Chapter 159: Florida Man Accidentally Creates World's Strongest Dwarf Knight While Attempting to Douse Himself in Crude Oil
<Your inventory is full. The rewards will be delivered in front of your resident.>
<You have received a new main quest.>
Felix\'s smile slowly faded as the details of the new main quest appeared on the screen.
…
Main Quest #10 - Preparing for Upcoming Chaos
Due to the interference in the demon god\'s resurrection and upcoming scenario quests, the system has revised your next steps. Initially, this quest was designed to guide you gradually into this magical world. However, time is now of the essence.
This is a time-limited quest. Failure to complete all objectives within the set time will result in a permanent loss of main quests. You will be forced to challenge future scenario quests unprepared.
Mission - Complete the following objectives:
1. Increase mastery of these skills to "Beginner":
- Flame Breathe
- Fireball Spitting
- Flame Mana
- Flame Aura
- Mana Manipulation
2. Learn and master two of these skills to "Entry" level:
- Metallurgy
- Illumina Ball
- Water Creation
- Poison Spit
- Aura Invocation
Rewards:
- One-Day Chrono Gym Ticket (Class D)
- Max level increase to 50
Time Limit: 10 days
Penalty: Failure will result in the permanent loss of main questline support.
…
Felix\'s hopeful grin froze as he absorbed the enormity of the tasks ahead. The objectives alone seemed daunting enough, but the strict deadline made it feel impossible.
His heart sank as he muttered, "Ten days? Seriously? There\'s no way I can achieve all of this in time!"
He clutched his head, despair at the thought of losing the main quest entirely.
But then, Jessica, his emotionless system guide, appeared with some valuable information.
<It\'s possible to complete the quest, Felix. However, you will need the One-Day Chrono Gym Ticket to accomplish everything in time. This item is currently on sale in the system shop.>
With renewed hope, Felix opened the system shop, eagerly searching for this crucial item. His Democracy Pass had just been upgraded to Class D, so he figured the ticket might be more accessible now.
He scrolled through the clutter of consumables, finally finding the hidden gem buried among other temporary perks.
…
One-Day Chrono Gym Ticket (Class D)
The Chrono Gym is a specialized training facility exclusive to phoenixes. Each class offers a different time dilation ratio. For Class D, the ratio is 1 day in reality to 1 year in the gym. Train for a year while only one day passes in the real world. Perfect for those with tight deadlines.
Effects:
- Grants access to the Class D Chrono Gym for one day.
Price: 1,000,000 years of lifespan
…
Felix\'s relief quickly turned to panic as he stared at the cost displayed in front of him. His eyes widened in disbelief.
1,000,000 years of lifespan!
"A million years?!" he muttered, rubbing his temples as anxiety started to settle in. This task had just gone from challenging to outright insane.
<You don\'t have much time to waste, Felix. Start grinding. The clock is ticking.>
"I know, I know! But how… OH!" Felix\'s frustration was about to boil over, but then, like a spark of inspiration, a memory came rushing back.
He had earned 250,000 years of lifespan in just three days before—by burning himself with mana oil.
He could do it again.
Without wasting another second, Felix snapped into action. He turned toward Jagged Beard and Diana while his mind already came up with a solution.
"Jessica!" Felix called out urgently. "Draft me a magic contract for both of them—quickly! I need to send her back to my place while I handle this. No time to explain!"
Jessica nodded mechanically and immediately began drafting the contract, lines of magical text forming in mid-air, floating in front of Jagged Beard and Diana.
The contract would bind Diana and Jagged Beard, allowing Felix to manage their presence and teleport them at will. In exchange, they would be forced to serve under him as his \'employees\'.
Meanwhile, Felix strapped on his jetpack and blasted off into the sky, his body cutting through the air with urgency. He needed to get back to his flying island fast.
Diana, watching from below, was confused by Felix\'s abrupt departure. She took off after him, concerned.
However, before she could catch up, Felix turned mid-flight and barked, "Stay where you are, Diana! Sign the magic contract. I\'ll summon you to my place later. And whatever you do, don\'t touch the barrier dome—you could die!"
The lamia queen froze in mid-air, perplexed. Felix\'s tone was stern, and she could sense the urgency in his voice. He wasn\'t being reckless—he was in the middle of something serious.
"Is this… a timed quest, Felix?" Diana called out.
"Yeah, the quest says I have ten days, but with everything going on, I might only have one day to actually finish it!"
Diana\'s eyes widened in understanding.
A time-limited main quest. She had been through one herself—years ago. The stress, the racing against the clock, the constant pressure… it was overwhelming. She had barely survived hers, and she recalled how she ended up in a coma for half a year afterward.
"I see…" Diana nodded, now fully understanding the gravity of Felix\'s situation. This wasn\'t the time for questions or hesitation.
Felix vanished into the flying island\'s external barrier dome, leaving Diana and Jagged Beard alone underneath the flying island.
The lamia queen hovered in mid-air while her serpentine tail swayed as she watched Felix disappear. As for the dwarf, he stood motionless on the massive anchor chain. The two exchanged brief glances.
With a grunt, Jagged Beard began descending the chains with surprising agility despite his shackles. His blistered hands gripped the links with precision. He made his way to the lifeless body of Kim Jung, his former master.
The sight of the man\'s twisted corpse stirred something primal in the dwarf—rage, bitterness, and the suffocating weight of his curse.
