After talking about psychic powers a bit more, Doyle sinks into carving on the seventh floor. Though the thought of humans on the world outside being psychically charged does give him a sense of satisfaction. He had always enjoyed the thought of psychic powers and had researched it a little.

Of course none of the older research that showed the most positive results really meant all that much. Either it was dependent on one particularly strong person and this not scientifically relevant or it has enough samples, but was only just statistically significant. So basically it could have just as easily been luck instead of actual power.

As this happens, a month passes and the area around his dungeon is turned into even more of a secure location. After all, psychic power is another pool that can be recharged faster in Doyle's field. A fact that becomes relevant when Annie figured out that her skill to count things quickly on sight was based in psychic power. Well, it wasn't the that ability being psychic that did it, rather the fact that along with it she was also telepathic.

A very useful thing to have when a bunch of people want to practice their mental defenses. Even more useful when in an area that refreshed psychic power, a very rare thing to find. Though some would consider Annie a bit pitiful now as she basically lives in the complex around the dungeon gate 24/7.

She might not be forced to use her powers every waking moment. In fact, she takes great joy in practicing them. However, unless you're the type who doesn't even want to leave the house, her position would certainly seem like torture.

Though her presence did cause one thing of importance to Doyle. With her help, the emergence of at the very least, psychic defenses, was accelerated and Jim's team was ready to find out what was past the Udoroot.

At first Doyle ignored them as they delved. Then he started to glance over as he worked. Until finally he was paying full attention as they blasted through the zero-G room and onward.

After that, they easily advanced to the ninth floor and prepared to face the boogieman. Well, what had felt like the boogieman to them after the last encounter almost turned deadly. Jim and Ace both had gotten a bit cocky.

Not that they weren't powerful enough to match it. Anywhere else in the world except the sea and they would be top of the food chain. Doyle, however, didn't play by the rules.

So with great care, Jim and his team snuck up on their prey. All of them had by now developed some form of mental defense and so we're ready. Then as one the team let loose with a number of cutting attacks. In particular, Kelly had developed the fire ribbons into fire chakras that spin like buzzsaws.

This alpha strike was impressive and managed to fell every one of the normal sunflowers that Doyle had planted in a circle. Ally who had joined in on watching them really enjoyed that and almost fell off her bed from laughing so hard. They had been so serious about the approach and yet had let their worries distract them from important things like checking if there actually was an enemy in the first place.

Suffice it to say, the group was more than a little embarrassed over the matter. In fact, there wasn't a single Udoroot until after the first ore vein. Though they found the fight with the kobolds guarding the tin ore more than a little dangerous.

The kobolds easily fell into a mini phalanx with shields in front and spears behind them. Though with only three of each to a rank, it should have been easy to flank. If only it wasn't for the three earth mages.

While Jim's team had a couple mages, it proved near impossible to stop the kobold mages from manipulating the earth around them. If they had attempted to fire rocks at the team, that would be one thing. However, the kobolds were instead sending the magic through the ground beneath them and never too far from themselves.

In the end though, the fight ended in Jim's favor. Bill, Tess, and Jeremy held their own in the melee fight, protecting their own back line. While Jim, Kellinger, and Kelly overwhelmed the kobold's ranged options. In particular, Jim lucked into a bullseye. Well, more of a kobold's eye, but who told it to duck at the wrong time?

Though that shot to the eye really spelled the end for the kobolds. They were tenacious enough, but being a mage down when three already wasn't quite enough wasn't going to cut it. Then Jeremy started to cut through the defensive lines after the kobold mages stopped being able to reinforce the dirt walls with magic.

Fight over, Jim takes his time to examine the kobold's camp, especially the ore. He shakes his head and calls Jeremy over to check it as well. Of course tin isn't anything new and at this point metal has started to flow outward from the town.

This was different though. Jeremy frowns and turns it over a few times before cursing. "We just got all our gear done up nice! Now we're going to have to redo it all."

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Jim sighs, "So I wasn't just crazy."

Jeremy scoffs, "If by crazy you mean the fact that this ore has a lot more magic in it, you certainly aren't. This thing is packing so much density compared to the stuff from the third floor, we might as well not bother with the stuff."

Jim shakes his head, "People know we have mines in the dungeon and where they are. We can't exactly abandon them without people getting suspicious. Besides, we're going to have to get some samples to the crafters before we know the full extent of what needs to be replaced."

Jeremy laughs, "Everything, everything will need to be replaced. This stuff is a substantial step up. Don't forget that I'm a crafter as well.

