CHAPTER 265: VALKYRIE STATS

"Alright, I’ll go first," Nyx murmured with a grin, summoning her status screen with a snap of her fingers. She didn’t need to make such a gesture, but the Space Valkyrie liked the extra flare.

[Nyx Cosmos]

[Class: Space Valkyrie]

[Level: 23 – XP: 21791/23000]

{Vitality: 44}

{Strength: 18}

{Agility: 20}

{Endurance: 42}

{Mana: 60}

{Magic: 136}

She deliberately sat with her back to Diaz, shielding herself from the prying eyes. Vaelira and her gang were hidden in the alcove, so for now, only the rogue had to be kept in mind. The conversation instantly dropped into hushed tones.

"Magic’s where it’s at," Nyx whistled softly, tapping the glowing number. Though, perhaps ’pointing at it’ would be the more accurate description as she couldn’t physically touch the status screen. Nevertheless, she explained,

"Telekinesis is one of the most versatile and unique spells I’ve ever heard of, and as a result, it has a very steep learning curve. The more mastery I gain, the better use of the spell I can make. But beyond experience and mastery, it scales with raw magical might. The more Magic stat I have, the more weight and speed I can juggle. This is why I can handle more than one dagger now..."

Aria leaned in, and her eyes narrowed with something between curiosity and envy. "You’re not just a mage like me, though. Your Endurance and Vitality... they’re respectable. You’re getting sturdy, Nyx."

"Jealous?" the pink-haired beauty teased.

Before Aria could answer, Luna smirked and fired off her own theory.

"Of course she is. The sturdier you are, the more and bigger hits you can take for Kai... Unlike Miss Glasscanon over here."

Aria paused... blinked once... and said absolutely nothing.

Not even a glance was sent toward the Storm Valkyrie. She was thoroughly ignored as if her very existence was forgotten.

Instead, Aria brought forth her own status screen.

[Status: Aria Levander]

[Class: Moon Valkyrie]

[Level: 23 – XP: 22917]

{Vitality: 20}

{Strength: 20}

{Agility: 20}

{Endurance: 20}

{Mana: 112}

{Magic: 132}

She gestured toward the Mana stat with a bit of annoyance evident on her delicate features. "My spells burn through mana far too quickly. I’m not like you Nyx... Your spells are more mentally straining than mana draining. As such, I need heavy investment into both Mana and Magic, or I’d quickly become useless."

"You’d shoot your load far too quickly, is what you’re saying, hmm..." Luna teased but was, once again, ignored.

"So boring..." she sighed and revealed her status window.

Luna sighed and summoned her own status window with a flick of her hand, the ethereal screen blooming to life with a crisp hum.

[Status: Luna Aster]

[Class: Storm Valkyrie]

[Level: 24 – XP: 1100/24000]

{Vitality: 42}

{Strength: 40}

{Agility: 100}

{Endurance: 38}

{Mana: 42}

{Magic: 68}

She leaned back smugly, letting the numbers do the talking. Well, she wanted to, but it only lasted for a single second. Her inner geek simply had to explain. When it came to the topic of grinding XP and stats, only Luna could match Kaiden’s enthusiasm.

"I’ve got the movement, the reflexes, the burst... My build’s made for fast, decisive strikes, focusing on Magic and Agility. But I do my best not to neglect the rest."

She then began counting off on her fingers. "I need Vitality because I’m not arrogant enough to think I won’t get hit—thankfully, because I’ve already taken a few hits. Then I need Strength to properly handle my [Stormblade], Endurance so I don’t turn into a wheezing mess after a few seconds of running around with my high Agility, and Mana because I’m a hybrid fighter, I have some turbo badass spells I want to cast as much as possible."

"I already knew you were going for this build, but still. That’s a really clean spread. I’m impressed," Nyx murmured.

"Well, duh," Luna smirked while her eyes sparkled with smug pride. "I’m the only one who can jump into the fray with Kai, so I need to be capable of holding my own. I refuse to be a damsel in distress who needs to be saved in critical moments. I’ll not only hold my own but even carry my team to victory."

Everyone’s attention shifted to Bastet, the last one who hadn’t showcased her status window just yet.

"Bastet, it’s your turn."

But the Ra-Blessed Felinid didn’t respond to her master’s words. Her ears twitched, picking up on the sound... but her golden eyes were half-lidded, lost in a different sort of trance entirely. The words didn’t reach her brain.

"She hasn’t stopped since the headpat..." Nyx sighed.

Kaiden seconded the tired sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I’ll handle it."

He reached over to the left, then to the right, toward her crotch. Her ears perked up the moment she sensed his presence... and then drooped submissively, her eyes fluttering open with a dazed look.

"Master...?" she purred with a husky voice.

"Show us your status window."

But instead of scolding or coldly ordering his subjugated lover, he forcefully pulled her hand away from her most sacred place so that she would have no choice but to pay attention.

He simply replaced it.

Bastet gasped with her entire back arching like a drawn bow. Kaiden’s fingers had slid into her underwear and parted her pussylips before brushing over her sensitive clit in one smooth, practiced stroke.

The sudden pleasure made her tremble.

Kaiden’s movements spoke louder than any words could. They said: "Show them, and I might just keep going."

The effect was instantaneous. A status window snapped into view.

[Bastet]

[Class: Solar Empress]

[Level: 24 – XP: 3865/24000]

{Vitality: 30}

{Strength: 32}

{Agility: 30}

{Endurance: 34}

{Mana: 102}

{Magic: 106}

"I can multitask, Master~" she purred, her voice trembling with anticipation as her fingers laced over his.

Without waiting for his command, Bastet began guiding his hand herself while rocking her hips back and forth.

Luna stared with eyes full of disbelief. "Never thought I’d say this, but if Bastet invested in Endurance instead of Mana and Magic, she could probably easily 1v1 Kai in the sheets... This woman has an incredible libido."

"Don’t tempt her," Nyx popped a bite of rations dinner into her mouth.

"Yeah... Let’s change topic before her brain registers that one," Aria sighed and reached for her part of the dinner. "But Kai, I expect equal treatment as your lover..."

"Naturally..."

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. Neither Diaz nor Vaelira tried anything; they simply rested in peace.

Now, it was time to begin the second day of the clear!

...

The next day, they didn’t greet them with mercy.

Only a few hours into the second day, the cursed atmosphere of the dungeon turned heavier as if the dungeon itself had begun to resent their progress. The Curse of Devouring Dominion, once just a minor inconvenience marked by the occasional stomach rumble and somewhat increased appetite, had grown. Now, it was a persistent ache gnawing at their insides. Worse still, it struck without warning.

Combat began to suffer.

Stomachs growled mid-strike. Focus slipped in flashes.

Kaiden, despite his usual composure, had to grit his teeth during a fight when his abdomen clenched with painful hunger pangs. It wasn’t natural. This wasn’t just physical starvation anymore; it was magical, spiritual, and deeply invasive.

And then it happened.