Thanks for trying out the game. I'm flattered that you spent time making fanart too.
Last couple DDs I mostly got bug reports and people confused about how to play but now I'm getting replies about the art and UI instead. I guess I should take that as a positive development.
The beginning is indeed a bit slow since it's basically a bunch of tutorials until level 5 and I made those levels back when I was learning how to make a game to begin with. The goons aren't threatening even with the reworked AI so they probably need some readjustments or more noticeable handicaps for the player inside the battles, not necessarily to make the player weaker but to at least offer some variety.
I do have a commitment to making the entire game playable only with the mouse, although everything has keyboard shortcuts too. The only exception is the game speed which can only be controlled with the Q-E buttons so far.