"From what samples I can get, more power always equals better for base ingredients. As long as things stay balanced of course. You can't throw a newly sprouted herb in with a hundred years old herb and expect good results."

Jim shrugs, "I just can't help but be annoyed at how hard extracting this stuff will be. Besides, this is only one vein and I'm sure there will be more if this floor is anything like the last mining floor. I don't even know if we can get proper miners to this spot and it is only the easiest to get to."

Jeremy rolled his eyes and went about collecting a number of ore samples. It was actually quite easy to dig the stuff out of the walls. So much so that some might question the need for proper miners.

Doyle sure did and Ally had the answer. Just as with crafting, collection professions are needed to properly extract the full potential of a resource. A truly high level miner can not only extract entire veins in one piece, but all the power inside of that ore will be sealed in. Collecting it like Jeremy was doing at best keeps half the power.

With samples secured, Jim and his team move out. The strange structure of the ninth floor caused confusion, though only in the fact that it was too straightforward. To Jim and company, the fact it was literally a slightly curved tunnel with no side passages or anything felt odd. Even the technically straightforward eighth floor involved a bunch of nonsense.

Then they met up with the first pack of wind wolves. After the interesting, if a little bit of a softball, kobold fight. This really got dropped on them like a bag of hammers. Sure, large groups of goats and cattle were dangerous.

However, there is something special about a pack hunter like the wolves, especially when you add on magic.The pack dashed at the party and through there magic came at them from every angle. They came from the ground itself, as well as from the walls and ceiling.

Mind you, the wind wolves weren’t capable of flying or even true wall running. However, with a bit of a boost from their magic, they were perfectly capable of using just about any surface as a place to launch from.

And so the pack of 30 wind wolves converged on Jim's party of 6. Then got slaughtered. Doyle hadn't yet taken any paths specific to the wolves yet.

Sure, it was a tough fight and everyone in the party ended up with their fair share of cuts, some that would have been quite serious pre-system. Yes, the pack gave them a special kind of challenge. It could even be said to be tougher than the kobold fight the party just faced before this.

However, compared to the first Udoroot fight? The wolves are ironically about the weakest monsters on the floor. Well, if you count numbers as well. The goats and cattle are quite strong, but numbers really cements them as being a tougher fight.

The biggest challenge the wolves represent is a form of attrition. That of damaged gear and clothes. In fact, Jim's team suffered quite badly from this. Most of their normal clothes that were visible outside of their armor was shredded and one of their backpacks had a strap cut clean through.

Jeremy is able to fix up the strap, but a permanent solution will need to wait for after they leave the dungeon. An option they aren't quite ready to take. Though Jim is half considering it, if only so they can come back with a sewing kit on top of everything else.

However, they still have faced another Udoroot, the target of today's delve. Though they don't have to wait long as right after the wolves are two sunflower circles to each side of the hallway, one slightly ahead of the other. Still cautious despite the previous experience, the party sets up to take on the front most target.

This time though, the target is actually a monster and it doesn't let them fully get set up, instead firing off a couple fiery energy stuns. These attacks get farther than expected when the two mages fail to stop them in time. After all, while magic can affect psychic powers, it isn't a one to one analog.

No matter how they try, neither Kelly nor Kellinger can dispel the stuns. Though as the next barrage comes in, they do figure out how to redirect the attacks. Just in time for the Udoroot to switch it up, sending some rocks over at high speed with its telekinesis.

At that point Kelly ignores the attacks and tries her fire buzzsaw again. This time facing some resistance as the monster tries to cloud her mind and make the attack miss. It is unfortunate for the Udoroot that it can't really move to dodge the attack which razes off a couple stalks.

This doesn't stop the monster's attacks though as it scrapes its mental attacks against the entire party. A party whose minds are doing a good impression of a brick wall right now. All them sporting some kind of defense or another.

The party isn't completely safe, of course. Same with any kind of defense, there are weaknesses. In particular, the Udoroot's mind thrust attacks are more than capable of causing a ton of discomfort. Each thrust striking their defenses and making them ring like a bell.

Still, despite a little confusion and some thrown rocks, the party is able to chop off all the sunflower stalks. With that the party watches the other patch of sunflowers with care as they wait for the sunflowers to fade away. This doesn't turn out all that easy.

Even without any sunflowers, the main body is still alive beneath the surface. Jim wasn't a fool though and so had Kelly send a spike of fire into the ground. It is at this point that the Udoroot is truly dead and it despawns, causing a sinkhole of sorts to appear.