The air in Arthur's lab, still thick with the scent of ozone and the lingering tension of recent events, began to settle.
Cinder was gone, defeated and frustrated, her grand schemes unraveling.
Arthur, the Adolescent Reality Blending Cosmic True Dragon, had seen to that.
His main mission, Prevent the Fall of Beacon and Protect Vale from Invasion, was complete. The city was safe, for now.
And with that completion came the rewards.
A rush of power coursed through him, making the very air around him hum.
His parameters, already formidable, surged upward:
[Parameter]
* Name: Arthur Leywin Stark
* Alias: Adolescent Reality Blending Cosmic True Dragon
* Level: 6
* Pow: S-917
* End: S-967
* Dex: S-952
* AGI: S-915
* MAG: S-987
A new wave of strength, resilience, and magical prowess filled him. His very being felt more robust, more… divine. And then came the new additions to his abilities:
[Skill]
* Dragon Gods' partner
* Authority of Sloth
* Authority of Greed
* King (New)
* Low Tier Godling (New)
[Power]
* Dragonic Shot
* Dragonic Canon
* Dragonic Heal
* Dragonic Cure
* Dragonic Hand
* Dragon's heart
* Dragon's Aura (New)
* Super Focus
* Reality Blending (Partial Released)
The most striking additions were "King" and "Low Tier Godling." He had become a god.
A low-tier god, yes, but a god nonetheless.
The implications were immense. His very presence now exuded a subtle, undeniable authority, the kind that made others instinctively want to obey.
His Dragon's Aura, a reward from completing his mission, pulsed around him, a tangible extension of his newfound divine power, making his soul even more potent.
He glanced down at Neo, still held firmly in his grasp.
The small assassin, who had just tried to kill him, lay surprisingly compliant, a faint blush on her cheeks.
The irony wasn't lost on him. He had just gone from stopping a world-ending plot to gaining a silently submissive follower.
This was a complication, to say the least.
Arthur shifted his grip on Neo, allowing her a bit more comfort while still maintaining absolute control.
Her body, small and delicate, felt surprisingly warm in his hold. The strange, quiet agreement they had just reached still echoed in the lab.
"So, Neo,"
Arthur began, his voice a low, thoughtful murmur that seemed to fill the space.
"You understand what this means, don't you? No more working for Roman or Cinder. Your loyalties are with me now."
Her mismatched eyes, still wide and fixed on his, gave another small nod. It was a clear and unwavering affirmation.
There was no hesitation, no doubt. Just that strange, captivating surrender.
He released one of her wrists, gently letting her arm fall back to the ground, but he kept his other hand firmly on her shoulder, preventing any sudden movements.
She didn't try to move. She just lay there, gazing up at him, her breathing soft and even.
"Good," he said, a faint smile touching his lips. "Because I have plans, big plans, and they don't involve assassins running around causing trouble for anyone but my enemies."
He paused, looking around his lab. The air was still humid, but now it felt less tense, more… expectant.
"My next goal is to help Penny Polendina become human. It's a rather delicate process, and it will require my full attention. You, little pixie, will be useful."
Neo's eyes flickered slightly at the mention of Penny, but her gaze quickly returned to him, unwavering. She seemed to be soaking in every word, every nuance of his voice.
"You're a skilled fighter, I'll give you that," Arthur continued, reflecting on her earlier, futile attack. "Even if your weapon couldn't scratch me."
He gestured vaguely towards the shattered pieces of her umbrella on the table.
"You're stealthy, too. Useful for information gathering, for discreet tasks. And," he added, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "it seems you're quite good at following orders when the right person gives them."
He felt the subtle tremor in her body, a slight shiver that wasn't from fear. It was anticipation, a quiet eagerness. This was going to be interesting.
Arthur slowly released his grip on Neo' allowing her to sit up. She did so gracefully, her movements fluid and silent, like a shadow.
She sat on the floor, cross-legged, still looking up at him, her silent presence almost unnerving in its intensity.
"Alright, then,"
Arthur said, standing fully and stretching slightly, the new surge of power making his every movement feel effortless.
"First things first. You'll need new clothes. Something less… assassin-like."
He thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers.
A simple, dark tunic and trousers, made of a soft, breathable fabric, appeared on a nearby chair.
"Change into these. They'll be more comfortable."
Neo's eyes widened fractionally at the sudden appearance of the clothes, but she didn't question it.
She simply stood up, picked them up, and vanished behind a large piece of equipment in the corner of the lab.
A few moments later, she reappeared, clad in the new attire. It fit her perfectly, making her look less like a deadly operative and more like a quiet, observant apprentice.
"Much better,"
Arthur approved.
"Now, about your duties. You'll stay here, in my lab. You'll assist me with my projects, primarily with Penny. You'll also be my eyes and ears. No one will suspect you. You're a ghost, aren't you?"
Another nod from Neo. She seemed to understand. Her role was to be his silent aide, his shadow, his loyal servant.
Arthur walked over to his main console, a complex array of glowing crystals and intricate diagrams.
The schematics for Penny's human transformation were laid out, complex and challenging, but now, with his new level of power, they seemed much more achievable.
"The world is still a mess, even with Cinder's immediate threat neutralized," he mused aloud, more to himself than to Neo.
"There are other forces at play, other shadows lurking. And now that I am… well, a god, even a low-tier one, my responsibilities have grown."
He felt the weight of his new title, Low Tier Godling, settle upon him. It wasn't just a label; it was a fundamental shift in his being.
He wasn't just a powerful individual anymore; he was a force of nature, a mover of mountains, a wielder of cosmic energies. His very will could influence reality.
He glanced at his inventory display: $215,154,500, 190,154,500 Valis, and 1,521,590 Gold Coins.
Financial resources were no longer an issue. He had enough wealth to rebuild cities, fund armies, or, more importantly, acquire any rare materials needed for Penny's transformation.
The 320 Dungeon Points were also a curious addition, a resource he had yet to fully explore but held immense potential.
They could be used not just to go up and down inside the tower dungeon.
"My focus now is on Penny," Arthur declared, turning to Neo.
"She deserves to be human, to live a life beyond being a weapon. And you, Neo, will help me achieve that."
Neo met his gaze, her mismatched eyes shining with an almost zealous devotion.
Her quiet presence was no longer a threat, but a comforting weight in the lab.
A strange, unexpected, but ultimately useful, alliance had been forged in the humid air of Arthur's sanctuary.
The path of a god was rarely simple, and Arthur Leywin Stark, the Adolescent Reality Blending Cosmic True Dragon, was just beginning to understand the full scope of his new power.
He had achieved one victory, and now, with an unlikely ally by his side, he was ready for the next.
The world of Remnant, still unaware of the new divine player on its stage, was about to change in ways no one could have predicted.
If the two bastard gods could not do their job. He would be the one to fix it.
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