After breakfast and packing everything into the wagon the trio headed out on their first journey. Lex adjusted the shoulder straps to make them more comfortable and moaned.” why can’t I have a bag of holding?”
“because dear brother, they ain’t real. Get over it and pull.”
“ should have brought the bikes. “
“ damn. That would have made life easier.”
“ yup. I could have attached it to the wagon , not that it’s heavy , it’s just awkward.” re adjusting the straps.” this is gonna rub like a bitch”
“ you have rabbit skin in the wagon why don’t you put one over your shoulders.”
“ aww Al that’s a great idea. Hold on a minute” he called out” I’m gonna try something.”
Lex cut a u shaped piece for his neck and draped it fur down on his shoulders putting the harness back on feeling much more comfortable.
“good call Al. That feels great.”
“ you’re welcome. I have marked your route on the map you are the blue dot so just follow the line.”
“ thanks Al you’re a gem”
“ at your current pace and including a meal break I estimate the journey to take 15 hours. You may need to camp out and finish your journey in the morning I will scan for a safe camping area as sunset approaches”.
“ Again, thanks Al”
“ question.”
“ Yes.”
“ why have you started calling me Al?”
“ oh, sorry do you not like it? I just thought we were becoming friendlier, so Al was a term of endearment.”
“ understood. Friends. That’s acceptable”.
“ cold, at least Ellas got a friendlier friend.”
After walking for four hours, the group decided it was time for a lunch break. Lex took out some wood from the wagon and started a fire to cook some strips of meat and made sandwiches and soup.
After downing a cup of water, they put out the fire, packed up the wagon and restarted their journey. Every one feeling well rested after an hours break.
“ I have found a good area to camp. It’s roughly 5 to 6 hours away so just in time for sunset. I have marked it on your map.”
“ good, thanks Al.”
With a slight change in direction the group continued to the marked point on the map. Stopping every hour for a five minute water break. And to give Lex’s shoulders a rest.
After nearly 5 and a half hours they reached what looked like a crescent moon of rocks. Putting the wagon at the back Lex set up two tents and a camp fire. Putting a pile of wood off to one side.
“ I saw a stream just past the trees, I’ll go fill the water bottles and kettle up .”
“ ok I’ll light the fire ready to boil it up.”
Leaving the girls to light the fire Lex strolled off to the stream. Lex sat by the stream and soaked his feet while filling the pot and bottles. After 5 minutes, he dried of his feet and put his shoes and socks back on. Putting the bottles in his pack, he picked up the pot and returned to the camp. There were 3 rabbits and veggies on skewers roasting with a gap for the pot of water.
“Lex. My sensors have picked up a band of rare metal in the centre rock. I suggest a little rock crushing while it’s still light.”
“ Oh ok. Can I leave food to you guys? Al has found some metal she wants”.
“ knock yourself out.”
Lex created a pick axe as he walked to the rock. In his vision was a red mark on the rock.
“ I take it that’s where I need to hit?”
“ correct. All my data leads me to the understanding that it’s orichalcum. A very strong metal. I would love to have some mixed in my alloy, it would be almost indestructible. And your tools and weapons would be stronger than all others and your casing around your organs will be impenetrable.”
“ sounds great. Looks like I’m digging rocks then.”
Swinging his pick axe, Lex started chipping away at the rock. Finally he had dug down to the seam of black metal.
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“ please touch the metal so it can be absorbed”
Lex held his hands out and silver liquid emerged and dissolved all of the black metal. Re absorbing it back into his body. Lex felt heavier again, so he went back to the fire and sat down to eat.
Ella made tea and handed out plates with rabbit and veg skewers.
“ I hope we find a pig soon. I so want bacon.”
Lex and Tatty nodded in agreement. Lex filled a bowel with hot water and dipped a cloth in it to wash his hand and body before eating. Enjoying the hot juicy rabbit and charred veggies.
After dinner and everything been washed up the girls headed to their tent leaving Lex watching the skies. Lex lay back and chatted with Al for a while before closing his eyes and drifting off.
Alloy kept her sensors active while everyone slept. She enjoyed her talks with Lex, he never treated her just like a tool, but as an equal. It was very strange sharing a body, but she didn’t hate it.
While he was asleep, the alloy in Lex’s body mixed with all of the absorbed ores and created a new , stronger alloy.
As morning broke a group of dots appeared in Alloys sensor array.
“Lex, emergency!” Alloys voice called out in an urgent tone.
Lex got up quickly and brought out his shield and pick.
“Girls. Al says we have company, get up now.”
Both girls came out of the tent and stood with Lex.
“Al. What’s going on? Why did you say it’s an emergency?”
“ I have picked up a group of creatures heading this way. 500 meters north.”
“ how many?”
“ at my last count there was 12”
“ there are 12 creatures, 500 meters north. Get ready.”
Tatty drew out her claws and Ella pulled her staff. They took the triangle form and waited for them to arrive.
Coming from the tree line a group of brown skinned humanoid monsters appeared. 10 were 4ft tall and two were 6ft. All carrying weapons, from basic spears to clubs the larger ones carried a type of machete.