Out of pure spite, Jagged Beard spat on the corpse. His saliva sizzled against the blood-soaked dirt.
But that wasn\'t enough. He let out a low growl with anger. Without aura, his body couldn\'t muster the explosive strength of an aura knight, but he made do with what he had. The dwarf lifted his thick, calloused boot and brought it down on Kim Jung\'s head.
*Crunch*
He stomped again. And again. Each blow was a futile attempt to regain control of a life, which was stolen from him by the curse, branded across his chest.
Despite Kim Jung\'s death, the curse remained. Jagged Beard couldn\'t speak, couldn\'t summon his aura, and was forever trapped in a cage of magical chains. His grumbling, deep and guttural, was the only sound he could make as he kicked the body with increasing frustration.
But then, Jagged Beard\'s gaze shifted to the floating magical contract text hanging in the air, shimmering like an illusion. He paused and carefully approached it.
He may have been a slave, but he wasn\'t a fool. Dwarves knew the dangers of magic contracts all too well, for signing without caution could result in becoming a pawn in twisted games of necromancers, black mages, or worse.
His eyes scanned the contract thoroughly, reading every line and clause with suspicion. He was wary of any trickery or hidden clauses that might make him a guinea pig or throw him into even worse hands.
But as he continued reading, Jagged Beard began to realize something unusual. Felix\'s magic contract wasn\'t like the cursed brands of his past masters. It didn\'t bear the hallmarks of dark magic or manipulative bindings.
It was direct, almost too simple. It promised freedom for cooperation and fair terms.
His shackles would remain intact, but there was a clause that intrigued him—clauses about human rights, employee welfare, guaranteed monthly payment, and free quality food. Moreover, he didn\'t have to work 24/7 like before as the clauses limited his job from 9 to 5. This didn\'t include holidays and freedom during his free time.
Felix, unlike Kim Jung, didn\'t seem interested in absolute control or lifelong enslavement.
The dwarf\'s brow furrowed.
Could he really trust this?
Could he trust the mysterious naked human, the weirdo who had just headshot Kim Jung without a second thought?
Jagged Beard glanced back at Diana.
The lamia queen still floated nearby. her radiant form was elegance and sexy. Judging from their interaction earlier, Jagged Beard figured that she might be his bodyguard, consort, servant, or worse, his personal slave.
With a deep breath, Jagged Beard made a decision. He raised his hand, slowly reaching toward the contract. His fingers hovered above the glowing text, and then, with a determined grunt, he pressed his thumb into the signature box, signing the contract.
He wasn\'t sure if he was stepping into salvation or another trap, but anything was better than this cursed life.
The contract shimmered and dissolved into thin air. It was completed.
Resigned to his fate, Jagged Beard stood firm, sending his unwavering at Diana. Despite her nakedness, it stirred nothing in him. After all, he wasn\'t interested in female monsters.
Diana, however, eyed the dwarf with curiosity. She had encountered dwarves before and even slain a few reincarnated ones. They had always proven to be excellent craftsmen and formidable warriors.
She wondered what Felix intended to do with this one. She descended and landed on the ground to check him up close.
As she approached Jagged Beard for a closer look, her eyes narrowed in recognition.
There was a curse brand on his chest.
"You there," Diana pointed at the dwarf, "Are you cursed?"
Jagged Beard silently nodded, though his eyes remained defiant, locking onto her face. Even though her voluptuous figure was in plain view, he paid it no mind.
Diana\'s lips curved into a smile, amused by his resolve. "I see traces of black magic on you. Well, aren\'t you a lucky one? Since you\'ve chosen to cooperate with my husband, I think you deserve a reward. Just make sure to repay us with loyalty and hard work, understood?"
Jagged Beard\'s eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth hung open in shock.
What?
Could this be real?
Could this be his miracle?
Before he could fully grasp what was happening, Diana gracefully twirled her fingertip through the air, drawing intricate patterns of magic circles made of water. Seven interlocking circles formed, like the gears of some ethereal machine.
A shimmering water beacon emerged from beneath Jagged Beard, enveloping him in a pillar of liquid. Yet, despite the torrent, the dwarf stood firm, breathing effortlessly as the water surged around him.
The grime and filth clinging to his body were washed away. The dark tattoo etched into his chest began to dissolve, and black liquid seeped out of his pores and orifices, vanishing into the swirling waters.
*BA-DUM*
Suddenly, his heart pounded with renewed vigor. The curse that had shackled his strength for centuries was shattered, unleashing a surge of dormant energy. His long-sealed aura began circulating freely throughout his body.
But that wasn\'t all. His aura, which had once flowed sluggishly, now surged effortlessly through previously blocked meridians as if barriers within him had been dissolved.
*RUMBLE*
A powerful burst of energy erupted from Jagged Beard. His strength soared and his aura surged to a new height. In an instant, he had jumped from a four-star aura knight to five-star power!
Jagged Beard could barely believe it.
His body hummed with untapped energy.
His curse was banished, and his newfound freedom finally within reach.
Unable to suppress his emotion, Jagged Beard knelt. His eyes watered as he tried to speak in ages.
"T-T-Thank y-you."
Diana widely grinned, "Don\'t thank me. Thank HIM! He is the one who granted me a new life and this power. He\'s also the owner of this place."
Jagged Beard\'s eyes brightened. He nodded and gazed at the flying island in admiration.