Nightclown took a deep breath.
He checked his HUD. His EXP bar was filling up steadily. The fights were still challenging. But less so with each new encounter.
He was learning. He was growing. This was exactly what he needed.
He moved deeper into the North Dungeon. The tunnels twisted and turned. Occasionally opening into small chambers filled with more of the bouncing, rolling menaces.
He encountered groups of two. Then three again. Sometimes even a lone one that was easily dispatched. Each encounter honed his reflexes. Tightened his timing.
He learned to conserve his energy. To deliver powerful, precise strikes. Rather than wild flurries. He learned how to anticipate their shifts from Rolling to Bouncing form. Striking at the precise moment they were most vulnerable.
The dungeon was a monotonous grind. But a productive one. The constant thumping and crashing of Bouncers and nunchaku became a familiar rhythm. Time flew by.
He felt the subtle shift in his body. The increased agility that wasn't just from practice. But from actual stat growth. Though the simple stats in his system still only showed [Speed: ✪✪], he was pretty sure that he was much faster than he used to.
And stronger too. The fights felt less like desperate scrambles. And more like confident, if still challenging, duels.
He had finished a particularly brutal fight against four Bouncers in a broader chamber. One that allowed them to use more chaotic charges. Complicating the encounters. He won though.
His HUD notification flashed again.
[Bowling Bouncer defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +50 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 6]
He let out a tired but satisfied sigh. Level 6. Two levels under one hour. The feeling of progression was exhilarating. He checked his inventory again.
[==Consumables==]
[ o Coins: 108]
[ o Main EXP: Growth Carrots (x0)]
[ o Permanent: -]
[ o Temporary: -]
[ o Healing: Recovery Cabbages (x6)]
[ o Raw Material: Ironwood Branches (x4), Stones (x32), Copper Ores (x4), Iron Ores (x5), Silver Ore (x1), Mystic Iron Ores (x6)]
The coins were piling up. He had regained the ones he used for crafting the nunchaku. Even more.
The only type of loots he gained from the Bowling Bouncers was mystic iron ore. He suspected it would be useful for crafting or upgrades later on.
He was getting stronger. Definitely. Despite no change in the stats in his status panel. Still...
[===Attributes===]
[Power: ✪]
[Speed: ✪✪]
[Vigor: ✪]
[Sense: ✪✪]
[Magic: ✪]
[Drive: ✪]
[Charm: ✪]
Nightclown sighed. The dungeon still stretched on. But his daily time in Toonworld was ticking down. He could see the small, glowing clock icon in the corner of his HUD, and on his orange wrist watch. Slowly winding towards zero.
He still got time. A few minutes. Probably not enough for another combat confrontation. But for a small exploration, it should be fine.
He decided to explore a small, rocky crevice he'd noticed earlier. Half-hidden behind a large, crumbling pillar.
It looked like a dead end. But something about its unnatural formation drew his attention. He squeezed through the narrow opening. His athletic hare body just barely fitting.
The passage was short. Opening into a small, circular alcove. And there it was. A treasure chest. It wasn't ornate or grand. Just a simple wooden chest with a cartoonish, large, shiny lock. A small sparkling effect hovered around it.
Nightclown approached it cautiously. No traps. No guarding monsters. He reached out and the lock automatically disappeared. He easily opened the lid.
Inside, resting on a bed of cartoonish velvet, was a single, large, purple vegetable. It looked like an eggplant. But pulsed with a faint, vibrant glow. He grabbed it.
[ITEM ACQUIRED: Vigor Eggplant (x1)]
[Inventory > Permanent] updated.
He immediately looked at its description.
[Vigor Eggplant]: A super rare, mystical vegetable that permanently increases Vigor by one star. Consumption is immediate and irreversible.]
He didn't hesitate. This was the kind of item that could change things. He looked at the eggplant in his hand. It was surprisingly light, almost ethereal.
He bit it. A soft, POP! sound effect accompanied its disappearance. As he consumed it instantly.
His HUD glowed...
[Vigor has permanently increased by one star!]
[Vigor: ✪✪]
[Effect: Doubles resilience; allows for an additional 30 minutes of Toonworld access per day. Total daily Toonworld access... 1 hour 30 minutes.]
A wide grin spread across Nightclown's face. "An hour and a half!" He exclaimed. His voice echoing slightly in the small alcove.
This was huge. That extra half-hour meant more grinding time. More exploration. More power. It wasn't just about fighting. It was about the fundamental resource utilization of his Toonworld access.
This made his effort worthwhile. Concrete proof of his growing power. His two-star Vigor meant he could take more hits, too. Definitely a good day.
He quickly scanned the alcove again. Making sure he hadn't missed anything, then squeezed back out into the main tunnel. With renewed energy, he pushed deeper. He had more time now. And he intended to use every minute.