“ El, hide behind the rocks and take out the smaller ones with the crossbow. Tatty watch my back, I’m taking the large ones out first.”
Ella hid herself and took aim at the closest ones as Lex charged the first large one.
Lex brought his shield up to block the swinging machete.
A red box popped up and opened. Goblin general has identified you as prey. Kill all goblins and earn bonus points and a skill.
Tatty swipes at the goblin generals legs from behind the shield. The goblin cried out and fell to his knees having had his tendons sliced. Llex drove his shield spike into the goblin generals shoulder and brought his pick down into the top of its head, killing it outright.
Taking a defensive pose with Tatty behind him he readied himself for the next.
Ella fired her bolt into the first goblin, hitting it in the throat. Blood spurted out and it fell down gripping its neck. Cocking her crossbow she took aim and fired at a seconds hitting it in the chest, Dropping it .
Lex jumped out of the way of the swing of the generals blade pulling attention as tatty plunged her claws into its neck. She jusmped back as Lex turned and swung his pick at its chest , impaling its heart.
Tatty then ran back to start on the other goblins. Ella took out three more and tatty took out two with her claws and Lex finished the last 3 with his pick.
“ Al are there anymore?”
“ scanning, please wait. Complete. All targets disposed of.”
“hey El.”
“what?”
“ we slay gooooblins.”
“really,” Ella giving a flat look.” we’re going there?”
“yes, Yes I am.”
Ella grumbled about bloody goblins as she went round collecting her bolts from the bodies .
Lex absorbed his pick and shield and created his knife. He then cut out the cores of the goblins and moved on to the generals. Their cores were larger and darker. After taking the cores they checked if they were carrying anything of note. One general had hard leather bracers as did a couple of the goblins. There was also 4 leather chest plates. The trio also found some copper and silver squares about 4 cms.
“ maybe that’s money” Lex said holding the squares in his hands.
The rest was junk so they left it behind.
The trio walked to the stream and washed off the blood and dirt. And fill a pot with water to take back.
Ella and Tatty set the fire while Lex pulled the bodies to a ditch and piled them in. He washed off again and returned to the camp for tea and toasted bread rolls for breakfast.
While eating all 3 had green boxes pop up.
For killing 2 goblin generals and 3 goblin grunts you have earned 2 levels . 30 points 10 bonus points . new skill. Range weapon creation.
For assisting in killing 2 goblin generals and killing 2 goblin grunts you have earned 2 levels. 20 points 10 bonus points. New skill create short bladed weapons. Daggers, knives, short swords and throwing darts and knives.
For killing 5 goblin grunts you have earned 1 level . 30 points. 10 bonus points. New skills . enhanced aim. Enhanced skeleton.
New stats
Name Lex
Race, human/ drone hybrid
Level 4
Age 22
Sex male
Strength 40 enhanced
Constitution 40
Dexterity 30
Speed 35
Sense 35
Hp 210/210
New stats
Name Tatty
Race vix
Level 4
Age 19
Sex female
Strength 35
Constitution 30
Dexterity 25 enhanced
Inelligance 17
Speed 45
Sense 40
Hp 150/150
New stats
Name Ella
Race human
Level 3
Sex female
Age 17
Strength 40
Constitution 35
Dexterity 40 enhanced
Intelligence 30
Speed 40
Sense 20
Hp 120/120
Everyone saved the changes and closed the boxes.
“cool, I’ve gone up 2 levels. I’m level 4 now.”
“me too.” said Tatty
“ aww. Im still a level behind.”
“That’s ok sis. You started later. You’ll get there.”
Ella looked dejected as she sipped her tea, Tatty squeezing her hand to comfort her.
After breakfast the camp was packed into the wagon. Lex tipped the water left in the pot onto the fire and kicked dirt over it.
Putting the pot and cups in the wagon Lex had a final check, put the rabbit skin over his shoulders and tightened the harness.
The trio continued the journey towards the built up area.
With 10 miles to go a black box auto opened in Lex’s vision.
New point of interest marked on the map. town of Crowley has been updated. Population 3000.
“ oh. We have a town called Crowley, with 3000 people. So not a village then.
“3000, yeh that’s a town.” pausing. “ I’ve had a thought. What if we cant understand each other.”
“ update…. nano will interpret and I will interpret for you.”
“apparently nanos will interpret for us.”
“ convenient. Not that I’m complaining,”
“ I agree. But no, I’m not either.”
“ there are advantages to having a powerful AI system in your head. Please praise me .”
“thank you AL. You are indeed a wonder in this world.”
Lex almost felt the AI puff out its chest with pride.
“ what am I doing with my life” Lex said to himself, shaking his head.
Continuing with the journey, after 5 miles a basic dirt road started, making pulling the wagon a little easier. After a while the town came into view. Mainly wooden buildings with a couple of brick buildings set in the centre. The town had a double fence around the outside with a gate set east and west. The trio headed for the eastern gate as it was closest.