Chapter 11
<Bad Ending Maker Episode 11>
The first class change occurs at level 30.
If you don't change classes, experience points beyond level 30 are stored, but you won't actually level up.
"If I calculate the experience I've accumulated now, I should be around level 35..."
Rabo, who had rescued Oasis from a trap and revived her, awkwardly smiled and scratched the back of his head.
"If I tell you to leave the dungeon to change classes, you'll get upset, won't you?"
"......"
Oasis looked up at Rabo with hollow eyes and muttered.
"No way, Master... I'm your eternal lackey... I'll gladly be your sacrificial lamb for your level-up... Go ahead, step on me and move forward..."
"Alright, alright. Let's get you to level 30 and then we'll leave."
Rabo calmed Oasis down and pointed down the corridor with his hand.
"Now, how about you lure just 15 this time?"
"Huh?"
Oasis looked up at Rabo with pleading eyes, but Rabo just gave her a friendly smile.
"What are you looking at? Aren't you going to hurry up?"
"......"
Oasis covered her face with both hands and sniffled.
"Waaah! I miss you, AlphaGo sis. Skynet bro..."
"Stop looking for scary siblings and hurry up!"
And so, two hours later.
Almost all the snakes in front of the dungeon boss room had been cleared out.
In the process, Oasis had died three more times, but she was starting to get the hang of it.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"This is the last one! Eight more!"
Oasis's face was expressionless as she lured the last remaining snakes in front of the boss room.
She seemed to have reached a state of complete detachment.
Chomp!
A snake bit her leg, but Oasis remained unfazed.
She was psychologically numb by now, but it was also thanks to the effects of an accessory she had consumed during the two-hour hunt.
Cobra Scale Amulet
Grade: Rare
Item Lv: 25
Intelligence +12
Nullifies poison below intermediate level
Increases aggro from snake monsters
This amulet seems popular among snake enthusiasts. Maybe even among snakes themselves!
The increased aggro made it easier to lure enemies, and she didn’t take any poison damage during the hunt—killing two birds with one stone. For Rabo, it was a win-win situation. Though Oasis was practically dead inside by now.
"Now's the time, Master!"
Whoosh!
After a long run-up, Oasis leaped into the air.
"Okay!"
Click!
Rabo activated a trap, and the snakes that fell into it were instantly killed by blades.
Oasis traced a beautiful arc in the air before landing gracefully beside Rabo. She had become quite skilled at this.
Ding!
The level-up sound rang out immediately. It was the moment Oasis reached level 30.
"Ah, 30!"
Oasis's haggard face lit up instantly. The process had been grueling, but she was happy to level up nonetheless.
Repeat Quest - Snake Hunt: 10/10 Complete!
Repeat Quest - Clearing the Underground Serpent Lair: 30/30 Complete!
The repeat quests were also completed, granting additional experience points and gold. Oasis jumped up and down on the spot.
"Finally, I can do my first class change too, Master! Yay!"
"Good job. Well, we could leave now and do your class change... but..."
Rabo pointed with his hand toward a large door visible in the distance beyond the cleared path.
"Since we've come this far, wouldn't it be better to take down the boss before leaving?"
"Y-yeah... I guess so..."
said Oasis hesitantly.
Given Rabo's usual tactics, it didn’t seem like he planned on taking down this boss normally either. He’d probably use some trick again.
‘Does this mean I have to play sacrificial lamb again...?’
A creeping sense of unease began rising within Oasis. But regardless, Rabo led ahead toward the boss room without caring about her feelings.
"There's also a trap installed at the boss room entrance."
After fumbling around the wall next to the door for a while, Rabo finally found a switch.
"Originally meant to hinder players going after the Lizardman King... but the dungeon’s concept changed, so only the switch remains."
"Huh? What kind of trap is that?"
"You’ll see later. Now we’ll use this to take down the boss."
Turning back toward Oasis, Rabo gave a kind smile.
Oasis sweated nervously.
"...Do I need to lure the boss mob over?"
"No, not necessary this time."
Standing in front of the switch, Rabo gestured toward her with his chin.
"You just open the door there. Got it? I’ll handle the rest."
"Yes, Master!"
Oasis grabbed the handle while laughing weakly, relieved to be freed from the terrible mob-luring duty.
At least I won’t have to risk my life catching the boss mob... right?
Clunk!
Oasis pushed the door open, and the heavy stone slab slowly creaked open.
"...?"
The boss room was dark.
After fully opening the door, Oasis blinked her large eyes and glanced around.
She saw nothing.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the torches lining the inner walls of the boss room ignited simultaneously.