The subsequent battles continued to refine his skills. He handled the Bowling Bouncers with increasing confidence.
In fact, he found himself experimenting with his nunchaku. Trying different angles. Different types of strikes.
Sometimes, he would use the flat side for a wide sweep. Other times, he would use the blunt tip for a precise jab into a weak point.
He was turning into a proper Rogue. At least in using his weapon. Nimble, flexible, and cunning.
He cleared out several more chambers. The bodies of defeated Bouncers dissolved. Leaving their characteristic loots. Toon coins and occasional mystic iron ore.
The ore was proving to be a consistent drop. Which was promising. He was no longer just fighting for survival. He was fighting efficiently. Maximizing his gains.
The clock in his HUD was ticking down. Now showing less than ten minutes remaining. He was in the middle of a small, winding path. Having just dispatched a pair of Bouncers without taking a single hit.
He felt good. Strong. More incredible than he'd ever been. He decided to push for one last encounter. He sighted another lone Bouncer bouncing idly in a side passage.
He charged. A blur of grey fur and blue cloth.
The Bouncer saw him. It initiated its [Rolling Charge!]. But Nightclown was faster. A swift dodge. A brutal strike to its side before it could fully commit. Then two more rapid blows.
THWACK! WHAM! WHAM!
The Bouncer let out a surprised growling sound before it crumpled. Shattering into a cascade of pixels.
[Bowling Bouncer defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +50 XP!]
[You have gained a Level!]
[Current Level: 6]
"Yes!" Nightclown shouted. A triumphant punch of his fist into the air. Level 7. Three level increase. That was a solid progress for a single session.
He quickly checked his inventory one last time. As the Toonworld timer started to run out.
[==Consumables==]
[ o Coins: 141]
[ o Main EXP: Growth Carrots (x0)]
[ o Permanent: Vigor Eggplant (x0)]
[ o Temporary: -]
[ o Healing: Recovery Cabbages (x6)]
[ o Raw Material: Ironwood Branches (x4), Stones (x32), Copper Ores (x4), Iron Ores (x5), Silver Ore (x1), Mystic Iron Ores (x8)]
Not bad at all. He had more than a hundred coins. Enough for some basic purchases. And a good stack of crafting material. And he was level 7. The next time he came back, he would be even stronger. Ready to delve deeper.
The world around him began to shimmer. The vibrant colors of the toon dungeon wavering like a poorly tuned television screen.
The sounds faded. Replacing the faint thumps and crashes with calming silence. Nightclown nodded. A sense of accomplishment settling over him. He was ready to go.
The flickering intensified. The faded colors grew brighter. Until the entire toon landscape exploded in a flash of light.
Nightclown felt the familiar tug. A sensation like being pulled through a cartoon vacuum. Just as quickly as he had entered, he was gone.
Jester reappeared in his bedroom. Lying on his bed. The Toonworld Watch on his palm was now inert. Glowing faintly before settling into a dull brass pocket watch. The hour and a half was up. But the progress was real.
He checked his Status Panel.
===[STATUS PANEL]===
[Name: Jester Eventide]
[Soulheart Gear: Toonworld Watch]
[Codename: Nightclown]
[Level: 07]
[Class: Rogue]
[Profession: -]
[Power: ✪]
[Speed: ✪✪]
[Vigor: ✪✪]
[Sense: ✪✪]
[Magic: ✪]
[Drive: ✪]
[Charm: ✪]
[Personality: Jolly Prankster]
[Personality: Smartass Comedian]
[Passive Traits: Toon Physique]
[Active Traits: Stretch!]
[Ranged Weapon: -]
[Melee Weapon: Wild Nunchaku]
[Combat Tool: -]
[Utility Tool: -]
[Costume: Sporty Outfit]
[==Consumables==]
[ o Coins: 108]
[ o Main EXP: Growth Carrots (x0)]
[ o Permanent: Vigor Eggplant (x0)]
[ o Temporary: -]
[ o Healing: Recovery Cabbages (x6)]
[ o Raw Material: Ironwood Branches (x4), Stones (x32), Copper Ores (x4), Iron Ores (x5), Silver Ore (x1), Mystic Iron Ores (x8)]
Compared to his initial status panel, this one was much better. It could still be improved. A lot. But, it was definitely great harvest today.
Jester was satisfied. He relaxed even more on his bed.
But when he glanced at the alarm clock beside his bed, Jester sat up immediately. He turned on the light. Looking at it with disbelief. He checked the regular clock dial of his Toonworld Watch.
He even checked the wall clock in the other room. It was... time dilation? He was sure he entered the Toonworld at exactly eleven. He spent an hour and a half there. It should have been twelve thirty now.
But it was still twelve. Only an hour has passed. The additional thirty minutes from his [Vigor] level up didn't affect the time on Sherra.
Jester grinned widely...