Novels2Search

15.

[Opening SP store.]

Welcome to the SP Store.

Skills:

* Create Mining Node: Mining Nodes automatically produce earth-based materials for mining. Materials must be designs the dungeon already possesses. Costs 10 SP.

* Create Respawn Point: Respawn Points significantly increase the speed of servant respawns, along with allowing the dungeon to control where the servant respawns to. Costs 15 SP.

* Upgrade Design: Randomly upgrade a chosen design. Costs 15 SP.

* Lure: Produces a mental compulsion to lure delvers into the dungeon. Ineffective on delvers more than 2 levels above the dungeon’s and is most effective on delvers under the dungeon’s level. Effect radius of 6 yards from the dungeon’s entrance. Costs 15 SP.

* Confuse: Produce a mental fog in delvers. Applicable only within dungeon. Ineffective on delvers more than 3 levels above the dungeon’s and is most effective on delvers under the dungeon’s level. Costs 20 SP.

* Create Decoy: Copy the dungeon’s core, respawn points, or other important weaknesses to deceive aggressive delvers. Costs 20 SP.

* Identify: Identify a delver’s levels, classes, and stats. Skill itself can be leveled. Costs 25 SP.

No further skills available, return when more are unlocked.

Designs:

* Design Roulette: Gain a random design. Costs 1 SP.

* Flagstone: Common flagstone. Costs 3 SP.

* Basalt: Common basalt. Costs 3 SP.

* Quartz: Common quartz. Costs 3 SP.

* Slate: Common slate. Costs 3 SP.

* Alabaster: A rare decorative kind of stone. Costs 5 SP.

* Jadeite: A rare decorative kind of stone. Costs 7 SP.

* The Flu: A virulent disease. Infects delvers and slows them for easier XP. Costs 7 SP.

* The Common Cold: A virulent disease. Infects delvers and slows them for easier XP. Costs 7 SP.

* Copper Ore: The basis for copper. Costs 7 SP.

* Aluminum Ore: The basis for aluminum. Costs 7 SP.

* Zinc Ore: The basis for zinc. Costs 7 SP.

* Deep Cave Algae: Red algae accustomed to low-light conditions. Costs 7 SP.

* Cave Beetles: Colorless, blind beetles with elongated limbs. Costs 10 SP.

* Camel Crickets: Blind, nocturnal jumping bugs. Costs 10 SP.

* Cave Centipedes: Many-legged, carnivorous bugs. Also, blind and use a slight poison to stun their prey. Costs 10 SP.

* Spider-Web Worm: Wormlike blind gnat which uses webs and glowing lures to catch prey. Costs 15 SP.

* Lesser Cavefish: Small, blind fish which grow to no larger than ½ an inch. Costs 17 SP.

* Lesser Troglobitic Crayfish: Small, blind crayfish which grow no larger than 1 inch. Costs 17 SP.

* Lesser Cave Salamander: Small, orange salamander which grows no larger than 3 ½ inches. Costs 20 SP.

No further designs available, return when more are unlocked.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Clare and Kepler looked through the options in contemplative silence.

Water poured through Clare steadily, Astrid pushing off the walls to play in the current. She had stopped hunting, for now.

The aptly named ‘Cave Snot’ microbe mats were still in danger, though.

Oof. Clare winced as their delusions of grandeur crashed down all around them. All of these options kind of suck.

Kepler let out a snobbish snort. [What an inelegant way of expressing disappointment.] He paused to give her a faux-disappointed look. [Greatness starts small, Miss Clare.]

Forgive me, oh great butler-y one. My etiquette is obviously lacking.

[I’m not a butler…] Kepler’s ears went down in full pathetic-puppy mode, which made Clare giggle.

I know, I know. She placated. And your right, these options don’t totally suck. ‘Upgrade Design’ actually looks really interesting. Clare thought back to designing Astrid, We definitely need more design options, and I’d like to see what a ‘random’ upgrade could bring.

[Well…] Kepler was still pouting, but let it go after a moment, [Such upgrades could be useless, which is risky.] He cheered up at the thought.

So we’re grabbing that one, right?

[Definitely.]

Clare purchased it.

New Skill Acquired!

* Upgrade Design: Randomly upgrade a chosen design. Costs 20 MP.

Hum. Kind of pricey with the MP.

Kepler flopped down beside her, managing System related things with quiet flicks of his consciousness.

[Aren’t they all? We’ll have enough MP to do whatever we want, soon. Just have to keep leveling!] He snuggled up to her, which was freaking adorable in his currently dog-like form.

[By the way, we only have 5 SP left.]

Oh, right….

Clare had, admittedly, never been very good with budgeting.

Wanna do the design roulette 5 times?

Kepler clicked his tongue. He tried very hard, Clare noticed, to be a good influence sometimes. But his heart wasn’t in it.

Clare gave him puppy-dog eyes, and he folded quickly.

[Definitely! That sounds thrilling!]