MMORPG: Rise of the Peerless Pumpkinmancer

A white-bearded NPC nervously paced around the Very Wet Lake when the space suddenly rippled. An unconventional party appeared from a blue portal: 2 humans and 2 pets! 

The man barely noticed their arrival. He only cared about the blue pearl the undead chicken was carrying. It was so damn beautiful and contained so much power! 

"Muhahaha, finally! That bastard hid it very well, but it has finally come back to me! With this, I'll regain my old strength!" He madly cackled as his body started changing from the excitement. 

< Misty Old Man Lv 40 💧☠> 

...Turned into —>

< Misty Olden Lake Elemental Lv 40 💧☠> 

He still looked human, but his body was now half see-through. His limbs weren't well defined either, only water tendrils. 

Upon seeing this change, the monk turned livid: 

"Why does this sound like a villain monologue?!" He whispered, worry in his voice. 

"Is it that surprising? The guy literally throws people in the lake to test their strength. Guess he couldn't enter the dungeon himself, so he sent us instead." Jack sighed. 

He could now remember an event that had happened long ago. There had been a commotion in the area with monsters going crazy. It was probably related to this quest… 

The monk shook as he suddenly understood many things: 

1. This explained the warning: [Be Careful How You Use It…..] 

2. Seeing the greedy eyes of the NPC, they wouldn't keep the pearl long. 

3. Had they just brought an incredible disaster upon this world?! Most probably!

There was just one thing he couldn't understand. How the hell was Jack still as calm as usual? 

The NPC suddenly waved a hand, a torrent of water rising from the lake. The spell turned into water dragons that headed right toward them! But the magic suddenly froze… 

"Are you really trying to steal it? How uncouth!" Jack's calm voice had seemingly stopped the assault…how?! 

His hand was right next to the pearl, almost touching it. At this moment, he was emitting as much Demonic Energy as he could, showing off his Ghoulish Touch spell. 

"Threatening to corrupt it? Do you think this will affect me? Water has cleansing properties, hahaha!" The elemental laughed, glancing at the player with ridicule. 

"Oh, is that so? Have fun cleansing for the next decade then." Jack simply stated as he faked to make a move. 

"NOOOO, Wait!!!" The NPC screamed in anguish. 

He saw the human's teasing smile a second later and suddenly felt his misty body turning colder. Who the heck was that man?! Jack was giving him an ultimatum: 

1. Take the pearl by force but be forced to cleanse it for ages. After all, he wanted to fuse with it, and a single thread of Demonic Energy would be deadly. 

2. Negotiate with the human so that he'd hand the pearl over willingly. 

At this moment, the level 40 NPC (sealed) was forced to hear a puny human out. How disgraceful! Still, it was the only logical thing to do… 

"I promise I'll help you with your issue, so hand it over."

"Life Vow." Jack lazily replied. 

"Are you crazy?! Do you even know what you're asking?!" 

"Life Vow." The human simply shrugged. 

This was his condition to do business with the being. He needed a guarantee, for he would be helpless once he handed the pearl over. 

"F-fine…I'll promise upon my life to help you!" The elemental grumbled reluctantly. With this, the human would be happy and hand over the pearl, or so he thought. 

"Tsk— As sneaky as water running through cracks," Jack remarked. "Let's establish a few terms." 

That's when he began enumerating an incredibly long list of conditions so quickly that it sounded like a melody. 

"Woo!" (Dancing!) 

The little wolf remembered this song from back then. It happily shook its ass to it while the nearby monk was gasping in shock.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" The elemental thundered. 

But the only answer it got was Jack's bright and warm smile. The terms he had proposed were ones the creature could agree to even if it didn't want. 

"How about I share my power with you? You'll grow strong beyond belief and be the wealthiest there is!" The elemental tempted. 

[Accept the Offer and Become an Elemental? Y/N!] 

Jack simply chuckled, declining. Beyond belief? Bitch, please! He had fought the Nihility Dragon back then, the very embodiment of primordial chaos! As if this little living water could compete! 

Seeing the disdain in the man's eye, the NPC tried intimidation. 

He released all the magical power he could muster at once. This would produce an incredibly oppressive aura that would topple the man from shock. Then he'd be able to snatch the pearl away! 

"This is your last chance! Hand it over, or I'll make you suffer like you can't even imagine, until—"He bellowed as he exploded with power!

"I suggest waterboarding. It's a classic!" Jack's enthusiastic recommendation felt so out of place. 

He wasn't shaken or despairing. He was looking at everything happening with amusement. He was even carving the scene into a freaking pumpkin?!! What the Hell?! 

He would have understood had he seen the system notifications... 

[Carving Pumpkins Till I Collapse! Activating!] 

[Resisted the Fear Effect!] 

[Congratulations!] 

[+120 XP!] 

The elemental and the monk found themselves exchanging a confused glance. Was this guy human?! Couldn't he see the angry, overpowered elemental?! 

"…."

"…."

That's when the NPC suddenly felt at an incredible loss. He couldn't even intimidate one puny human…. 

That one pumpkin carving was enough to convince the poor elemental. There was no way to frighten that guy! He reluctantly swore upon his very life, completing the Life Vow. 

It didn't take that long, but it felt like an eternity: there were so many clauses! 

In the end, the poor creature felt like it had just gone through an arduous battle. As Jack finally threw him the pearl, he was almost too tired to rejoice, almost…. 

"Muhahahaha, I will be whole again! This lord is back! Screw you, Isidor!!" He eagerly swore at whoever his nemesis was. Would he be cackling later as he absorbed it too? Perhaps... 

"Good for you, let's go!" Jack instantly instructed, not even letting him enjoy his victory (kinda). 

"F-fine...." 

Under the elemental's guidance, they ran out of the mist area. They felt like goddamn VIPs as mist and monsters alike got out of their way! 

"Step aside for this Lord!" The elemental shouted at his subjects as if to regain his lost dignity. 

As they traveled, Jack explained the rat situation and reminded the monk: 

"Hey, you should turn back your notifications. I tried messaging you earlier." He complained. 

"Oh, right. He'd kill me every time I tapped the air, so I turned it off." He explained with a sorrowful sigh while pointing at the elemental. 

F 

It didn't take long for them to reach the Sprigfield farm area. 

As soon as Jack noticed that the Pumpkin Farm was fine, he heaved a sigh of relief and radiated visible happiness. 

The Elemental by the side couldn't help but gasp in shock. What the hell?! 

1. This guy could resist his imposing aura easily. 

2. He wasn't tempted in the slightest by wealth or power. 

3. He could use incredible Demonic Energy for his level. 

4. He was that happy about a simple farm?! It didn't make any sense!

That's when Pumpkin Girl came out of the house and rushed to nestle in his embrace! 

The elemental and the monk found themselves exchanging a knowing gaze. They now understood everything: he had done it all for the pumpkins!

The rats wouldn't know what hit them!... 

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[A/N] Hype! Feb Mass Release Time! 🔥

Done it all for the Pumpkins! #Worth! Right?