B3 | Chapter 81 - A Surprise Greeting
Alexia
The moment I step through the portal, I find myself standing in some sort of plaza surrounded by food stands and people without the entrance in sight. Meanwhile a System notification is floating in my vision, making me frown a little.
The Ten Year Event Selection has completed its initial period and the Dimension-Wide Dungeon’s portal has closed, thereby blocking access to any further Tiers of the Dungeon.
The Event will end once all users have left the Dungeon.
Users remaining inside the dungeon: 13
Once all of the users have left the dungeon, the timer for the Dimensional Championships will begin.
So I was right in my guess. I don’t get access to the fifth Tier of the dungeon because the event ‘ended’ before I got there.
Not that it matters. I’m not strong enough to fight in a Tier 5 dungeon even if I could get there, so I’d likely just be killed right away.
That lupin parasite alone was far too strong for me to fight, and I need to focus on clearing my requirements for ascension to Tier 5.
Now then.
I turn my slight frown on the people who are currently staring at me from the many food stalls and buildings around this place that was once an empty and barren land of nothing but stone but is now for some reason grassy plains. Then I glance at Luna, who is already returning to her bat form and flying away, abandoning me to the people here as she no doubt heads to her little nest back at The Retreat.
My attention returns to the people again when a rather… surprising… reaction comes from them to my presence.
And unsettling.
They start screaming in excitement while rushing over towards me.
I feel so shocked at this sight that I don’t even move away as they begin crowding me asking for autographs of all things.
What… is going on?
I try to sense around us, but I don’t recognize a single person on the island.
On the other hand, I recognize quite a few people off of the island. Including a couple scouts belonging to Lucas, some people working for The Retreat, and one of the people on the council of The Retreat. All of whom look happy to see me.
I also find some giants snooping around, who I am assuming work for the King of Giants, along with several other people who I don’t recognize.
Well, I guess it would be understandable for them all to keep an eye on the Dimension-Wide Dungeon’s location for when people leave. Only makes sense after all.
What doesn’t make sense are these people who look like tourists.
I teleport away from them after finally regaining my composure. Which isn’t hard since they at least kept a respectable distance from me, proving that they’re not stupid.
Although that ‘respectable distance’ probably should’ve been larger than it was.
But seriously. What happened here?
Oh, and I make sure to cut the head off of one of the people there before tossing him off the island. Because that person in particular tried throwing a knife at me, only for it to miss and hit the ground instead.
Surprisingly, no one reacts negatively to this.
Actually, they look rather excited.
And to add to that, the people here are clearly made up of people who aren’t from our Dimensional Block. Because there are a lot of species that weren’t in our Block before. Not to mention humans whose appearances aren’t from the regions our Block came from before the Reset.
I float in the air for several seconds as the people down below scream out either my name or “The Reaper”, or even things like “The Lady Reaper’s here!” and disturbing things that I won’t repeat. Almost like I’m some sort of idol. Or, in some cases, a goddess that some are worshiping.
Which is disturbing.
Where did these basket-cases come from? I really want to know.
Eventually I decide to just ask one of them by teleporting one of the saner ones up to me and holding him there as I ask, “What’s going on here?”
He looks at me with a smile on his face and a slight blush. Almost as if he’s shy about being this close to someone he idolizes. And without any hesitation or fear, he answers, “We’re waiting here to meet you, Lady Reaper!”
I glance down at the crazy people below as I mutter, “I get that.” I turn to look at him. “But why?”
The man – a dragonborn who I’m pretty sure should be waiting for and worshiping Ethan instead of me – answers rather simply, “Because you’re one of the great quantum beings, Lady Reaper!”
That… gives me pause.
Wait a second… is that… possible?
My attention focuses on the man’s body as I close my eyes and use my senses to scout him out for his magical energy. His affinity.
And after several seconds, my eyes shoot wide open and I hurriedly turn to look at the people on the ground. At which point I check them all as well.
What the hell?!
I turn back to the man again as I ask, “How did you all… how are there so many of you?!”
He answers again without missing a beat, “The Reset awakened many affinities and gave a new class option for every one of us.”
Holy shit…
Wait, please tell me they aren’t all going to suddenly start worshiping or looking up to me?! That would be terrifying…
I almost want these people to act like everyone else and be terrified of me.
Almost.
Actually, I do want those fanatic looking ones down there to do that. Because fear is better than fanaticism.
Putting that aside for now though, did they really camp out here just to see me when I leave?
I look at the bunch of people of various different species and ethnicities even within those species, only to sigh after a while.
Well then.
What the hell am I supposed to do with over a hundred people with quantum affinities?