures with my loyal friends,” Nyx declared playfully one day, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Alright, treasure hunters, keep your eyes open!” she declared, her voice filled with excitement.
Ryu grinned, holding up a small glowing stone he had found. “Well, Princess Nyx, here’s your first treasure.”
Guerim grinned, also holding up a small, polished stone that glowed faintly. “Found something!” he called, handing the stone to Nyx with a grin. “Not sure if it’s valuable, but it sure looks magical.”
Nyx examined it, her face alight with wonder. “Perfect! Our first treasure!” she said, carefully placing the stone in Airy.
As they continued through Griff’s territory, Nabi spotted a rare herb growing in a small patch of sunlight near the cave’s entrance. “Hey, Nyx, I think this might be something special. It has a really strong scent,” she said, holding up the herb for Nyx to see.
Nyx leaned in, breathing in the herb’s earthy aroma. “It’s perfect! We’ll call it our ‘Potion Herb’ treasure.” She tucked it away, her excitement only growing.
With each new item they found, her bond with her friends deepened. They laughed together, sometimes stumbling over tree roots or slipping on damp stones in their haste to find more treasures. Every discovery, big or small, felt like a victory, and each step through the territories revealed more of the forest’s hidden beauty.
They continued this way, venturing into each constellation’s domain, always with Nyx leading the charge as the “magical princess” and her friends close behind. When they finally finished their adventure for the day, Nyx looked at her friends, her heart full. They had explored together, uncovered treasures, and learned more about one another.
They laughed, explored, and shared stories, discovering new things about each other and the constellations they had come to care for.
With every adventure, she felt a growing sense of belonging—a feeling that these friends, and these constellations, were her family.