Name – Orion Star Storm
Familia – Marika Familia
Level – 1
[Stats]
Strength – I 98 > H 183
Endurance – I 86 > G 210
Dexterity – I 67 > H 143
Agility – I 52 > H 156
Magic – I 0
[Magic]
None
[Skills]
Soulslike…
Elden Lord…
Animus Ignus…
...
"Holy shit… look at that improvement." Orion almost teared up seeing his stats. That was his blood and sweat's reward.
Endurance showed the biggest jump, understandable, considering he had practically been a punching bag for Rick until now.
His strength also showed a big jump. Now he believed he could hit 100 push-ups daily.
Both Dex and Agi also improved by around 100 points.
"That's no joking matter, if memory serves right then this level of upgrade takes weeks for other adventurers in this world." He grinned again; the fruit of victory was sweeter than ever.
[So then—by mine grace poured into thee, thy runes are wrought into strength. The sole distinction being that I must do so from thy back…]
Marika pondered.
"Well it's actually not runes but Excelia, but they are very similar, so call it what you wish." Orion just shrugged it off.
Finally, after beating Rick, he needed some rest, and of course, that sweet-sweet status update.
So while he was at it, he also decided to update his goddess about this world. Better to do it before stepping out of the dungeon instead of after she goes around asking for trouble.
He could almost imagine her turning heads as she walked, alluring as she was, attracting all kinds of unwanted attention while behaving like a royal queen on a death march…
[So thou wouldst tell me that other gods walk this realm? That they descended from the heavens to dwell among mortals, granting this falna as though it were akin to a maiden turning runes to strength for a Tarnished?And that they cast aside their divinity to live as common folk… all for the sake of mere entertainment?]
Marika sounded almost like he had personally offended her. What sort of foolish gods dwell in this realm to act like such? She for once couldn't comprehend.
Orion decided to give his goddess a quick crash course on "It Is Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon…" with as much non-anime nonsense as he could muster.
Needless to say, it was quite a jarring conversation. Marika's own brand of old English didn't make the conversation any better; sometimes what she meant went right over his head.
"Yeah, that's basically the case. Though we'll know how much my theory is right once we get out of this dreaded dungeon." He said and pushed up to his feet, finally ready to leave the dungeon.
Marika didn't say anything for once. The idea of being in another world was already hammering too much at her brain, and she longed for her favourite brew back in Leyndell.
The capital city of her Golden Order.
Well, it had been centuries since she had some wine…
A nostalgic and melodic expression flashed over her features as she aimlessly drifted behind her Tarnished, finally getting out of this horrid dungeon.
The only one of its kind in this world, according to him.
Orion stumbled out of the stone archway like a man who had just escaped from the digestive tract of a very confused monster—which, given the nature of the dungeon in this world, wasn't too far from the truth.
He remembered there was a saying among the adventurers in Orario: The Dungeon is Alive.
It could think for itself and liked to strike when adventurers were at their weakest.
Cool night air slapped him in the face, and he blinked at the sight before him: towering walls, torch-lit streets, and the distant silhouette of Babel piercing the clouds like some divine middle finger to gravity.
Orion just let that moment cleanse him of all the fatigue and tension. But only for a moment.
"Orario."
He'd finally made it out.
Not that he could appreciate any of it. Half-dead, starving, and running on emotional fumes, he barely had the energy to admire a puddle, much less a legendary city. The night didn't help either; everything was dim and foggy.
"And my luck has it… it has to be the night… no wonder I didn't come across any adventurers in there." He muttered, not sure whether it was a good thing or just bad luck.
Before he could take two steps, a spear suddenly barred his path.
"You there! Are you insane? Entering the dungeon at night? Monsters are stronger after sundown!"The guard glared at him like Orion had personally offended his ancestors. Which most likely was the case, seeing how good the man looked doing his job—this couldn't be just mere determination, right?
Definitely it was in his genes. His family might as well have exclusive rights to the guarding duty.
Turns out when you're hungry, all sorts of nonsense come out of your head… Orion learned it first-hand today.
However, he was still covered in goblin fluids of various concerning colours and didn't wish to analyse the deficiencies of his own brain.
"…My bad?"
His voice came out hoarse, which somehow added to the "village idiot who tripped into a dungeon" vibe he was unintentionally radiating.
The guard sighed, pinched his nose, and waved him off like a disappointment he didn't have the energy to scold further. He almost seemed like this wasn't the first time he caught someone entering the dungeon.
An airheaded blonde happened to sneeze just right now…
"Just… go. And wash yourself. You smell like a drunken ogre's armpit."
'They have ogres in this world. Point noted…'
Orion saluted weakly and shuffled past, doing everything in his power not to look suspicious—which, ironically, made him look even more suspicious.
Marika's faint spirit hovered at his side, unseen by normal eyes.
['Tis a marvel thou wert not arrested on sight.]
She murmured dryly. She was certain that if a Tarnished like him came knocking inside Leyndell, covered in monster blood, she would have him thrown in a bath before being taken straight to the dungeons.
Orion ignored her. Mostly because his stomach growled loudly enough to drown out divine commentary.
Now out of the dungeon, real problems rushed him all at once.He had no money.No shelter.No identification.No clue how to pretend he belonged in a world where gods were apparently running around like tourists with too much free time and built-in lie detectors.
Yeah… gods here could tell lies. There was no lying to a god.
By morning he needed to register at the Guild, probably register his Familia—assuming having a sarcastic golden goddess squatting in his soul counted—and, preferably, avoid collapsing from hunger.
One crisis at a time, he told himself.
"Okay…
First order of business: food. Arguably the most necessary one…
Second: a place to sleep that wouldn't involve getting arrested by the city police…
Third: somehow pretend I understand anything about this world by sunrise. Intel gathering and a bloody map to find my way around this fucking maze…
…honestly, what kind of maniac does it take to build a city more confusing than my life choices…
Shaa… don't worry. Not a big deal. Totally manageable."
He groaned and trudged forward.
Yep.
He was absolutely doomed.
~o~
A/N : What I should do after this, any ideas. Should I make him establish his familar or perhaps go completely solo, no even registering with the guild. I'm still kind of pondering over the timeline I wanna put in in. Man... so much thinking.