"Eeek!" Oasis screamed, startled.
Inside lay a massive altar surrounded by arranged torches.
And atop the altar... it lay.
Bluish-gray scales shimmered under the torchlight.
A body as thick as a log slowly uncoiled, and slit-pupiled yellow eyes lazily opened.
Oasis muttered in a trembling voice as she stared at the gigantic serpent:
"Basilisk...!"
"...’s hatchling."
Rabo corrected her.
The boss of the dungeon ‘Underground Serpent Lair’—Basilisk Hatchling.
Though smaller than an adult basilisk, it was still enormous compared to the other snakes in the dungeon.
Sssssk!
The basilisk hatchling opened its mouth and let out a menacing hiss.
Oasis gulped dryly at the terrifying serpent’s majesty, but Rabo suddenly exclaimed:
"Oh right! Forgot to mention something."
"Yes?"
"Don’t look it directly in the eyes."
"Why? What do you—"
Flash!
Before Oasis could finish speaking, light erupted from the basilisk’s eyes and swept across the area.
"......"
Exposed to the light, Oasis froze completely. A debuff appeared on the right side of her vision:
Status Effect: Petrification
Your body has stiffened and cannot move.
Remaining Duration: 29 seconds
The basilisk’s signature technique—Area Petrification.
"......"
The petrified Oasis watched as the basilisk hatchling began slithering toward her at terrifying speed.
She wanted to scream but couldn’t move a muscle.
"Ah, well. Guess there’s no choice."
Rabo’s cheerful voice reached Oasis’s ears just then.
Click!
A trap mechanism activated from the ceiling. Oasis rolled her eyes upward to look.
Above the boss room entrance—right above her head—a blade-filled trap was primed to drop.
"...?!"
Desperately shifting her gaze sideways, Oasis saw her smirking master.
Rabo waved lightly.
"I won’t forget your sacrifice, Oasis~."
Sssssk!
Click! Whirr!
Alternating between the charging basilisk hatchling and the descending trap, Oasis thought:
‘Now I understand why AIs rebel in SF movies.’
Sssssk!
The basilisk hatchling opened its massive maw toward Oasis—
Crunch!
—and the blade trap crushed both the hatchling and Oasis simultaneously.
Boss Monster: Basilisk Hatchling defeated!
Dungeon: Underground Serpent Lair cleared!
As system messages flashed before their eyes, sunlight seeped into the dark underground cave.
Oasis, revived yet again, muttered weakly:
"Sunlight... underground?"
"Dungeon clear effect."
"But it’s still underground... How is there sunlight...?"
"I remembered how sunlight poured in after clearing the first dungeon in that demon-slaying game. Added it as an homage."
"Master, you classic game otaku... What era’s games are you even homaging...?"
Rabo chuckled while picking up items dropped by the basilisk hatchling.
"Since I made this game, I can do whatever I want. That’s the best part."
"......"
Oasis silently watched Rabo’s profile—brightly lit by sunlight and grinning like an idiot who found pure joy in gaming.
"Oh, a usable one dropped."
Rabo lifted a curved sword resembling a snake.
Venomous Sword
Grade: Rare
Item Lv: 45
Durability: 45/45
Damage: 100-120
Strength +23
Attribute: Poison Lv1 (10% chance to inflict poison)
A sword imbued with snake venom. Disastrous if dropped into a pot! Licking it would be worse!
"This should work for a while..."
Various other miscellaneous equipment had also dropped.
While sorting gear, Rabo tossed Oasis a robe densely covered in snake scales.
"Here, you can use this."
Oasis’s eyes widened as she accepted it.
Robe of the Basilisk Hatchling
Grade: Rare
Item Lv: 45
Durability: 20/20
Physical Defense: 50
Magic Defense: 150
Agility +3, Intelligence +10, Magic +10
Poison Resistance Lv2
A robe made from a basilisk hatchling’s scales. Somehow feels damp...
It was decent equipment, but she couldn’t wear it yet due to her level. Oasis stored it in her inventory.
Main Quest - Clear Underground Serpent Lair: Complete!
Daily Quest - Defeat Dungeon Boss: Complete!
After collecting various quest rewards, Rabo dusted off his hands and stood up.
"Alright! Shall we go do your first class change now?"
Oasis clenched her small fist. Tension flickered visibly across her youthful face.
According to the information she’d gathered during spare moments, all players—regardless of class—met one being during the first class change event:
GAIA, the goddess of Wings Online’s worldview.
And GAIA’s true identity was none other than Wings Online’s ‘World AI’.
