Chapter 157: To Sponsor an Army

I summoned Asmodeus and Hades and the members that were in the room jumped into defensive positions.

"Rose, look out!"

"Chill, they swore loyalty to me."

I lounged back.

"Meaning we have two very powerful beings on our side."

Jalad blinked.

"I am never going to stop getting surprised am I."

"Probably not."

Dallel sighed.

"You are too unpredictable."

"That I am."

"How did you get the archangel on your side anyways?"

Asmodeus asked the question. It was a fully understandable question.

"Simple, it turns out that dragon fire is quite effective against angels."

Thalia snorted.

"Yeah, but it's slow, she would've just dodged."

"Not if she's trapped in my mouth when I breath fire."

Thalia smiled.

"Nice… how big are you now."

"I don't know."

"Wait, your body was here. How did you have a dragon form?!"

Upon Ausar's question, Thalia also realized that.

"I don't know, I was also confused about it, then the Author taunted me."

"What did he say?"

"Something about me not even understanding why he saw me as a threat."

"Interesting."

"Milel could likely shed some light on that, but I doubt she would."

"Who? Oh right, the archangel you now have under your command."

"Speaking of."

We turned to Hades.

"Why didn't you summon her instead of either me or Asmodeus?"

"Because I made a promise that I would bring you back as soon as I had a way to, but with her, I promised I would bring her back when I level the skill."

"I see."

With that I smiled.

"Now."

They all leaned in.

"I'm gonna go downstairs. I'm hungry."

They all gave me an annoyed look as I walked out of the room.

I walked down the stairs and walked up to the bar.

"Ah, hello, Rose. It seems you're done with your out of body experience."

"Yes, could I have the usual."

"Of course, and your table is clear."

"Yay! Thank you!"

I sat down and tapped the table, rocking to an invisible tune.

"It's like nothing ever happened."

One of the three aces sat down next to me.

"I always think about how much has happened, then when I see you come almost every morning… it shows all of us just what will never change."

I smiled.

"I want everyone to remain smiling for as long as I live, and far afterwards."

Then he smiled.

"And I'm looking forward to you ensuring that."

Then he got up and returned to the group.

Dallel came downstairs and sat across from me.

"I want to tell you something."

"What?"

"I have finished the requirements to ascend."

"And?"

"I want your sponsorship."

I smiled.

"Of course, why not, I am your leader after all."

[Sponsor Individual Dallel.]

Then he started glowing, and his body began glowing red.

"What? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"

"WHY IS DALLEL PO*EMON EVOLVING?!!"

"I don't know!!!"

Then it stopped and he panted and smiled.

"Thank you."

Then the next surprise of the day.

Feathered wings now protruded from his back.

"Heh?"

…

"AAAH, WHY DO I HAVE WINGS?!"

"Dallel, calm down."

I grabbed his hand and used the World Mothers aura to push the rightness feeling into him, and he slowly calmed down as his breathing steadied.

I used check and sure enough, he was still an Altmer.

"I didn't change your species or anything, you just got wings."

Luma warped 10 feet to grab Dallel's wing. He flinched.

"Interesting, it has the same build as Rose's FEAR wings."

"So, are you saying that my sponsorship imbues FEAR into them?"

"No, the wing will fade. It's just that his body received too much power from your sponsorship causing it to mutate temporarily. It will right itself."

We all sighed in relief.

"As much as I don't mind being more like Rose, I do not want to become like Primal FEAR."

"That can't happen."

"Why not?"

"I-"

"Can't tell us?"

"Yeah."

"By the way, Dallel, what level are you now?"

"438."

"That was quick."

"Yeah, my requirements for 400 were already met, so it just launched me."

"So… all of us will just skyrocket."

Sona nodded.

"Most of your leveling was done by Rose, therefore the difficult requirements went to her. The rest of you should have typical requirements."

"So, how far should we be able to go."

"From what I've seen alone, each of you could get to 799 unimpeded as long as you get the sponsorship."

"Nice."

I spend another hour giving my sponsorship to all of the ones that didn't have one already.

Only Thalia, Amy, Ausar, and Jalad leveled, Celios needs one more level, and Amanda and Erica were only mid 100s as I didn't let them fight often.

Mammon and most of the adventurers were decently close, Dallel's crew was almost there, with Darsen actually being the right level, just lacking the requirements.

Thalia and Jalad both got to 354 and 345 respectively.

Ausar and Amy both got to 398.

So, as it sat, of my original fighters, Dallel was the only one that reached Middle-Class.

"Wow, that's cool, you made it all the way to the middle class."

"Well, he was leader for a time, and he led an assault on 9 worlds simultaneously."

"That would definitely level you."

Luma was excited.

"I wonder if Rose leveled at all from that."

"Wouldn't you know?"

"Actually, sponsoring is a passive leveling, so I don't announce it."

Everyone looked at me.

"Check your level."

"O-okay?"

…

"Not sure what you all were expecting."

"What is it?"

"738"

"Oh…"

They were clearly disappointed.

I sighed.

"You gotta remember that the upper class is a whole different beast than middle class. I can't get any experience from hunting middle class, and at my level I only start getting experience when they are 700 or higher. Leveling this much from sponsoring is incredible enough."

"I guess…"

They started moping, and Silas delivered my meat and wine. I just ignored them and started eating.